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New Years Eve
Posted by Andrew on Dec 31, 2008 in General
Ah… the event whose reputation is often bigger than what actually takes place. For the people who don’t go out to celebrate, just about every major network has some show that’s a variation of the same thing. But as the new year approaches, I think its helpful to look back and see if you followed through on what you wanted to accomplish. I know previously when I had an on-campus leadership position that you needed to set goals for yourself, so you had something written down you could aim for. If you have some just rough idea floating around your head, you’ll constantly push it back, and miss your mark. Here’s to 2009, new goals, new president, and hopefully, a better economy.
I’ve always found it a little strange when movies open on Christmas Day. It seems like the worst time of the year to open a movie, since everyone is with their families, who wants to go out, face the cold, and see a movie? Well apparently this year many people did just that. Total box office revenues was $75 million, with Marley & Me being the top dog (ha..ha..ha) with its take of $15 million. Just goes to show that if you produce quality that people want to see, the audience will fill the seats.
The Devil’s Guide to Hollywood by Joe Esztherhas. The man who brought you Flashdance and Basic Instinct. Throughout the book he provides snippets of random knowledge about surviving in Hollywood, dealing with unfavorable people, and things you’re just going to have to get used to if you expect to have a career. An insightful read.
The Anatomy of Story by John Truby. You know all about the 3-act structure of storytelling, now here’s Truby’s more in-depth view, all 22 steps. But more importantly what he also discusses in the book is the breakdown of successful movies, novels, etc and concepts on creating strong stories.
I was surfing Amazon looking for new books, and I came across the Kindle page. I never really looked into getting a Kindle, still too pricey for something that may end up sitting on my bookshelf, but I discovered a cool venue for writers that I didn’t know existed. Amazon has made it easy for authors to “self-publish” to their online Kindle store. Now the author only receives around 35% of the revenue generated, which I don’t know what typical percentages are, but I thought it’s a great place for an author to get started. Normally self publishing involves several hundred dollars just to get started, but with the Kindle, its almost instantly available for sale and no upfront costs.
While I was watching that episode of Greek (see previous post), I saw ‘rhyming scenes’ in it. Rhyming scenes are one of those things that you don’t pay attention to until they’re pointed out, or given a name. I first came across this term in Akers’ “your screenplay sucks” book. His definition: “a rhyming scene is a moment that repeats. Via the repetition, and a chance, we learn something about the characters.”
Flashbacks are often attributed as the mark of a beginner in many scripts, but if they’re done correctly, they can be a real asset. Case in point; I’ve been catching up on the show “Greek” and watched the episode “Freshman Daze.” In the present day, the characters are juniors, but the flashbacks explain their history freshman year, and the effect it has on present day. Just telling us all the back story wouldn’t have near the impact seeing it would. After all, they always say you should “show, not tell.” By the end of the episode we now see how the characters have changed since two years ago, and how they make the right decisions in the present.
A huge snow storm is hitting the Northwest, dropping our friend & enemy, Mr. Snow. As a child nothing makes Christmas better than a white blanket of snow on the lawn. But for people who have to drive through this, its a nightmare. I read an article talking about the possibility of this storm reaching parts of L.A., San Fran, and even San Diego. If that actually happens - watch out. I can’t imagine L.A. drivers in snow; would be the perfect recipe for staying at home.
While I await feedback on my last spec script, its time to choose which movie idea I should run with next. Although comedy is known for being a tough subject, after all what someone may find funny I might find quite unpleasant, I think there’s nothing more satisfying than coming up with a really great punchline. Sure with a drama you may think the audience will tear up when one of your characters reveals they don’t love the other one, but if I come up with some witty joke, which actually makes me chuckle, then I’ve succeeded. There’s that quote that goes something like, “Write something that’ll change your life; even if you don’t sell it, at least your life will have changed.” Well I keep trying to change my life, one script at a time…