Category: Resources

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John Ostrander: And the Award Goes To…

by John Ostrander

So, the nominations for this year’s Academy Awards have been announced and there were a few surprises. A super-hero film, Black Panther, became the first of its kind to be nominated and Netflix landed its first nomination for Best Picture as well and Meryl Streep got nominated as Best Actress. No, wait – Streep wasn’t nominated. That was the surprise. I thought there was some sort of rule she had to be nominated.

I have different levels of interest in the Academy Awards depending on the category but a particular favorite of mine is soundtrack, a.k.a. Original Score. And the nominees this year are:

Black Panther — Ludwig Goransson read article

It’s Quentin Tarantino Week at TVWriter™ Part 1

For reasons that you’ll either already know or, if you don’t, that you’ll never know, Quentin Tarantino is a very Big Deal Screenwriter in addition to being a Very Very Big Deal Film Director and a Very Very Very Big Deal All-Round Film-Maker.

How Big Deal is Mr. Tarantino? Let’s put it this way. We here at TVWriter™ have decided not only to feature his wit and wisdom on our site this week, we’re even going to forgive him for refusing to join the Writers Guild of America – West or East.

Here it is, then, this week’s first appearance by The Big Deal Guy His Very Self, in His Very Own Words about two of our favorite subjects:

Must-Know Legal Tips for TV and Screenwriters

“I’m a writer,” you say. “Why do I need to know a bunch of legal mumbo jumbo?”

The answer, in the proverbial nutshell, is: “Because if you don’t know how to protect yourself from the very beginning, you’re gonna get screwed.”

Here’s what we’re talking about: read article

JK Rowling on “The Fringe Benefits of Failure”

“You know it don’t come easy.”

Ringo Star

And that, friends, is the whole point: read article

How To Become A Substance Addicted Hollywood Writer

Don’t let your mothers read this one, newbies. But definitely read David Silverman’s wise words yourselves – and remember, knowledge – even if it’s scary as hell – ultimately will give you power:

For those who don’t recognize him, here’s Edgar Allan Poe

by David Silverman, MA, LMFT

It’s relatively easy. First you get a job as a screenwriter or TV writer. You get to deal with deadlines, rejection, and a roller-coaster of ups and downs in your career. You might encounter heartache, or agonize over where your next job is coming from.  You could be the flavor of the month one day and forgotten the next.

On the other hand, you might just become successful, buy a house in the Hollywood Hills, drive a Lamborghini, and chase after beautiful starlets. You might have wild parties where your friends and acquaintances share drugs, or get hammered and carry on long into the night. read article