Special thanks to ArcLight Cinemas for the heads up on these Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy interviews. Be sure to check out my review of the film here.
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was #8 on my list of Must See 2011 movies… That I missed. Now that I’ve seen it, I think it would have been right at home in my top 5. It’s a fantastic movie.
The first hour or so I found myself wondering where it was going. The only thing you really know for sure is a mole exists and he/she must be found. The story unfolds in a series of flashbacks and quick scenes and jumps around quite a bit. Sometimes, it can be distracting and hard to follow but Tinker manages to stay interesting. Perhaps fascinating is a better word for it. It reminded me of The Insider with Russell Crowe and Al Pacino. That movie unfolded very slowly but I absolutely loved it.
So yes, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy requires patience but it all pays off in the end. The further into the story you get, the more engrossing it becomes. I was glued to the screen when the answers to my questions arrived.
Ironically, I was slow getting out to see the film in theaters. Having said that, if you haven’t seen it yet, you may as well wait to rent it. It the type of movie meant for quiet Sunday afternoons spent on a comfortable couch with a blanket. (I would include a really well made sandwich too.)
2 WORDS FOR TINKER TAILOR SOLDIER SPY: QUIET, TENSION
I was bound to cave sooner or later…
After months of recommendations and glowing reviews from my friends, I finally decided to give Game of Thrones a shot. Whoa. I now regret waiting as long as I did. The show is absolutely phenomenal and I’m very proud to consider myself a part of it’s rapidly growing fan base. Especially with the newest (and amazing) trailer for Season 2 working it’s way around the web this week.
Over the last week or so, I powered my way through the exceptional first season while avoiding spoilers from virtually every fan I know. At the same time, I read a lot about the books on which the series is based. It’s a pretty fantastic world that author George R. R. Martin created.
What’s impressive about the television series is how well they established the world and the multiple story lines. It’s not easy creating a brand new world full of new characters, locations and cultures on the small screen. That’s part of the charm of Game of Thrones. By the end of the second episode, I was hooked and completely addicted to Winterfell, The Wall, The Starks, The Lannisters and the Iron Throne.
XTRA | Link, Zelda, Hyrule, Middle Earth & Screenwriting
Something funny happened as I watched the first season. I found myself looking forward to the opening credits sequence at the beginning of each episode. Beyond that, I found myself humming the song constantly while I thought about my latest screenplay. The song fit very well into an action script I’ve been developing. I don’t mean to suggest that the opening theme could find a place in the movie someday. I simply felt inspired to write whenever I heard that song. I helped me get into my world and think creatively.
It’s funny how fate can sometimes step in when you are writing a new screenplay. Perhaps I was meant to delay watching the series until I was ready to write my new script? I like to think I was destined to fall in love with that theme and use it as a spark in my own writing.
Inspiration comes in many forms. Whenever something that triggers my creativity comes along, I try to seize every moment and write as much as I can. My new script has absolutely nothing to do with swords, knights, Lords or Kings. Yet here I am, playing the opening to Game of Thrones over and over again and writing…
It’s a good thing the show is amazing too. Win Win!
Do you connect songs to your screenplays? What other influences do you hold close while you write? Music? Art? Other screenplays? Movies? Television shows?
XTRA | How Diddy’s ‘Coming Home’ Inspired My Latest Screenplay
If you have a project you would like to see promoted on The Athletic Nerd email me at jason@17west.ca.
Note: There are a few offensive words as well as violence in these clips so adjust your speakers/eyes accordingly. Viewer discretion is advised and such.
The Code was produced for the Splatterfest Festival in Houston where it won 11 awards: Best Film, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Editing, Best Kill, Best Splatter, Best Special Effects plus 4 audience awards. It’s currently posted on Funny Or Die.
Visit the Facebook page for more.
This fantasy horror film is inspired by Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It’s about a terrifying fairytale world in which Mary Ann must come to terms with her horrific past.
This upcoming film was shot in the Ukraine featuring a cast from 8 countries.
Visit their website www.overturnmovie.com for more.
This dark comedy is currently being completed on a micro budget. Keep your eyes on their YouTube page for more. Specifically a strange and cool Super 8/Stop Motion experimental short called Woman In A Cloak.
This short is currently being submitted to film festivals.
It’s pretty difficult to look passed the end of a legendary trilogy when The Dark Knight Rises is released next summer. Likewise, 4 larger than life heroes will assemble after years of hype. And how can you ignore a hero like Spider-Man returning to the screen? Today, I attempt to put aside the Bats, Spiders and Avengers to see what else the 2012 summer movie season has to offer. There are a couple picks that could go either way but I’ve got high hopes nonetheless.
