The Ghost Writer

The Ghost Writer is a new thriller starring Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Kim Cattrall and Timothy Hutton about a ghost writer who gets caught up in a world of political intrigue, directed by Roman Polanski. It was adapted from a book by the writer and director.

My friend, and fellow writer who I saw the film with said afterward, "I was so engrossed, I didn't notice the structure."

A filmmaker's dream come true!

In my writing system, the goal is to make the structure organic so that the story feels inevitable.

The most impressive display of mastery for me were the three or four moments of comedy where the audience actually laughed. Instead of breaking the tension in this taut thriller the laughter allowed a moment of relief -- and then wound the story even tighter because of the contrast between fear and laughter.

The audience applauded at the end, myself included. Bravo!

Knock 3 Times

A big congratulations to one of my very talented students, Jeff Goldstein, who will stage the first reading of his screenplay Knock Three Times at 7pm on Sunday, February 28, 2010.

The reading will be held at my office on the Upper West Side. If you are free and would like to attend, please email me for details.

What Makes You Cry?

At lunch today, I overheard a woman at the next table say:

"You know what really bad movie makes me cry -- Galaxy Quest. Every time."

As a fan of science fiction and satire, I don't really consider Galaxy Quest a "bad movie" but I understood what she meant.

There have been many times while watching what I considered a mediocre film that I felt myself tearing up. It's amazing what a performance, or a piece of music, or a line from a film can do to you.

What bad movie makes you cry? Why?

What less-than-stellar film would get to your main character?

Coco On The Road?

Other than kissing the occasional dolphin and joining Twitter, we hadn't seen nor heard from Conan O'Brien since he taped his final Tonight until word broke this week that Conan might be taking his show on the road.

According to the New York Post:

The late-night host, whose $33 million NBC payoff deal signed a month ago includes a clause forbidding him to appear on TV until Sept. 1, is eager to keep his name in lights, sources tell us. One insider said, "There's nothing to stop him doing his show in front of an audience at venues like Radio City. It will build more buzz for him as he negotiates his next television contract. It will also keep Conan happy because he doesn't want to be out of the public consciousness for too long.

Which TV show or film would you like to see adapted for the stage?

Taking Risks

I haven't written about the Olympics yet (mostly because when you work with a Canadian it's all you hear about) but one story caught my eye.

"On Wednesday the four-man No. 1 sled from the Netherlands pulled out of the Olympics. Because their driver was terrified."

Obviously this is not just a simple case of nerves. The intense speed of the track combined with Nodar Kumaritashvili's unfortunate death no doubt influenced his decision, still, it's amazing to think that an athlete who has spent his entire life preparing for this moment would just walk away.

After I read the story, I tried to imagine it as a movie. At first, I imagined what it would be like if he decided to race despite the danger. Would it have a triumphant ending, like Rocky V, or a tragic ending (presumably), like in The Wrestler?

Next, I considered how the movie would play out if he decided not to race. Would the driver be more or less heroic if he stood up to his coach and teammates and pulled out of the Olympics? Is he just thinking about his own safety or the safety of his team as well? Did he consider his family when making his decision? What are the consequences of his decision?

As an exercise:
Think of a moment in your own story when your character is forced to make a difficult decision. Do they decide to take the risk or walk away? What do they think about when making this decision? Do they regret it? What does their decision cost them?

Babies

I was forwarded an absolutely adorable trailer for the new documentary entitled Babies, that "simultaneously chronicles the lives of four of the world’s newest human inhabitants - in Mongolia, Namibia, San Francisco, and Tokyo, respectively -- from first breath to first steps."

I wasn't surprised to see that the studio has picked Mother's Day for its opening.

Most of the tips I offer on this blog are related to the creation and writing of your story but let's look past that this time and think about your film's premiere.

Which day would you pick to open your film? A holiday that is significant to your plot? Your birthday? Why?

Movie Outline 3.1

As many of you know, I write a monthly script tip for MovieOutline.com, the software that allows you create your screenplay step by step.

The latest version (3.1) is out now.

For more information, or to order, please visit www.MovieOutline.com.

CLICK HERE to read my latest MovieOutline.com Script Tip.

Villains Are People Too...

I have been working on a number of different screenplays and novels dealing with religion and spirituality the past few weeks. Each of them deals with a non-spiritual person who is forced to survive when thrust into a very devout world. In most of the stories the protagonist/villain character is a very religious person trying to change the hero's beliefs.

Each of the stories has a problem because the villain is written as a caricature, not as a person.

Always remember that your villain is a hero in their own mind.

Using these stories as an example, consider if your villain or obstacle prayed, what would they say, to whom and in what language?

By deciding what they believe, you'll have a better chance of determining what they want and who they are.

CLICK HERE to read about the role of prayer in different religions.

Knock Knock...

One of my dear friends had a break up with a boyfriend that turned violent. She was home with her new beau and her old boyfriend broke in waving a baseball bat! She grabbed a frying pan as her new guy defended her and very nearly ended up in jail.

These are people with graduate degrees from Ivy League schools. Oy!

As an exercise:
Who would your main character be in this scenario? Would they be the victim, the aggressor or the defender? How would this altercation end for them? What if this happened to your character in the past? Would they tell anyone? How would it shape their attitude toward life and love?

Andrew Koenig Missing

It's always upsetting when someone suffering from depression feels like they have no one to turn to, and I'm hoping for a positive outcome for Andrew Koenig, his friends and his family.

If you haven't heard, Andrew Koenig, the actor who played "Boner" on the TV show Growing Pains, has been missing since Valentine's Day, possibly in Vancouver, Canada.

I never watched Growing Pains during its run and I'm not familiar with Andrew's other work, and usually stories like this barely register with me for more than a day. I think it's the revelation that he is the son of Walter Koenig ("Chekov" on Star Trek) that has captured my interest.

There are a number of films about the missing children of the rich and famous and, in the world of film and television, it's always interesting to see a person with a certain level of celebrity and power feel helpless to save their child.

As an exercise:
What if someone close to your main character went missing? How would they respond? Would they go looking for them like Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade? Or hire The Dude to be the go-between like in The Big Lebowski? Or maybe they'd offer up a bounty like Mel Gibson did in Ransom?

By taking a moment to consider how your hero (or villain) would react in a situation like that, you will learn a lot about their character and what's most important to them.


If you are in the Vancouver-area and believe you see Andrew Koenig, please contact the Police Department at (604) 717-2534

Another Round!

Rye & Ginger - a play set and performed in a bar - continues it's run at The Kettle of Fish this weekend. Directed by my good friend Rick Mowat it's an exciting afternoon of theatre. I hope to see you all there.

For reservations: 212.388.9732

The Three Most Common Rewriting Challenges and How To Fix Them

During the past week, I began private coaching with a team rewriting a novel and with a screenwriter who's rewriting a new screenplay at the request of her agent. In the same week, my private class on rewriting, Finish Your Script began and has nine students, each of whom are each rewriting a screenplay or a novel. Each project is a first, second or third draft, and all tell interesting stories and are well written. They all need work because each story suffers from one or more of the three most common rewriting challenges I find in most of the projects I work on: A passive hero or heroine, an overcomplicated or oversimplified plot, and a lack of suspense.

Read Full Tip

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT HOW TO REWRITE A SCREENPLAY IN TWO WEEKS

ChatRoulette.com

I was introduced to a new website called ChatRoulette.com today. As the name suggests, you sign in and video chat - picture and audio - with random people from around the world. There's a NEXT button if you want to move on from the conversation to another one.

A lot of people I've talked to about it compare it to speed dating but to me, as a writer and script consultant, it's more like pitching.

Most of the people you come upon "NEXT" you in a split second so, if you want to carry on any sort of conversation, you have to capture their interest immediately. So far, in the hour I've spent on it, I've seen people juggling, dancing, showing clips from movies, sleeping, etc. to try and convince me to stop and chat.

Most of the conversations have been a total waste of time, but I have come across a few gems, including a girl in Russia who was desperately trying to re-find the "love of her life" after they were disconnected the day before. When I asked her about him, all she said was, "He was nice. He had a parrot. They kissed."

You can't make that up.

One word of warning though: You will see a lot of penises... Yes, really. Like everything else on the internet, the exhibitionists have taken over ChatRoulette.com. In an earlier post on this site, Chris mentioned how many he saw while running the NYC Marathon. But now, because of this site, I think I have him... um... beat.

That said, if you're interested in trying the latest fad in technology, and you're not easily offended, give it a try. It's a free service and will no doubt give you a lot of material for your story.

As an exercise:
Imagine your main character and villain are both on this site. What are they both hoping to find? Do they find true love? A new victim? What happens when they stumble upon each other?

Australian For Screenplay

Here's my private student Jeff and I during our second session together. He traveled all the way from Australia to finish his screenplay with me in New York City. Congratulations to him on taking that BIG step.

If you're hoping to get your screenplay written and/or rewritten quickly, please click here for more information. I offer intensive packages for writers at all levels.

Senior Counsel

I read this article about lawyers who continue to work late into life.

My 78-year-old mother is a practicing lawyer and people can't believe she continues to practice at her age. Her advice, that I live by, is that when you find something you love doing, you should keep doing it as long as you can.

As an exercise:
Take a moment to imagine what your life will be like when you're 90-years-old. Where will you be living? Will you still be working? How do you spend your day?

Now answer the same questions for your character.

Even if we never see your character at age 90, it's always important to consider their life when you are telling their story.

The Sneakers by Santiago Steele

My friend Santiago wrote this poem as a spoof, but many of his readers were moved by it.

How many of us could have substituted someone from a previous relationship for those sneakers? Who would that person have been in your Hero or Heroine's back story?

You know it's right from the start, from that first touch, skin on skin - the perfect combination of weight, balance and glide.

They are your little babies. You are there from the moment they make their first squeaking sound, a silent witness to every wrinkle and scuff.

Together you struggle through broken laces, and bits of heel that come unglued. You can't imagine wearing any other shoes.

Through muck and snow, dirty streets and dusty dance halls, you move as one. You live together, dance together, maybe once in a while even sleep together ...

Then comes that day ... when all the denial about whether or not your favorites really do go well with every outfit you own finally comes to an end, and you look down to find a pair of grimy, scratched, faded old sneaks - could be any old sneaks - staring back at you.

Suddenly you can't keep overlooking those holes in the sole where the air pockets used to be, and that little bit of toe that won't stay on becomes all at once intolerable.

Soon, you find your eyes lingering on that one storefront you never noticed before . . .

Knowing that you are attracted to a certain look, you go through a series of short lived experiments with similar styles, maybe even another pair from the same brand.

But it's not the same - nothing feels right.

At some point you even flirt with the idea of never wearing another pair of sneaks again.

But, before you know it, you're the center of attention all over again, getting comments from friends and strangers alike about how good you look in that new pair of shoes you recently picked up.

The old sneaks are there at home, pushed half-conciously to the back of a shoe cabinet.

You entertain thoughts of a farewell ceremony out by the sidewalk trash can, or maybe of donating them to a homeless person, but in an ironic twist, are at held back last-second by a mixture of frugality and jealousy.

'Someday' you say yourself, 'we'll take that one last train ride to the seaport, or maybe a tanda in Central Park'.

'Besides', you ask yourself 'what if one day I can't afford another pair?'

In moments laden with nostalgia you find yourself going back again and again, only to find that that weird heel-wear pattern you hadn't noticed before quickly extinguishes any hope of a comeback.

Years pass, living in the same apartment, but now in separate rooms, until one day while digging through your closet you come across a strange old pair of sneaks so ugly you barely recognize them.

On the way down to the trash, you stop for moment, almost thinking out loud: 'nah - couldn't have been.

How To Be A Writer

Never doubt that you are always involved in a creative process -- all you have to do is show up.

I recently had a student travel from Australia to work with me. We laid out a schedule so he could do a rewrite in 2 weeks, and then he said, "Oh I have friends coming after the first week and will have no time to write, although that is what I came for."

My reply was be confused, and then to offer him what the writer Kafka once wrote:

"You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait. Do not even wait, be quite still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet."

If you want to be a writer, all you have to do is to make the time to write!

My Aunt Doris

My Aunt Doris died at age 78 after spending many years suffering from a terrible disease. I wasn't close with that part of my family, though from afar I adored first cousins, Amy, Peter and Gregory and admired my aunt and uncle. As the artist in my family, they were all a little wary of me, and I don't blame them.

That being said, I have always loved them, and was very sad to learn of Aunt Doris' passing. In her obituary in the Sunday Times, her dignity in the face of suffering is noted, and I can confirm that on the rare occasions when I did see her, she seemed serene and composed.

Another cousin, Chris Schwartz wrote eloquently,

"This past Friday, after a decades’ long struggle with Parkinson’s Disease, my aunt-in-law, Doris, passed away in the company of her children. I never knew the dynamic woman who captured my uncle’s heart, and even as early as a child, I was bewildered, and not a little horrified, by the ruthlessness and enormity of her condition.

Of all the ethical unanswerables that characterized her life, I have faith that this much is certain: her suffering has finally ceased. What begins now for her, as it will inevitably for all of us, is a strange, new journey. Moreover, I have hope that all her years of struggle ultimately contributed to her spiritual progress in ways neither those of us who loved her nor she herself could calculate."

I, myself, am not very good at parsing real life, as my specialty lies in the world of make believe. In movies or books, a mother dying is one thing, but in life it is another, and I'm not sure there are any words or ways of thinking that can mitigate that fact. I send all my love and support to my dear cousins, Amy, Peter and Gregory, and hope they can find comfort somewhere.

Gilmore Girls: The Movie?

My friend Katie McLaughlin discusses the possibility of a feature film version of Gilmore Girls at CNN.com.

Do you think this is a good idea?

Which TV show would you like to see made into a movie?

CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL ARTICLE

Ten Questions Asked By Raving Dave

One of my private students forwarded me a link to Raving Dave Herman's blog because I was referenced in his latest post - Ten Questions To Answer Before You Write Your Screenplay.

It's a terrific list of questions that all writers should take a look at before they start a script.

CLICK HERE TO READ DAVE'S ENTIRE LIST OF QUESTIONS

Bending The Rules

I was reading this article about Title IX in the New York Times when it dawned on me that slowly but surely sports movies are about women too.

When it comes to movies, particularly those about sports, we have always defined male characters as "jocks," or "nerds," and, quite often, the sport the character participates in has helped define them. But what about female characters? Aside from "cheerleader," there hasn't been a lot for females to do in sports films.

As an exercise:
Asking yourself what sport the female character in your story would play. It's a great way to understand how a female character works and can add a new dimension to your story.

Where Is The Camera When You Dream?

I asked my NYU class to write down their dreams, not for analysis but to get a better picture of how they visualize.

During the exercise, I asked them to pretend that they were watching movies and to notice where the "camera" was. They all said it really clarified how to use screenplay format better, and to block out their scenes.

Where is the camera in your dreams?

Late Night Gossip

In my last post I discussed how to tell if you should use dialogue in a scene. The example I used in that post was about a discussion to merge companies during a late night dinner.

An after hours meal is a wonderful setting for a big revelation in your script because the alcohol, cozy seating and low-lighting cause your characters to feel uninhibited. [Note: Kind of like a John Mayer Playboy interview.]

For example, a few weeks ago, I was surprised to learn that one of my friends who is in what seems like the perfect relationship, revealed to me that she had not been intimate with her partner for almost six months.

"He got lazy," she said, in-between glasses of wine.

As an exercise:
Think of a moment in your script when someone announces some surprising news. Did they lose their job? Are they having an affair? Did they commit a crime?

Now set this scene in a cozy restaurant. Do they have to whisper? Get drunk first? Look through a long menu before they can make their admission? Speak over a string quartet?

How did the scene change?

Dialogue - Is it needed?

In my private class last night, I discussed dialogue, which should either advance the action or reveal character.

One great way to know if dialogue is needed is to ask yourself if the information could be conveyed any other way. The scene in question was one in which two very wealthy middle-aged men are having dinner and discussing how to merge their two giant companies. If you can imagine this as a scene in a film, as they spoke, you could see they were plotting together, and understand what type of deal they were negotiating. Without dialogue we could not understand the specifics of the business they were discussing. Clearly,in this case, dialogue is called for.

Here's a tip: Since this will be fairly dry dialogue, the best way to write it will be to have them argue about some aspect which will distract the audience and not make them feel they are being force fed information.

Vera Pavlova

I'm always happy to promote the work of new writers, which is why I was so happy when my student Yelena forwarded me the following info. I hope you'll be able to make it...

Says Yelena:

The subject of my documentary (that just got two Accolade Awards,) Vera Pavlova, is presenting her book published by Knopf, next Thursday, February, 25th. Highly recommended!!! Please, come!!!

We've heard that they are going to serve some vodka there too:)

Read the detailed information below. Please, forward it to your friends. Hopefully, I'll see you there.

Yelena

THURSDAY, FEB 25, 7:00PM
NEW YORK CITY
AN EVENING WITH VERA PAVLOVA

A reading, in Russian and English, celebrating the publication of the celebrated Russian poet's first book in English, If There is Something to Desire (Knopf).

Co-sponsored by The Russian American Foundation.

$10 / Free for PSA Members and Russian American Foundation Members.
Grand Gallery, National Arts Club
15 Gramercy Park South

FREE Class & Consultation at www.FinalDraftScript.com

Once you start learning my advanced screenwriting techniques, I'm convinced you'll never want to go back to your sleepless nights, endlessly searching the internet for information that ends up being outdated and worthless (Trust me... I've been there!).

Just one tip from this video series could take your screenplay to the next level and help you win competitions, land an agent and get produced! To my knowledge there’s nothing else available like this FREE course.

CLICK HERE TO BEGIN YOUR JOURNEY

News From Chaotic Sequence

Where Else Can You See A Play... And Drink?
Rick Mowat directs Charles Stransky in a new play called Rye 'N Ginger, the first of a series of Bar Plays produced by The Dramatic Question in association with the Kettle of Fish. The plot: She's a fading beauty. He's young and interested. Is this May/September romance something special... or is it the same sad scene that's playing out in lonely bars all over Reagan's America? The scoop: For $5 you get to watch a great play (directed by and starring two of the leads from our very own Caleb's Door) and drink! Check it out on:
Saturday, Feb. 20th, 2pm and 4pm
Saturday, Feb. 27th, 2pm and 4pm
Sunday, Feb. 28th, 2pm and 4pm
... at The Kettle of Fish, 59 Christopher St. just off 7th Avenue South. Call 212-388-9732 for reservations.


New Blog Entries!
We've got new blog entries on both the Found in Time site and the Chaotic Sequence site! The Chaotic Sequence blog focuses on some helpful reading and other material that's outside the film world. The Found In Time blog features more info on setting up your production company. Check them out!


Helena From The Wedding premieres at SXSW 2010!
Helena From The Wedding, a really cool independent drama directed by Joseph Infantolino and produced by Alexa Fogel and Brendan Mason (of Beech Hill Films), will premiere at this year's South By SouthWest (SXSW) film festival! Arthur Vincie UPMed the film, which features sharp performances, some neat cinematography, and a great story. Also check out the Facebook Fan Page, which includes photos, the trailer, and upcoming screening info.


New Additions to the Found In Time page
We've just uploaded the theme music for our video pitch, and the business plan and topsheet budget for the film. Visit the Found in Time Indiegogo page periodically for more info.


ReelGrok Offers New Film Production Master Classes
ReelGrok.com, an online community by and for filmmakers that features reels, resumes, classifieds, job postings, and more, will be producing a series of one-day Production Master Classes. Designed by Emmy-award-winning filmmaker Norman Berns, these classes will simplify the mysteries of delivering effective business plans, explain the legalities of fund raising, and teach working filmmakers how to navigate the complex world of social networking. A panel of leading experts will wrap the day by exploring the intricacies of funding, the dangers and rewards of self-distribution, and the new future of online marketing.

Each session will be held in a different city. The places/dates/times are:
Boston: Thursday February 25, Media Services office (One Boston Road, Southborough Center Southborough, MA), 9am - 6pm
New York: Tuesday March 2, Media Services office (30 West 22nd St., 5th Floor, New York, NY), 9am - 6pm

For more details and to register, visit: http://productionmastersclass.eventbrite.com/. Entering a discount code of 'CHAOTIC' will get you 10% off!


Alienhood will be coming to a comic book shop near you
Alienhood, a sci-fi spec script which made it to the finals at a recent Shriekfest Sci-Fi/Horror Film Festival, is being adapted into a graphic novel. The graphic novel is by Arthur Vincie (words) and John Bonafede (images). John's also a multi-disclipinary painter, filmmaker, and performance artist. You can check out more of John's work by visiting his website, Slowcrack.com.


World On Film: An Introduction is out now
World on Film: An Introduction, the latest book from film critic Martha P. Nochimson, tackles a seemingly impossible task: introducing readers to historical and current international cinema. That it does so with such ease is no mean feat. The book features close readings of films from just every part of the globe; explorations of the narrative and visual styles that both separate and join cinemas from different cultures; and examinations of individual directors' work. It also contains over 80 film stills, and a companion website for instructors. This is a book that can be enjoyed by film students, professors, filmmakers, and fans. Here's what a few of her colleagues have to say:
'Lively and readable...' - Linda Mizejewksi, Ohio State University
'... and expertly guided tour through both the leading movements in international cinema and the new movie-watching habits [viewers] need... ' - Thomas Leitch, University of Delaware
'... provides a logical and engaging framework for student learning, with substantive, imaginative questions and project ideas that encourage further research...' - Cynthia Lucia, Associate Professor and Director of Film and Media Studies, Rider University

Order copies from Amazon.com today!


Support Haiti's Rebuilding Efforts
Please take a minute to check out Partners in Health, a non-profit that's been working in Haiti for 20 years to build a solid medical infrastructure. They've been on the ground since day 1 of the earthquake and need your support to continue their good work. All donations help, no matter how big or small.

Hiding Out

I read this article in the New York Times today about animals blending in to their surroundings in order to survive.

As an exercise:

1) Take a moment to read the article.

2) Set a timer for 10 minutes and spend the time writing a brief monologue for your main character describing how they blend into their surroundings. Maybe they describe being a gay soldier in a Don't Ask Don't Tell military, or a British soldier posing as a Nazi soldier.

You probably won't ever use this monologue in your screenplay but I guarantee it will help you find layers to your story and your character you didn't know existed.

The Creative Sprite

My wonderful student Hayley Raphael mentioned me on her "Creative Sprite" blog today. It's a great journal of one person's artistic journey.

I wish more people would share their experiences with others. It's very easy to feel like you're alone against the world when you pursue a creative path and I love the idea of reminding others that we're all in this together.

CLICK HERE TO READ HAYLEY'S BLOG

Mistaken Identity & Revelations

We are constantly reminded that truth is always more amazing than fiction!

I was forwarded this incredible CNN video of a 911 dispatcher who answered a call about a choking infant, only to realize it was his own son. He calmly told his wife how to save the child's life over the phone.

The clip immediately reminded me of two episodes of medical dramas I had seen.

In an episode of ER, the crew wondered aloud where one of their staffers was, while furiously trying to save a John Doe. When the patient's beeper suddenly went off, they realized that this person was their missing coworker.

More recently, on an episode of House, the team couldn't understand why a disfigured comatose victim wasn't responding to their treatment. As the show ended, the team realized that the person in front of them was actually a girl they thought had died in the accident.

As an exercise:
Think about a scene in your script that isn't popping the way you would like? Is there some sort of mistaken identity or sudden realization you can add? Is there a medical angle? How would your characters respond to a revelation like the ones above? Is it more dramatic if they are faced with something right in front of them or over the phone?

Romantic Comedies

Valentine's Day, the new film starring... everyone, took in $66.9 million this weekend! The last huge grosser for the same period was the action-adventure Ghost Rider with $52 million in 2007.

I see this as a real positive for romantic comedy writers!

If you wrote a rom-com, what would your screenplay be about? Take a minute to consider it and, hopefully, I'll be blogging about your film in 2011.

Here are a few of my favorite romantic movies -- what are yours?

When Harry Met Sally
Moonstruck
Love Actually
Casablanca
Breakfast at Tiffany's
Love in The Afternoon

Bar Theater!

My good friend Rick Mowat will be directing this wonderful series of plays both set and presented in bars. If you will be in the NYC area. It's shaping up to be a terrific three nights of theatre and tickets are VERY limited.

Happy Valentine's Day

This is one of those holidays designed to make you feel really bad if you're single, and pressured if you're a man in a relationship, and self-judgmental if you're a woman in a relationship.

Or it could be fabulous and romantic and a true celebration of love :)

Exercise: How did your characters celebrate? Together? Alone? How do they feel about the holiday itself? Write a paragraph for each. Often this material is used later, so don't think of it as only practice. Try to be as complete in the thought as the examples below, and don't worry if it fits in right now, or even if Valentine's Day will be used in the script or novel.

Here is my own version of the exercise:

My female lead went out on a bad date with a chubby, bald TV producer who tried to seduce her by offering to get her an interview for a new cooking show on the Food network. After a clumsy skirmish in a cab, she escaped intact, if somewhat askew! This is her first year single, and this guy did not shore up her feelings of optimism!

My male lead, sat in a local diner on 10th avenue and binged on hot chocolate and pie. A few minutes earlier, back in the bar he hangs out in, a perfectly lovely woman who he had a one night stand with tries to be sociable and he freaks out and leaves. After three hot chocolates and pecan pie in the diner, all with extra whipped cream, he finds himself feeling sick and allows the cute waitress to take him home!

Using Tragedy In Your Writing

You are automatically drawn to articles and news reports that feature words or phrases that are familiar to you. That's probably why I was drawn to this sad story in the New York Times about a college professor who shot and killed three people.

As always, I try to take a tragic event and use it for the good of my writing.

I'm working on a wonderful novel with a great writer that concerns what lengths people will go to to get ahead in academia, and found this piece instructive as to how to help the writer raise the stakes in her story.

As an exercise:

How would your own character react in a similar situation? Would they resort to violence if they found themselves so desperate to get ahead, or would they pursue another route? Would their violent behavior be considered a complete surprise or were their red flags in their past?

By taking a moment to consider how your characters will react under intense pressure, or in extreme situations, you can gauge how they will respond in their regular lives.

Jeff Goldstein's F#¢&!^@ Delicious Egg Cream

There's nothing better than a terrific New York-style Egg Cream. I've been to a ton of locations around the city (and the country, for that matter) but very few have ever got it really right... until now. One of my private students - the multi-talented Jeff Goldstein - took some time out of the beginning of our class to show the secret to making the perfect egg cream. If you only have two minutes and want to conjure up something delicious, this is it: Jeff Goldstein's F-in Delicious 2-Minute Egg Cream.

Enjoy!!!

FYI: If you are having trouble viewing this clip, please CLICK HERE.

Story vs. Discussion

I like to think that writers enjoy working with me because unlike some consultants and teachers I don't tell my students what to do, but rather offer different solutions to their problems and let them choose the one that works best for them. It is their story after all.

Today I worked with a novelist who admitted that several of the sequences in his book that were not working were written because he wanted to discuss them not because they were organic to the plot. I told him he had two choices:

One would be to take them out, and the other was to reshape the plot so that they
would become an organic part of the story.

I hope he will pick option #2 because as a writer, I know I hate to give up anything I really care about in a story.

What would you do?

How To Know Which Story To Write pt. 2

In an earlier post today I wrote about How To Know Which Story To Write.

This prompted a reader to ask:
"But what if the movie you really want to see only appeals to you and a few other people? Would writing that movie really be a worthwhile way to spend your time?"

That's an excellent question.

The first thing you should do is ask yourself why you are writing the story you're working on. If it's just to please yourself or entertain your friends, then business prospects should never really be an issue. As I said in an earlier post called The First Fan you are your best, first audience you and your work has.

But if, however, you plan to approach an agent or producer with your story it would be wise to, at the very least, keep an eye and ear on the market you are writing for.

Good luck and happy writing.

John Hughes' Final Passage

The current issue of Vanity Fair has a bunch of terrific move-related pieces this month including this year's fresh faces, a column about the women behind Disney's classic animated features and a piece about The Making of Raging Bull. But as a screenwriting teacher, my favorite article was the one entitled "Sweet Bard of Youth" that focuses on the late filmmaker John Hughes.

The story traces his entire career, right up to his untimely death in New York City last year, and features a number of interesting insights into his writing process. I'll let you read the entire article on your own but wanted to share the last passage of the article -- no spoiler, don't worry -- that really illustrates just how dedicated to his craft he was.

The notebook that Hughes was carrying with him when he died, a red Smythson Panama, contained no new entry for August 6, though August 5 was filled with a detailed description of the hotel - as if setting the scene in a screenplay - and warm notes about his visit with his grandson. The family also recovered the camera that Hughes had been carrying on his last walk. It contained a few photographs he'd taken that very morning: neatly composed streetscapes. "It's some small comfort to us that we know from the spot where the ambulance arried, and from where his last picture was taken, that it was a small distance - that it was sudden," James says.

More comforting still, James says, is that "when he passed away, he was doing something he loved. He was out note-taking and observing" - even if the notes were mental and photographic rather than pen-to-paper. The point is: John Hughes never stopped writing until his heart stopped beating."

How To Know Which Story To Write

Once I finished teaching my NYU class last night, I went looking for something to read.

Three of my students are torn between which screenplay idea to write, and I didn't feel I gave them a definitive answer.

When I couldn't find anything that appealed, nor could I find a film that I wanted to watch, I found the answer for them.

Toni Morrison said it best:

"If there's a book you really want to read, but it hasn't been written yet, then you must write it."

... and the same goes for movies.

What movie or book would you most like to see or write? That's what you should be working on.

Snow Day Exercise

We're into more than a few inches of today's blizzard already and though it doesn't seem that bad here in Manhattan, it's apparently wreaking havoc on other locales.

I always look at snow days as a great opportunity to catch up on indoor activities that I never seem to get around to - updating my blog on a much more regular basis, reading magazines that I have earmarked and emailing with friends and colleagues.

As an exercise:
Set a time for 10 minutes and write out a monologue from your main character's point of view, detailing how they would respond to the snow?

Do they see it as a source of amusement like the kids in The Dog Who Stopped The War? Or maybe it's an obstacle in your film, as it was in Alive or Die Hard 2 or The Empire Strikes Back?

If you take the time to learn how your characters will react to something like a snowstorm, positive/negative/indifferent, you'll gain interesting insight into how they react to other things.

The Lost Books of the Odyssey by Zachary Mason

As a writing teacher who has the good fortune of watching her students create wonderful stories and characters on a daily basis, the story behind the story is often just as exciting to me.

This morning I happened upon a fascinating success story of a writer following his own process in The New York Times. Read and be inspired!

CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY

Screenwriting at NYU

Last night I taught my first class of the spring semester at NYU. I have a large class, 13 people, and a very talented and accomplished group they are! I tried to be very simple in the exchange of information, and asked myself what were the most important things my students needed to know to have a successful semester. This is what I came up with. I'm sure they will grow and change.

1. Create for yourself.
2. Be a great listener.
3. Take what you have experienced and repurpose it for your characters.
4. Find what you have learned and want to share with others, and phrase it as a question.
5. Find the lead character's inner conflict, and shape the story from there.
6. Visualize 80%, write 20%, not the other way around.
7. Trust your own creative impulse.
8. And the very most important: Don't get it right, get it written!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT STUDYING SCREENWRITING AT NEW YORK UNIVERSITY

Kindle

I work with novelists as well as screenwriters. Surprisingly, most published novelists don't make a lot from book sales unless it's a best seller. The ebook is another delivery method and source of potential earnings, but has been plagued by the Kindle low sell approach. This may be changing.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

Freedom Comes From Limitation

"I just start writing fiction and see what happens to it," the late JD Salinger once said.

I teach writers to do that but paradoxically teach them to decide on a rough shape before they start.

A small limitation creates freedom!

When you write, aim to always write until you complete a scene or thought, and you will create well.

Joe Gilford's Story Rescue Seminar

My friend Joe Gilford will be presenting a seminar with the NYC Screenwriter group this week. If you're in NYC and want to learn how to rescue your story, read below.

JOE GILFORD'S STORY RESCUE SEMINAR
Saturday, Feb. 6 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM
at the Ellington Room, 400 W. 43rd St., 2nd fl(@9th Ave.)

$40 - all major credit cards accepted.

More info at www.nycscreenwriter.org/EVENTS.html

SEE YOU THERE!

Joe Gilford

Product Placement

Just in time for the big business that is the Super Bowl -- A video about product placement in movies.

Flip It!

I was forwarded this clip by one of my private students. In one of my classes I had mentioned that if you think your ending isn't working, as an exercise flip what happens, and spend 10 minutes writing the complete opposite ending. Even though it usually doesn't yield a new, perfect ending, it often helps you come up with a few things that help you get unstuck.

Watch the above clip and use it as a guide for this next exercise.

As an exercise:

Take any scene in your story that you're stuck on and write it in a different genre. If it's a drama, write a comedic scene. If your story is science fiction, write it as a western.

You probably won't end up using these scenes in your script but I bet you'll discover something new about your characters.

How To Rewrite Quickly

Yesterday was a full day. I worked with students on seven screenplays, a web series and a novel, each one intriguing and original.

Even though the stories are very different, my advice to all of the writers (and to you) can be boiled down to these points:

Rewriting tips & tricks:

1. Keep it simple.

2. More active main character and villain or obstacle.

3. Create suspense.


For #1 make a list of all the information that leads to the resolution of the plot problem, then work to simplify it.

For #2 Ask yourself the third of The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting: "Who or what would my main character 'die' for" (a literal or symbolic death) and make sure that the plot events push the hero or heroine toward a resolution.

For #3 remember my golden rule: Never tell your audience more than they need to know to understand the scene they are reading.

Once you've completed these three steps, I'm confident your script will be much sharper and you'll find yourself even closer to a final draft.

Good luck and happy writing.

P.S. Look for my monthly script tip at MovieOutline.com for a more detailed discussion.

Crying Wife (Star Wars)

I was introduced to this video via www.CryingWife.com.

Which movie makes you cry?

10 Surprising Movies Directed By Women

I admit I'm not a regular reader of Women's Day but I wanted to re-post their recent list of 10 Surprising Movies Directed By Women.

There's been a lot of press about Kathryn Bigelow's recent nominations for The Hurt Locker, and with good reason, but thank you to Women's Day for reminding us that this is not the first time a female filmmaker has crafted a powerful and interesting film.

I look forward to the day when the media is no longer surprised by a talented and driven female filmmaker.

Meeting A Mentor

I met one of my mentors last night, thanks to my wonderful student Joe. William Zinsser, a writer and teacher, who has authored many books on writing changed my craft and hence my life when I read his book, On Writing Well, many years ago. Although the book focuses on non-fiction, I took the principles to heart.

Joe knows Bill well, and invited me to come hear him play piano at the club downstairs at The Cornelia Street Cafe. Joe introduced me at the break, and I gave William a copy of my latest book, The Four Magic Questions of Screenwriting. I was and am beyond thrilled to have met him -- and he plays a mean jazz piano!