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The Weekend Movie Takeaway: Narrative Beats Out Special Effects at the Box Office

October 14, 2019

Last week in this space we celebrated the massive opening weekend of Joker, a film that captured the film conversation—and audience attendance—by virtue of the power of its narrative approach. Whether or not you agreed with the film, or even liked it...

The Fast Five: New Writing Initiatives & Successfully Pivoting Genres

October 14, 2019

I hope everybody enjoyed their Thanksgiving / Columbus Day / Indigenous Peoples Day holiday weekend. Whether you’re back to work or still enjoying the long weekend in one of the states that gives you a day off for it, catch up on this week’s Fast Fiv...

Teaching From the Trenches: Screenwriter Ian Shorr Hits Pause to Pay It Forward

October 10, 2019

Many screenwriters teach a screenwriting class after their cache has dried up in Hollywood; long after they have any relevance or connection to the industry, they finally decide to share their experiences.

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: 'Joker' is No Joke, Narratively Speaking

October 7, 2019

It was the most talked-about movie of the year before anyone had even seen it. Many commentators suggested that perhaps it shouldn't be seen at all. But after an extremely dramatic build-up, Joker finally hit theaters over the weekend.

The Fast Five: 'Friends' and Jordan Peele Prove Well-Written Stories Never Die

October 7, 2019

A classic sitcom finds new life as a box office attraction, professional wrestling competes for television viewers, and the next ten years of technology is predicted by whoever it is that predicts the next ten years of technology. Welcome to this wee...

The Weekend Movie Takeaway: 'Abominable' Dominates the Weekend's Box Office

September 30, 2019

In a weekend indicative of the relatively fallow period between the summer movie season and when the awards contenders take over the cineplex, a humble animated film managed to dominate the box office.

The Fast Five: New Markets Give More Aspiring Writers a Shot

September 30, 2019

It was a big week for aspiring writers and filmmakers. Vimeo launched a jobs marketplace for creatives to work on their craft and A24 began publishing screenplays of some of their best movies. There has never been a better time to break into the indu...

Weekend Movie Takeaway: The Return to 'Downton Abbey'

September 23, 2019

We often lament the lack of ‘medium-sized’ films in this space, concerned as we are that the rise of event movie blockbuster culture prevents smaller, more interesting films, from taking hold in the popular imagination. But the weekend’s box office r...