Calling All Screenwriters

Right. So I love to write. I have loved to write for as long as I could remember and I think it goes hand in hand with my love of reading. While I have fiddled around with different types of writing, one avenue that I always found interesting was screenwriting. That, of course, comes from my love of movies. [I am a complete pop culture freak as you can see.]
Screenwriting is different from other kinds of writing because of the focus on all things visual. I can't stress that enough. You only write what you see. You cannot say:

Michael got in the car and turned on his headlights. He 

began driving towards Lori's house when his phone rang.

Why not? Because how do I know he was driving towards Lori's house? Even if the previous scene had him telling a friend, "I'm going to Lori's house now," you still can't put it in the description. Instead you must just say that he got in the car and pulled out and blah blah blah - what do I see.
Interesting, right? I love it.

I have read quite a few articles and books on screenwriting and my favorite book BY FAR has been Lajos Egri's The Art of Dramatic Writing.

This is a book that was recommended to me by a man that worked in "the business" for over 50 years. Apparently its highly regarded in many writer circles. Lajos Egri writes from the perspective of a playwright but I wouldn't brush it off on that fact alone. No matter if you are a playwright, novelist, or screenwriter, I am sure that this book would work wonders on your thinking as a writer.

Screenwriting is a profession that has many many rules. From what I can gather from this book, playwriting does as well. What makes writing so amazing, however, is the pushing of the boundaries. This means finding your creativity in a rigid formula of how to write. It seems claustrophobic but it is freeing. Once you understand the basic rules of how to space it, how to present dialogue, inserts, descriptions, extensions, transitions, shots, and all the do's and dont's that come with the Hollywood club, it's up to you to make it work.

The Art of Dramatic Writing is not a screenwriting book. Once again, Egri does not tell you the rules, so if you don't know them you will need to find another way to find out. The book does tell you how to make sense of your ideas of writing in a way that's enlightening and attractive. I found myself carrying this book around to read on the subway or in between classes. Just for kicks.

~Ferdinando

The Best Thing About Shutter Island is the Music: A Review

..Not to say that the movie was bad. Actually, quite the opposite, in fact. But I couldn't take my mind off the sound. You disagree? You think the buildup during times when there was nothing to build up to was horrible. Oh man. But didn't you notice even more then when there was no sound at all? When all you heard was the dripping of water from a leaky pipe? That was more suspenseful than anything that plays in the background of modern horror films, when as soon as the music plays you decide whether or not you wanted to cover your eyes.

It's a tonal score, there's no melody in the whole soundtrack. Robbie Robertson and Martin Scorcese collaborated to create an  unconventional score in a contemporary film that you wouldn't much expect it from.
Fantastic. I certainly didn't expect it.

As for the movie, I think it began slower than I wanted it to but eventually it picked up and even the anticipation of the frightening parts didn't stop me from being surprised. The film noir style was slightly cheesy at times but overall a fresh take on a genre that feels like it's being beaten over the head again and again with the same story.

And didn't you love the contrasting colors between real life and dreaming??

The acting is phenomenal, but I have always stood by the fact that Leonardo DiCaprio is a fantastic actor. It even managed to pull in $14 Mil on opening day. This puts it on par with the Departed financially, but I don't think anyone would really say it makes it there in terms of quality.

Not many people will be surprised at the ending, but everyone should pay attention to the last line DiCaprio's character says before the end of the film. Bloody Brilliant.

~Ferdinando

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.

-Goethe

'bout as bashful as a tribal dance

Is it me, or was there something very indigenously arctic about Rodarte Fall 2010? 

Seriously Mulleavy sisters 1 and 2, I kiss the ground you tread.

I want it all.

-Francois

personal jesus

I'm not a religious girl. Eleven years of Private Catholic schooling didn't manage to penetrate a deep enough faith in me. I do, however, acknowledge the fact that the simple doctrine of "love thy neighbor" had a large impact on a lot of my beliefs and the way I choose to live my life. And why not? Most religions in the world include the core beliefs of love, equality, empathy, etc. If you should take anything from any denomination, it's just that: be a decent human being.
I believe (to a certain extent) that religion is good for humanity. It offers a sort of discipline and it gives you the ability to believe in something pure when the world around you is crap.
Having said this, and keep in mind I'm a HUGE fashion advocate, I don't agree with current trend that seems to picking up speed in fashion: using Jesus Christ as a statement.
It's a rare thing to see someone take their beliefs and execute them in everyday life the way they were supposed to be carried out, in the simplest and most selfless way. Rare, but it occurs. So when you choose to take an symbol of innate love, as big as Jesus, and turn him into a fashion trend as simple as the latest Alexander Wang bag, to be discarded for a new one next season, it demeans and lessens the power that He has on those few souls that choose to live their lives exactly how He intended. This is not to say this is the first time this has happened, or that I'm really surprised. It probably won't be the last. I'm all for creativity, and pushing the boundaries. Sky's the limit, especially when it comes to fashion. But we need to draw a line here. Some things are sacred. And if we live in a world as messed up as our own, and there are still people who believe we can love one another no matter how shitty we act, who are we to tell them "Your beliefs are crap so I'm going to put it on a magazine cover and make lots of dough."
I don't mean to get on my soapbox, but com'on man, fashion can do better than this. Case and point, Alexander Mcqueen. That son of a bitch made history in fashion, and he never sunk so low as to crush somebody's spirit to make quick buck.

-Francois

Confidentially...

I went movie shopping today.

East of Eden

Streetcar Named Desire

                                                            



                                                              Rebel Without A Cause

                                                            


Cat On A Hot Tin Roof

Brothers Bloom

Don't you LOVE new movies? I've only ever seen Brothers Bloom so this was quite a successful day.

~Ferdinando

RIP Alexander McQueen

You Felt Like You Were Disappearing Every Time You Crossed A Road

In light of the late J.D. Salinger's Death just last week, many discussions have cropped up in regards to the novel that made him famous, Catcher in the Rye. One of these articles comes from the NY Times, which I found devastatingly interesting, enough to share at least.

The debate began with a simple question: Is The Catcher in the Rye relevant to today's youth culture?

It was generally discussed that with today's youth lives perforated with social media, could a novel that allows for loneliness and isolation find an audience? Apparently the answer is no.

It is suggested by some that there are no longer "teenagers," in the sense that the middle area between adulthood and childhood is gone, but rather teens are younger adults with perfectly planned lives or are encountering dangers that would have once only been seen as adult temptations. It is also said that teens today are never really alone, and therefore would not have ever experienced true isolation. Another says that this generation is exposed to everyone's personal dramas everyday that his jaded views of life have been experienced by them [us?] since pre-teen age and therefore Holden's drama is nothing unusual or interesting.

Damn it! 

Why would they ask today's adults a question so obviously formed for todays younger generations??

If this is not a perfect example of the division between adult and youth categories that what else is? 

I think it was best said by a Reader's comment down below:

"I am 23, and when I read this book for the first time in high school, I had the same sort of reaction to it typical of the professional commentators above. I dont think today's teens, who I am only slightly older than, would find the book so irrelevant as the panel seems to think. There is still angst, and rebellion, and suspicion of the hypocrisy of adults. These things dont go away because of twitter, or text messages (just think, passing notes in class, but quicker and sneakier..), or being over-scheduled. Overscheduled and micromanaged are just new ways of saying that adults heap expectations on children who often don't want to meet them, same now as then if just even more extreme today.

Perhaps the panel thinks the youth of today won't treasure the book as they once did, because they themselves are now looking at it and their own youths through the glasses of adulthood. The comments seem to ring to the tune of, "Those youth of today, they just aren't youth like we were!"'

Stoked about the Strokes

Word is out. Recording is being finalized. Get ready to scream. The Strokes are back. 2010.

Seriously. I could scream.

~Ferdinando