Author Archive

(Part 3—Interview with Richard Walter, author of Essentials of Screenwriting,) SS: A while back I discovered that the Stanley Kowalski character from A Streetcar Named Desire was based on a person that Tennessee Williams worked with in a factory.  Over and over again I seem to discover more proof, that as you say, “the day job [...]

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“To reach audiences, writers have to take chances. They must confront the awesome challenge inherent in peddling their fantasies. All writers, in particular new writers, face the overwhelming likihood that what they write will come to no fruitful conclusion.” Richard Walter Essentials of Screenwriting (Richard Walter Interview Part 2) The Screenwriting MFA at UCLA has [...]

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“As a teacher what I do is I combine passion with the subjects I teach.” Jaime Escalante (1930-2010) Inspiration behind the movie Stand and Deliver “I can’t think of a better way to spend a life than pursuing the imagination.” Richard Walter Writer & screenwriting professor (Richard Walter Interview Part 1) Today begins a several [...]

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“As a teacher what I do is I combine passion with the subjects I teach.” Jaime Escalante (1930-2010) Inspiration behind the movie Stand and Deliver “Finding an agent is easy; what is hard is writing a screenplay worthy of an agent’s representation.” Richard Walter Essentials of Screenwriting   Today begins a several part series taken [...]

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Robert McKee vs. Richard Walter is not the latest MMA match-up. Just my way of showing how two well-respected screenwriting teachers can disagree on a fundamental point. In light of several posts on emotional autobiography I think it’s a good time to address two different schools of thoughts. What Tennessee Williams called ‘emotional autobiography’, I [...]

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“In a letter to Brando in which (director Elia Kazan) explores the differences between the Terry Malloy and Stanley Kowalski characters he argues as follows: ‘Marlon, this part is much …

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“E.T. was a very personal little picture. My motivation for making it was pure and non-profit based – I didn’t think it would be a hit because it was about kids and no films about kids under 18 were doing any business then.” Steven Spielberg Total Film interview “This movie made my heart glad. It [...]

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“I have a right to be heard. I have a voice.” King George VI The King’s Speech “It’s not the load that breaks you down, it’s the way you carry it.” Lena Horne In Richard Walter’s book The Whole Picture he has a section called “Identity: The Only Choice” where he makes this profound statement: [...]

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“After a checkered career like mine, it’s nice to be an overnight success.” Screenwriter David Seidler (The King’s Speech) LA Times “I had no real money, no reputation, no real career.” David Seidler Upon arriving in L.A. at age 40 (33 years before winning an Oscar) How long did it take for David Seilder to [...]

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“My father always said to me I would be a late bloomer.” Oscar-winning screenwriter David Seidler (The King’s Speech) “The last 7-8 years I’ve had a manager, but no agent because quite frankly no agency would take me because of my age.” David Seidler (Note: After the success of The King’s Speech, Seidler had many [...]

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