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Curious About Screenwriting Network

Welcome to the Curious About Screenwriting Network where you'll enjoy listening to fascinating film and writing industry guests who share insights from their careers and how you can take your screenwriting skills to the next level.
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Now displaying: 2017
Aug 8, 2017

This week we are going to be looking at Dunkirk by Christopher Nolan.

On top of being an extraordinary cinematic experience, Dunkirk is a particularly interesting script to look at as screenwriters, because it breaks pretty much every rule that you’ve likely been told about screenwriting or about filmmaking in general, or certainly about the war movie genre.

When we think about big budget war movies, we generally think about movies like Saving Private Ryan, movies about great heroism and winning the battle against incredible odds. 

And yet this is a war movie that (for the most part) isn’t about winning but about losing. This is a war movie about a retreat, about a surrender, but also about the kinds of miracles that happen when people care about each other.

This isn’t a typical Joseph Campbell Hero’s Journey about one great man, one great woman who saves the world. 

This is a movie about a lot of little individuals.

Some of them are behaving bravely, and some of them are behaving cowardly. Some for their own survival, and some for the survival of others.

Aug 3, 2017

Narrative tricks work against the natural drama inherent in “Dunkirk”.

Filmmaker Christopher Nolan wrote wonderful plot twists into his time-bending scripts for “Memento”, “The Prestige”, and “Inception.” But with so much inherent drama in the WWII rescue saga of “Dunkirk”, why did Nolan feel the need to use such tropes in his telling of it? Didn’t he trust the incredible story of how almost 400,000 British and French soldiers were saved from the Dunkirk beaches by civilian boats? And why does he under develop all his characters as well? These issues mar an otherwise taut and superbly realized war film. In doing so, Nolan ended up with a very good film…but it should have been great.

Aug 2, 2017

Spider Man Homecoming Part 2 – Creating Unforgettable Characters & The Game of Screenplay Structure

In last week’s podcast we talked about writing a great antagonist by letting go of our need to see them as the bad-guy, who “antagonizes” the main character, and instead stepping into our antagonists as real human beings.

Because every character in your script believes that they are the hero of the story (just like every human being sees themselves as the hero of their story), to write a great character of any kind– a character that actually lives and breathes–we need to see world through their eyes. And this begins by connecting to what our characters want.

And what’s exciting is that when we start to think about our scripts in this way, we not only find unforgettable characters, we also start to organically discover the exact structure we need to tell our stories.

In Spider-Man, Homecoming, what makes the character of the Vulture, Adrian Toomes (played by Michael Keaton) so compelling is that everything he does grows directly out of his simple human desire to provide for his family.

And you can see, if you look at the structure of Spider-Man: Homecoming, that this isn’t just the formula for creating a great bad guy, it is actually a way of creating an entire cast of unforgettable characters, and shaping the journeys they all go on in the script.

Because every single one of these characters is really just a person with a really strong want and a really strong obstacle that forces them to reveal their really strong “how”—the way that they pursue the things that they want differently from everybody else...

Aug 1, 2017

Spider-Man Homecoming: How To Write a Great Antagonist

Hello, I am Jacob Krueger and this is The Write Your Screenplay Podcast. On this podcast, rather than looking at movies in terms of “two thumbs up, two thumbs down, loved it or hated it,” we look at them in terms of what we can learn from them as screenwriters. We look at good movies and bad movies, movies that we loved and movies that we hated.

This week, we are going to be talking about Spider-Man: Homecoming which is a surprisingly successful film compared to the others in this franchise. And what is nice is that this film doesn’t just succeed based on its fabulous action sequences or the wonderful actors involved in the production. This movie also succeeds because of its script.

So, let’s talk about what makes this script so darn successful. And to do that we have to begin with a discussion about Antagonists.

How do you write a great Antagonist?

If you’ve studied screenwriting with me, you know that I don’t actually like the word Antagonist. The reason I don’t like the word Antagonist is because it suggests something that isn’t true in the universe: the idea that there is supposed to be a character in your screenplay that exists only to antagonize the main character.

Aug 1, 2017

In last week’s podcast, we discussed the many differences between playwriting and screenwriting. So this week we’re going to be getting deeper into the craft of screenwriting: what it takes to write a script that succeeds on the page.

As we discussed last week, writing a screenplay often takes more rewriting time than writing a play.

And a big reason is that while most of a play exists in dialogue and develops over rehearsals and workshops, successful screenplays must exist in a far more more finished form on the page.

Technically, so much of rewriting for playwrights takes place during production in the rehearsal process. Whereas most of rewriting a screenplay is going to take place before your movie is even sold or greenlit.

And unlike literary managers at theatres, who are often MFA or PhD graduates with a love of literature, degrees in theatre and a deep understanding of how plays funcion on the page, most screenplays are read by coverage readers, or interns, who not only often have no training at all in how to read a screenplay, but at best are probably skimming your work for $50 bucks a script.

Which means that to succeed as a screenwriter, you must do more than create a blueprint for success. You must in fact create a screenplay that fully demonstrates the experience of your movie for even the least trained reader– that transports them from reading to seeing, and plays effortlessly in the little movie screen in their mind, so that they can see, feel and hear everything, just like if they were watching the film.

So that is just something you need to accept; in order to bring your screenplay to that level you are going to need to do more rewrites.

Jul 25, 2017

SellingYourScreenplay.com Episode 177 - Chad Ridgely

Chad discusses his career and upcoming projects as both a comedian and a writer / producer.

Jul 22, 2017

Denise started Scriptd as a way to empower creators/screenwriters, connect them directly with their audiences and the entertainment industry. Scriptd is a searchable database for scripts. This service is now in BETA and is free for writers. Previously Director of Sales and Marketing at famed nightclub, The Box. Seasoned television and digital producer who has worked on Ugly Betty, Sex and the City 2, with tenures at MTV and Endemol (Executive Producer). Bachelor's Degree from Gallatin at NYU. For more information on on Denise and Scriptd, go to Scriptd.com @scriptdinc or find Denise on facebook @deniselovehewett. Connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net or on Facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jul 22, 2017

Alexandra Boylan is a writer, producer, and actress. Alexandra Boylan is a writer, producer and actor . She was born and raised in Georgetown, Massachusetts, where she first began her exploration into acting, which led her to relocate to Los Angeles. Utilizing the skills obtained on dozens of movie sets and harnessing the passion that fuels her, she formed her own production company. MirrorTree Productions, which has produced numerous feature films, including “Home Sweet Home” and “At Your Own Risk.” Her film “Catching Faith” is currently streaming on Netflix and had an eight-month run in Wal-Mart. Her most recent film “Wish For Christmas” sold to Pure Flix Entertainment and Universal Studios Home Entertainment. Alexandra is the.To view her websites please visit, www.mirrortreeproductions.com and www.yourperfectadventure.com. She is an active member of Woman in Film in Los Angeles, where she sits on the PSA Board. And hopes to continue to create strong female driven content for audiences everywhere. Alexandra is the Outreach Coordinator for Ms In The Biz, and co-collaborator of the book “Thriving in Hollywood.” www.misinthebiz.com. For more information on Alexandra, go to Mirrortreeproductions.com. Connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net or on Facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jul 22, 2017

International Best-Selling Author and Publisher of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, Jesse sits squarely at the intersection of publishing and promotion – having signed two publishing deals on two different continents and navigated the world of becoming a best-selling author twice. As the publisher and founder of Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Press, it has been his honor to work with 100+ authors from around the world to achieve their dreams of writing and publishing a book. With constant exposure to books, trends in publishing and the latest marketing techniques for authors, Jesse has a superpower to see the meaning beneath your words and help craft titles, website copy and your unique author language quickly and effectively. In addition to being featured on over 50 media outlets for his best-selling book Lifestyle Entrepreneur, Jesse has been an entrepreneur his entire adult life and holds degrees from University of California, Berkeley, as well as National Taiwan University and Beijing Normal University. For more information on on Jesse go to www.JesseKrieger.com for more information his publishing company go to www.LifestyleEntrepreneursPress.com. To connect on facebook, find them @lifestyleentrepreneurspress. Connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net or on Facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jul 22, 2017

According to Filmmaker Magazine, Signature Move is one of the "Most Anticipated American Films of 2017." In this Podcast, viewers will be part of a rare interview with Director, Jennifer Reeder, Co-Writer and Actress, Fawzia Mirza and Actress, Sari Sanchez. In the movie, a new romance with Alma forces Zaynab to confront her relationship with her recently widowed mother who escapes to TV dramas and finding her daughter a husband. In this coming-of-age Muslim melodrama, Zaynab copes by taking up Lucha-style wrestling. More information about the movie, cast and crew can be found at the website: www.signaturemovemovie.com, on Facebook at:https://www.facebook.com/signaturemovemovie/ and on Twitter: @SignatureMov. For more information on Laura Powers and her work you can go to her websitewww.laurapowers.net and you can find Laura on twitter @thatlaurapowers or follow her on instagram at laurapowers44.

Jul 18, 2017

“War for the Planet of the Apes” is a superb finish to the trilogy.

Rarely is the third movie in a trilogy the best one, but “War for the Planet of the Apes” is just that. Concluding the sci-fi tale of evolved apes battling what’s left of mankind, this summer movie raises the bar for tent-pole entertainment. Nuanced acting from leads Andy Serkis and Woody Harrelson, a complex score by Michael Giacchino, and production design that could rival “The Revenant” help make this one of the year’s best. Of course, it all starts with a smart script by director Matt Reeves and Mark Bomback which builds character through action, ensures its villains are sympathetic, and seamlessly blends the set-pieces into the character’s journey.

Jul 10, 2017

“Spider-Man: Homecoming” secures Peter Parker’s future by returning him to school.

The reboot of the “Spider-Man” franchise may be its third start in just 15 years, but this latest one wisely returns Peter Parker to high school. His vulnerabilities as a teen struggling to find his place in the world deepen the narrative and make him susceptible to the evils of the adult world. This one really sticks to the wall too with a likable new lead (Tom Holland), diversity in its casting, and a sympathetic, down-to-earth villain (Michael Keaton). “Spider-Man: Homecoming” is just that – a return to school, a return to greater stakes, and a return to the ubiquitous Marvel fold.

Jul 6, 2017

“Baby Driver” is quintessential escapist entertainment for the summer.

Writer/director Edgar Wright is expert at comedy, but who knew that he could ace action/adventure so triumphantly? His new film “Baby Driver” is very likely the summer’s quintessential escapist entertainment. Wright’s screenplay concerns a getaway driver named Baby (Ansel Elgort) who listens to his own musical mix tapes while chauffeuring thieves during their heists. The songs help him synch his moves behind the wheel. Wright synchs his action to music as well, choreographing his actors, action and locations in one of the best shot and edited movies in years. Think of it as a car chase musical, a breathtaking ride at your local Cineplex.

Jun 28, 2017

A Bad Idea Gone Wrong is a comedy about two would-be thieves who accidentally arm the alarm system and have to break out of the house they just broke into. This interview is with Writer and Director Jason Headley, Actor Matt Jones, and Actress Eleanore Pie. When they discover an unexpected housesitter, they suddenly have to deal with a hostage situation, double crosses, sexual tensions, and discoveries that make their difficult escape even more dubious. More information about the movie, cast and crew can be found on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abadideagonewrong/ and on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/jason_headley. For more information on Laura Powers and her work you can go to her website www.laurapowers.net and you can find Laura on twitter @thatlaurapowers or follow her on instagram at laurapowers44.

Jun 28, 2017

Damon Courtney is an author and software engineer, and sometimes a little of both. Always wanting to serve both muses, he created BookFunnel as a way to deliver his own free books to new readers and decided to polish it up for other authors. He spends most of his days working on cool new stuff for authors while wishing he could get back to his own writing more often. In this Podcast, he talks about how BookFunnel can be a great resource for new authors. You can find out more about BookFunnel at: http://bookfunnel.com/. You can, also, connect with Damon and Book Funnel at the following social media sites: @BookFunnel on Twitter and http://facebook.com/BookFunnel/. You can, also, connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Emily Best is the founder and CEO of Seed&Spark, a subscription video streaming and crowdfunding platform that gives filmmakers the power to take control of their careers. In 2011, she produced the feature film, Like the Water, starring Caitlin FitzGerald (Masters of Sex, Rectify). Since then she has served as executive producer on a host of film and virtual reality projects that have played at festivals from Sundance to SXSW to Tribeca and beyond. Most recently she created and co-directed the web series F*ck Yes!, which Refinery 29 called, "The sex education you wish you had in high school." Emily was named a 2013 Indiewire Influencer, a 2014 New York Woman of Influence, was included on the 2015 Upstart 100 list, and graduated from the 2016 class of Techstars Boston. She has raised millions of dollars in traditional funding, equity crowdfunding, and rewards based crowdfunding, and contributed to over 300 crowdfunding campaigns to date. For more information on Seed and Spark and Emily, please visit her website at: www.seedandspark.com. Seed and Spark can also be found on all social media sites: @seedandspark and on Twitter: @emilybest. You can, also, connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Denise Meyers began her professional career at the William Morris Agency as an assistant to literary agent, Judy Scott-Fox after graduating from Oregon State University in 1982 with a degree in broadcast communications. After working as a freelance story analyst for independent film and distribution companies, Meyers became a screenwriter herself, but after twelve years in the film business with nothing but a handful of free options to show for her efforts, she moved to Utah to pursue a successful career as a full-time artist. When the economy bottomed out in 2009, Meyers returned to what she calls “the dream that wouldn’t die”. Principal photography was just completed on a short film she wrote in 2015 entitled THE DARK OF NIGHT (a Table Read my Screenplay Grand Prize Winner, Austin Film Festival 2015). The film, directed by Robin Wright, stars Leslie Bibb and Sam Rockwell, and was shot with the crew from House of Cards (including award winning director of photography, Dave Dunlap). In February 2016 she was named an Athena List winner at the Athena Film Festival in New York. Meyers is the only writer in the six year history of the festival to have two screenplays make it to the finals; RIDE THE WIND: The Bessie Stringfield Story, about the only African American woman to serve as a motorcycle dispatch rider in World War Two was an Athena List winner, and LUCKY 13, an Athena Finalist, is about the first American women to fly military aircraft in wartime and the significant role they played in training male pilots how to fly the B26 “Widowmaker” in advance of the D-Day attack on Normandy. Lucky 13 was recently chosen as one of three winners of the 2017 Atlanta Film Festival screenplay competition. For more information on Denise, please visit her website at: www.delicateflowerfilms.com. You can, also, connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Pilar Alessandra started her career as Senior Story Analyst at DreamWorks SKG. In 2001, she opened the Los Angeles-based On the Page Writers’ Studio dedicated to teaching and consulting with screenwriters and TV writers at all levels. She’s the author of the top-selling scriptwriting book, “The Coffee Break Screenwriter,” and host of the popular “On the Page Podcast.” An in-demand speaker, she’s taught seminars at Disney Animation, ABC, CBS and MTV, and traveled the world teaching in the UK, China, Poland, Vietnam, Columbia, Portugal and South Africa. Pilar’s greatest accomplishment is the success of her students, many of whom have won top competitions like the Nicholl Fellowship, are working on TV shows such as “The 100,” “The Walking Dead” and “Grey’s Anatomy,” and have sold scripts and pitches to studios including DreamWorks, Warner Bros. and Disney. We discussed screenwriting versus web series and tv writing. For more information about Pilar, her classes, consultations, book and podcast, go to www.onthepage.tv. For more information on Pilar, please visit her web page at: www.onthepage.tv. To connect with Laura Powers, please do so at: www.laurapowers.net. You can, also, connect with Laura on facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Lynn Povich is an award-winning journalist who has spent more than 40 years in the news business. She began her career at Newsweek as a secretary. In 1970, she was one of 46 Women who sued Newsweek for sex discrimination. Five years later, Povich was appointed the first woman Senior Editor in the magazine’s history. Her book on that landmark lawsuit, The Good Girls Revolt, was published by PublicAffairs in September 2012. A fictionalized 10-part series inspired by the book, Good Girls Revolt, has been running on Amazon Prime since October 2016. In 1991, Povich became Editor-in-Chief of Working Woman magazine and in 1996, she joined MSNBC.Com as Managing Editor / East Coast. Povich has received numerous honors, including a 1976 Matrix Ward from Women in Communications for Exceptional Achievement in Magazines and the 2006, Exceptional Woman in Publishing Award from Women in Periodical Publishing. For more information on Lynn, please visit her personal web page at: lynnpovich.com. You can, also, connect with Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Robin Colucci helps coaches, consultants, and speakers write books that grow their businesses. Through ghostwriting or coaching, her professional team helps leaders in thought and business and other change. She is the author of How to Write A Book That Sells You. Her clients have been published by major publishers, such as Random House, DoubleDay, Hay House, and Wiley, while others have self-published. Get Robin’s free report: 5 Reasons You Might Need A Book Deal http://needabookdeal.com. To find out more about Robin Colluci’s services, please visit: http://www.robincolucci.com/. You can, also, connect at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook via Write Hot and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers.

Jun 28, 2017

Laura and Marika met at Book Expo America 2016 in Chicago at a panel on PR for authors. Marika Flatt launched PR by the Book, LLC in 2002, combining her love of the media, public relations and books. Leading up to that, after garnering experience as the host of two cable television shows (The Teen Report & The College Report) in San Antonio, reporting for her college newspaper and producing for her college TV station, and working with NBC-TV in Dallas, Marika spent seven years leading the publicity team of an Austin-based book publicity firm. While there, she was the Director of Publisher Services, handling the company’s key publicity campaigns and serving as the company’s spokesperson. Marika received a Gold Bulldog Award for a publicity campaign that resulted in exposure in over 700 media outlets. Marika is a regular speaker at conferences around the country, educating audiences on topics related to publicity and promotion. Keeping her in touch with her journalism side, Marika has been a travel writer for over a decade and serves as the Travel Editor for Texas Lifestyle Magazine. Also, Marika can be heard on the statewide NPR show “Texas Standard,” giving her Weekend Trip Tips. If you would like more information on PR by the Book LLC and Marika Flatt you can find her at: http://www.prbythebook.com/, Blog: http://feeds.feedburner.com/prbythebook, FB: https://www.facebook.com/prbythebook/, Twitter: https://twitter.com/prbythebook/, Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prbythebook/. You can follow Laura Powers at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on Facebook via Write Hot and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial atwww.audibletrial.com/writehot. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

Jun 28, 2017

Signe Olynyk is a Writer / Producer, as well as Founder of ScriptFest (www.scriptfest.com) and www.pitchfest.com, which includes the Great American PitchFest, the Great British PitchFest, and the Great Canadian PitchFest. She lives in Canada, and runs the highly regarded Sooke Writers Retreat from a secluded, oceanfront home, where dozens of select writers join her each year for their personal writing retreats. In addition to this, Signe has written and produced a number of television pilots, series, documentaries, and feature films, and works in the industry. She has professional credits on more than 120 productions, including her two latest feature films, ‘Below Zero’ (www.belowzeromovie.com) and ‘Breakdown Lane’ (www.breakdownlanemovie.com). Her work has been seen around the world on the CBC, Discovery Channel, Scream Channel, Fox, the BBC, and various others. To connect with Signe or pitch her, go to www.scriptfest.com and info@scriptfest.com.You can connect at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook via Write Hot and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers. Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial atwww.audibletrial.com/writehot. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

Jun 28, 2017

Laura spoke with Kevin about building towards multiple NYT bestsellers, working with Hollywood, and book bundling. Kevin J. Anderson has published 140 books, 54 of which have been national or international bestsellers. He has written numerous novels in the Star Wars, X-Files, and Dune universes, as well as unique steampunk fantasy novels Clockwork Angels and Clockwork Lives, written with legendary rock drummer Neil Peart, based on the concept album by the band Rush. His original works include the Saga of Seven Suns series, the Terra Incognita fantasy trilogy, the Saga of Shadows trilogy, and his humorous horror series featuring Dan Shamble, Zombie PI. He has edited numerous anthologies, written comics and games, and the lyrics to two rock CDs. Anderson and his wife Rebecca Moesta are the publishers of WordFire Press. If you would like more information on Star Wars, Dune, and a New World of Publishing you can connect with Kevin J. Anderson the following ways: wordfire.com Twitter: @theKJA Facbook: Official Kevin J. Anderson Page. You can connect at www.laurapowers.net. You can also find her on facebook via Write Hot and follow her on twitter @thatlaurapowers. Laura’s new book Supernatural Survival Guide is now available, you can buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Supernatural-Survival-Guide-Laura-Powers-ebook/dp/B01MQ5K0L8/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8! Today's podcast is brought to you by audible.com - get a FREE audiobook download and 30-day free trial atwww.audibletrial.com/writehot. Over 180,000 titles to choose from for your iPhone, Android, Kindle or mp3 player.

Jun 27, 2017

"...The process of writing a screenplay is different from writing a play in many essential ways. The first is the difference in the use of action.

For screenwriters, action is the primary tool of structure. But for playwrights, the primary tool is dialogue.

Don’t get me wrong. As a playwright, you need to visualize to some degree what is happening on the stage in order to really create your dialogue, in order to create the piece. But you don’t have to communicate that to anybody else. People don’t need to see your play in their mind like they do when reading a screenplay; they need to hear it, and they need to see the big elements.

You get to rely on the director, because plays have this thing called rehearsals. 

It is crazy that rehearsals, for the most part, don’t exist in filmmaking. Even though some of the really great film directors do rehearse-- for example Francis Ford Coppola had a history of bringing the cast up to his estate to rehearse-- most film directors don’t rehearse at all. 

That’s for a very simple reason: stars cost about $20 million bucks..."

Jun 27, 2017

"...If you’ve been following my podcast, you know that I’ve been talking for some time about the desperate need for some smart people to start writing superhero movies.

Action movies and superhero movies are the mythologies of our time-- millions of people see them, and as much as we might like to dismiss them as pure entertainment, the truth is, they irrevocably shape our view of the world, our children’s view of the world, the stories we tell ourselves about how to be our best selves, how to solve our problems, and what it means to be a hero.

In this way, all action movies are political.

Which is why it’s so darn nice to see a movie like Wonder Woman kicking ass at the box office..."

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