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Steven Hartman
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: How 'Stillwater' contends with being a ripped-from-the-headlines drama
Imagine being the parent of a child found guilty of murdering her roommate while attending college in another country. That’s the premise behind Stillwater, which many believe takes its inspiration from Amanda Knox — an American convicted of murderin...
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: ‘Fear & Loathing in Aspen’ about Hunter Thompson's sheriff run
In 1970, Hunter S. Thompson ran for sheriff of Pitkin County, Colorado. The same Thompson who wrote Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and was known for his drug use, new style of journalism and libertarian points of view put himself into an election tha...
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: In 'Dr. Death' trusting doctors is villain
What if a surgeon is using his powers for evil? That’s the question posed in the new Peacock series Dr. Death, which stars Joshua Jackson, Alec Baldwin, and Christian Slater. Based on horrifyingly true events and the Wondery podcast of the same name,...
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: 'Black Widow' keeps MCU fresh
Black Widow has a lot of expectations and excitement behind it. Part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Black Widow aka Natasha Romanoff made her first appearance 11 years ago with the release of Iron Man 2. Not quite an origin story, Black Widow take...
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: How Soderbergh's ‘No Sudden Move’ revitalizes the noir thriller
Two criminals are hired to work alongside each other for an easy "babysitting" job. All they have to do is watch the family of an automotive executive, who must retrieve a document from his boss' safe. Sounds simple, until the plan goes awry.
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‘The Mysterious Benedict Society’: Finding the moments of truth in middle-grade fiction
A global crisis known as "The Emergency" is causing chaos. People are filled with anxiety and panic, and misinformation is rampant. It’s up to the four gifted orphans at the Mysterious Benedict Society to discover the truth and save the world.
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: 'The Birdcage' flocks back to theaters to celebrate 25th anniversary of release
To celebrate its 25th anniversary, The Birdcage (1996) was re-released as part of TCM Big Screen Classics in June. When that year's biggest blockbusters came out during the holiday season and summer, this unlikely classic, which was released in March...
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5 Screenwriting Takeaways: ‘12 Mighty Orphans’ is Depression sports drama
Stories of the Great Depression are plentiful. The ones that take place on the homefront often offer hope during hard times and a group of unlikely heroes coming together. Sports during this time period had helped unite the country and communities at...
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A stolen stamp collection? A suspicious neighbor? 'The Penny Black' creates the nonfiction noir genre
Imagine sitting at a brunch with a few friends and acquaintances. Everyone shares what they have been up to during the weekend, most of which is mundane. Some played video games, others watched a movie. Then at the end of the table, Will chimes in an...