These days, a lot of the hype is about movies being developed based on comic books. No need to mention them, just see what’s playing theaters.
Well, back in the day there were many comic books based on movies. The best examples were the Star Wars adaptations when the first Star Wars film came out that led to continuing stories past the movies.
Before our mobile devices could stream/download through Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, etc. growing up back in the 70 to the 80s- the only way you can hold a hit movie in your hands were either photonovels or hand-drawn comic book adaptations, based on the movies.
Part of my collection growing up then included one-shot comic book adaptation of movies. For some movies- the comic books were part of the tie-in merchandise. Some comic book adaptations were great, others not too great. If the art the subject were good…
Tonight I have the amazing privilege of meeting Stephen King. He is touring with his son Owen King for their new collaborative novel Sleeping Beauties. This is such an exciting opportunity, and I am counting the minutes!
So this boasts the question, what do I ask Stephen King?
Stephen Edwin Kingborn September 21, 1947 He is an American author of horror, supernatural fiction, suspense, science fiction, and fantasy. His books have sold more than 350 million copies,many of which have been adapted into feature films, miniseries, television series, and comic books.King has published 54 novels, including 7 under the pen name Richard Bachman, and 6 non-fiction books. He has written nearly 200 short stories, most of which have been collected in book collections. Many of his stories are set in his home state of Maine.
Last week due to other people’s work schedules and illness, Uncle Dave was in charge of homing schooling my niece Mona. That meant Dr. Who episodes for science class ice cream with lunch and the writing assignment was a book report on the comic book Lumber Janes. Math was only a fifteen minute exercises on the computer but literature was an hour discussion on in media res, character, and setting.
We talked about whether or not gender was important in a story? I asked her if the Harry Potter stories would have been different if the main character was Herminie and not Harry? What if Star Wars had been Leia’s Story not Luke’s? Her answers where thoughtful and concise for a nine year old.
It also got me thinking about female characters. I do not consider myself a feminist, nor do I consider myself an anti-feminist. I consider myself a…
I love comics with strong well written female leads. There are actually a lot of them out there. Not just the big names like Wonder Woman and Jessica Jones but a lot of really good independent comics with female role models too. Who do I think is the best female comic book carachter? My answer might change from one day to another. So I am not even going to try to put them in order of preference. All these ladies deserve to be on this list. I am not going to rate them once they got here.
Before I get to the list however let address this question, is sexy a legitimate character trait in a female comic book character? My answer is yes, in the same ways it can be part of the DNA of male characters, like James Bond, Captain Jack Harkness or even Batman. The important part…
Tank Girl. Born Rebecca Buck (well actually it says Fonzie Rebecca Buckler on her birth certificate but hey who’s counting?) Worked for some government para military agency until something happened with the president’s colostomy bag and she stole her tank and became an outlaw. This English comic set in Australia is the epitome of the punk rock ethos. I remember when Dark Horse first published the title here in the US they described it as “What if Barbie got a brain?’ This comic written in the UK by two blokes, (one of who would form a simian based rock band) would pretty much defined the riot grrrl mythos to millions of Americans.
I don’t remember this from history class.
Remember that rule that if I real like something I name a…
Will we see a new Marvel Studios One-Shot short film soon? Thor: Ragnarok writer Eric Pearson has shed some light on the possibility in a new interview and it sounds like they could be coming back!
Justice League is going to bring the action for sure, but that doesn’t mean the heroes are constantly going to be in the thick of it. These latest stills feature quieter moments for 3 members of the team.
Sabrina the Teenage Witch brings back memories of the neon 90’s. It was a time when witches were blond, magic went sideways, and cat-familiars-that-were-once-warlocks-bent-on-world-domination looked like terrifying murder puppets.
But now Sabrina will no longer live solely in the realm of nostalgia; the CW and Warner Bros. television are rebooting a drama based one Sabrina. Variety describes the show as a drama that
“reimagines the origin and adventures of Sabrina as a dark coming-of-age story that traffics in horror, the occult, and witchcraft. The series is described as being tonally in the vein of horror classics like “Rosemary’s Baby” and “The Exorcist,” and will see Sabrina wrestling to reconcile her dual nature as a half-witch, half-mortal while standing against the evil forces that threaten her, her family, and the daylight world humans inhabit.”
For people who only know Sabrina through the lens of the 90’s, this description sounds out of…
A single father struggles to live and provide for his young son in downtown Gotham City.
CAST LIST:
Narrator: Carina Cojeen
Father: Nick Baillie
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
Living in Crime Alley is about a single father in downtown Gotham City struggling to live and provide for his young son. The son is a huge fan of Batman. Living in Crime Alley raises questions of morality and justice from the points of view of a father, the child and the dark knight himself.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Drama/Crime.
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
This screenplay should be made into movie because it brings the dark knight and
everything that he brings with him into the sharp focus of todays recession and the reality of everyday struggle. The perspective of a ground level citizen living in Gotham City is something that hasn’t been fully explored in film. Despite Batman having been created in the late 1930s, Living in Crime Alley shows that his character has a resonance with the life that people live today.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Conflicted, Justice.
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Billy Wilder’s The Apartment. Its simply one of the best movies ever made. Great
writing, great direction and masterclass acting from Jack Lemmon. A funny, dramatic,timeless movie that I’ve re-watched many times for inspiration and entertainment. But Hitchcock’s Rear Window runs at a close second.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
I’ve been working on Living in Crime Alley for the the last 6 months. I started writing the screenplay after having gone through one the worst financial periods in my life. Instead of sitting around helplessly, I wrote Living in Crime Alley not only as a way to escape my own problems, but also to express my frustrations in a creative way.
How many stories have you written?
I have written several original short stories for films, but this is my first fan fiction short screenplay. I’m a huge fan of the Batman character and I’ve always wanted to write or direct a Batman story.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
One of my favourite songs and one I listen to all the time is Sinnerman by Nina Simone. Or any Nina Simone songs in truth.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
The biggest obstacle I had to finishing the screenplay was the ending. As a writer, I think its important to raise questions within your work. The final moments of Living in Crime Alley is very much a question on justice and morality. From another perspective, the ending could’ve gone for a more sympathetic route or perhaps an even more darker turn. I leave it to the audience to make their own judgement.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Besides from writing, I’m passionate about making films. I have directed several short films, some of which have had screenings at BAFTA recognised film festivals. I also love to draw, read, travel and eat good food.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
This is the first time I’ve entered a screenplay on FilmFreeway. In my experience, it’s by far, the easiest way to submit your work to festivals.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
I submitted Living in Crime Alley to Fan Fiction Festival to gain constructive feedback on my work and progress as a writer. I never expected the screenplay to be a winner and for that I am very grateful. The feedback was extremely valuable in helping me hone my craft. They pointed out particular screenplay formatting issues I had made, in terms of introducing characters, dialogue etc. As well as making creative suggestions on how to improve the story. I’ve never really been a confident writer, but the feedback they gave me on my screenplay was a validation on my skills.
After the events of Captain America: Civil War, Natasha Romanoff is on the run. Branded a fugitive for violating the Sokovia Accords, Natasha tries to keep her head down and lay low, but there’s no rest for the world’s greatest spy…
CAST LIST:
Narrator: David Occhipinti
Natasha: Lindsay Gerro
Tori: Norma Dunphy
Ava: Carina Cojeen
Waiter: Nick Baillie
Get to know the writer:
What is your screenplay about?
The story follows Natasha Romanoff, better known as the Black Widow, after the events of Captain America: Civil War, so it’s set in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Natasha was branded a fugitive for violating the Sokovia Accords and is currently being hunted from all sides. She must not only protect herself but also a young girl from her past: Ava Orlova.
What genres does your screenplay fall under?
Superhero fiction, Action, Sci-Fi
Why should this screenplay be made into a movie?
Not only have fans wanted to see Natasha Romanoff shine in her own standalone franchise for years, it’s also a ripe time in the industry to make female-lead superhero films. I think this story serves as a unique take on the genre, focusing on a duel-protagonist, sisterly dynamic between Natasha and Ava. That, combined with Marvel’s winning formula for making superhero films, would make for a successful movie of an iconic character.
How would you describe this script in two words?
Dynamic Duo
What movie have you seen the most times in your life?
Definitely Captain America: The Winter Soldier. Also Stepbrothers.
How long have you been working on this screenplay?
Start to finish, I’d say about a year. The process was broken up by my college courses and job, so I worked on it whenever I had time.
How many stories have you written?
This is actually the first screenplay I’ve ever written, which is why the writing process took a bit longer than normal. I first had to learn how to construct an actual script, with regards to formatting, editing, etc.
What is your favorite song? (Or, what song have you listened to the most times in your life?)
That’s definitely a tough one. I’d say “Rather Be” by Clean Bandit or “You Need Me I Don’t Need You” by Ed Sheeran.
What obstacles did you face to finish this screenplay?
I think deciding which characters to include in Natasha’s story was a challenge, considering the extensive line-up of heroes in the MCU. Also, mapping out the script and making sure it was coherent, with regards to plot holes and character arcs, was another challenge as well. However, I really enjoyed the process of constructing Natasha’s story. I have a large amount of material that either changed or didn’t make the final draft, which enriched the editing process and added to the overall satisfaction of completing the script.
Apart from writing, what else are you passionate about?
Most definitely music. I’m a songwriter and am hoping to get into Music Supervision after college. I love reading, travelling, and video games and am also working on a sequel to this screenplay.
You entered your screenplay via FilmFreeway. What has been your experiences working with the submission platform site?
It was a very seamless process. I had no trouble submitting my script or payment.
What influenced you to enter the festival? What were your feelings on the initial feedback you received?
Seeing as this was a passion project of mine, I really wanted to have an industry professional’s point of view, as having a knowledgeable set of eyes reading the script would benefit the story. The feedback was fantastic. It was critical without being negative, bettered the script overall, and increased my confidence as a screenwriter.
He is an American author of 
The boys want to be her…The girls want to be her. 
I don’t remember this from history class. 
FAN FICTION Film and Writing Festival 