There's only one story to tell

For writers,

When coming up with a screenplay, just remember that change always makes for a good movie. The purpose of a film to make the main character change over the course of the film. They start in one direction and throughout the film we see the decisions that they make and the changes that effect them to mold them into a completely different person by the end of the film.

To make is more simple, start them off as the best person in the world, but they don't like (blank). Through a series of meetings and mishaps, this person begins to (blank) in order to change their ways to become a better (or worse) person than when they began. This makes everything simple, yet can be made into a very complex string of instruments.

Now go back to that script you thought was good and make sure the main character changes throughout the course of the story. They should be two completely different people from the beginning of the story to the end.

Sincerely,
Future Film Guy

LIVE! FROM THE WARNER BROS. LOT.....

It's time for Animaniacs! And we're zany to the max. So just sit back and relax, you'll laugh till you collapse; it's ANIMANIACS!

Such a good cartoon that seem to get better with age. You can find just about every episode online in some place or another. Most likely Youtube, but for special ones (*StarWars*) you have to do some searching.

Watching them now after years of being off the air, they have a certain nostalgia about them that bring back fond memories of a childhood. However, if you watch them back now, you understand more of the jokes because you have a wider view of the world. For instance, all of the "Rita and Runt" pieces revolve around musicals while the Animaniacs parody just about every movie made (up to that time) stretching from "Citizen Kane" to "Forrest Gump." Then you have Slappy the Squirrel where violence is the centerpiece, and Pinky and the Brain as they try to take over the world.

The writers on this series were excellent at finding ways of pushing the boundary, specifically the sexual innuendos. Whenever you see Yakko break the fourth wall by turning to the audience and saying "good night everybody" means that there was just a sexual innuendo said. Not to mention all the musical numbers done for every episode, the voice actors on the series were very musical gifted. From musical lyrics parody to Yakko's World, the songs are very catchy as well as funny.

If you did not grow up on the Animaniacs, go watch some and, as the shows beginning goes, "...sit back and relax, you'll laugh till you collapse."

HOW TO WIN THE OSCAR: Screenplay

It's Oscar season and I will providing a view on the different ways one can win the Golden Statue.

Today is the screenplay.

There are two different types of wins that fall under this category: the adapted and the original. Adapted screenplay is a written work that has been turned into a movie. This where you see "based on" in the opening credits of a movie. This is much easier to be categorized in, as there is already a source material to which you can reference if you get lost in your own work. These tend to be easier to write and as such are much harder critiqued since there is something to reference where it is written poorly for an adaptation.

On the other side is the original screenplay. This can be easier or harder depending on the genre you write about. Since there is no subcategory, everything from comedy to drama is clumped into here making the competition a lot more fierce, but also stiff. It is tough to come up with an original concept and even harder to get that to the screen. The idea not only has to resonate with the executives at a studio, but also a director who has a keen eye for the story you are telling. Which is why most original screenplay writers are also the directors of their works. They wrote it, so they know how the shots are going to look on screen before anything else.

If however you become unlucky enough to have your screenplay made into a movie, don't be discouraged. There is a list that comes out every year titled "The Black List" which is not as scary as it may sound. This is a list writers want to be on. It means that executives like your script, but for one thing or another it just never made it to production. Most scripts that end up on this list are made within a year or two because they attract attention from being on the list. 

Wrecking Crew

I finally saw Wreck-it Ralph this past weekend.

Not before I had to endure the long and painfully funny Breaking Dawn pt. 2 for my sister. I'm not sure if this makes me a good guy or a traiter, but I did it for my sister so don't judge. My reaction was more laughable than just about everybody else.

Even though the movie is passable to be called a movie, I was still laughing at it. The funniest part has to be the end fight sequence. That non-blood bloody mess was by far the most laughable part. You have vampires killing each other, basically dwindling their own numbers only to end up being a dream-like sequence. In a movie where talking bull-shit occurs everywhere and nothing gets done, the one shining glimmer of action turns out to be as fake as the wolves.  On a side note, those were some ugly vampires.

Wreck-It Ralph, on the other hand, is a great film. Plenty of cultural references and a well written story. The best animated film since Toy Story 3. Don't think it's just for video game people only. This is not a movie for kids either. This movie is rated E for everybody.

Go see it. That is all.

Thanks-Giving

The next four days tend to be a high attendance number at the movie theater. This is what movie studios call "Thanks-Giving" where they thank you for giving them profits over four days. Now while some of you will go see that Twilight movie, the rest of us can either catch up on some great movies like Wreck-It Ralph, Skyfall, or Argo while enjoying some newer releases like Lincoln, Silver Linings Playbook, or Rise of the Guardians.

The Studios have carefully planned out which movies to be released so when this weekend comes, there is a variety of movies, enough for every kind of person out there. So I encourage you to go out and not spend money on that Twilight movie, but instead catch up on some great releases while taking a look at the most recent ones. Oscar Season is hitting its stride right now and that means deep thoughtful movies are coming out.

Go see a movie you feel is worthy of the Oscar and support it because if you don't then Twilight makes more money, and nobody wants that. (except for Summit Entertainment)

My Precious.....Yes....My Prequel....

See you at midnight.

I don't think I've talked about "Lord of the Rings "[LOTR] and the upcoming first part in the new trilogy "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" [Hobbit]. Mostly because I am not invested as much into that universe as Star Wars or Marvel (see previous post) but for the main reason, I have not seen the LOTR Trilogy beginning to end.

Before you start telling me to see them, I will tell you that I already plan on seeing this new installment at midnight for other reasons. For starters, this is a Warner Bros. movie and as such, they will undoubtably be playing their own trailers, promoting their upcoming movies before the movie. This is what has me interested.

The first trailer I plan to confirm being there is the new "Man of Steel" trailer. The previous trailer that premiered in front of "The Dark Knight Rises" did not provide much in regards to story but rather set a tone for the movie. This trailer had some fans skeptical about whether Zack Snyder was the right call for the Director. Warner Bros. needs to premier a new trailer that will get people excited for this movie is they have any chance of bringing together a Justice League movie.

The second trailer is for the new Star Trek movie. Filming is still going on and so far it has been confirmed that a new trailer will be premiering in front of Hobbit. But that's not the only news about Star Trek. It is rumored [possibly confirmed] that Warner Bros. is pulling a TDKR Prologue stunt in front of Hobbit, just like TDKR did with "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol" last year. This will be showing the first 10 minutes of Star Trek 2 in IMAX screens only followed by the trailer everybody else will be seeing. This alone is definitely going to bring out the fan base and sell tickets.

The third reason I will be seeing it at midnight is not a trailer but the actual movie itself. "But wait, you said weren't invested into that universe. Just look above." I know what I said, and I am seeing this movie for the film production. In select theaters (AMC) they will be showing Hobbit at 48FPS, as it was intended, on the IMAX projected screens ONLY. I want to see first hand what all the commotion is about over it being "too realistic" for a movie experience.  Click here to see the list of theaters showing the 48FPS.

But most of all I'm seeing it for my friend because that's the kind of person I am. I'm a good friend like that. See  you at midnight.

30 for 30

I love sports. I also love ESPN. That being said, I love Disney, but more specifically ESPN.

Since 2009, ESPN has made these "30 for 30" ESPN films. They don't just look at sports as a winner and loser, but rather delves deeper into the context behind players and teams. These films are available to watch on Netflix on demand. If you have not watched them, you should stop reading and watch one. They have an abundance of different topics ranging from hockey to football and rugby to boxing.

The concept behind them is simple: Take film directors and apply their story telling skills on an unseen aspect of sports history. Some of my favorite are "Kings Ransom" chronicling the trade of Wayne Gretzky to the L.A. Kings, "Four Days in October" where the Boston Red Socks came back 0-3 to beat the New York Yankees in 2004, and "Broke" which explores the windfall athletes come into when signing these big deals out of college and their mismanagement of income.

These "30 for 30" stories tell compelling sides about what happens when the cameras stop rolling and the back side deals people make for fortune. ESPN has done an excellent job in creating these films brining emotion and a fresh perspective to the stories you thought you knew and a light on some you never did.

I applaud ESPN for making these films and I wish they continue to make them. Originally, there were only going to be 30 films made (hence the title) but I wish they continue this route as most stories provide courage and triumph to compelling stories. If you have not seen any of these films, I highly recommend you make it a point to see these films.

It's so bad it makes money

What sucks, yet makes money? It completely terrible, yet adored by millions? An internet joke and a best seller? Something guys hate and girls love?

If you were thinking about cats, you and I are on the same page. Oh, you thought I meant the Twilight movies? Yes, that applies here too.

Another Twilight movie has descended upon us, but gratefully it is the last movie. I have to admit, I have seen the first movie Twilight when it was in theaters. It was a painful experience. I was laughing so hard it caused my sides to ache. Since then I have seen these movies as one bad joke. The acting is stale while the pace is too long for its own good.

The main character is a shell of a person with no real goal other than to bang a vampire. The villain does everything to try and stop that from happening. Everyone in between tries to convince everybody else that they are stupid for trying this.  All meanwhile the love interest doesn't want to bang the main girl because he is 108 years old and she is 16.

This movie is a great abstinence tool for young girls in that it shows you don't need sex for a relationship, but then again it also says to fall in love with a vampire and meet his family, all of whom would suck your blood at a moments notice. So the moral of the story is "If you can't eat it, marry it."

As for why it makes money? Simple. It's cheap to make with cheap effects and has a cult following large enough to form an army. They will buy tickets even if it sucks and they will not admit that it sucks because it is "their movie" while everyone else just doesn't understand.

HOW TO WIN THE OSCAR: Acting

It's Oscar season and I will providing a view on the different ways one can win the Golden Statue. 

Today is Acting.

Whether it's in a lead or supporting, a win is a win and an Oscar is still an Oscar. Now, in theory, you can win both the lead and supporting in a single year, but that has never been accomplished. 13 actors came close with two nominations in the same year, but never won both at the same time. This is not due  to them being good in one role and bad in another. This is mainly because of Oscar politics.

Oscar politics consist of not only who deserves it for the role, but who of the nominees will be able to win the award again. Some great young actors get passed up on winning to older actors because the academy feels it is "their turn" to win. That after years of working in the business, the one Oscar is a kind of "bone" thrown to them for their years of service.

This kind of "help" downplays the pride of winning an Oscar and loses the respect of the audience watching at home. Nobody should win because due to age, but rather win because you cannot see past the character into the actor. They have completely immersed themselves into the universe of the movie that when you walk out of the theater you think "That was the same same person as this other  role" or something along those lines.

That surprise you get from watching a powerful performance should always win the Oscar. Not age. But, the other way to win the Oscar is to play a historical figure with a commanding performance. Or be casted in a World War II movie as the lead. The Academy has weak knees for killing Hitler and that's been shown several times over in the nominations. 

I have just come up with the perfect lead guaranteed to win an Oscar. A Tuskegee air pilot who comes from a cotton picking family to out work all his racist white peers and lead them into a WWII air raid over Nazi occupied Germany, where in his plane crashes behind enemy lines and he must fight his way to kill Hitler, end the war, and reunite with his family only to be stopped short of his goal. It shall be called ANGEL WINGS. [copyright]

Who is sexy?

Channing Tatum.

Well, for this year anyways. The recently crowned "Sexiest Man Alive" winner thought it was a joke when somebody told him. I can see that. He doesn't find himself to be sexy, and if it wasn't for "Magic Mike" he probably wouldn't have been crowned.

So this comes down to the shallow notion that looks are everything. While yes, they aren't, but people sill classify and group people based on looks. This writing has lost all meaning. I don't know where I was going with this. I know where I wanted it to end up. So keep reading and I'll get there.

Women always complain about guys judging girls based on their looks. Well that double standard has come around and this proves it. Having women judge men in naming Channing Tatum "Sexy" based on his roles. Ah, that was the thought. Good old double standard and who is willing to bear all on screen. If was a contest based on nudity, then Michael Fastbender should have won for his portrayal in "Shame."

So there you go. Women, let us men judge our women and you can have Channing Tatum as your own. We men really don't see what's to like about him until the new GI JOE comes out after being post converted to 3D. That's what this is about. GI JOE because it was supposed to have already come out and I bet that would have dashed his chances at being crowned.

In a Galaxy far, far away.....John Carter!!!

"Nobody wants to be remembered as the guy who 'Shit the Bed' excuse the expression" as quoted by Justin Timberlake in Friends with Benefits [a far better movie than No Strings Attached]. This is why famous directors have been passing up the opportunity to take on Star Wars. I feel that Disney is going with an in-house director at the helm, but first I must regress into why Lucas sold everything to Disney [or how I feel everything went down].

John Carter is the reason behind the deal. Lucas has had a long standing relationship with Disney [See Star Tours at Disneyland] where in he was almost certain to giving Disney the keys to the franchise, however, there is also his long time friend Steven Spielberg over at DreamWorks who he also could have sold it to. Bring in John Carter.

Those who have read "A Princess of Mars" by Edgar Rice Burroughs [source material for John Carter] believe that this is the closest thing to Star Wars that pre-dates Star Wars. This movie was made as a challenge to Disney from Lucas not only to see if they can be faithful to the original source material, but also if they are able to make it their own in order to have Lucas trust them with his beloved franchise.

Enter 2010 when preliminary filming began on John Carter and its release in 2012. Yes, John Carter is considered to be a Box Office flop, but if you look at the numbers, it made its money back with an extra $32 million. While that may seem like a lot, it's pennies compared to the $250 million budget.

Now, if you've seen John Carter [chances are you didn't] it is noteworthy that the script is pretty good in accomplishing a complete story arc and being a well drafted screenplay. Where it failed was in marketing. John Carter was not a big enough name to attract a big audience, but Star Wars is.

Having been made in a 2 year time span, this leaves room for a Star Wars movie to be possible in May 2015 if they get cameras rolling no later than Summer 2013. I say May 2015 because previous Star Wars movies have been released mid May and Disney would most likely keep that date for Star Wars fans.

As for who would direct such a movie, my money is on Brad Bird. A good friend at Pixar, who made The Incredibles, and directed Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol. He is still a relatively unknown name when it comes to Directors, but he is good at what he does. He is an in-house director for Disney where in they don't have to pay much for him to direct Star Wars, but has a great execution on finishing with great products and fan fair.

Bond. Bail Bond.

I saw Skyfall over this past weekend. While watching it, the movie began to comment not only on itself, but on the progression of Bond over the past 50 years since he first graced the silver screen. That's right. Bond has been killing the bad guys, killing his drinks, and being a lady killer longer than any other franchise. James Bond's killing spree spans over 5 decades and to put that in perspective, the first Bond movie came out before Neil Armstrong stepped foot on the moon.

From Dr. No to Skyfall, Bond the film history of Bond has changed dramatically over the years. From the campy spy films of the 60's, to the bright colors of the 70's and the multiple explosions of the 80's, with the stylized look of the 90's culminating to a more realistic look through the 00's James Bond films have changed just as much as the man in the suit. The mystique of Bond transcends even that of a spy. He is a lifestyle. A dream people wish they could become. With that being said, the evil he encounters mirrors that of the current decade the film resides.

Back track to my original thought, Skyfall began commenting on its change of villains. No longer is it some mad man with infinite supply of money, guns, and gadgets who is trying to hold the world hostage, but a single person with a single idea and the will to execute it. That is the real villain. It's no longer about what flag is supported or what nation they are backing. The world evil has become about individualism and the power one man can have with the right tools and a wrong moral compus.

This leaves me to believe that anybody around us can be the evil villain we all wish we weren't. Technology has abled us to gain personal information more readily than ever before. People now live their lives through the internet and have become so technology dependent that some of the worlds most evil people are actually the ones who keep us logged in and tuned out. [I'm looking at you Zuckerburg].

Now, this may be true, and it may be fantasy dreamed up in my head, but either way, I agree with Skyfall's commentary that we should be more cautious about our enemies because they do not exercise restraint in their ways. They are free to go about and target whom they wish. So, in the terms of the British: Keep Calm and Carry On.

Can I HAZ ZombieZ???

Zombies! Zombies!! Zombies!!!

The trailer for World War Z has been unleashed to the world. Go watch it now. Yes, stop reading and go watch it. You know where to find it. Are you back? Yes? Good. On we go. And yes, I did say unleashed because these Zombies are fast, agile, and feel superhuman compared to that of The Walking Dead and even a far cry from Night of the Living Dead. Zombies have gotten faster, smarter, and deadlier.

And yet to all of that, I have a distain for all of that. I have no interest in Zombies. I do not watch The Walking Dead and will not no matter how much people like it. Zombies turn me off and (personally) find them unbelievable to the extent that its funny. Now, you may think "you're supposed to suspend your beliefs and go with it" and you may have a point. Maybe I need to stop over thinking it. However, in all these movies, there's one thing that I always didn't understand.

How did this Zombie Apocalypse happen? You always catch it in the middle after a troop of people have been infected and are now going around seeking their "human hosts" but it never states where it began and who was patient zero. Not only that, but once they see these symptoms, how are they able to infect more people and how is this disease spread? The traditional route is through biting and flesh wounds, but about skin to skin contact? Is it a blood transfusion? Is it saliva? What constitutes the transformation from Human to Zombie to where we can call them Zombies. Do they have to be dead and then reanimated via virus or is it the slow decay of consciousness until all you think about is infecting another person.

That also has me perplexed. What is a Zombies goal? They aren't cannibals because they don't completely eat the human victim, but merle bite them and move on thus turning the human meal into a Zombie like them. Why stop? Why not eat them whole? Is the flesh feeding them? And if so, why not eat dogs or cows or chickens? That's meat too. That's skin too. Zombies infecting and leaving never made any sense to me.

Until a movie comes out where the origins of the Zombie Virus is explained, and answers the basic questions of infection from a who/what/where/when/why/how stand point, I have no interest in these Zombie films or TV shows. Oh, and as for the movie Warm Bodies coming out, all I can say is GAAAAAAAY!!!!

I'm going to start doing this again

To past me:

I am sorry for giving up on you. This BLOG was intended as a way for me to express my ideas about the current Hollywood situation and yet, I have not made a post in a year. I have failed you past self. And for this I must take up my guard and start a new. I'm not starting this again because I have to, but because I have a lot of free time here at my job that I feel I can write something each day and keep writing to improve my writing skills. Yes, I probably should be working, but when you have to work an 8hr shift, you need to find ways to not be bored. This will prevent me from turning my office into my room at home with papers strewn everywhere and a lack of organization. By doing this BLOG again, it will help remind me to be professional, but most of all to comment on Hollywood and its unfortunate status.

PS. To anybody else reading this, look at my previous BLOGS to see how I write and if you agree with my opinions, feel free to subscribe or however it is this site notifies you when I write something new.

PPS. To future me, Don't give this up.

-Present me.