Category: By TVWriter.Com

AQUARIUS 1969 – America on the Brink of a Nervous Breakdown

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by Lew Ritter

“We didn’t start the fire – The World ‘s been burning since the world’s been turning.”- Billy Joel

Are you tired of the endless mind numbing headlines about corrupt “say anything to get elected politicians.”, allegations of police brutality , overseas events that seemed to be spinning out of control and a world that seems to be collapsing around us? Need a break?

Well, let’s revisit a more tranquil place around fifty years or so in the past America, in the 1960’s. It was called the “Era of Peace and Love. “ However, in reality, the 1960’s was a chaotic time when America felt like it was falling apart due to strained race relations, student unrest and foreign wars without end. read article

The Mirror Maze World of the Private Eye Part 1

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by Diana Black

Think back to every detective story you’ve seen on screen – big or small. Even the briefest recollection makes it abundantly clear that detective stories follow a pattern. All stories do, hence the term ‘genre’ – a specific form or style associated with a narrative.

All of those detective stories you’ve recollected vary in some way, but the ‘structural arcs’ (of the good ones) contain specific scenes we’ve come to expect in this genre. Without them the reader will dump your master-piece in the trash can and if the project is miraculously green-lit, the viewer will channel-surf. So those scenes had better be there.

PI-DickYou’ll find lists of the essential – one might in fact say “obligatory” – scenes for almost every type of story (and much more) in TVWriter™ honcho Larry Brody’s Booklet, “Storytelling Patterns in Genre Films”. No, it isn’t available on the web or in stores. You can’t pay for it anywhere. But you can get it as a Free Bonus Gift when you enter the PEOPLE’S PILOT COMPETITION…which is worth entering for many more reasons as well. But here’s a sample scene listing from the booklet, which by no coincidence whatsoever is exactly what this article is about: read article

Tips for Creating Your Own Web Series

Yes, it’s true. The Writers Guild of America West wants to help us make it big. And, as we pointed out yesterday, using an indie web video or series as a stepping stone to bigger things is an idea whose time definitely has come:

This is important business!

Diana Vacc sees “Ghostbusters”

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by Diana Vaccarelli

*If you haven’t viewed this film yet be warned this review may contain spoilers!*

It has been thirty years since the original Ghostbusters was released into theaters and instantly became a classic.  Paul Feig, famed director of Bridesmaids and Spy, took the helm in this reboot for a new generation.  This film finds a new cast of characters headed by Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon, Kristen Wiig, Leslie Jones, and Chris Hemsworth investigating paranormal activity in Manhattan. read article

Indie Video: STRYKA

Here’s the most encouraging thing we’ve learned this week. STRYKA, the video below, has been so well received – because it’s so damned good – that it’s gotten its director writer-director Emily Carmichael the gig writing the next Pacific Rim film, Pacific Rim: Maelstrom and directing Steven Spielberg’s hotly anticipated Powerhouse.

Ms. Carmichael did this. Others have succeed via this route too. What’re you waiting for?

This is what the web – and  your own talent – are for! read article