SPRINGTIME IN NEW YORK

Ah.  Springtime. It's here after a long winter wait.

Everyone raves about autumn in New York... but spring in New York has its own beauty.  What's more uplifting than seeing that first Cherry Blossom tree in full bloom in Central Park?  Or yellow daffodils?  Or tulips on Park Avenue?

Cherry Blossoms in Central Park

Spring is off to a great start.

I attended the TV show Live with Kelly & Michael at WABC last week.  Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan have a wonderful, energetic, brother-sister chemistry going on and it shines through (explaining the high ratings for their show).

Live with Kelly & Michael

Michael met with a group of fellas who wore his NY Giants jerseys... he brought them out of the audience to sign their shirts (right on their backs!) and take photos.  Cool guy.  Very, very talented man.  A natural on TV.  

Michael Strahan with NY Giants fans

Kelly Ripa is super friendly, bubbly, energetic (she's a twig and has run to the top of the Empire State Building, no wonder) and she interacts one on one with the audience.  Fun time.  If you're in NYC, get tickets to see the show... it's a blast.

Commercial break during Live

Another great event right now in New York is Holland Taylor in the one-woman show ANN.  Taylor wrote and stars in this solo show that pays tribute to the life of one-time Texas Governor Ann Richards.   It's a terrific performance from a talented actress mostly known for being on TV, playing Charlie Sheen's mother on Two and Half Men and a slew of other parts.  If you like politics, straight-shooting humor, than don't miss this one.

Holland Taylor as ANN (Richards)

Being in the theater district, swing by the Drama Book Shop on 250 W. 40th Street.  It's a New York treasure for actors and writers and theater-lovers. They carry the latest and greatest in plays, magazines and books focusing on the performing arts.  I can spend hours reading in there. http://www.dramabookshop.com/

One other springtime hit is Bette Midler in her new one-woman show I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers.  It's written by John Logan ("Red" and "Skyfall").  Bette Midler plays Sue Mengers, the 70s Hollywood super agent, who represented everyone from Barbra Streisand to Faye Dunaway to you-name-it.  Better Midler's delivery of this chat is priceless and not to be missed.

When the curtain went up, and Bette Midler sat there on stage with a slight grin, the audience erupted to the rafters.  Midler last appeared on Broadway over 30 years ago.  She's come a long way since those days... in her music and movies... and the audience loved every minute of her name-dropping, F-bomb blasting monologue.  If you grew up paying attention to Hollywood in the 60s, 70s and early 80s -- this tribute to Sue Mengers is hilarious.  If not, you may get lost with all the movie references, name-dropping and inside jokes... but still, seeing Bette Midler is a win-win.  Get tickets while you can.  It's a short run. 

And by the way, everyone knows Midler is a true environmentalist, helping to keep New York City green with her gardens and endless financial support, but did you know she gets driven around in a hybrid compact car right after the show?  No big gas-guzzling SUV waiting for this superstar at the stage door.  She's the real deal.

Bette Midler as Sue Mengers on Broadway

My one act play NETFITS had a 3-night performance at the LIC One Act Play Festival in Long Island City in March.  The audience voted and NETFITS is moving to the April semi-finals.  Fingers crossed we make it to the finals in late April.   http://www.secrettheatre.com/licfest_info.html

And my screenplay HARK & HAROLD, with co-writer Chris Keller, is now making its way to agents and producers in LA and NY.  It's a Christmas comedy movie script.  This script keeps us in the Christmas spirit even in spring.

Happy springtime, All!  Soak up the sun, play in the grass and smell some flowers.  Enjoy it while it lasts.  Much love to you from New York City.

Until next time,
Janet

LUCKY US
by Janet Lawler
March 13, 2013
New York

Lucky Guy on Broadway

 Nora Ephron's final play LUCKY GUY is in previews on Broadway.  It stars Tom Hanks. 

It's a terrific play.  It's about New York columnist Mike McAlary and his cohorts in various NYC newsrooms as he climbs to the top in a tough-as-nails city.  It's a witty tale about tabloids, marriage, Irish pubs, good cops, bad cops and the grit of making your living and name in NYC between 1985-1998. 

The play even has some singing, but it's definitely not a musical.  And since it's about the newspaper biz in its golden days, it's got men (and one woman) who swear like sailors, smoke cigarettes at their desks while banging out a story on deadline and they all congregate at the local bar.

Tom Hanks is charming in a not so likeable part.  On stage, it's hard to take your eyes off him just like on screen.  His cadence is so familiar -- and in one particular scene, while in physical therapy recovering from a car crash -- he talks a lot like Forest Gump.

The entire cast is top notch.  Maura Tierney, best known for ER, plays Hanks' wife and has an opening scene where she pretends to be a train conductor on the Long Island Railroad rattling off all the local stops... it's hilarious... and the audience, packed with Long Islanders, gave her a round of applause... especially for the way she pronounced Ronkonkoma.

Director George C. Wolfe's creates excitement through pacing and quick changing sets from newsroom, to Long Island bedroom to the local bar.  

Nora Ephron's writing crackles.  Her wit and timing with a joke rarely miss.  It's not jokes for joke sake, but makes you laugh with its truth.  She knew about journalism.  Before her movie career, Ephron wrote for the New York Post.  Her first husband was Carl Bernstein, a reporter who helped topple a U.S. president.

There are tough scenes to watch capturing the brutality NYC city can dish out... along with facing aging and disease.  It's also about cancer.  Nora Ephron knew what she was writing about... the lines Mike McAlary delivers at the end have that much more meaning because now we know the author was facing her own battle with cancer.

The play reminds us that life is so damn fragile -- as are fame and big egos.  New York City will build you up and tear you down like no other town.   That's a fact, as they say in the newspaper biz.

On a lighter note, the cast reunites Hanks with his Bosom Buddies co-star Peter Scolari.  It's great to see them together.  And actor Courtney B. Vance as Hanks' newspaper editor deserves a special shout out for a super performance.  He has some of the best lines in the play.

Playwright Nora Ephron

 In a recent NY Times article by Jacob Bernstein, Nora's son, he said that while his mother lay dying in the hospital, she had a vision that her last play was on Broadway and she saw a filled theater.

Her vision came true.  Every seat was sold out.  Yes, many came to see Tom Hanks on stage -- but most were there to pay tribute to Nora Ephron.   

Go see Lucky Guy if you can. 

OUR VALERIE


Valerie as Rhoda

I wrote a letter to Rhoda when I was 15. 

Valerie Harper was one of my favorite actresses on TV.  For some reason, she reminded me of my big sister.  My sister, Catherine Mary, who preferred Kathy, had Rhoda's sense of humor and fashion style... like wearing a bandana in a new way I'd never seen before  in the 70s. 

My sister and Rhoda (Valerie) were my  heroes... two beautiful, strong women, one in real life and one on TV, both that I tried to copy in dress (oops... the bandana thing really didn't quite work for me in high school.  I looked like the cleaning lady.) but I did  "tawk" like Rhoda (since I already had the Bronx accent).  And I liked to make people laugh, just like Rhoda.

Who didn't love Rhoda Morgenstern and her TV family?  Her younger, wisecracking-sidekick sister Brenda, her domineering mother (Mrs. Morgenstern played by the wonderful Nancy Walker), and Joe... Rhoda's dream boat guy that she married in NYC.  Gosh, I wanted to grow up to be Rhoda... I even liked her doorman, Carlton.... who always sounded drunk on her apartment intercom. 

So, one day, there it was in my mailbox... the official-looking letter from CBS Studios in California.  From MTM Productions... Mary Tyler Moore's production company produced The Mary Tyler Moore Show and later Rhoda.  Her company was called MTM.  Whoa.  Could it be?

My heart skipped a beat.

Inside, was an autographed photo from Valerie Harper...  It wasn't a fake (I was good at recognizing fakes).  I treasured that 8x10 photo... there it was...Valerie Harper wearing a head scraf... looking so chic, so cool... I put that photo on my wall with all the other Hollywood photos I collected.  She sent me a couple more photos over the next few years.

I was only a teenager.. but Rhoda made me laugh.  She got me through some tough days.  She made me forget for awhile that my father had died when I was 14.  TV was my escape.  Is it any wonder I still love writing?  Still love movies and TV shows?  It's art at its best... it comes right into our homes and heals when we need it most.

The jokes that Rhoda volleyed back and forth with Mary Tyler Moore on Saturday nights on CBS helped me forget my loss... it made me forget that my big sister was battling drug addiction... and that she might not overcome it.

Sadly, she didn't.

Today I watched the news about Valerie Harper having terminal cancer.  They said she has only months to live.  That news hurt.  I hope the doctors are wrong.  I hope this is a terrible blunder on the medical community... and that Valerie Harper lives on for many years to come.  She has a great outlook... and miracles do happen.

As someone said on the news tonight, we all love Valerie Harper because we are all Rhoda.  She was one of the first women on TV to discuss her weight, bad dates,  nagging mothers, insecurities about her hair and career.  She fretted (and joked) about never finding love.  She valued her best friend Mary more than anything.  She was as real as TV would allow. 

Rhoda stole America's heart.

Thank you, Rhoda,  from every girl that you made laugh and forget about their own insecurities... you showed America that a plump girl from New York City could find love and do anything she wanted in the world.  Maybe Rhoda didn't toss her hat in the air with the same confidence as Mary Richards... but Rhoda did make it.

After all.

And today, fast forward -- I live in New York City.  I'm married.  I work at a television news station in Manhattan (much like Mary Tyler Moore did at WJM).  I write plays (mostly comedies) and screenplays. 

Life sure is funny.

Thanks, Valerie, for sending me that photo so many years ago.  It was a life raft in many ways.  I still keep it.  I'll  keep it, and you,  in my heart always.

Be well. 

Janet Lawler
New York
March 6, 2013

HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM:
THE NY SCREENWRITING LIFE

I should wrap gifts... but one more page.

Here's hoping this year was a terrific writing year for you!  It's always difficult to find time to write if you're balancing a full life... work, family, pets, kids, errands, the Internet... but somehow, we writers manage to block out some time to pound the keys... scratch the paper... send out the next draft.

In 2012, I wrote a Christmas screenplay HARK AND HAROLD with my writing partner, Chris Keller. We made it to the semi-finals of the Page International Screenwriting Awards.  It was super exciting and we received great feedback.  

We're working on a brand new draft and will send it into the world in early 2013... may it someday be part of your holiday tradition to watch HARK AND HAROLD.  

I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and blessed New Year in 2013.  Keep writing, following your dreams and believing that you have something worthwhile to share with the world through your written words and images.  Keep the faith.

Merry Christmas and have a Happy, Prosperous 2013!
Janet Lawler
The NY Screenwriting Life Blog
New York City 

THE GOLDEN GLOBES... A PLEASANT SURPRISE FOR EMILY BLUNT AND EWAN MCGREGOR

The 70th Annual Golden Globes were just announced.  There are movies and television shows you'd expect to be nominated (Lincoln, Argo, Homeland, Breaking Bad, etc.), but there are a few surprises too...

Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor!

They're nominated for Best Actress and Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy and deservedly so.  Did you see Salmon Fishing in Yemen when it came out early this year?  Probably not, not many people did.  I did (and reviewed it below for this blog).  It's a delightful movie that didn't stick around long in theaters -- probably because of its title -- but both actors are terrific in it.  It has a fresh story.  Kristin Scott Thomas is a riot as a foul-mouthed British press manager.

Lets hope the Golden Globe nomination for Blunt and McGregor will make this fishing movie the catch of the day.

Rent it if you can before the awards.

SALMON FISHING IN YEMEN
by Janet Lawler
February 22, 2012

Who knew fly-fishing could be so heartwarming and fun?

Salmon Fishing in Yemen, the new movie, definitely hooked its audience last night at an advanced screening here in Manhattan.  The romantic comedy stars Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt, with a terrific supporting role for Kristin Scott Thomas.

The story is a fish tale -- about a Middle Eastern sheik who wants to bring the sport of fly-fishing to his country.  Money is no object... and so, Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor join forces to make it happen.

It's a romantic comedy (with a tricky title for a movie) that make both lead characters endearing to the audience as well as to each other.  Blunt brings her familiar wit and charisma from "The Devil Wears Prada" but adds a delicate touch to the dramatic scenes.  Ewan McGregor is adorable in every scene -- I can't say much more -- he's simply adorable to watch.  He makes you root for the fish too.

Kristin Scott Thomas

Kristin Scott Thomas gets plenty of laughs throughout portraying a fast-talking Brit press manager/mother-of-three.  Her line telling her son to remove his "hoodie" is golden, but I can't repeat it here.  Go see the movie for yourself.  The film is directed by Lasse Hallstrom -- well-paced, enticing, with stunning shots of Afghanistan,  The screenplay is written by Simon Beaufoy, based on the novel by Paul Torday. 

After the movie, I heard several people raving about it outside.  One movie-goer said to her friend "I'd  go see that again!".

Emily Blunt and Ewan McGregor

I would too.  It's a good one. Go catch this movie, you won't be tempted to throw it back.

"Salmon Fishing in Yemen" Here is the movie trailer http://fishingintheyemen.com/ 

Until next time.

SEARCHING FOR DEBRA WINGER... 

Debra Winger in The Anarchist

NOW ON BROADWAY 
by
Janet Lawler
New York
December 6, 2012

Debra Winger made some great movies.  Remember her in "Urban Cowboy" with John Travolta?  She was unknown, but stole screen time from then red-hot Travolta.   

Next, she stood toe to toe with Richard Gere in "An Officer and a Gentleman" -- he lifted her off her feet and carried her out of that paper factory -- making movie history -- but it was Winger who in the very last frame of the movie put on his naval cap to make a statement -- 

She took control -- just ask Shirley MacLaine, her costar in another fave "Terms of Endearment".   Soon Hollywood said Winger was difficult.  Winger said she didn't care.  She just wanted to make good movies.  Good parts for women.

Those good parts dwindled and Debra Winger left the movies.  She married actor Arliss Howard and resided to upstate New York to raise her family.  She wrote a memoir "Undiscovered" in 2008.  She resurfaced on screen again in "Rachel Getting Married".  She did some TV -- namely, Law and Order.

She's currently making her Broadway debut in "The Anarchist".

Playwright David Mamet

It's a new play written and directed by David Mamet.  I saw it recently in previews -- it stars not only Winger, but legendary actress Patti LuPone.  Both women in a new Mamet play? I couldn't dial the box-office fast enough...

Patti LuPone and Debra Winger

Unfortunately, the play didn't live up to my excitement.  The actors are fine -- but putting LuPone and Winger in a two-character play and never experiencing any true DRAMA between them is a waste.  Instead of fireworks on stage we got a fizzle of conflict. 

A dud.  Sadly.

The NY Times just announced that the play is closing.  It opened December 3rd.  It will go dark by December 16th.  Sad.  Imagine all the work, rehearsing, investing that went into this play?  But the reviewers were dreadful and worse on social media.  The play runs like 70 minutes... without an intermission.  The audience felt cheated.  (Let's not even mention the wardrobe and hair the actresses had to endure).

Can't blame Winger or LuPone.  It's the playwright who let us down.  David Mamet - famous or not -- gave us a play he never fully developed.  The characters never evolved.  I didn't care about either one or their predicament.  It was a Q and A between a prisoner and a warden (or parole officer).  The audience kept waiting for the pay off... a big secret revealed by end?  None.  A memorable moment between two powerhouse actresses?  None. Crackling dialogue?  None.  Not even a Mamet F-bomb to wake us up.

And then lights out.  WHAT?

We wanted to stand and give an ovation to the actresses for being punished before our eyes -- and not just because they were in a prison play.  We felt their pain.  We were imprisoned in our seats -- that cost a pretty penny.

We poured onto W.45th Street after the play scratching our heads.  It was barely 9PM and the play is over?  I heard one guy say "Is it really over? Now what do we do?  Go have a drink?  Walk around Times Square?"   To me, it felt like the play never began. 

So my search for Debra Winger goes on... (see the documentary Searching for Debra Winger http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9-GALaD2kuE)

I'll support her next book, next film, or play.  I'm happy she's back and working.  She still has it... that deadpan delivery of a line... that she used with Travolta, Gere and MacLaine.  The raspy voice that, unfortunately, David Mamet didn't fully take advantage of this time.

The Anarchist is playing at the Golden Theatre in New York City.  http://theanarchistbroadway.com/

Until next time.

STUDIO EXEC DEVON FRANKLIN DISCUSSES OPRAH, WHITNEY HOUSTON'S LAST MOVIE AND HOW A WRITER CAN KEEP THE FAITH
by Janet Lawler
August 31, 2012


DeVon Franklin, VP of Production Columbia Pictures

In early August, I had the opportunity to chat with DeVon Franklin on the phone.  DeVon is an inspiration.  He has done so much for such a young professional.

DeVon started his film career as an intern for Will Smith's film company.  He worked on films like "The Karate Kid" and "The Pursuit of Happyness".  He climbed the studio ranks as an executive to his current position of VP of Production at Columbia Pictures. 

He also just released a new book "Produced by Faith".  It advises how to look at your life like a movie and to be true to your own voice.  I have read it and recommend it.

DeVon is also a Christian minister and motivational speaker.  How does he have time to do all this and do it all so successfully?  Let's find out.  The last person I watched interview DeVon Franklin was Oprah Winfrey.  Wow.  I'm honored to interview DeVon here.

Janet:   Hi, DeVon.  I really appreciate you doing this interview for The NY Screenwriting Life.

DeVon:  I appreciate you doing it.

Janet:  I saw you recently on Super Soul Sunday with Oprah on the OWN network.  I watched your interview with Oprah twice.  It was so inspiring.

DeVon:  Wow.  You watched it twice?

Janet:  I did.  What is the reaction since you sat down with Oprah?

DeVon:   It's been good.  Definitely.  A lot more people are finding the book, getting the message.  We've had a lot more interaction.  It's been really, really good.  Everything that has come out of it has been incredibly positive.

Janet:  I bet.  I see Super Soul Sunday is doing well too.  So it was a good match for you.

DeVon:  Oh yeah.  The show is really finding its footing.  The audience is finding it.  So it is good, it's really good.

Janet:   Terrific.

DeVon:  I was just blessed to be on it.  To be honest.

Janet:  Oprah's one of my  heroes.  I love what she does.

DeVon:  Me too.  For me to be able to meet her was just unbelievable.

Janet:  So your book deals with faith and overcoming obstacles.  How can a writer stay positive in the face of rejection, since that's such a big part of writing and creativity?

DeVon: Once you understand that rejection is a part of the process, it becomes easier to deal with.  When you understand that as writer not everyone is going to get this point of view that I have.  Maybe not even necessarily get it, they might not want the story.  They might not want the story that I have to tell.  That's okay. There is the right audience, the right person out there who will be responsive to your story.  I think the way to have hope is to work on your craft, to continue to perfect your story.  I mean, one of my favorite books is How To Write Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge.  Another one is The Moral Premise by Dr. Stanley Williams.  When you look at these books, you see that we can always fine tune our work.  Sometimes when we get rejection it can be a good thing because it highlights something in your work that you might have otherwise not known.  It can give you ideas on areas to change or to make your story better.  So my encouragement is that you have to keep going.  Rejection is part of it.  Don't fear it.  You need feedback.  No successful movie ever happens in a vacuum. 

Janet:  Rejection gives us a chance to grow.

DeVon:  Absolutely.  And that growth is key because that growth will help you to become a professional, working screenwriter.  It will help you do what you want to do, which is write and sell screenplays.

Janet: In your book you talk a lot about conflict, especially growing up in your early years.  Your father died when you were young.  I related to that because my father died when I was 14. So I know a little bit about what you went through in dealing with loss.  But our love for movies can lift us and inspire us through tough times. 

DeVon:  Yeah.

Janet:  You work in Hollywood yet keep your faith a priority.  Do you find a writer can use his or her work as, say, a service?  Even a service to God?

DeVon:  Oh absolutely!  I would say God is the master storyteller.  Now when you look at the Bible it is filled with incredible stories and incredible characters, who go through tremendous conflict, and yet somehow against the odds, are able to succeed in most cases.  So the idea that God, through His word, would encourage us through stories... we absolutely respond through stories.  We can relate to them.  Yes, so the idea of being able to use the craft of screenwriting as a service to Him is absolutely necessary and possible.  When you look at stories in the Bible, a lot times people think those stories are totally sanitized -- they're not.  There is murder, espionage, bertrayal, adultery... all of these things that go into making the story more compelling.  Like the story of David.  Here is a man who was after God's heart yet was very flawed, but you had to understand his flaw in order to root for his redemption.  I think if you look in the Bible that way, in that context as a screenwriter, it's an incredible opportunity to use your faith to help you craft incredible stories that will change the world, essentially.

Janet: We see examples of how film and television impact our daily lives.  People often say when they've been down and out, sick, or unemployed... and they turn to TV or movies to lift their spirit or take them out of their daily problems, their world.  It can spark somebody to keep going forward.

DeVon:  Absolutely.

Janet: You started as an intern with Will Smith's film company.  He always says his work ethic is really what drives his success in all areas of the entertainment business:  music, TV and films.  Did you see a lot of examples of that on a daily basis being around Will Smith in the office?

DeVon:  Oh yes, oh yeah.  He's just tireless.  He's fearless.  I mean, especially when we were working on scripts.  Will can start in the morning and go all night.  He certainly sets the standard that we're all trying to reach.

Janet:   Right, and working hard every day obviously to reach goals.

DeVon:  That's right.  Every.  Single.  Day. (laughs)

Janet: Is there a market for faith-based scripts in Hollywood?  Is there an appeal for those today?

DeVon: Oh yeah, definitely.  There is always an appetite to find films that work for an under served audience.   Movies that are inspirational or that bring hope, there is an appetite for those kinds of movies.

Janet: Good to hear.  As an author and as a studio exec, do you recommend screenwriters take advantage of social media to promote themselves and their work?  Besides a Facebook page?

DeVon: Yes, social media is key.  Spread the word.  Get the word out there.  Getting feedback, yes.  Social media is incredibly important.  I would find various online screenwriting communities to join.  I know Dr. Stanley Williams... Through the Moral Premise Blog http://moralpremise.blogspot.com/  has one.  I think Michael Hauge has one http://www.storymastery.com/.  I would advise becoming a part of really good educational screenwriting blogs and networks online because you're only as strong as your resources, you know.

Janet:  Sure. 

DeVon:  And as a screenwriter, it's important to use all of your resources available to you to help you tell better stories.

Janet:  Right, and it's a great way to reach out to new people.  Because through social media and online communities, you can get in touch with just about anybody these days -- to help your career.

DeVon:  Yes, absolutely.  I find it to be important.

Janet: Your new movie is Sparkle -- to be released this summer. 

DeVon:  Yes, I'm excited about it.

Janet:  How's the feedback and the tracking been?

DeVon:  It's been good.  So far so good.  We're in a really good place and still have a long way to go. 

Janet:  A lot of people want to support the film for a lot of different reasons, but also to see Whitney Houston, as this movie is her final work.

DeVon:   Right.  It is.  When people see it, they're really going to be amazed.  She is so incredible in the movie.  And what I love about the film is that it's her legacy.  It's a part of her legacy.  This is really what her life was about.  This is what she spent her last time with us doing -- which is to help produce and star in a movie about hope and faith... and using your gift in the right way.  So it's exciting to be able to put that out there.  So that the world can see it.

Janet:  I'm sure people will enjoy it.

DeVon:  I hope so.  Storm the box-office.  (laughs)

Janet: (laughs)  I hope it's a big hit.  DeVon, again thank you, for doing this.  For taking my questions for the blog.  It will be a big inspiration to writers everywhere across all formats to keep working hard and to keep the faith. 

DeVon:  It's a blessing to do it. 

Janet:  Thank you.

DeVon:  Thank you and God bless.

Janet:  God bless you.  Take care.

                                                             SUMMER SIDE NOTES...

I hope you've all had a great summer and got some writing done between visits to the beach and backyard BBQs.  I'm working on a new script and finishing a play. 

Update on The Page International Screenwriting Awards:  my writing partner, Chris Keller, and I placed in the Quarter Finals.  We didn't advance to the semi finals, but it's okay... we got super feedback and high scores.  Now we begin marketing Hark and Harold, The Christmas Movie.  It's a fun family holiday comedy.  International appeal.  So onward and upward.

Farewell, summer 2012.  Here's to an awesome Fall 2012!

Until next time.