SCARE UP SOME FRIGHTFULLY GOOD MOVIE SCRIPTS WITH THESE HALLOWEEN SCRIPTWRITING IDEAS

Dear Friends,

Halloween is a funny and a frightening time of year. It is one holiday where there is no need to obsess about entertainment options or gift-giving demands. We can choose to enjoy a good scare, or simply participate in the fun of trick-or-treating. If you are writing a movie script, you can learn a few lessons from the Halloween zeitgeist.

Writing a screenplay does take a lot of work and dedication, but I always advise aspiring screenplay writers to have a little fun in the process. There are some scary issues, such as character development and dialogue writing, that can put your mettle to the test, but some solid scriptwriting techniques can put those problems to rest permanently.

My book, The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, can equip any screenplay writer with the tools needed to bring depth and passion to even the most zombie-like of screenplays. The “23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take” supplies an easy-to-understand paradigm that provides writers and filmmakers with the interconnecting, storytelling elements they need to create a powerful script.

Thank you to all of those who came out to STORY EXPO 2015 last month.  As always, I had a great time speaking about creating great characters, character growth and how to build plots.  It was great to get feedback from people who attended the presentations, to answer their questions about writing a screenplay, and to know that people came away with a better understanding of story structure and character growth. In case you did not attend, you can read about some of my impressions and takeaways from the great people I met and saw at this year’s event here: “ERIC EDSON’S STORY EXPO TAKE AWAYS”

Scriptwriting Lessons from the Scariest Halloween Movies

When it comes to great screenplay writing, one need look no further than those spine-tingling Halloween movies for inspiration. In addition to their ability to keep audiences glued to the edge of their seats while inducing cold-sweat nightmares, these movies can also provide some helpful screenwriting tips:

• The “Halloween” Juggernaut: Since John Carpenter directed the original “Halloween: The Night He Came Home” back in 1978, this movie franchise has racked up incredible box office results worldwide. The plot was foreboding, and the visuals were viscerally thrilling. Audiences identified so much with the characters that this may have been the beginning of shouting at movie screens, “Don’t go into that room!” The principles established in Halloween helped set the standard for most modern-day horror films.
• The Exorcist: Before this movie came out in 1973, who knew that exorcisms could be so frightening? With a young girl inhabited by unspeakable demons and the heroic priests battling to cast them out, this has come to be regarded as one of the scariest movies of all time. William Peter Blatty won Oscars for Best Picture and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material from Another Medium. Exorcist barf bags anyone?  Be mindful of including powerful adversaries.
• Sleepy Hollow: Turns out this little hamlet isn’t so sleepy after all. In 1999, director Tim Burton took a mildly amusing Washington Irving story about Ichabod Crane and a headless horseman, and turned it into ghoulish, intriguing fun.  Don’t forget to look to the past for strong ideas that adapt well in the present.
• Psycho: Major kudos to Alfred Hitchcock and stars Anthony Perkins, Janet Leigh, and Vera Miles for breaking the rules of “proper” movie production back in 1960, but screenwriter Joseph Stefano carried the day with his well-crafted characterizations. Stefano won a screenwriter Edgar for Best Motion Picture and was nominated for Best Written American Drama by the Writers Guild of America. Another film with an exceedingly strong adversary with more than one dimension.  Character matters, even in the bad guy.
• The Shining: In a possible morality tale for aspiring novelists about the stresses of writing, Jack Nicholson is seriously freaky as a crazed novelist. Stanley Kubrick manages to keep his 1980 thriller thoroughly unnerving by creating characters that are realistically frightening. Taken from author Stephen King’s novel, the screenplay was written by Kubrick and Diane Johnson.  The lesson here is to maximize emotional impact by having a vulnerable looking hero up against an apparently unbeatable adversary.

After having fun studying these Halloween movies, spend some time reading my book,The Story Solution. Recognized as one of the best books on screenwriting in the U.S., China and many other countries, it gives readers a solid foundation for their screenplay writing efforts.

Halloween Q&A with Eric Edson, The Story Solution

Q: What do you think is one of the most important skills to have when writing a screenplay?

A: Although all skills are important, it is crucial that the screenplay writer know how to create dynamic characters that leap off the screen and resonate with the audience. My book outlines the 23 actions all great heroes must take.

Q: How can I improve my dialogue skills?

A: Read my book for dialogue tips, but also learn to be a careful observer of life. You want your dialogue to be human and realistic. Observe how people of different ages and backgrounds communicate verbally with each other. Writing dialogue for the printed page is not the same as writing dialogue for the screen.

Q: What types of characters do I need to create for my movies?

A: You are probably familiar with the most well-known characters such as the hero, the adversary, and the sidekick. Their dialogue has to be crisp and insightful. You also want to write meaningful dialogue for the love interest, mentor and endangered innocent. Listen to my audio clips to learn to create better characters when writing screenplays.

Happy Halloween from The Story Solution!

Eric Edson

p.s. Don’t forget to enter the Halloween Costume Contest on Facebook.  Post a photo of your movie character costume (past or current) and you could win a signed copy of The Story Solution. Winner will be announced in early November. “May the odds be ever in your favor!”

The Influence of Bollywood on Hollywood Continues to Grow

Bollywood is the term given to movies in Hindi that are produced in Mumbai, India. It is a mixture of Bombay, which is what Mumbai used to be called, and Hollywood. For years, Bollywood cinema was largely ignored by the rest of the world outside of India and surrounding countries, but that is simply not the case anymore. Bollywood's influence on Hollywood and other film making countries is now so strong that it can no longer be denied or ignored.

For years, the government of India forbade banks and other large investors from pouring money into film making, claiming it was not a real industry. Some aspiring directors who were fortunate enough to have some money would finance their own endeavors, but that was not an option for most. Instead, they looked towards smaller investors, which in some cases meant using crime syndicate money from underground gangs. The use of mob money to finance movies gave Bollywood a bad name, which is why so many in the western world dismissed the industry altogether for so many years.

In 2000, the Indian government finally lifted their ban on banks loaning money for films and recognized movie making as a viable industry. It didn't happen overnight, but, after several months, some of the larger banks began investing in the industry, allowing Bollywood to distance itself from the illegal money. When this happened, more movies began production, and ticket sales and revenues shot to billions of dollars every year. Hollywood began to take notice, since some very influential filmmakers began to tell how past Bollywood films influenced their mainstream films.

One of the most famous directors to claim a Bollywood influence is Australian filmmaker Baz Luhrmann, who won acclaim for "Moulin Rouge" in 2001. The musical was wildly successful, and it was influenced by the song and dance numbers that permeate Bollywood films. "Moulin Rouge" was such a hit that it spurred a renaissance of sorts in Hollywood for musicals. In the next few years, musicals like the Oscar-winning adaptation of "Chicago," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Rent," and "The Producers" were all made into mainstream movies that earned big box office revenues. "Moulin Rouge" was widely credited with spurring this musical revival, with Bollywood being the inspiration to bring musicals back to western movie theaters. This is arguably the biggest contribution that Bollywood has made to the movie industry.

Bollywood also has a big influence over the financial aspect of the film industry. Once the Indian government allowed banks to finance films, the executives of the banks saw how profitable the films could be. With low production costs and high ticket sales, the profit margin was through the roof on many films, and bankers recognized the potential of the industry. Soon, they began to not only invest in Bollywood, but in Hollywood as well. Director M. Night Shyamalan, a native Indian who was raised in the United States, got roughly half the financing for "The Happening" from Indian banks. This kind of deal could easily be made with other directors who are willing to take an unconventional route to get their films financed. This type of arrangement would never have happened unless the Indian bankers saw the potential in film through Bollywood.

Since money is the bottom line for many Hollywood executives, they have paid close attention over the years to the disparity between ticket sales for Bollywood films versus Hollywood films. In an average year, Bollywood films sell around 3.6 billion tickets, while Hollywood sells just 2.6 billion. Granted, the price of Hollywood tickets is higher, so revenue is much higher as well. The cost of the average United States-produced movie is around $50 million, whereas the average Indian film has a cost of just $1.5 million. With such a high profit margin, film executives in other countries clamor to see how they can lower costs on their films and sell a billion more tickets each year like Bollywood does.

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Actors Can Sing, Too: Famous Celebrities Who Have Sung in Movies and Musicals

Actors and actresses who can sing are a double threat to the industry since they can actually play most roles in movies or musicals without batting an eyelash. In some cases, actors and actresses have a background in music, and others have discovered their singing ability after Hollywood made them into superstars.

Gerard Butler is one of the most stunning cases of an actor, who didn't know he could sing, playing an iconic musical role. He played the lead in "The Phantom of the Opera" when it came to be a big-budget film, and his performance left music lovers absolutely stunned. Normally, he's known for roles in tough-guy movies like "300" and "Attila the Hun," so this was a complete turnaround from what he was used to playing. Gerard Butler apparently had no idea that he could sing well enough for the role, and Andrew Lloyd Webber had him try out for the intensely difficult tenor part of the Phantom after just a few singing lessons.

Patrick Swayze has played Broadway roles in "Dirty Dancing," "Grease," and "Chicago," but he is probably better known for his acting roles in "Point Break," "The Outsiders," and "Red Dawn." He first became known to the industry after playing the role of Danny Zuko in "Grease," which was his big break.

Lots of people were stunned during the Oscars when Hugh Jackman set up and performed a huge musical number. It wasn't a well-known fact that he could sing and dance, but this rough n' tough actor can get the job done. Younger generations know him best for his role as Wolverine in the "X-Men" movies, but Jackman has also appeared in musicals such as "Les Misérables," "Oklahoma," and "The Boy from Oz."

Surprisingly, the famous actress Gwyneth Paltrow is also a songbird who knows how to belt out some country music. In "Country Strong," Gwyneth Paltrow plays the role of a country singer, so she's had to unveil her hidden singing talents for movie audiences to hear.

Actor Jamie Foxx is known for dramatic and comedic roles, but did anyone know he could sing? He won an Oscar for his role in the biographical film "Ray," but music is something that he has a passion for. He released "Best Night of My Life," which became a hit on the rhythm and blues charts.

Children love Anne Hathaway for being a princess in movies, and adults love her roles on "Saturday Night Live" and in fun Disney movies. Recently, she played a leading role alongside Jackman in "Les Misérables" where her singing ability came to the fore.

In a startling revelation, Johnny Depp took on a role in the musical, "Sweeney Todd" in the adaptation directed by Tim Burton. Unknown by many people, Depp can actually hold a tune while staying in character. Singing along with Helena Bonham Carter, the two bring Todd and Mrs. Lovett to life on the big screen.

One of the most famous faces of Spain, Antonio Banderas is well-known for his iconic roles. From playing the masked vigilante in "Zorro" to Puss in Boots in "Shrek," he's a name that almost any generation will know and respect, and he also sings well, which is unknown to many who watch his films. He has sung alongside Sarah Brightman in "The Phantom of the Opera," and he played Ché in the musical "Evita" in 1996.

Playing roles in movies like "The Village," "Ladder 49," and "Gladiator," Joaquin Phoenix is not the kind of actor that most people associate with musicals. However, he did win the Oscar for his role in "Walk the Line," in which he played the iconic singer, Johnny Cash.

Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith have both put in time as singers. Will Smith is known for his rapping, which is part of what brought him to Hollywood in the first place. Jada Pinkett Smith is the lead singer of the rock band, Wicked Wisdom. Now, their little girl, Willow, has released a hit, "Whip My Hair," which peaked at 11 on the Billboard Hot 100. She is the younger sister to Jaden Smith, who played in "The Pursuit of Happiness" with his father, and in 2012, he released his first album, "The Cool Café."

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Why Are Musicals So Popular?

When thinking about musicals you can't help but thing about Andrew Lloyd Webber. He has achieved the most success in musical theatre and runs one of the largest theatre companies in London. He can be credited for creating the longest running musical production ever and the highest grossing in history. The Phantom of the Opera celebrated its 10,000th Broadway performance on 11 February 2012 which is the first musical to ever to do so and it is still going strong today. His talents at producing musicals are legendary and long may they continue.

Les Misérables is another musical which has been running for over 20 years. More than 60 million people around the world have seen the stage musical in over 40 countrys. Recently it hit the big screen with starring roles for Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe and Anne Hathaway. If you want a good cry, then head to your cinema and watch it. It is easy to see why it won a golden globe for best motion picture and why it got 8 Oscar nominations and 9 Bafta nominations.

The history of musicals goes back a long way. I once visited the Amphitheatre near Taormina in Sicily and you can bet it saw its fair share of musicals in its time. The Romans are believed to have copied the Greek theatres' and performed in enclosed wooden structures. They attached metal chips to the shows to enhance the sound of the dancing. I am guessing these would be classed as the first tap shoes.

There is something just great about musicals when they are done well. As a child the most recorded and watched films on TV for me were all musicals. "The Wizard of Oz" "Mary Poppins" and "Greece" were my favourite; even today I could sing along to all the songs and completely follow the spoken dialogue. I even remember spending hours perfecting the exact skip Dorothy does down the yellow brick road! Then there was "Annie", "Dirty Dancing", "Fame" and "Flashdance", the list goes on. The more I think about it the more I realise I was brought up on musicals.

But what is it about musicals that make them so popular even today? I think it's simply because they use song and dance to enhance a story. But I think it takes a special kind of director and choreographer to make a musical work. Having seen lots of productions of the same musical it seems the success is really down to how well it is produced. A couple of years ago I took my mother to see "We will Rock you" and it was just amazing. It really gives you the feel good factor.

I can't wait for the next big musical to hit the stage. I have always wanted to burst into song and dance whist doing my weekly shop at Tesco's! Perhaps I need to arrange this, get a group of friends, prepare a dance and have some music ready. I bet it would make all the shoppers stop and watch and give them the feel good factor that all the best musicals give you.

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