The Americans: the next great show (Updated with Full Pilot embed)

 

I just wanted to throw out a quick recommendation to watch the debut of The Americans on FX on Wednesday, January 30 (in the U.S.). I’ve seen the first two episodes and I was really impressed. Great characters, a fascinating milieu, gritty visuals that recall a classic spy thriller, and LOTS of room to grow.

 

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J.J. Abrams, you’re my only hope.

It was announced recently that J.J. Abrams has been hired to direct the first Star Wars feature film since Disney acquired Lucasfilm, joining Academy Award-winning screenwriter Michael Arndt (Little Miss Sunshine, Toy Story 3) who has been hired to pen the screenplay. They are both top talents and I’m hoping they can rekindle my interest in the Star Wars universe. Read more

Mad Men in Black and White

In a unique move, AMC has released the first publicity stills for Mad Men Season 6 and they are in black and white. They remind me of those candid photos from celebrity parties in the 1950S and 1960S. You expect to see Truman Capote or Frank Sinatra in the background of one of these shots.

Mad Men returns on April 7 on AMC.

Click on the pics for massively embiggened size.

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Cast and Creator of Justified discuss the show’s writing

Natalie Zea, Timothy Olyphant and Graham Yost

Justified Season 4 is off to a great start. They’ve introduced several new characters, and our favorite Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens has a baby on the way, a dad in jail and lots of new trouble from the same ol’ Crowder clan. Read more

Golden Globes 2013 Winners

The 70th Golden Globes telecast was a fun show, even if I could have used more Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. The love for Homeland continued, unabated, which makes me wonder, if Nikki Finke is correct in that the Golden Globe award goes to the highest bidder, how much money and gifts did Showtime shell out this year, considering Don Cheadle also picked up a Globe for Showtime’s House of Lies (a show that doesn’t seem to have got much recognition elsewhere)? Read more

Oscar Noms 2013 Full List

Here they are. Let us know who you’re rooting for in the Comments below and who you feel got snubbed.

Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards

Best motion picture of the year

  • “Amour” Nominees to be determined
  • “Argo” Grant Heslov, Ben Affleck and George Clooney, Producers
  • “Beasts of the Southern Wild” Dan Janvey, Josh Penn and Michael Gottwald, Producers
  • “Django Unchained” Stacey Sher, Reginald Hudlin and Pilar Savone, Producers
  • “Les Misérables” Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Debra Hayward and Cameron Mackintosh, Producers
  • “Life of Pi”Gil Netter, Ang Lee and David Womark, Producers
  • “Lincoln” Steven Spielberg and Kathleen Kennedy, Producers
  • “Silver Linings Playbook”Donna Gigliotti, Bruce Cohen and Jonathan Gordon, Producers
  • “Zero Dark Thirty”Mark Boal, Kathryn Bigelow and Megan Ellison, Producers Read more

Spec screenplay market for 2012 is up 10%

Quick jolt of positive ions here for you guys:

Spec Market guru Jason Scoggins reports today that December 2012 was a strong month for spec sales in Hollywood, and 2012 was even better. Read more

Protected: Call for Screenplays (Exclusive Lead)

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Academy Award consideration screenplays available for download

I’ve seen a number of pages with links to the various studio sites where they offer pdf downloads of screenplays, but this page on Rope of Silicon looks to be one of the best. They include links to many of the screenplays that are serious Oscar contenders, like Quentin Tarantino’s Django Unchained, Tony Kushner’s Lincoln, Rian Johnson’s Looper and Tom Stoppard’s Anna Karenina. Lighter fare like This is 40 and Ted are also included.

Oscar nominations will be announced this week, on Thursday, January 10, and the Academy Awards telecast date is Sunday, February 24.

Stay tuned for more information on my next webinar, STORY MAPPING OSCAR-WINNING SCREENPLAYS! on Wednesday, February 20, 2013, where I’ll be analyzing this year’s nominated screenplays and past winners, like Little Miss Sunshine, Sideways, Slumdog Millionaire, The Godfather, Gladiator and more.

Good luck and happy writing,

Dan

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ACT FOUR SCREENPLAYS!

Dear Screenwriters,

Happy New Year and here’s to 2013 being the year of your GREAT SCRIPT!

I know it’s been way too long since I posted here, and even longer since I sent out a newsletter (yikes), so I apologize for the delay. But I can tell you that I’ve been very busy with my Master Class students and many other projects that I’ll be telling you about in the near future. Here’s what’s up with me and Act Four:

  1. I’m currently taking apps for new Master Classes, both group and private, to launch later this month. I’d love to run two groups, one experienced and one for newer writers, if we can field enough qualified writers. I also have one or two slots open for private students, depending on when I hear from you. I’ve updated the Master Class page with more information. Please don’t wait to contact me if you’re interested in applying as space is limited. Speaking of the Master Class…
  2. Update: Several of my Master Class writers have completed all-new spec scripts, developed from loglines in the workshop, and they are prepping them for the market. I can say with certainty that I plan to personally email at least three of these scripts to one of the biggest script managers in the business.
  3. I’ve been taking time off from script consultations so don’t be surprised if I’m not available to give you notes, but please check with me anyway and I’ll let you know my status or I can refer you to a trusted colleague.
  4. I’ve been catching up on movies from 2012, in anticipation of my next webinar with the Writer’s Store, STORY MAPPING OSCAR-WINNING SCREENPLAYS! on Wednesday, February 20 at 1:00 A.M. PST. I’ll get you a link when The Writer’s Store puts it on sale, and I promise I will cut down my intro this time! (I was a tad slow on my last call.)
  5. Hey, what happened to that Christopher Nolan book you’ve been touting for about 14 years, you ask? Well, we’re still in the home stretch (knock on wood) but we’ve got ourselves a new cover…

 

That’s progress, right?

Gotta go for now, but I’ll see you soon with some cool stuff.

Good Luck and Happy Writing,

Dan

Justified Season 4 Red Carpet Interviews

Natalie Zea, Timothy Olyphant and Graham Yost

I remember someone telling me that in a good screenplay or teleplay there should be a surprise on every page.
-Graham Yost

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