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 Tuesday, July 21, 2009
MOVIE TALK: The Ugly Truth
Posted by Chad
The best part of “The Ugly Truth,” which opens this Friday, July 24, is that its title pretty much writes the review for you.
A romantic comedy so bland and paint-by-numbers that it’s astounding it even got made (and more astounding that Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler chose it), it begins by following Abby, an idealistic, micro-managing TV news producer in Sacramento. When her news show begins failing, her station manager hires Mike, the obnoxious-yet-charming, chauvinistic-yet-honest host of “The Ugly Truth,” a relationship and dating advice show on the local cable-access channel.
Abby and Mike could not be more diametrically opposed; Abby, a “strong independent woman,” approaches dating by having a literal checklist of things she needs in a man… and if he doesn’t meet all ten, the date’s over. Mike is hedonistic; he loves chicks in bikinis, jello-wrestling, one night stands, you name it. Although these two characters despise each other, they’re forced to work together because Abby’s news show needs the higher ratings Mike’s schtick is earning.
But when Abby develops a crush on Colin (Eric Winter), her cute and perfect next-door neighbor, she needs Mike’s blunt and insightful advice to snag him. Thus, Mike becomes a kind of Cyrano to Abby’s Christian, guiding her through a series of dating set pieces: coaching her on her first date via a hidden ear-bud… helping her through a business dinner when her vibrating panties accidentally begin giving her a series of massive orgasms… etc.
Over the course of helping Abby woo Colin, Mike falls in love with her himself. I won’t bother telling you the ending, not because there’s anything remotely unpredictable in it, but because you already know where it’s going.
Now, there’s plenty of stuff wrong with “The Ugly Truth,” but to me, there’s one weakness that outshines them all. One weakness that, I believe, is the key to ANY good romantic comedy. And if done well, any other flaw in the movie can be forgiven. And that weakness is…
YOU NEVER LONG FOR THESE TWO PEOPLE TO BE TOGETHER.
And if the audience isn’t DYING for the two main characters of a romantic comedy to be together—think “When Harry Met Sally” or “Annie Hall”—almost nothing else in the story matters.
Having said that, it’d be easy to blame this problem on the actors’ lack of chemistry, but I think the problems start not with the performers, but in the script.
There are 2 reasons why the script itself never makes us want Abby and Mike to get together…
1) We don’t see how they need each other. Or, rather, we see how Abby needs Mike—he teaches her how to loosen up, be sexy and flirty, and enjoy life—but we never see why Mike needs Abby. Sure, Katherine Heigl is pretty… but by the end of the movie, even Mike’s chauvinistic character has learned that love isn’t about looks… yet we don’t see him learn what the hell it IS about! Abby doesn’t teach him to do anything… she barely improves his show… she does NOTHING for him.
All the great romantic comedy couples work like a yin and yang; they complement each other’s strength’s and weaknesses. Annie grounds Alvy and helps him grow up; Alvy helps Annie break out of her shell, become more confident and able to live a life.
But that doesn’t happen in “The Ugly Truth.” It’s a one-sided relationship; and when we can’t see what one of the characters gets from the other, emotionally, it makes it very tough for us to root for them being together.
2) The story, especially in its supposedly comic set pieces, doesn’t explore the Abby-Mike relationship, so we never feel like their relationship is being progressed. Or rather, since the main plot points—and main comedy points—aren’t illuminating or exploring Abby and Mike, we never get the fun of seeing them spar, butt heads, reach new levels of understanding and connection, etc.
The first set piece involves Abby on a date with Colin at a baseball game. Mike, a few rows away, is feeding her lines through a hidden headset in her ear. Aside from the fact that nothing Mike says is particularly unique or helpful, the whole scene feels overly-familiar, trite, and painfully uninspired. Like when a girl accidentally spills on Mike’s jeans and Mike says, “What the fuck,” so Abby repeats “What the fuck,” and Colin wonders who she’s talking to. So Mike says, “I wasn’t talking to you,” and Abby says, “I wasn’t talking to you,” and Colin wonders who she’s talking to. (I mean, come on, screenwriters Nicole Eastman, Karen McCullah & Kirsten Smith—you guys can do better than this.)
The second set piece involves Abby accidentally wearing a pair of vibrating panties to a business dinner where she’s taken Colin, her date. And when the panties’ remote control falls out of her purse and is picked up by a curious kid at the next table, orgasms ensue. Firstly, the whole scenes a poor, sad man’s version of Meg Ryan’s orgasm scene from “When Harry Met Sally,” especially when another female diner watches Abby’s orgasm and says, “What in the ceviche?”
But more importantly—the scene does NOTHING to further the Abby-Mike relationship. The scene worked in “When Harry Met Sally” because the two of them were alone at a table, discussing women’s ability to fool men… and Sally’s performance not only proved her point, but it put Harry on the spot. So it illuminated their different belief systems—AND showed how far Sally would go simply to prove Harry wrong.
Yet the similar scene in “The Ugly Truth” lacks all the subtle character/relationship understanding of “Harry & Sally” and is nothing more than a soulless scene about a women having an orgasm in public.
So the lessons to take away from this, romantic comedy screenwriters:
1) Make sure your romantic comedy characters each need—and receive—something from each other. Actors’ chemistry is not enough; each character must, on the page—and this is gonna be a poor choice of words, but I’m gonna use it anyway—fill very specific holes in the other. (EMOTIONAL HOLES! Get your head out of the gutter.)
2) Make sure your major scenes and set pieces are somehow exploring and deepening the relationship between your two leads. This doesn’t mean they have to be visibly and obviously falling in love or showing affection—they can certainly be conflicting… and fall in love later—but it does mean we should be seeing new aspects of their relationship.
In fact, “The Ugly Truth” ends with an exchange of dialogue that beautifully illustrates all it’s greatest weaknesses…
ABBY: You’re in love with me? Why?
MIKE: Beats the hell out of me.
Exactly.
The Ugly Truth trailer
Movie Talk | Screenwriting (Film)
Tuesday, July 21, 2009 4:58:09 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Friday, July 17, 2009
WEBSITE OF THE DAY: JokeandBiagio.com
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
Just wanted to point out a great new blog/website...
For anyone wanting to learn more and break into reality TV, check out JokeandBiagio.com, a new blog from my good friend and super-talented reality producer Biagio Messina, which offers "tips, tricks, tales and tutorials on producing TV and film."
Biagio and his wife, Joke Fincioen, are the founders and Executive Producers of Joke Productions and have produced Beauty & the Geek (CW), Scream Queens (VH1), Foody Call (Style), Caesars 24/7 (A&E), as well as pilots and development projects for NBC, CBS, Logo, Bravo, and just about every other network you can think of.
...And now Biagio has launched a blog to help newbies and aspirants learn more about producing reality, telling nonfiction stories, and breaking into the business.
Joke and Biagio are incredibly talented writers, producers, and filmmakers (who I've worked with multiple times)... and Biagio is a technicial genius who can work magic with Final Cut Pro, After Effects, and all the other post-production software which I know nothing about. He has worked with and taught techniques to some of Hollywood's best post producers, including guys at Industrial Light & Magic, so if you have questions-- even super-technical questions-- about post software, don't be afraid to ask him on the blog... I promise: you'll get an amazing, dead-on answer.
A couple highlights from the blog...
Becoming a Producer with HOP (Hands-On Producing)
How You Get Your First Job in Hollywood
Anyway, there's some great info up there... and I know there's more to come... but you should also ask tons of questions... this blog is an incredible resource!
Books Tools Resources | Career Advice | Reality TV
Friday, July 17, 2009 1:55:39 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 14, 2009
BOOK REVIEW: Bankroll
Posted by Chad
I’ve never worked in independent film. I like independent film. I have friends who work in independent film. I’ve written screenplays that could be independent films. But me, personally—I don’t think I could do it. For one main reason…
One of the main duties of an independent filmmaker is to round up money, the financing, and the thought of doing that—quite honestly—terrifies me. Not only because I’m terrible with math and numbers, but the idea of asking someone for money seems horribly awkward, confrontational, desperate, uncomfortable. Who do you ask? How do you ask them? What if they say no? If they say no, does it mean your idea sucks? What if they say yes? What if they say no and never talk to you again? What if they say yes and never get a return? What if they laugh at you?
These questions are so daunting to me I’ve never been able to fathom actually doing it… and I have near-total awe and respect for those that do.
But now comes a new book—Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films , by Tom Malloy—that explains how to gather financing for your independent film from the perspective of a guy who’s done it. And most importantly, a guy who is—and I mean this in the BEST way possible—a COMPLETE NOBODY.
Bankroll walks newbies through the process of raising money for indie films with budgets of $300,000 - $8 million. Malloy talks about where to find HNI’s (High Net-Worth Individuals)... how to put together a business plan… and how to approach and pitch them. He also spends a lot of time coloring the lessons with stories and experiences from his own career. Normally, I’m not a big fan of books that claim to teach you the ropes and instead just spout their own stories, but Malloy strikes a nice balance; he tells a lot of stories, but he then uses each story to illustrate a lesson. And perhaps most importantly…
YOU’VE PROBABLY NEVER HEARD OF TOM MALLOY OR ANY OF HIS MOVIES. (Anyone seen—or heard of—The Attic ? Gravesend ? The Alphabet Killer?)
This, to me, is the book’s biggest selling point. We’ve all read books or articles about how Slumdog Millionaire got made, or Reservoir Dogs, or other “indie classics.” And while we’d all like to write the next Terminator or sex, lies, and videotape, the truth is… most of us won't. Most indie films come from small, but still talented, filmmakers just trying to raise enough money to make their movies and get them into contests, festivals, etc. If the movie goes on to become Star Wars or The Usual Suspects, great—but it’s nearly impossible to control or predict this. So while learning how George Lucas or Robert Rodriguez or Quentin Tarantino worked their magic is indeed inspirational, I usually find it unhelpful. Those men are anomalies, and it’s tough to learn to be an anomaly; this doesn’t mean we shouldn’t aim as high as possible, it just means it’s much easier to start learning at the ground floor.
(And just to be clear—I’m not saying you shouldn’t shoot to be the best you can be. I’m just saying that it’s tough to say, “I want to be the biggest, most legendary film producer of all time.” It’s much easier, and more realistic, to say, “I want to spend my life and career making good movies I love and care about.” If they go on to become the next The Matrix, great—but you can’t really engineer that to happen.)
This, to me, is Bankroll’s biggest selling point. When Malloy is telling stories about raising money for one of his films… or walking you through his sample business plan (which is great, by the way—like having a step-by-step template right in front of you)… or even just talking about how he psychs himself up for a pitch or investor meeting… you’re aware that the info is coming from a guy who, very recently, was in YOUR EXACT SHOES. Unlike George Lucas, who is light years ahead of the rest of us, career and money-wise, Tom Malloy is only one, two or three steps ahead of the rest of us… and he’s giving us the path to get where he is.
So if you’re struggling to figure out how raise money for your latest script… or you’re thinking of dabbling in the low-budget indie film world… take a look—it’s a great primer. And while I don’t think I’m quite ready to dive into the indie film world myself, I’m definitely a lot less scared.
Books Tools Resources | Career Advice | Screenwriting (Film)
Tuesday, July 14, 2009 4:49:16 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Sex & the Island
Posted by Chad
Thought you guys might be interested in these new DVD's, hot off the press from the Writers Guild Foundation...
WRITERS GUILD FOUNDATION RELEASES LOST AND MICHAEL PATRICK KING DVDs
The Writers Guild Foundation has released two new titles in its popular Writers on Writing DVD series - Inside the Writers Room with Lost and Michael Patrick King.
Inside the Writers Room with Lost is a special panel discussion with the creators of the phenomenally popular ABC television series. Producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse and writers Edward Kitsis, Adam Horowitz and Elizabeth Sarnoff talk about the story development and writing process on one of the hottest TV series in years.
Michael Patrick King is a writer/producer most renowned for executive producing Sex and the City in its latter seasons, and for writing and directing the film adaptation of the series. This disc is essential for fans of the series and for aspiring writers of romantic comedies.
Writers on Writing is a series of one-on-one (or in some cases, one-on-several) DVD interviews with Writers Guild Foundation moderators about the exceptional careers of some of the top screenwriters working today.
Both Inside the Writers Room with Lost and Michael Patrick King are available online.
Click HERE to purchase Inside the Writers Room with Lost ($24.95)...
Click HERE to purchase Writers on Writing: Michael Patrick King ($19.95)...
Click HERE for a complete list of DVDs of Writers Guild Foundation events.
Books Tools Resources
Wednesday, July 08, 2009 11:52:46 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Teach Your Kid To Be A Movie Critic!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks--
This was such a fun and interesting event, I had to post it up here.
On Tuesday, July 21, KidsPickFlicks.com-- the movie review site for kids-- presents “Popcorn, Pop and a Paycheck: How to Get the Life of a Movie Critic” at the Variety offices here in L.A.
For those of you who don't know KidsPickFlicks, its a movie review site which was started five years ago by a Cole McNamara, a 9-year-old who was sick of seeing movies he enjoyed panned by adult critics. So he started a site where he reviewed kids movies from a kids' perspective... and where other kids could post reviews as well. It's taken off and is now run by Cole (who's 14) and his 9-year-old sister, Riley. I interviewed Cole a few years ago, just as KidsPickFlicks was taking off... he's a great kid, incredibly savvy and articulate... and if you have children interested in movies or movie reviews, I have no doubt this will be a great program.
Basically, Variety critics Todd McCarthy, Brian Lowry and Justin Chang will meet with young, aspiring Leonard Maltins and Rober Eberts to share their stories of how they got into the business, what their life is “really” like, and the ups and downs of being film critics. Lowry will also teach kids his three fun and simple rules of writing a movie review.
If you're interested, here's the scoop...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, 2009; 1 - 2:30 pm
WHERE: Variety, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.
Register kids 8 and older at KidsPickFlicks.com. Space is limited.
For more information, please contact Trish Vogel at Starshine Media, 615-400-3660 or Tara@KidsPickFlicks.com.
Riley's Picks & Icks (from KidsPickFlicks)
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Digital Media and Web Series | Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 5:07:04 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, July 02, 2009
Got Legal Advice?
Posted by Chad
Hey, screenwriters and filmmakers--
Just wanted introduce you to today's Website of the Day... Legal Ease, an outstanding legal Q&A blog from FilmIndependent.
It's been up and running since the beginning of the year, answering questions on everything from options and Writers Guild minimums to licensing songs and obtaining book rights.
All the questions are answered by Jesse Saivar and Matt Galsor, two lawyers from the LA-based entertainment law firm Greenberg & Glusker, and it's an excellent resource for writers, directors, actors, and producers who can't afford a high-end attorney but still need to get their questions answered quickly and completely.
So check it out... and if you want to submit a question, email Carolyn at CCohagan@filmindependent.org.
Books Tools Resources | Career Advice | Digital Media and Web Series
Thursday, July 02, 2009 2:04:15 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sell Your Reality Show... Next Tuesday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
If you're hoping to sell the next The Bachelorette, American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars... or even if you just want to work on them... I'm teaching my reality TV seminar, "Writing the Reality TV Show," for mediabistro next Tuesday, July 7. If you're interested (and in Los Angeles), I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop...
(Also, for those of you who have already emailed or asked... YES-- this is the class that was originally scheduled for Monday, July 13. It's been moved up.)
Writing the Reality TV Show
So You Think You Can Dance. The Real World. Rock of Love. The Amazing Race. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps
(The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians ) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Dietribe, Ruby, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The differences between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Click here for more information...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HEREHope you can make it!
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV | Writing TV
Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:08:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 24, 2009
A Few of My Favorite Podcasts...
Posted by Chad
Thanks to the anonymous reader who posted in response to last week's post about Jen Grisanti's Storywise podcast, and their question...
"Which writing podcasts do you regularly download?"
To be honest, I don't listen to a ton of writing-specific podcasts... although I always wish I did... but I like to listen to some other fun/newsy Hollywood podcasts.
Here's a quick list of links to some of my favorite podcasts, as well as a couple which friends really recommend, and all of which can also be found on iTunes...
The New York Times' Front Page - The NY Times has a terrific lineup of outstanding podcasts. My favorite is its Front Page, which condenses the top stories of the day into a short 2-4 minute podcast.
Martini Shot - TV writer Rob Long's (Cheers, George & Leo, Big Wave Dave's) podcast/radio show is produced by local LA NPR station KCRW, and it's usually some funny/insightful bit about either A) what's going on in Hollywood, B) pop culture, C) Rob's life. But it's always entertaining.
The Business - Also from KCRW, The Business is a weekly podcast that explores topical business, creative, and political issues concerning the entertainment industry.
Programming Insider - In TV guru Marc Berman's daily podcast for Mediaweek, he goes over each day's TV ratings, talks about what they mean, and explores issues concerning TV. This podcast can be a little long and talky sometimes, but it's always informative.
Creative Screenwriting Podcast - Jeff Goldsmith does great interviews with some of today's top screenwriters like Brian Helgeland, Jody Hill, Christopher Hampton...
Filmspotting - To be fair, I don't actually listen to this movie review podcast by Adam Kempenaar and Matty Robinson all that often. But my friend Rick swears by it, and the few times I've listened, I've really enjoyed it.
On the Page - Screenwriting teacher Pilar Alessandra's podcast covers everything from writing tips and advice to interviews with actual writers. (My friend Jen loves this podcast...)
And, of course, my ABSOLUE FAVORITE PODCAST OF ALL TIME... it's not Hollywood-related, but it is-- as far as I'm concerned-- the BEST NEW MUSIC PODCAST OUT THERE...
Bands Under the Radar - Featuring unsigned bands and indie artists, Kami Knake used to book for the Viper Room before moving to Nashville, and I swear-- she has some of the best ears for new music out there! Thanks to her, I discovered the Pierces, the Pipettes, maybe even the Fratellis. I live for this podcast... check it out!
I'm always on the lookout for other great podcasts, so if you have some favorites, please post below and let me know! Especially if you know of great new music podcasts... I'm always in need of great new music!
Books Tools Resources | Digital Media and Web Series
Wednesday, June 24, 2009 12:27:31 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, June 22, 2009
The Future of TV: CBS vs. NBC
Posted by Chad
Hey, all--
Just wanted to point out a great article from Brian Steinberg in this morning's Ad Age... he does a nice job of pointing out how NBC (which is seemingly in a deadly tailspin) and CBS are both programming their air in vastly different ways-- and how their two strategies reflect the seismic shifts going on across television.
Click HERE for "NBC, CBS Have Conflicting Visions of Broadcast Future." (Also, I'm linking to TVWeek's pickup of the article, since Ad Age usually takes their pieces down after a day or two.) (Damn those businesses that actually want to get paid for their services!)
Industry Updates | Interesting Talking Points | Writing TV
Monday, June 22, 2009 8:11:14 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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More on Ageism in Hollywood...
Posted by Chad
Some of you may remember, a few weeks back when loyal reader Jon sent in a question and we had an ongoing discussion about ageism.
Well, thanks to Jon for sending in "What Hollywood Is Not Letting You See," a recent piece from Robert Elisberg in The Huffington Post.
It's a great piece... click HERE to check it out!
Interesting Talking Points | Reader Questions
Monday, June 22, 2009 4:59:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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