Scott Frank’s latest film – A WALK AMONG THE TOMBSTONES – is his second as a director and I am sure it won’t be his last. At least it better not be. The movie is based on the Lawrence Block novel – one in a series of books about former cop and recovering alcoholic Matt Scudder who works as a private eye. The story centers on a grisly murder.  Scudder is approached by a drug kingpin who hires him to find out who kidnapped and killed his pretty wife. It’s the kind of dark, film noir thriller that Scott loves. He’s really living in the wrong time damn period. The man should have been writing (and making) noir movies back in the 1940s and fifties; though he might say the 1960s or seventies would do.

On a recent trip to Amsterdam to the EYE (national museum of film)  I visited the major exhibition of director David Cronenberg’s work. One section, featuring clips and information about his film, A History of Violence, reminded me of this powerful work that I also referenced in my book, Savvy Characters Sell Screenplays! – specifically in the chapters in which I discuss subplots and plot twists.

In what could be a wave of the future, Warner Bros. and 3 Arts picked up an untitled “script-ment” from tyro screenwriter David Weil.  What has been called a "blue print for a 7-part movie franchise featuring interconnected stories contained in The Arabian Nights." The writer apparently sold a 90 page script-ment  (bible) of what will be a potential a long running program.

THE INSIDE PITCH is an entertaining and educational live half-hour (give or take 15 minutes!) show that features screenwriters pitching their story ideas to Hollywood executive, filmmaker and educator Christopher Lockhart. It’s a fun, fast and unpredictable 30 minutes! During the show screenwriters call in an pitch their loglines of their screenplays so Lockhart can critique them but also teach from them. The show is funny, informative, and educational. All aspiring screenwriters should tune into the show.

Jeffrey Lieber is a screenwriter (TUCK EVERLASTING, TANGLED) and executive best known as a co-creator of the hit TV series LOST. He also served as executive producer of Miami Medical. Lieber spent the last three years as an executive producer on USA’s Necessary Roughness.  Currently he is executive producer of NCIS New Orleans where he is helping creator/executive producer Gary Glasberg in running the series. On the Twittersphere he is known for his “Showrunner Rules” about the TV industry. 

It seems like a new screenwriting contest is born every day.   Many make promises or allusions to opening Hollywood doors and exposing winning scripts to green-lighters.   And new screenwriters shell out entry fees hoping a win will be their golden ticket inside.  Unfortunately, most screenwriting contests do not have the clout or visibility level to help a writer achieve that objective.  

Let me start by saying that in full disclosure -- for over twenty-five years I have worked as a script consultant -- first for studios and then as chairperson of my company Su-City Pictures East, LLC.  I am often asked, and again recently asked (which inspired this article), why writers should hire a script consultant and what to ask when looking for one. 

As you've probably noticed, Screenwriter's Utopia has had a minor facelift recently. Okay, a bit more than minor. The old system was creaky, prone to breakage, and needed to be replaced. Read on for what's happening with the state of Screenwriter's Utopia as of right now.

The Oscar nominated movie NEBRASKA, with an award winning screenplay by Bob Nelson, is in my opinion one of the better scripts recently produced for screenwriters to learn a little something about the craft. Why? It’s the epitome of efficient and dramatic storytelling. The script is pithy, direct, yet it has depth and emotion (theme) that is so subtle in its presentation.