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The Athletic Nerd Returns!

September 3rd, 2011 | Posted by jasonmckinnon in Design | Technology | Web - (0 Comments)

The Athletic Nerd Returns! | Movies, Screenwriting & Independent Film Blog

24 DAYS LATER…

Putting this blog on hold for a month was a tough decision to make but it had to be done.  There was simply too much to do and projects were piling up.  After a month of work, I’m happy to report that I definitely put a massive dent in my list.

-I’m just about finished editing 17 West’s new short film The Climb.  I’ll be refining the cut this month and I hope to deliver a trailer in early October.

-My new feature length screenplay is taking shape nicely.

-I’ve completed work on my new website and testing has begun.  I will be launching it at the end of the month.

-I spent a lot of time developing some new graphics for my sites and films.  I also created a couple conceptual posters for some new screenplays.

While this work was being completed, I was also writing posts for The Athletic Nerd’s 2 Year Anniversary which is next week.  All this is in addition to new posts for the rest of September.  My strategy was simple.  Take a month off but continue writing and bank as many articles as possible to allow more time for editing and screenwriting.

All in all, it was a very successful break and there are definitely some exciting things on the horizon.

Looking back, I think taking the time off was needed.  Not only did I accomplish a ton of work but I also took some time to myself.  It’s time to start YEAR 3 on a good note!

Regular updates resume tomorrow!

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The Athletic Nerd Movie Blog | The Screenwriting Spark Volume 6

The last few weeks have been a blast.

I’ve been developing my newest feature screenplay and even though I haven’t got the story ironed out yet, I’m still happy with the progress I’m making.

While I’m working on that, I’m also picking away at three short film concepts that I’m hoping to wrap up before I move in a few months.

There is a lot of planning to do in both the screenwriting world and my personal life but I’m not complaining.

Either way it’s exciting.

While I develop these new stories, I decided to re-read my old screenwriting books.  It’s been a fantastic exercise as the tips found in my favorite books are a big help while I build my new tales.

The next few months should be interesting.  Let’s hope I reach my goals.

Volume 5

Twitter Sparks:

Recommended Follow: @kingisafink

Outlining: How Much Is Too Much? ScriptLab

Weak Main Conflict? – ScreenwritingU

How Oscar Scripts Really Work – Writer’s Store

Your Character’s Imaginary Center – ScriptLab

Be Careful About Who You Let Influence Your Rewrites – Wordsmythe

Screenwriter On A Mission: Get Sold In 2011 – Kelly Anelons

Screenwriting Description: What to reveal and when – DivaOnline

Screenwriting for executives | Robert Mckee – BigThink

The Black List 2010 – First Showing

The Short Script & Why It Matters – ScriptLab

FADE IN:

This blog began in September of 2009 and since then, I’ve written a lot about my favorite passion.  Screenwriting will always be my favorite pass time.

I’m addicted to it.

Throughout the last year, I’ve been sharing my experiences in the screenwriting world including everything from finding time to write, to software reviews.

I decided to gather all of those articles and truly get a sense of how productive I was over the last year.

The result was A Year In The Life Of An Aspiring Screenwriter.

I’m about to take a much needed 2 week vacation in order to recharge and get ready for a productive 2011.  It’s going to be a big year!

Happy holidays to all!

Happy writing!

FADE OUT.

The Screenwriting Spark Volume 4

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The Athletic Nerd | The Screenwriting Spark Volume 4

The Spark returns for it’s 5th installment and it’s an exciting week for me.  This week, I finally finished a feature screenplay I’ve been picking at for more than 4 years.

It’s about time!

It’s nice to finally get the story out there.  I still have a lot of revisions and rewrites to do but I’ve never felt more relieved to finish a screenplay.

I’m free to write whatever I want next and I’m okay with that.

Click here to read more.

Volume 5

Twitter Sparks:

Recommended Follow: @TenaciousTanaka

Screenwriters On Screenwriting – BAFTA

Is Your Script Ready? – Film Slate

Write Hot, Edit Cool: 5 Essentials For Your Scene – The Story Bodyguard

The Coffee Break Screenwriter: Writing Your Script 10 Minutes At A Time – Script Scoutz

Non-Script Books For Screenwriters – Writing Tips 4 U

10 Cool Things About Playing In Different Sandboxes – Tyler Weaver

Screenwriting: It’s The Idea That Counts – Raving Dave

Top Writers Share their Creative Process – Austin Daze via AMFM Studios LLC

Connection – TheScriptLab

Writing For No Budget Films – Raindance

How To Write For An A-List Actor – The Story Department

FADE IN:

Amazon Studios

The big news this week is Amazon’s new venture into the filmmaking world.  Amazon Studios is a new way for screenwriters and directors alike to score their big break.

The site accepts feature length scripts and films and plans to bring these projects directly to the big studios like Warner Bros.

What does this mean for the aspiring screenwriter?

Not only do they offer monthly and yearly prizes but it’s also an opportunity to get your script produced by directors looking to break in as well.

It’s win win!

If anything it’ll be worth following just to see the kind of creative films that will emerge from this unique opportunity.

I’m looking forward to hearing more about Amazon Studios.

Click HERE to check out the site.

Click HERE for another take over at Joblo.com

FADE OUT.

The Screenwriting Spark Volume 4

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The Athletic Nerd | The Screenwriting Spark Volume 4

This edition of The Spark is all about the huge amount of resources available to today’s aspiring screenwriter.

It’s incredibly easy to get lost searching for screenwriting tips and techniques online.  Communities like Twitter’s Scriptchat have formed to encourage better writing.

It’s an inspiring thought knowing that no matter how stuck you can become, there are people out there willing to lend a hand.

Don’t believe me?

Check out this list of Awesome Screenwriting Websites.  Over 120 and rising.

Volume 4

Twitter Sparks:

Recommended Follow: @robertshutter

Script Secrets: High Concept Generation – Script Magazine

The 6 Tools of Comedy – Raindance

Read To Write: Some Thoughts On Screenwriting – Timothy Visentin

17 Reasons Your Screenplay Got Rejected – NPR

Script Inception: Story or Character – ScriptLab

Lance Kawas Interview – Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat

Three Less Orthodox Story Structures – The Last Reveal

BONUS REVIEW:

Celtx for iPhone and iPad.

Is Celtx the definitive screenwriting app for your mobile device?

10 Flicks: Movies That Make Me Feel Like Writing

Just making that list ignited my imagination and before I knew it, I had written a ton.  It’s kind of a full proof way to motivate yourself.

Make your own list.  What movies start that elusive fire within?  Which movies can you watch over and over again and marvel at how they can inspire you every single time.

If you still don’t feel like writing once your list is completed watch each and every one of them!

Another possible cure for writer’s block?

It’s worked for me.

FADE OUT.

The Screenwriting Spark Volume 4

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The Athletic Nerd | The Screenwriting Spark Volume 1

Gathering material for this week’s edition of The Screenwriting Spark really solidified my love of Screenwriting Blogs.  There is an endless supply of inspiration out there.

A quick search on Google or Twitter reveals thousands of articles about virtually any screenwriting topic you can name.

However, I urge you to take caution as I spent a ton of time reading and banking articles for future Sparks.  I wound up having less time to work on my latest script.

Volume 2

Twitter Sparks:

Recommended Follow: @gointothestory

Interview: Aaron Sorkin, screenplay writer of ”The Social Network” – The Boston Phoenix

How To Create Believable Characters For Film – Leslie Dunn

Five Plot Point Breakdowns – ScriptLab

The Art of Now: Living the Moment – ScriptLab

Mike Leigh’s screenwriting secrets – CNN

22 Ways to improve your screenwriting – ezinemark.com (hcroasmun)

On The Blogs:

Featured: IndieScreenwriting
Blog

A blog I recently discovered with some great original content including a fantastic series called Top 100 Screenwriting Questions.

What Indie Screenwriters can learn from James Cameron – Indiescreenwriting

Screenwriting Tips – Xander Bennett

What belongs on a title page? – John August

Top 5 Screenwriting Mistakes – ScreenwritingU

The Craft of Screenwriting – Sid Field (Audio)

Featured NERD Post: 56 Things I Love About Screenwriting

Submit your screenwriting post or article

Scripts Pro for iPhone & iPad Review

The best screenwriting app you can buy on the iPhone right now makes it easier than ever to write your heart out wherever you are.

Click here for the full review.

FADE IN:

This week, I went back and read the first feature length screenplay I ever wrote. It’s remarkable looking back more than 10 years to see how I’ve evolved as a screenwriter over the years.

What inspired me about the experience was thinking about where I’ll be 10 years from now. How will I feel about my writing then?

Will I be proud of the work I accomplished?

This thought process planted a seed in my imagination and eventually grew into an ambitious goal.

A goal to write as much as possible so future me will know I worked hard and didn’t waste a second.

The last thing I want 10 years from now is regret.

FADE OUT.

The Screenwriting Spark Volume 1

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