K here.
Once in a while, an opportunity comes up that's too good to pass. This, my friends, is one of them. Think you could have written a better script than Pirates the Third demi-Gods Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio? Convinced Shonda Rhimes has been stealing ideas from your incredible, undiscovered, hour-long teleplay about hot doctors with even hotter love lives?
Then it's time to put your money where your mouth is.
Disney and ABC will be accepting screenplays, plays and teleplays for the Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship in both the screenplay and teleplay categories. For more information, check it out here. There is also a directing and acting section, but sorry folks, the Production section deadline has passed.
And for all you writers out there, check out Wordplay, and awesome site by two of the above mentioned writers.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Welcome to Hollywood, Son!
M. here!
It's official: Zach Lipovsky has made it to the Big Time, when celebrity judge Garry Marshall gleefully proclaimed "Change you name, son, you're gonna be BIG in Hollywood!"
After resident wax-figurine, I mean, On The Lot Hostess, Adrianna Costa, asked Garry which name would be best suited for the goofy, wide-eyed 23-year-old, Garry laughed "Lee! Zach Lee!".
We here at CMMY totally agree!
Our support is totally behind this young kid who seems to not just have the heart to be a filmmaker, but the vision and style as well. His youth is his charm and his eagerness to create and perform is his ticket to that golden office at Dreamworks.
But it's also much more that that. This kid has a humor about him. As we screened the entry films from the 50 semi-finalists, we were disappointed one after the other until Zach Lee (!!) brought us comedy and humor with his entry. We liked Zach even more after seeing his second short with those lovely special affects. But what made him a solid winner in our books was his 1-minute short entitled Danger Zone (Check it out here). Shot continuously it is a hilarious ride through what is (supposedly) the safest place on earth!
Zach Lee is truly an inspiration, and it the one person we think is going to make it to the big time!
Good Luck, kid!
It's official: Zach Lipovsky has made it to the Big Time, when celebrity judge Garry Marshall gleefully proclaimed "Change you name, son, you're gonna be BIG in Hollywood!"
After resident wax-figurine, I mean, On The Lot Hostess, Adrianna Costa, asked Garry which name would be best suited for the goofy, wide-eyed 23-year-old, Garry laughed "Lee! Zach Lee!".
We here at CMMY totally agree!
Our support is totally behind this young kid who seems to not just have the heart to be a filmmaker, but the vision and style as well. His youth is his charm and his eagerness to create and perform is his ticket to that golden office at Dreamworks.
But it's also much more that that. This kid has a humor about him. As we screened the entry films from the 50 semi-finalists, we were disappointed one after the other until Zach Lee (!!) brought us comedy and humor with his entry. We liked Zach even more after seeing his second short with those lovely special affects. But what made him a solid winner in our books was his 1-minute short entitled Danger Zone (Check it out here). Shot continuously it is a hilarious ride through what is (supposedly) the safest place on earth!
Zach Lee is truly an inspiration, and it the one person we think is going to make it to the big time!
Good Luck, kid!
Monday, May 28, 2007
On The Lot? Maybe not.
M here.
The First true On The Lot screening episode happened tonight. Some films were pretty great (see above post for "Zach Lee" fandom), the commentary was a little fun but all-in-all this episode left something to be desired. What a complete turn around from the first episodes!
The host, who's name I cannot remember replaced a funnier, livelier Chelsea Handler to create a knock-off American Idol reality show, where the only reality is the fact that it might not last through the summer.
And believe this, these two bloggers want On The Lot to stay On The Air. Seriously, this is the greatest concept ever, but the producers are letting the ball drop. We as an audience are left high and dry many times during this show. We didn't even get to see what the heck happened to the rest of the semi-finalists (evidently they got kicked off in a Round Two that no one besides the producers of the show knew existed). We didn't have the slightest idea how the filmmakers made these lovely gems, only that they somehow got sent back to their hometowns where they were given a crew to work with for a 1-minute comedy script. And we're given this new hostess that dryer than the Sahara in the summer. (Seriously though guys...where the hell did she come from?!)
What a way to leave your audience out of the process, guys!
We love this show, but we'd like to feel more included. We don't want to see American Idol's younger, less attractive sister, we want to see a well thought-out progran that will attract us each and every week without leaving us feeling cheated. So come on! Man up!
Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Please, please, please get rid of the hostess! We had a cringe-fest when she bounced on stage after the judges crucified Kenny Luby's sporatic cabbie flick with her plastic smile and Scarlette Johansson-esque voice: "Well, we've heard what the kjudges have to say, but let's just see if we can get American voting for you!"
"Seacrest, out!"
2. We don't want to hear the directors talk. Unless they're talking while shooting their film and explaning their film. Please, more shots of them doing...not sitting on a stage reminding everyone that one or all of the producers were obsessed with American Idol!
3. Get a mean judge. There's nothing better than hearing the truth from someone who is either too old or too jaded to be nice.
4. Focus on some drama. We all love drama. That's what Hollywood is about! If you want people to get interested, keep it lively. You were hitting gold when you touched on the tension between Jessica and Kenny over their infantile short.
On The Lot has a great deal of potential...but we as an audience can't see that if we're spoon-fed this regurgitated reality tv nonsense.
The host, who's name I cannot remember replaced a funnier, livelier Chelsea Handler to create a knock-off American Idol reality show, where the only reality is the fact that it might not last through the summer.
And believe this, these two bloggers want On The Lot to stay On The Air. Seriously, this is the greatest concept ever, but the producers are letting the ball drop. We as an audience are left high and dry many times during this show. We didn't even get to see what the heck happened to the rest of the semi-finalists (evidently they got kicked off in a Round Two that no one besides the producers of the show knew existed). We didn't have the slightest idea how the filmmakers made these lovely gems, only that they somehow got sent back to their hometowns where they were given a crew to work with for a 1-minute comedy script. And we're given this new hostess that dryer than the Sahara in the summer. (Seriously though guys...where the hell did she come from?!)
What a way to leave your audience out of the process, guys!
We love this show, but we'd like to feel more included. We don't want to see American Idol's younger, less attractive sister, we want to see a well thought-out progran that will attract us each and every week without leaving us feeling cheated. So come on! Man up!
Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. Please, please, please get rid of the hostess! We had a cringe-fest when she bounced on stage after the judges crucified Kenny Luby's sporatic cabbie flick with her plastic smile and Scarlette Johansson-esque voice: "Well, we've heard what the kjudges have to say, but let's just see if we can get American voting for you!"
"Seacrest, out!"
2. We don't want to hear the directors talk. Unless they're talking while shooting their film and explaning their film. Please, more shots of them doing...not sitting on a stage reminding everyone that one or all of the producers were obsessed with American Idol!
3. Get a mean judge. There's nothing better than hearing the truth from someone who is either too old or too jaded to be nice.
4. Focus on some drama. We all love drama. That's what Hollywood is about! If you want people to get interested, keep it lively. You were hitting gold when you touched on the tension between Jessica and Kenny over their infantile short.
On The Lot has a great deal of potential...but we as an audience can't see that if we're spoon-fed this regurgitated reality tv nonsense.
Tuesday, May 1, 2007
WELCOME TO NeoSHOP!
K and M here.
Let’s get a few things straight.
We here a NeoShop know nothing.
…
Well, that’s not exactly true.
We know how to format a screenplay. We know that writing 3 ACTS isn’t just for plays. We sort of know what’s going on when someone yells STRIKE! during a film shoot, and what the F-stop is. We know how to make a poor man's green screen. (see the pictures)
Unfortunately, there’s a lot we don’t know. We could list it all, but writing out one’s inadequacies and limitations is a tad bit depressing. Not to mention it might make the blogspot survers crash.
Besides the technical stuff, like figuring out how to get a copy of Adobe After Effects for free,(we've tried. It's impossible.) we don’t know what it’s like to go to film school and have that awesome, pre-made system of networks. We have no idea the feeling of being 21 and having the best writers and directors chill with you at a bar after your Film 301 class. We couldn’t possibly imagine being part of a film scene that produces talent that can exist locally–and that doesn’t have to come to us through NBC.
Not to take anything away from those very lucky kids in New York, LA and those other well known cities, but up here in Cleveland, it’s pretty lonely.
And cold. Really cold.
So what are we going to do about it?
We’re going to write our own screenplays, and produce our own shorts. We’re going to volunteer at film festivals, and basically whore ourselves out (in the most platonic way possible) to anyone with a camera and a PA spot to fill.
But wait, THERE’S MORE!
As we make our shorts and help on set, we’re going to take you inside and show you what it’s really like when film newbies try to make a film. We’re going to put up pictures of us freaking out because we have no idea how to work the camera. We’re going to have blog entries filled with frustration and emo angst when the actors can’t seem to understand our creative vision.
But wait, THAT’S NOT ALL!
We’re going to scour the internet searching for the best screenplays, the coolest trailers and films, the best musicians, the most amazing bands, the funniest bloggers, the most interesting sites, and more.
And when we get all these things here, we’re going to have one of the best sites out there for people who can’t afford film school, who’ve never written a screenplay, and who never knew, until it was (realistically) too late, that it probably would be a good idea to get into the game at an early age.
Like 5. But I digress.
The most important thing we’re going to do is try to explain exactly what it is that we’ve learned: terms, tricks and tools of the trade.
Of course, we’re not film gurus or writing geniuses. But what we lack in filmmaking experience and years of promotional practice, we more than make up for with the willingness to learn.
So kick back, grab a beer (or an Arbor Mist, we don’t judge here) and have a laugh at our expense. Who knows? You might just learn something.
Let’s get a few things straight.
We here a NeoShop know nothing.
…
Well, that’s not exactly true.
We know how to format a screenplay. We know that writing 3 ACTS isn’t just for plays. We sort of know what’s going on when someone yells STRIKE! during a film shoot, and what the F-stop is. We know how to make a poor man's green screen. (see the pictures)
Unfortunately, there’s a lot we don’t know. We could list it all, but writing out one’s inadequacies and limitations is a tad bit depressing. Not to mention it might make the blogspot survers crash.
Besides the technical stuff, like figuring out how to get a copy of Adobe After Effects for free,(we've tried. It's impossible.) we don’t know what it’s like to go to film school and have that awesome, pre-made system of networks. We have no idea the feeling of being 21 and having the best writers and directors chill with you at a bar after your Film 301 class. We couldn’t possibly imagine being part of a film scene that produces talent that can exist locally–and that doesn’t have to come to us through NBC.
Not to take anything away from those very lucky kids in New York, LA and those other well known cities, but up here in Cleveland, it’s pretty lonely.
And cold. Really cold.
So what are we going to do about it?
We’re going to write our own screenplays, and produce our own shorts. We’re going to volunteer at film festivals, and basically whore ourselves out (in the most platonic way possible) to anyone with a camera and a PA spot to fill.
But wait, THERE’S MORE!
As we make our shorts and help on set, we’re going to take you inside and show you what it’s really like when film newbies try to make a film. We’re going to put up pictures of us freaking out because we have no idea how to work the camera. We’re going to have blog entries filled with frustration and emo angst when the actors can’t seem to understand our creative vision.
But wait, THAT’S NOT ALL!
We’re going to scour the internet searching for the best screenplays, the coolest trailers and films, the best musicians, the most amazing bands, the funniest bloggers, the most interesting sites, and more.
And when we get all these things here, we’re going to have one of the best sites out there for people who can’t afford film school, who’ve never written a screenplay, and who never knew, until it was (realistically) too late, that it probably would be a good idea to get into the game at an early age.
Like 5. But I digress.
The most important thing we’re going to do is try to explain exactly what it is that we’ve learned: terms, tricks and tools of the trade.
Of course, we’re not film gurus or writing geniuses. But what we lack in filmmaking experience and years of promotional practice, we more than make up for with the willingness to learn.
So kick back, grab a beer (or an Arbor Mist, we don’t judge here) and have a laugh at our expense. Who knows? You might just learn something.
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