FD8

Joel Levin at Final Draft asked me what I want in Final Draft 8, which they're now designing. I want to be able to print script notes on the facing pages, like I can in Movie Magic Screenwriter. What do you want Final Draft 8 to be able to do? (Aside from "not crash." They know that. And 7.1.3 is pretty stable.)

Casting

Sorry I've been silent. We're putting together an application for BravoFACT to fund our comedy short, and that means we need all our ducks in a row. Not just a script and a budget, but department heads and all the roles cast. Normally you wouldn't cast anything but leads before funding, but they want to know that if they approve you, you're ready to go.

Casting is your most important job as a director. If you cast right, you can do no directing for the rest of the production and you'll still be okay. (Not great, but okay.) Thing is, headshots tell you oh so little. You don't get much of a sense of a person from a headshot. You can tell if someone's inexperienced, but what if they're inexperienced but good? Some agencies are good enough to put people's reels online. This saves everyone a ton of time. I can tell in a minute or two if I'm interested in someone. If they've got it, I'm drawn in. If not, I drift. Of course, the agencies might not want you to tell in a minute or two that you're not interested!

Casting is scary, because you can screw your whole movie up. It's also fun, because when you find the right person, your lines come alive. Sometimes the actor finds something in them that you didn't know was there. That's a joy.

I have a feeling this is going to be a funny, funny piece. If we get the money, yo.

D.P and Composer Needed

We're putting together a team for the 6-minute comedy short I hope to be shooting here in Montreal in April. Application needs to be in next week. If you or someone you love would like to be considered as a director of photography or composer, please get me a reel pronto. The d.p. needs to be Montreal-based, obviously; the composer should be Canadian but could be living anywhere. Contact me at craftyscreenwriting at gmail dot com. Thanks!

When Is a Show Ready to Spec?

Q. When is it too early to write a spec script? It seems that with the popularity (that I saw) of West Wing specs, people would be in a rush to start churning out Studio 60 specs as well. But is it too early? Should a writer wait for a show to get legs firmly underneath it and become established, or do we just take what we have now and run with it? As you've noted, the show has turned to more worthwhile themes for the viewers in the way of personal conflicts, and we are a bit more accustomed to each character's voice, so it seems mature enough to move forward.

The received wisdom seems to be that you should never spec a first season show. The risk is just too high it will not get picked up for a second season, and then your spec is no good.

On the other hand, I believe by this time last year people were speccing Desperate Housewives. Though how they did it, I can't imagine, with the serial plot line.

If you're willing to take a gamble, you could spec a Studio 60, knowing that at least it's been picked up for the rest of the season. That means it will still be on the air for next staffing season. (And given how awesome last night's episode was, I'm guessing it will get picked up.) Also in the case of S60, you know that everyone in showbiz has tuned in at least once and probably several times. It would be riskier to spec a Friday Night Lights, even though that got picked up, too, because it's not everyone's cup o' tea. A lot of people have the "yeah, it's good, but it's not my bag" thing. You might be safe with Ugly Betty, too. Or Heroes.

The safest thing is still to call agents' assistants and ask politely if they (the assistant) are willing to tell you what their clients are speccing. But if there are only a few shows you're passionate about, I'd say passion is the way to go. I'd spec a Studio 60, knowing it's risky, because I love it, before I'd spec a Battlestar, because I just don't get Battlestar. Your mileage will vary.

Storyboards Needed

We're doing funding applications for a six minute comedy short I hope to direct next year, and the funding people would like to see storyboards.

Would any of you like to do storyboards for a short film? No pay up front, but there could be an honorarium if and when we're funded, and of course you get a nice credit and the experience. The camerawork is not that intricate (it's a comedy), so it wouldn't be too many pages of storyboards. Email me at crafty at b2b2c dot ca if you're interested. Thanks!

Available December 19!

They're charging $50 for Bon Cop Bad Cop at Amazon.com. But Amazon.ca will sell it to you for less than $25! Should get to you just a little bit too late for Christmas. New Year's present, anyone?

Contest!

I need some weird party conversation. Preferably weird hipster party conversation. Definitely not geekfest party conversation and way definitely not weird screenwriter party conversation.

So, here's the contest! Please leave your weirdest / most memorable party conversation in the comments, or if it's too embarrassing, email it to me. If I use it, I'll send you a signed copy of your choice of my books. Or name a character after you. Your choice.

Another Week, Another Trip to the Big Smoke

This afternoon I am in the lounge of Toronto's Union Station, waiting for the 5 pm train. I've been making the pilgrimage to Toronto a lot lately, but this has been one of my most focused trips. I went to Telefilm twice to pitch movie projects with some very classy producers. I met with one of Canada's top production companies and one of our top actors who likes one of my projects. (And he's perfect for the part, too. Which don't always go together.) And I got to answer a lot of questions for the current CFC Prime Time TV class. That was fun.

Here's hoping some of these meetings bear fruit.