My Screenplay is a Zygote

A few posts ago, I mentioned that I was going to try writing a screenplay. Well, so far so good. I picked up a copy of The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier, which has turned out to be indispensable. It answers every question I had and then some. Even if you aren't looking to write the next great American movie, there are lots of cool things within that can help with any kind of story.

One of the things I particularly like is the character chart which lists all of the important things characters needs to stand on their own two feet, and I think something like this can come in handy when trying to answer all of those questions you need to answer before you start writing. I wish I had something like that when I wrote my thesis, which was a fictional novel.

Trottier suggests writing a three paragraph synopsis of the plot before you type even one letter of the script. After thinking about it, I think this is a pretty good idea for anyone writing anything of length. I was skeptical but did it anyway, and let me tell you, problems emerged right away, making it easier for me to figure out what you need to fix before things get way out of hand.

Another thing I like is using index cards for each scene. While this is especially helpful for a movie script, it can definitely be helpful if you're working on something that may not follow a traditional story line. When I was writing my thesis I had an outline that was pretty detailed, but I can see the benefit of really thinking each scene out that you have in mind. Of course as you write things change, but if you have definite scenes you know will be there, I think this can be really helpful.

So far I'm at the index card stage with about fifteen. I'm sure I need more, so I continue to think about pacing, breaking up scenes with dialogue, etc. What's really cool is that now when I watch a movie, I pay more attention to the way the scenes fit together, even though I think I have been doing that subconsciously for a long time.

I haven't been frustrated at all, which is a very good thing. I'd get frustrated at least ten times on any given page when I was writing prose. That being said, I haven't really "written" anything yet, but I feel like writing a screenplay is more in tune with my strengths.

The Hunger Games Book 2 - Catching Fire

Suzanne Collins, how dare you? How dare you make me experience a roller coaster of emotions a la Ron Burgundy? While I question some of her plot points, I have to say that the characters Collins has created in the Hunger Games series have me dying to find out what happens to them. I'm just going to have to distract myself until August 24th when Mockingjay hits store shelves.

The first book left me with a bit of a bitter taste in my mouth, mainly because I thought Katniss was being too much of a silly little twit for her own good. Then I remembered being sixteen, and promptly realized that it is difficult for a young lady at that age to be anything other than an annoying brat. I stand firm to my assertion that the young women of today do not need another boy crazy heroine, and even though Katniss keeps telling us how boy crazy she isn't, the fact remains that she is. There's also an undercurrent of staying with someone to make other people happy even if it makes you miserable, which is gross, but it seems as though in the second book, Collins is at least giving Katniss the brains to stop that relationship from becoming something it should not be.

Once again, it's hard to review this book without giving way too much away, but let me say that I do appreciate Katniss: 1) admitting she's annoying; 2) realizing what her real potential is; and 3) absolutely embracing it. One great thing about Katniss is that although she might sulk for a bit, she truly understands that she has absolute power, and she knows that it really scares some very important people. Which is pretty cool.

Throw together a few new characters, the potential for another love interest (this brings dear Kat up to three), the fate of their world squared on her shoulders, some very covert attempts to end her life and there you have this book. While Geronimo complained that one of the plot points was rehashed, it didn't bother me as much, as I felt it seemed the only logical direction the story could take.

When I read the final installment, Mockingjay, I'm sure I'll have much more to say about this story overall, but until then, it's just going to be a whole lot of stomachaches and wondering.

(Here's the credit for the lovely rendering of Katniss - http://rohanelf.deviantart.com/)

Movie Review: Cyrus

Living in a small market area, I'm often disappointed that there are many indie movies that never make it to our theaters. When I saw the preview for Cyrus (in the movie theater, no less), I knew it was something I'd want to see. The tagline - "John meets the woman of his dreams. Then he met her son," grabbed me immediately. Imagine my surprise when I found that Cyrus was actually playing here in NEPA. Since yesterday afternoon was rainy and crappy, my husband and I decided to check it out.

John (John C. Reilly) is a divorcee who is still in love with his ex-wife Jamie (Catherine Keener) and still affected by their separation seven years later. Knowing how socially awkward John is, Jamie decides to invite him to a party after telling him that she is getting remarried, I suppose to soften the blow. He tells her he isn't going, then the next scene flashes to him sitting in front of a fire at said party. After a few drinks, he meets Molly (Marisa Tomei) while he's peeing in a bush. The spark is instantaneous and the two of them go back to John's apartment together.

But something's wrong. Molly never stays the night and seems to be in a hurry to get home. John wonders if she's married and decides to follow her back to wherever she's rushing to be. He eventually ends up at her home and falls asleep, and the next morning he wakes up in his car. John begins sneaking around her home when someone appears. A young man. Cyrus (Jonah Hill).

What follows is sometimes hilarious, sometimes sad, and sometimes very, very dark. Molly and Cyrus have a unique and close relationship, and Cyrus is not at all comfortable with John's feelings for his mother. I was amazed at Hill's acting chops; I cannot imagine anyone else playing that role. He played the manipulative, passive-aggressive, spoiled little brat that is Cyrus perfectly. When the relationship between John and Cyrus escalates near the end of the movie, Reilly and Hill are magical on the screen.

I definitely expected it to be a little sillier and have some more slapstick than it did mostly because of the past roles of Reilly and Hill. This is a smart, dark comedy with two guys who are known for their over the top kinds of roles playing more subdued, thoughtful men. Marisa Tomei was also pretty good as an over-protective single mom.  While she was supposed to be a woman completely out of John's league, but I found their supermodel styling of her a little distracting. Two and two were not adding up for me. Catherine Keener, as always, was phenomenal as John's honest and caring ex-wife and best friend.

While there were some things that didn't make sense, the heart of this movie was solid and pure. I enjoyed the performances and some of the dialogue was absolutely hilarious. I think anyone who has a darker sense of humor would really enjoy this film. It is romantic comedy, although it follows quite a different path than others in its genre. There's a lot to laugh at, but there are also plenty of cringe inducing scenes. Overall, I really enjoyed it and thought it was worth every penny we paid for the tickets.

Book Review: The Hunger Games and Teenage Female Expectation

My friend Geronimo and I have started a book club. Since we're the only members, we alternate book choices. This time around, I chose The Hunger Games, the first in a three part young adult series written by Suzanne Collins (told you I was a little kid at heart). The reviews were glowing and it seemed like something that I'd enjoy, so I gave it a shot. While I'm still kind of on the fence because I haven't finished the series, my initial reaction is that it's pretty slick.

The Hunger Games is an American version of Battle Royale, with the main difference being that it's set in post-apocalyptic America, and the names of every child from the ages of twelve to eighteen are chosen from lottery-style. There are twelve districts with a girl and boy chosen from each, and they must fight until only one has survived. The protagonist, Katniss, is a sixteen year old girl who becomes one of "tributes" when she offers to take the place of her twelve year old sister, Prim, after her name is drawn.

Katniss is a very likeable character. She has a ton of integrity and is as loyal as they come. Her devotion to her sister is touching and she's also very smart. At the beginning of the novel, she's just this regular girl who's trying to help her family survive during very tough times. Katniss and her best friend Gale, a boy she has known since childhood, regularly break the rules and hunt outside of their district. Katniss is more inclined to do what is right than she is to follow the rules. She also doesn't adhere to gender roles.

As the story progresses, Katniss becomes more and more flighty, mostly because of her relationship with Peeta, the male tribute from her district. After I finished the book, I found this a little disappointing. The recommended reading age is grades seven through nine, and I'm not sure if any pre-teen or young teenage girls need their heads filled with any more of the stereotypical gender roles that Katniss begins to fall into as the relationship develops. Not to give too much away, but there are times when I shook my head at this smart, strong teenage girl.

I think that a good story should be transformative for the reader, and I think that Collins may have missed her opportunity to give young women a new type of heroine. Katniss drastically changes from the beginning of the novel to the end, although I did try to take into account that she did experience something very traumatic and that her decisions may have been based on the the stress of being in the arena, fighting to survive. I am very interested to see where Collins take Katniss next - I certainly believe that she has a lot of potential, and I hope that she becomes the kind of heroine that makes the girls who read this realize that it's ok to be strong.

Overall, I think that this is a pretty solidly written book. It moves along at a good pace and there is a sense of profluence throughout. There were times where I couldn't put it down because I had to know what happened next. The style is a little juvenille, but it is from the viewpoint of a sixteen year old and it's written for thirteen year olds, so I couldn't expect much there. Even though I was slightly disappointed at the end of the first book, Collins has hooked me and I need to keep reading, which says a lot.

Trying Something New: Screenwriting

The other day I found my yearbook from eighth grade. I had quite the laugh over some of my fashion choices, but hey, it was the early 90s. Sebagoes, anyone? It was kind of fun to look through those pages and remember what it was like to be thirteen. I always say that I am a twelve year old trapped in a thirty year old's body, which is mostly true. I own a house, have a car, have a master's degree, and I'm married. But seriously, I do not feel like an adult. Ever.

My favorite song? Jeremy by Pearl Jam. I remember my mom being mad I didn't pick a "nice song." Favorite activities: baseball, shopping and talking on the phone. Two of out three stuck. My future career? Movie director.

Yeah. I remember that. I wanted to be a movie director. I wanted to make movies about the mob and have Joe Pesci star in every single one. The first time I saw The Godfather, it was a religious experience. My childhood is defined by Rambo: First Blood Part II, Godzilla movies and It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. I remember being crushed when I found out Rock Hudson and Doris Day were not a real life item. I still cannot hate Nicholas Cage simply because of his performance in Moonstruck.

I have seen hundreds, if not at least a thousand movies in my lifetime. I'm at the movie theater every weekend. I think visually, usually doing stop motion in my mind to get my ideas onto paper. So why am I writing novels and short stories?

I have no idea. I could kick myself for skipping out on the screenwriting foundations course when I worked on my master's. Luckily for me, I'm not one to give up, or not do something just because I don't know how. I've jumped feet first into a lot of things, and I've failed at a lot of things. And I'm all right with that.

So I'm going to do what all the experts say you should: think about what you said you wanted to be when you were a kid and work on it. Get there. So I'm trying something new. But still writing.

The Pianist and Working Every Day

One of my favorite Tweeple is @AdviceToWriters. Almost every day, Jon Winokur posts something that makes me have a lightbulb moment in relation to my own writing. Any writer will tell you that's a blessing, seeing as how so many of us are often left in the dark.

A few days ago, I went to Winokur's site Advice to Writers and tripped over the following post:

It doesn't matter what time of day you work, but you have to work every day because creation, like life, is always slipping away from you. You must write every day, but there's no time limit on how long you have to write.

One day you might read over what you've done and think about it. You pick up the pencil or turn on the computer, but no new words come. That's fine. Sometimes you can't go further. Correct a misspelling, reread a perplexing paragraph, and then let it go. You have re-entered the dream of the work, and that's enough to keep the story alive for another 24 hours.

The next day you might write for hours; there's no way to tell. The goal is not a number of words or hours spent writing. All you need to do is to keep your heart and mind open to the work.

WALTER MOSLEY

I've been struggling with writing ever since I graduated with my Master's Degree. Once I didn't have that gun next to my head, I started falling back into the same routine of watching television and generally being lazy. I'm helping my dad with a story idea because he's not a writer, and every week he asks me if I've made any progress. For the past few weeks, my answer has been, "No. Sorry."

That's just not good enough. I certainly need to be devoting more time to this, but I feel like it should be easier. I've already written a novel, and while it may still need tons of work, it's one more novel than I ever thought I'd write. I know the pitfalls, the traps, how easily I can put off writing while I tend to millions of other seemingly more important things. How could I have forgotten the importance of breathing with the project every day?

And today, as I was walking back from lunch, I heard a piano being played. I looked into the art gallery (I work at a college) and see this young man hammering away on the keys. As I walked away, I realized that he's in there every single day, playing like he'll never see a piano again. Mosley is right - "creation, like life, is always slipping away." Every day is our last chance to create, whether we realize it or not.

Book Review: "I Know This Much Is True" and The Issue of Character Torture

Most of my writing projects have started as a result of a character coming to mind. For instance, my thesis at Wilkes University was brought about by a writing prompt where a child was faced with something emotionally scarring, and almost a year later, I had written 325 pages that ended up sort of being about her. As I wrote, her mother became center stage, and she had a bunch of pretty crappy stuff happen to her, too. Throughout, I tried to keep the plot simple so that I could focus on my characters. Whenever I'd get stuck, I'd throw more and more wrenches into my main character's gears, hoping that it would move things along.

I didn't realize how ridiculous this was until I went back to revise. What had I been thinking? By trying to power through some less inspired sections, I had basically written a very silly, unbelievable book. Some of the scenarios were downright laughable. But what really made me realize this was Wally Lamb's book, I Know This Much Is True. While very well written, it was also very hard to believe that this one character experienced all of these things that might not happen to any of us in our lifetimes.

As part of a little book agreement between a friend and I, we've been picking books, reading them and discussing them. IKTMIT started out perfectly for me. I was into the characters and the story. Everything felt really authentic, and I was really relating to Dominick's plight as a caretaker. Truly a man with the world on his shoulders, I felt his Italian duty to his family attitude all the way to my bones.

But then, something weird happened. Something out of his character. Something that didn't make sense. Then, the weird somethings started popping up like summer afternoon thunderstorms. They were all over the place,  By the time I reached the end of the book, I had no idea what I had read. Basically, poor Dominick (you can't help but pity him) had been on the recieving end of some pretty terrible things, victimized by the author the entire way through the text. There are some bright spots for him, though very few and far between. In fact, at the end of the book I found it hard to believe that his story ended where and with whom it did.

I felt as though Dominick's main issue, the care of his schizophrenic identical twin brother, to be enough for him to have to endure as a character. I don't understand why Lamb felt the overwhelming urge to give him more crosses to bear. Lamb's decisions to make the unbelievable happen to this man over and over again jolted me from my waking dream while reading this book, making it nearly impossible to enjoy it. The things that happened to Dominick felt completely contrived, and part of me felt as though Lamb just didn't have the heart to kill his darlings.

There is a good story in there somewhere amongst the 900+ pages. Cut away two-thirds of that and maybe you have something that will move you, change your life. As it stands, IKTMIT for me was largely a very long and drawn out disappointment.

Movie Review: Inception

I doubt there is a person alive who hasn't heard of Christopher Nolan's latest film, Inception. With all the hype surrounding the release, I have to admit I was just a little skeptical. Not that I doubt Mr. Nolan's ability to tell and present his audience with an incredible story, but I have fallen prey to the thought that watching a movie could be a life altering experience. After watching the movie today, I have to say that I'm glad I was proven wrong.

Inception is a film about dream hijackers who get into their subjects' subconsciousness to extract information. Sounds cool, right? Well, it is. To see the textures of a dream brought to crisp, crystal high definition was nothing short of visually stunning. I particularly enjoyed the use of natural environments to set the mood and tone. Nolan is a master at creating an experience for the audience, and he certainly did that in this film. My husband and I saw this in XD, and it was incredible. What was also pretty cool was that Nolan resisted the trend of making a 3D version of this film. I have the feeling it was because he knew he didn't need a gimmick to get people in the seats.

Back in the day, before YouTube, Hulu and the general playground that is the internet were easily available to me, I had a membership at Blockbuster that I used on an almost daily basis. I would rent four movies at a time, and since I didn't have cable, I usually watched two or three of them a night. It was during this period when I found Memento and then Following, then a few years after that, I saw Insomnia in the theater. Nolan's skills as a writer and director really gripped me, and his unique point of view left me hungry for more. What I loved the most were his characters.

Dark, brooding, complex and unaware what is happening to them, Nolan's characters are always the focus. While the stories in each of the films are excellent, the characters are the gems. Cobb, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, is our hero, the man who leads the rest of the dream squad because of his knowledge and expertise. As the story unfolds, we find that he's deeply disturbed and haunted by his past. Ellen Page plays Ariadne, a young college student who has the brains and ability to be one of the best. Her heart is what sets her apart from the rest of the crew, and she is also strong and complicated.

The cast turns in believable performances, and each of them holds their own. I was slightly surprised by Joseph Gordon-Levitt's performance, as I didn't expect that Tommy Solomon could have any kind of presence on screen next to Leo. He did an excellent job playing the loyal sidekick, and his past role as a funny kid definitely came into play during the film. Marion Cotillard also turned in a moving performance as Cobb's wife.

It's hard for me to review this film without giving too much away, so let me just say this: make the time to see this film in the theater. With the stunning visuals, great story telling, complicated characters, intense action scenes and a pay off that you wait for the entire film, this movie must be seen. At times, the suspense was so palpable that I caught myself holding my breath. While this movie is by no means perfect, it will certainly have you on the edge of your seat, rooting for the dream thieves to complete their mission before they wake up.

Movie Review: Let the Right One In

My dear friend, who I will always refer to as The Josie on this blog, is the person who recommended that I see this movie because she thought it related to one of my writing projects. As I mentioned in my previous post, it takes me forever to get around to things, and it took me a solid eight months to finally watch this. After it was over, I could have cried for waiting so long. Such wasted time. Want a synopsis? Go here.

Vampire movies are pretty popular right now, especially vampire romances. While Twilight has its center in a fantastical, unbelievable world, Let the Right One In is deeply rooted in reality. Much of the believability of this story lies in the stunning performances of the two lead characters, Oskar and Eli. Kare Hedebrant plays Oskar, a middle schooler who is bullied at school and pretty much ignored at home. Lina Leandersson plays Eli, a vampire who is struggling to survive. Their relationship becomes the only bright spot in either one of their lives. I really enjoyed the unconditional love aspect of this film as well, seeing as how Eli was a literal monster. It was very touching.

The two of them portrayed the innocence of puppy love perfectly. In their debut roles, they act as though they have been acting for a lifetime. It felt like they were born to play these characters. From the first moment Oskar notices Eli's beauty to the final moment they share on screen, there is the sense that we are being blessed with the first glimpses of something huge. Their romance feels as epic as Romeo and Juliet's, and it feels just as dangerous too.

Although there is no real story line outside of Oskar trying to avoid his bullies, Eli dealing with her urges and their budding romance, I felt that the story moved along nicely with a sense of profluence throughout. Somehow, the complicated mixture of gore, horror and romance never seemed overwhelming, silly or confusing. In fact, the film felt more like a slice of their lives than an overall complete story.

When I really like something, I tend to get a little obsessed with it, and this is one of those things. I want to read the book (of the same name), and I want to know what happened to the characters after the end of the film. They feel like real people to me, much in part to the phenomenal job on the part of the cast.

There is also supposed to be a remake of this film coming out soon, titled Let Me In. I feel so strongly about this movie that this is kind of blasphemy. Let the Right One In is only two years old. Maybe if more time had passed I wouldn't feel so annoyed by the obvious jump on the bandwagon, but we'll see. I highly doubt that this film can be topped. I definitely think it's worth tracking down for a rent. Oskar and Eli definitely give Edward and Becca a run for best vampire romance.

A Note on Reviews

Before you start reading my reviews, there's one thing I have to make clear - I'm all about entertainment. I don't care what implications a text has about the social implications of goat herding in an agricultural society, nor do I care about the hidden or not so hidden poltical subtext in most modern movies. I do not analyze anything, especially if it's on a big screen and I'm sitting in a movie theater.

While I do think the ability to analyze a text or movie for its social or political statements is an important skill to have, I will be investigating none of those things here. I'm doing this for enjoyment, not for a grade. Please refrain from telling me I missed the entire point of a movie or book because chances are, I didn't. I just don't feel the need to prove that I am intelligent, and I also believe that sometimes a story is just a story. The bottom line is that if I like something, it'll get a favorable review. If I don't, well then you know the rest.

I'm also going to keep all reviews as short as I can, and sometimes I'll do "Haiku Reviews." I want to keep things as short and to the point as possible. Also, please note that sometimes it takes me forever to get around to things. You know that movie you saw three years ago? I probably just watched it last night. Yeah, I'm like that.

Legends Never Die

I had something else planned for today's post, but with the recent passing of Bob Sheppard and the news of George Steinbrenner's passing today, I'd be remiss if I didn't comment.

I am a lifelong New York Yankees fan, and when I say lifelong, I mean it. When I was a little girl, only about two or three years old, I would lay down on my mom's bed and watch the Yankees with her. Most of the time, I'd fall asleep before the end of the game. When my dad would get home, he'd pick me up and carry me to my room, and I would inevitably ask, "Did the Yankees win?"

When I think Yankees, I think summer, fun, my family and love. The first day of baseball is just as important to me as seeing that first spring bud. Baseball has and always will stand for everything that's right in the world. Last weekend I was at a Boston Red Sox game, and I soaked in all of the joy that radiated from the fans. I loved watching sons and daughters with their mothers and fathers, old friends meeting up to take in a game and people just generally enjoying a beautiful afternoon in an incredible ball park. That is what sports is about.

Bob Sheppard was dubbed "The Voice of God." I will never forget the night of August 9, 1994 - Phil Rizzuto Hall of Fame Night at Yankee Satdium. The Yankees were in first place in the AL East and had the best record in baseball. They were unstoppable. Don Mattingly had a chance for a title. And the strike was looming. Bob Sheppard announced in his beautiful, booming voice not only Phil Rizzuto, but also Joe DiMaggio, Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford and Mickey Mantle. I had the extreme privilege of being there to watch them walk around the entire field as they waved to us, the fans. It's one of those moments that I will never forget. My Mom framed the poster they gave away that night.

George Steinbrenner was all that is America wrapped up into one person. Everything had to be the best, the top of the line, no matter how much it cost, whether it was a player or a stadium. While other baseball fans chastised the Yankees for spending tons of money on players, I always thought that if you had the money to own a Bentley, would you buy a Chevy Cavalier just because you felt bad for other people? The answer is no, and George thought the same way and rather unapologetically, I might add. It was the spirit of never giving up and doing anything to win that helped the modern Yankees rise up to meet the team's history.

Love him or hate him, George Steinbrenner had more vision than he knew what to do with. He is the father of modern baseball. He created theater with all of his antics, good and bad. His tirades, his calling out of players, his stormy heart, his attitude, his swagger, his enterprising mind and his desire to be the best all added up to something that was much more than a game. He made baseball more than a bat against a ball.

George once said that owning the Yankees was like owning the Mona Lisa. In the end, he painted his own work of art.

Welcome to Scrittore Creativo!

Dear Reader,

It has been a very, very long time since I've blogged. In fact, the last entry I made was in February of 2009. Why am I back? Well, there are a lot of reasons, but mostly because I have so much to say. For those of you who don't know me, here's a few of the things that you might find on this page: writing tips/tricks/trials, book reviews, art, music reviews, cool photos, movie reviews, sports rants, adventures, fashion finds, Etsy finds, recipes, etc. I have a very diverse taste in many different things. I celebrate creativity.

One of the coolest things about people is that we want to create. Even a person who says they aren't creative has created some kind of art in their lifetime. People will take junk and turn it into something amazing, something valuable. It's things like this - http://www.noiseaddicts.com/2009/03/celebrity-art-made-with-cassette-tapes/ - that really tickle me. While I am primarily a writer, I draw a lot of inspiration from the world around me, and I will pay homage to all of that fun stuff, whether it's a very literary book or a hack and slash video game.

What you aren't going to find here are super long posts. I don't need a lot of space to express myself.

Please make sure you check out the blogs I've linked to on the right hand side of this page. I know all of these people and they have cool blogs that deal with the same kinds of things I write about. I will be adding more as time goes on so please do give them a click.

Thanks for stopping by!