This article originally appeared on Medium. It is reprinted here with permission. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Fair warning: there are spoilers ahead. I never go see horror movies. Never. I wait until they’re available to buy or stream, and then — only if I’m incredibly intrigued by the concept — will I watch a horror movie in the middle of the afternoon... Continue Reading →
A Deeper Look at DETROIT
by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) Oscar winner Kathryn Bigelow’s latest film, Detroit, is remarkable on a number of levels. The young men at the center of the story turn in game-changing performances. The musical score lays emotional groundwork for the audience’s journey, and Bigelow’s directing is at the top of her game. The complex yet powerful lens she... Continue Reading →
Writer Angela Workman On Dedication, Gender, and THE ZOOKEEPER’S WIFE
A beautiful WWII drama, The Zookeeper's Wife comes to theaters Friday, March 31. by Angela Bourassa (@angelabourassa1) Major films with a female writer, director, and leading role are incredibly rare. Hopefully films like The Zookeeper's Wife from Focus Features will help turn the tides for women in film. Based on the non-fiction best seller by... Continue Reading →
Facing The Birth of a Nation
An Honest Conversation About the Film, the Storytelling, and the Controversy by John Bucher (@johnkbucher) This week, audiences will finally get to see for themselves what all the talk has been about when The Birth of A Nation finally hits theaters. The power of the film, Oscar-worthy performances, and the personal lives of the creators have... Continue Reading →
3 Highlights from Greg DePaul’s New Comedy Writing Book, Bring the Funny
by Angela Bourassa Greg DePaul (@GregDePaul) isn’t what I’d call a traditional screenwriting teacher. In his new comedy screenwriting book, Bring the Funny, you won’t find detailed descriptions of how to format your script or an in-depth breakdown of proper three act structure. (For those, you can and should turn to Robert McKee’s Story and... Continue Reading →
Inside Story: A Review of Robert McKee’s STORY Seminar
by Angela Bourassa I walk into the conference hall at about 8:50 – the first lecture is supposed to start at 9:00 – and almost every seat is already taken. Two hundred or so attendants chatter in subdued voices, set up their laptops, get out their notepads, and cradle their Starbucks in their chilly hands.... Continue Reading →
Review - Film School: A Practical Guide to an Impractical Decision
by Steph Greegor (@stephgreegor) When you first pick up Jason B. Kohl’s handy little book (that fits nicely in a purse or briefcase for easy travel), you may think an acceptance letter to film school is a prerequisite. But it’s not. Film School: A Practical Guide to an Impractical Decision is a delightful and practical 195-page piece of nonfiction... Continue Reading →
Story Expo: 10 Ingredients for Success
by Emily J A few weekends ago, I was lucky enough to attend Story Expo in Los Angeles. Three days of immersing myself in storytelling, pitching, and the business... what could be better? The weekend began on Friday with an opening keynote from Arnold Shapiro. Mr. Shapiro is an Oscar-winning producer for the 1978 documentary SCARED... Continue Reading →
A Look Inside Final Draft’s New iPhone App
by Emily J Last week, Final Draft finally released a new app for iphones and ipads. It has been a long time coming, considering their reader app has been available for several years and Celtx has also had a cellphone application for some time now. Let's take a look at the ins and outs of this... Continue Reading →
Why You Should Read ‘Notes to Screenwriters’
by Angela Bourassa Writers, producers, and consultants Vicki Peterson and Barbara Nicolosi have a new addition for your shelf of screenwriting books. The book is called Notes to Screenwriters, and we think that it deserves a spot next to Save the Cat and Story. With so many books on screenwriting, it must be a daunting... Continue Reading →