Caught the pilot for the new animated series from Fox.
Jonah Hill really shines through the animation. Allen Gregory's personality makes the show worth-watching. The kid is hilarious. I could've done without him falling for the 60-year-old principal but the rest of the show made me laugh. The way he talks to his teacher might be the funniest thing I've seen on tv this season.
His need for acceptance from people that he superficially dismisses as being beneath him is funny. He's a character that we shouldn't like but we do.
I'm ready for more.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Thursday, November 3, 2011
MAGGIE
Finished this script by John Scott 3.
Scott takes the zombie-genre and turns it on its head. He expertly equates turning into a zombie to dying of cancer and captivates us with his tale of teenage Maggie who's infected.
This is drama at its finest as Maggie's family tries to cope as the infection takes hold, slowly robbing her of her humanity.
Scott can flat out write. He easily gets us on Maggie's side. The scene where Maggie goes to hang out with her friends is powerfully poignant.
The way her father simply cannot give up on her, foolishly thinking that there's a way out of this is heartbreaking.
This is a great script. However, the question is, would it make a great film?
This is an indie production. It's not big enough to be a studio movie. The visuals aren't there. This is a quiet, intimate look a horrifying situation. The terror is internal.
I'd make the movie on a microbudget and pray marketing can deliver an audience. However, I'd be extremely cautious because scripts like this tend to work better on the page than on the screen.
Scott takes the zombie-genre and turns it on its head. He expertly equates turning into a zombie to dying of cancer and captivates us with his tale of teenage Maggie who's infected.
This is drama at its finest as Maggie's family tries to cope as the infection takes hold, slowly robbing her of her humanity.
Scott can flat out write. He easily gets us on Maggie's side. The scene where Maggie goes to hang out with her friends is powerfully poignant.
The way her father simply cannot give up on her, foolishly thinking that there's a way out of this is heartbreaking.
This is a great script. However, the question is, would it make a great film?
This is an indie production. It's not big enough to be a studio movie. The visuals aren't there. This is a quiet, intimate look a horrifying situation. The terror is internal.
I'd make the movie on a microbudget and pray marketing can deliver an audience. However, I'd be extremely cautious because scripts like this tend to work better on the page than on the screen.
Wednesday, November 2, 2011
BETHLEHEM
Finished this script by Larry Brenner.
Although I normally toss scripts with big blocks of descriptions (and this one has pages and pages of descriptions), there's something about the way Brenner writes that hooks you. He's a pro at creating sympathetic characters.
Story's about Erik, a vampire, surviving in a world overrun by zombies. Erik comes across a small group of humans and offers to help them in exchange for being able to feed upon them. He'll draw just enough blood to satiate his hunger.
Now, that pitch by itself isn't that strong. However, once you start reading the script, you cannot stop. Brenner is able to humanize Erik, creating a strong lead. And Brenner expertly shows how desperate the human plight has come and how precarious survival has become. We're rooting for everybody in this story.
Along comes a villainous vampire that forces our group to leave the relative safety of their warehouse. Erik must protect them as they try to escape.
The problem I have with the script is, it might not be "big" enough for the screen. It would work better on television where you can explore the subtle "human" moments ala THE WALKING DEAD.
Larry Brenner is terrific though. Looking forward to whatever he writes next.
Although I normally toss scripts with big blocks of descriptions (and this one has pages and pages of descriptions), there's something about the way Brenner writes that hooks you. He's a pro at creating sympathetic characters.
Story's about Erik, a vampire, surviving in a world overrun by zombies. Erik comes across a small group of humans and offers to help them in exchange for being able to feed upon them. He'll draw just enough blood to satiate his hunger.
Now, that pitch by itself isn't that strong. However, once you start reading the script, you cannot stop. Brenner is able to humanize Erik, creating a strong lead. And Brenner expertly shows how desperate the human plight has come and how precarious survival has become. We're rooting for everybody in this story.
Along comes a villainous vampire that forces our group to leave the relative safety of their warehouse. Erik must protect them as they try to escape.
The problem I have with the script is, it might not be "big" enough for the screen. It would work better on television where you can explore the subtle "human" moments ala THE WALKING DEAD.
Larry Brenner is terrific though. Looking forward to whatever he writes next.
THE WALKING DEAD - Season 2.2 - BLOODLETTING
This episode was slow compared to others in this series. Not a whole lot happens.
The backstory about Rick getting shot on the job isn't a big revelation. Sure the wife feels even more guilty because they had gotten into a fight but I'm sure that guilt pales in comparison to the adultery, right?
The rest of the episode shows Rick getting his dying son help at a farm. This introduces a small group of survivors but we don't get into their story here.
That provides tension but we're used to being on the edge of death from terrifying zombie attacks so this episode feels rather "quiet."
I'm sure the horror is going to rachet up next episode.
The backstory about Rick getting shot on the job isn't a big revelation. Sure the wife feels even more guilty because they had gotten into a fight but I'm sure that guilt pales in comparison to the adultery, right?
The rest of the episode shows Rick getting his dying son help at a farm. This introduces a small group of survivors but we don't get into their story here.
That provides tension but we're used to being on the edge of death from terrifying zombie attacks so this episode feels rather "quiet."
I'm sure the horror is going to rachet up next episode.
ATTACK THE BLOCK
The young teenage punks got on my nerves to the point where I was actually rooting for the aliens to wipe them all out.
For a low-budget film, the film looks...exactly like a low-budget film! You don't get points for making a bad low-budget movie. The trick is be innovative and tell a terrific story.
This story is bare-bones at best. The plot point about the pheromones was ridiculous. The aliens, looking like guys in gorilla suits, were never explained nor developed.
When you don't care about the hero's plight, the film will always be boring. That's what's happened here.
For a low-budget film, the film looks...exactly like a low-budget film! You don't get points for making a bad low-budget movie. The trick is be innovative and tell a terrific story.
This story is bare-bones at best. The plot point about the pheromones was ridiculous. The aliens, looking like guys in gorilla suits, were never explained nor developed.
When you don't care about the hero's plight, the film will always be boring. That's what's happened here.
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
AMERICAN HORROR STORY - Season 1.3 - MURDER HOUSE
The show's getting better. Connie Britton spotting while on the tour of murder sites was good. Horror doesn't have to be gory. Just having her go on the tour itself was brilliant. Then to have her almost miscarry gets under our skin.
Having Dylan McDermott build a gazebo over the buried body was good. But having Jessica Lange tell the maid that now she will never leave was awesome. Her body will never be found now.
And then the backstory showing the former owner of the house down in the basement sewing wings onto a dead pig was good. But then having his wife trap young pregnant girls inside kicks the horror up a notch.
The show still isn't creepy enough but it's starting to get there.
Having Dylan McDermott build a gazebo over the buried body was good. But having Jessica Lange tell the maid that now she will never leave was awesome. Her body will never be found now.
And then the backstory showing the former owner of the house down in the basement sewing wings onto a dead pig was good. But then having his wife trap young pregnant girls inside kicks the horror up a notch.
The show still isn't creepy enough but it's starting to get there.
TEST DRIVE
Finished this script by Adam Aresty.
Aresty. Cannot. Write. It's as simple as that. The characters are a joke. The plot is a joke. The action is a joke. And this is not a comedy.
Story's about a crooked cop who's going to rob three criminal brothers who each have a key to individual safes which can only be open during a set amount of time. The cop is going to hit all three safes but in order to do, he kidnaps a former race-car driver who can speed through the streets fast enough to all three safes before time expires.
Folks, a plot doesn't get more ridiculous than this.
Script is a total waste. The race-car driver's family is kidnapped to ensure that he goes through with the plan. Standard stuff written in a substandard way.
Pass on the script and a big pass on the writer.
Aresty. Cannot. Write. It's as simple as that. The characters are a joke. The plot is a joke. The action is a joke. And this is not a comedy.
Story's about a crooked cop who's going to rob three criminal brothers who each have a key to individual safes which can only be open during a set amount of time. The cop is going to hit all three safes but in order to do, he kidnaps a former race-car driver who can speed through the streets fast enough to all three safes before time expires.
Folks, a plot doesn't get more ridiculous than this.
Script is a total waste. The race-car driver's family is kidnapped to ensure that he goes through with the plan. Standard stuff written in a substandard way.
Pass on the script and a big pass on the writer.
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