Who Or What Would Your Character Die For? - BONUS Class

All of my webinars run a little long and each week we're left with extra footage that we edit into a BONUS class. To watch this week's bonus class, visit www.ScreenWriterMagic.com
.

To register for next week's class, visit:

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MY WEBINAR

Support Local Film Festivals

Just a quick reminder to support the New York International Latino Film Festival. The Contract, a film directed by David F. Mewa, screens today at 3PM at Clearview Cinemas Chelsea.

ghostgirl on Audiobook

My friend Tonya Hurley's bestselling book, ghostgirl, is now available on audiobook. And it's narrated by the very talented Parker Posey!

CLICK HERE TO ORDER ghostgirl

Who Or What Would Your Character Die For?

Thank you to everyone who was able to participate in last night's webinar about The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting. My fourth and final webinar on Tuesday, August 4, 2009 at 9PM Eastern Time will be available to the first 100 people who sign up below.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MARILYN'S FINAL WEBINAR

O Mercy

As programmers continue to find new ways to use the internet to create and promote their product, they now have unparalleled access to audiences... and vice versa. For example, the past few days I have been enjoying O Mercy, an online Austrian show created by Leonard Leiter and Mirko da Col. For a sampling of the first season (6 episodes, 10 minutes each), CLICK HERE.

Which non-traditional programming are you a fan of?

Play It Again Jam

Our friends at Canoe.ca have unveiled "Play It Again Jam," an online collection of classic films. To watch films like Bucket of Blood, Charade and Bela Lugosi Meets A Brooklyn Gorilla on your computer, just CLICK HERE.

And, if you're interested in learning how classic and contemporary films are structured, visit my online movie breakdown gallery at www.MovieBreakdowns.com.

Every Tango Is A Story

I love tango because every dance is a story, with plot and character working together to create something beautiful and magical.

If we characterize plot as the leader, the Fred Astaire, and character as the follower, Ginger Rogers, it's important not to make the mistake of thinking that character has the lesser role. To paraphrase Ginger Rogers, " I do everything he does only backwards...and in heels!" Character is mistaken for the weaker partner -- but in fact, in screenwriting, like tango, the role of the plot is to frame the characters and make them look good

What story we do tell when we "dance?" Everything we do is shaped by our inner story, which tends to carefully stay within the borders of our expectations. That's why so many dance films (Shall We Dance), and non-dance films that feature dance (Scent Of A Woman), use the dance to show the character transforming into an expanded version of themselves.

In preparation for the tango I performed with my teacher, Tim Shalnev, last Friday at Fred Astaire Studios, we discussed how each of us should have a story in mind about the dance to add to an intensity to the performance.

In the story I danced, my partner is the love of my life -- and emotional poison! This dance is our last encounter before I say goodbye, and never see him again.

For Tim, he is always dancing jealousy. Our joke is that when we begin he whispers, accusingly, "I saw you with Jose," and he dances his "jealousy." His intensity is obvious when you look at the steps of our tango, which he choreographed.

In tango, the leader always choreographs, and a good partner responds to the prompts.

In writing it's the plot that prompts the characters' responses.

It's a hard lesson to learn but perhaps the metaphor of tango will help you tweak your current perception and give character work the weight it deserves.

Tim Shalnev

What Is Your Character's Nightmare?

Here's a clip from last week's webinar, where I discussed the first part of Act 2.

This week I will discuss who or what your character will die for... the section of the screenplay that runs approximately from approximately page 60 -90.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009 8:45 PM - 11:00 PM EDT

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS WEEK'S FREE CLASS

Half a great movie

On Thursday, I wrote a blog post comparing writing a movie to pitching a perfect game. Replayray took the time to write an interesting comment, in which he said:

i'm not sure any movie is a perfect game. to quote Howard Hawks,"there are no great movies,but a good movie has 3 great scenes and no bad ones".

His comment reminded me of a post on The A.V. Club blog entitled, My Year Of Flops Norm MacDonald’s Film Career Died For Your Sins Case File #133: Dirty Work. In it, Nathan Rabin wrote:

If a great movie is one with two great scenes and no bad ones, then Dirty Work is half a great movie. It contains more than its share of bad scenes, but it does have two brilliant ones.

What's your favorite half great movie?

Funny People

Just watched the Comedy Central special Inside Funny People. After 68 days of shooting, writer/director Judd Apatow made this observation:

"Now is the time when I should learn the lesson of the movie which is to connect with people and not just be obsessed with your work or your jokes. But I am at the beginning of an anxiety attack about not having anything to work on. That's how f***** up I am. I spent two years trying to make this point and yet even I have a lot of trouble living it."

What are you trying to say with your movie? How good are you at following your own advice?

Baseball and Beat Sheets

I just read the news that White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle pitched the 18th perfect game in MLB history.

Like many things, it got me thinking about writing.

I have never played baseball at a competitive level but I have to believe retiring 27 batters in a row is akin to attending the premiere of a movie you wrote, or finding your book on the shelf of your local bookstore… joy, accomplishment and exhaustion all rolled into one.

How many games did Mark pitch before he reached perfection? How many scripts have you written that have yet to be produced?

What did he learn from every other game that prepared him for this one? What have you learned from past scenes and characters you have developed?

Like Mark, was there a time in your career when you had a no-hitter but just missed out on the perfect game?

It seems to me there are certain parallels between ballplayers and writers. Each new story (or game) is a battle and a journey, but if your craft is sound you always have a chance to get the win.

Just pray they don't call in a reliever at the last minute ;)

Shane Black Named Guest of Honor for 2009 Screenwriting Expo

When I was presenting at The Great American PitchFest last month, I was able to duck into a panel featuring Shane Black. He was as smart and funny as usual and just one more reason to come to this year's Expo.

If you're not familiar with Shane, here's some info:

SHANE BLACK is the screenwriter of the 1987 classic Lethal Weapon, which he wrote at the age of 23. He also wrote or co-wrote the rest of the films in that franchise and is currently scripting the fifth installment right now. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Shane is also well-known for his legendary spec screenplay sales. He made $4 million for The Long Kiss Goodnight ALONE!

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE 2009 SCREENWRITING EXPO

Vote Early! Vote Often!

My friend Robert's book has been nominated to be one of NPR's "100 Best Beach Books Ever!" And, of course, he needs your vote!!

So please consider clicking on the link (below) and choosing Robert and The Memoirs of a Beautiful Boy as one of your 10 faves!!!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106650177

2009 Screenwriting Expo - Early Registration Expires on July 31st!

Presenting at The Screenwriting Expo is one of the highlights of my year and I'm so excited about the classes I'll be teaching in October.

You have just over a week to take advantage of the Expo's early registration.

By signing up now, you can save $30 off a Gold Pass and $10 off a Basic Pass. There's no reason to hesitate - take the opportunity and register NOW.

This year's Expo is shaping up to be one of the best ever - the diversity of the seminars offered is without equal in the Expo's history -- and as you'll see below, the big names continue to pour in every day.


Why Register Early?

Simple...Get First in Line For the Pitches: The earlier your register, the earlier you are allowed to buy tickets to the Golden Pitch Festival. Signing up as soon as you can ensures you the best shot at getting those A-list studios or agencies that are hard to come by. Signing up early can give you a chance at the big time! The first few waves are almost filled up - register now to get your shot at the best companies!


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW


There are hundreds of reasons to come to the Expo this year:

PITCH YOUR IDEA AT THE GOLDEN PITCH FESTIVAL
Over 100 production companies, agencies, and management companies - most with studio deals or A-list clients - will be on hand to hear your idea. In five minutes, you could go from struggling writer to gaining representation or maybe even a meeting at a big studio. The Golden Pitch Festival is the cheapest way to open the door to one of the most difficult industries to break into in the world.

SEMINARS ON SCREENWRITING AND FILMMAKING
Every aspect of the craft and business of screenwriting is covered in our many seminars that span three days of events. If your script has an Act II problem, or you're worried about how to pitch a certain idea, or you're simply wondering what the best way for you to go about getting an agent should be, it's all covered at the Expo.

If you have aspirations of being a writer or director in Hollywood, the 2009 Screenwriting Expo is an essential stop for you and your career.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW

Act II Webinar

If you're interested in a refresher before tonight's webinar about Act II, visit www.ScreenPlayClass.com for a clip from last week's Act I webinar.

To register for tonight's webinar, CLICK HERE NOW.

Screenwriting Webinar Tonight

I will be presenting my second webinar tonight about The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting. It's already sold out but I'm offering a FREE Q & A session immediately following the online class. To register, visit:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/896264587

It's only open to the first 50 people who sign-up.

How To Write Your Best Ending Ever (Video)

If you didn't get a chance to attend Saturday's seminar, here's a brief clip.

How To Write Your Best Ending Ever

I will be teaching a class called How To Write Your Best Ending Ever for the NYC Screenwriter group at 3PM. For more information, CLICK HERE.

How To Use Your Personal Doubts to Create A Screenplay

All writers suffer from self-doubt. It's part of the reason writers write -- the grit of sand in an oyster that makes pearls (hopefully!)

The student who wrote to me on Facebook, and who I responded to, is a talented, prolific writer who has two published novels, a Sci-Fi screenplay trilogy and is a highly sought after attorney.

Here's what he wrote:
"It's been eight months and I can't stick to an art form. I can't read anything. I feel art through sight or sound. I try to remember the good things you said and I feel like writing for a moment and then my mind goes blank. No characters, no plot, no emotion, not even a sound or picture. I have taken many writing classes and I see a picture of you on Facebook and I wanted to email someone. I don't know truth anymore."

And my reply was:

Not "knowing truth" is a great place to start. Give a character you admire your own questioning nature and go from there. My new book begins with defining a character's dream. If you were the main character in a screenplay, the character's dream would be to: "know the truth." Some of the greatest works ever written, such as Oedipus The King are based on a hero wanting to know the truth at any cost. Angel Heart and Blade Runner are other examples.

Have confidence, that's all you are lacking! Talent is what you got loads of!

So if you are going through a moment of self-doubt, ask yourself what the specific issue is and turn the answer into a character's dream.

Tango

Just a quick note to let you know that I will be performing the tango at Fred Astaire Dance Studios tonight. It's open to anyone who likes dancing (and free drinks).

The event runs from 9:30-11pm. Dance party to follow performances.

Fred Astaire Dance Studios
174 West 72nd, #2
New York, NY 10023

Harry Potter A Classic?

An interesting post by Katie McLaughlin on Anderson Cooper's blog.

It raises a few questions for writers: Will Harry Potter continue to resonate for years to come? Can someone expect to write a classic these days? If you had to choose, would you rather write a blockbuster or a timeless story?

What do you think?

Writing The New Romantic Comedy

As a writing coach, I work on a number of different genres but many of my current students are writing romantic comedies.

One of the questions I am constantly being asked is: How do you keep the ideas fresh and up to date?

The film You've Got Mail tried to use email as a gimmick when attempting to retell the great Ernst Lubitch story, The Shop Around The Corner. The recent film The Hangover relied on cell phones.

In the first case, the script was weak, so the gimmick couldn't save it, but in the second, the cell phone is an effective device that enhances the story.

I am always trying to explain to my private students that the key is to focus on the basic love story and use current events (or technologies) to flavor but not distort the story.

As an example this video, a fresh take on West Side Story really pulls this off.

I'd love to hear your own thoughts on writing the "new" film.

Congratulations to all of the Emmy Award nomineess...

Outstanding Writing for Nonfiction Programming

American Experience • The Trials Of J. Robert Oppenheimer • PBS • A David Grubin
Productions film for American Experience
David Grubin, Writer

American Masters • Jerome Robbins: Something To Dance About • PBS • Thirteen/WNET American Masters
Amanda Vaill, Writer

Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business Of America • When I'm Bad, I'm Better—The Groundbreakers • PBS • A co-production of Ghost Light Films and Thirteen/WNET New York in association with Rhino Entertainment and BBC
Michael Kantor, Writer
Laurence Maslon, Writer

Penn & Teller: Bullshit! • New Age Medicine • Showtime • Showtime Presents in association with Penn & Teller, A Division of Buggs and Rudy Discount Corporation, Star Price Productions, The Wolper Organization
Penn Jillette, Writer
Teller, Writer
Star Price, Writer
Rich Nathanson, Writer
Michael Goudeau, Writer
David Wechter, Writer
Cliff Schoenberg, Writer
Sheryl Zohn, Writer

Roman Polanski: Wanted And Desired • HBO • Milwood Pictures, Graceful Pictures, BBC, Antidote Films in association with HBO Documentary Films and ThinkFilm
Joe Bini, Writer
P.G. Morgan, Writer
Marina Zenovich, Writer

Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series

Flight Of The Conchords • Prime Minister • HBO • Dakota Pictures and Comedy Arts in
association with HBO Entertainment
James Bobin, Writer
Jemaine Clement, Writer
Bret McKenzie, Writer

30 Rock • Reunion • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Matt Hubbard, Writer

30 Rock • Apollo, Apollo • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Robert Carlock, Writer

30 Rock • Mamma Mia • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Ron Weiner, Writer

30 Rock • Kidney Now! • NBC • Broadway Video, Little Stranger, Inc. in association with Universal Media Studios
Jack Burditt, Writer
Robert Carlock, Writer

Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series

Lost • The Incident • ABC • Grass Skirt Productions and ABC Studios
Carlton Cuse, Writer
Damon Lindelof, Writer

Mad Men • A Night To Remember • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Robin Veith, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer

Mad Men • Six Month Leave • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Andre Jacquemetton, Writer
Maria Jacquemetton, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer

Mad Men • The Jet Set • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Matthew Weiner, Writer

Mad Men • Meditations In An Emergency • AMC • Lionsgate Television
Kater Gordon, Writer
Matthew Weiner, Writer

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Series

The Colbert Report • Comedy Central • Hello Doggie, Inc. with Busboy Productions and Spartina Productions
Stephen Colbert, Writer
Allison Silverman, Writer
Richard Dahm, Writer
Michael Brumm, Writer
Rob Dubbin, Writer
Opus Moreschi, Writer
Peter Gwinn, Writer
Jay Katsir, Writer
Frank Lesser, Writer
Tom Purcell, Writer
Glenn Eichler, Writer
Peter Grosz, Writer
Barry Julien, Writer
Meredith Scardino, Writer

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart • Comedy Central • Central Productions, LLC
Steve Bodow, Head Writer
Jon Stewart, Writer
David Javerbaum, Writer
Josh Lieb, Writer
Rory Albanese, Writer
Kevin Bleyer, Writer
Jason Ross, Writer
Tim Carvell, Writer
John Oliver, Writer
Sam Means, Writer
Rob Kutner, Writer
J.R. Havlan, Writer
Rich Blomquist, Writer
Wyatt Cenac, Writer
Elliott Kalan, Writer
Rachel Axler, Writer

Late Night With Conan O'Brien • NBC • Broadway Video, NBC Studios, Conaco
Mike Sweeney, Head Writer
Chris Albers, Writer
Jose Arroyo, Writer
Dan Cronin, Writer
Kevin Dorff, Writer
Andres du Bouchet, Writer
Michael Gordon, Writer
Berkley Johson, Writer
Brian Kiley, Wrter
Todd Levin, Writer
Brian McCann, Writer
Guy Nicolucci, Writer
Conan O'Brien, Writer
Matt O'Brien, Writer
Brian Stack, Writer
Andrew Weinberg, Writer

Late Show With David Letterman • CBS • Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Eric Stangel, Head Writer
Justin Stangel, Head Writer
Michael Barrie, Writer
Jim Mulholland, Writer
Steve Young, Writer
Tom Ruprecht, Writer
Lee Ellenberg, Writer
Matt Roberts, Writer
Jeremy Weiner, Writer
Joe Grossman, Writer
Bill Scheft, Writer
Bob Borden, Writer
Frank Sebastiano, Writer
David Letterman, Writer

Saturday Night Live • NBC • SNL Studios in association with NBC Studios and Broadway Video
Seth Meyers, Head Writer
Doug Abeles, Writer
James Anderson, Writer
Alex Baze, Writer
Jessica Conrad, Writer
James Downey, Writer
Steve Higgins, Writer
Colin Jost, Writer
Erik Kenward, Writer
Rob Klein, Writer
John Lutz, Writer
Lorne Michaels, Writer
John Mulaney, Writer
Paula Pell, Writer
Simon Rich, Writer
Marika Sawyer, Writer
Akiva Schaffer, Writer
John Solomon, Writer
Emily Spivey, Writer
Kent Sublette, Writer
Jorma Taccone, Writer
Bryan Tucker, Writer

Outstanding Writing For A Variety, Music Or Comedy Special

81st Annual Academy Awards • ABC • Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
Jon Macks, Writer
Jenny Bicks, Writer
Bill Condon, Writer
John Hoffman, Writer
Phil Alden Robinson, Writer
Bruce Vilanch, Writer
Dan Harmon, Special Material Written By
Rob Schrab, Special Material Written By
Ben Schwartz, Special Material Written By
Joel Stein, Special Material Written By

Chris Rock - Kill The Messenger • HBO • Chris Rock Enterprises and Funny Business in association with HBO Entertainment
Chris Rock, Writer

Louis C.K.: Chewed Up • Showtime • Image Entertainment / Art & Industry
Louis CK, Writer

Ricky Gervais: Out Of England – The Stand-Up Special • HBO • Moffitt Lee Productions in association with HBO Entertainment
Ricky Gervais, Writer

Will Ferrell: You're Welcome America. A Final Night With George W. Bush • HBO • Gary Sanchez Productions, Funny Business in association with HBO Entertainment
Will Ferrell, Writer

Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special

Generation Kill • Bomb In The Garden • HBO • Company Pictures and Blown Deadline
Productions in association with HBO Films
David Simon, Writer

Grey Gardens • HBO • Specialty Films and Locomotive in association with HBO Films
Michael Sucsy, Writer
Patricia Rozema, Writer

Into The Storm • HBO • Scott Free and Rainmark Films production in association with the BBC and HBO Films
Hugh Whitemore, Writer

Little Dorrit • PBS • A co-production of BBC Productions and WGBH Boston
Andrew Davies, Writer

Taking Chance • HBO • Motion Picture Corporation of American and Civil Dawn Pictures in association with HBO Films
LtCol Michael R. Strobl, USMC (Ret.), Writer
Ross Katz, Writer


The 61st annual Primetime Emmy Awards will air Sunday, September 20, on CBS. Neil Patrick Harris will host. The show will air from Los Angeles' Nokia Theater.

Where do you start your screenplay?

Last night I gave the first of a four-part webinar series on basic screenwriting using The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting. The best part for me was the great questions we received. Each question was terrific and well informed. Thank you all!

A favorite question was: Where should you start your screenplay?

The answer to this question varies according to what stage the writer is at. Last night's seminar was aimed at beginning writers, so the answer for the first draft is: Start wherever the story began in your mind. Go with that first thought and make yourself a promise that you won't try to second-guess your choices until you've written a draft. The motto of my writing system is: Don't Get It Right, Get It Written.

Please let me know what gave you the idea for your screenplay. This is such a fascinating subject, and I hope to go into the process of original story development soon.

How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks at ScreenwritingTips.com

Just a quick note of thanks to our friends at ScreenwritingTips.com for profiling my book How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks.

Their site is full of screenwriting exercises and tips that will help with your process. To see their site, CLICK HERE.

A Wee Bit of Webinar

I did my first of four web seminars for Women In Film & Television International and I loved every minute of it. If you weren't able to join me online, here's a brief clip.

Funkyzeit mit Mom and Dad

My friend Katie McLaughlin wrote about watching the film Bruno with her mom and dad. Read the article here: http://marquee.blogs.cnn.com/2009/07/14/watching-bruno-with-mom-and-dad/

Have you had a similar uncomfortable movie experience?

Free Q & A Session Tonight!

A number of my private students are participating in this year's THE MOVIE DEAL! Screenplay Contest (Scripts due tomorrow!), so I thought I'd take a moment to mention a few opportunities I've come up with to help writers with their process. If you're writing a screenplay for the first time, rewriting or preparing your material for contests or market, I think you'll find some helpful information below.



4-PART WEBINAR

Even though my 4-Part webinar about The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting is now SOLD OUT, I'm happy to announce I will be opening tonight's 60-minute Q & A session to the first 50 people who register below at NO COST!



*Want to know how to organize those notes into a story?

*Interested in learning the best way to see if your story will sell?

*Having trouble getting past page 60?

*Want to learn the best way to approach rewrites?

*How to make time to write and stick to it?



This is the session for you!


Just be one of the first 50 people to CLICK THE LINK BELOW and follow the instructions. You may submit your questions until 8pm tonight and I will answer as many as I have time for in the alloted time.



Marilyn Horowitz's FREE Q & A SESSION



1. Click here to join:

https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/911176122

This link should not be shared with others; it is only for members of Marilyn's mailing list.



2. You will be connected to audio using your computer's microphone and speakers (VoIP). A headset is recommended.


Webinar ID: 911-176-122


For your question to be considered during tonight's Q & A session, you must CLICK HERE to submit your questions BEFORE 8PM Eastern Time.





Good luck and happy writing,

Marilyn Horowitz

www.ScreenWriterMagic.com



P.S. If you are unable to participate in tonight's FREE Q & A SESSION, visit www.ScreenWriterMagic.com for a limited time discount on Marilyn's Home Study Course. Price goes up on July 23rd.



P.P.S. I have found that many people have the same questions about screenwriting, so even if you can't participate in tonight's FREE Q & A SESSION, please take a moment to SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION HERE.

A fine line between drama and comedy

To understand the difference between drama and comedy, go to YouTube and watch Don Jackson 1962 Prague and then watch the so-called worst figure skating routine in historyby skater Mark Leung.

Both are great skaters. Jackson is a Canadian who won the world championship in 1962, in part because he was the first man to land a triple lutz in competition. He then made a career for himself marketing his own success.

The drama in the Don Jackson videos come from the tension of the audience's concern about his winning or losing while the comedy in the second video comes from Leung clowning around as he skates just for fun, trying to entertain the audience. Both are great skaters, but each has a different, ahem, spin.

As you work on screenplays, try to define the type of story you're telling, and try to tell stories about people who become a virtuoso in their field, however grand, like Don Jackson, or humble like the team in No Reservations who open their own restaurant.

SCENE FOR A DAY: Batman (1989) by Sam Hamm & Warren Skaaren

Summer Screenwriter #1 - The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting

Dear Screenwriter:


I hope you are having a terrific summer!


A number of my students have decided this is the summer they want to finally finish (and sell!) their screenplay, so I have decided to send out as many tips, exercises and opportunities I can to help them along the way.


For my first email, I will discuss two different intensive programs available to writers. There's a lot of information in here, so you might want to print it out to make sure you don't miss anything.


FOUR-PART WEBINAR

I'm happy to announce I will be presenting a FOUR-PART WEBINAR on Tuesday, July 14th, July 21st, July 28th and August 4th, 2009 on the basics of screenwriting using The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting, with a Q & A following each hour of instruction.

The cost of the 4 sessions is just $150 and includes:

*A copy of THE FOUR MAGIC QUESTIONS OF SCREENWRITING, which will be sent electronically to the registrants (valued at $29.97).

*A FREE never-before-released movie breakdown (valued at $19.97).

*FULL ACCESS to Marilyn's private movie breakdown collection.

*An invitation to a FREE MONTHLY LIVE TELESEMINAR hosted by Marilyn Horowitz, where she will personally teach you how to use THE FOUR MAGIC QUESTIONS OF SCREENWRITING

*A personal twenty-minute phone script consultation (valued at $150). The consultations will be arranged individually through Marilyn's office.

I only have 6 spots left in the four-part class, so if you are interested (the first class starts on Tuesday, July 14th!) just put MARILYN'S MAILING LIST where it asks for your WIFTI CHAPTER & Address.


CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR MY FOUR-PART WEBINAR


HOME STUDY COURSE

If you are unable to participate in the four-part class, I have put-together a HOME VERSION of The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting, which includes everything you'll need to use the system on your own, including:

- The Book

- The Crash Course DVD

- 2 Audio Seminars

- 5-Part Audio Course

- And much more...

It has helped my students take months (and drafts) off their process and I know it will do the same for you.


CLICK HERE TO ORDER MARILYN'S HOME STUDY COURSE


I will do my best to send out more updates on what's available to screenwriters during the next few days and weeks of the summer. As always, I look forward to updates on your progress.

Good luck and happy writing,


Marilyn

How to Sell Out (or Buy In)

Last week Zak Penn voiced his concerns about his upcoming Avengers film and Megan Fox had unflattering things to say about Transformers 2. What responsibility do the people who work on the film, particularly the writers, actors and directors, have to its promotion? Does their job end when the cameras stop rolling or should they feel compelled to sell the final product?

Video Games: Competition or Companion?

With the popularity of events like this, and the increase in video game "chatter", do you think video games (and other forms of new media) are more competition or companion to film?

You Are What You Eat

In honor of July 4th, my assistant forced us to play The Picnic Game all day. Someone starts it off by saying, "I'm going to a picnic..." And then they say which item they will be bringing.

For example, Christopher was bringing cheese. Siobhan was bringing soda. And Annie was bringing apples.

I said I would bring carrots. Christopher told me I couldn't come to the picnic.

I said I would bring hot dogs. I still couldn't come.

I tried potatoes. Nope.

What I didn't know is that the person who starts the game decides what the code will be for the other players to figure out. In this case, the item had to start with the same first letter as your name.

When I was told I could instead bring MASHED potatoes if I wanted to come, I finally figured it out.

The game reminded me of the "You Are What You Eat" technique I use in my book How to Write a Screenplay in 10 Weeks.

Like real people, your characters are what they eat. When we eat food, we remember other experiences of eating it. In real life, the process is called remembering. In writing, it's called "making it up." One of the basic principles that I teach is that it is much easier to remember things than to make them up.

As an exercise, decide which food your character would bring to a picnic. Would they "take the cannoli" like Clemenza and Rocco in The Godfather or enjoy some fava beans and a nice chianti like Hannibal Lechter in The Silence of The Lambs?

Taking the time to figure out what food your character likes and why can offer layers to them and your story that you might have missed.

Good luck and happy writing.

Cirque Jacqueline

My good friend Andrea Reese will be performing her one-woman show Cirque Jacqueline twice this month. If you haven't seen it yet, you won't want to miss it.

Here's the info:

When: Saturday, July 25th, at 8pm and Sunday, July 26th at 3pm
Where: The Players Loft, 115 MacDougal Street, Greenwich Village (between 3rd Street and Minetta Lane, near many subway stops, including West 4th.)
Tickets: $20

For more information and to order tickets, please visit:

www.jackieoshow.com/upcoming.html

Free Sci Fi Downloads Available

As most of you Sci-Fi fans know, the 67th Annual World Science Fiction Convention will be held in Montreal, Quebec, Canada from August 6th - 10th, 2009. One of the highlights of the annual convention is the presentation of the Hugo Awards.

To find out who's nominated (and access the free downloads), click here.

The Chipmunks do Star Wars

Who says you need big budget special effects to create something amazing?

Check out more of these pic here.