I’ve never met anyone who’s flight was almost two hours late and they were
still in such good spirits. Actually, nobody is in a good mood at the
airport. I knew when I picked up Marilyn Atlas from Sea-Tac and she was
all smiles, that we were in a for a real treat this weekend. Coincidentally,
Seth Talley, after a year of working on this event, is back from LA for several
weeks (nice to see that ponytail and motorcycle). Thanks Seth and congrats
on your five year anniversary!
On
the way to the hotel, Marilyn and I had so much to talk about, from stereotypical
roles for actors of color and our mutual Law and Order addiction to hot rapper/actor/producer-types
(Ludacris, Ice Cube) and the types of concepts coming out of
film schools (Oh no, not another heist or vampire movie).
After barely surviving Friday traffic in Seattle, a few Board Members had
a great time at Taste of India with Marilyn, hearing some old war stories
(Marilyn’s trip to Uzbekistan) and getting our guest sufficiently full of rich
curry, wild salmon, and bottomless chai infused with cardamom.
At the meeting, Marilyn and I had a great conversation/interview about
writing scripts that will attract actors–actors being the folks that really
get projects made–the dreaded or lauded “attachment” thing. Marilyn loved
the questions from the audience, which I thought were excellent. Marilyn
was an absolute gem, extremely forthcoming, and honest. I learned so much.
I’ll have to get someone’s notes!
I just got back from our workshop at the NW Film Forum (we lost our usual
room for today) and I learned even more. The first thing–the Sorrento Hotel
loans their guests the world’s most dangerous umbrella.
We’ve yet to have someone speak from the actors’ or actors’
representatives’ perspective. I think it was instrumental in driving home how
important character development is. We get structure crammed down our throats
till kingdom come, but structure doesn’t sell screenplays–it’s character,
dialogue, and of course, concept. I guess actors don’t look at a script and
say, “Wow,
I love how the writer created that false victory at the midpoint” or
“Man, that catalyst is something I can really sink my teeth
into.” They
want to see that there is a character that a) lets them stretch/leaves them
room to create, b) is compelling/non-stereotypical, and c) they have
an emotional connection with. She confirmed that the worthwhile screenplay
competitions are the Nicholl, Austin, Big Break, and Sundance.
She made it clear that our first ten pages must be stellar
and to view each scene in the film as if it’s the first scene–memorable, meaningful,
and pushes the story forward.
She went around the room and asked everyone to
name two memorable tv/film characters and why they were memorable. The characters
we discussed were: Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs),
Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver), Madeleine White (Jodie Foster
in Inside Man), Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises), Michael Dorsey
/ Dorothy Michaels (Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie), Erin Brockovitch (Julia Roberts
in Erin Brockovitch, duh), Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp in ES), Darth Vadar
(Star Wars), Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places), Indiana
Jones (Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones), James Bond (a bunch of dudes in a bunch
of flick), Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen in Galaxy Quest), Ana Garcia (America
Ferrera in Real Women Have Curves), Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer
in Blade Runner), Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint (Kevin Spacey in Usual Suspects), Roy
Neary (Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind), and many more.
Marilyn also discussed how dialogue, subtext, and description reveal
character–very illuminating. We reviewed scenes and sides from Habla
Con Ella, School of Rock, Mystic River, The Departed, Three Kings, and Devil
Wears Prada. She also reiterated that we all see Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee).
I think I speak for all in attendance that we definitely got our time and money’s
worth. I’ve never been to a workshop like that before. Did I mention that
Marilyn is just a helluvalot of fun to be around? She’s
a firecracker.
Then I gave Marilyn her newly acquired pedometer so she can get all her steps
in (rehabbing her leg). Tom procured some popcorn and shared it with the masses.
Who doesn’t love popcorn? On the way back to the hotel, Marilyn and I
had a nice romp through Rite Aid–nothing like boding over toiletries,
gossip magazines, and eye drops.
Tomorrow will be
full of pitching at the Sorrento, which Marilyn is anticipating greatly. She
was unable to hide her excitement about Seattle and the members
of the NWSG. Apparently we’re very insightful. Yay us! Hey, while those
L.A. screenwriters are at the beach or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, we’re avoiding
the rain by penning that next great movie, right? I prefer the beach/writing
combo, but I always get too much sand in my MacBook, and Brando gets sunburned.
His poor pink belly.
Oh, I found this
old Seattle PI article from Thursday, April 20, 2006 about how everyone wants
to be a screenwriter instead of being a novelist. We made the list of some local
resources for aspiring screenwriters, including "Best Local Support System
and Best One-Stop Rundown of Script Contests." Yay us again. It is again
if it happened two years ago? Whatever.
Laura and I are about to sit down and watch The Mark of Cain, a documentary
on russian criminal tattoos. It’s probably cause of all that talk about Eastern
Promises today. I love that movie.
