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Thinking On Your Feet
On the first day of the level 1 improv class I’m taking, several of the other students mentioned better communication and confidence as their reasons for being there. Improv courses are not only for...
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The Multi-Camera Sitcom
I’ve written a spec Modern Family and an original drama pilot. But I was itching to create an original spec comedy pilot. So after brainstorming, I came up with an idea I was excited about, which...
View ArticleAnd… Scene
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what makes a good scene. The improv class I’m taking has been an intense study in scene writing for me. I get to watch so many scenes unfold and see first-hand...
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Show, Don’t Tell; A New Resource
I met with my book club recently. We all consistently liked the plot, the world, the idea of the book we were discussing. But something was missing. The author had failed to guide us into her world...
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Exposed
As writers, we are artists. Not the kind of artists who perform directly in front of the audience, but artists nonetheless. We are called to expose ourselves through our words. To offer up emotions and...
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Inspired by Larry Wilmore
I was privileged yesterday to attend the Austin Film Festival- sponsored “Conversation with Larry Wilmore.” Larry shared his insights on comedy writing from his well-rounded perspective as a television...
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Editing Overload
I’m rewriting a feature and TV pilot project at the same time, and I must say I’m sick of editing. I am so ready to move on to a new project. At times, it feels like it would be easier to start from...
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Child’s Play
If it feels impossible to get those creative juices flowing, it could be you’re dealing with a bad case of adulthood. Psychologist Alison Gopnick has discovered through her research that babies and...
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How Embarrassing
I was reading an article by veteran T.V. writer Sy Rosen in The Writer magazine about how he turned the embarrassments of his youth into story lines. Sy talks most specifically about his episode for...
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Dear Blog
Dear Blog, What’s up? Nothing much with me, thanks for asking. OMG except can you believe it has been one year since we started out together? You remembered, right? I knew you would. This year has been...
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Honor Thy Character
There’s an interesting lesson for writers in the American Film Institute interview with Dustin Hoffman, where he discusses preparing for his role as Dorothy Michaels in Tootsie. Before production began...
View ArticleScriptShark Gives My Screenplay a Thumbs-Up
ScriptShark recently gave a CONSIDER to my screenplay, Cooler Than You Think, and promoted it in their monthly Scouting Report. Nice to receive some recognition!
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Tuning Up: Writing Voice and Opening Lines
Ahem. La la la la la la la. Pardon. Just finding my voice there – Good interview with Stephen King in The Atlantic about the importance of opening lines and having a unique voice. What is a writer’s...
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He Said, She Said
Bad dialogue in a book or movie is like a sour note in a song. It separates you from the reverie of the story experience. So what is it about good dialogue that makes it good? A discussion on the...
View ArticleAFF Comedy Tips
So I’ve been bustling around the 2013 Austin Film Festival, wishing I had either a clone or a Harry Potter-esque time turner so I could take in more of the conference. But I thought I’d take a moment...
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Advice from Shane Black
Shane Black was full of tips and quips at his “Script-to Screen: KISS KISS BANG BANG” session at the Austin Film Festival today. He shared how his process for developing a film idea begins with...
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Intriguing Characters
I enjoyed the conversation between Jenji Kohan (Weeds, Orange is the New Black) and Callie Khouri (Thelma & Louise, Nashville) on the “Heroine’s Journey” panel at the Austin Film Festival. Though...
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Reading Between the Lines
I’ve been performing more frequently with some improv troupes, and the lessons I learn about story and writing are invaluable. The immediate feedback from audiences is so informative. It really helps...
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The Game of the Scene
In improv, the distilled premise that’s funny in a scene is known as the game. Writer and actor Brett Wean does a nice job in this Scriptmag article of explaining how the game and other improvisational...
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First Acts
I’m working on the first act of a new feature-length comedy screenplay, and my screenwriter’s group is going to take a look at it in a few days. I want it to be sharp, so I’m reviewing the elements of...
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