by Joe Gillis, Jan 5 2012 // 1:30 PM
Even though this website could technically be called a “Blog” and those of us who contribute to it are known as “Bloggers,” we like to think of ourselves as writers. So, when other writers get recognized, as they have by the Writer’s Guild of America’s nominations for it’s awards today, we take notice.
We also take notice when movies that seem an odd choice for awards get nominated anyway. We will leave it to you, good readers, to decide which of the following nominees for Writers Guild awards seems a bit out of place.
Winners will be announced at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards on Sunday, February 19, 2012, during simultaneous ceremonies in Hollywood and New York. Check out all the nominees (and more) from the official press release:
ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
50/50, Written by Will Reiser; Summit Entertainment
Bridesmaids, Written by Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig; Universal Studios
Midnight in Paris, Written by Woody Allen; Sony Pictures Classics
Win Win, Screenplay by Tom McCarthy; Story by Tom McCarthy & Joe Tiboni; Fox Searchlight
Young Adult, Written by Diablo Cody; Paramount Pictures
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Posted in: Awards · Movies · News · Writers · Writing
Tagged: 'Bridesmaids', 50/50, Awards, Diablo Cody, midnight in paris, Steven Zaillian, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, WGA, Will Reiser, Win, Writers, Writers Guild Awards, Writers Guild of America, Young Adult
by Chris Ullrich, Dec 7 2011 // 1:30 PM
Even though this is technically a blog, we like to think of ourselves primarily as writers here at The Flickcast. Many of us have even been paid to write over the years and you can bet that pretty much everyone here has one or two screenplays, comic books or other literary works they are currently working on. It’s just the nature of things.
So, when the Writer’s Guild of America announces the nominations for outstanding writing for Television, we take notice and bring you all the details. That’s especially true when the top nominees are shows we really like.
One such show is Showtime’s freshman drama Homeland, which received 3 nominations including best drama series, best new series and best episodic drama. Homeland tied with perennial favorites Modern Family, Breaking Bad and Boardwalk Empire for the most nominations.
In addition to Homeland, Game Of Thrones, The Killing, New Girl and the Matt LeBlanc comedy Episodes all received nominations with Showtime getting a first time record of six for its shows. You may be wondering where Mad Men is in all of this?
Sadly, as the fifth season of the show was delayed, it didn’t make the cut for eligibility for this year’s awards. That’s probably okay as it gives a few other shows, like Homeland and Game of Thrones, a chance to shine. Can’t have Mad Men taking up all the awards, now can we?
The winners will be announced at the 2012 Writers Guild Awards on Feb. 19, 2012, at simultaneous ceremonies in Los Angeles and New York. Click through for the full list of nominee.
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Posted in: Announcements · News · TV · Writers · Writing
Tagged: Boardwalk Empire, Breaking Bad, Claire Danes, Damian Lewis, Game of Thrones, HBO, Homeland, Mad Men, Mandy Patinkin, Modern Family, Morena Baccarin, Showtime, The Killing, TV, WGA, WGA Awards, Writers, Writers Guild of America, Writing
by Sebastian Suchecki, Nov 23 2011 // 10:30 AM
Superheroes are huge now, incase you weren’t up to speed. With films like Dark Knight and Spider-Man making over a billion dollars in the worldwide box office, that means you’re going to see movie and TV studios make bolder decisions that lean towards comic book properties that could bring eyeballs (and dollar signs) to their company.
That’s just what Syfy is looking to do, as they have ordered a script from Greg Berlanti, who wrote Green Lantern, as well as helped shape the story of ABC’s Modern Family, which will focus on DC’s anti-hero from the future, Booster Gold. THR has the report.
The story will center on Booster Gold, a washed-up athlete from the future who travels back to the present in hopes of becoming the greatest super hero of all time. Instead of chasing criminals, however, his main priority is chasing fame and money. But Booster Gold discovers that being a hero takes more than just a megawatt smile, and that the future doesn’t happen without first protecting the present.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Comics · DC · DC Entertainment · Networks · News · Sci-Fi · Sci-Fi Channel · SyFy · TV · Writers
Tagged: ABC, Booster Gold, dc comics, DC Entertainment, Green Lantern, Greg Berlanti, Modern Family, Smallville, SyFy
by Chris Ullrich, Nov 7 2011 // 1:30 PM
One of the most useful applications I use every day on the Mac has now arrived for Windows. That’s right Windows-using writers Scrivener is now available to you.
No matter if you’re writing the next great American novel (something for National Novel Writing Month perhaps?), research paper, script or any long-form text document that involves more than hammering away at the keys until you’re done, Scrivener, made by the fine folks at Literature & Latte, can help you get your work done. The multi-featured program excels at helping you collect research, bring order to fragmented ideas and avoid shuffling index cards in search of that elusive structure.
Scrivener can help you from the moment an idea comes into your imagination until the final finished pages are output. In short, it pretty much does everything for you except the actual writing.
Unfortunately, that will still be up to you. The rest you can leave to Scrivener.
As someone who uses this app daily (the Mac version) I can safely say it really helps me get my work done. Without it, I would be back to posting index cards to cork boards and trying to make things work that way. I like the 21st Century’s technological advancements and I like Scrivener.
Scrivener requires Windows XP, Vista, or 7 (32 or 64 bit). 1GB RAM; 1ghz Processor; 100mb disk space; 1064 x 786 screen.
Posted in: News · Software · Tech · Writers · Writing
Tagged: Literature & Latte, Mac, National Novel Writing Month, Novel Writing, OS X, Script Writing, Scrivener, Software, Windows, Windows 7, Windows XP, Writers, Writing
by Matt Raub, Jul 14 2011 // 9:00 AM
After doing the seemingly impossible and breathing life back into the Batman film franchise after Joel Schumacher had his nipple-loving mitts on it, David Goyer is setting his sights on another failed film franchise to make it cool once again.
It looks like Legendary Pictures has tagged Goyer to help them out of a bind and write the script for their upcoming Godzilla reboot. Here’s the scoop from Deadline.
David Goyer has worked with Thomas Tull’s Legendary Pictures on both Chris Nolan’s Batman trilogy and the new Superman reboot Man Of Steel. Now the in-demand writer will pen the screenplay, from a draft written by David Callaham, for Legendary Pictures’ new version of Godzilla. The project will fall under Legendary’s overall agreement with Warner Bros while Toho Company, which own the rights to the oversized reptile, will distribute the film in Japan.
The film is also set to be directed by Monsters director Gareth Edwards, who managed to make an epic monster adventure with a minimum production budget. Let’s hope that Goyer can help us forget Matthew Broderick, Godzilla eggs, and Puff Daddy’s Led Zeppelin cover.
Posted in: Action · Announcements · Foreign Films · Movies · News · Reboots and Remakes · Sci-Fi · Warner Bros · Writers
Tagged: David Goyer, Gareth Edwards, Godzilla, Legendary Pictures, Man of Steel, Monsters, Warner Bros
by Chris Ullrich, May 25 2011 // 11:00 AM
When the iPad was first released many users regarded it as an ideal device to read books, comic books, magazines and screenplays. For that last one, your choices were pretty much limited to a PDF format of a script.
If you’re merely reading a script written by someone else, a PDF may work fine for you. But what if you’re a writer and want to read the current script you are writing using the de facto standard screenwriting app Final Draft?
That’s where something like FDX Reader comes in handy. The new app works a lot like iBooks or the kindle app for iPad and allows you to read Final Draft screenplays in their native file format and, more importantly, keep the formatting and page numbering of the script as well as adjust the size of the font — something you have a hard time doing with a traditional PDF file.
It also allows you to flip through pages with a tap or a swipe and jump to a page with a tap on the page number. The app is now available in the iTunes Store for $7.99 and works with the original iPad and iPad 2. Sorry, not the iPhone.
That may seem like a lot ffor what the app does but if you’re a screenwriter this app goes a long way to what we are all looking forward to: a native Final Draft app for the iPad. Until that arrives, being able to read screenplays on the iPad in their native format is pretty much good enough.
Posted in: Mobile · News · Scripts · Software · Tech · Writers · Writing
Tagged: FDX Reader, Final Draft, iOS 4, iPad, iPad 2, Reader, Screenplays, Screenwriting, Software
by Matt Raub, Apr 28 2011 // 3:00 PM
In a world where Hollywood is ruled by animated animals, teenage vampires, and movies about driving fast, it’s nice to see a fun classic science fiction story make it through the gate and get into the hands of a legitimate production company.
That’s exactly what’s happening with a new spec script The Greys by writer Adam Cohen. THR has the details on the flick.
Dimension Films has preemptively purchased the spec script The Greys, a sci-fi thriller from writer Adam Cohen and producing partners Sean and Bryan Furst.
F. Javier Gutierrez, the Spanish director of 2008’s Before the Fall, is set to direct.
The Fursts will produce in partnership with Radar Pictures’ Ted Field and Mike Weber. Overseeing for Dimension are svp of production Matthew Stein and vp of production and creative affairs Matthew Signer.
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Posted in: Announcements · Drama · Movies · News · Sci-Fi · Weinstein Co. · Writers
Tagged: Adam Cohen, Bryan Furst, Dimension Films, F. Javier Gutierrez, Matthew Signer, Sean Furst, The Greys
by Matt Raub, Feb 25 2011 // 12:00 PM
On the night of January 16th, Hollywood was split in twine after Ricky Gervais’ performance as the host of the evening’s events. One half felt that Gervais went over the line with his sardonic humor and felt that he was rude and crass, while the other half understood his sense of humor and realized he was doing his job as a “comedian.”
Now, continuing in his trend of bitterness, the original Office star has posted on his blog some suggestions to Oscar hosts James Franco and Anne Hathaway, in case they have time they need to fill.
Without further adieu, we present to you Ricky Gervais’ suggested script for this year’s Oscars. We’ve got what we think is a pretty good sample below, and check out the full script full of self-deprecating humor over at Gervais’ official blog.
JF
Thank you. I’m James Franco.
AH
…and I’m Anne Hathaway.
JF
You probably know me from 127 Hours where I play a man trapped in an enclosed space who decides he would rather cut his own arm off than stay where he was. Now that sounds “way out” but wait till half way through this fucking ceremony and you’ll start to identify with him.
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Posted in: Academy Awards · Awards · Comedy · Movies · News · Writers · Writing
Tagged: 127 Hours, Academy Awards, Anne Hathaway, Golden Globes, James Franco, Oscars, Ricky Gervais, The Ricky Gervais Show
by Matt Raub, Feb 10 2011 // 12:00 PM
There have been plenty of pats on the back to Favreau from the fan community since footage of Cowboys and Aliens has been surfacing, but one little fact has managed to slip through the cracks: what are the plans for Iron Man 3 now that he’s moved off of the franchise?
Well, THR seems to have a solid lead on an answer, as Lethal Weapon writer Shane Black has been having some meetings as of late with the suits at Marvel.
The writer/director has powwowed with Marvel execs about his take on the third installment in the blockbuster franchise. As of now he is being considered for the directing job, but the assumption is that if he gets the gig, he would also write a draft.
Insiders said that Black’s involvement is far from a sure thing, and that other filmmakers were being looked at.
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Posted in: Action · Announcements · Comedy · Comics · Iron Man 2 · Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · News · Paramount · Prequels and Sequels · Sci-Fi · Writers
Tagged: Cowboys and Aliens, Iron Man, Jon Favreau, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Last Boy Scout, Lethal Weapon, Marvel Studios, Paramount, Shane Black
by Matt Raub, Oct 28 2010 // 10:00 AM
Back at Comic-Con, Castle creator Andrew Marlowe spilled the beans on a Nick Fury script he had written for Marvel. Last we heard he was still tweaking it and about to hand it over to the studio, and it looks like that’s exactly what he’s done.
We recently got a chance to catch up with Marlowe in between scenes on the set of ABC’s Castle to discuss his plan for the first agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. and he believes a Fury movie based on his script has great potential.
It’s been in Marvel’s hands for a while. They’re point of view is that Nick has never supported his own comic book. It’s only been special runs or one-shots.
I think that they have questions whether the audience will show up for a character if they spent $150-$200 million on a movie. Crashing the helicarrier? Very expensive.
My script was more along the lines in a Steranko mode. Like the American James Bond. I think with Sam Jackson, they’ve gone in a different direction from my script, but I think that if that character continues to excite audiences, I think that there are ways to do it. I haven’t read The Avengers script yet, but I know they guys at Marvel are smart in terms of the intersection of the creativity, the fun, and the commerce of it all.
Right now, it’s in their very capable hands, and I have faith in them.
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Posted in: ABC · Action · Announcements · Casting · Comics · Disney · Exclusive · Interviews · Iron Man 2 · Marvel · Marvel Studios · Movies · News · Writers
Tagged: ABC, Andrew Marlowe, Avengers, Captain America, Castle, Disney, Iron Man 3, Jim Steranko, Marvel, Marvel Studios, Nathan Fillion, Nick Fury, Sam Jackson
by Matt Raub, Oct 1 2010 // 10:00 AM
You heard that right. Pushing Daisies creator Bryan Fuller is currently working with NBC to bring a brand new Munsters reboot to the airwaves as soon as next season. Just like that, what could be a terrible idea, has been turned around into a potential brilliant idea. From EW.
So far, NBC, with whom Fuller has an overall deal, has ordered only a pilot. But since the potential series is being described to me as “Modern Family meets True Blood,” I have a good feeling about it.
Not only that, but rumor has it no less than Guillermo del Toro (Hellboy) is eyeing a behind-the-scenes role in the project.
So if fanboys and fangirls weren’t excited enough for Daisies creator Fuller to come on-board, master of twisted horror/sci-fi del Toro is also looking to hop into the mix.
Though it’s sad to believe, a lot of this project’s future rides on whether or not ABC’s newest series No Ordinary Family succeeds. If the TV-watching American audience doesn’t buy into the not-so-conventional family comedies that they used to scoop up in the mid 1990′s, this series could be dead before it’s ever born.
We expect to hear more news soon, but don’t expect anything official until we get closer to NBC’s next Fall Upfronts next year.
Posted in: Action · Comedy · NBC · Networks · News · Sci-Fi · TV · Writers
Tagged: ABC, Bryan Fuller, Guillermo del Toro, Munsters, NBC, No Ordinary Family, Pushing Daisies
by Chris Ullrich, Sep 22 2010 // 12:00 PM
As we do sometimes here at The Flickcast, we’ve got a video for you today that entertained and enthralled us enough to click a few buttons, type some text and share it with you. No, we’re not lazy,we just like to bring the best quality we can and don’t like to waste our time or your time.
So, that brings us to this video made by YouTube user TVAuteur. In it watch as an animated character of Mad Men creator Matt Weiner conducts a job interview with a perspective employee. The video, to say the least, is pretty damn funny but also has a touch of anger — which we love. I just hope the guy who made it doesn’t end up getting sued.
Of course, the real Mad Men airs on AMC Sunday nights. This video you can watch any time you want. In fact, how about right now after the jump?
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Posted in: AMC · News · TV · Video · Writers
Tagged: AMC, Christina Hendricks, Elisabeth Moss, Janjuary Jones, Jon Hamm, Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, Parody, TV, Video, YouTube