The Great Movie Challenge of 2012

Posted on by Eric

As screenwriters, it’s always a good idea to keep up with the newly released films, if for no other reason, so you don’t write a movie that just came out in the theater.  Plus, there is much to learn from watching movies (and reading screenplays and, ahem, actually writing).

As I stated a few weeks ago, 2012 is going to be a great year for movies.  So, why not get out and see as many films as you can?

Need more motivation?  Join me, TV Script Doctor Joey, Scriptcast Matt, actor Lawrence Long, and others in a fun and free challenge!

The Great Movie Challenge of 2012

1. From now through January 31st, 2013, watch as many movies released in 2012 as you can fit into your schedule.*

2. Keep a running list.  Rank the movies as soon as you see them, with a few brief thoughts on each film (240 characters max).  A Word doc on the desktop should do the trick.

3. Send me your list by January 31st, 2013 at 11:59pm.

I’ll post the lists on the site, or, if I receive too many, create a master list, quoting from each submission.

PRIZES!!

There will be prizes for:

1. The most movies seen
2. The list that most closely matches the average rankings of all the lists.
3. The list that most closely matches mine. :)

What will these prizes be?  Good question!  The contest won’t end for over a year from now so…stay tuned!

See you at the theater.

And…

Onward!

-Eric

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*It’s difficult to see all the “awards” movies in December, thus, an extra month is allowed.

Biggest Oscar Snubs of 2012

Posted on by Eric

I love Tuesdays in January.

Waking up on Oscar Nominations Day (OND)* is like waking up on a Hollywood-created Christmas: A few pleasant surprises, a ton of predictable results, and some big dissappointments.

For this year’s OND** the most pleasant surprise is Demián Bichir, whose subtle performance in A BETTER LIFE blew me away, and changed my perception of day laborers.  Check it out.  Seriously.

On a less serious note, here are 2012′s biggest Oscar snubs:

1.  THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO – Where’s the Best Picture and Director nods for the best grown-up movie of the year?  Sure, Rooney Mara was nominated, and the film was nominated for Best Cinematography, but all of its co-nominees either got a Best Picture or Best Director nom.  Or both.

2. 50/50 – An emotional, humorous film.  Guess it was too humorous, but am still surprised MARGIN CALL got the nom.  Not a bad film, but it’s no 50/50.

3. SOURCE CODE – Am I the only one that loved this early 2011 sci-fi flick?  Sometimes it feels that way.

4. BEGINNERS – Sure, Christopher Plummer snagged a nomination, but the film is surprisingly good, and certainly one of the best written (MARGIN CALL?  Seriously?), if not the plain Best Pictures of the year.  (THE HELP?  Seriously?)

5. DRIVE – The coolest movie of the year gets a Sound Editing nom.  Woo woo.  :-/

Much more to say about this, but I’m saving it for an upcoming Scriptcast (A Screenwriting Podcast) episode.

Stay tuned…

-Eric

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*Not a recognized federal holiday as of the time of writing.

**Still not a holiday.  But check out the noms on the LA Times 2012 Oscar List

2012 Screenwriting Resolutions

Posted on by Eric

Though it may seem as if this post is coming a few weeks late, it is actually arriving early: My new year’s resolutions begin February 1st.

Why start the resolutions in February?  For one, it makes them more like 11-month resolutions, which seem far more doable, even though the commitment has only been reduced by a month.

For another, I’m always late with my resolutions.  (“Make  resolutions on time” will go that on next year’s list.)

So if you haven’t made your resolutions for the new year – or already fallen off the wagon – perhaps one of these will catch your attention and you can join me in February.

Script Doctor Eric’s 2012 Screenwriting Resolutions

1. Write for at least 30 minutes every day  – Set a timer, put on headphones, make it happen.

2. Exercise – Not very original, but it really keeps the body (and mind, which is in the body, it seems) healthy and active. I’ll start with 20-30 minutes every-other day.  I prefer jogging, swimming, punching a bag, and yoga-ing.*  Not at the same time.

3. Read more poetry – Can help in writing dialogue.  Seriously.

4. Read more good screenplays – One a week, to start.

5. Watch more movies – In 2010, I saw over 40 movies released that year.  In 2011, the number was past 50 (list is forthcoming).  This year I’m shooting for sixty.

6. Read novels – Apparently you can learn from great prose. :)

7. Eat more vegetables – This should probably be higher on the list.

Do those make sense?

I also want to finish my large project, write two more screenplays, grow Scriptcast, and get back into script consulting here on ScriptDoctorEric.com.

And more.   Stay tuned.

-Eric

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* Yes, yoga, what did you expect?  It’s LA. :)

Your Favorite Screenwriting Podcast (Scriptcast) Returns!

Posted on by Eric

The holidays are officially over; you know what that means…

It’s time to record some new episodes of Scriptcast!

NEW TIME!

Catch the raw, unedited, unscripted conversation that is our live shows, by going to UCLAradio.com on Wednesdays, 10am-noon (Pacific).  The first one is tomorrow.

If you miss the live recording, the edited episode will be posted on iTunes within a few days of broadcast.

Have you subscribed to Scriptcast on iTunes yet?  It’s free.  Do it.

Also, we’re always open to questions or ideas for the podcast.  So if you have one – or more – let me know!

Email: eric@scriptdoctoreric.com
Tweet: @scriptdreric

Happy Post-Holidays, and…

Onward!

-Eric

Ten Movies to See in 2012: A List of Anticipation

Posted on by Eric

Today is January 3rd, and I’m calling it: 2012 will be the best year for movies so far in the 21st century.*

Could this be a reaction to 2011′s very mediocre crop of films?**  Perhaps.  Or maybe, just maybe, I’m right.

Here’s a quick list of ten movies I can’t wait to see in 2012. (In order of “can’t wait to see”…ness.)

1. The Dark Knight Rises – The follow-up to one of the best comic book (and non-comic book) films of all time.   Actually, I take that back.  I’m sure it won’t be good.  No need to go opening day.  I for one, won’t be in line.  Seriously.  Stay home.  :)

2. The Hunger Games – The second trailer got me.  I’m rooting for you, Katniss.

3. The Avengers - Hope it lives up to the hype.

4. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey – The subtitle should be “So Much Expected” seeing how we’ve read the books and own the LOTR films.***

5. Prometheus – A prequel to Alien?  Let’s do this.

6. The Amazing Spider-Man – A prequel to Spider…wait a second.  What the hell is this?  I’m a sucker for Spidey, so I’ll see it, but if there’s another reinvention of Spider-Man in five years…well, I’ll probably see that too.

7. Jack the Giant Killer – Bryan Singer re-teams with screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie to kick some giant ass.  No, really.

8. The Five-Year Engagement - Loved Get Him to the Greek and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, so how can I not be excited about this?  Also, it may be friend-of-the-podcast Randall Park‘s breakout movie.  Go Randy!

9. Django Unchained – Make us proud, Quentin.

10. The Great Gatsby – A great book.  What could go wrong?  :)

I know what you’re thinking: What about Snow White and the Huntsman?  Those Abe Lincoln films?  Battleship?

Battleship?  Really?

At this point, you never know.  Some of the most anticipated movies may be huge disappointments; other films might turn out to be great surprises.  As they say, the only thing we can expect is the unexpected.

And a good Batman movie.

See you at the theater!

-Eric

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* The century technically starts Jan. 1st, 2001.  Which works out well, since the year 2000 had some amazing movies.

** A Best Movies of 2011 list is forthcoming.  Will it have better films than those on the Best Movies of 2010 list?  Wait and see. (Hint: No it won’t.  2010 was a very strong year.)

*** In multiple versions.  Damn you, Peter Jackson!