The Secrets of Action Screenwriting Review

I’m a big fan of Bill Martell’s Blue Books and recently bought The Secrets of Action Screenwriting. The Blue Books typically sell for $2.99 on Amazon, but Secrets cost $9.99 and I was reluctant at first to pay that much for it. I’m glad I did, and this is the best of his Blue Books so far in my opinion. I’ll buy the new ones at $9.99 when they’re available without blinking.

Bill Martell is a working screenwriter with a ton or produced work under his belt, so he’s no wannabe telling you how to write. I really respect working writers that share their knowledge with others, and Bill is one of those. Secrets is useful and above all practical.  It isn’t filled with useless motivational platitudes and pontificating, ineffective elucidations on writing (aka, no big words or fancy advice). He uses plain language (example: “bullshit” is sprinkled throughout) and offers realistic guidance and tips you can use, right now.

I’m a novelist, not a screenwriter, but I always write a screenplay before I write a novel.  I spend a couple months on an outline, write a beat sheet, then write a screenplay before I set a word of the novel to paper. Know what I discovered after reading Secrets? My beat sheets could be a lot better- by 100 percent. I now follow Bill’s method he so clearly portrays in the book.

If you buy The Secrets of Action Screenwriting, I recommend going right to the Finishing Touches section near the end of the book. Bill presents thirty questions and items to consider before unleashing your work, and this applies to novels as well as screenplays. If there’s a concept or item that you’re unfamiliar with, such as a payback line, plot seed, rug pulls or villain’s plan, you can easily refer to the section that describes the concept in detail.

As a working writer on a continuous learning path, I put Bill Martell’s Blue Books at the top of my list.

Scary Weather

We were out for a walk this afternoon and a guy was getting ready to mow his lawn. In Michigan, on January 8th. We also went to a local nursery to check out their bonsai trees and followed Lamont, the bonsai specialist to the outside storage area where the outdoor bonsais are kept. Only a few were dormant. Insects are buzzing outside in the sun. The weather this year is seriously spooky.

Goals and Resolutions

Well, it’s 2012 and now’s the time most people think about New Year resolutions and goals. Here’s my resolution: start smoking and drink more, maybe inhale two packs of unfiltered Lucky’s a day and down three fifths of Jim Beam a week. My goals? Write every day, get better at it, and produce three new books this year.

Here’s the point- resolutions are meaningless but goals are worthwhile. Goals should transcend arbitrary calendar dates. Resolutions to me are no more than deadlines, and deadlines are just a tactical subset of strategic goals. My strategic goal? Write every day and get better at it. That never changes. My tactical goal? Produce three new books this year, and that’s nothing more than a set of deadlines.

Movie Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

We just got back from seeing The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.  It’s a long movie at 158 minutes but it’s time well spent.

One Line Synopsis

A reporter gets revenge on a corrupt corporate magnate with the help of a motorcycle riding punkette with deep issues and whose head looks like a pin cushion.

Director

David Fincher

Standout Actors

Daniel Craig, Rooney Mara, Christopher Plummer

Best Bit Part

The perturbed female archive coordinator (can’t find her in the credits)

The opening credits are some of the most unique I’ve seen in the past few years and sets the tone of the movie, bolstered by the Led Zepplin cover track. The acting is great (especially Rooney Mara), the action is good and for such a long movie it never drags. The basement gas chamber at first seemed out of place but is logical based on the Vanger family’s Nazi background. Great ending, also. This is the best film I’ve seen over the holidays.

Grade

A

The System Free for Five Days

Starting January 1st, The System – A Detroit Story – is available for free for five days on Amazon.com.

They all had a system…

The professional car thief….

The cop….

The sex trade operator….

The heroin dealer….

The DEA agent….

But in Detroit all bets are off…and you’re on your own.

Follow Elena Krizi, duped into sex slavery on the promise of a job, dancing and hooking in an 8 Mile Road strip club owned by Vlad “The Dragon” Dragovic. Ride with professional car thief Chris Wolfe boosting Escalades and busting them down at Eddie Siegler’s chop shop, deep in Detroit. Watch Cletus B. Lincoln, the  Mayor’s personal bodyguard conspire with The Dragon and drug dealer Alanzo Hendricks to open a new, massive heroin distribution route through Detroit. Take them down with DPD Inspector Freeman Washington and pole-dancing DEA agent Ann Peabody. Take a wild ride on the lawless streets of Detroit.

Get it here: http://www.amazon.com/System-Detroit-Story—ebook/