tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post6336394402747974874..comments2023-05-04T03:37:04.200-07:00Comments on The Rouge Wave: It's Dog Eat DogJulie Grayhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14690487940378619749noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-89595603412010359362008-07-28T10:56:00.000-07:002008-07-28T10:56:00.000-07:00My favorite thing to do is to read a script while ...My favorite thing to do is to read a script while watching the movie. Thus far, only Casino has been more than 90% filmed from the script.<BR/><BR/>I watched and read "Aliens" last night and I was amazed at how crappy the script was compared to the movie. The movie had interrupted dialog, dialog in the bg, etc. The script was flat and "nosy."<BR/><BR/><BR/>Anyway I find that if I enjoy the movie my script wants to be I'm satisfied. If I have people react the way I want them to I feel like I succeeded.<BR/><BR/>The script I submitted was my favorite in terms of character contrasts and scene transitions. <BR/><BR/>What I love about it is that it doesn't pull any punches. It says what it wants to say regardless of the opinion of others but doesn't attempt to preach. In that way I guess it's like a strong person.<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I have pretty much gone through the scripts on dailyscript.com and even read a bunch from Triggerstreet.com (Not for the faint of heart) and find that there are indeed similarities in scripts that produce successful movies and even similarities in scripts that make sucky movies.<BR/><BR/>The scripts that try to be everything for everyone usually fail miserably (The Love Guru) as do complex plots hinging on hidden secrets (Lady in the Water) or too much suspension of disbelief (Super Ex-Girlfriend).<BR/><BR/>The key that I've found is to study cinema and not screenwriting. Studying cinema will prevent you from writing "unfilmable scenes," enable you to use images effectively, and even make your dialog snappier by giving you an understanding of why a line like "You can't handle the truth" is so effective. Or why a tear rolling down a face can say more than any dialog.<BR/><BR/>I'm behind on several scripts because I'm studying Bergson and Deleuze ( not to mention the discourses I enjoy on my Blog Roll). But at least I can say that I know what the duree is and why Aristotle actually meant plot when he said beginning, middle and end.<BR/><BR/>It's really that I didn't have 4 years at Tisch so I have to make up ground.<BR/><BR/>Long live the scene transition!!Christian H.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16847810167041864292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-23317321772793586212008-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:002008-07-28T10:50:00.000-07:00Anonymous said: "Spanglish" --- are you joking? Ar...<I>Anonymous said: "Spanglish" --- are you joking? Are you for real?</I><BR/><BR/>Am I joking- Nope. Am I for real-Yep. Obviously whether or not one likes of dislikes a script or finds inspiration from it is purely subjective. Personally, I liked Spanglish. The movie was beautifully done and the screeplay is unique. Some of the most critically acclaimed, award-wining movies are technically "box office flops". All I can say is this: as budding professional screenwriters, we should be so lucky.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-28007718515377938222008-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:002008-07-28T09:13:00.000-07:00I would add this to Julie's comments: read bad scr...I would add this to Julie's comments: read bad scripts too. Lots of them. Reading a bad script will let you know very quickly what a good script is and should be.PJ McIlvainehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15496990000619350774noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-75906653396536249692008-07-28T09:00:00.000-07:002008-07-28T09:00:00.000-07:00Hey Screenwriter aka no mess,"Spanglish" --- are y...Hey Screenwriter aka no mess,<BR/><BR/>"Spanglish" --- are you joking? Are you for real?<BR/><BR/>"Spanglish" -- what is so good about the first 10 pages?<BR/><BR/>The movie flopped.<BR/><BR/>The writing is boring!<BR/><BR/>Please explain!<BR/><BR/>Cheers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-71049828422500680592008-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:002008-07-28T07:15:00.000-07:00Hi Julie,I agree - one can tell if a script is goo...Hi Julie,<BR/><BR/>I agree - one can tell if a script is good in the the first three pages. Acutally I could tell in the first and second page.<BR/><BR/>Just read the optioned scripts found on top agents' desk or top movie executives' desk by upcoming aspiring screenwriters. Those scripts are a labour of love. They are written like a slick "blueprint" with a sprinking of technical and prose panache.<BR/><BR/>The first, second, third pages will tell you if your script will advance, win, or optioned.<BR/><BR/>Julie, thank you for being honest and pushing us in the right direction.<BR/><BR/>Cheers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-72479784142804147752008-07-28T06:28:00.000-07:002008-07-28T06:28:00.000-07:00Mine's daily script. Neither fancy, glamourous, no...Mine's daily script. Neither fancy, glamourous, nor exclusive, yet a tremendous resource for writers. Scripts are in PDF and HTML so you can read your heart out in either format.<BR/><BR/>I think the first 10 are very telling. Try the first 10 of Natural Born Killers, Spanglish, and Airforce One.<BR/><BR/>Verve- an interesting and effective choice of words.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8496585120938599514.post-19464983313310864852008-07-27T22:59:00.000-07:002008-07-27T22:59:00.000-07:00What is your favorite source for scripts?I've chec...What is your favorite source for scripts?<BR/><BR/>I've checked out Drew's and IMSDB, and the one problem I have is knowing which scripts are truly the professionals and which are transcripts -- partly because (as a former reader myself) I've read professional scripts that are not as excellent as the finished film.<BR/><BR/>I love reading scripts (Darabont's Indy IV draft was a heck of a lot of fun) and want to read the real deal, not somebody's transcript (no matter how well-written the transcript).Luzidhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15862297674415830596noreply@blogger.com