Inspirational

Happy Sunday Creative Army! Have you had a creative weekend so far? I have some content here for you that is sure to get the creative juices flowing, so grab your coffee and let's dive in. First up, the folks over at StudioBinder have a great series about the art of opening scenes. In this video, they cover six more ways to begin a film: tragedy, direct address, newsreel, crime, day in the life, and setting. You will see examples from Children of Men, Stranger than Fiction, Zodiac, Arrival,...

Becoming a screenwriter is a truly incredible process, that will challenge you, reward you, disappoint you, but never bore you. That being said, it’s important to go into this path with eyes wide open, and know the truth about being a screenwriter. These are the top 5 myths about being a screenwriter that you should know first. Myth #1 - It Doesn’t Involve Much Writing Although screenplays are short, usually from 90 to 100 pages, with a lot of empty space on the page, they can actually be muc...

Yoga and acting; they go together like avocado and toast. Separately, they’re tasty; but, together, it’s explosive. Hang with me here. To get really proficient at doing a handstand, what does it take? Determination. Practice. Flexibility. Focus. Skillset. Maybe some natural talent. Guidance. A touch of letting of the outcome and being present in the moment. Starting to sound a bit more like the characteristics and mindset of the profound and impactful actors we see on set and screen? Though...

You volunteered for service in the military, and then decided it was time to pursue your dreams in La La Land. And guess what? Hollywood is recruiting you! They know you have a story to tell, and they can’t wait to hear it. I always knew I wanted a career in entertainment, and as an Officer in the Army I was selected to be a principal actor in a theatrical commercial for the National Guard, directed by Antione Fuqua (Training Day). After this experience, I packed my bags and moved to LA to be...

If you’ve ever found yourself staring at your screen wondering how long until your next justified coffee break, then here are 7 more random things to try the next time your writing mojo goes on vacation. Find the first 6 suggestions in part 1 of this article here.  *note: all relevant links are at the end of this article* 7. BBC Writer’s Room Each year in January, the BBC Writer’s Room has an open call for scripts from writers in the UK looking to be ‘developed’. But there’s also a podcast...

From the minute I stepped on stage at the age of three, I knew that performing is what I wanted to do. The lights, the audience and adrenaline permeated my little bones. When I was introduced to film acting, that was a whole new level. The joy of booking a role, working with a crew of people focused on making the magic happen and being part of that collaboration was an incredible feeling! I have also always been adventurous when it comes to life. I love getting out of my comfort zone, seei...

Who doesn't need a healthy dose of escapism? Sci-Fi and Fantasy classics like LORD OF THE RINGS, the HARRY POTTER films and STAR TREK are favorites we can watch over and over again for a reason. They transport us to a different world, while still exploring universal themes like family, friendship and good versus evil. Modern sci-fi and fantasy have taken this to a new level, showing us important and sometimes uncomfortable truths about society. This genre is all about pushing boundaries, and we...

Happy Sunday Creative Army! I've got my coffee in hand and your weekly dose of content coming in hot - grab your coffee of choice and let's dive right in. First up, Film Riot shares a great video about 9 VFX (visual effects) terms you should know as a film creative, no matter what role you play in production. They cover compositing, keying, rotoscoping, and assets to name a few. Better yet, they show you helpful before and after examples from The Lord of the Rings, Guardians of the Galaxy, A...

WHY I GOT A DIALECT COACH I was born in Spain, moved to Los Angeles for the first time as a teenager, and had a natural knack for accents. However, when I started getting serious about acting, I discovered my accent was getting in my way. I wasn’t booking as many roles as I felt I could. I thought I had a solid grasp on sounding American. As a kid, I would repeat pretty much every Disney character that appeared on my TV and I still know all the scenes from Easy A and The Kids Are All Right. I...

Like many, I’m reasonably new to screenwriting. I taught college courses in writing and Goth Lit for 15 years, and when I made the switch to screenwriting, I thought, “It’s writing. How hard could it be? Look at all the stuff that gets made.” I embarked on a journey to learn all I could about writing scripts, something I’d dreamed of doing for nigh-on 30 years. I wrote a couple of sitcoms I thought were awesome and sent them to some managers who accepted unsolicited scripts. I was turned dow...