I’m a dork. Even worse, I’m a Facebook dork. And who can I tell but you, dear reader, that I’ve recently become one-FaceBook-friend-removed from James Frey.
I know. Who cares, right? But hey, this guy got literary tongues a waggin’ and for more than a blink too. Is he a big fat liar? When will his name cease to be mentioned in the same sentence as the word, “liar”? Dunno. Don’t care. This guy got people to R-E-A-D and talk about books again and he writes about Los Angeles in his new novel. Love ya, buddy.
Visit James Frey’s BigJimIndustries where you can leave a message on his cell. Then, when you’re done with that, head on over to Amazon.com and pick up your fresh copy of Bright Shiny Morning.
Amy Tan Talks About Creativity
May 17, 2008
Novelist Amy Tan takes a look at her personal sources of creativity. It’s lengthy at 22 minutes (as if that matters) but entirely endearing and great fodder for the grey matter. But Amy, let’s try to make friends with PETA, shall we?
“Amy Tan: Where does creativity hide?” on TED.com
Krusoe’s “Girl Factory” Now in Stores
May 12, 2008
My fabulous mentor and long-time writing instructor, Jim Krusoe, has just given us a new story to devour. Girl Factory is now available via Tin House and promises to be a fanciful, fun-filled ride because that’s just the kind of guy he is. I’m forever grateful to Jim as he’s the main instigator (or perpetrator, depending upon your view) of this.
Also catch his interview with my secret crush, Michael Silverblatt, on KCRW’s Bookworm.
Read an excerpt at the Tin House site: www.tinhouse.com
“A yogurt parlor in a corner mall somewhere in the city of St. Nils contains a dark secret in its basement, and Jonathan, the mostly clueless clerk who works there, just wants to fix things once and for all. But, beginning with an early encounter in an animal shelter that leaves three dead, things don’t always work out the way they ought to. Or do they? Filled with memorable characters, including two dogs (one too smart for his own good) and a retired sea captain, this unsettling darkly comic novel is an exploration of memory, desire, and the nature of storytelling. More disturbingly, Girl Factory raises questions about the ubiquitous objectification of women, the possibility for change, and the nature of freedom.“
–from Tin House
C’mon reading groups; you know you want your copies!
How to Be a Script Reader and Give Great Coverage
May 6, 2008
I received an email today from someone in New York asking how to become as Script Reader and I thought, “If she wants to know, maybe you want to as well. “
Reading services aren’t just for the big studios, there are directors, actors, producers, investors, and book publishers everywhere who need screenplays evaluated–or “covered”.
Here’s what I told her:
- Read a pile o’ scripts. At least five, preferably more…a lot more. Either mix up genres or not but do choose your favorite movies. You can buy published screenplays but there aren’t too many. This site will start you off: http://www.script-o-rama.com
/snazzy/dircut.html Be sure to choose FILM SCRIPTS and not Transcripts. - Get this book and study: Reading for a Living: How to Be a Professional Story Analyst for Film and Television by Terri Katahn.
- Try your hand. Just Google “coverage sample” and copy someone’s format. The industry standard should be represented.
Extra credit if you brush up your story knowledge with any or all of these: The Reading List @ [[ The Story Spot ]]
Giving good coverage not only requires the ability to understand the mechanics of a screenplay but also the ability to assess the viability of the project from the standpoint of the person hiring you to read. That’s another skill entirely but without it, your opinion means diddly.
Those are the basics of starting out in screenplay coverage as I see it.
Check out my story services at storydoc.fatbrain.ca or click the script pile to the right.