SlamDance gives positive feedback on Faeries horror screenplay

Posted on by Chip Street

“…the horror builds … an unusual creature … well written … above average … there is much to like here.”

faeries feature horror movie screenplay

Faeries gets some lovin’ from the SlamDance judges panel.

Faeries, possibly the best unproduced horror screenplay about pack hunting, echo locating, semi-sentient proto-humanoids currently making the rounds of Hollywood, just got some good feedback from one of the country’s most respected screenplay competitions.

“…the use of the faeries is an unusual creature, the characters are above average and the author strives to give them some depth and individuality … the story moves at a nice pace. The build is very strong. The author doesn’t try to rush things and make everything happen immediately or too fast, but lets the horror build. The early scenes especially have an unease about them (as one character points out, there’s something wrong or off about it all). All in all, there is much to like here.”

We appreciate that, SlamDance. And  you’re in good company… both Shriekfest and WildSound have had praise for Faeries as well.

“A lively, unusual slasher movie that delivers plenty of gore, and introduces a new set of monsters that could be worth a franchise”
– Shriekfest Screenplay Competition

Faeries Horror Screenplay Gets More Strong Reader Feedback

Posted on by Chip Street

“Compelling, terrifying, disturbing, beautifully written.”

We’ve recently submitted the as-yet-unproduced Faeries horror screenplay to a few competitions, and just got the first set of coverage notes back. We think we did pretty well, and it only makes us more confident about the script.

Faeries horror screenplayThis is from the WildSound Screenplay Competition. We appreciate their kind words!

**** SPOILERS **** Continue reading Faeries Horror Screenplay Gets More Strong Reader Feedback

Do affordable special effects open the door for indie spectacles with story?

Posted on by Chip Street

Have special effects finally gotten so accessible that indie spectacle filmmakers can focus on story?

Red Giant Software Magic Bullet 11

The short film Plot Device was put together to showcase the new Magic Bullet Suite 11 from Red Giant. So yeah, it’s a “gee whiz look at the affordable but awesome FX extravaganza” whose primary aim is to highlight the software.

But it goes a step beyond that, and includes some great acting, a fun story, something of an arc, and a truckload of homages that are lovingly included (my favorite: The simple fact that he’s barefoot throughout the story).

Continue reading Do affordable special effects open the door for indie spectacles with story?

Did this producer steal this screenplay?

Posted on by Chip Street

On one of the many screenwriting forums I frequent, a screenwriter posed the question “Did this producer steal my screenplay?”

Good question. Here’s the story.

Did the producer steal the screenplay?Making the sale

It seems the writer was approached by a producer who was interested in one of her screenplays. They swapped a series of emails, exchanged several versions of a sales contract, and arrived at a purchase agreement. Yay for her.

The screenwright delivered her screenplay via email, the producer delivered the agreed upon sum. Again, Yay for her.

But the final contract didn’t arrive with the payment. In fact, neither the screenwriter or the producer signed a hard copy.

Time passed. Continue reading Did this producer steal this screenplay?

What bad science fiction can teach us about writing screenplay description

Posted on by Chip Street

Why too much detail destroys screenplay description – and pisses readers off

I just finished slogging my way through another script as a judge for a screenplay competition.

Yes, slogging. It was painful. It was boring. Frankly, I couldn’t finish it. I gave it a “pass”.

Because the writer gave me too much description.

Exactly how many licks it takes to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop

too much hyper-specific screenplay descriptionThe screenwriter told us just how many steps a character took to cross a room (11), whether the couch was on the right or the left of the doorway (left), how many seconds a dog barked (5), and precisely how much space is between the lights in an alleyway (30 meters). I learned that the kitchen table is rectangular, and how big it is (approximately 33 inches by 60 inches).

I wanted to shoot myself in the head. For the record, this is not how you want to make your reader feel. Continue reading What bad science fiction can teach us about writing screenplay description

How the crazy lady at CVS can help write character and dialogue

Posted on by Chip Street

People watching may be the best way to hone those sub-textual writing skills.

on subtext and dialogueSo I was standing in CVS looking for a father’s day card for my son (note to self: There are no father’s day cards from dad to son-who-is-a-dad) and of course I wasn’t the only person who’d put it off perilously late.

To my right, a woman and her teen daughter scanning the rows of leftovers.

Enter screen right: A third woman, tension radiating from her clenched up little form like heat waves on a hot tarmac. Continue reading How the crazy lady at CVS can help write character and dialogue

Yet Another “Regular Guy” Wants To Be A Superhero

Posted on by Chip Street

Another “regular guy” wants to be a superhero. Will this trend ever end?

somebody's hero
Somebody’s Hero

“In this heart-warming family comedy, average accountant, Dennis Sullivan, is assigned to the account of a young widow and her son, a boy fascinated with a TV hero known as “Man America”. Taking an instant shine to the kid, Dennis visits The Imagination Superstore, where he tries on the ‘Man America’ costume. When he leaps from the dressing room to thwart a robbery, he embarks on a journey more complex than he ever could’ve imagined.”

I’ve already shared a list of six “regular guy superhero” movies, from Kickass to Zebraman. And the list just gets longer … Continue reading Yet Another “Regular Guy” Wants To Be A Superhero

Dying To Do Letterman Premieres at Cinequest

Posted on by Chip Street

Liver cancer and comedy prove a perfect match.

**UPDATE**

Dying To Do Letterman invited to qualify for Academy Award – raising funds at Kickstarter.

Live Your Dream Or Die Trying

At 35, comedian Steve Mazan learned he was dying of liver cancer. So he did what any sane person would do: he dedicated the next year of his life to earning an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman.

Five years later, last night, the story of that one year quest had its premiere at the 2011 Cinequest film festival as Dying To Do Letterman. And I was lucky enough to be there. Continue reading Dying To Do Letterman Premieres at Cinequest

How social media (almost) ruined my screenwriting career

Posted on by Chip Street

facebook logoOr “Why Social Media is like a bad tattoo”.

Okay, that’s hyperbole. But I relearned a lesson recently.

If you’re a budding screenwriter, an indie filmmaker, an aspiring or established anything, social media should oughtta be part of your life. It’s where we make professional connections, build our brand, spread the word and mebbe, just mebbe, start careers.

Are you doing it right?

First, a related story.

Last month, we were interviewing for someone to manage our online marketing. We had one excellent prospect, who interviewed well. He had worked in online marketing for a large name corporation, but had spent the past 18 months doing other things. Understandable. The past 18 months have been tough on everyone. But he was ready to get back into the game.

After the interview, and while contemplating the next round, we did a little Googling. Of course we found his Facebook page, a Twitter feed, and a blog. In the bio section of the blog was this: Continue reading How social media (almost) ruined my screenwriting career

Writing screenplay description with personal style

Posted on by Chip Street
screenplay writing

Finding your descriptive voice in screenwriting

Screenplays aren’t Literature.

screenplays aren't literatureIf there’s one core screenwriting truth you’re supposed to learn as soon as possible, that’s it. All the stuff that made your fiction writing awesome, all the flowery language, the detailed descriptions, and lengthy internal dialogues are anathema to the script. That two page treatise on your protagonists 1970’s wardrobe and its roots in a painful high school career fraught with bullying and inattentive parents? Fuggedaboudit. What got you gold stars in creative writing will get you tossed at page one by an intern at insertprodcohere.

In screenwriting, the industry tells us, your descriptive passages must remain simple, clear, minimalist. Describe ONLY what the viewer might see (with a few exceptions) and eschew Literary flourish (as well as directorial specifics – but that’s another discussion).

Play a little telephone

I often tell people: Imagine you’re watching an awesome movie (your movie is awesome, right?), and you’re on the phone with a friend. You’re describing to them what’s happening, while it happens. In fact, try it. Turn on the TV, call a friend, and see how it feels to really try to keep the story moving real time… 1 minute per page, 90 pages for 90 minutes.

Here’s what happens when you insist on being Literary on the phone: Continue reading Writing screenplay description with personal style