HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

SCREENWRITING BOOK

We all know there are too many screenwriting books on the market and most are not very helpful -- and most of these authors are unproduced writers who are making their living from selling to other unproduced writers... it's like the blind leading the blind. Okay, not every coach can hit a home run either... but most coaches were once former players... so that experience does come in handy.

Therfore, I highly recommend reading the book "SAVE THE CAT! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" by Blake Snyder. I got it as a Christmas present and read 3/4 of it in one day -- highlighting away -- it's a practical, how-to on craft, structure, the business and marketing (like don't even start writing that script until you have a catchy, pertinent title and logline!!)

Snyder is a million-dollar writer who wrote Blank Check and Herbie Comes Home for Disney. He also wrote "Stop or My Mom Will Shoot!" but we'll forgive him for that one. Snyder knows the business of making movies -- and it is a business foremost -- and shares his tips, secrets and advice. I found it all worthwhile.

Now that the holidays are over, I hope to catch up on all the new movies out there. I hear Woody Allen's "Match Point" is a great one.

Happy New Year!