Goldman's Advice on Casting

If you want to write for film you 100% must read William Goldman's Adventures in the Screen Trade. It's full of advice and plus it's a brilliantly written book on a subject you're interested in so you can't go wrong.

Even if you just have a passing interest in writing or films you will have probably heard Goldman's most famous phrase, which crops up in almost all articles on screenwriting nowadays to the point I've heard it too much. We all know that 'Nobody knows anything'. Stop reminding us because Goldman said it best.

What I'm going to concentrate on here is not that piece of advice but another of Goldman's which has been ringing true on a short film that we've been trying to cast for quite a while now. Although breakthroughs seem to be occurring with that project now.

So, to quote Goldman on stars, and I think this is true of all aspiring actors when casting a short film too, he says "Here is one of the basic lessons a screenwriter must learn and live with: Stars will not play weak and they will not play blemished, and you better know that now."

Did I listen? No.
I wrote a short film about a man who seeks therapy after becoming addicted to internet pornography, to mention anymore would be to spoil the story, but let's just say the lead remains flawed, suffering even more degradation throughout the script. But, I believe, as do others that have read the script or heard the idea, that it is seriously funny.

What has been funnier is some of the responses. No names mentioned, but here's some responses from actors upon reading the script.

"I've asked my family and friends and have to take the decision that this role would be harmful to my chances of more acting work."
"Sorry it's not for me at all. Bit disgusting."
"I think you may need a different kind of help than an actor. Maybe mental help?"

I'm not saying any of these opinions are wrong. In fact, I am in the wrong for not listening to William Goldman's advice. I just didn't consider that actors at this level will turn down roles for the same reasons that stars at the highest level will; to protect their image.

Hopefully now we are closing in on casting the film, for a while we did consider toning down the content, but have stuck to our guns and now have a few audition tapes to look at and consider our options.

The film is called I'm in Love, and I will do my best to keep you updated about it.

A Burning Human in Celestial Toyroom

GREAT NEWS!

My Fifth Doctor short story 'The Burning Human' will feature in the July issue of Doctor Who Appreciation Society's Celestial Toyroom, or CT if you prefer. It's a fun adventure. Great for summertime reading. ENJOY!!!!!

Busy Buzzie Bumblebee

Been a very busy time. Twisted Showcase is now fully underway. Yet to contact all writers whose scripts are chosen, but a few have been, I'm sure a blog/website wil be set up to inform of news on the series and what not.

Will be some new regarding Fear of Living soon, but in the meantime why don't you check out the trailer

Also just finished first draft of a sitcom script. Now moving onto another script. Still considering options for my horror film script, and other scripts are with other companies and some other news just around the corner.

It's all very busy.

Hope you're good, whoever you are reading this.

Back to work

So here's where it begins. Soon the Twisted showcase site will be up and running, and if you submitted a script you will be contacted in the next few days if we want to go ahead with it.
Some new scripts will be started by myself in the next few days, my last attempt at a sitcom script one I've been building up for a quite a while, hope i can pull that off, and got a few ideas queued afterwards so hoping for some prosperous writing months ahead.
I have had some good news about a certain script of mine, but I'm staying quiet on that for now.
This is a kind of dropping in for a catch up and a cup of tea blog.

Planet Failure

Looking for an illustrator, or the word that first came to my childlike mind, drawer for a comic strip project.
Really simple stuff, could be compared to something like American Splendor. We have a page or two of sample script so if you'd liek to have a look or have a go at it contact me at contactdhrupick@hotmail.com

Thanks for all the Lizard Fish

I haven't blogged for a while as I wanted to keep up the script call for Twisted Showcase. the deadline has passed for that now and we're going through all the scripts we recieved. If you submitted a script, thank you and Good Luck with it.

If you're a writer, whilst you're here you might like to know about a new production company with BAFTA credentials who are looking for scripts, check out Lizard Fish.

Twisted Showcase Presents...

Hello,

Recently my film maker friend Rhys Jones (you really should check out his night killer films on the you tube) told me about this idea for a web series he had and brought me on board. Now, if you're a writer, we'd like you to be involved.

Here's the brief:

We are looking for writers to submit scripts for a series of short films in the horror genre.
The films need to be:
• 5 minutes in length.
• Horror/sci-fi/comedy and all the permutations that could come from that
• Domestic setting (when the normal meets the abnormal theme)
• 3 characters max

As we are working with no budget it would best to keep things small, as fun as a film about space men from mars battling a roman legion with a cast of hundreds set 3000 years ago would be, it would also be impossible for us to do. So keep it simple, but also let your imagination run wild as we are looking for interesting ideas here.
The rest is up to you.

The best 2 or 3 submissions will be made into episodes of the series.
We will be shooting during the summer and looking to upload the episodes around October/November time.

If you'd like to submit a script or if you have any questions please send them to

twistedshowcase@gmail.com

Deadline for Submissions is Wednesday 20th April


Cheers