The Birds

“I have never known birds of different species to flock together.” Mrs. Bundy (Ethel Griffies) The Birds (Directed by Alfred Hitchcock) Daphane Du Mauier (story), Evan Hunter (screenplay) Today I saw something that I had never seen before. Last week I mentioned in passing the we had a bird nesting two feet from our back [...]

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Flags of Our Fathers

It’s been a windy Memorial Day here in Cedar Falls, Iowa and I couldn’t help but stop and take a picture of the American flags blowing at the local AMVET Post this morning. “Heroes are something we create, something we need. It’s a way for us to understand what’s almost incomprehensible, how people could sacrifice [...]

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The AF100—Running with the Big Dogs

Six days ago I shot an interview and B-roll footage with Nevada Morrison in Waverly, Iowa. Yesterday Morrison had a monster day winning the 400-meter dash at the Division III national track meet in Delaware, Ohio. According to the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier she also “placed second in the 200, anchored the 4X400 meter relay to [...]

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Screenwriting Quote #156 (Chandus Jackson)

“One lesson I’ve learned in Hollywood is that right out of the gate a screenplay will be judged solely on its concept or premise…I test the market every time by pitching my premise to a group of trusted friends. If these friends seem confused or even lukewarm, then it’s back to the drawing board.” Screenwriter [...]

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Milieu (Tip #49)

Milieu is one of those words where you just feel smarter tossing it around. And since the word has its origins in French it rolls off the tongue nicely and can give the typical American a bit of international flair. Of course, it can also come across as pompous and make you sound like a [...]

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Writing Four Quadrant Films

“Just what does ‘four-quadrant’ mean? It’s a movie that appeals to all four main demographic groups—young and old, male and female.” Jim Cinile Meet the Four Quadrents “Brief definition of a 4Q Film: The film that appeals to all four quadrants, or demographic groups. They’re broad and will be enjoyed by males over 25, males [...]

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Sawing Your Way Into Hollywood

As I approach my 1,000th post on Screenwriting from Iowa, I find myself wondering if I should just stop at 1,000. But then I stumble upon something fresh, new and different and it inspires me to take my car a little further down the road. See what’s in the next village. Today that comes in [...]

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Uplifting, Satisfying & Fun

“It’s what real movies are supposed to be.  The whole family can like it. There’s a big idea behind it that I think is interesting to think about—about what control do we really have over our own lives. And it’s very uplifting and satisfying, and fun, and I really couldn’t stop reading it when I [...]

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Project Greenlight 2 (Part 7)

“The Battle of Shaker Heights is more like the war of subplots.” Review by Scott Hollerman  The Project Greenlight 2 movie The Battle of Shaker Heights shows that an experienced crew, talented actors, and even inexperienced co-directors can make just as mediocre a movie for a million dollars as Hollywood typically does for $50 million. The movie [...]

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Project Greenlight 2 (Part 6)

“I just want this movie to have a chance. That’s what you hope for—You hope for lightning in the bottle.” Rick Schwartz Miramax Senior VP Production (Quoted in 2003 in regard to the movie The Battle of Shaker Heights) “I really hope this works. I hope people go see this movie. That would be the perfect [...]

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