Nothing like a gift from a nice Jewish boy on Christmas
This being Christmas Eve, the timing couldn’t have been more fortuitous.
I’m very grateful for my ever-growing legion of readers, and try to show my appreciation when I can. And today is no exception.
You know if I could, I’d give each and every one of you much success with whatever project or projects you’re working on. And a piece of pie, just to make this festive occasion that much more festive.
But since neither is actually doable, I hope you’ll enjoy a gift of a more hypothetical nature.
Don’t worry. Size, color and the usual details do not factor into this. It’s actually pretty simple.
Here’s how it works: You can have anything connected with the making of any movie ever made. Prop, costume, vehicle, director’s chair, animation cel, script.
Whatever you want, it’s yours with my compliments. Again, hypothetically.
What’s it going to be?
But remember – just one.
(And once you’ve made your decision, maybe reconsider the pie option)
What? A new, original idea? We don’t know if our brains can take it!
“Don’t remake good movies. Remake bad movies and improve them.” – John Huston
As a writer and fan of original material, it’s quite disturbing how many remakes and reboots keep appearing or are announced, with no sign of it coming to an end.
Sadly, this is how the industry works, with most of the studios afraid to take a chance on something new and original, as opposed to something that’s already proven itself.
But apart from a few exceptions, how many of those trips back to the well have been successful? On top of that, there’s no avoiding a comparison to the original, with the remake usually found lacking.
Putting this in perspective – I’m a huge fan of the original ROBOCOP, which will have a remake released in February. I have no desire to see it because the trailer doesn’t make it look that interesting, and I don’t see the point in remaking it in the first place.
Counter to that, the forthcoming GODZILLA remake/reboot looks great because it appears to be a smart, new approach to the story, and definitely feels like a significant improvement over the one from 1998. I really hope it doesn’t fall victim to PACIFIC RIM syndrome – big build-up, followed by big letdown.
Now they’re announcing Ed Helms as Frank Drebin in a reboot of THE NAKED GUN. Have they no shame? Apparently not.
The movie-going public wants, no, craves new stories. Look at The Black List, or the latest batch of Nicholl finalists. This is high-quality stuff, people. Just about any one of them would make for a great film.
There’s a ton of fantastic original material out there, but all we can do as writers is keep writing and hope somebody believes in it enough to drum up the courage to do something with it.
Actually, those words are “Fade Out,” as in The End of The Script, but you get the idea.
You reach that point in your work, type them in, and hit ‘save’. You take a second to sit back and savor the moment – an incomparable feeling of exhilaration.
Which is exactly what’s happened with the latest draft of the western spec now complete (added bonus – slightly ahead of schedule). I’ll allow a few minutes of satisfaction as it heads into the next round of feedback.
As expected, changes had to be made and darlings had to be killed, all based on some suggestions from the previous draft and a little last-minute inspiration. The end result – a stronger story with the characters getting a little more dimension.
At least that’s how I’m reading it.
So rather than be concerned about potential reactions, I’ll be distracting myself by jumping right into work on the mystery spec. If I can maintain my writing regiment of “whenever I can”, I’m hoping to have a first draft done by the end of the year. Fingers, crossed, anyway.
-If you can spare a couple of bucks, please consider donating to this. I’ve never been there and don’t live anywhere near it, but think it’s incredibly important to help small, independent movie theatres stay in business. There are two weeks left, so give if you can.
The good news is this will not be on the final, but neatness does count
Since I’m always interested in what other writers are working on, here are some questions I’d really like to see your answers to.
1. MY LATEST PROJECT IS TITLED _______________
2. IT’S A ______________ (genre)
3. HERE’S THE LOGLINE __________________________________
4. THINK OF IT AS ___________ + __________
Here’s mine:
1. NORTH POLE’S MOST WANTED
2. mystery-comedy
3. A mild-mannered elf uncovers a sinister plot to get rid of Santa, but nobody believes him, somebody’s now trying to kill him, and Christmas is one week away.
4. LA CONFIDENTIAL + RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER
A few weeks ago, I’d read a post on Done Deal Pro from a writer who’d gone to Los Angeles to attend a Writers Guild function, but was now back home in the Bay Area.
Since I’m always looking to expand my network of fellow writers, especially ones that could be considered local, I contacted him and asked if he’d be interested in meeting.
Fortunately, he was. Coffee at the Ferry Building.
Since most of this summer has involved V being at work with me, she and I worked our way from my office to our designated meeting place.
I handed her my phone so she could play video games while Justin Sloan and I sat down to talk.
We exchanged backgrounds and career developments. He was especially intrigued about my results using the Black List.
Unfortunately, Justin had to get back to work so we had to cut things short, but he asked if he could read my script, and I offered to give feedback on his. He also asked if he could send me some questions for his blog Bay Area Screenwriters. You can read those here, and I’ve added a link to it over on the blogroll.
It was great not only talking about writing, but also discussing the assorted experiences we’ve each had in relation to writing. Contests, writing groups, etc.
This is one of those experiences that can’t be duplicated via an online forum or instant messaging. Having an actual conversation with someone will hopefully be fulfilling for both parties.
So send those emails, set up those coffee chats, get out there and talk to people.
-Movie of the Moment: PACIFIC RIM (2013). What happened? This was supposed to be the big hit of the summer. No such luck. Instead, we got great special effects weighed down with forgettable characters and horrible dialogue. (Can’t people come up with something better than “Let’s do this!”?)
I will give del Toro and Beacham credit for coming up with an original story, but feel bad it was so poorly executed. There was no way this could lived up to all the hype. Scott Pilgrim, anyone?
Some notable disappointments: the Russian and Chinese pilots/robots were treated as throwaway characters, and were dispatched with way too quickly.
-the Australian guy with a huge chip on his shoulder seemed straight out of a studio note. “This guy should be a real asshole, but give him a dog so he’s semi-likeable.”
-the trailers featured most of the robot-monster action, leaving little to surprise us during the actual movie.
-THE LAST STARFIGHTER (1984). Hadn’t seen this in years. Also watched it with V because I thought she might like it – she did. There are elements similar to DREAMSHIP. Not exactly the same, but definitely there.
The story by itself still holds up, even though the rest feels a little clunky, and Robert Preston’s fast-talking Harold Hill-type character always brightens up whatever scene he’s in.
Watching this on an HD screen makes it that much more obvious you’re looking at a film set, and the special effects, cutting-edge at the time, seem quaintly dated.
Maximum Z 