Tuesday, September 16, 2008

Cool Screenwriter Blogs

This post is for Gina, who is struggling with trying to write screenplays in her spare time just like me. I'm on page 17 of my new project while waiting for an agent to get back to me on what he thought about the last one; Gina's starting out on brainstorming for her new screenplay while cutting together the final edits on her last movie -- which she wrote and directed -- Stella.

So for both of us, here's a list of cool new screenwriting blogs I just found tonight:

Going into the story:Big time screenwriting dude, teaches as UCLA Extension, where I used to take fiction writing classes. Great Program, great price. UW should consider starting up something this accessible. (price-wise) This guy recommends you read these 14 scripts in 14 days. (The scripts are online behind this link.)

The MovieQuill: I like this guy. He writes about the life of a screenwriter in screenwriting format.

Unknown Screenwriter: His latest funny post looks at whether his screenwriting habit is an addiction.

John August: Smart looking dude.

Jane Espensen: She used to write for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Cool.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

thanks!
i don't have time to look at all this right now, i have to do my stupid homework, and sleep. but tomorrow i'm going to check this shit out, it looks muoy helpful :]
thanksmichellleeee!

Jason Bellamy said...

For both screenwriters ...

One more site to keep your eye on is "Mystery Man on Film," which splits time between discussing screenwriting as a whole and praising or tearing apart the screenplays of current or otherwise popular films. Every few weeks "Mystery Man" tends to do a post of screenwriting-related links, which might also prove helpful.

But just to get you started, here are three must-reads (particularly the last one) from "Mystery Man" over the past few months ...

"The Exposition of Rear Window"
Details all you learn about the main characters in the opening minutes.

"The Case AGAINST Character Arcs"
Uses great examples.

"Write the Shots!"
If you don't read the others, read this one. Shows how to write the scenes so that camera angles are implied and readers can 'see' your movie in their heads as they read. Uses scene from "Pulp Fiction" as an example.

Hope these are helpful. Now get writing! I need more movies worth watching!

freda said...

thanks, after I get back home and take care of all emergencies that have accumulated over the past five plus weeks, I will check all of these out. We had a fabulous trip, got home last night at midnight.