On the Loss of an Actor

by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   The passing of actor Philip Seymour Hoffman was a tragic loss to the creative community—and to the public at large. Over a twenty-plus year career Mr. Hoffman masterfully moved us in a wide variety of character portrayals. His very public mourning triggers consideration of how other contributors to…

Call Him Phil

by Pete Wassell        IAFT/L.A.   I come here to praise Philip Seymour Hoffman, not to bury him. What are the facts?  We know how Phillip Seymour Hoffman died.  He overdosed on heroin.  He was found on the floor of his apartment bathroom with a syringe in his arm, surrounded by empty bags of heroin.  During…

THE OSCARS 2013, Part 2

by Pete Wassell    IAFT/Los Angeles   No love for Llewyn Davis?! I wanted to open with that because I wanted you to know my motivations.  To me Llewyn Davis was the one of the best films I’ve seen all year.  It tells the story of literally the most unlikable character you can imagine who…

HOW TO DEAL WITH WEIRD & UNPREDICTABLE HAPPENINGS!

OPEN DOOR SEMINAR ON FILM PRODUCTION INSURANCE by Frederick Bailey    Digital Film Production Mentor, IAFT/L.A.   Production Insurance is something professional filmmakers have to deal with on a regular basis. IAFT has scheduled a Presentation on Production Insurance with Luke Gelineau who specializes in Entertainment Insurance for United Agencies in Burbank. Let me tell…

IN CELEBRATION OF THE CELEBRATION OF THE OSCARS

by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   There are few awards—in any endeavor—that carry the prestige of an Oscar. Oscar winner is a lifetime label—and it is said—good for a ten-year career boost. The Oscars themselves have become a cottage industry of red carpet fashions, ‘exclusive’ interviews, and preview shows—creating a celebration of the celebration….

BARRETT & JIMENEZ ON SUCH GOOD PEOPLE

IAFT Mentor David Michael Barrett reports that his new movie, SUCH GOOD PEOPLE, is just about finished in post, after completing principal photography last summer. Barrett (Bad Actress), whose class on Non-Scripted Television is a third-term staple at IAFT, serves as screenwriter/producer on this new take on an old-school Hollywood screwball comedy. Michael Urie (Ugly…

THE OSCARS 2013

by Pete Wassell IAFT/Los Angeles   It’s that time of year again.  The Nominations are coming out tomorrow. I’m not a clairvoyant, but my crystal ball is twitching.  Having seen a great many films this year, and having liked a great many of them, I find it hard to nail down just who I think…

THE REALITY OF REALITY

by Michael Chasin Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   Reality TV reigns—with almost every channel offering programming that follows real people in real situations. But how real is it—since participants are coached on how to behave in manufactured storylines? Regardless of its authenticity, reality TV succeeds because at its heart—it is classic narrative storytelling. Reality shows have…

STARTING & ENDING

by Michael Chasin      Screenwriting Mentor, IAFT/Miami   The year’s end serves as a bold reference point for measurement for our lives. Those measurements (figurative and literal) trigger New Year’s resolutions—acknowledgements  that we should—or need to—improve how we live our lives. Just as we strive to make our lives better, we have the same…

FOUR-WALL, Part 2

by Frederick Bailey Directing Mentor, IAFT-LA   Reading Michael Chasin’s blog here last week brought to mind those Billy Jack movies back in the ’70s:  Billy Jack (1971) and Billy Jack Goes to Washington (1977).  Tom Laughlin was writer/director/star. He couldn’t get distribution, so he four-walled it and made a fortune.  Which bank-rolled other projects…