Sliding Doors

Recently watched Sliding Doors, a '98 drama/romance starring Gwyneth Paltrow and John Hannah. Written and directed by Peter Howitt, he cleverly explores the "what-if" scenario and leaves one believing that fate rules. Marvelous, well-timed beats, witty, realistic dialogue and character arcs not only from scene to scene, but throughout the entire picture, which grossed nearly $12 million. Definitely one that requires further analysis.  Watch the trailer on youtube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIOjwmYR9fw

 

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Getting Started

Have you ever spent your hard-earned bucks to go to the movies only to be bitterly disappointed? Did it ever cross your mind that you could write a better script? Ideas just go off like popcorn, but what to do about those kernels? It’s just words. Right? About 120 pages to financial freedom!


Time for a reality check. If you are just starting out, sign up for a screenwriting class. The first I attended was by Nika Rylski at George Brown College in Toronto. Nika teaches the basics of how to write a screenplay based on the paradigm, a term coined by Syd Field, or three-act structure.

These must-have books are a good starting point.  A more high tech and green/portable solution is to read these books through Kindle. You can download FREE the first chapter with this wireless device (without the need of a PC). This is soooo coool. And if your eyes are too tired from looking at print, it will actually read the book to you.

Download these books in 60 seconds, anytime, anywhere!

One thing Kindle cannot replace is my copy of The Screenwriter’s Workbook signed by Syd – following a workshop held in Toronto.