SCREENWRITING Advice, Ideas and Inspiration

I am not one of those people who says "To write a successful screenplay, you need to follow a 17 point plan and you must have an incident with a dead chicken." For me, if I can give any advice - it's that you should do whatever you can to be YOU, and to get that onto the page. I am not telling you what to write; in fact, I honestly don't want to tell you anything, because I don't really know anything. I just want to share things that have helped me over the years. Below are links to things I have written that may, I hope, inspire.

To begin with; it's important to realize; even Aaron Sorkin has self-doubt. Self-doubt is a troubling thing; because if you're not careful in can make you become one of those writers who never actually writes. A lot of people quit screenwriting because of heartbreak, but not before they find many things to do instead of writing.

Sorry if you think it's a bad idea to talk about self-doubt and the lack of confidence. But it's best not to ignore things that are there (things that we all have to deal with.) But don't worry; there are things we can do about it. You need to remember: it's your screenplay, not anyone else's. If you listen to other people too much, you'll go insane. So stop listening to the critical people around you -- not only are they bad for you but pretty soon, every time you mess up or, worse-- don't write, you'll blame them-- them??? but who are THEY?

Don't be polarized by writer's block, INTERACT with it, dance with it, see what it has to say.
When you finally realize this is what you want to do with your life -- you make that decision; and you realize, truly, that this is your life. It's now or never.

I always find it helpful to realize why my work is important in the world. If you make a comedy, it's IMPORTANT, because we NEED to laugh and smile; if you're making a crazy horror film, we need to get more in touch with the parts of ourselves that feel the extremities of fear, and LIFE. IF you're writing an inspirational film about a marginalized section of society.. it's important because you could inspire millions to improve their lives. If you write a story for children, and it only ends up being half as good as you hoped.. you may inspire one child, you may make their life BETTER. How amazing! Never underestimate the importance of your writing in the wider world.

If you're a Kid In The Front Row like me; you should look back to your youth for inspiration. There's so much magic there. And if there's not magic, there's pain; and a lot of who you are and who you've become is from that place. Your memories and feelings from long ago will inspire your writing.

Why do you want to be a writer? So many reasons. Once you've figured that out -- I can only give one bit of advice. It has nothing to do with content or how to configure a scene or whatever, I'm not the guy for that. All I ask of you -- is that you write from the heart. And KEEP CREATING AGAIN AND AGAIN. The magic comes from turning up for work every day and getting the words down, because one day, the magic will strike. And that is why you write.

And lastly; listen to what SCOTT ROSENBERG has to say. That I insist on.

I am sincerely so excited and inspired by all of you -- I love it when you're writing and I am concerned when you tell me you're not writing. Keep going! Keep believing in yourself, keep me informed of your progress. Your ideas are needed in the world. Sure, writing is hard, making a script sale is hard, getting anything produced is hard. But right now, that's not your concern. Your concern is writing. Deep down, you know you were born to do it. I can't wait to hear from you that you've written FADE OUT some time soon.

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Deadline Day For Acting Competition! It's Easy To Do..

Entries must be in TODAY. It's not too late to get involved. All you need to do is film a one minute scene on the theme of 'leaving' - and get it to me by midnight. Details Here.

If you're an actor, or have ever thought about being an actor, or are bored tonight; why not get involved!? Pick up a video camera, or a webcam, or a phone that has video -- what's stopping you?

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New York State Of Mind

You ever leave a place and wonder if it really exists? You look back at the time you had and you wonder; "are those people really real? Do they exist when I'm gone?" -- you leave New York and you leave it with an exact picture, and you're certain the picture will never change. You leave with a feeling - a bittersweet feeling of love, hope, sadness and life. The feeling sticks-- you feel it and you feel it and you feel it. You capture New York in a very specific way.
But what about the people who remained there? For them, that moment was fleeting. Maybe they never really felt it at all. They carry on; meetings in Manhattan, brawls in Brooklyn and quitters in Queens; but the picture you have of New York on your wall doesn't change.

You remember getting lost on Canal Street thinking it was Grand Street, and there was a girl waiting for you by the Williamsburg Bridge but you were standing by Brooklyn bridge thinking, where the hell is she?

You dream of New York actors. In New York, they give it their best shot. Call time is 8am but they're there at 7.30 with a brain full of questions. You're shooting in Central Park in the middle of December and they're saying "I love movies!" whereas anywhere else in the world they say "It's cold outside."

I miss being alone in New York City. When you're alone in New York City, the whole world is with you. The big, screaming lights of Times Square tell you a thousand stories; and then you head downtown and you know exactly who you are. In New York, you're always going somewhere, meeting someone, leaving someone. You wanna go back, but you're desperate to know; New York, do you remember me? New York has seen so many people are they're all so friggin' interesting that you wonder how it could ever remember you. But you hope it does and you hope it does and you hope it does.

And this guy said "I love hanging out with you," and this girl said "you changed my life," and this crazyo said "I gotta tell you everything about what happened last night, because who else would I tell?" - but New York carries on, and now the crazyo is telling other crazy things to other crazy people. You remember the sound of sirens, the smell of coffee and the weird, crazy magic that only New York knows, and you hope and pray you'll be going back soon.

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The Magic Idea That Is So Great It Kills Creativity

Have you met the maniac who sweeps into your mind in the middle of the day when you're busy writing your script about a tax accountant who becomes an Olympic athlete? You're hard at work, throwing down words onto the page------ and then this maniac comes along and says in your ear "I have a great idea, you should write a film about two people who invent a flying car made out of chalk, and then they turn into zombies, yeah!"

All of a sudden, you get really excited about your genius idea-- and become convinced that it is going to be your masterpiece. You get out your notepad and throw down three pages of zombie gold before realizing it's terrible, godawful.

So you go back to your film about the tax accountant. But your energy is gone for the day. You feel depressed. You watch a re-run of Friends and quit writing for the next three weeks.

It is always good to get new ideas. But you need to be careful they are real ideas, and not just the maniac who is trying to stop you from doing the hard work. Generally, if you're focusing on one idea, you should really do everything to stay with it. If you're in the middle of writing a scene and you suddenly get an idea for a masterful sequel to 'Waterworld' then it's probably the maniac. Ignore him, or ask him to come back after the first draft of the tax accountant script is done.

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Ten Random Film Things

1. I am in love.


2. Which got me to thinking about Marilyn Monroe -- so I watched this about six times in a row.


"Goodbye Norma Jean
Though I never knew you at all
You had the grace to hold yourself
While those around you crawled
They crawled out of the woodwork
And they whispered into your brain
They set you on the treadmill
And they made you change your name

And it seems to me you lived your life
Like a candle in the wind
Never knowing who to cling to
When the rain set in
And I would have liked to have known you
But I was just a kid
Your candle burned out long before
Your legend ever did

Loneliness was tough
The toughest role you ever played
Hollywood created a superstar
And pain was the price you paid
Even when you died
Oh the press still hounded you
All the papers had to say
Was that Marilyn was found in the nude

Goodbye Norma Jean
From the young man in the 22nd row
Who sees you as something as more than sexual
More than just our Marilyn Monroe"
3. I've been catching with the work of previous interviewees of KITFR. The film that Lawrence Sher shot; 'DUE DATE,' now has a trailer- which excites me GREATLY!


Joe Leonard's debut feature 'HOT I GOT LOST' is now available on DVD. He also has been busy since our interview working as an editor on Glee; and he was also on the editing department for 'EAT, PREY, LOVE.'


4. One of my favorite books, 'ON THE ROAD' by Jack Kerouac is being made into a film, and I don't know how I feel about it. It stars an actor called Sam Riley as Sal and Garrett Hedlund as Dean Moriarty. I am not familiar with either of the actors. The female parts are taken by more recognizable names and; if they HAVE to make this into a movie, then I think they are good names to have attached: Kirsten Dunst as Camille, Kristen Stewart as Marylou and Amy Adams as Jane.

5. A few days back I wrote about the lack of Ginger Rogers in modern film. I feel just as strongly about Katharine Hepburn. She was so powerful, so strong, so talented, so so beautiful -- and this was back in the 1940's -- where is Hepburn now? Where is the spirit of Katharine Hepburn? Where are the powerful roles? Where are the dynamic women? We're writing more roles for the 'sexy' woman and the 'Mother' and the 'girl next door' than ever before. Our films would be so much more original, diverse, truthful, and exciting -- if writers would do more than just write their girl next door fantasies. Women are as crazy, fucked up, nonsensical and capable as men; and that should be represented in film.

6. I was talking with an actress friend last night about how homosexuals are portrayed in cinema. Has there ever been a gay character who was gay but had a normal storyline? As far as I can see, if gay characters are in films they usually fall into these catagories: a) Their sexuality is a central point of their story, or b) They are camp and feminine (if male) and you can spot their sexuality merely by witnessing their first line of dialogue. In every film you watch; there will be numerous straight characters who are going about their lives and struggles; and of course, many smaller characters are assumed straight. But when a homosexual character is involved, it is always 'part of their story.' Therefore, films tend to suggest that all gay people have to deal with or care about, is being gay-- but surely as writers and filmmakers, we can do better than writing in this way?

7. The film 'SPEED' is insane. They spend over an hour saving these people on a bus; then after everyone gets off the bus, it plummets into an airplane which is moving towards the runway. There's a giant explosion and, I'd assume, hundreds of plane passengers dead. Even if there are no passengers; it still has a pilot and crew - so as many people will die as were on that bus. But nobody seems to give a shit and Keanu and Bullock just start flirting. What's that about?

8. Another thing about 'SPEED' - Jeff Daniel's character is called HARRY, which is also his name in 'DUMB AND DUMBER.' So whenever I watch Speed, I imagine that it's actually Harry from 'DUMB AND DUMBER' who has somehow managed to make people think he's a bomb expert. It makes the viewing experience HILARIOUS! Another hilarious thing is when Dennis Hopper says to Keanu Reeves "don't try and grow a brain!" Looking at Keanu's career recently; it looks like he took the advice to heart.

9. I am SO excited about upcoming interviews that will be here on Kid In The Front Row soon.

10. It's been six years since 'ELIZABETHTOWN.' Aside from a Pearl Jam documentary that he's currently shooting, I really don't know when we're going to see another feature film from Cameron Crowe. Whether you liked his last movie or not; this is the guy who brought us 'SAY ANYTHING,' 'JERRY MAGUIRE' and 'ALMOST FAMOUS.' He had numerous struggles trying to get his new flick 'DEEP TIKI' made and now that it's dead-- I don't know what's going to happen. I sincerely hope he gets to work on something new soon though.

I would love for you to take this 'Ten Random Film Things' idea over to your own blogs and run with it.....

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