Help Me Bring Screenwriter William Martell To Boston

The inestimable action movie screenwriter William Martell (he of 19 produced films) happens to conduct a 2-day seminar/instructional type event on the art of screenwriting -- something near and dear to my heart -- and something I would love to attend.

But he needs confirmed bodies (I think 20 of them) to make it worth his while to hop the red eye from LAX to Logan.

That's where you come in, my fellow Princes of prose, Script Kings of New England... can we drum up enough interest around here to get him in?

If you are interested, check out his web site which explains it all (along with a ton of other good stuff) and also his regularly updated blog, and let him know you want him to come to Bruins, Red Sox, Celtics, Patriots territory...

Or let me know myself

Canada Is Going To Hell In A Handbasket...

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What will make the better screen story, Obama and his battle with Hilary and his subsequent war with McCain, only to patch it up with Hilary again

OR

Canada electing a Prime Minister, then having the opposing parties combine to form a Coalition government to overthrow him?

It's frigging anarchy, I tell ya...

Received an offer on the table for a pro-read of one of my scripts so will be taking advantage of that shortly. Also, added a couple of pros to my Facebook page with hopes that they pan out to be friends as well as peers -- just as long as they are legit. Had a little issue with "Robert Downey, Jr" as I do not think that was him...

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*Movie: The Driver (Walter Hill does getaway driver)

*Music: Guns N Roses "Chinese Democracy" (not bad, but 17 year wait?)

*Book: some pages research in My Guatanamo Diary

I Partook In Cyber Monday...

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I braved the web malls and did some Cybering today (no, I wasn't downloading foot porn from Mistress Helga) but rather I did some holiday shopping from the comforts of my home office.

Three gifts for the Mrs knocked off with no salestax and free shipping.

I was going to buy local, but when you consider that my choices (and her "hints") were all found in national chain stores, does it really matter if my cash goes into a cyber-bank somewhere deep in the Linux vaults inside a mountain in Colorado or if it first stops in a Boston bank, then gets electronically sent to a bank somewhere in the vaults inside a mountain in Colorado?

Now I am picking away at a few rewrite pages of a "car chase" thriller as a warmup.

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*Movie: Three Kings

*Music: White Stripes

*Book: yep, more Tony pages

Quantum Physics

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The action in the new Bond flick "Quantum Of Solace" was top notch. After one round I found myself panting during the following prerequisite cool down scene, which made me wonder what of this film did Purvis & Wade write, and what did Paul Haggis do?

I am going out on a limb and suggest Purvis/Wade came in with the basic outline and action stuff and Haggis came in to tighten up the story threads and dialogue?

Which begs the question, why didn't they just do a stand alone Bond story vs this continuation of the Vesper thing? After awhile you kind of forget that whole pseudo revenge mission Bond was on anyway, and that backstory kind of cluttered this one up for me.

Noticeably missing was a good shower scene with one of the Bond chicks and his standard "Bond. James Bond" but was nice to see the martini thing.

Overall I prefer Casino Royale for the story, but Quantum for the action.

Star Trek preview before the movie rocked.

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*Movie: Quantum Of Solace

*Music: Jack White/Alicia Keys doing the Bond theme

*Book: more Tony Curtis pages in the porcelain reading room

The Turkey Didn't Taste Like Istanbul

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Did not waste my valuable screenwriting time trampling over retail workers trying to get one of three off-brand LCD televisions for $399, but rather I indulged in a hefty leftover laden lunch of turkey, butternut squash, sausage stuffing and brussel sprouts. YUMM-O (apologies to Rachael Ray.)

Wrote quite a bit on my gangster/horror script today. It is coming together faster than the terrorist/thriller I work on every other day. I think this is the one I will send out to "readers" which includes a brand new "pro"one I got today (thanks Mister A. Nonymous for the offer.)

Lisa uncrated the eBay fresh plastic tree and had it up and lit within the afternoon. All her trinkets and garland and wreaths and stockings and holiday CDs and red plaid clothing is now officially on display. Cozy. Yuletidish.

Did anybody actually sign up for the free Dr Pepper off that Guns n Roses giveaway? I tried all day and couldn't get in and glad to see Axel himself is suing those spicy Satans for rigging the websites and phones to go down so they didn't have to give out 80 million+ freebies. Maybe in another 17 years, when their next CD comes out, they'll let people register a year in advance.

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*Movie: This Sporting Life (written by David Storey)

* Music: Flight Of The Conchords

*Book: Tony Curtis bio "American Prince" (two chapters on the crapper)