Category: Uncategorized

You already may have heard the outcry over the BBC America hit show, Orphan Black, not receiving any Emmy nominations, and I concur; Orphan Black has great writing, is well cast and very well acted, and has a high production value — all of which equate to compelling episodes week after week. So why no Emmy noms? Who knows, but my reason for taking to the soapbox in support can be condensed into one scene from this past season’s finale: the dancing clones. Continue reading “Why Tatiana Maslany, Orphan Black deserve Emmys”

When you see an interesting scene in a film it immediately registers because by its end something about the story and characters is radically different–or at least the foundation has been laid to disrupt the world of the story that existed up until that scene.

Additionally, the scene itself likely had many ups and downs, wreaking emotional havoc for the characters. A scene that began in a positive way for a character likely did not end that way, and vice versa, or somewhere in between. The point being something altered the story’s landscape. Continue reading “Changing scene values and competing agendas”

My alma mater, TheFilmSchool, has asked me to speak about script coverage and analysis and how screenwriters can improve their chances to receive a “Recommend” (Tues., Aug. 6), and to help me organize the discussion I thought I’d put the question to you: What exactly do you want to know about coverage?

Script coverage — a story analysis for producers that often includes grades of “Pass,” “Consider” or “Recommend” — is a critical step in helping producers determine whether a story is worth their investment of time and money. Likewise, coverage helps agents Continue reading “What do you want to know about script coverage?”

Best picture? “Argo.” Best director? Spielberg. Best actress? Jennifer Lawrence. Best screenplay? “Django Unchained.” At least that’s the way it stands today, Feb. 20, according to Microsoft researcher David Rothschild, who, after correctly predicting President Obama’s victory in February 2012 — 9 months before the actual election — is applying his prediction modeling to the Oscars. Continue reading “Spoiler alert: Oscar winners!”

Unhappy with the style of Courier bundled with your screenwriting software? Introducing a new free style of Courier that may become the new standard: Courier Prime, courtesy of screenwriter John August and designer Alan Dague-Greene. August, who has a design background, Continue reading “New screenwriting font: Courier Prime”