You might not know it, but there are many screenwriters walking this earth. Why haven't you heard of them? Well, this is probably due to the fact that they've yet to sell a script. Not that this is surprising. With nearly 100,000 scripts registered with the Writer's Guild every year, you can see it's a competitive business. This IS the toughest writing job to acquire now days. Selling your screenplay is no easy feat. Of course this doesn't mean that you shouldn't write a movie script and pitch it. My advice is to just know what you're doing before tackling the process. Screenwriting is not like writing fiction.
Have you ever read a movie script? For those who haven't and don't really plan to, let me fill you in on a few things. A screenplay is written differently than a novel. Unlike fiction, with movie scripts you only write what can be seen or heard on the big screen. In other words, you try to stay out of characters' heads. Remember that no one is going to have the script in-hand while viewing the film. If you can't see or hear it up there, it should be left out. It's all about being concise and descriptive at the same time. Think short powerful lines. Obviously you want to suck the reader in and hold their attention. The professionals who read screenplays regularly will toss them aside if they stink or are written poorly. They don't have time to waste on this. So format and grammatical issues are crucial. This is why several drafts are written before you actually pitch a movie script to a production company.
Check out a little website known as simplyscripts.com. This is my favorite, because it tends to have the particular movie script I'm looking for. Since I write screenplays myself, I like to get a feel for the ways other writers craft their scripts. This is a great exercise for anyone who is serious about screenwriting. If you want to see how a professional movie script is written, you should pay attention to the pros who've actually sold them. However, keep in mind that you're writing a spec script. You should leave out camera angles and such. This is a job for the director. He/she will make those changes if you successfully sell your work. It helps to take a class on screenwriting prior to beginning, or at least reading a reputable book.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Movie theatre
movie theatre
Though you might often hear that a certain piece of technology will certainly spell the end of the movie theatre, that never seems to come to pass. Though attendance might not be what it was long ago, the theater is still alive and still kicking. No matter how good a television might look, or how lifelike things become, nothing will ever replace going out and having the entire experience of watching a movie on the large screen. People love the experience of it, and many find that this is one of the few times they get to go out and leave the house.
The movie theatre experience is something that teenagers like to have because that means they can be alone with peers while in a place where their parents feel safe about leaving them without supervision for a few hours. Perhaps this is why teens love the mall so much. Parents feel it is safer, and they are usually attached to a movie theatre or two. The kids love the movies and the parents love that they don’t have to worry too much about what they are doing. Movies are also great for dates, especially when a teen first starts dating and things can be overwhelming to them.
The movie theatre is also something that adults learn to love again after they have had children. They learn that finding a babysitter is hard, but when you only need one for the time it takes to go out for a quick dinner and a movie, finding one is rather easy. This is especially true if they catch the early show. The movie theatre allows them to enjoy themselves while knowing they are easily reachable if something were to go wrong and they had to head home. This might be why the local, smaller theatres are still around and still do pretty decent business.
One thing that seems to be a the norm at any movie theatre is the price of concessions. People complain (and rightly so) about the price of soda and popcorn, but there is a good reason why these prices are so high. It’s not greed for the most part, but rather, profit. Most movies don’t make a lot of money for the movie theatre. The price of the ticket mostly goes somewhere else and the theatre has to make up for that or they would not be able to remain open. Though the prices are high, this is why so many can stay open. Without the extra income, many of the theatres would have to go out of business.
Though you might often hear that a certain piece of technology will certainly spell the end of the movie theatre, that never seems to come to pass. Though attendance might not be what it was long ago, the theater is still alive and still kicking. No matter how good a television might look, or how lifelike things become, nothing will ever replace going out and having the entire experience of watching a movie on the large screen. People love the experience of it, and many find that this is one of the few times they get to go out and leave the house.
The movie theatre experience is something that teenagers like to have because that means they can be alone with peers while in a place where their parents feel safe about leaving them without supervision for a few hours. Perhaps this is why teens love the mall so much. Parents feel it is safer, and they are usually attached to a movie theatre or two. The kids love the movies and the parents love that they don’t have to worry too much about what they are doing. Movies are also great for dates, especially when a teen first starts dating and things can be overwhelming to them.
The movie theatre is also something that adults learn to love again after they have had children. They learn that finding a babysitter is hard, but when you only need one for the time it takes to go out for a quick dinner and a movie, finding one is rather easy. This is especially true if they catch the early show. The movie theatre allows them to enjoy themselves while knowing they are easily reachable if something were to go wrong and they had to head home. This might be why the local, smaller theatres are still around and still do pretty decent business.
One thing that seems to be a the norm at any movie theatre is the price of concessions. People complain (and rightly so) about the price of soda and popcorn, but there is a good reason why these prices are so high. It’s not greed for the most part, but rather, profit. Most movies don’t make a lot of money for the movie theatre. The price of the ticket mostly goes somewhere else and the theatre has to make up for that or they would not be able to remain open. Though the prices are high, this is why so many can stay open. Without the extra income, many of the theatres would have to go out of business.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Tintin Movie Previews For The Fans
The Tintin movie has many Tintin fans at odds with each other. The debate is split between two Tintin movie camps. The anticipation for any Tintin movie preview is really building momentum. The first camp cannot wait for the film to become reality and then those that are strictly opposed to any sort of Tintin based film.
What is known is that Spielberg and Jackson two modern giants of film direction are trying to recreate the look of the books with in the Tintin movies and figures of $100 million dollars have been banded about.
The first camp those that cannot wait for a Tintin movie believe like Herge did that the only man in modern cinema able to produce the Tintin adventures for the big screen is Spielberg. In fact I have reported earlier that Spielberg has been trying to get this film made for over 20 years now. The use and demo work by Peter Jackson and his Weta effects workshop only sets to highlight the attention to detail that the people involved in the project are putting into developing a true reflection of the Belgian boy detective in his deeds of good and crime solving.
The Tintin movie debates other side don’t want the Tintin persona to be touched for fear of a bad recreation could damage the standing of this much loved character. He is a Belgian creation and very much a European comic character that most don’t believe can be become a Hollywood film. American’s have never embraced Tintin as he was introduced to the world a few months after Mickey Mouse so was lost to an American audience who had their own plucky character.
The film will be heavily reliant on CGI that Jackson was brilliant at creating for the role of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings but many believe that these technologies cannot be then related to the ligne claire style of Herge creation Tintin.
The debate is set to continue as Tintin Movie news is still thin on the ground. The rumour mill is still though thriving with several people rumoured to be playing Tintin from Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) to Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot).
The debate will never be completely answered because even when the film is finished and reaches the multi-plexes there is little chance there will be universal praise for any Tintin movie that produced.
What is known is that Spielberg and Jackson two modern giants of film direction are trying to recreate the look of the books with in the Tintin movies and figures of $100 million dollars have been banded about.
The first camp those that cannot wait for a Tintin movie believe like Herge did that the only man in modern cinema able to produce the Tintin adventures for the big screen is Spielberg. In fact I have reported earlier that Spielberg has been trying to get this film made for over 20 years now. The use and demo work by Peter Jackson and his Weta effects workshop only sets to highlight the attention to detail that the people involved in the project are putting into developing a true reflection of the Belgian boy detective in his deeds of good and crime solving.
The Tintin movie debates other side don’t want the Tintin persona to be touched for fear of a bad recreation could damage the standing of this much loved character. He is a Belgian creation and very much a European comic character that most don’t believe can be become a Hollywood film. American’s have never embraced Tintin as he was introduced to the world a few months after Mickey Mouse so was lost to an American audience who had their own plucky character.
The film will be heavily reliant on CGI that Jackson was brilliant at creating for the role of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings but many believe that these technologies cannot be then related to the ligne claire style of Herge creation Tintin.
The debate is set to continue as Tintin Movie news is still thin on the ground. The rumour mill is still though thriving with several people rumoured to be playing Tintin from Simon Pegg (Hot Fuzz) to Jamie Bell (Billy Elliot).
The debate will never be completely answered because even when the film is finished and reaches the multi-plexes there is little chance there will be universal praise for any Tintin movie that produced.
Movie News - Daily Update And Articles
So I was catching up on movie news the other day, and started thinking about whether I could write an article linking together some of my favorite heroes - Daniel Craig (a new addition to the list, thanks to his performance in Casino Royale), Al Pacino and Robert DeNiro (two old-timers on the list). Here goes.
I haven't caught 'Invasion' yet, starring Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) and Nicole Kidman (The Golden Compass), but despite the bad reviews I'm still looking forward to it. The flick is based on one of my favourite sci-fi horror movies of all time - 'The Invasion of the Bodysnatchers'! Both the original black and white paranoia-fest with Kevin McCarthy and the 70's Donald Sutherland starrer chill me to the bone every time! The 70's version also starred a terribly young and skinny Jeff Goldblum (he once appeared in an episode of 'Columbo' you know - he was an extra!). Remember Sutherland's final scene in 'Bodysnatchers? That twist still gives me serious goose bumps. I hope the new version is better than the reviews reckon; Craig is a quality actor and he ought to be able to bring the same eerie tension to the movie that Sutherland did - even if he doesn't have curly hair and a moustache. Maybe Kidman will provide those?
Al Pacino to play the next James Bond villain? That's the rumour currently making the rounds (Source: Ain't It Cool News). You may remember that the last Bond film, the brilliant Casino Royale, ended with Daniel Craig's 007 hot on the trail of the leader of the terrorist organisation responsible for the death of his girlfriend, Vesper Lynd (the stunning Eva Green). It seems that this villain will only make a 'cameo' in the new movie, 'Quantum of Solace' (love that title!) but that Mr. Pacino will indeed play him. I last saw Pacino in Ocean's 13 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt - a disappointing flick which saw the usually terrific cast members sleepwalk their way through their lines. Hopefully Pacino will turn up the evil quotient for Mr. Bond, as Quantum of Solace has a big job to do - living up to expectations raised by the franchise-freshening Casino Royale.
On the subject of Al Pacino, Al Pacino has a new movie coming out this year that will surely be one the year's biggest box office draws - Righteous Kill, directed by Jon Avnet. In it (prepare yourself), Pacino re-unites with none other than Robert DeNiro! I'm loving this already! The two 'Godfather' legends have only ever appeared together in one film, Michael Mann's crime thriller 'Heat', in which Pacino played the cop on the trail of DeNiro's crime boss. In that movie, the pair only shared one scene (over coffee) but it was an all-time classic meeting of icons, with palpable tension between the two. This time around, they play cops tracking down a serial killer in New York. It's said the two will play most scenes together this time, so this ought to be one of heck of ride! 50 Cent and Donnie Wahlberg (astounding in The Sixth Sense) co-star.
I haven't caught 'Invasion' yet, starring Daniel Craig (Casino Royale) and Nicole Kidman (The Golden Compass), but despite the bad reviews I'm still looking forward to it. The flick is based on one of my favourite sci-fi horror movies of all time - 'The Invasion of the Bodysnatchers'! Both the original black and white paranoia-fest with Kevin McCarthy and the 70's Donald Sutherland starrer chill me to the bone every time! The 70's version also starred a terribly young and skinny Jeff Goldblum (he once appeared in an episode of 'Columbo' you know - he was an extra!). Remember Sutherland's final scene in 'Bodysnatchers? That twist still gives me serious goose bumps. I hope the new version is better than the reviews reckon; Craig is a quality actor and he ought to be able to bring the same eerie tension to the movie that Sutherland did - even if he doesn't have curly hair and a moustache. Maybe Kidman will provide those?
Al Pacino to play the next James Bond villain? That's the rumour currently making the rounds (Source: Ain't It Cool News). You may remember that the last Bond film, the brilliant Casino Royale, ended with Daniel Craig's 007 hot on the trail of the leader of the terrorist organisation responsible for the death of his girlfriend, Vesper Lynd (the stunning Eva Green). It seems that this villain will only make a 'cameo' in the new movie, 'Quantum of Solace' (love that title!) but that Mr. Pacino will indeed play him. I last saw Pacino in Ocean's 13 with George Clooney and Brad Pitt - a disappointing flick which saw the usually terrific cast members sleepwalk their way through their lines. Hopefully Pacino will turn up the evil quotient for Mr. Bond, as Quantum of Solace has a big job to do - living up to expectations raised by the franchise-freshening Casino Royale.
On the subject of Al Pacino, Al Pacino has a new movie coming out this year that will surely be one the year's biggest box office draws - Righteous Kill, directed by Jon Avnet. In it (prepare yourself), Pacino re-unites with none other than Robert DeNiro! I'm loving this already! The two 'Godfather' legends have only ever appeared together in one film, Michael Mann's crime thriller 'Heat', in which Pacino played the cop on the trail of DeNiro's crime boss. In that movie, the pair only shared one scene (over coffee) but it was an all-time classic meeting of icons, with palpable tension between the two. This time around, they play cops tracking down a serial killer in New York. It's said the two will play most scenes together this time, so this ought to be one of heck of ride! 50 Cent and Donnie Wahlberg (astounding in The Sixth Sense) co-star.
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