Many writers exploiting, say, a child’s tricycle as a prop in a scene, would likely place it ribbon-bound under the Christmas tree or abandoned temporarily on the front lawn. Instead of that, how about an active battlefield, the trike’s bell tinkling as the rider pilots it directly into the line of fire between two warring [...]
As a young writer, Richard Walter had the opportunity to see, in person – a letter written from Jack London to his agent – read the article in the new issue of the newsletter to hear what London had to say and how it impacts considering yourself a professional writer.
How did rock star screenwriter Paul Castro get his start? And, what’s his advice on getting your own as a writer? Click here to find out – you’ll learn something AND be entertained in the process.
If you were a casting agent and met a frail, petite waif of a wispy, longhaired blond, who weighed maybe ninety pounds, and on tiptoes stood four-ten, how would you cast her? As a live-action Tinkerbell or a bouncer in a biker bar? Read on to see why the latter is precisely the way to [...]
There’s a joke about two television writers. One boasts to the other that his young daughter just spoke her first word. “What’d she say?” “Residual.” Read on and see why this is not really a joke. – Richard Walter Read the full issue here: http://richardwalter.com/wp-content/newsletter/newsletter11_June_2011.html
Writers crave opportunities to pitch their ideas to producers. Alas, however, if there is no story, no characters worth caring about, no overarching structure, pitching is worse than a waste of time. Without a solid story, you’re merely one more screen talker. – Richard Walter Read the full issue here: http://richardwalter.com/wp-content/newsletter/newsletter10_May_2011.html
In July of 1974 my wife and I fled Rome–where over a period of three weeks, plus one additional morning–I had penned the biggest-budgeted film produced in Europe that summer. In a rented Fiat we drove through Tuscany, visited also Sienna, Verona, Venice, Lake Como, and ultimately Milan where we caught a plane back to [...]
A writer’s day job is his best friend. Let’s stumble down memory lane to a time when I worked a freelance assignment for a toy company. – Richard Walter Read the full issue at http://richardwalter.com/wp-content/newsletter/newsletter8_February_2011_v3.html
For dancers and actors it’s obvious their bodies are their instruments. It’s a little less clear, but nonetheless true also for writers. Writing is not as much from the brain as from the heart, the belly, the groin. Writing is sedentary to be sure, which is all the more reason scribes need regularly to get [...]
