Just Effing Entertain Me

I Left My Heart in Chicago!

I figure I get to say that, being that I left my heart in San Francisco a very long time ago, along with like a case of Rice-a-Roni. Truly, Chicago is a spectacular town (the lake! the bean! the people! the food!) and I cannot wait to come back. Many thanks to the wonderful folks at Columbia College – I am now a lifelong fan! – and also to the incomparable Linda Frothingham, who is one of the smartest, kindest, funniest, most talented ladies I have ever had the privilege to meet.

Just preparing to leave Chicago after the wonderful two day workshop and I have to say I love each of my classes even more than the last if that is humanly possible! Chicagoans work HARD, let me tell you! We had such fun learning about the Ménage à Flaw and using the Dire Dozen and I beamed with pride as I watched nascent loglines and ideas blossom into really compelling, unique loglines. It is an incredible privilege to work with such smart people and see such talent in the Windy City.

I am teaching in Los Angeles at the Writers Store this upcoming weekend, April 24th and 25th, so if you live in the area, sign on up.

A few of the (millions) of things we discussed over the course of the weekend were the most common mistakes among very new screenwriters:

1) unoriginal ideas

2) being too nice to the main character resulting in not enough conflict

3) cluttered page work

Referring to number two – many new writers secretly very strongly identify with their main character – to the point that they are a bit in love with that character and don’t allow bad things to happen to them. In my workshops I stress the arc of your character, who, on page one, starts off as a flawed person who is not very self-reflective, and metamorphoses by page 100 into someone who is much more balanced and reflective – on SOME level – might be a profound shift, might be a subtle but significant one. But your character is changed at the end of the script.

So I tell writers – don’t fall in love with who your character is on page one – fall in love with who they will become on page 100. If you fall in love with or otherwise too closely identify with your character on page one, you won’t be willing to really put them through their paces in the script. Which will result in a flat script with no conflict.

So give that some thought today.

Chicago Workshop – Seats are Going FAST!

Just a quick reminder that I will be in Chicago this very weekend, teaching the Idea to the Page to the Screen two-day workshop! Seats are going really fast – there’s been a ton of publicity and of course Chicago Women in Film do get a very nice discount (you’re WELCOME, girls!!).

I’m very excited to go to Chicago – I’ve never been! And already the suggestions are pouring in for great places for dinner and drinks. I’ve always heard great stuff about Chicago and I’m only sorry I can’t spend more time there! If anyone wants to join for drinks after class on Saturday, let me know! I made such nice friends in New York and in England – I love me some good company!

Chicago Workshop

Regular price $200.00 Chicago/Hollywood discount $159.99 One day only $100.00

The Accidental Tourist

Went to Hogwarts – I mean Oxford yesterday. How incredibly cold and lovely and historic. There are no words for seeing Christ Church College or the Bridge of Sighs and the pubs and students in black gowns on their bikes. I will say that the Robert Pattinson, big, poufy, bed-head hair is QUITE the rage in Oxford. No shaved heads or goatees here. All young Hugh Grant types with pink cheeks and books tucked under their arms. Had a very nice interview with a journalist in the drawing room of the Randolph Hotel (fancy!) and did a nice talk at the Oxford Union on the reality of breaking into Hollywood. I find that the Brits are most interested in and appreciative of the Hollywood viewpoint.

One of my London students even blogged about the weekend workshop!

Today is the first day I get a chance to do some touring and take in more of London though I have been squired around Soho, Regent Street and Picadilly by a certain handsome, blue-eyed British gent which was more than lovely and in itself enough reason to visit London much more often.

I am not sure whether British men realize how devastating they are. What if there were a romcom in which the main (male) character learned different accents in order to get girls but then had to carry through and pretend he WAS from wherever…Is that enough to get an idea started for anybody? See, who loves ya? Throwin’ you a softball idea. I think there’s merit to it.

I do suffer from a certain amount of fear of heights (which appeared inexplicably later in life) so I will report back whether going on the London Eye is a horrible or exquisite experience. Off to meet Daniel at the Leicester Square tube stop so we can go see the changing of the guard!

More later!

Now get back to work.

London Calling

Good morning, everyone! It’s quite the opposite of morning here in London, being 10:30pm and all. The second day of the workshop went very well and we all had such fun! And the pub gave us tea and cake as our afternoon break. Now that is civilized! What a lovely group of students – a bit larger than the New York class but every bit as wonderful! And one of my students, lovely Daniel, has volunteered to go with me on the Eye of London ferris wheel thing this Tuesday! And to see the changing of the guard! How sweet is that? How lucky am I?

One of my students this weekend was the lively and intelligent Sabina Sattar – the winner of the UK short script competition with her script SAMURAI! Sabina is a gifted writer and a great workshop participant – congratulations, Sabina!

Tomorrow it’s off to Oxford for an interview at the Randolph Hotel, which sounds quite nice, then a lecture at the university at 7pm. That charity lecture to benefit Chile has sold out, so I am told. I am also told that Oxford is one of the most picturesque, stunning, historical places in England and I’m just falling over myself that I am actually lecturing there tomorrow. Unbelievable. Listen up kids – dreams DO come true.

I am pleased to say that so far, to a one, every student has really loved the Ménage à Flaw, Dire Dozen and WWYD tools. To a one. That pleases me more than I can say. One more workshop here in the UK before I head off for some nice, warm Middle Eastern SUN. Whoever said it’s cold in London in the winter lied – it’s FREEZING!!