John Ostrander: Freelancers Live Without A Net source: @TVWriterCom #screenwriting #film #story “As the comics world knows, writer Peter David recently had a stroke. I’ve known Peter for a long time and I both respect and often envy his talent, skill and the breadth of his work. Peter has health insurance but there are plenty of bills that just won’t get covered and, as pointed out here on ComicMix, fans who want to show financial support can do so by purchasing his work at Crazy 8 Press. That’s incredibly easy; not only do your help Peter and his family but will probably get a damn fine read out of it at the same time. Like I said, Peter is a very talented writer. Peter’s better prepared (as far as anyone can be prepared for something like this) than many in the field; he has health insurance and most other freelancers – including myself – don’t. It’s hard to get, and harder to afford, health insurance when you’re a freelancer. By it’s very nature, a freelancer’s life is precarious. Take for example, job security. There isn’t any. Beyond your current contract (ifyou have one), there’s no guarantee you’ll have a job when it ends. You may be on a title for a long time, but that always ends. I had a “continuity contract” at one time with DC which guaranteed me so much work (and health insurance) within a given time frame, but that is long since gone. I don’t know if it’s offered any more. It was difficult for me to get a mortgage back when I bought my house (which I no longer own) and I dare say it’s tougher now if you’re a freelancer. When you’re a freelancer, you only get paid for the work you actually do. There’s no sick pay, there’s no paid holidays, there’s no paid vacation. You sometimes get royalties ( or “participation” or whatever term a given company chooses to call it) and that’s nice. Amanda Waller’s “participation” in the Green Lantern movie sent me some nice bucks that were sorely needed at the time but that’s like finding an extra twenty in your jeans that you forgot you had. You never know when it’s coming and you can’t rely on…”
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John Ostrander: Freelancers Live Without A Net

source: @TVWriterCom

#screenwriting #film #story

“As the comics world knows, writer Peter David recently had a stroke. I’ve known Peter for a long time and I both respect and often envy his talent, skill and the breadth of his work. Peter has health insurance but there are plenty of bills that just won’t get covered and, as pointed out here on ComicMix, fans who want to show financial support can do so by purchasing his work at Crazy 8 Press. That’s incredibly easy; not only do your help Peter and his family but will probably get a damn fine read out of it at the same time. Like I said, Peter is a very talented writer.

Peter’s better prepared (as far as anyone can be prepared for something like this) than many in the field; he has health insurance and most other freelancers – including myself – don’t. It’s hard to get, and harder to afford, health insurance when you’re a freelancer. By it’s very nature, a freelancer’s life is precarious.

Take for example, job security. There isn’t any. Beyond your current contract (ifyou have one), there’s no guarantee you’ll have a job when it ends. You may be on a title for a long time, but that always ends. I had a “continuity contract” at one time with DC which guaranteed me so much work (and health insurance) within a given time frame, but that is long since gone. I don’t know if it’s offered any more. It was difficult for me to get a mortgage back when I bought my house (which I no longer own) and I dare say it’s tougher now if you’re a freelancer.

When you’re a freelancer, you only get paid for the work you actually do. There’s no sick pay, there’s no paid holidays, there’s no paid vacation. You sometimes get royalties ( or “participation” or whatever term a given company chooses to call it) and that’s nice. Amanda Waller’s “participation” in the Green Lantern movie sent me some nice bucks that were sorely needed at the time but that’s like finding an extra twenty in your jeans that you forgot you had. You never know when it’s coming and you can’t rely on…”

And Now a Few Words About Amazon Studios Comedy Line-Up source: @TVWriterCom #screenwriting #TV #writing “The story so far: Amazon.Com has decided to get into the online streaming TV series cuz, you know, they’ve been having a good year and want to find a new way to lose money. Professional TV production just bleeds $$$, but it appears that this most popular of shopping sites just can’t keep itself from creating more loss leaders. (Like all those Kindle variations, dig?) We’ve written before about Amazon Studios and its call for submissions from new creators, and even talked a little bit about some projects Amazon has bought. The latest announcement (via AllThingsD.Com)is that the following sitcoms are the company’s favorites: Alpha House, about “four senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC.” Written by Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau, who also made the vastly underappreciated “Tanner ’88” for HBO. Browsers, “a musical comedy set in contemporary Manhattan that follows four young people as they start their first jobs at a news website,” from former “The Daily Show” head writer David Javerbaum. Dark Minions, an animated series “about two slackers just trying to make a paycheck working an intergalactic warship,” from “Big Bang Theory” co-stars Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie. The Onion Presents: The News, “set behind the scenes of The Onion News Network.” Supanatural, an animated series about “two outspoken divas who are humanity’s last line of defense against the supernatural”; one of the producers is “The Daily Show” star Kristen Schaal. Those Who Can’t, “about three juvenile, misfit teachers,” written by three guys Amazon found via its open call for submissions. What makes Amazon Studios’ creative process fun…….”
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And Now a Few Words About Amazon Studios Comedy Line-Up

source: @TVWriterCom

#screenwriting #TV #writing

“The story so far:

Amazon.Com has decided to get into the online streaming TV series cuz, you know, they’ve been having a good year and want to find a new way to lose money. Professional TV production just bleeds $$$, but it appears that this most popular of shopping sites just can’t keep itself from creating more loss leaders. (Like all those Kindle variations, dig?)

We’ve written before about Amazon Studios and its call for submissions from new creators, and even talked a little bit about some projects Amazon has bought. The latest announcement (via AllThingsD.Com)is that the following sitcoms are the company’s favorites:

  • Alpha House, about “four senators who live together in a rented house in Washington DC.” Written by Doonesbury creator Garry Trudeau, who also made the vastly underappreciated “Tanner ’88” for HBO.
  • Browsers, “a musical comedy set in contemporary Manhattan that follows four young people as they start their first jobs at a news website,” from former “The Daily Show” head writer David Javerbaum.
  • Dark Minions, an animated series “about two slackers just trying to make a paycheck working an intergalactic warship,” from “Big Bang Theory” co-stars Kevin Sussman and John Ross Bowie.
  • The Onion Presents: The News, “set behind the scenes of The Onion News Network.”
  • Supanatural, an animated series about “two outspoken divas who are humanity’s last line of defense against the supernatural”; one of the producers is “The Daily Show” star Kristen Schaal.
  • Those Who Can’t, “about three juvenile, misfit teachers,” written by three guys Amazon found via its open call for submissions.

What makes Amazon Studios’ creative process fun…….”

The man behind Bond and Superman Source: @tgdaily #screenwriting #television #writing “I’ve covered the craft of screenwriting for many years, and have always been rather fascinated by the role of the “script doctor” in Hollywood. 

 A script doctor is like a baseball player who comes in at the last minute and saves the game. If a movie’s in trouble, a really talented writer can spot what’s wrong with the script, rewrite it, and make the film a winner instead of a loser. There have been many script doctors in Hollywood history, and Tom Mankiewicz did major rewrites on a number of films. His work on Superman I and II was substantial, and he also wrote the 70’s James Bond films Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun - and worked on both The Spy Who Loved Me as well as Moonraker. 

 He also created the hit TV show Hart to Hart, and did uncredited re-write work on The Deep, WarGames, Gremlins, among many other films. Plus, Mankiewicz wrote the first script for the 80’s big screen Batman, which was a obviously far different movie than the one that finally hit theaters in 1989. Tom came from a long respected Hollywood dynasty - his father wrote and directed All About Eve, while his Uncle Herman penned Citizen Kane. Knowing this was quite a lot to live up to, Tom went his own way as a scribe, writing big budget Hollywood entertainment, and like his relatives, was very successful at it. Sadly, Tom passed away in 2010, but his autobiography is slated to hit store shelves on May 28 via The University Press of Kentucky. As the Amazon entry for the book tells us, My Life as a Mankiewicz recounts Tom’s life and career, where he would spend his summers on his father’s film sets, how he had his first drink with Bogart, ate dinner with Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, and of course became a successful Hollywood scribe and one of a long line of talented Mankiewicz men. If you love comic book films, you definitely owe a debt to Tom, whose writing on the Superman films treated the characters with realism, wit and respect. Mankiewicz told me he didn’t do the campy approach of the Batman TV show because you couldn’t keep camp up in the air for two hours, and the first two Superman films set a benchmark that stood for many years. 

 Having met and interviewed Tom back in my days as a contributor for Creative Screenwriting, I’m really looking forward to reading his life story, and his behind the scenes memories of writing for Superman, Batman and Bond.”
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The man behind Bond and Superman


Source: @tgdaily

#screenwriting #television #writing

“I’ve covered the craft of screenwriting for many years, and have always been rather fascinated by the role of the “script doctor” in Hollywood. 



A script doctor is like a baseball player who comes in at the last minute and saves the game. If a movie’s in trouble, a really talented writer can spot what’s wrong with the script, rewrite it, and make the film a winner instead of a loser.

There have been many script doctors in Hollywood history, and Tom Mankiewicz did major rewrites on a number of films. His work on Superman I and II was substantial, and he also wrote the 70’s James Bond films Diamonds Are Forever, Live and Let Die, The Man With the Golden Gun - and worked on both The Spy Who Loved Me as well as Moonraker. 



He also created the hit TV show Hart to Hart, and did uncredited re-write work on The Deep, WarGames, Gremlins, among many other films. Plus, Mankiewicz wrote the first script for the 80’s big screen Batman, which was a obviously far different movie than the one that finally hit theaters in 1989.
 
Tom came from a long respected Hollywood dynasty - his father wrote and directed All About Eve, while his Uncle Herman penned Citizen Kane. Knowing this was quite a lot to live up to, Tom went his own way as a scribe, writing big budget Hollywood entertainment, and like his relatives, was very successful at it. Sadly, Tom passed away in 2010, but his autobiography is slated to hit store shelves on May 28 via The University Press of Kentucky.
 
As the Amazon entry for the book tells us, My Life as a Mankiewicz recounts Tom’s life and career, where he would spend his summers on his father’s film sets, how he had his first drink with Bogart, ate dinner with Liz Taylor and Richard Burton, and of course became a successful Hollywood scribe and one of a long line of talented Mankiewicz men.
 
If you love comic book films, you definitely owe a debt to Tom, whose writing on the Superman films treated the characters with realism, wit and respect. Mankiewicz told me he didn’t do the campy approach of the Batman TV show because you couldn’t keep camp up in the air for two hours, and the first two Superman films set a benchmark that stood for many years. 



Having met and interviewed Tom back in my days as a contributor for Creative Screenwriting, I’m really looking forward to reading his life story, and his behind the scenes memories of writing for Superman, Batman and Bond.”

What a screenwriting couple add to Mad Men Source: The Globe and Mail #screenwriting #television #writing “Long-time friends and collaborators of Weiner’s, the couple were dividing their time between Los Angeles and Vancouver, where Maria taught at the Vancouver Film School, when Mad Men was green-lit and Weiner called them to work on his new show. Five seasons later, the show has become a cultural phenomenon with social media abuzz about the new season and Don Draper’s hurried marriage to a much younger woman, receptionist Megan Calvet. What’s going to happen next? Is Don’s marriage to Megan going to survive? Maria Jacquemetton: We can’t tell you that. We know the end of season five, but we don’t know the end of the series. André Jacquemetton: Matt has an idea of what he wants to happen to Don Draper, but getting there, I am not so sure he knows. And he’s curious to hear what we have to say, and that’s why he has 10 people in the [writing] room. Ten different voices. What is Weiner looking for from those writers? AJ: He’s looking for a certain surprise. Hopefully the writer can bring something he can’t bring, a certain truth. MJ: A piece of their life experience How could there be a surprise if the plot is all agreed upon in the story room beforehand? MJ: You get an outline, but you don’t get every beat of the scene. The first boy Betty ever kissed was a Jewish boy. He particularly liked that. That was something we brought …well, from my life. AJ: He likes it when we write the family scenes. It’s something we spark to. MJ: The Betty/Don dynamic. The married couple dynamic. I guess we do good fights. Why is this show such a success? AJ: It’s counter-programming. People have been conditioned to watch television in a certain way and we go out of our way to tell stories in a unique manner. It’s unique, not just because its the sixties, but the way it’s structured, the way we talk about the period. This season, for example, you don’t actually show the Rolling Stones, just backstage with the groupies waiting for them. MJ: Or, when was Betty Draper going to cheat on Don? Instead of creating some torrid affair, the Mad Men story is on the day they think the world is ending because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. She goes into a bar and lets some man pick her up so she can allow herself psychologically to take her philandering husband back and be on a level playing field. That’s the Mad Men version of the Cuban Missile Crisis. There’s also nostalgia. We all sort of yearn for better times. I think there also is a measure of decorum that has been lost in society and on some level we are craving that to return. Which is why everyone is so obsessed with fashion on the show. Somehow if I went to work in a girdle, I would do everything more graciously. AJ: Try it! I hear all those actors complaining about the girdles. You’re still landed immigrants in Canada. Do you think you’ll ever come back? MJ: We had a very nice life here, but the work is in L.A. AJ: We still have a show we are trying to work on here. MJ: It’s called Versailles – our partners are Canal + in France and Incendo, a Montreal-based company. We have got a pilot written. AJ: It’s about Louis XIV. An international co-production about Versailles, Megan in Mad Men … André, is this a bit of a francophone conspiracy? AJ: We hired Jessica Paré. She’s from Montreal, she’s Canadian. We loved that about her. We said why don’t we use her nationality. When you talk about the sixties and you think about what was going on, French literature, French film were such an influence during that time. It just feels very organic to the show to go there. Megan isn’t a French name though. MJ: We did not know [the character would be French]. We built the character after the role became more important. Season 4, Matt had this idea that he wanted Don Draper to get into a relationship with Dr. Faye Miller, who was going to be good for him emotionally. But at the last minute – when it became clear that being with her was going to be a lifetime of the work that he needed to do to heal himself – this beautiful young thing was going to catch his eye. We wrote to that. We cast Jessica and really her character did not come into form until the last episode of Season 4. AJ: And Calvet is a good French name, a good Canadian name. You were just in Toronto doing a master class at the Canadian Film Centre. What do you tell students? AJ: We play good cop, bad cop. MJ: You’re bad. I am more nurturing. AJ: I try to be good. I warn them it’s a difficult business, and I warn them about the soul-killing aspect of the business, but I cap it off by saying it’s a business that I love. This interview has been condensed and edited.”
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What a screenwriting couple add to Mad Men

Source: The Globe and Mail

#screenwriting #television #writing

“Long-time friends and collaborators of Weiner’s, the couple were dividing their time between Los Angeles and Vancouver, where Maria taught at the Vancouver Film School, when Mad Men was green-lit and Weiner called them to work on his new show.

Five seasons later, the show has become a cultural phenomenon with social media abuzz about the new season and Don Draper’s hurried marriage to a much younger woman, receptionist Megan Calvet.

What’s going to happen next? Is Don’s marriage to Megan going to survive?

Maria Jacquemetton: We can’t tell you that. We know the end of season five, but we don’t know the end of the series.

André Jacquemetton: Matt has an idea of what he wants to happen to Don Draper, but getting there, I am not so sure he knows. And he’s curious to hear what we have to say, and that’s why he has 10 people in the [writing] room. Ten different voices.

What is Weiner looking for from those writers?

AJ: He’s looking for a certain surprise. Hopefully the writer can bring something he can’t bring, a certain truth.

MJ: A piece of their life experience

How could there be a surprise if the plot is all agreed upon in the story room beforehand?

MJ: You get an outline, but you don’t get every beat of the scene. The first boy Betty ever kissed was a Jewish boy. He particularly liked that. That was something we brought …well, from my life.

AJ: He likes it when we write the family scenes. It’s something we spark to.

MJ: The Betty/Don dynamic. The married couple dynamic. I guess we do good fights.

Why is this show such a success?

AJ: It’s counter-programming. People have been conditioned to watch television in a certain way and we go out of our way to tell stories in a unique manner. It’s unique, not just because its the sixties, but the way it’s structured, the way we talk about the period.

This season, for example, you don’t actually show the Rolling Stones, just backstage with the groupies waiting for them.

MJ: Or, when was Betty Draper going to cheat on Don? Instead of creating some torrid affair, the Mad Men story is on the day they think the world is ending because of the Cuban Missile Crisis. She goes into a bar and lets some man pick her up so she can allow herself psychologically to take her philandering husband back and be on a level playing field. That’s the Mad Men version of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

There’s also nostalgia. We all sort of yearn for better times. I think there also is a measure of decorum that has been lost in society and on some level we are craving that to return.

Which is why everyone is so obsessed with fashion on the show. Somehow if I went to work in a girdle, I would do everything more graciously.

AJ: Try it! I hear all those actors complaining about the girdles.

You’re still landed immigrants in Canada. Do you think you’ll ever come back?

MJ: We had a very nice life here, but the work is in L.A.

AJ: We still have a show we are trying to work on here.

MJ: It’s called Versailles – our partners are Canal + in France and Incendo, a Montreal-based company. We have got a pilot written.

AJ: It’s about Louis XIV.

An international co-production about Versailles, Megan in Mad Men … André, is this a bit of a francophone conspiracy?

AJ: We hired Jessica Paré. She’s from Montreal, she’s Canadian. We loved that about her. We said why don’t we use her nationality. When you talk about the sixties and you think about what was going on, French literature, French film were such an influence during that time. It just feels very organic to the show to go there.

Megan isn’t a French name though.

MJ: We did not know [the character would be French]. We built the character after the role became more important. Season 4, Matt had this idea that he wanted Don Draper to get into a relationship with Dr. Faye Miller, who was going to be good for him emotionally. But at the last minute – when it became clear that being with her was going to be a lifetime of the work that he needed to do to heal himself – this beautiful young thing was going to catch his eye. We wrote to that. We cast Jessica and really her character did not come into form until the last episode of Season 4.

AJ: And Calvet is a good French name, a good Canadian name.

You were just in Toronto doing a master class at the Canadian Film Centre. What do you tell students?

AJ: We play good cop, bad cop.

MJ: You’re bad. I am more nurturing.

AJ: I try to be good. I warn them it’s a difficult business, and I warn them about the soul-killing aspect of the business, but I cap it off by saying it’s a business that I love.

This interview has been condensed and edited.”

Source: @writersbootcamp #screenwriting #screenplay Writers Boot Camp Business Breakfast Larry Shuman, Literary Manager, The Shuman CompanyWednesday, May 9, 7:45-9:45am moderated by Jeffrey Gordon (program at 8:30am)                    For our upcoming Breakfast, please join us as we welcome Larry Shuman who has run his boutique company - The Shuman Company - for over 20 years.  With extensive experience in representation of writers and filmmakers, Larry’s insight into navigating the trenches of securing management and attracting agency representation will be helpful for new and experienced writers alike.His client base is a TV-heavy roster that includes showrunners/creators for shows such as House, and The Shield. Among his esteemed client list are certain crossover writers who segued from television into features such as RED EYE and DISTURBIA. Managing literary talent is the company’s core business, though he has recently sold the show Devious Minds - the Marc Cherry-penned adaptation of the Mexican Telenovela The Disorderly Maids Of The Neighborhood.Another of Writers Boot Camp founder Jeffrey Gordon’s respected friends in the business, the discussion will cover many practical topics pertaining to the actual profession of screenwriting, as well as candid perspective of the studio and network climate, and opportunities in emerging areas for creative artists in the business.        The Business Breakfast presents to our community the people who truly know the business.  Join us every other Wednesday (February through October) at our Bergamot Station headquarters to network and learn where the work is in the entertainment industry. Doors open at 7:45 am.  Advance tickets are $20 for the public, including breakfast. Tickets at the door when available are $25. The breakfast consists of eggs, potatoes, pastries, fresh fruit, juice & coffee.  At 8:30am, founder Jeffrey Gordon will introduce our guest speaker for a brief interview and Q&A about their particular expertise, emphasizing professional trends, new opportunities and emerging markets. Advance tickets are only $10 for Writers Boot Camp writers, alumni and their guests.  Alumni only can use the Promo Code WBCAL5912 for the discounted rate.    Click on the “Buy Tickets” button above to reserve your seat today.  For more information, call the office at 310/998-1199. Free parking is available in the main Bergamot Station lot, entrance on Michigan (see directions below).
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Source: @writersbootcamp

#screenwriting #screenplay

Writers Boot Camp Business Breakfast 
Larry Shuman, Literary Manager, The Shuman Company
Wednesday, May 9, 7:45-9:45am
moderated by Jeffrey Gordon (program at 8:30am)  
                
For our upcoming Breakfast, please join us as we welcome Larry Shuman who has run his boutique company - The Shuman Company - for over 20 years.  With extensive experience in representation of writers and filmmakers, Larry’s insight into navigating the trenches of securing management and attracting agency representation will be helpful for new and experienced writers alike.

His client base is a TV-heavy roster that includes showrunners/creators for shows such as House, and The Shield. Among his esteemed client list are certain crossover writers who segued from television into features such as RED EYE and DISTURBIA.
Managing literary talent is the company’s core business, though he has recently sold the show Devious Minds - the Marc Cherry-penned adaptation of the Mexican Telenovela The Disorderly Maids Of The Neighborhood.

Another of Writers Boot Camp founder Jeffrey Gordon’s respected friends in the business, the discussion will cover many practical topics pertaining to the actual profession of screenwriting, as well as candid perspective of the studio and network climate, and opportunities in emerging areas for creative artists in the business. 
     

The Business Breakfast presents to our community the people who truly know the business.  Join us every other Wednesday (February through October) at our Bergamot Station headquarters to network and learn where the work is in the entertainment industry.


Doors open at 7:45 am.  Advance tickets are $20 for the public, including breakfast. Tickets at the door when available are $25.

The breakfast consists of eggs, potatoes, pastries, fresh fruit, juice & coffee.  At 8:30am, founder Jeffrey Gordon will introduce our guest speaker for a brief interview and Q&A about their particular expertise, emphasizing professional trends, new opportunities and emerging markets.

Advance tickets are only $10 for Writers Boot Camp writers, alumni and their guests.  Alumni only can use the Promo Code WBCAL5912 for the discounted rate.

  

Click on the “Buy Tickets” button above to reserve your seat today.  For more information, call the office at 310/998-1199.
Free parking is available in the main Bergamot Station lot, entrance on Michigan (see directions below).