http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor.jpg A Film Blog from a Screenwriting Professor at USC Fri, 28 Nov 2008 08:06:27 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en So happy to hear that the map exercise was helpful to some.  Here's another sparky spark  - get things going - or breathe new life trick.  Pick up something you ALMOST finished or start something totally new.  Write down subjects you want to know more about - either from your ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/11/28/research-ranch/ I cringe - protect my head from falling debris.  Several of you mentioned the "f" word so I'll say  it right back to you with feeling - FORMULA.  It's that popular group MYTH that hangs around like a ring of smog anywhere two or more writers are gathered together.  Do ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/11/20/the-formula-has-no-clothes/ not sure exactly but I never left LA.   My class at USC is small (6 students) and I am so impressed with them this semester.  If you are currently searching for a great writing program.  The MPW program at USC is under new leadership and is accepting applications now for ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/10/22/where-have-i-been-can-you-guess/ We're already approaching week three in the fall semester.  Let me catch you up.  Week one:  room 400 - all wrong - but we soldiered on - summarizing summers - mispronouncing each others names  - toes in the water -- little splashes.  Assignment - we're reading Peter Biskind's DOWN AND ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/09/05/storytime/ A woman and a formula are sitting in a private corner of a restaurant.  They look at menus. SHE:  What are you gonna have? HE: Same old same old. SHE: I don't see that on the - HE: Oh they have it. SILENCE - RANDOM CLANKS OF SILVERWARE. She puts her menu ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/08/21/my-dinner-with-formula-a-brand-new-web-series-in-seven-or-eight-beats/ If all goes as planned, Sunday at midnight I will be BOLDING and CENTERING and SAVING and SINGING that word into the canyon.  I was away for a month - placing myself under house arrest.  AND I FINISHED!!! Congratulations to all of you who are soon writing THE END as ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/08/06/the-joy-of-writing-finis/ I went to this healing center in Venice - I was curious and walked in without an appointment.  The receptionist looked up and said,"You're lucky - today the doctor is in and can see you........well, he's a vet but - When was the last time you didn't respond to an odd ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/07/10/the-doctor-is-in/ pick up random free magazines and glean from themdrive around your city and look for missing letters on signs that change the meaningeavesdrop and record EVERYWHEREWatch a film you know nothing aboutwrite down all the stories you tell in one daywho did you run into today?go to target - home ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/07/01/re-stuck/ first of all I intensely dislike the term blog.  bloggedy blog blog. hippedy hog dog. soggy foggy wrong wrong ding dong ning nong. SO.....let's think of another name. Send me your ideas.   Secondly, I need to hear from you.  What do you need from the exercise department to get you ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/06/19/invitation-to-comment/ The screenwriting professor (me) is in a show that opens Friday – the LA Times did a piece on us yesterday. We, being PADUA PLAYWRIGHTS L.A. Times article Click on that then scroll down.  Nine playwrights were each paired with a downtown artist and given two weeks to write a ten minute play ... http://filmindustrybloggers.com/thescreenwritingprofessor/2008/06/14/summer-is-in-session-2/