Comments for Script Gods Must Die - Chicago Screenwriting Consultant

Comment on The Biz: 4: How To Get Bounced From the Nicholl Fellowship With Style by swampy

swampy — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:11:53 +0000

Rejection has never been such good reading. Obviously there must be something wrong with judging process over at Nicholl.

Comment on Structure: 2: Don’t Give The Bastards A Reason To Say No by paul peditto

paul peditto — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:53:12 +0000

Benjamin Button was more like a slide show presentation with effects. “Here’s what I did in the 20′s, here’s where I was in the 40′s…”
The F. Scott Fitzgerald source material has few flies, but as the fortune cookie once told me: “Some things are better read than said.”

Comment on Structure: 2: Don’t Give The Bastards A Reason To Say No by Michael Greco

Michael Greco — Mon, 17 May 2010 18:29:02 +0000

Agreed. We’re not positing Benjamin Button as a good script…are we? Just curious, Mick

Comment on Format: 9: Voice Over by paul peditto

paul peditto — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:56:18 +0000

I don’t believe in absolutes in respect to movies. The number of classic Voice Over movies might easily
number in the hundreds. Your list is very good and only scratches the surface. It’s only when the Voice
Over stops the narrative flow or comments on things we can see, there is the issue for me. I remember
watching LITTLE CHILDREN, the V.O. describing Kate Winslet and child: “She would often go the park.”
And there was Kate in the park. Then the V.O. would follow: “She liked to swing her child on the swings.”
And there again is Kate swinging her kid. Just an oppressive V.O adding zero. As I recall I walked out on
LITTLE CHILDREN because of the V.O., and walked in to another theater to catch PAUL BLART, MALL COP!

Comment on Format: 9: Voice Over by Sam

Sam — Mon, 17 May 2010 02:02:39 +0000

I was thinking about this too recently. Alot of acclaimed movies are heavily told with voice over. Just glancing over the top 50 on IMDB quickly: Amelie, City of God, Goodfellas, Sunset Blvd., Usual Suspects, Shawshenk Redemption, Citizen Kane, Forest Gump, American Beauty, A Clockwork Orange, To Kill A Mockingbird, and more.

So frankly I don’t get why people are so adamant about not doing voice over since people clearly go for it again and again. I mean in Goodfellas he talks directly to the camera. I didn’t really go for it but can’t say that loads of critics didn’t.

Comment on Format: 5: Character Introductions & Descriptions by Palmer Fernet

Palmer Fernet — Tue, 11 May 2010 00:05:30 +0000

Hi, I like your site! I shall be back again.

Comment on Format: 3: Montage vs. Series Of Shots by paul peditto

paul peditto — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 01:35:33 +0000

I might try it this way:

INT. CONCERT HALL- DAY (SERIES OF SHOTS)

--On stage, a man plucks his banjo.

--Two girls dance the Charleston.

--A monkey plays Beethoven’s Fifth.

Comment on Format: 3: Montage vs. Series Of Shots by Michael

Michael — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:55:53 +0000

Paul, Is it ever appropriate to label the “series of shots” in case you need to make it clear where the action is taking place at the location? For example:

INT CONCERT HALL – DAY

SERIES OF SHOTS – ON STAGE
–Man plays banjo
–Two Girls dance
–Monkey plays piano

Comment on Format: 11: Flashback vs. Flash by paul peditto

paul peditto — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 22:24:44 +0000

Check out this link for TV Pilot writing…maybe it’ll give you some ideas.

http://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting2/pilotschool

Keep in mind the structure for TV isn’t traditional 3-act, and obviously the page count
is much less (50-60 depending on the show).

Hope this helps…

Comment on Format: 11: Flashback vs. Flash by Susan's Snippets

Susan's Snippets — Tue, 06 Apr 2010 20:27:44 +0000

Paul – Hi!

I am wondering what is one to do if they have an idea for a sitcom…but do not know how to write a script?

susan snippets is improperly equipped
:^)