This is a great blog on writing! I also re posted it on Micheline’s blog.
I hope you all enjoy it!
via Broadside
Ten Ways To (Seriously) Improve Your Writing (via Broadside)
30 Thursday Sep 2010
Posted in Uncategorized
Monthly Archives: September 2010
R. I. P. Spartacus
30 Thursday Sep 2010
Posted in NEWS
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Sad news today. Another Hollywood legend leaves us all behind with only memories. I grabbed this from a CNN article
CNN— Screen legend Tony Curtis died Wednesday, his family said. He was 85.
“My father leaves behind a legacy of great performances in movies and in his paintings and assemblages,” actress Jamie Lee Curtis said in a statement Thursday. “He leaves behind children and their families who loved him and respected him and a wife and in-laws who were devoted to him. He also leaves behind fans all over the world. He will be greatly missed.”
Curtis starred in more than 150 motion pictures and was nominated for an Oscar for his performance in 1958’s “The Defiant Ones” with Sidney Poitier.
Curtis also is known for his roles in the 1959 movie “Some Like it Hot” with Marilyn Monroe and Jack Lemmon and “Spartacus” in 1960 with Kirk Douglas. He also played the lead role in “The Boston Strangler,” released in 1968.
Curtis recalled last year how he landed the plum role in “Some Like it Hot”, his most memorable part.
“I got in it because (director) Billy Wilder … said at that time, ‘I want the handsomest kid in town,’ and they picked me,” Curtis told CNN iReporter Chris Morrow. “Well, that was a great compliment.”
Curtis also recalled what it was like starring with Monroe, whom he said he dated for about four months in 1949 or 1950.
“We had a wonderful time together,” he said. “We were both very young and hoping to get in the movies.”
Born in New York City in 1925 as Bernard Schwartz, Curtis grew up poor in the Bronx as his family struggled through the Great Depression. He took the name Tony Curtis in the late 1940s, when he started his film career.
He was married six times, most notably to film star Janet Leigh.
With his long eyelashes, lustrous shock of wavy black hair and New York accent, Curtis cut a colorful swath through the Hollywood of the 1950s and ’60s, marrying three times in two decades and appearing in more than 60 films and TV programs.
He starred opposite Leigh, his first wife, in 1953’s “Houdini,” playing the title role of magician Harry Houdini. Other major roles soon followed, including “Trapeze” in 1956 and “The Sweet Smell of Success” in 1957.
“Tony even made it seem natural for a Norseman to have a New York accent in The Vikings (1958),” said his official biography. “But it was in 1958 when Curtis and Sidney Poitier starred in Stanley Kramer’s social drama The Defiant Ones (1959) which earned both men Academy Award nominations and was among the most acclaimed and profitable films of the year.”
Another huge hit came in 1959, playing opposite Cary Grant in “Operation Petticoat.”
Curtis once said that his biggest regret was not winning an Oscar, but other awards found their way to him.
He received a lifetime achievement award from the Italian Oscars in May 1996, his website says, and in March 1995 was honored with the Chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres for his work in films and his original art works. Curtis also was honored by the USA Film Festival and the Palm Springs International Film Festival.
The actor worked with some of film’s biggest directors, including Blake Edwards, Stanley Kubrick, Elia Kazan, Vincente Minnelli and Nicolas Roeg.
Curtis served in the Navy during World War II and, upon his release, used the GI educational program to study drama, his biography said.
“He first gained attention in a Greenwich Village stage production of ‘Golden Boy,’ and was quickly offered a contract by Universal Pictures.” the bio says.
“His screen debut had him dancing with Yvonne de Carlo in ‘Criss Cross.’ His few seconds on screen were enough to generate thousands of fan letters to the handsome young man. Universal had the fastest rising star in Hollywood and one of the most enduring prolific actors of modern times.”
Curtis led a turbulent life off-screen, divorcing five times. Of the six children he had with three wives, a son died in 1994 from a reported heroin overdose.
Curtis admitted he battled drugs and alcohol abuse during the 1970s and 1980s and sought treatment at the famous Betty Ford Center in 1984.
In later years, Curtis began painting and was known particularly for his portraits.
But it was for his long and varied movie career and his larger-than-life personality that Curtis will be remembered.
“It’s a sad day for the entertainment world,” family attorney Eli Blumenfield said. “Tony was one of few remaining Hollywood icons. He led a good life, fathered six wonderful children and he was always proud of them. He will be sorely missed.
“
Tony Curtis, photographed in 1950 with Janet Leigh, was nomiated for an Academy Award, Golden Globe and Emmy Award.
Steve Kaplan ACTORS Comedy Workshop!
28 Tuesday Sep 2010
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Now Registering!
STEVE KAPLAN’S
ACTORS COMEDY WORKSHOP
Limited Space Available!
October 16-17th, 2010
To register:
David Fury, Emmy-Winning Writer/Producer for 24, Lost, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and more said of Steve:“I wrote…my best, funniest sketches thanks, in no small part, to the lessons I learned from Steve Kaplan’s comedy classes. Steve breaks the fine art of comedy down…that helps the unfunny become funny, and the funny become funnier.”
The first session is an introduction and exploration of what we call “The Hidden Tools of Comedy,” the unique techniques, exercises and approaches not taught in your standard acting class. The second session would focus on applying those tools to script analysis, cold readings, rehearsals, solo work and auditions.
“I was able to put your advice into action immediately. There was this one line in the play I am currently performing in (‘Rabbit Hole’ by David Lindsay-Abaire – I play the role of Izzy) – which I just had not been able to land – and I had tried everything – with no success. On opening night I even talked to some of our countries best theatrical comedy actors and asked how they would do it – and then tried their approaches – but still no real laugh. Then on Saturday as I was coming up to the line – it suddenly dawned on me to use the tool you taught us –“Non-Hero’– my character ‘knew too much” – and as simple as that – huge laugh. So thank you so much – I have no doubt I will be dipping into your ‘toolbox’ for the rest of my career. Thanks so much – your course was truly inspirational and hilarious – always the best combination.” Queenie van de Zandt, Actor/Singer/Writer
Event Details:
October 16 & 17, 2010
The Actors Network
1069 N. Fairfax Avenue
West Hollywood, CA 90046
West Hollywood, CA 90046
Saturday
1pm to 7pm
Sunday
10:00am to 5:00pm
Fees:
$250
To register:
For more information,
email Steve Kaplan’s Comedy Intensive at: skcomedy@aol.com
or phone: 818-718-7570
STEVE KAPLAN ENDORSEMENTS:
“I really enjoyed this weekend, thank you. I thought I was going to hate it because I’ve always thought no one can teach how to do comedy, I was wrong.” –Josh Thomas, Winner, “Best New Talent” Melbourne International Comedy Festival
“A few years ago I had the good fortune to take Steve Kaplan’s Comedy Weekend Intensive for Actors. As an actress for over 35 years I have had all kinds of training. Traditional training does not begin to really teach the mechanics of comedy, and Improv is only a part of comedy. But Kaplan more than fills in the gapsI We’ve all heard the saying “Dying is easy – COMEDY is hard!” Well, Steve Kaplan makes it easy or at least extremely accessible…and simultaneously he makes it such fun!! I can’t even BEGIN to tell you how much I learned. Through film and tv clips, Steve shows us “why” the greats are great at comedy. He teaches a brief history, a little bit of script analysis, the difference between funny and comic, and empowers the actor with some wonderful tools so that when the weekend is over you leave with an excitement and desire to work on a comedy as soon as possible. Top it all off with the fact that he is funny himself, and just a terrific guy that is great fun to be around. This is the kind of course I would like to take again, because it is chock-full of both laughs and info, and comedy training of this sort is just not available elsewhere.” Deb Cresswell, Actress
“Steve Kaplan was a very important influence on me as a young performer and writer. Many of his techniques for analyzing a comedy scene I still use to this day. Although, I make sure I never give him credit.”- Steve Skrovan, Writer/Producer for Everybody Loves Raymond
“Kaplan – the Stanislavski of Comedy!” – Backstage Magazine
“The best comedy intensive workshop in the city. If you can [take the class], and are serious about comedy, I highly recommend this class.” – P.B., Talent Manager
More Endorsements on the Kaplan Website
Check out some of the great press Steve got in Film Ink magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald and more from his recent tour of Australia: PRESS
Steve Kaplan’s Comedy Intensive
818 718-7570
Please visit Steve Kaplan’s website for more information. If you have any additional questions, or would like to register over the phone, please don’t hesitate to call us at 818 718-7570. We can be e-mailed at skcomedy@aol.com
Steve Kaplan’s Comedy IntensiveKaplanComedy.com
818-718-7570
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Twitter at Twitter.com/skcomedy
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Great Article About Mentoring
28 Tuesday Sep 2010
Posted in Just For Fun
I got this article today from a site I belong to called, 6FigureJobs.com, they have great advice, even if we are in the entertainment industry as writers and the rules are all different, and yet they are the same.
I posted it on my other blog, but I think it is so great that I am posting it here as well.
I believe as writers, especially in the entertainment industry, it is vital to have a mentor to help guide you. I am looking for a great mentor for tv/film writing. I have one girl that was sort of giving me mentoring advice, but without giving too many clues into who she was, the show she was on isn’t on anymore, so she had to step back and focus on her own career-which I totally understand and respect.
In any case, I hope you all find this interesting!
Mentors Pay It Forward
By Anne Cheevers
General Manager, 6FigureJobs
Last week I talked about why it’s important to have one (or three!), the wonderful people who agreed to be mine, and what we all got out of it. Today, I want to focus on why you should become one.
When you become a mentor, you agree to offer that person advice, access and advocacy.
Whether you are mentoring a college student or a professional whose career path is shorter than yours, your experience gives you invaluable perspective that your mentee can use to help them avoid pitfalls and missteps and to supercharge their careers.
I have several people that I mentor. Here are a couple of examples:
The first is someone I worked with 20 years ago that was an AP clerk in the accounting department. He was a very bright, very analytical guy who wanted to “make a lot of money” but didn’t want to put in the time to get his CPA.
My advice? Given his analytical bent, marketing was the career path he should consider.
Access? I helped him transition into the marketing department at my company.
Advocacy? Throughout his career I have helped prospective hiring managers understand his strengths. Today he is a lead marketer for a major advertising agency…making a lot of money.
Another mentee is a former vendor. She worked at a major printing house I used, she was an incredibly smart estimator (meaning she got me great pricing) and we had a great working relationship. At one of our meetings she shared her frustration with me that she felt like she had been dead-ended and that her opportunities at her current company were limited.
My advice? Move to the client side where “purchasing” is less narrowly defined.
Access? I worked with her to identify target companies, and segments, where opportunities might exist.
Advocacy? I’ve helped her get recognition and face time with those companies. We’ve worked together as she has transitioned from “ink on paper”, to online media and today, she is one of the top buyers for a major telecom company.
So what did I get out of all this? I feel a sense of accomplishment, and pride, in seeing the success that my mentees have achieved. Could they have done it without my mentoring? You bet. Could they have achieved their high level of success without having a mentor? I doubt it – at least not as quickly.
As my mentors have done for me, I feel a responsibility to do the same for others. That’s what my mentors have taught me – ask, learn, give back.
Please share your experiences on being a mentor at the 6FigureJobs Blog and pay it forward!
The Woman in the Picture is Me
27 Monday Sep 2010
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This is from an article in MTV news written by Ditzian
http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1648785/20100927/story.jhtml
Gloria Stuart, whose role as a Titanic survivor in James Cameron’s film earned her an Oscar nomination, has died at the age of 100.
Stuart was diagnosed with lung cancer five years ago and died Sunday night at her home in West Los Angeles.
Her career in Hollywood began in the 1930s, when she was under contract with Universal and 20th Century Fox and starred in films like “The Invisible Man” with Claude Rains, “Here Comes the Navy” opposite James Cagney and two Shirley Temple films. She appeared in 42 features before 1939, when her studio contract was not renewed. She struggled to find work and retired from film in 1946.
Cameron resurrected Stuart’s career in 1997, when he cast her as Rose Calvert, the older version of Kate Winslet’s character in “Titanic.” As a centenarian survivor of the cruise-ship disaster, Rose had hidden away a priceless blue diamond necklace that treasure hunters had been seeking. Toward the film’s climax, she dramatically tossed the necklace into the same waters in which her street artist-turned-lover Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) had perished during the 1912 ship sinking.
The then-87-year-old Stuart nabbed a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nod for the role, becoming the oldest actress ever to receive an Academy Award nomination. Though “Titanic” won 11 Oscars, including Best Picture and Directing, Stuart lost her category to Kim Basinger for her turn in “L.A. Confidential.”
Stuart was born on July 4, 1910, in Santa Monica, California. She is survived by her daughter, four grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. “When I graduated from Santa Monica High in 1927, I was voted the girl most likely to succeed,” she wrote in her 1999 memoir, according to The Washington Post. “I didn’t realize it would take so long.”
By Eric Ditzian
Brothers & Sisters Delivers in Season Premiere!
27 Monday Sep 2010
Posted in Just For Fun
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I wasn’t sure what to expect last night when I tuned into the season premiere of ABC’s Brothers & Sisters and I have to say that I am pleasantly surprised.
SPOILER ALERT
The storyline being pushed ahead a year was a great way to start off, unlike Grey’s Anatomy that started just a month after the tragedy – it was also very well done and very Grey’s. In Brothers & Sisters they fast forwarded to a year from the accident. I was impressed with Holly’s character and thought the subtle way they handled her memory loss was powerful and brilliant. I also enjoyed how Justin finally has some balls and isn’t just the cry baby that we have seen the past few years. He stepped up and got the family to finally talk about what happened.
I also loved the way they handled Kevin’s emotional turmoil. Kevin usually has it together, or it seems like he does. A bit of a control freak normally, I was happily surprised to see him crumbling the fastest and hardest; well visibly.
I have never really been in love with the Kitty character, and I hope they keep it real with this loss. I thought last night was a good start. She would reject the idea of losing Robert and instead try to save him for months and so I was happy with the way it played out.
Nora is still Nora and I love her. She was running around trying to fix everyone and hold it together. Well done.
From someone, me, who has experienced a lot of lost in the past 10 years; from tragedy to illness and the shock of it, loss is really hard. I find it is a lot harder than anything we have to deal with in life. I know what it is to run away and pretend something didn’t happen, or sort of push it aside and go one like things are normal when in fact they will never be normal again. So when I turned on my television last night I wasn’t sure what to expect and am happy to say they delivered in a very real way!
Brothers & Sisters is a great show that has so much potential this season. I hope you all tune in~
My Novel Available Again!
24 Friday Sep 2010
Posted in Novels
Four years ago I wrote a comedy about the industry called: Love You, Love Your Work, Let’s Do Lunch! (I write my novels under the nom de plume ~ Micheline McAllister)
It is about a TV writer who comes to L.A. from her cushy job in the midwest and when she finds herself hired as a PA at a bug studio, she is determined to change her future. When she tells a lie to go after an opportunity that falls into her lap, everything snowballs.
This is a straight up situational comedy and people have even said to me, “hey why don’t you do that?” LOL
I see Drew Barrymore in the film version!! LOL
I hope you like it. Barnes & Noble.com has it in stock now!
Dear Sesame Street,
24 Friday Sep 2010
Posted in Just For Fun
Tags
I am writing to tell you that I am deeply offended that Elmo was naked in the video with Katy Perry that has been all over the web. In the words of some kid on Charles In Charge, “I am shocked and dismayed at this … shocking dismayance!”
I mean, really? How dare you put a naked puppet on public television? I don’t know how you sleep at night. I don’t have kids, but if I did, I am sure they would only see a naked Elmo sporting the full Monty, instead of a lovable puppet.
And to add serious insult to injury, you put him with that sweet Katy, who was fully clothed.
I don’t know what to say, but where has the innocence gone? Bert and Ernie always have clothes on, and yet Elmo-NAKED!
I really hope you pay more attention to what is allowed on your show.
Sincerely,
A Concerned Citizen
Am I Too Scattered?
23 Thursday Sep 2010
Posted in My journey into Hollywood writing :0)
I ran into a fellow animation artist slash writer this morning while out walking my dog and he brought up an interesting point about maybe I am too spread out, like gun fire sprawling across a room in a mob film, am I am scattering myself and my writing around too much?
Hrm? It’s definitely worth thinking about. I believe that I am a bit, so it was no shocker when this was brought up, but on the other hand, I don’t want to be too limited. And, it isn’t like I have a choice in the matter because I get inspired and then I go! Then, there is no stopping me.
So the way I see it, I will get more focused soon, as has been my plan for a while now, but right now, I just have too many projects that I am interested in to stop.
I recently went to a panel at the Paley Center for Media in Beverly Hills and one of the Emmy nominees was saying to do what you do and write everything and don’t pigeon hole yourself if you don’t want to. Maybe I’ll be one of those writers than in 10 or 20 years people will talk about me, “Stephanie is crazy, she is always doing a million things at once”, who knows, but I guess I need to think about things so my career can move in the direction I want.
That said, I want to write and I am writing, so in that respect, I am very focused, it is just what I write that is a bit scattered!
Families, Vampires and Glee Oh My!
23 Thursday Sep 2010
Posted in Just For Fun
So excited for the new seasons on my fav shows: (in no particular order), GLEE, Modern Family, The Middle, Two & a half Men, House, Vampire Diaries, Grey’s Anatomy, The Big Bang Theory and many more are all back on the air! Yippee I scream and shout in joy, but then remorse sets in when I realize I have no time to watch all of these!
What is a girl to do?
And then, new shows! : Terriers, Detroit 187, Hawaii 5-0, Rubicon, Lonestar, The Event! Oy vey! So many hours, so little time.
I am so excited that I can hardly stand it. This week has been amazing and last week as well. I am only thankful that some of my summer loves, like Top Chef ~ Congrats Kevin! ~ and Mad Men, and Entourage are done.
I haven’t checked back in with the wives of Wisteria Lane yet, but am excited to see Brothers & Sisters as well as No Ordinary Family on ABC.
Television has never been so good. Check back with me during Christmas break!
Now shhh-tune in please!
Steph Olivieri Bourbon ~ Writing Coach 