So glad that Jane Espenson has started up her very useful writer’s blog again! In today’s post she discusses why, when making the transition to screenwriting, journalists often fare better than novelists. Her advice to film/TV writers:
Think like a reporter — pare the story down, find the bones of it, and listen to your characters talk in the language of whatever street they come from — even if you let them ramble on a bit in the first draft, eventually try to find the succinct quote.
You get to make up the facts and the people, but the core truths that you’re uncovering should be just as real as if the story had happened. Be a reporter.
Pure gold.
Posted Monday, April 12th, 2010 at 4:46 pm in Blog, Film | 2 Comments »
Posted Friday, April 9th, 2010 at 10:25 pm in Blog, Film, Prince of Persia | 5 Comments »
I’ve been to Comic-Cons before, but this WonderCon was a new experience for me.
Being flown in by the studio for one day to take part in a Prince of Persia movie panel felt a bit like visiting a parallel universe — one from which parking, waiting in line, negotiating crowds, showing ID, figuring out where to go next, and other ordinary aspects of flying and attending conventions have magically been eliminated.
Instead, I was whisked along with Jake Gyllenhaal, Jerry Bruckheimer, and Mike Newell from car to plane to car and from one place to another with such efficiency that all I saw of the show and conference center were underground parking garages, service elevators, corridors and backstage areas — only to suddenly emerge on stage in front of 4,000 people. Feeling the energy of that crowd was a rush I won’t soon forget.
It was a great day, but one that left little time for sketching. I did this one on the plane flying in.
(Left to right: Jake Gyllenhaal, Teresa Palmer, Jay Baruchel, Jon Turteltaub. All agreed that the best likeness by far is Teresa’s.)
Posted Sunday, April 4th, 2010 at 9:29 pm in Blog, Film, Prince of Persia, Sketchbook | 3 Comments »
Just found out I’ll be at WonderCon 2010 in San Francisco on Saturday, April 3, for a Disney Prince of Persia panel with Jerry Bruckheimer, Mike Newell, and Jake Gyllenhaal, moderated by Geoff Boucher.
Our panel is at noon in the Esplanade Ballroom. Looking forward to it!
Posted Tuesday, March 16th, 2010 at 1:57 pm in Blog, Film, Prince of Persia | 2 Comments »
…And here’s the final US movie poster.
Posted Thursday, March 11th, 2010 at 8:56 pm in Blog, Film, Prince of Persia | 6 Comments »
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