Challenge 25

This month has been extremely productive. I started production on my graphic novel, which is looking great. We've decided to release the entire graphic novel for free online. The artist is extremely talented, so I hope that my script will do his drawings justice. I've also been asked to edit the behind-the-scenes documentary for the feature I was an assistant editor on, which will be an amazing experience.

I recently wrote a script for the "2 Days Laughter" short film competition, which was noticed by a successful online editor, who decided to produce it as his directorial debut. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

This is my first produced script, so it was an extremely exciting experience. I'm really looking forward to working with this team again on the "48 Hour Sci-Fi Challenge" in April.

Here's my script:


And here's the completed film:



Since tonight is Oscars night, I thought I'd also share my personal preferences:

Best Film: Zero Dark Thirty

Best Director: Stephen Spielberg (Lincoln)

Best Original Screenplay: Mark Boal (Zero Dark Thirty)

Best Adapted Screenplay: Chris Terrio (Argo)

Scene Experiment

While my graphic novel is in development, I've decided to revisit The Major and the Beetle, to try and complete the first draft. My main problem with the script was the beginning, which needed to establish the historical setting, without feeling too contrived or melodramatic. Unfortunately, I couldn't avoid the glossy Hollywood style opening, which was inappropriate for the material.

My attempted solution is a short prologue, similar to the opening scene of Argo, using stock footage and narration to establish the setting. I would love some feedback on this scene, so that I can decide whether it works, or whether I should experiment with alternative methods to set up the story.

Feel free to comment on this post, or contact me on twitter (@100_Day_SP) with your thoughts.

Top 10 films of 2012

I was unable to consider Berberian Sound Studio, Beasts of the Southern Wild, The Master, Rust and Bone, The Hunt and Silver Linings Playbook, as I didn't have time to see them.

10. Jeff, Who Lives at Home

Country: USA

Directors: Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass

Writers: Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass

9. Oslo, August 31st

Country: Norway

Director: Joachim Trier

Writers: Eskil Vogt & Joachim Trier

8. Shame

Country: UK

Director: Steve McQueen

Writers: Steve McQueen & Abi Morgan

7. Holy Motors

Country: France

Director: Leos Carax

Writer: Leos Carax

6. The Descendants

Country: USA

Director: Alexander Payne

Writers: Alexander Payne, Jim Rash & Nat Faxon

5. The Hobbit

Country: New Zealand

Director: Peter Jackson

Writers: Fran Walsh, Philippa Boyens & Peter Jackson

4. The Raid

Country: Indonesia

Director: Gareth Evans

Writer: Gareth Evans

3. Martha Marcy May Marlene

Country: USA

Director: Sean Durkin

Writer: Sean Durkin

2. A Royal Affair

Country: Denmark

Director: Nikolaj Arcel

Writers: Rasmus Heisterberg & Nikolaj Arcel

1. Argo

Country: USA

Director: Ben Affleck

Writer: Chris Terrio

The Russian Cosmonaut

To follow up on yesterday's post, I thought I would provide a link to the Russian cosmonaut scene from Another Earth. Everything about this scene is beautiful. The writing. The acting. The music. The editing. It's scenes like this that remind me why I want to be a filmmaker.

Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

 

Honourable Mentions 2011

Every year I put together a list of my favourite films. Last year was an extremely difficult year, as there were a lot of great films to chose from. It's also inevitable that some great movies will get missed out.

Before I put together my 2012 list, I thought I should mention some of the films that I didn't manage to see in time to make it into last year's list, but would almost certainly have broken into the top 10.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Director: Tomas Alfredson
Writer: Bridget O'Connor & Peter Straughan

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a film that improves with each viewing. I've watched it about twenty times now, and each time I find something I hadn't noticed before. Yes, it's a slow film, but that's what makes it great. Alfredson is a master of atmosphere.

A Separation

Director: Asghar Faradhi
Writer: Asghar Faradhi

I hated A Separation the first time I watched it. I couldn't understand why the director allowed so many important narrative developments to happen off-screen. I felt like I was watching an Iranian soap-opera. But then I realised that A Separation is one of the best screenplays ever written, no exaggeration.

The whole film is about subjectivity, and about how people lie and decieve, not because they are bad people, but because they are human.

Kung Fu Panda 2

Director: Jennifer Yuh Nelson
Writer: Jonathan Aibel & Glenn Berger

I'm not trying to be ironic with this choice. I genuinely think Kung Fu Panda 2 was one of the best films of 2011. It managed to retain all the charm of the original, without feeling tired or repetitive.

Weekend

Director: Andrew Haigh
Writer: Andrew Haigh

Weekend is a touching love story about identity and self-discovery. It is about two men who fall in love, but it has nothing to do with being gay. It is simultaneously sad and uplifting. The director allows the audience to project their own experiences onto these characters and identify with their struggles. I challenge anyone, man or woman, gay or straight, to not fall in love with these characters.

Another Earth

Director: Mike Cahill
Writer: Mike Cahill & Brit Marling

Another Earth was my second favourite film of 2011 (after Drive), but I didn't manage to see it until this year. It raises important and thoughtful questions about life (What would you say if you could meet yourself?) and has an interesting relationship at its core.

It also has one of the most beautiful, elegant and touching scenes I have ever witnessed. The Russian cosmonaut scene. It's just incredible.

21st December 2012 - I survived the apocalypse!

This year has been an exciting year for me. I graduated from university, I got my first real job, I was commissioned to create my first promo, and I worked as an edit assistant on a feature.

But the best thing about 2012 has been the discovery of an online screenwriting community, who provide constant support and encouragement for each other, as we all endeavour to become better writers.

I would like to personally thank Claire Yeowart (@ClaireYeowart), who has provided me with valuable feedback and encouragement on all my projects. (She's also an extremely talented writer, check out Dreamland, I loved it.)

Unfortunately, I'm not going to be able to meet my self-imposed deadline on January 1st, as I've been preoccupied with other projects. I have some ideas how to develop The Major and the Beetle into a returning drama, but I'm putting it aside for a while to work on some other projects.

I'm currently developing two short scripts -- one about a retired boxer, the other about a break-up -- which have received some interest from directors. I'm also collaborating with another writer to develop a comedy web-series. Hopefully I'll be able to return to The Major and the Beetle with a fresh perspective in 2013.

Just to prove that I've actually done some writing this year, I'm going to post a short script I wrote in November for Collabor8te. It's called 'Not Yet the End'. (Appropriate title, considering we managed to survive past the end of the Mayan calendar. Who'da thought it?) I hope you like it.

Top 10 films of 2011

Just found this old post from last year. Still very few films this year which have surpassed any on this list.

10. Submarine

Director: Richard Ayoade
Writer: Richard Ayoade
Starring: Craig Roberts, Sally Hawkins



9. Attack the Block

Director: Joe Cornish
Writer: Joe Cornish
Starring: John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail



8. Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Rupert Wyatt
Writer: Rick Jaffa, Amanda Silver
Starring: James Franco, Andy Serkis, John Lithgow



7. Tomboy

Director: Céline Sciamma
Writer: Céline Sciamma
Starring: Zoé Héran, Malonn Lévana, Jeanne Disson



6. We Need to Talk About Kevin

Director: Lynne Ramsay
Writer: Lynne Ramsay
Starring: Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly, Ezra Miller, Jasper Newell



5. Tyrannosaur

Director: Paddy Considine
Writer: Paddy Considine
Starring: Peter Mullan, Olivia Colman



4. Carnage

Director: Roman Polanksi
Writer: Yasmin Reza, Roman Polanski
Starring: Jodie Foster, Kate Winslet, Christoph Waltz, John C. Reilly



3. Melancholia

Director: Lars von Trier
Writer: Lars von Trier
Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg, Kiefer Sutherland



2. Blue Valentine

Director: Derek Cianfrance
Writer: Derek Cianfrance
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Michelle Williams



1. Drive

Director: Nicolas Winding Refn
Writer: Hossein Amini
Starring: Ryan Gosling, Carey Mulligan, Bryan Cranston