Screenwriting From Iowa

Part of the craft of screenwriting is to write in such a pity way—it’s almost like being a combination of a poet and a journalist,” Robin Swicord

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“I think it’s impossible to be a writer and not draw from your own life…I see shadows all of the time in my work—things from my life.” Robin Swicord “I see shadows of certain characters from script to script. I’m interested in ambition certainly. I see that strain running through [my work]—like The Rivals* a script […]

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“I want to do something splendid…something heroic or wonderful that won’t be forgotten after I’m dead. I don’t know what, but I’m on the watch for it and mean to astonish you all someday.” Louisa May Alcott (Little Women) Filmmaker Edward Burns once said filmmaking is “overcoming obstacles”—here’s the expanded version of that concept from […]

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“Protagonists have to be active, they’re making their own fate all the time.” Screenwriter Robin Swicord (Little Women) “David Mamet says the one question an audience asks is WHAT’S NEXT? I agree. Let each scene drive the story forward. Make sure each moment is vital no matter what page it’s on.” Ken Levin (M*A*S*H, Cheers, […]

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“I really think you have to teach yourself to see the world cinematically in order to write cinematically.” Writer/director Robin Swicord

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“I started writing ever since I could pick up a pencil, but I had been orientated to novels and short stories because that’s what we studied in school. I really didn’t know movies were written until I was probably about 20-years-old. Screenwriter Robin Swicord Chances are good that even if you live in a small […]

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“My relationship with Northeast Ohio is bigger than basketball. I didn’t realize that four years ago. I do now.” LaBron James Sports Illustrated 7/11/14 “Unless you are hardhearted or a Miami Heat season-ticket holder, this is tough not to love.” Jason Gay on LeBron James returning to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers NY Times Years ago […]

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I started this postcard thing on the blog years ago to give myself a break from writing and researching posts when I was on the road working on various productions. Hard to believe today is the 80th postcard. I’m posting this on the tail end of a long video production day and drive home. One […]

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In honor of 2014 FIFI World Cup Brazil championship game yesterday I decided to dig up a photo I took in Brazil back in ’07. I was part of a team that shot footage in Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro (where I bought a Pele jersey) and in Manaus. I took the above shot from a […]

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“I believe in the affirmation of life. If we lose that hope, if we lose the possibility of it, we’ve lost an awful lot.” Writer/Director Paul Mazursky Film Comment 1978 Interview “I never thought, I’m going against the grain, I’m going to inform America about the problem of women, about society, about the bums on […]

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