UCLA Screenwriting Professor Richard Walter on Scriptcast!

Posted on by Eric

This Friday, Richard Walter, chair of the screenwriting department at UCLA will be on our screenwriting podcast, Scriptcast.

The live recording is at the UCLA Radio studio, Friday, May 18th, 11am.  Pacific time, of course.

I plan to ask Professor Walter about his screenwriting courses, the main mistakes screenwriters make, the best scripts he has read, and many other things.

Have a question for the professor?  Email or tweet me before or during the show!

To listen live to the conversation with Professor Walter live, go to UCLAradio.com this Friday, May 18th, 2012, at 11am and click the Listen Live button at the top.

If you miss the live recording, no worries!  The episode will be up on iTunes a few days after recording.

It will also be on the Scriptcast Homepage

Thanks for listening, and…

Onward!

-Eric

Support “Don’t Give Up the Ghost”

Posted on by Eric

For this week’s Support Something Sunday I was checking out so many of the great submissions folks sent via Twitter and email (thanks!), and then, as so often happens, stumbled upon this project by chance.

I swear I’ll pick a project recommend to me soon, though.  (Please keep sending them!)

The full name of this week’s #SSS selection is Don’t give up the ghost (a Franco-American family comedy) which will hopefully be condensed – and capitalized – after production.  It’s a San Francisco based family/indie film with a little mystery and looks to be charming as hell.

Check out their Kickstarter page by clicking the link below (if you didn’t click the link above…):

www.kickstarter.com/projects/569454667/dont-give-up-the-ghost-a-franco-american-family-co

Did you watch the video?  Were you wooed over by the passion of the filmmaker…and the kids?

Yeah, me too.

I think what really sold me was when the filmmaker (Jean Louis Milesi) says, “Please don’t give me any money,” and it seems convincing, as if deep down, yes, he knows this is a joke, but seriously, he’d like to just sell the screenplay instead.

Don’t let Jean get away with it!  :)   Let’s help his kids (and Jean) get this project made.

Seriously, and…

Onward!

-Eric

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Do you have a project worthy of Support Something Sunday?  Email or tweet me the info and I’ll check it out!  eric@scriptdoctoreric.com / @scriptdreric

Support “Twenty Million People”

Posted on by Eric

 

The project chosen for this week’s Support Something Sunday (#SSS) is none other than the New Jersey indie comedy TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE!

www.indiegogo.com/twentymillionpeople

I found out about the movie while browsing Indiegogo, searching for films to profile these first few weeks of #SSS.   To be honest, TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE was the first project that made me actually laugh out loud.

No, really.  I did.

It was just a quick chuckle, yet it was still a guy sitting at his computer, laughing by himself, startling his dog.

To me, that means something.  Maybe these guys can make a funny movie?

Their Indiegogo page looks great – well written, with unique rewards for every level of donation.  (If I were in New York, I would have donated enough to get the walking tour…).

Though I’m not sure what their movie is about, they’ve already proven they can create a video with a concise, professional pitch…and some funny moments.

Do you like comedies?  I doubt you’ll find one with more promise than TWENTY MILLION PEOPLE.

So what are you waiting for?  Go to their page and chip in a few bucks.  I did.

And now I’m excited to see how the film will turn out.

Good luck, guys.  And…

Onward!

-Eric

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Do you know of a project that is worth profiling on Support Something Sunday?  Email or tweet me the page and I’ll check it out!  (eric@scriptdoctoreric.com / @scriptdreric)

Support Something Sunday (#SSS)

Posted on by Eric

Screenwriting is a solitary occupation.  To connect with other writers, artists, and fellow procrastinators, I’m often online, chatting, browsing, and seeing what everyone is up to.

Mostly, I love seeing what folks are creating.  Because of that, I’ve acquired minor addictions to Indiegogo and Kickstarter.

Script Doctor Eric on Indiegogo

Script Doctor Eric on Kickstarter

As you can see from those pages, I’ve given a few dollars here, and even a few dollars there. And every time I sponsor a project I think, “I should do this more.”

EVERY.

TIME.

Thus, Support Something Sunday (#SSS) is born.

Here’s the dream: Writers, filmmakers, musicians, and anyone doing  creative things, help sponsor OTHER creative folks working on cool projects.  It’s a great way to meet other talented individuals, and be a part of something that is getting made.

Hopefully #SSS will help spread this idea like wildfire.  But even if we ignite only a small brush fire, I’d consider that a success.*

Each week I’ll pick one project, cause, or film that feels worthy of sponsorship, donate at least $10, and post about the project (and why I picked it) right here on the site.

Want to sponsor a film/short/art-project but not sure which one to choose?  Great!  Sponsor the project profiled!  That’s the point of #SSS!  I may even be offering prizes for those who join in sponsoring with me.  (Stay tuned!)

If you don’t sponsor the project profiled on #SSS, that’s fine, but hopefully these posts motivate you to help out a creative venue in one way or another.

Perhaps you have a worthy project in need of sponsorship?  Drop me an email!  While I probably won’t be able to choose every suggestion, I’ll certainly take a look at every project emailed to me…

So send me your projects, people.  The first Support Something Sunday project will be profiled next week.

And…

Onward!

-Eric

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* This is a metaphor of course.  Script Doctor Eric does not condone the starting of ANY type of fire in the wild, except those designated by camping sites or other controlled areas.

No New Post Today

Posted on by Eric

Does posting about not having a new post count as a new post?*

I won’t be writing on screenwriting (or screenwriting AND writing) today for two reasons:

1. I posted twice last week. (Boy are my fingers tired!)

2. I’m launching a little something on Sunday that will call for a post EVERY Sunday.   (Stay tuned!)

So, new posts will now come every Sunday, and sporadically throughout the week.

Will this be the last post you read arriving on Tuesday, since it is so close to Sunday?

Probably.  At least for a while.

So…sorry, yes, the Tuesday post is temporarily dead.

Long live the Tuesday post!

:)

-Eric

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* If so, the title of this post makes no sense!