Dec
29
2016
Author Archive
Dec
28
2016
Casting Carrie Fisher for ‘Star Wars’Posted by: screenwritingfromiowa in Screenwriting From Iowa“I’m telling an old myth in a new way. That’s how you pass down the meat and potatoes of your society to the next generation.” George Lucas on creating Star Wars Related Posts: Star Wars & The Four Functions of Mythology Screenwriting Structure, Snake Oil, & Star Wars Before Star Wars (Screenwriter Kasdan) Jim Mercurio […] “Speaking personally, Martin Scorsese is one of my absolute favorite directors, and I will watch anything he makes. Where he leads, I will follow. His new ‘Silence,’ is ready-made for this time of year, a tale of religious faith and deep spiritual questioning.” Mark Olsen, LA Times December 25, 2016 “With the religious historical drama Silence, […]
Dec
26
2016
Tender Mercies in La La LandPosted by: screenwritingfromiowa in Screenwriting From Iowa“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Jesus I met my wife in an elevator in Burbank. (A line that’s more humorous if you’re aware how Johnny Carson used the line “beautiful downtown Burbank” when he was the king of late night TV.) My wife to be […] John wanted to be a screenwriter. He was born to public school teachers in Longview, Texas and raised in Texas City, Texas. Eventually he earned an English degree from Baylor in Waco. Then after graduating from law school he became a lawyer in Houston. What are the odds of John making it as a Hollywood […]
Dec
21
2016
Writing Quote #63 (Anne Rice)Posted by: screenwritingfromiowa in Screenwriting From Iowa“I write about outsiders seeking redemption in one form or another and always will.” Novelist Anne Rice (The Vampire Chronicles) 2016 Billboard interview with Alice Cooper Related posts: Hope & Redemption Storytelling Soul Game Fear, Pity, Catharsis (Tip #69) Broken Wings & Silver Lining ‘The Verdict’ Revisited Scott W. Smith Tagged: Alice Cooper, Anne Rice, writing “If you’re looking for an excuse, you’ll find one.” Actor/Director Denzel Washington 60 Minutes interview December 18, 2016 I’m not sure where this quote originated, but hearing it from Denzel Washington was the first time I heard it. He said it in reference to diversity in Hollywood. The two-time Oscar-winner Washington’s answer #OscarSoWhite was not […] “Most producers go years in between producing movies; in fact, most of our time is spent not making movies.” Producer Rick Schwartz (The Departed, Black Swan) This is a fitting echo post to my last post where writer John Grisham said, “It’s very, very difficult to get a movie made.” This one from the perspective of a […]
Dec
12
2016
‘It’s very, very difficult to get a movie made’Posted by: screenwritingfromiowa in Screenwriting From IowaNovelist John Grisham (The Firm, The Pelican Brief ) had a great ten year starting in 1993 where films made based on his writings attracted some of the finest talent in Hollywood: Tom Cruise, Julia Roberts, Denzel Washington, Matt Damon, Sandra Bullock, Matthew McConaughey, Susan Sarandon, Joel Schumacher, Samuel L. Jackson , Gene Hackman, Claire Danes, Francis Ford Coppola, Sydney Pollack. But here’s how he explains […]
Dec
09
2016
‘If you’ve got an idea for a story…’Posted by: screenwritingfromiowa in Screenwriting From Iowa“If you can’t pitch an idea — if you’ve got an idea for a story, whether it’s a book, a TV show or a movie, if you can’t pitch it in like 30 seconds and hook somebody and make them believe in it, you’re probably in trouble…Many, many years ago, I had just finished A […] |
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