Advice

Screenwriting is a craft that occasionally rises to the level of an art. An art because there are times when it taps directly into the human heart, transcending time, place, language and culture. A craft because it depends upon form, concept, character and structure. 'Magnolia' pushes the form of the screenplay to another level. Why and how were the questions I wanted to ask. How did the writer structure the film, and what were the elements that made it work? I hadn't seen 'Magnolia' when it was first released, and I hadn't seen 'Boogie Nights' or 'Hard Eight' either, so...

'La Grande Illusion' -- Jean Renoir's classic 1937 film revisited by author and teacher Syd Field partially excerpted from his new book 'Going to the Movies' My journey in film really began in the spring of 1960 at the University of California at Berkeley. It was my second semester there, and, at the time, I was acting in the production of Woyzeck. I was fortunate to be playing the lead character, and, after one performance, I was introduced the great French film director, Jean Renoir. His son, Alain, was on faculty at the University, and Renoir had just been appointed...

The Roman god, Janus, is often depicted with two opposing faces. His name gave us January and, nowadays, symbolizes our need to look back at the old and look forward to what our futures hold. But more importantly, Janus served as god of doorways and of journeys. And a god associated with entrances and exits needs two faces to see where he's come and where he hopes to go. As we move into the new year, a writer can value this god's symbol. We can reflect upon our personal journey, appreciate its past with its numerous thresholds and acknowledge our...

Veteran actress K Callan has authored several great reference books for actors, directors and others who need a foot (or a good agent) to open the door to the biz. Here, she recaps her advice for screenwriters answering some of the most immediate questions that writers have. ~~~ Will you read my script? I could read your script, but I'm not someone who can 'pass you along,' that's not what I do. I've recommended two fine young writers to my agent, and they have still not been read. One of them even had had his film produced and had a...

It may seem peculiar in the 21st century to discuss screenwriting in the same breath as anything that had to do with the 19th century. What does one have to do with the other? After all, the only visual representation that remotely resembled a motion picture was Muybridge's zoopraxiscope: a revolving device consisting of a series of still shots photographed in sequence that appeared to move when viewed through a narrow viewing port. It had no story, only the novelty of movement. The imagination of the viewer filled in the rest. Once motion pictures began telling stories, filmmakers looked to...