The old adage is to write what you know. It's a simple enough idea. If you've experienced something, and can remember it vividly, it's easier to describe and put into words than something completely alien. But what about writing something you wanted to know? That's the intriguing starting point for All of Us Strangers, a … Continue reading Coming Home – All of Us Strangers
I've talked before in this space about the difference between subtlety and nuance in screenwriting. By basic definition, one feeds into the other, but in the practicalities of scripting for film, the two are similar but distinct ideas. You can be nuanced without being subtle, and vice versa. It comes down to the approach of … Continue reading The Write-Offs – American Fiction
The first major mile marker for next year's Oscars has finally been crossed. Today, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences released their shortlists in 10 of the 23 categories. Participating branches and members have been viewing submissions, attending bake-offs, and voting for the past few weeks, and now the semifinalists have been revealed. … Continue reading Moving On to the Pre-Blitz – 96th Academy Awards Shortlists
We come to it at long last. Tomorrow the Academy will announce the shortlists in multiple categories, including International Feature. I've done my best to be as comprehensive as possible in watching and analyzing everything I could find, but I didn't accomplish all I wanted to. There were several private screenings that I got invites … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Gamblers
Ever since my first screenwriting class in my junior year of college, I've adhered to the mantra of "show, don't tell." It's the basic idea that when it comes to writing for film, it's more often than not better to let the audience see what's going on, rather than just talking about it. There are … Continue reading Neighborhood Watch – The Zone of Interest
I've spent a lot of space on this blog over the last year complaining about movies that are just too long. This is mostly because the guilty filmmakers don't use the extra time properly. I don't hate long movies in general. I believe a creator should take all the time that is necessary to tell … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – The Long Shots
If there's one thing the French know, it's romance. The images evoked through decades and centuries of association between the two are basically innumerable. Equating France and love isn't so much a trope as it is a part of our cultural lexicon, understood as just the way things are until we're presented with an overwhelming … Continue reading Love Gastronomically – The Taste of Things
The steamroll through my backlog of International Feature submissions continues tonight, as there remain about a dozen or so films to analyze, and only five more days until the Academy officially releases the shortlist. I know it feels like I'm just loading up here before the deadline, but I had good reason. Unlike most years, … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – Bless the Rains
Ava DuVernay is one of those rare filmmaker who approaches her work in such a thoughtful manner that no matter what she does, you feel a natural curiosity based on the degree of credibility she's developed over the last decade. After triumphs like 13th, Selma, and When They See Us, she has given audiences an … Continue reading The Roots of Bigotry – Origin
As of this writing, we are one week from the Academy releasing its shortlists for next year's Oscars. Among the most anticipated categories getting the semifinal news is International Feature, where 88 films were deemed eligible to vie for the prize (of 92 total submissions; apologies to Cuba, Hong Kong, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan). By the … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – International Co-operation
I Actually Paid To See This 