Newsletter 5/30/07
Interviews ....
The Evolution of Film: An Interview With Peter Bradley
By Glenn Bossik
Thanks to the Internet, independent filmmakers can now chart their own course for success. They can easily communicate with large audiences through social networking sites. These audiences often promote films through word of mouth.
There is, however, another element that can determine whether an independent filmmaker will succeed—distribution. Azureus Inc., a quickly growing media company, solves the problem of obtaining affordable film distribution. In fact, filmmakers can host high-resolution video content on the company’s Web site, Vuze.com, for free.
Scriptologist.com spoke with Peter Bradley, Vice President of Business Development for Azureus, to gain insight into how the company is revolutionizing the world of low-budget filmmaking. Read more...
Film Reviews ....
Write a Crime Thriller Like The Departed
By Elaine Radford
In the intricately-structured crime drama, The Departed, ironic plot twists reveal the true nature of the characters. These twists show that a person's fate is tied to loyalty. That is the theme.
We see irony in the actions of the main characters, among whom are Irish mob boss Frank Costello (Jack Nicholson), Sgt. Colin Sullivan (Matt Damon), undercover cop Billy Costigan (Leonardo DiCaprio), and Madolyn (Vera Farmiga), a police department psychiatrist.
The villain, Irish mob boss Frank Costello, is an anti-hero. He's a powerful, frightening character whose cunning and warped personality dominates. Nicholson plays Costello so well that we forget he's acting a part.
Read more...
Screenwriting Tips ....
Writing a Comedy Like Office Space
By Elaine Radford
Films that make us laugh long after their release date become classics in the comedy genre. Audiences continue to identify with them. That’s why the 1999 comedy, Office Space, still entertains.
This satire examines, exaggerates, and ridicules office life. It’s an aspect of life that people relate to—working in order to survive but feeling trapped by their jobs. Invariably, the protagonist tries to rebel. The screenplay for Office Space combines the theme of rebellion with exaggerated characters to create a comedic story. Read more...
Ask Scriptologist ....
Selling a Screenplay
Dear Scriptologist.com,
I'm writing a screenplay and I want to sell it, but I know it's not an easy thing to do.
Is there any chance that I can sell my screenplay over the Internet? I feel that it's a great story, but I’m not sure how to get an agent to read it? What should I do to get into the film industry? Read more...
—Cláudio Pestana
Madeira Island, Portugal
Writing Screenplays for Short Documentaries
Dear Scriptologist.com,
I am perhaps the newest person to screenwriting. I’m a poet and writer of novels. However, someone approached me about turning several of my works into short documentaries. Now, I’m beginning to write screenplays for these films. One problem is that I’m disabled and on a limited income. I have no way to pay for screenwriting courses right now. How much instruction can I actually get for this through free online courses? Would such instruction be reliable, accurate, and up-to-date? Read more...
—Carolanne
Wisconsin
Screenplay Formatting
Dear Scriptologist,
How can I write the time, date, or place in a screenplay so that it will be superimposed on the movie screen? Read more...
— Jaz
California
Screenplay Competition ....
The 2007 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards
Read What Our Bloggers Are Writing:
Looking For Other Screenwriters
...By Gina Bernal
So, I'm back into this whole screenwriting dream of mine. It all started in my creative writing class when I was a junior in high school. My teacher showed us a copy of the screenplay for Ghost, and I knew that's what I wanted to do. Read more...
Hannibal Returns in Fracture …By Elaine Radford
I was looking forward to seeing Fracture because Anthony Hopkins is an excellent actor. The story was slick and had a lot of interesting twists, but I felt like I was watching Hannibal Lecter in another suit of clothes. Read more...
I'm In Love
…By Miriam Adams-Washington
As a published novelist, I love the written word. I love the intimacy of paper and pencil and creating a world so different than my own. At first, I wasn't sure if screenwriting would be the same as writing novels. But it has been an awesome process, and I'm learning so much. Read more...
Create a blog to network with fellow screenwriters, filmmakers, literary
agents, producers, and other film industry professionals. It’s absolutely FREE, and it can enable you to showcase your skills as a filmmaker.
So, don’t wait! Build your film industry blog now!
Screenwriting Exercises ....
The Scriptologist.com Exercise Series
The three exercises in this series--Character Development, Plot Structure, and Dialogue--will help you learn the techniques used by Hollywood's top screenwriters. Read more...
Scriptologist Classifieds ....
Low-Budget Screenplay Wanted
Seeking a quality screenplay with minimum sets and characters for a film that will be shot later in 2007 on a shoestring budget (50k). Professional actors and crew will be used. Funding is in place. Read more...
Are You an Aspiring Screenwriter?
The New York Script Club was created to help people work together on screenplays while learning about the film industry. Read more...
Aspiring Writer Seeks Collaborator
I'm an aspiring writer, and I'm looking forward to collaborating with an experienced writer or producer. I have a very general sense of screenwriting, but there are still some things I would like to learn. Read more...
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