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 go.
– Richard Walter
Read the July newsletter here.
What Happens When You Turn in a Script 1 Day Late to Richard Walter’s Class?
You may just write a runaway hit, if you follow his advice like Akshat Verma did… and decipher how to not be your O.W.E.
In a humorous recounting of how this writer’s story almost didn’t come to be, Akshat recounts one of his early disappointments in ‘the biz’… getting an A- from Richard Walter for a screenwriting workshop. The reason? He turned in the completed script one day late. Read on for the full piece and to see just why you too, should learn why O.W.E. isn’t an I-owe-you note from Richard, but rather sound advice for how to craft the best stories. And, not let anyone get in your way to do so.
Congratulations Akshat! And write on fellow Bruin screenwriters!
Read the full story, published in Tehelka, here.
Behind the Screen: Getting to Know Paul Chitlik
Screenwriter/producer/director Paul Chitlik has written for all the major networks and studios. He was story editor for “The New Twilight Zone,” and staff writer for Showtime’s “Brothers.” He has written features for Rysher Entertainment, NuImage, Promark, and others. He received a WGA award nomination for his work on “The Twilight Zone,” a GLAAD Media Award nomination, and won a Genesis Award for a Showtime movie. He has taught screenwriting at UCLA;Loyola Marymount University; ESCAC, the film school of the University ofBarcelona; UNIACC in Santiago, Chile; and EICTV, the film school of Cuba. He consults for the government of Chile’s film development process. He has presented workshops and consulted for ScreenWest, Australia; ScreenAustralia and the Australian Writers Guild.
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His book, Rewrite, A Step-by-Step Guide to Strengthen Structure, Characters, and Drama in Your Screenplay is now in its second printing.
Dream of succeeding at writing in Hollywood? Read on to hear how Paul got his start and what he recommends for long term success.
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
It’s easier to win admission to the Harvard Medical School than a seat in Professor Richard Walter’s legendary screenwriting seminar at UCLA. He takes you all the way, from idea to draft to studio deal. UCLA-trained screenwriters have won two Oscars and three Oscar nominations in the past four years, and written ten movies for Steven Spielberg.
Through a special Summer Session course both non-UCLA and UCLA students can enroll for eight credits in a course with this celebrated storytelling guru. The class is especially designed for the Summer Session and is appropriate for new writers and also for experienced writers. It is a round-table roll-up-your-sleeves-and-write seminar. There are in-class writing challenges and also analysis of in-progress script pages written by students in the class.
The on-campus UCLA class meets in Westwood for six Monday afternoons from June 20 through July 29, 2011, 2:00 to 4:50PM. All prerequisites are waived and the class is especially designed for Summer Session ‘A’. The class, listed in the online catalog of courses as “FILM TV 135A ADV SCRNWRTNG WKSHP” (more info here) is open to UCLA students and also to students who are not enrolled at UCLA. Students receive 8 credits.
To register, students should visit http://www.summer.ucla.edu/ and click “REGISTER”.
According to political online news site The Daily Caller, HBO lurches leftward with its programming. As Christian Toto writes:
Take a peek at HBO’s programming slate and you’ll find a plethora of left-leaning content. Each Friday, Bill Maher brings his brand of liberal fury to the channel’s late-night lineup.
But Richard Walter isn’t convinced – read the full story by clicking below to hear his commentary quoted in the article.
Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2011/04/06/hbos-leftward-lurch/#ixzz1Kg7PhHvX
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 the States. From what were we running? The fear that the Carabinieri, the Italian heat, upon discovering fifteen million lire in our hotel room in cold, hard cash would wrongfully accuse us of drug trafficking. Click here to read on for the full adventure.
- Richard Walter
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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
