Anthony Hopkins in The Silence Of The LambsScreenshot: Orion Pictures/YouTube
Twenty years ago, the listicle-addicted American Film Institute named Anthony Hopkins’ cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter the greatest villain in American cinema, on a list including Norman Bates, Darth Vader, and the Wicked Witch of the West as runners up.
Twenty years ago, the listicle-addicted American Film Institute named Anthony Hopkins’ cannibalistic serial killer Hannibal Lecter the greatest villain in American cinema, on a list including Norman Bates, Darth Vader, and the Wicked Witch of the West as runners up.
- 9/8/2023
- by Ray Greene
- avclub.com
At one time, Paul Reubens and Phil Hartman had a symbiotic friendship, as many in Hollywood do.
Speaking with Westword's Simon Abrams whilst promoting his 2016 movie "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," Reubens remained as dedicated to his iconic man-child character as ever, and refreshingly hailed Russ Meyer's "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" as "one of the most underrated American films ever made." Looking back on his career, the American writer-comedian reminisced on his many collaborations that seem out of left field, including that with the late, great Hartman.
A fellow member of the L.A.-based Groundlings comedy sketch troupe when Reubens joined in the 1970s, Hartman (who joined the improv team in 1975) quickly hit it off with him. When the beginnings of an obnoxious character, inept at stand-up comedy, began to germinate in Reubens' mind, it was Hartman who helped him develop the character into the bowtie-wearing nerdball Pee-wee Herman. The...
Speaking with Westword's Simon Abrams whilst promoting his 2016 movie "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," Reubens remained as dedicated to his iconic man-child character as ever, and refreshingly hailed Russ Meyer's "Faster, Pussycat! Kill! Kill!" as "one of the most underrated American films ever made." Looking back on his career, the American writer-comedian reminisced on his many collaborations that seem out of left field, including that with the late, great Hartman.
A fellow member of the L.A.-based Groundlings comedy sketch troupe when Reubens joined in the 1970s, Hartman (who joined the improv team in 1975) quickly hit it off with him. When the beginnings of an obnoxious character, inept at stand-up comedy, began to germinate in Reubens' mind, it was Hartman who helped him develop the character into the bowtie-wearing nerdball Pee-wee Herman. The...
- 1/16/2023
- by Anya Stanley
- Slash Film
Anthony Heald had a challenge when playing Dr. Frederick Chilton in "The Silence of the Lambs" — he had to make his character less likable than not one but two serial killers. In a testament to his talent, he succeeded.
From his first scene, Chilton oozes more slime than a Devonian swamp. When he makes a pass at an uninterested Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), director Jonathan Demme frames him staring right back at the camera so we can feel Clarice's same unease. He simultaneously aggrandizes and underestimates Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), speaking of him like a caged animal yet declaring himself the not-so-good doctor's "nemesis."
Chilton's glory-chasing ultimately gives Lecter an opening to escape. Chilton flees to Bahamas but his former prisoners finds him all the same. Lecter, chatting to Agent Starling on the phone as he watches Chilton, bids Clarice farewell with a double entendre for the ages: he has...
From his first scene, Chilton oozes more slime than a Devonian swamp. When he makes a pass at an uninterested Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), director Jonathan Demme frames him staring right back at the camera so we can feel Clarice's same unease. He simultaneously aggrandizes and underestimates Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins), speaking of him like a caged animal yet declaring himself the not-so-good doctor's "nemesis."
Chilton's glory-chasing ultimately gives Lecter an opening to escape. Chilton flees to Bahamas but his former prisoners finds him all the same. Lecter, chatting to Agent Starling on the phone as he watches Chilton, bids Clarice farewell with a double entendre for the ages: he has...
- 10/14/2022
- by Devin Meenan
- Slash Film
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Every great movie began as a blank sheet of paper. Before a filmmaker or actor can create onscreen magic, they need something to say. So it should come as no surprise that many directors and performers credit scripts for much of their success. Good screenwriters lay the foundation for the beautiful shots and memorable performances that stick with us throughout our lives. In the words of George Clooney, “It’s possible for me to make a bad movie out of a good script, but I can’t make a good movie from a bad script.”
While screenwriting is one of the most important parts of filmmaking, it is also one of the most misunderstood.
Every great movie began as a blank sheet of paper. Before a filmmaker or actor can create onscreen magic, they need something to say. So it should come as no surprise that many directors and performers credit scripts for much of their success. Good screenwriters lay the foundation for the beautiful shots and memorable performances that stick with us throughout our lives. In the words of George Clooney, “It’s possible for me to make a bad movie out of a good script, but I can’t make a good movie from a bad script.”
While screenwriting is one of the most important parts of filmmaking, it is also one of the most misunderstood.
- 9/27/2021
- by Christian Zilko and Latifah Muhammad
- Indiewire
All products and services featured by IndieWire are independently selected by IndieWire editors. However, IndieWire may receive a commission on orders placed through its retail links, and the retailer may receive certain auditable data for accounting purposes.
It’s always a good time to update your bookshelf, and today IndieWire staffers have selected some of their favorite film books, from screenwriting manuals to fascinating histories and even musings on the art of criticism itself.
The selections are wide-ranging, so if you’re looking for a book specifically about film criticism then you can check out this list, and if you’re looking for a juicy memoir, check out this one.
But otherwise, read on for a broad spectrum of books about cinema, including behind-the-scenes accounts of major blockbusters, essays on film theory, and more.
Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson’s Picks: “John Wayne: The Life and Legend” by Scott Eyman Buy: $19.99 Buy...
It’s always a good time to update your bookshelf, and today IndieWire staffers have selected some of their favorite film books, from screenwriting manuals to fascinating histories and even musings on the art of criticism itself.
The selections are wide-ranging, so if you’re looking for a book specifically about film criticism then you can check out this list, and if you’re looking for a juicy memoir, check out this one.
But otherwise, read on for a broad spectrum of books about cinema, including behind-the-scenes accounts of major blockbusters, essays on film theory, and more.
Editor-at-Large Anne Thompson’s Picks: “John Wayne: The Life and Legend” by Scott Eyman Buy: $19.99 Buy...
- 3/2/2021
- by Jean Bentley
- Indiewire
Above: The Inheritance.For the past fifteen years, the African-American experimental filmmaker Ephraim Asili has been excavating the intellectual and cultural history of Black lives in the United States, Africa, and Brazil. In Asili’s riveting films, there’s a passionate expansiveness, across forms and diasporic locations, which also often circle back home, be it to Harlem, Detroit, or Philadelphia.Asili’s latest film, his debut feature, The Inheritance, shot in a performance studio at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute over the span of four days, is a result of his extended scriptwriting and workshopping process. For the core story, Asili drew on his experience of living in a collective, in Philadelphia. From this raw material, through a series of vignettes and archival footage, the film reconstructs the process of political and activist education that Asili underwent for about six years, starting when he was 20, when he became close to the activist Black-thought organization Move.
- 10/12/2020
- MUBI
We take our lessons where we find them. Too many of mine, I find at the movies. Maybe it’s a generational fault; like others who came of age in the ’60s and early ’70s, I learned to think and talk in film lines. “I know it was you, Fredo.” “Who are those guys?” “Hey, I’m walkin’ here!” That sort of thing.
Lately, I’ve been hung up on not a line, but a title. That is, The Gal Who Got Rattled, which was one of six segments in the Coen brothers’ off-center 2018 Western anthology, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs.
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Frankly, I got a little rattled last week,...
Lately, I’ve been hung up on not a line, but a title. That is, The Gal Who Got Rattled, which was one of six segments in the Coen brothers’ off-center 2018 Western anthology, The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs.
More from DeadlineIs Coronavirus Near The Bottom Of Its Second Act? Syd Field Might Have Had ThoughtsDiscovery Offering Family-Friendly Free Streaming Content Amid Coronavirus CrisisDonald Trump's Campaign Sues Wisconsin TV Station For Continuing To Air Super Pac Ad Attacking His Coronavirus Response
Frankly, I got a little rattled last week,...
- 4/13/2020
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
Where’s Syd Field when you need him? The late screenwriting guru, who died in 2013 at the age of 77, might have had some thoughts about where we, the collective protagonist, currently stand in this great global drama of Pandemic.
Entering a third week of lockdown, those in the United States—particularly in hot spots like New York, Detroit, and Louisiana—were warned of a dark moment. “This will probably be the toughest week—between this week and next week,” President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
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“There will be death,” he added. At his Sunday briefing, officials said the number of new infections appeared to be stabilizing in some places.
So for a culture accustomed to thinking in movie terms—bombshells, bloopers,...
Entering a third week of lockdown, those in the United States—particularly in hot spots like New York, Detroit, and Louisiana—were warned of a dark moment. “This will probably be the toughest week—between this week and next week,” President Donald Trump said on Saturday.
More from Deadline'Archer' Season 11 Premiere Date Pushed Due To Coronavirus-Related Production DelaysMunich Film Festival Cancels 2020 Edition'All Rise' Returns To Production With Virtually Made Social Distancing Episode Amid Covid-19 Pandemic
“There will be death,” he added. At his Sunday briefing, officials said the number of new infections appeared to be stabilizing in some places.
So for a culture accustomed to thinking in movie terms—bombshells, bloopers,...
- 4/6/2020
- by Michael Cieply
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Endeavor Content is launching the new weekly podcast this Wednesday, Making the Call, from world-class bioethicists Dr. Zeke Emanuel and Dr. Jonathan Moreno, which will focus on the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the progress that has been made around the globe, and what needs to be done to quell the pandemic.
Dr. Zeke Emanuel is an oncologist, a bioethicist, a professor and vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania, and the architect of The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He is the author and editor of 14 books, including Brothers Emanuel, Reinventing American Health Care, and the forthcoming Which Country has the World’s Best Health Care?. Emanuel also regularly contributes to the New York Times and MSNBC.
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Dr. Zeke Emanuel is an oncologist, a bioethicist, a professor and vice provost at the University of Pennsylvania, and the architect of The Affordable Care Act (Obamacare). He is the author and editor of 14 books, including Brothers Emanuel, Reinventing American Health Care, and the forthcoming Which Country has the World’s Best Health Care?. Emanuel also regularly contributes to the New York Times and MSNBC.
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- 4/6/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
UK-based American actor Jay Benedict has died aged 68 as a result of complications from Covid-19, his family members and representatives have confirmed.
A statement posted on his website said, “It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay’s death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a Covid-19 infection.”
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It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with Covid-19. Our thoughts are with his family ❤️
— Tcg ArtistManagement (@TCGArtist) April 4, 2020
Across a 40-year stage and screen career, Benedict clocked up a string...
A statement posted on his website said, “It is with profound sorrow that we must announce Jay’s death on the 4th of April due to complications arising from a Covid-19 infection.”
More from DeadlineActors' Equity Calls For Federal Cobra Subsidies As Unemployment Claims By New York Arts Workers Skyrockets 3,880%FCC Says It Won't Be "Arbiter" Of Whether Broadcasters Should Fact Check Donald Trump's Coronavirus Press BriefingsIs Coronavirus Near The Bottom Of Its Second Act? Syd Field Might Have Had Thoughts
It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our dear client Jay Benedict, who this afternoon lost his battle with Covid-19. Our thoughts are with his family ❤️
— Tcg ArtistManagement (@TCGArtist) April 4, 2020
Across a 40-year stage and screen career, Benedict clocked up a string...
- 4/6/2020
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
Queen Elizabeth II’s rare address to the British public and the Commonwealth became one of the UK’s most-watched TV events of the past decade after 24M tuned in to watch Her Majesty.
In a nod to families and friends being kept apart by coronavirus, the Queen’s speech included the emotive line that “we will meet again,” evoking memories of Dame Vera Lynn’s World War II song We’ll Meet Again. She also called for “self-discipline” and “good-humoured resolve” during the pandemic.
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The five-minute address was seen by 24M across BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky One, BBC News...
In a nod to families and friends being kept apart by coronavirus, the Queen’s speech included the emotive line that “we will meet again,” evoking memories of Dame Vera Lynn’s World War II song We’ll Meet Again. She also called for “self-discipline” and “good-humoured resolve” during the pandemic.
More from DeadlineIs Coronavirus Near The Bottom Of Its Second Act? Syd Field Might Have Had ThoughtsCineworld Boss Mooky Greidinger On Coronavirus Impact, Staying Optimistic & Why Overseas Markets Will Need Domestic To Open Before Ramping Into ActionJ.K. Rowling Says She's "Fully Recovered" After Experiencing Coronavirus Symptoms
The five-minute address was seen by 24M across BBC One, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky One, BBC News...
- 4/6/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
ITV has announced plans to create a £500,000 development fund to support producers through the coronavirus-induced production shutdown.
ITV wants to increase investment in development so it can be quicker in greenlighting ideas once the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted and filming can get back underway on TV shows. Non-scripted formats are a particular area of focus, it said.
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As well as the funding pot, which is designed to generate ideas for later this year and 2021, ITV director of television Kevin Lygo pledged to increase online meetings between commissioners and producers.
He said: “ITV’s success is based on the ideas that are brought to...
ITV wants to increase investment in development so it can be quicker in greenlighting ideas once the Covid-19 lockdown is lifted and filming can get back underway on TV shows. Non-scripted formats are a particular area of focus, it said.
More from DeadlineIs Coronavirus Near The Bottom Of Its Second Act? Syd Field Might Have Had ThoughtsCineworld Boss Mooky Greidinger On Coronavirus Impact, Staying Optimistic & Why Overseas Markets Will Need Domestic To Open Before Ramping Into ActionJ.K. Rowling Says She's "Fully Recovered" After Experiencing Coronavirus Symptoms
As well as the funding pot, which is designed to generate ideas for later this year and 2021, ITV director of television Kevin Lygo pledged to increase online meetings between commissioners and producers.
He said: “ITV’s success is based on the ideas that are brought to...
- 4/6/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Editors’ Note: With full acknowledgment of the big-picture implications of a pandemic that already has claimed thousands of lives, cratered global economies and closed international borders, Deadline’s Coping With Covid-19 Crisis series is a forum for those in the entertainment space grappling with myriad consequences of seeing a great industry screech to a halt. The hope is for an exchange of ideas and experiences, and suggestions on how businesses and individuals can best ride out a crisis that doesn’t look like it will abate any time soon. If you have a story, email mike@deadline.com.
As coronavirus crashed through the TV business, husband and wife Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory were among those cast adrift. Lewis was making Season 5 of Billions, while McCrory was on the brink of going into production on Season 6 of Peaky Blinders. Now, both are holed up in their British countryside home in Suffolk.
As coronavirus crashed through the TV business, husband and wife Damian Lewis and Helen McCrory were among those cast adrift. Lewis was making Season 5 of Billions, while McCrory was on the brink of going into production on Season 6 of Peaky Blinders. Now, both are holed up in their British countryside home in Suffolk.
- 4/6/2020
- by Jake Kanter
- Deadline Film + TV
Chinese streaming giant iQiyi has made 2019 blockbuster animated film Ne Zha available in nine South East Asian markets. VIP subscribers in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Brunei and Cambodia from Sunday were given exclusive access to the $726M worldwide grosser which is China’s biggest toon ever and the No. 2 local title of all time.
The move, which comes amid global theater closures due to the coronavirus, could help iQiyi expand its international footprint. The overseas version of the iQiyi app has to date launched more than 2,700 films, including new releases and premium originals, the company said on Sunday, though subscriber numbers were not disclosed. The Ne Zha figure from classic Chinese fairy tales is widely known among young people in the South East Asia region, and since its launch on iQiyi in China, the film has been among the Top 10 most played movies on the platform,...
The move, which comes amid global theater closures due to the coronavirus, could help iQiyi expand its international footprint. The overseas version of the iQiyi app has to date launched more than 2,700 films, including new releases and premium originals, the company said on Sunday, though subscriber numbers were not disclosed. The Ne Zha figure from classic Chinese fairy tales is widely known among young people in the South East Asia region, and since its launch on iQiyi in China, the film has been among the Top 10 most played movies on the platform,...
- 4/6/2020
- by Nancy Tartaglione
- Deadline Film + TV
Star Wars movies are so mythic and overexposed it’s hard to find a nice, quiet, sober critical analysis of them—away from the hubbub of their release spectacles or the weight of the vast lore bearing down on them. Lessons From The Screenplay attempts to do just that in a new video, applying classic screenwriting principles to Rogue One and The Force Awakens in order to determine what works and what doesn’t in the franchise’s latest installments. The answer is: a little bit of both.
The narrator makes clear that he’s a huge fan of Star Wars movies in general, almost as if setting up a firewall against trolls before moving onto the ensuing gentle criticism of both films. He applies storytelling principles from Syd Field, among others, to explain the muddled first half of Rogue One. Jyn Erso’s a passive protagonist, with things just...
The narrator makes clear that he’s a huge fan of Star Wars movies in general, almost as if setting up a firewall against trolls before moving onto the ensuing gentle criticism of both films. He applies storytelling principles from Syd Field, among others, to explain the muddled first half of Rogue One. Jyn Erso’s a passive protagonist, with things just...
- 5/1/2017
- by Clayton Purdom
- avclub.com
Late screenwriting guru Syd Field often wrote in his Bibles for wannabe film scribes that if the writer doesn’t grab the viewer in the first 10 minutes (or the first 10 pages), then there’s no reason to stay with the story. Often these introductory minutes indicate the kind of story we are about to see, and illuminate important aspects of the protagonist whose journey we will follow. If one judges Boychoir from its opening scenes, few would want to stick around to see how the rest of the story unfolds.
The film begins going steadily through a checklist of conventions for stories about a downtrodden young protagonist with prodigal talent. The first shot of the film is of Stet, played by newcomer Garrett Wareing, crouching behind a train as it rattles through a Texas town. (If one was looking for a more trite way to show that the main character...
The film begins going steadily through a checklist of conventions for stories about a downtrodden young protagonist with prodigal talent. The first shot of the film is of Stet, played by newcomer Garrett Wareing, crouching behind a train as it rattles through a Texas town. (If one was looking for a more trite way to show that the main character...
- 3/24/2015
- by Jordan Adler
- We Got This Covered
Screenwriting software co. Final Draft will award Big Eyes duo Scott Alexander and Larry Karaszewski with its 2015 Hall of Fame honors at its annual Final Draft Awards, to be held February 12 on the Paramount lot. Alexander and Karaszewski join a list of previous Hall of Famers including Nancy Meyers, Lawrence Kasdan, Steven Zaillian, Aaron Sorkin, Robert Towne, Stephen J. Cannell, Oliver Stone, Syd Field and Sydney Pollack and will be feted at the awards event hosted by writer-actors Thomas Lennon and Robert Ben Garant.
Big Eyes, the true tale of artist Margaret Keane and her battle to win recognition for her famed paintings of large-eyed waifs from a credit-stealing hubby, stars Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz and marks the writers’ latest collaboration with director Tim Burton. Alexander and Karaszewski’s previous big screen portraits of larger than life characters include WGA-nominated Ed Wood, Golden Globe winning The People Vs. Larry Flynt,...
Big Eyes, the true tale of artist Margaret Keane and her battle to win recognition for her famed paintings of large-eyed waifs from a credit-stealing hubby, stars Amy Adams and Christoph Waltz and marks the writers’ latest collaboration with director Tim Burton. Alexander and Karaszewski’s previous big screen portraits of larger than life characters include WGA-nominated Ed Wood, Golden Globe winning The People Vs. Larry Flynt,...
- 12/10/2014
- by Jen Yamato
- Deadline
Director Peter Chelsom on Hector, Pegg, Miley Cyrus, Syd Field, live action PG movies and Being There...
Peter Chelsom started life as an actor, before moving behind the camera when he hit 30. His films have included Hear My Song, Funny Bones, The Hannah Montana Movie, Serendipity and The Mighty. His latest? The big screen take on Hector And The Search For Happiness. And over a bowl of soup, he spared us some time for a chat...
Let's start at the beginning! I’m a great fan of your first film, Hear My Song, which was always a bit of a tricky one to track down.
Thank you! There was a DVD re-release, that was really did well. They did a great job on it.
Well, let’s start there. How much control do you have over your films once they’ve left a cinema, and headed to home formats?
It varies.
Peter Chelsom started life as an actor, before moving behind the camera when he hit 30. His films have included Hear My Song, Funny Bones, The Hannah Montana Movie, Serendipity and The Mighty. His latest? The big screen take on Hector And The Search For Happiness. And over a bowl of soup, he spared us some time for a chat...
Let's start at the beginning! I’m a great fan of your first film, Hear My Song, which was always a bit of a tricky one to track down.
Thank you! There was a DVD re-release, that was really did well. They did a great job on it.
Well, let’s start there. How much control do you have over your films once they’ve left a cinema, and headed to home formats?
It varies.
- 8/15/2014
- by simonbrew
- Den of Geek
Sooni Taraporevala at DearCinema IndieTalk
DearCinema organized IndieTalk with renowned screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala on July 19 in Mumbai. This is what the writer of films like Salaam Bombay!, The Namesake and Mississippi Masala had to say:
Some people say: only write what you know. Some people say: write what you don’t know. I say: write what you don’t know but be responsible to the subject and find out everything there is about it before you start writing. Research is an invaluable tool for me as a writer. It’s like free material and I can’t imagine why more people don’t go out and help themselves to it. Our imaginations are limited while the real world is much more exciting – if you research, the world is your oyster. The more particular you are about a story, the more universal it becomes. It’s not the other way around.
DearCinema organized IndieTalk with renowned screenwriter Sooni Taraporevala on July 19 in Mumbai. This is what the writer of films like Salaam Bombay!, The Namesake and Mississippi Masala had to say:
Some people say: only write what you know. Some people say: write what you don’t know. I say: write what you don’t know but be responsible to the subject and find out everything there is about it before you start writing. Research is an invaluable tool for me as a writer. It’s like free material and I can’t imagine why more people don’t go out and help themselves to it. Our imaginations are limited while the real world is much more exciting – if you research, the world is your oyster. The more particular you are about a story, the more universal it becomes. It’s not the other way around.
- 8/4/2014
- by Editorial Team
- DearCinema.com
I’ve seen very few films that I actively despise. In fact, it’s limited to maybe one or two a year. I was hoping for a clean 2014, but The Angriest Man in Brooklyn has gone ahead and sullied it. It takes a pretty damn awful kind of movie for me to summon this level of vitriol, but this one’s got it all. I feel ill, a little bit dirty and a good deal dumber having sat through it. I had to – it’s my job – but you don’t, so save yourself some trauma and go see Blue Ruin again – or just stick your head in the oven for an hour and a half, Lord knows that’s better than the alternative.
Behind this hell-fire of cliches and poorly cued elevator music is the story of a career in unfortunate decline. I grew up watching Robin Williams’ films,...
Behind this hell-fire of cliches and poorly cued elevator music is the story of a career in unfortunate decline. I grew up watching Robin Williams’ films,...
- 5/12/2014
- by Dominic Mill
- We Got This Covered
Screen looks back on our 15 most-read news stories of the year, led by our favourite feel-good story of the year, the Pixar team helping Ken Loach complete his latest feature.Pixar answers Ken Loach appealScreen unveils 2013 UK Stars of TomorrowNetflix to begin ordering moviesMichael Fassbender, See Saw partner on MacbethUniversal to release Class of 92Natalie Portman to play Lady Macbeth (she was since replaced by Marion Cotillard)Ben Wheatley to direct Doctor WhoScreenwriting guru Syd Field diesCannes Film Festival 2013 line-upHemsworth, Somerhalder topline Noel Clarke sci-fiCuaron: most 3D films are crapAvengers 2 to assemble in UKRevolver office shut as company future in questionPattinson, DeHaan join LifeVenice head ‘impressed’ by UK films...
- 12/23/2013
- ScreenDaily
Screen looks back on our 15 most-read news stories of the year, led by our favourite feel-good story of the year, the Pixar team helping Ken Loach complete his latest feature.Pixar answers Ken Loach appealScreen unveils 2013 UK Stars of TomorrowNetflix to begin ordering moviesMichael Fassbender, See Saw partner on MacbethUniversal to release Class of 92Natalie Portman to play Lady Macbeth (she was since replaced by Marion Cotillard)Ben Wheatley to direct Doctor WhoScreenwriting guru Syd Field diesCannes Film Festival 2013 line-upHemsworth, Somerhalder topline Noel Clarke sci-fiCuaron: most 3D films are crapAvengers 2 to assemble in UKRevolver office shut as company future in questionPattinson, DeHaan join LifeVenice head ‘impressed’ by UK films...
- 12/23/2013
- ScreenDaily
Features, Reviews and Interviews Remembering Paul Walker, Syd Field, Irene Kane and Other Reel-Important People We Lost in November by Christopher Campbell Paul Walker Remembered: 5 Memorable Movies from the Late Actor’s Career by Sean O'Connell How to Get Revenge, According to the Movies by Perri Nemiroff Watch: This Exclusive 'Inside Llewyn Davis' TV Spot Wonders if You Ever Think About the Future by Peter Hall 'American Hustle' Is Both Deliciously Sexy and Hilariously Unsexy by Erik Davis You're Old: Gus Van Sant's 'Psycho' Came Out 15 Years Ago This Week by Eric D. Snider Dialogue: The Coen Brothers Explain the Inspiration Behind 'Inside Llewyn Davis' by Todd Gilchrist Meet the...
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- 12/7/2013
- by Peter Hall
- Movies.com
“I don’t even really understand the second act,” a filmmaker said to me just last week. He obviously hadn’t read Syd Field’s Screenplay, which is nothing if not about act structure: the first, second and third acts, but also the inciting incident, pinch one, plot point one, midpoint, pinch two, plot point two and resolution. When I started reading scripts — both as a professional gig and as a producer — Field’s was the book to have on your shelf, and, setting aside Aristotle, was the one that ratified a storytelling paradigm that exists to this day. As a script […]...
- 11/19/2013
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine-Director Interviews
“I don’t even really understand the second act,” a filmmaker said to me just last week. He obviously hadn’t read Syd Field’s Screenplay, which is nothing if not about act structure: the first, second and third acts, but also the inciting incident, pinch one, plot point one, midpoint, pinch two, plot point two and resolution. When I started reading scripts — both as a professional gig and as a producer — Field’s was the book to have on your shelf, and, setting aside Aristotle, was the one that ratified a storytelling paradigm that exists to this day. As a script […]...
- 11/19/2013
- by Scott Macaulay
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
Syd Field, the writer who helped teach thousands of aspiring screenwriters, died on Sunday. According to a press release posted on the Raindance Film Festival website, which had hosted a screenwriters event in London last week that Field had been too ill to attend, the author died at his Beverly Hills home from hemolytic anemia. He was 77.
Field hadn’t been some heralded Oscar-winning writer, but beginning with the best-selling 1979 how-to book Screenplay, the Hollywood native became the authority on how to write for the screen. He explained and taught the classic three-act structure that became the backbone of cinematic storytelling,...
Field hadn’t been some heralded Oscar-winning writer, but beginning with the best-selling 1979 how-to book Screenplay, the Hollywood native became the authority on how to write for the screen. He explained and taught the classic three-act structure that became the backbone of cinematic storytelling,...
- 11/18/2013
- by Jeff Labrecque
- EW - Inside Movies
While his name might not be instantly recognizable to the masses, he’s well known to anyone who has tried their hand at scriptwriting or follows writing in any fashion. Syd Field, one of the leading lights of screenwriting technique, has died at the age of 77.Field, the author of eight best-selling books on screenwriting, including the original, iconic Screenplay in 1979, was a Hollywood native born in 1935. Following his stint at Uc Berkley, he got a job at Wolper Productions, starting in the shipping department before working his way up to a research / writing job on the Biography TV series and other Wolper shows.He would go on to work in both academia and the filmmaking industry, lecturing at USC and the American Film Institute and acting as a special script consultant to most of the major studios including Fox, Universal, Sony and Disney.Though not everyone agreed with his methods,...
- 11/18/2013
- EmpireOnline
Screenwriting guru and best-selling author Syd Field has died of hemolytic anemia at the age of 77 at his home in Beverly Hills. Field has long been known as one of the most sought-after mentors and minds in the screenwriting community for his never-ending dedication to the craft and his masterful handling of it. In addition to outlining the infamous three-act structure followed by most screenwriters, Field published eight best-selling screenwriting guides that have been cited as major influences by Judd Apatow, Tina Fey and others. Field's 1979 book "Screenplay," in particular, has largely been considered the "bible" of screenwriting. His death was announced by the Raindance Film Festival, which was set to receive him for a "screenwriters summit" in London last week though Field was forced to cancel his appearance due to illness. For more on Syd Field's life and career: http://sydfield.com/...
- 11/18/2013
- by Ramzi De Coster
- Indiewire
Syd Field, the man best known for articulating the ideal screenplay paradigm, the classic three-act structure, died from hemolytic anemia yesterday in his Beverly Hills home. A member of USC's master’s of professional writing faculty and author of eight best-selling screenwriting books (the first and most famous, Screenplay, was published in 1979), Field was one of the foremost teachers of writing for film. Judd Apatow, Frank Darabont, and John Singleton were just a few of his many successful students. He was 77.
- 11/18/2013
- by Jesse David Fox
- Vulture
Syd Field, considered the guru of screenwriting, died Sunday of hemolytic anemia. He was 77. Field died at his home in Beverly Hills surrounded by his family and friends. His death was announced via a release posted on the website for the Raindance Film Festival, which organized a "screenwriters summit" in London that Field had been set to participate in last weekend. Field's appearance was canceled after he was said to be too ill to attend. The festival's Elliot Grove told BBC News that he and his colleagues were "all in a state of shock." The release was later
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- 11/18/2013
- by THR Staff
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Syd Field, a legendary screenwriting instructor who tried to boil down filmmaking into an easily emulated “three act structure,” died Sunday of hemolytic anemia at his home in Beverly Hills. He was 77. A script consultant for major studios and a lecturer, Field authored eight best-selling books on screenwriting and influenced a range of writers such as Judd Apatow, Kevin Williamson and Frank Darabont. Field’s first and most influential book, Screenplay, was published in 1979, and has been labeled “the Bible” of screenwriting. Field’s death was announced by the Raindance Film Festival, which the man labelled the “screenwriting guru” was supposed to attend.
- 11/18/2013
- by Brent Lang
- The Wrap
Writer of several influential books on screenwriting dies aged 77.
Syd Field, known as “the guru of screenwriting,” died yesterday (Nov 17) of hemolytic anemia at his home in Beverly Hills surrounded by his wife, family and friends. He was 77.
Field was the author of eight best-selling books on screenwriting. The first of these, Screenplay was initially published in 1979, has been published in 23 languages and is used in hundreds of colleges and universities around the world.
Born Dec 19, 1935 in Hollywood, California, Field received his B.A. in English Literature at University of California, Berkeley in 1960. He began his career at Wolper Productions in the shipping department, earning $75 a week. Field went on to research and write for the original Biography television series, among other Wolper Productions.
Acclaimed by CNN as the “guru of all screenwriters,” Field is celebrated as the first writer to outline the paradigm that most screenplays follow, which is the classic three-act structure.
During a career...
Syd Field, known as “the guru of screenwriting,” died yesterday (Nov 17) of hemolytic anemia at his home in Beverly Hills surrounded by his wife, family and friends. He was 77.
Field was the author of eight best-selling books on screenwriting. The first of these, Screenplay was initially published in 1979, has been published in 23 languages and is used in hundreds of colleges and universities around the world.
Born Dec 19, 1935 in Hollywood, California, Field received his B.A. in English Literature at University of California, Berkeley in 1960. He began his career at Wolper Productions in the shipping department, earning $75 a week. Field went on to research and write for the original Biography television series, among other Wolper Productions.
Acclaimed by CNN as the “guru of all screenwriters,” Field is celebrated as the first writer to outline the paradigm that most screenplays follow, which is the classic three-act structure.
During a career...
- 11/18/2013
- by michael.rosser@screendaily.com (Michael Rosser)
- ScreenDaily
Brian Yuzna is known by horror fans for directing a number of cult classics over the years, including Bride of Re-Animator, Society, and The Dentist. He was also the director on Return of the Living Dead 3 and we have a new Q&A where Brian discusses his experience making the movie and teases potential sequels to his past films.This Q&A is courtesy of the Horror Channel, which will be broadcasting Return of the Living Dead 3 on Saturday, November 2nd at 10:40pm:
Q: Did you know from a young age that you wanted to work in the movie industry?
By: No, I didn’t. Like most kids, I loved movies; and I saw some scary ones at a young age that really disturbed me. That gave me an interest in horror for the rest of my life. But I never imagined that you could actually make a living making movies.
Q: Did you know from a young age that you wanted to work in the movie industry?
By: No, I didn’t. Like most kids, I loved movies; and I saw some scary ones at a young age that really disturbed me. That gave me an interest in horror for the rest of my life. But I never imagined that you could actually make a living making movies.
- 10/30/2013
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
Brian Yuzna is one of the world’s most prolific and respected genre film-makers and on the eve of Return of the Living Dead III receiving its network TV premiere on the Horror Channel, Yuzna gives us some insight into the making of the film, news on the Society sequel and why he thinks horror has gone too mainstream…
Did you know from a young age that you wanted to work in the movie industry?
No, I didn’t. Like most kids, I loved movies; and I saw some scary ones at a young age that really disturbed me. That gave me an interest in horror for the rest of my life. But I never imagined that you could actually make a living making movies. Back then there were no dvd extras and tv shows demonstrating how movies were made. While in high school I had fooled around with a...
Did you know from a young age that you wanted to work in the movie industry?
No, I didn’t. Like most kids, I loved movies; and I saw some scary ones at a young age that really disturbed me. That gave me an interest in horror for the rest of my life. But I never imagined that you could actually make a living making movies. Back then there were no dvd extras and tv shows demonstrating how movies were made. While in high school I had fooled around with a...
- 10/29/2013
- by Phil Wheat
- Nerdly
Hollywood screenwriting is a big business. It’s practically a law that anyone with opposable thumbs who lives in Southern California write a screenplay, lured in by the knowledge that even uncommissioned spec scripts used to make between six and seven figures just a few short years ago. With so many people chasing the dream, it was only natural that another cottage industry sprung up alongside it: one filled with screenwriting “gurus." John Truby, Syd Field, Lew Hunter, Robert McKee – all guys who have written books and hosted seminars designed to show aspiring Shane Black wannabes how to craft their story so studio bosses (or, more accurately, lowly secretaries and freelance readers) get excited about the project and pass it up the line. The ideas behind...
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- 7/20/2013
- by Mike Bracken
- Movies.com
Welcome to a new series of articles we’re running here at WhatCulture, prior to a new section of the site that will be opening up soon – one which will focus entirely on the subject of screenwriting.
Previously, I’ve looked at both The Dark Knight Rises and Prometheus. Today, I’m going to see what lessons we can take from Quentin Tarantino’s spaghetti western/blaxploitation hybrid Django Unchained.
In this day and age, it’s becoming more and more difficult to see a movie at the theatre and come out feeling completely satisfied. Two decades ago, I don’t think that would’ve been such a huge problem, and I’m somewhat envious of those movie-goers who went to the movies without the excessive baggage brought on by relentless marketing campaigns, trailers and advertisements: with all that going on, it’s nearly impossible not to build up a huge set of expectations,...
Previously, I’ve looked at both The Dark Knight Rises and Prometheus. Today, I’m going to see what lessons we can take from Quentin Tarantino’s spaghetti western/blaxploitation hybrid Django Unchained.
In this day and age, it’s becoming more and more difficult to see a movie at the theatre and come out feeling completely satisfied. Two decades ago, I don’t think that would’ve been such a huge problem, and I’m somewhat envious of those movie-goers who went to the movies without the excessive baggage brought on by relentless marketing campaigns, trailers and advertisements: with all that going on, it’s nearly impossible not to build up a huge set of expectations,...
- 4/18/2013
- by T.J. Barnard
- Obsessed with Film
Movies are more accessible then ever before. If you have a Blu-Ray player, Netflix subscription, a modest flat screen, and decent speakers, congratulations you own your own theater. You can microwave your own popcorn instead of shelling out 10 bucks for a popcorn and soda, and enjoy a film in the privacy of your own home… If you actually get to the part where you choose a movie, watch it without falling asleep, and at the end, feel that the past two hours weren’t a waste of time. If.
Regardless of whether you’re waiting in line to get seats or waiting for your movie to buffer, it took some executive decision making to get where you are. We’ve all had those blank stares looking up at the marquee or browsing through a queue. We sort through the list of titles and wish there was a foolproof guideline to picking a movie.
Regardless of whether you’re waiting in line to get seats or waiting for your movie to buffer, it took some executive decision making to get where you are. We’ve all had those blank stares looking up at the marquee or browsing through a queue. We sort through the list of titles and wish there was a foolproof guideline to picking a movie.
- 11/15/2012
- by Ryan Kim
- Obsessed with Film
If Frances Ha is Girls as Greta Gerwig vehicle, David O. Russell’s The Silver Linings Playbook is Mike White and Laura Dern’s Enlightened repackaged as prestige romantic comedy. Like Dern’s Amy Jellicoe, Pat Solitano (Bradley Cooper) moves in with his parents straight from institutionalization following a mental breakdown and hopes, somewhat mystifyingly, to resume his job. (Playbook ups the stakes by including in Pat’s shameful “incident” the ruthless beating of his wife’s lover, also his own coworker.) Engendering fear, doubt, and support from friends and family, Pat and Amy are assigned outsiders to express intense interest in their well-being—White’s Tyler in Enlightened, Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence) in Playbook. Unlike the TV show’s new-agey corporate underling, however, former mental patient Pat is not merely well-intentioned and fatally patronizing; his positivity prevents the slightest identification with his (or anyone else’s) sadness or capacity for violence.
- 9/12/2012
- MUBI
For a flyover state, the film industry in Iowa has been awfully rocky in the last few years. One expects entertainment scandal in Hollywood but not necessarily in the Midwest. But that's exactly what happened when the Hawkeye State's aggressive film credit program was suspended in 2009, after an internal audit discovered discrepancies, leaving the state's actors and filmmakers vulnerable. Enter Iowan Tanna Frederick.Frederick, who has worked steadily as an actor in Los Angeles, began the Iowa Independent Film Festival with Richard Schinnow in 2007 as a way of promoting the same encouragement that she received. "The most exciting aspect for me has been seeing the local talent that has come out and has decided 'I'm gonna pick up a camera,' " Frederick said. "And then watching them go on to win awards nationally, and to have a voice and to not go for the Hollywood, Syd Field obvious."That same.
- 5/9/2012
- by help@backstage.com (Mark Peikert)
- backstage.com
With the Sundance Film Festival drawing to a close, it's time to reflect on the best movies that your friendly Moviefone staffers saw at the very-crowded film fest. Of the seven films that we were looking forward to seeing, we did get to watch five. Of those five, three are on this list. (Sorry, Red Lights and John Dies at the End.) Ahead, the best of the fest. Mike Ryan 5. The End of Love What a pleasant surprise this turned out to be. Mark Webber plays a fictionalized version of himself in a life that toes the line between absurd -- mainly Michael Cera and, briefly, Amanda Seyfried playing caricatures of themselves -- to heartbreaking: Webber raising his 2-year-old son (played by his actual son) on his own after the death of his wife. Worth viewing just to watch Cera brandishing a pistol at his own party. 4. The Surrogate My...
- 1/27/2012
- by Mike Ryan
- Moviefone
The three-act story seems natural. But so many blockbusters, like the new Mission Impossible, would be better off without part three
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is yet another sad example of a once-punchy title getting saddled with needless punctuation and verbiage. As for the film itself – the first act's a blast, the second is gripping, the third is … meh, proving it's not just the title that suffers from an anticlimactic tail-off. But would you look at me, talking in "acts" like that. Anyone would think I was an action movie screenwriter!
At one point Ethan Hunt (if only they'd called him Derek) and his buddies are accused of blowing up the Kremlin. (Not a spoiler since it's in the trailer.) I started thinking: "Heh heh, how on earth are those scallywags going to get out of Russia now?" But then, suddenly, they're in Dubai! The film skips from one act...
Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol is yet another sad example of a once-punchy title getting saddled with needless punctuation and verbiage. As for the film itself – the first act's a blast, the second is gripping, the third is … meh, proving it's not just the title that suffers from an anticlimactic tail-off. But would you look at me, talking in "acts" like that. Anyone would think I was an action movie screenwriter!
At one point Ethan Hunt (if only they'd called him Derek) and his buddies are accused of blowing up the Kremlin. (Not a spoiler since it's in the trailer.) I started thinking: "Heh heh, how on earth are those scallywags going to get out of Russia now?" But then, suddenly, they're in Dubai! The film skips from one act...
- 12/23/2011
- by Anne Billson
- The Guardian - Film News
Recently there seems to be a trend emerging in Hollywood. The depiction of Alzheimer’s disease is increasing on our screens. The worrying issue being that it isn’t visible in an educational manner but rather as a source for some kind of heart-rending tap;
‘Film seeming too upbeat? Need a quick emotional mood change, try Alzheimer’s, the disease which can assure tears’
This year has seen two comedies adopt this mantra, Friends with Benefits and 50/50. The consensus now being that comedies need to be funny whilst also maintaining a dramatic core to them, thus attracting two kinds of audiences. Unfortunately, gone are the days of Airplane and The Life of Brian. So now every comedy comes with a readymade moral attachment, and I’m fine with that. However, when a disease such as Alzheimer’s is brought into a picture as a mere footnote to get a contrasting reaction from the audience,...
‘Film seeming too upbeat? Need a quick emotional mood change, try Alzheimer’s, the disease which can assure tears’
This year has seen two comedies adopt this mantra, Friends with Benefits and 50/50. The consensus now being that comedies need to be funny whilst also maintaining a dramatic core to them, thus attracting two kinds of audiences. Unfortunately, gone are the days of Airplane and The Life of Brian. So now every comedy comes with a readymade moral attachment, and I’m fine with that. However, when a disease such as Alzheimer’s is brought into a picture as a mere footnote to get a contrasting reaction from the audience,...
- 12/11/2011
- by Dan Lewis
- Obsessed with Film
Becoming more involved in the local film scene here in Portland, Oregon, which has become a hot spot for both television and film productions with the aggressive tax incentives offered by the state, I had heard Kelley Baker's name mentioned numerous times but had never met him even though we were operating in the same circles.
I knew he was a veteran sound designer who worked with fellow Portland resident Gus Van Sant on My Own Private Idaho, Finding Forrester, Good Will Hunting, and the Psycho redux and that he had also worked on the acclaimed Todd Haynes film Far From Heaven. I also knew he was a filmmaker in his own right, having written and directed three feature films – Birddog, Kicking Bird and Gas Cafe – as well as several award-winning short films.
But what I really wanted to know about was all this “Angry Filmmaker” business I kept hearing about.
I knew he was a veteran sound designer who worked with fellow Portland resident Gus Van Sant on My Own Private Idaho, Finding Forrester, Good Will Hunting, and the Psycho redux and that he had also worked on the acclaimed Todd Haynes film Far From Heaven. I also knew he was a filmmaker in his own right, having written and directed three feature films – Birddog, Kicking Bird and Gas Cafe – as well as several award-winning short films.
But what I really wanted to know about was all this “Angry Filmmaker” business I kept hearing about.
- 2/4/2011
- by Raider Redux
- DreadCentral.com
Apparently Amer is 'an enigma and only the spectator has the key'. I'm sorry, but if I wanted a Diy plot I'd have written my own
Who was it who said that story is just a trick to keep you watching? I was reminded of this as I stared at Amer, trying in vain to get a handle on the stream of beautiful and startling imagery. But even beautiful and startling can wear thin after a while. If I were a civilian, as opposed to someone trying to write for a living, I would have run up the white flag long before those 87 minutes were up, having already suffered through too much narrative-free pain (Jean-Luc Godard's Numéro Deux!) in the 1970s, when I vowed never again to venture into plotless territory unless the ordeal was softened by sexual or financial reward.
Amer, co-directed by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani,...
Who was it who said that story is just a trick to keep you watching? I was reminded of this as I stared at Amer, trying in vain to get a handle on the stream of beautiful and startling imagery. But even beautiful and startling can wear thin after a while. If I were a civilian, as opposed to someone trying to write for a living, I would have run up the white flag long before those 87 minutes were up, having already suffered through too much narrative-free pain (Jean-Luc Godard's Numéro Deux!) in the 1970s, when I vowed never again to venture into plotless territory unless the ordeal was softened by sexual or financial reward.
Amer, co-directed by Hélène Cattet and Bruno Forzani,...
- 1/6/2011
- by Anne Billson
- The Guardian - Film News
Screen Australia advises that there are still tickets available for Syd Field’s presentation on November 8-11, for just $11 per session.
To be held over four nights in Sydney, at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington and the Entertainment Quarter at Fox studios, the series will cover the evolution of the screenplay, setting up characters and storylines, writing effective dialogue and preparing and writing great scenes.
More information here.
To be held over four nights in Sydney, at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington and the Entertainment Quarter at Fox studios, the series will cover the evolution of the screenplay, setting up characters and storylines, writing effective dialogue and preparing and writing great scenes.
More information here.
- 10/26/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Author, lecturer and screenwriter will present his storytelling seminar Mastering the Craft of Screenwriting in Sydney next month.
“In collaboration with Screen Nsw’s Aurora Program, Screen Australia is thrilled to be sponsoring Mr Field’s first Australian trip and giving Australian filmmakers the opportunity to have access to this brilliant and enlightening man,” said Screen Australia head of development Martha Coleman.
Field will focus on updating the classic storytelling conventions with contemporary tools and techniques for the modern screenplay.
The seminar will be presented over four nights (8–11 November). Each night Field will explore a specific subject relating to the craft of screenwriting accompanied by examples from Academy Award–winning movies:
Evening one: The Evolution/Revolution of the Contemporary Screenplay/Teleplay. Evening two: Setting Up Character and Story. Evening three: Writing Effective Dialogue. Evening four: Preparing and Writing Great Scenes.
Places for single or multiple evenings may be purchased at...
“In collaboration with Screen Nsw’s Aurora Program, Screen Australia is thrilled to be sponsoring Mr Field’s first Australian trip and giving Australian filmmakers the opportunity to have access to this brilliant and enlightening man,” said Screen Australia head of development Martha Coleman.
Field will focus on updating the classic storytelling conventions with contemporary tools and techniques for the modern screenplay.
The seminar will be presented over four nights (8–11 November). Each night Field will explore a specific subject relating to the craft of screenwriting accompanied by examples from Academy Award–winning movies:
Evening one: The Evolution/Revolution of the Contemporary Screenplay/Teleplay. Evening two: Setting Up Character and Story. Evening three: Writing Effective Dialogue. Evening four: Preparing and Writing Great Scenes.
Places for single or multiple evenings may be purchased at...
- 10/7/2010
- by Miguel Gonzalez
- Encore Magazine
Anybody who’s ever written or attempted to write a screenplay has run into the dreaded “Hollywood formula.” There’s even an entire industry of seminars, books and videos built of experts who explain all the rules one needs to follow in order to write a winning, successful screenplay, such as specific plot points that need to fall on specific pages, proper character arcs, etc.
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that formula. (Full disclosure: I love formulaic Hollywood movies.) Plus, Guidelines are actually a good idea for the beginning writer who’s not quite sure how to begin. (More disclosure: I’ve written my own share of “guideline”-based screenplays that never sold.) However, resistance to these guidelines start to build up thanks to the overly aggressive nature that each expert tries to instruct writers to follow them. What should be helpful guidelines become absolutely unbreakable “rules” enforced by...
There’s nothing inherently wrong with that formula. (Full disclosure: I love formulaic Hollywood movies.) Plus, Guidelines are actually a good idea for the beginning writer who’s not quite sure how to begin. (More disclosure: I’ve written my own share of “guideline”-based screenplays that never sold.) However, resistance to these guidelines start to build up thanks to the overly aggressive nature that each expert tries to instruct writers to follow them. What should be helpful guidelines become absolutely unbreakable “rules” enforced by...
- 7/16/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
A likable and slickly constructed Bollywood tale of understanding and tolerance has unwittingly provoked a storm in Mumbai
Indian superstar Shahrukh Khan (often lovingly intialised to Srk) has found this film to be a lot more controversial than expected, even allowing for its plotlines involving Us homeland security and terrorism. Srk plays an Indian man with Asperger's syndrome who, for reasons revealed as the film unfolds, is on a quest to personally deliver a message to the Us president.
Fox paid a lot to secure the international rights to this film and while the ultimate message it delivers, of understanding, community and tolerance, is one that deserves to be heard, it seems unlikely that it will have far-reaching crossover appeal – to say nothing of its problems in Mumbai, where the large and very vocal Shiv Sena movement have been attacking Khan via the film that bears his name.
Western screenwriting...
Indian superstar Shahrukh Khan (often lovingly intialised to Srk) has found this film to be a lot more controversial than expected, even allowing for its plotlines involving Us homeland security and terrorism. Srk plays an Indian man with Asperger's syndrome who, for reasons revealed as the film unfolds, is on a quest to personally deliver a message to the Us president.
Fox paid a lot to secure the international rights to this film and while the ultimate message it delivers, of understanding, community and tolerance, is one that deserves to be heard, it seems unlikely that it will have far-reaching crossover appeal – to say nothing of its problems in Mumbai, where the large and very vocal Shiv Sena movement have been attacking Khan via the film that bears his name.
Western screenwriting...
- 2/12/2010
- by Phelim O'Neill
- The Guardian - Film News
Terrence Malick's The New World doesn't have fans, just fanatics – John Patterson among them. He explains the purity and beauty of this bottomless movie, which came and went in a month in the middle of the decade
This decade hasn't been up to much, movie-wise, but I am more than ever convinced that when every other scrap of celluloid from 2000-2009 has crumbled to dust, one film will remain, like some Ozymandias-like remnant of transient vanished glory in the desert. And that film is The New World, Terrence Malick's American foundation myth, which arrived just as the decade reached its dismal halfway point, in January 2006.
It's been said that The New World doesn't have fans: it has disciples and partisans and fanatics. I'm one of them, and my fanaticism burns undimmed 30 or more viewings later. The New World is a bottomless movie, almost unspeakably beautiful and formally harmonious.
This decade hasn't been up to much, movie-wise, but I am more than ever convinced that when every other scrap of celluloid from 2000-2009 has crumbled to dust, one film will remain, like some Ozymandias-like remnant of transient vanished glory in the desert. And that film is The New World, Terrence Malick's American foundation myth, which arrived just as the decade reached its dismal halfway point, in January 2006.
It's been said that The New World doesn't have fans: it has disciples and partisans and fanatics. I'm one of them, and my fanaticism burns undimmed 30 or more viewings later. The New World is a bottomless movie, almost unspeakably beautiful and formally harmonious.
- 12/10/2009
- by John Patterson
- The Guardian - Film News
When I put my hand into that of frat-boy messiah Tucker Max, he crushed my phalanges with a firm shake that can only performed by legendary mitts. Those hands have handled more alcoholic beverages and women than my mind can even begin to imagine. And while I do hope he washes his hands regularly, at least I can say I’ve grabbed the paws of a man who has f**ked a little person stripper.
That and other stories are shared in Tucker Max’s first co-written movie, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, a film adaptation of his New York Times Bestseller with the same title. In the movie, law student/college-party-icon is played by Matt Czuchry (you may recognize him from “Gilmore Girls.”)
But as much as Tucker Max may seem to be invincible to his many vices, he still had a lot of learning to do when it came to cinema.
That and other stories are shared in Tucker Max’s first co-written movie, I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell, a film adaptation of his New York Times Bestseller with the same title. In the movie, law student/college-party-icon is played by Matt Czuchry (you may recognize him from “Gilmore Girls.”)
But as much as Tucker Max may seem to be invincible to his many vices, he still had a lot of learning to do when it came to cinema.
- 9/25/2009
- by Nick Allen
- The Scorecard Review
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