Finding distribution and pre-sales deals was once a feasible task, but not so much any more. Over the years the promise of financing and production for indie films has dramatically faded, and filmmakers are struggling to stay afloat. Bottom line is that survival of the fittest relies upon mindsets that change with the state of the industry. Understand The Reality The industry changed as a result of digital...

They are the film characters everyone loves to hate. They terrify us, leave us scared witless and have us perched on the edge of our seats in the cinema or in our living rooms, yet we also find movie villains fascinating to observe. Here are five of the scariest bad guys to have ever graced the big screen. Darth Vader Looks menacing decked out in all black, sounds menacing and acts menacing as well,...

by Daniel Lafleche – So, you have an indie film and you want to find distribution. Never have so many options for distribution been available; never has it been so confusing to decide what is right for you and your film. The industry is experiencing a transitional moment; everyone knows online downloads are the future, but nobody knows exactly how it will play out. As well, distribution has gone...

In the Newmarket Shooting Script® format, the new movie directed by Ron Howard (Ransom, Apollo 13) starring Russell Crowe about the life of Nobel Prize winner John Forbes Nash Jr., a mathematical genius diagnosed with paranoid-schizophrenia—a Universal and DreamWorks co-production, coming in December 2001. From the heights of notoriety to the depths of depravity, John Forbes Nash, Jr. (Russell Crowe)...

Comedian David Cross of “Arrested Development” and “Mr. Show” fame talks with LX.TV host SuChin Pak to discuss the ins and outs of Hollywood, acting, and his writing...

It is important to develop your character or characters fully and completely in your screenplay. The purpose of story is to dismantle your character completely — push him or her to the edge. If the character has wits, heart, courage and other admirable traits, your audience would like to see it all. Put it on the table for everybody to see, hollow him or her out. Screenwriters have many choices to...

by Kal Bishop - The initial idea: a) Once you know the apotheosis – the seminal insight the hero has – then you can build your story up to and beyond that point. Knowing the hero’s apotheosis allows you to decide what the hero’s restrictions will be and how to overcome them (atonement with the father). Knowing the hero’s apotheosis allows you to decide the hero’s inner...

Screenwriters can find significant differences between writing for one camera and writing for three. The major difference is that three cameras are used more for live sets, like SNL, and those types of shows. This means the entire scene will happen without any cuts involved, just the work of the cameraperson(s) and the producers. This type of writing generally is described as “sitcom writing.”...