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Predator

Last night I fell asleep watching "Predator," the Arnold Schwarzenegger classic.  The first time I saw it I thought it was unusually gory.  I was kind of afraid of it, to tell the truth.  But this is the second time I've watched it this year, and I'm used to it and kind of like it.  I like Arnold movies in general, anyway.

I've heard the second Predator movie was when the predators come to earth and hunt humans like they're in a game reserve.  In New York City.  Never thought I'd say it, but I want to see Predator II!

We've got Flags of Our Fathers and Kingdom of Heaven from Netflix for this weekend.  Unless we keep watching the World Series.  The Giants are playing very well...

Finishing That First Screenplay?

I was greatly encouraged last night when Kevin Jackson - screenwriting instructor extraordinaire - mentioned that "the first screenplay is the one most people are emotionally attached to.  It's difficult to reconcile the emotion for the project with the realities of what it takes to write a screenplay."   He reminded me that I may never finish my FIRST screenplay, or I may finish it next year or in five years.

I had mentioned that I was losing inspiration after my umpteenth change to characters and situations.  It has definitely gotten harder to write!  He added that the unspoken understanding in Hollywood is that most writers write 8 to 10 screenplays before they write a good one.  What's important is to keep learning the lessons.  Keep applying the ideas and concepts.  And work on it as much as I can.

I guess those are good ideas for anyone learning any profession or skill with a significant learning curve.  I saw my travails in a new light and decided to keep at it!  No giving up now!

If you've ever attempted to write a screenplay or a play, and you're reading this now, please share your own comments on what it was like that first screenplay.  Did you get discouraged?  Was it any good when you finished?  Did you finish?  What have you done since the first? I'd like to hear from you!

Watching "Atonement" With Script in Hand

I watched "Atonement" last night with the script in front of me.  This is one of my favorite films ever, and it was totally awesome to watch it with the film script right there.  I get a different appreciation for the writing (as well as the acting) when I can see the words in print, and see on screen how the actors delivered them.

What you don't see is how the script writer (Christopher Hampton) adopted the screenplay from the novel by Ian McEwan. I read the novel after seeing the movie in 2008, and I think Mr. Hampton did a great job.  Of course, Robbie Turner is supposed to be big and tall, but I am so happy that description was ignored and James McAvoy was cast instead.  I think the role was perfect for him.

At any rate, watching Atonement was part of this week's assignment for my screenwriting class.  Part of the re-write for my own script includes updating my period from the 1860's to the early 1900's, so my instructor wanted me to see how a romance/mystery/period piece looks on the page, and get a feel for the language. I also saw how to make notes for stage instructions.  I see I need a lot more description in my own writing. I'm sure I'll be referring back to it over and over as I proceed with my own writing...

Anybody else have an experience of seeing the words in print for the first time, and how it broadened your perspective?

Anna and Thomas Sequence One

My homework for my screenwriting master class is to have Sequence 1 ready to share at the next class.  Is every window necessary and compelling?

I started this screenplay last September or October, and it seemed to flow so easily.  Somewhere along the way it got hard.  My job is to have it be fun and easy again.  I keep going back to, I design my life.  Why am I designing it that writing is hard?  That's not very fun!

The screenwriting class is pretty awesome.  We are learning how to ask questions of our script to see what does make a scene compelling. What works? What doesn't?  Why or why not?  Is this scene consistent with my theme? My main character's behavior?  The genre?  It's interesting to watch movies now, having the distinctions I learn from this.

If you're reading this and you have ever written a screenplay, or are thinking of writing one, or have taken classes, I'd like to hear from you.  What did you do to keep the ideas flowing freely?

Terminator 2 Endures

Mike came home yesterday with a tape (yes, tape!) of Terminator 2: Judgment Day.  The Terminator and Terminator 2 are definitely my favorites of the series.  The third and fourth (you know, the one with Christian Bale) just don't measure up for drama and excitement.  

I've always loved Linda Hamilton in both movies.  I still envy her fit body in Terminator 2. Not so much Edward Furlong as young John Connor, but the adult stars make up for him.  I love Arnold in just about anything.  And Robert Patrick did arguably the best work of his career as the T-1000.

The special effects, so awesome when the movie came out, look dated, but jeesh, it's been 19 years!  And James Cameron has been pushing the envelope on special effects for over 25 years...

T2 is well-written, and I actually care about the characters, a big missing in Terminator Salvation. It definitely endures throughout the years! 

The Screenwriting Matrix of Moments

Okay, so I'm challenged this week by screenwriting teacher extraordinaire Kevin Jackson to write a list of "moments" in my script.  Do I have 200 to 300 in my entire script?  Do they define my characters?  Are they entertaining?

This screenwriting is more challenging than I originally thought.  It definitely takes commitment!  I have changed several elements in my story, including one of my main characters, a number of times.  I still need to work on expressing my core theme effectively and entertainingly.

I am going with Barbara Osach's semi-famous saying: "Get it down, then get it right." This week is all about "getting it down."

I'd be curious to know how others who have written screenplays have done it.  What was your process? How many revisions did you do? 

Mature Romance is Great!

I watched Open Range last night on my boyfriend's recommendation.  (From 2003 starring Robert Duvall, Kevin Costner, Annette Bening, and Diego Luna.)  It had a cowboys vs. cowboys conflict of "open range" cattle vs. the land owner.  The conflict culminates in a rather amazing and intense shoot-out sequence. 

But I also give kudos to Mr. Costner for his execution of the mature love story sub-plot.  Even before today's romances for mature adults (Hello, Meryl Streep!) he portrayed a credible, romantic and understated love story between two adults who could accept and love each other as they are today, regardless of all that may have come before. 

I like it because it speaks to where I am in life, and it's so, well, mature.  Also, the characters were all likeable, despite their quirks and pasts...

What other "mature love stories" have you seen recently that really spoke to you?  Do you have any all-time favorites? 

Screenwriting Master Class Begins This Week!

Yay!  My screenwriting master class begins this week with Kevin Jackson!  I really enjoyed the first 8-session program I did in the fall, and got started on my first screenplay, but everything ground to a halt over the holidays. 

Now, with class starting up, and after my "review" with Kevin this past Friday, I am ready to pick up where I left off, develop my characters, and learn from them.  I can best create my main character by "becoming" like her.  My "conceit" is a character who is how I want to be.  I have to practice "being" like her, then put her personality on the page.  It's the perfect exercise for me to practice what I'm learning from The Purpose Driven Life, Maria Gamb, David Neagle, Think and Grow Rich and others.  These are the kinds of teachings I want to display in romantic comedies. 

It will make romantic comedies great again!

But I'll only succeed if I do it first.  I walk the walk, and then I can talk the talk!  Yay!

Got Script?

The last class of my 8-session screenwriting class with Kevin Jackson of Lombardi Street was this past Tuesday.  The program was phenomenal, in my opinion. I have about 54 pages of script written, along with a list of characters, my "3-6-3 page," and other tools I learned along the way.  I have until December 15 to turn in a more or less complete script.  Lots of work these next 11 days!

There may be a master class beginning January.  I'm pretty psyched about that, because, as I told Kevin, I don't think I ever would have written one word of an actual script if I hadn't been in the class. Now I have a script well on the way, and the tools to move on to the next one as soon as I choose. 

Is there anyone out there who is wondering what it takes to get a script written?  I can put you in touch with Kevin...I'm a firm believer in being in a program and/or getting a coach or mentor to support myself in accomplishing major goals.  I'm also a firm believer in lifelong learning.  It's never too late to learn something new or change a behavior.

So who's got a script in your head that needs to get onto paper?  Let me/us know! 

My George Clooney Movie Idea

Just the other day I heard that George Clooney had been robbed at gunpoint while on a trip to Africa last year.  I don't remember hearing about it at the time.

Then today I read in my Purdue Perspectives - the alumni newsletter for Purdue's School of Agriculture - about the Ethiopian professor who won a World Food Prize for his research on sorghum.  (It's a prize started by Nobel laureate Norman Borlaug - look it up!) That story is totally inspiring.

So here's how I put the two together:  A famous movie star decides he wants to make a difference in Africa, but he also wants to get lots of people and non-profits involved.  So he decides to hold an "America Idol" type televised giveaway program.  Kind of like Oprah did last year with one of her giveaways.

So, the audience gets personal glimpses into the star's personal life, images of realities in Africa, images of the non-profits at work, and competing, and something special in the selection process... (That's my conceit - what criteria he uses to choose the winner!)

I know most of us don't think what's going on in Africa is too fun, but I do want this movie to be light hearted.  You heard it here first, folks!