What type of movie do you want to go and see; a dull one or a great one? While the question may appear a little (or a lot) on the brainless side, it’s a standard more screenplay writers need to apply.

Often they have a great idea, but really only fifty pages of real story. The other 40+ pages are just filler. The words amble along without any real purpose other than to get to the better part of the story. Those 40+ pages give the human race something to moan about. We all like to complain about something. Why chance them talking ‘down’ your 40+ pages when you have 50 great pages?

Now if you’d given them 90 pages of great story they could only talk you ‘up’.

When you want to go out on a hot date, you don’t wear your twenty year old t-shirt with food stains down the front. You prepare, you dress up, you groom. It’s the same for your screenplay.

• Prepare properly; be organised
• Dress up each word until it’s the best
• Groom your presentation to perfection

How often have you watched a film where it has such highs and lows you only remember the highs and there weren’t enough of them. You can’t really say what happened during the lows, but you do know they went on for a long time, far too long. Sometimes a movie has three great special effects or car chases, but happened in between?

Having a few ideas for a script gets you on the road to the average script. It’s only when you can maintain that flow throughout the whole 90+ pages that you’ll know you’re on to a winner.

If you don’t know by now the hot script comes from the re-writes, not your first draft. There might be several re-writes before you send it off to your friends and family, on spec to a producer or to your agent.

It’s during those re-writes that the professional screenplay writer will ‘out’ every word that doesn’t fit, every word that doesn’t move the story along to the next scene. They’ll not be prepared to accept anything that doesn’t keep the reader hooked and wanting to read each part of every page.

The reader will give up reading your average script by page ten, if you’re lucky they got that far.

To get yourself from the average screenplay to the hot one:

• What words can you take out?
• What makes the writing sharper?
• What dull writing can you exclude?
• What new scenes can you insert to up the tempo?
• What action have you over-written?
• Which characters change their personality too much?
• Have you cut out all the ‘thes’ and ‘thats’ as you can?
• How can you get more white space on the page?

They’re just a few of the key stages to go through to help you go from ‘average’ to ‘hot’.

When you need help with getting your screenplay ready to show to a reader, producer, studio or agent, check out our screenplay analysis services first.

Go re-write now.

‘I didn’t know what was happening so I fell asleep.’ Well not me, but one of my companions on this fun filled visit to the local movie theatre. Actually two of them fell asleep, so that’s 50% of our team. They didn’t miss all of the film, but probably a third of it, so the ending might have rejuvenated them or perhaps it was just the thought of the film ending and home time being just around the corner. They may have been tired; it might have been the movie.

WALL-E has some interesting surprises; it’s probably not the film you expected it to be. When you see it listed as a child’s film you think it’s going to be full of tempo, fun, jokes and excitement. WALL-E is not that movie. WALL-E is a computer animated adventure and science fiction film.

Firstly, it’s a Walt Disney film so you know the standard must be high. It’s also a PIxar movie, so you now expect brilliance and you get it, but in the quality of the film making, not necessarily in the expected ways of entertainment and fun.

It takes us through a romance between two robots from the future. Instead of dialogue, we get the robot’s sounds and body language.

WALL-E (Waste Allocation Load Lifter-Earth-Class) meets EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator.) EVE is trying to find life on earth. WALL-E has found life on earth after 700 years. The humans in space have been waiting to go back to their earth, but are now all television watching cabbage potatoes losing bone structure, but having gained body mass from what looks like 30+ meals a week at their local greasy fast food eatery.

Sigourney Weaver is one of the voices used and I can’t help but wonder why these types of movies need such expensive (no offence Ms Weaver) big name stars to ‘talk’ for the animated characters when they don’t need to appear on the film, in person. I’m told because they are the world’s elite actors they give the world’s best performances required by the animators. I can’t help that think that many skilled actors could have done the task for many millions less, but that won’t make the theatre ticket price any less. I don’t believe we go to the cinema to hear our stars when we visit an animated feature.

The movie isn’t thrilling; it is enjoyable as it sends out two clear messages of love between two people (well here, it’s two robots) and the message that if we don’t take care of the planet we’ll lose what we have and need to live in a spaceship somewhere orbiting a long way, away waiting for the earth to restore itself without our help.

It’s the only film I’ve ever seen that features a loyal cockroach. This animal made it though the dirt and grime of the human race. That shouldn’t have been a surprise. Perhaps we all learn something. I’ve learnt that the message will have been lost on too many of its audience; it’s too clever at getting the message across. Most of the audience where I saw this movie was aged between five and ten years old. I hope the message was at least subliminal, but I’m not convinced. I’m looking forward to Ice Age 3.

It’s unfortunate when you read and hear so many reviews of a film before you see it and gain a dissatisfied opinion before even reaching the drive-in. However, I do prefer my own opinion and the chance to view the delivery with my own my eyes. So I paid my dollars and settled in to at least give it a chance that so many appeared to failed to have done, looking around the half empty location.

My good lady and I exchanged a few ‘well it appears okay to me’ views during the initial fifteen minutes, so it looked like we were set to stay. Others had different ideas and unless it wasn’t other ideas taking people home, several cars left before the end so they’ll never know what happened, unless of course, they guessed, which was perfectly easy. There was just the one twist which almost twisted back, but stayed where it was. Otherwise, it was pretty much as we’d expected from an Indy film.

For those not in the know: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull is a new adventure film directed by Steven Spielberg, from a story co-written by executive producer George Lucas. Now there are two names to ensure people park their rears in the cinema. Set in 1957, the fourth film in the Indiana Jones film series pits an older Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) in opposition to the KGB of the Soviet Union, led by Irina Spalko (Cate Blanchett), in the search for a crystal skull. Indy is helped by his former lover Marion Ravenwood (Karen Allen), the greaser “Mutt” Williams (Shia LaBeouf), and fellow adventurer Mac (Ray Winstone). John Hurt and Jim Broadbent also play fellow academics.

Harrison Ford plays the role just as we’d all expect, no more, no less; a highly competent delivery. A few jokes, but not so many about his age as other reviewers had stated. Those same reviewers also reflected upon Cate Blanchett’s performance, but I thought she again played it exactly as expected; if she’d been in an older Bond film, people would have said the girl had prepared and played it well.

A special word for Ray Winstone; he’s reached the select category now that if he’s in a film, you must get to see it, it’ll probably be good. Here he continues his fine acting performances with yet another on target role, most suited for him.

Here’s the rub; the film is okay, just okay. The action scenes don’t have you out of your seat. The long intervals between action scenes (commonly known as the dialogue that links one set of action to the next) are too long and leave you waiting. The script is okay, but the story lacks any real bite, but that’s okay; it’s an Indy film and we know what to expect.

If they make a Lethal Weapon 5, I won’t bother after almost falling asleep through 4, but if the Indy team go for number 5, I’ll give it a try, but it might be my last one.

It lacks the punch of the first three and maybe they’ve made one too many.

The update is here

Well, no.

The experts say you should study films before taking your own skills to the next stage and that’s exactly what I’ve done. I’ve been going to the cinema to see how the business works to its conclusion. So much has happened in getting a big movie to the screen.

I’ve also been studying short movies on Atom Films. They have a great variety with a consistent high standard. I’ve been plowing through many dramas and when time arrives, I’ll write some reviews so we can compare notes.

I’m ready to move on to the next stage now. I’m filling in the treatment so I can go on to the script.

I hope the great films I’ve seen recently has given me the inspiration I need, without giving me too many ideas about plots, characters, action and dialogue.

4 stars****

I missed this at the cinema, but I wish I hadn’t. It was on my long list to see, but time beat me so it was handy winning this DVD in a movie competition.This is a brilliant mix of assassin and comedy; a blend not usually brought together so effectively.Ben Kingsley stars as the assassin with a problem – he’s an alcoholic. He goes to AA meetings and tells the assembly that he’s Frank, an alcoholic and he kills people. Only his drinking is getting in the way of his performance so his bosses have sent him for treatment so he can turn himself around and get back to the killing.

Sir Ben turns in an extremely comic role mixed with the audience’s belief that he could very well be an assassin. He’s returned to his skills from the outstanding Sexy Beast.

The second star of the show is Téa Leoni. Her role lulls you into a sense of a tough woman who accepts being the girlfriend of a paid killer far too easily – can’t she find a normal boyfriend? However, her acting skills gradually turn her around to be a loving partner, supporting Kingsley as he goes through his drinking problems, while she finally helps him on one of his murder missions.

Of course it’s too unbelievable; it’s meant to be, but underneath there’s always the sneaky feeling that it just might be based on a real story and some hearsay.

Writers Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely have squeezed a quality result into their 89 minutes of screenplay. They have managed several successes here; to keep the movie flowing along, no breaks for being bored and gaining sympathy with a killer, for the audience. They’ve created marvellous dialogue for those of us who haven’t yet been assassins; this is probably what we’d expect to have to say if we take up that occupation. No doubt a full time assassin can tell us with their comments on this movie review.

I’m told that the AA meetings are extremely realistic as are the hilarious scenes in the mortuary (they’re not to be missed) where Frank works. When you mix the two we see the writers have prepared their research well and turned in a very good creation.

We all know Sir Ben Kingsley’s first class acting past, however; I must source some more Téa Leoni movies as she’s punched above the level with this film so must see what else she’s completed.

Great fun in the dark side of life.

3 stars***

Been to the drive in.

Watched it.

Entertained reasonably. I wasn’t bored, but I wasn’t absorbed.

Well acted.

Well filmed and edited.

It was satisfactory. I wouldn’t rush to see it again, on television or on DVD.

I can’t see why it scores so highly elsewhere. It must be my personal opinion, then.

I preferred it to the last Spiderman and the last Fantastic Four, but I did enjoy the last Die Hard and the last Bourne.

I want to employ the services of a female actor for a short ten minute low budget film. She will be the only actor in the film about a former music superstar talking about her career and the events of her life as they’ve unfolded since she stopped being the focus of media attention.

She’ll need to be from aged 32-42 in the role, attractive and any race or colour. Specifically she’ll need to speak good clear English or American to be easily understandable for those film markets. The shoot will take two days and won’t involve any nudity (or bikini wear), but there will be a couple of swear/curse words involved.

Previous experience may be an advantage, but a first time actor may also be successful, so lack of experience or lots of it, should not put you off from applying.

The location will be Barbados. Both beach and coffee/rum bar shots will be involved. There isn’t a set date yet, but it is expected to be during the rainy season in 2008.

If this could be right for you, please use our ‘contact us’ form found above to make initial contact. All applications will be by email only. Please use the opportunity to tell us a little about yourself. You won’t, initially, need to provide a photograph. Casting will be held in two stages. For those invited to the first casting you’ll be sent a small part of the script (or similar) to prepare. A small select group will be invited back for a second read through of a different part of the script before a final decision will be taken.

A full contract and deal rates will be provided before the actor needs to commit to the project.

You don’t need a bright yellow face and long black hair to apply! 

5 stars*****
1.   A Mighty Heart – The movie of the year

A film that moved you all the way through, made you angry and put you in admiration of the journalist who lost his life and his wonderful wife.

2.   The Brave One

Jodie Foster strikes back and we were on the side of the revenge killer, which means the film worked well because we must not go there…

3.   Juno

The best script of the year, well acted by Ellen Page

4.   Fracture

Anthony Hopkins at his best with a great script

4 stars****
5.   Notes On A Scandal

Great Brit film with Judi Dench at her best

6.   Charlie Wilson’s War

A surprise and a great result

7.   Perfect Stranger

Halle Berry at her best in a movie with a very strange ending

8.   Live Free Or Die Hard

Some franchises are worth watching when they upgrade like this movie

9.   The Bourne Ultimatum

The best of the three

10.   Bee Movie

A wonderful kids delight

11.   The Invasion

Kept us wondering throughout

12.   Death At A Funeral

A Brit movie with fantastic British humour

3 stars***
13.   Mr Bean’s Holiday

Strange ending, but good fun throughout

14.   Ratatouille

Second best kids film of the year

15.   28 Weeks Later

Good, but not up to the standards of it’s predecessor

16.   Ocean’s Thirteen

At last they got it right

17.   Hot Fuzz

A hot script

18.   Atonement

Delightful

19.   Shrek The Third

Keeps the standards going

20.   PS I Love You

But I didn’t care for much

2 stars**
21.   The Water Horse

Nice film, but just lacked going to the next level

22.   Fantastic Four- Rise Of The Silver Surfer

Time to give up on this franchise

1 star*
23.   Spiderman 3

Two films too many in this group

24.   I Am Legend

One dimensional, unbelievable, plot holes abound

25.   I Think I Love My Wife

Only gets the1 star because I didn’t leave during the show

Those I wanted to see, but didn’t hit my drive in (now for DVD hire list):

1. The Hoax
2. Michael Clayton
3. Sicko
4. Across The Universe
5. Things We Lost In The Fire
6. Two Days In Paris