ProSeries Writer Claire Hutchinson’s script “That’s Amore” was selected as a finalist in the Mafia Short Script Competition sponsored by Pavaline Studios. “That’s Amore” is about a mafia hitman who learns compassion after he befriends the husband of the woman he killed in a hit.
Vincent Pastore of the “Sopranos” is set to star in the […]

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Brian Livingston over at tech letter Windows Secrets posted a panic-free update today about securing your PC from April Fool’s mayhem. Our writers are everywhere, so — forewarned, forearmed, maybe help a neighbor.
“Computers infected with the infamous Conficker worm will start scanning the Internet for instructions this April Fools’ Day, and the results won’t be […]

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Lee Goldberg lands one across the pond, Ken Levine plays out more line.
Go To Lee Goldberg’s Place …
Go To Ken Levine’s Place …

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Over at Screenwriting Tricks for Authors, Alexandra Sokoloff recently looked at the crafting of characters, here, here, and here, starting with the technique of writing with an actor in mind.
“… it … struck me that the character of Jake Gittes is a virtual textbook all on his own on techniques of creating a great character. […]

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“… a recent bit of development I’ve been doing for villains and heroes — flip them. Take a page and write about the villain as if he’s the protagonist. I don’t mean the anti-hero protagonist, I mean the ‘I admire this character and want to see him succeed’ protagonist. Doing this with even minor characters […]

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The annual May 1st deadline for entries and script submissions to the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition approaches. Hal’s interview with Mark Kratter reveals how success with contests can open doors to the business.
Go To Audio Interview …

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The free encyclopedia entry continues its evolution.
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Elliot Grove (Founder, Raindance Film Festival) posted a top ten list of Twitter tips for filmmakers recently at the Raindance site, together with some comments by Pro Series Writer Jon Bonnell.
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“… Over the long history of mankind, the stars have served as a nightly reminder of exactly where we stand in the universe. They guided us across the vast emptiness of uncharted oceans, seemingly endless deserts, and immense open plains. In a very real way, those stars grounded us – but now, for most urban […]

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Aaron Sorkin apparently borrowed from T. S. Eliot ( “Immature poets imitate; mature poets steal…” ) when he reportedly said (or wrote) “Good writers borrow from other writers. Great writers steal from them outright.”
As BSG blinks into the sunset, scan “The Grand List of Overused Science Fiction Clichés” for used parts; handle with care.
(h/t — […]

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“Snow,” written by ProSeries Writer Kathy Thomas, was among the top twenty-five short film scripts named in the semi-final round of the Canadian Short Screenplay Competition. Congratulations Kathy!
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Margaret and Margaret Productions, Los Angeles, has optioned “Tumbling Down,” a script by ProSeries Writer Heidi Mastrogiovanni and her partner, Michael Ruscio. Congratulations Heidi!
Go To Screenwriting BUZZ …

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“… Have you ever spent a week doing nothing but creating?  Not for a deadline or a pay check but for the pure joy of the exercise?  Exhausting, exhilarating and total luxury.
“The first two and a half days were spent coming up with ideas for multiplatform projects.  We used a wide range of brainstorming techniques.  […]

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“… Messrs. Strunk and White don’t speculate as to why so many writers are attracted to passive verbs, but I’m willing to; I think timid writers like them for the same reason timid lovers like passive partners. The passive voice is safe. There is no troublesome action to contend with; the subject just has to […]

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“… the danger with great novels is that you’ll try to adapt them faithfully. The only novels safe to adapt ‘faithfully’ are those which are pretty much already written with a movie in mind — anything by John Grisham or Tom Clancy, say. If you try to adapt even a page-turner like WAR AND PEACE […]

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