nofilmschool » spec

Know What Your Screenwriting Audience Wants: The Business of Spec Scripts

Christopher Boone — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 17:22:54 +0000

Many of us here on NFS will write screenplays for our own films that we plan to make ourselves. That said, it’s always good to know which scripts are selling in the marketplace: 1) to know what movies may be coming to a theatre near you soon so your script is different (or better); 2) to know the styles and genres of scripts that studios and financiers are buying should you want to sell your own spec; and 3) to know who represents and manages writers of scripts like your own to help you find representation. To shed some light on the spec script market, Scott Myers at Go Into The Story has been running a weekly series on this very topic, covering the history of the spec script market, the buyers of spec scripts, the spec screenwriter-representation relationship and more. (more…)

H.265 is Now Officially Approved, is 4K Streaming and Broadcast Just Around the Corner?

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 29 Jan 2013 02:25:25 +0000

Technology’s progression sometimes moves with consistent momentum, and sometime comes in spurts. For instance, processors of mobile devices regularly decrease in size and price with relation to power — while, at the same time, the speed of your internet connection may not change much at all for several years, and make a great leap whenever it does. Both of these tendencies of advancement seem to inform High Efficiency Video Coding, A.K.A. H.265 — the successor to that other codec with which we’re all quite familiar (H.264). Improving efficiency by around double, H.265 aims to set the standard for the next decade in video streaming and encoding — and it’s going to ease mobile data congestion and likely make 4K a reality much sooner than many would have anticipated. (more…)

Dude, You Gettin' a Dell? Former Apple Editors Choose 'Yes, Bro' over Mac Pro for Performance

Dave Kendricken — Fri, 25 Jan 2013 00:18:26 +0000

Something weird is going on. We know the Mac Pro hasn’t had a substantial upgrade in some time. We know that something is looming over the horizon, but we don’t know what, exactly. We also know that Apple will probably over-charge us for it (or it wouldn’t quite feel right for anybody). And while it may not be fair to fault a machine that’s still quite hefty and robust for losing to brand new ones in spec tests and benchmark performance — just what are we waiting for here? Should we even be waiting for it at all? How much incentive to hold out for Apple remains when you can build your own Mac Pro, build your own specialized editing PC — or, for instance, as a recent StudioDaily feature shows many video editors are doing — switch to powerhouse Dell solutions? (more…)

IMDb's Technical Specs Not Technical Enough for You? Check Out the ShotOnWhat Database

Dave Kendricken — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:28:21 +0000

Ever wondered what format, camera model, lens type, finishing format, lens manufacturer, etc. was used to create a certain film? You may have found yourself punching in IMDb as your default movie trivia database, and you may have found some or all such information in the film’s technical specs page — or you may not have. While IMDb has a lot of other coverage to keep itself occupied logging (particularly cast and crew lists), you may find yourself wanting a more detailed and dedicated technical breakdown — enter ‘ShotOnWhat?‘ (more…)

Keep Up to Date on the Spec Script Market with TheGrid and Go Into the Story

Christopher Boone — Wed, 20 Jun 2012 18:00:45 +0000

For many of us on NFS, we’re pursuing our filmmaking goals through the independent, DIY route. If you’re focused more specifically on screenwriting like myself, however, you may find yourself straddling the line writing content you can sell to the Hollywood studios and writing content you want to make as your passion project. Either way, it’s important to know what’s currently in development and production so you know what is selling and so you don’t get blindsided when you discover your current script is already in production as a major feature film. For decades, Variety and The Hollywood Reporter have been the standard trades for Hollywood. For the independent film community, IndieWire has established itself as the must-read sight. These publications typically cover done deals or finished films. For screenwriters that want to know what specs are heading out into the market before the deal is done, there’s TheGrid. (more…)

What You Do When You Discover the Exact Movie You Are Writing is Coming Out in Four Months

Christopher Boone — Tue, 19 Jun 2012 13:00:49 +0000

I am currently in the middle of rewriting my latest comedy spec script, Countless Melodies (that crossed-out ‘o’ is not a typo, it’s a purposeful omission), a script I haven’t shown to a soul yet because it’s not ready. It’s an idea I’ve had for several years and I finally got around to writing it this year. It’s a college-set comedy that follows an all-male a cappella group, Countless Melodies, as they try to recapture their former glory to become national champions once again, if they can only defeat their archrivals, the three-time defending champion Blue Belles. It’s completely “write-what-you-know” because I was in an all-male a cappella group in college. That’s right. I said it. I was in an all-male a cappella group in college — the Johns Hopkins University AllNighters. And we were good, too (at least, back in the day). So imagine my surprise when I surf over to IMDb today and see this trailer on their home page for Pitch Perfect: (more…)