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July - August 2005 columns
CONNIE MARTINSON TALKS BOOKS
There is a hidden area of film production that has not been written about
in such detail as in "I Liked It, Didn't Love It" ( Lone Eagle $18.95) by Rona
Edwards & Monika Skerbelis. The book is based on the course they teach
at UCLA Extension, which is on feature film development, this book is
subtitled "Screenplay Development From the Inside Out". Beginning with
a short history or film and the contribution of Frank E. Woods who
worked with D.W.Griffith, whom they credit with influencing the structure
of screenplays as we know it today as well as his work in innovative
methods of production. The other historic book on screenwriting is by
E.J. Muddle "Picture Plays and How To Write them" in 1911 whose advice
they quote in detail on page 11.
In the book they address the role of the Story Analyst. They may be called
"Readers" but believe me, after reading what the job entails, they are far
more important than they have been credited. They can make or break a
writer by their comments which can run five pages. They write a
synopses, a story line and log and they make a recommendation, hence
the title of the book. Using the history within the studio system, they
cover as an example a film script, "Black Dog", and then an outline on
what a writing coverage must include. I told Rona and Monika that it was
similar to writing a college thesis for one book much less for twenty
scripts in a week. They did tell me that the speed in which a script is read
can often depend on who submitted it.
For good measure they follow the history for the reader of the process if
the studio producer submits the script and if a hot agent submits it as
part of a bidding war. They did say that the era of the million dollar spec
script is only a memory. As to the lousy box office of this summer, look to
the need to guarantee returns thinking. The book has cartoon
illustrations , my favorite being the one on "Ideas", with a man with an
idea and a group of heads identified as the guys who trash it.
www.conniemartinson.com aired and streamed at 9am from
www.sfgtv.org and at 3pm & 11:30pm from www.lacityview.org
CONNIE MARTINSON TALKS BOOKS
There is a hidden area of film production that has not been written about
in such detail as in "I Liked It, Didn't Love It" ( Lone Eagle $18.95) by Rona
Edwards & Monika Skerbelis. The book is based on the course they teach
at UCLA Extension, which is on feature film development, this book is
subtitled "Screenplay Development From the Inside Out". Beginning with
a short history or film and the contribution of Frank E. Woods who
worked with D.W.Griffith, whom they credit with influencing the structure
of screenplays as we know it today as well as his work in innovative
methods of production. The other historic book on screenwriting is by
E.J. Muddle "Picture Plays and How To Write them" in 1911 whose advice
they quote in detail on page 11.
In the book they address the role of the Story Analyst. They may be called
"Readers" but believe me, after reading what the job entails, they are far
more important than they have been credited. They can make or break a
writer by their comments which can run five pages. They write a
synopses, a story line and log and they make a recommendation, hence
the title of the book. Using the history within the studio system, they
cover as an example a film script, "Black Dog", and then an outline on
what a writing coverage must include. I told Rona and Monika that it was
similar to writing a college thesis for one book much less for twenty
scripts in a week. They did tell me that the speed in which a script is read
can often depend on who submitted it.
For good measure they follow the history for the reader of the process if
the studio producer submits the script and if a hot agent submits it as
part of a bidding war. They did say that the era of the million dollar spec
script is only a memory. As to the lousy box office of this summer, look to
the need to guarantee returns thinking. The book has cartoon
illustrations , my favorite being the one on "Ideas", with a man with an
idea and a group of heads identified as the guys who trash it.
www.conniemartinson.com aired and streamed at 9am from
www.sfgtv.org and at 3pm & 11:30pm from www.lacityview.org
| CREATIVE SCREENWRITING MAGAZINE REVIEW Reviewed by Peter Clines - September/October 2005 - REVIEW |
| FADE IN magazine Review by Allen B. Ury |
| Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) December 5, 2005 A guide to what happens to one's screenplay or novel when it is submitted to a studio or production company, |
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| Hollywoodlitsales.com - Review by Matthew Terry |
| SCR(I)PT MAGAZINE REVIEW September/October 2005 |
| ABSOLUTE WRITE REVIEW Reviewed by Marie Jones |
| PRODUCED BY magazine Reviewed by Grant Stoner |
| Review: I Liked It, Didn't Love It - WALLO WORLD August 05, 2005 Bill Wallo/Wallo World |
| HEAR OUR INTERVIEW ON THE GREG MANTELL SHOW |
Titled after the most common rejection line listed by studio executives, "I Liked It, Didn't Love
It" is a no-nonsense guide to what happens to one's screenplay or novel when it is submitted
to a studio or production company, and how to maximize one's odds of getting picked up.
Written by a pair of industry insiders who have developed and sold screenplays for fifteen
years, as well as teaching feature film development classes at UCLA for the past seven years,
"I Liked It, Didn't Love It" covers important details to polish in one's writing, the art of pitching,
crossing into television and cable movies, and much more. The refreshingly blunt honesty of "I
Liked It, Didn't Love It" makes it as entertaining for readers of all backgrounds as it is vital for
anyone looking to make a name or career for themselves in the screenplay industry. Highly
recommended
