Month: March 2015

Cara Winter sees Broadchurch & Finds It (OMG!) Wanting

AirunGarky.com-Broadchurch

The Anglo Files #13
by Cara Winter

Maybe it’s because I am currently attempting to write a gasp-worthy, twisty-bendy, shock-ya-shock-ya mystery pilot myself, lately I have spent a lot of time thinking about BROADCHURCH.

Much lauded during it’s first season, I sat down and basically binge-watched the entire first season… and for most of it, I was stunned. It was tremendously well made, well acted and pretty to look at.

And then came the final episode of season 1… and,  NO.  Just, NO. read article

A Comic Book Pro’s Take on TV’s THE FLASH

Hint: He really effin’ likes it:

The-Flash

THE FLASH Reaches Light Speed
by Marc Alan Fishman

So I’ve gabbed about Gotham. I’ve adjudicated over Agents of SHIELD. Isn’t it time I got flustered over The Flash? After the episode debuting this week, “Out of Time”, I’m beside myself with glee. For those who saw the episode, that knowing smirk over my pun-tacular metaphor means we’re going to be the best of friends. For those who are missing out on the festivities – or don’t wish to spoil themselves having not seen the episode yet – I’ll see you next week.

OK, are the buzzkillers gone? Good. My god, what an episode! The Flash started off with a bang – melding the innocence of the silver age, with a well-rendered modern edge – and has quickly become appointment DVR television for the ole Fish-man. Whereas I boot up an episode of Gotham with tepid hope, and SHIELD with a yearning for less angst, I hit play at breakneck speeds when Grant Gustin slips in the red leather and lightning bolt ear cups. And “Out of Time” ensured that amongst all the comic-to-TV series being blasted throughout the airwaves these days, The Flash is the best one on by leaps and bound. read article

Peggy Bechko Blogs: Where Do All Those Writers’ Ideas Come From?

idea-factory

by Peggy Bechko

I’m a writer of many things, in several venues and more than one genre. Over the years I’ve heard that time-honored question more times than I can count: Where do you get your ideas?

Yeah, well, my question is more like, why aren’t you getting ideas every minute?

Just look around. No, not at the blank screen in front of you that you’re staring at and trying to come up with a story to write and fill all that white space. Embrace the white space, there’s no need to hate it. Really. Novel or script, you can fill it fast (or at least have a steady stream of ideas of stories). read article

Robin Reed: My Most Favorite Thing on TV Right Now

Hmm, doesn't look like a Henson muppet to us., but what do we know?
Hmm, doesn’t look like a Henson muppet to us., but what do we know?

by Robin Reed

The show that I have to stop and watch every time I come across it these days is “No, You Shut Up!”

Host Paul F. Thompkins discusses current events with a panel of puppets who seem to be forgotten relics from the Henson Creature Shop storage shelves. There is usually a human guest also, though he or she is usually forced to answer only in rap, or while doing impressions, or something else very silly.

The show is on the Fusion Network, which probably has other shows but I don’t know what they are. I don’t know exactly when the official air time of the show is either, I just find it while flipping channels, and when I do I have to stop and watch. read article

Can Creativity Be Taught?

Offhand, we’d say no. But the offhand way may not be appropriate…or creative. Hope somebody comes along to teach us a more fitting way. Kinda like this:

Teaching-CreativityTeaching Creativity: Born That Way or Waiting for the Muse?
by Josephine Scicluna

Recently one of my Masters students, a filmmaker from the Czech Republic, told me his friends back at home were completely baffled that he was in Australia studying creative writing. You were either creative or you were not, they told him. It wasn’t something you could be taught. Although not voiced in such an emphatic way by my undergraduate students, I’ve still encountered many who hold the suspicion that maybe it’s all just fluff.

What I’ve come to understand is that teaching creativity is not about dishing out a set of instructions how to do it, but much more about helping students to identify the kinds of situations or conditions they need for this receptiveness to occur. From there, they can learn to harness this creativity in exciting ways. But first I have to deal with the resistances. read article