This subject reminds me of 1979, my first year studying in London. I was rooming with a guy from Liverpool, an actor, going to school at the Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art. I went to see one of his shows. Ridiculously good. I went backstage. “What’d ya think?” he asked. “Amazing! I really have no […]
So…THE WIZARD OF OZ , final chase. Dorothy and crew are utterly surrounded, doomed as the Wicked Witch of the West bears down upon them. Dorothy, out of instinct, reaches for a bucket of water and drenches the witch. She melts! They’re SAVED! Am I the only one asking… soooooooo… the chase just so […]
TO OUTLINE, OR NOT TO OUTLINE Good Reader, beware the snake-oil peddling gurus! You know the ones. Those who tell you the script must be created a certain way, structured in this or that box. I’m here to tell you there are no screenwriting absolutes and when you hear some dude with zero IMDB credits […]
Seven Iconic Characters Who Don’t Learn a Damn Thing In screenwriting circles, we’re bombarded with the gospel of character arcs. A to Z growth. Transformation. The Hero’s Journey. Where’s the change? But let’s face it: sometimes, a character’s resistance to change is what makes them unforgettable. Not every iconic character learns a lesson, undergoes profound […]
WHY YOU? WHY NOW? WHY WILL THEY CARE? Remember this Gauguin painting? Where Do We Come From? What Are We? Where Are We Going? Gauguin asked: Where do we come from? What are we? Where are we going? Rather important questions for a human mammal to consider, no? Here’s another trilogy of W questions that […]
