Month: June 2015

5 Questions You Were Too Afraid to Ask About Being a Screenwriter

In other words, here’s another way of looking at all those nasty facts about establishing your TV or film writing career. Time now for The Answers Nobody Wants to Hear:

scary questionsby Emily Guder

For those hoping to break in, the world of screenwriting can seem like a black box. Unless you know industry insiders or have an agent, your first screenplay’s journey from Final Draft to production will be an unparalleled challenge. That’s why screenwriting organization The Black List teamed up with Film Society of Lincoln Center in New York to answer your burning questions.

The panelists—Chris Sparling (Cannes 2015 entry “Sea of Trees,” directed by Gus Van Sant), Shari Springer Berman (“American Splendor,” “The Nanny Diaries,” “Ten Thousand Saints”), Michael Zam (“Best Actress”) and Lara Shapiro (“The Americans”)—joined moderator Franklin Leonard, creator of The Black List, to discuss everything from finding the right agent to when it’s time to quit your day job. read article

Peggy Bechko Gives Us a Peek into the Writing Life

peggy b

by Peggy Bechko

Ever wonder what a writer’s life is like? Think it’s cool lunches, easy hours, write in your PJ’s time? Work when you want, lounge when you want? Wait for inspiration to strike? Yeah, well, maybe for some rare creatures out there, though I doubt even that.

But, despite deadlines (self-imposed and otherwise), deadly story lines that won’t work out and a host of other problems peculiar only to writers, it’s a great life for me. And when the budget allows I do treat myself well. That, along with a wonderful partner who’s income is admittedly the bigger share we were able to head out to DisneyWorld for a fun week.

The appeal of roller coasters and great food (not at the same time), amazing flowers and more great food (at the same time), whirling teacups and great food (not at the same time) combined with boat rides and hanging out at the pool in beautiful sunny weather was just too much to pass up.  I disconnected from my computer and electronics entirely and since I don’t have a smart phone, couldn’t even use that to hit the web or send emails. I took along my Kindle for reading and walked miles each day. read article

10 Must-Have Apps for Filmmakers

Cuz if you’re a TV writer,  you’re a real filmmaker, dammit, and you should be learning all you can about the big picture of prep, production, and post production as well as creating the blueprint:

Filmmaking-Apps-865x505by Johnathan Paul

Smart phones and tablets are becoming more commonly used on set for a variety of things, such as production documentation and concept viewing. Back in 2014, PremiumBeat writer Caleb Ward wrote an article on 10 Free Apps for Filmmakers. While the free app well is pretty dry, the paid app well is full of options. With that said, we found 10 more must-have apps that every filmmaker should be aware of. Remember, some of these are paid apps, but the time savings could make it fully worth the price tag.

1. DSLR Slate read article

Is TV’s Current Golden Age Doomed to Fail?

We totally disagree with this article, but we’re presenting it here anyway cuz…what if we’re wrong? (Hey, we’re in showbiz, where having core values is one of the things that’s really doomed.) Anyway:

dramas

by Gerry Smith

The entertainment industry will air more than 400 original TV shows this year, lavishing hundreds of millions of dollars on top talent and exotic locations in the hopes of creating the next “Mad Men” or “Game of Thrones.”

The gusher of quality programs has prompted TV critics to proclaim a Golden Age of Television. But as any viewer knows, keeping up with all the shows is impossible. You’d have to watch TV 24 hours a day for at least eight months to catch every scripted series that aired last year, according to a Bloomberg calculation. With too many shows chasing too few viewers, say industry executives, most original programs lose money and half the shows now running probably will disappear by next year. read article

5 Tips for Shooting a Period Piece on a Shoestring Budget

Low – or no – budgets are fact of life for makers of indie TV and film. Here are some tips on how to rise above your bank account:

period-pieceby Noam Kroll

It’s tempting for many filmmakers to write scripts that take place in a completely different time period. After all,period pieces open up so many possibilities for telling new stories that just wouldn’t be relevant or possible when set in modern times. Unfortunately, many of these same filmmakers are hit with a big wake-up call when it comes time to actually produce their film, as they realize just how expensive it’s going to be.

When you’re crafting a period piece, everything is more expensive. Not only do your hard costs skyrocket (wardrobe, locations, set dec, etc.), but a lot more time and effort is needed in other areas of the production as well. During pre-production for example, you (and probably your art director/production designer) will need to thoroughly research the time period in which your film is set in so that you can portray it accurately. read article