Anything Goes

Hi Sydney, could you kindly remind me how to log in to the Zoom call?

Hello! Looking forward to joining you all shortly. I'm on vacation in Gran Canaria and the hotel WiFi is quite primitive, so I very much hope this works!

Hi all, anyon can send me the URL of the Call? Zoom?

Here you go, see you in there: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/9DRNMABYR9u_ZKK-dHUwlQ

I can't LOG IN - Sydney, please advise

Hi Kevin, you'll have to do a deep dive into Google Search to see what is found. Do keep in mind that a completed screenplay that's ready to go, and requires very little development, is what can open doors.

Hi, Kevin Hager. I second what Lindbergh E Hollingsworth said. You could also search Stage 32's Job Board for indie producers and directors who are looking for writers to write their scripts (www.stage32.com/find-jobs). The Job Board gets updated regularly. Once you build relationships with these producers and directors by working on their projects, you might be able to pitch them your ideas. That's how it's been for me.

Hi, Geoff Hall. The film industry can open people's eyes to what's going on in the world like Sandra and Tony talk about in the soundbite, and the film industry can partner with organizations to bring awareness to issues in the world like Sandra mentioned. And the film industry can donate some of its profits to organizations that are related to the films like Laurie Ashbourne talks about a lot.

Maurice Vaughan absolutely, Maurice. After the audience’s response to Adolescence, Netflix partnered with educational providers to help schools discuss the series and the issues it raised.

With Seeing Rachel, we are adopting a UK and US charity, to promote their work.

That's great, Geoff Hall! Congratulations! I just read Sandra's blog "Adolescence: Shaping Minds Through Socially Responsible Storytelling." It's a must-read. I plan on watching Adolescence tonight and this weekend.

Maurice Vaughan brace yourself Maurice. It’s a tough ride and the final episode is so emotional. Let us know what you think, please.

Ok, I will, Geoff Hall.

Mark Deuce escape is only one possibility for cinema, Mark.

Or to quote Karen Armstrong:

Story...is not about opting out of this world, but about enabling us to live more intensely within it. — ‘A Short History of Myth’

Well said Geoff Hall have a fantastic weekend!

Drug abuse I've been through myself. I know people who have been through domestic abuse as well.

I'll say two things.

One, people who have been through these things are extremely touchy about the subject. And ESPECIALLY if you've been through drug abuse it's important to have gone through it yourself before you write about it or your audience will turn on you for not knowing what they've been through. For instance, people say congrats for getting sober because I was on drugs, but I am California sober, I smoke pot and will still occasionally have a beer or two with dinner. I wouldn't dare say I'm sober. I've been sober for 2.5 years and it was the hardest thing I've ever done. It was harder than being a drug addict. Me being honest about that is out of respect for real crackheads who cleaned up. And people who stay sober forever are the toughest son of a bitch you've ever met in your life. So, there's a lot of passion, fire there for people and just be careful with it.

Two, why Disney? Disney's entire current focus is quite clearly on political shifts and how to implement them in the minds of young people with casting, writing, promotion, etc. I don't see them hopping on these subjects, plus their audience is mostly children who haven't been through any of this and don't need to know about it until they're older.

I'd say just keep an open mind about who can produce for you and work with you! You might do all that work and meet Disney, and you don't even like them enough to work with them.

Well raise awareness and to help people stay off drugs.

Disney is known for doing good. Plus, sometimes kids need to be smart to recognize red flags and danger signs so they can alert people.

I don't have my ticket yet, but I'm excited for Thunderbolts, Jameel Anne Johnson! I saw a trailer, and that's all I need to see. I want to know as little as possible going into the movie.

Yes! I'm the same with trailers. Once I know I'm seeing a movie, no trailers! I think I need to rewatch the 2nd or 3rd Antman though.

I liked Antman 2 and 3, Jameel Anne Johnson. I liked the first Antman too. I might rewatch Antman 2 and 3 before watching Thunderbolts. Or I might just watch recap videos.

recap...that's a good idea.

Watching recap videos instead of rewatching movies saves me time, Jameel Anne Johnson, and sometimes I find out things about the movies I didn't know.

Jon Shallit I responded to your private message, buddy! I appreciate you reaching out.

@mauricevaughan Glad to hear it and same here!

Danny Range Thanks for this. I have 3 scripts and haven’t sold one... YET. For every day I'm excited to write and stay up most of the night because I’m in the zone, there’s a night I’m haunted by imposter syndrome and fighting the nagging thoughts that I’m nowhere near good enough.

But with every script, I feel myself getting better. Better at writing visually. Better at crafting dialogue that’s not so clichéd, on-the-nose, or overly expository. That’s what it’s about. Keep writing and feel yourself seeing it more with each word, even if there’s still further to go.

That’s why I do it. I have a story to tell, and one day, everyone might see it.

Beautifully said, Danny Range!

Neil Jaye Glad this hit home for you! I go through the same thing. I'll win a contest or something and I'm like, "See! All this visions I have, all the guidance I feel I've received, it's real. I'm onto something." Then I'll get denied on pitches and I go to sleep thinking, "Maybe I'm nuts, maybe I'm wrong about this."

It's just a battle. And to win all you have to do is not give up and keep fighting through that.

Because they look perfect and cute. At least that is how the tabloid media often portray them.

What marketing taught me is unfortunately most of the world runs on looks. Celebrities are attractive, usually, and when they're single, they're on fire. When they date somebody, it's two audiences colliding. Their audience doubles, but not for the best reasoning.

Most simple-minded think: "I want a person like this. Why do they like this other person? Is that what I need to be and look like?"

In short: they like one, or both, and it's a fever dream. They're constantly rooting against this person's significant other or comparing themselves to them.

...

You know, kind of like I used to hate Sydney Sweeney's husband for no reason. Now they broke up and I don't mind him. (kiddinggggg lol)

The fairy tale is timeless. Since kids—at least young girls— Disney has fed this idea of happily ever after with a prince as the model of aspiration. These celebrities are real-world equivalents, stand-ins. It's the ooh's and ahh's. Why is this one paired with the other? (He/she is a prince or princess, and the others are frogs.) They would be such a dream together and happy with each other. I knew they were meant to be all along. Let's root for them. How dare they break up our dream? We live vicariously.

In that regard, there have been significant changes. Programming tends to stay with many people until they deprogram themselves.

Also, people are natural observers. When looking at other people's lives, it's easy to feel better about your own or, in some cases, worse. It's entertaining, to say the least. Humanity is infatuated with spectacle; insert Jordan Peele's "Nope." Go back to human zoos, Roman Colosseums, freak shows, etc. This is the foundation of it all.

'If you display it they will gawk."

Often the media outlets who sell/promote their stories ask a “Cliff Hanger” question about the couples lives to create interest, people are naturally curious so engage in the content (often at a sale price) to satisfy curiosity. Also binge celebrity watching is going from being a kind of subculture to mainstream especially regards couples in TV/streaming/press. EG Married at first sight, Made in Chelsea, Wives of New Jersey etc etc. Couples stories even get on National & International news for no other reason than they are splitting up, marrying, committed adultery etc. To me that sucks. What with wars, famine, disease, crashing economy & the rest it feels crass when they intercept broadcast with puerile gossip alongside the more serious issues.

I don't like to know anything about celebrities lives. I don't even like to watch interviews or blooper reels. It completely ruins the shows I see them in. I love to immerse myself in the fantasy of a movie/series, whatever. When I learn something about the actors personal life it takes them right off the screen into reality. Yuk!

Really excited to see this movie, Mark Deuce! People have been raving about it. I plan on seeing it this weekend.

Same here Maurice Vaughan I may watch it tonight.

Mark Deuce where can I watch it looks amazing!