Writing 4Film Class 2010

Writing 4Film Workshop: February 13th, 20th, 27th and March 6th 2010

If you are interested in taking the class please email me first, sending a synopsis of your current writing project. We’ll discuss your project and the class process.

Overview: A four-week workshop with award winning independent filmmaker Nadine Patterson that explores the process of writing for film. Various methods for writing screenplays, treatments and outlines will be explored. Recommended for writers, poets, directors and producers who have an idea for a writing project or a film, whether it be documentary, experimental or narrative. Space is limited to six participants per class (2 places left). Send email to hipcinema23@yahoo.com to register.

Day and Time: Saturdays from 11:00am to 1:30pm
February 13, 20, 27 and March 6

Cost: $75

Location: To Be Announced

Preparations for Workshop:

1) Have a journal/notebook that you can use for in-class notes and notes in the field.

2) Your script, treatment, or outline has to be in a format that other people can read and comprehend. Please be prepared to submit weekly assignments in one of the following formats: Microsoft Word, Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter.

3) If you want to write for film you should understand the process of making films. A film is “written” three times by three people: the writer, the director, and the editor. Here are books on the creative process from those points of view.

Recommended Reading:
The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trotter

Letters to A Young Artist by Anna Deavere Smith

Catching The Big Fish by David Lynch

The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Film Editing by Michael Ondaatje

Making Movies by Sidney Lumet

On Directing Film by David Mamet

Filmmaking for Dummies by Bryan Michael Stoller

Essential DEREN, Collected Writings on Film by Maya Deren

4) Read scripts, good ones and bad ones. Read scripts of films you have seen or haven’t seen. Click here, start with this one, written by a writer. And then you can try this one, written by a famous director/writer click here :) What is the fundamental difference between these two scripts?

5) See films, shorts, documentaries, online, on tv, on the big screen. Each format is a different experience. Become a critical viewer. Become aware of what you like or don’t like, and figure out why.

6) Write your story, your script, your dreams, your thoughts. Write your blog, your report, something. Write everyday. Use your hands and write with pen & paper whenever possible.

2 comments February 7, 2010

President Obama’s Past Statements on Net Neutrality and Innovation/The Danger of Mega-Mergers

This video is from the Free Press website. I believe we have to hold President Obama to his word by letting him know how important these issues are to us. The Comcast-NBC merger, a vertical integration move of incredible scale and magnitude, threatens the openness of the internet and our ability to use it as a two-way communications medium.

As stated on the Free Press “The phone and cable industries that control Internet access for 97 percent of Americans are spending tens of millions of dollars on nearly 500 Washington lobbyists. Their mission is to consolidate industry control over the Internet and kill Network Neutrality, before the public…. gets a seat at the table.”

Let your voice be heard. Write to the Federal Communications Commission, your city council and congress people, the Federal Trade Commission, your local newspaper, and your president. The airwaves, and grounds through which telecommunications companies build their networks are owned by the American People. We grant them access. We have a right to be heard just as much as any lobbyist or billion dollar corporation. They made their fortunes on our blood, sweat and tears. Without us they would be nothing. But we have to speak as one giant voice if we want to be included in the conversation. Let’s break our collective silence now. —- Nadine Patterson

Add comment December 5, 2009

London Film Festival is a Great Model for US Content Providers

I just saw over 38 films at the London Film Festival in October. Many were from non-European countries. It is amazing how little international content we have access to in the United States. And the major internet providers filter out a lot of that content. At the London Film Festival big Hollywood premieres like Men Who Stare at Goats play alongside films like No One Knows About Persian Cats. I also gained more confidence in the film projects I am currently working on for Harmony Image Productions. Globally people seem to be a bit more sophisticated about story structure, character development, and plotline. American filmmakers should take note of the various ways of telling stories and break out of the 3-act structure strait jacket.

10292009(011)_2

Nadine Patterson at the Times BFI 53rd London Film Festival on Leicester Square.

Add comment November 14, 2009

NAMAC Conference Impressions/Promise to work on Diversity Manifesto!

Greetings. I had great time in Boston at the NAMAC Conference (National Alliance for Media Arts and Culture). I participated in an Open Session on making the media arts field and the foundations that support them more diverse, less sexist, racist and elitist. Tall order. We have spent the last 40 years since the Civil Rights Movement pushing Affirmative Action and African Americans still are at a disadvantage when it comes to health, education and employment. Women have made some strides, but they still face salary inequities and the glass ceiling. Not to mention the breakdown/segregation along ethnic, economic/class lines, sexual orientation, and disability (please send a better word for this). We have a lot of work to do! For a field that supposedly believes in diversity, the leadership ranks are overwhelmingly monolithic. How can we change this! Send me your comments here and let’s get to work on a manifesto! The plan is to 1) write it; then 2) get organizations and individuals to sign off on it; and 3) enact/follow through on the principles in practice. Let’s take this on together, one person at a time. Please leave a comment. Thanks.

5 comments September 1, 2009

Review of DIY DAYS in PHILLY

photo

Nicholas, Nadine, Saskia, & Javier chill out at the Brandywine Workshop during DIY DAYS PHILLY

I had a blast at DIY DAYS here in Philadelphia on August 1st. This one day conference was sponsored by The Workbook Project and PIFVA. The sessions were held at University of the Arts and the after party at the Brandywine Workshop. My favorite quote of the day is from John Threat, “Nothing goes viral unless you sneeze on a few people.” People came from LA, Orlando, New York, New Jersey and every place in between to connect with Philly area media makers and exchange ideas. Shout out to Lance Weiler, Zeke Zelker, and Caroline Savage for pulling this amazing group of volunteers and speakers together. To see images and info from the conference go to the DIY DAYS page here. Peace.

1 comment August 2, 2009

Audio Excerpt from Presentation at West Oak Lane Jazz Festival

I showed four films on June 19th: Thirty-Eight Twenty; I Used to Teach English; Anna Russell Jones; and Cosmic Trane. Thanks to PIFVA and Media Concepts for the subsidy grant that allowed me to assemble these works from 1987 to 2003 onto DVD to preserve these documentaries about North Philadelphia. Click here  for audio clip from the introduction.

Add comment June 24, 2009

The North Philly Connection in Film and Music with talk back by Nadine Patterson

Bobby, Marlene, and Thurmond Green stand on Pulaski Avenue near the #2 Bus stop circa 1960 in Nicetown-Tioga

At the West Oak Lane Jazz Festival on Friday June 19th from 11am to 12:30pm I will give a special screening and discussion on music, film, and the influence of North Philly art and culture in my film work. It’s free! Just come to the West Oak Lane Senior Center. The Senior Center is located at 7210 Ogontz Avenue in Philadelphia. It’s a mini retrospective of my films over the past 20 years and most of these film are not on Youtube.  These docs feature  Philly artists/teachers such as Marshall Allen, Toni Cade Bambara, Sam Brown, Germaine Ingram, Carol Johnson, Anna Russell Jones, Odean Pope, Marcia Pincus, Ursula Rucker, Ed Shockley, and the music of Warren Oree and the Arpeggio Jazz Ensemble. [pictured above Bobby, Marlene, and Thurmond circa 1960 at the #2 Bus stop on Pulaski Avenue in Nicetown-Tioga]

1 comment May 26, 2009

HBO’s ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ debuts Sunday March 29th 8pm

HBO’s ‘No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency’ will compete for best drama series at the Emmys

From the website Gold Derby by Tom O’Neil

There’s been some confusion among Emmy-watchers over whether HBO’s “The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency,” which debuts on March 29, will compete at the Emmys as a miniseries or a drama series.

HBO’s Emmy gurus tell Gold Derby that it will qualify in the drama series lineup since the program has more than the requisite six episodes airing during the Emmy eligibility period — the network will air seven.

“The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” stars American R&B singer-actress Jill Scott as “fat and fabulous” Precious Ramotswe, who’s devoted to solving crimes in Botswana, and Anika Noni Rose (Tony Award winner for “Caroline — Or Change” and star of the film version of “Dreamgirls”) as her hyper, officious assistant.

The show had a successful launch on the BBC in the U.K. over the last week, drawing more than 5 million TV viewers. One reviewer for the London Times offered praise, as he put it, giving it three out of five stars. Ken Tucker of Entertainment Weekly gives it a “B” grade, noting that it’s full of “glowing cheerfulness” while calling it “feel-good television in a way that’s startling from HBO, home of dark, rich stuff like ‘The Wire’ and ‘Six Feet Under.’ ” However, Tucker adds, “Just because this tale of a jolly detective is light doesn’t mean it’s slight.”

We get an early Emmy prognosis from a moderator of The Envelope’s message-boards who lives in the U.K., Andrew Pickett (known as “andrew” in our forums with a lower-case “a” because he’s so modest) who viewed the TV launch. He reports:

A late and possibly a big entrant into the drama series races at the Emmys arrives on HBO on March 29th when the late Anthony Minghella’s (“The English Patient”) pilot for “The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” premieres. The series based on the best-selling novels by Alexander McCall Smith stars Grammy winner Jill Scott as Precious Ramotswe and “Dreamgirls’” Anika Noni Rose as her assistant Grace Makutsi. The pilot episode is Academy Award-winning director Anthony Minghella’s final film and a fitting tribute which should be rewarded with at least a directing nomination when the Emmy nominees are announced in July. He also co-wrote the episode with Oscar nominee Richard Curtis (“Four Weddings and a Funeral”).

The series is shot entirely on location in Botswana and looks very different from the majority of competitors for this year’s emmy awards. With HBO’s campaigning multiple emmy nominations seem very likely, it will be competing in the drama series categories and while the series race could be too crowded with “Lost,” “Mad Men,” “24,” “House,” “Dexter” and “Damages” among the favorites it still could surprise and make it in.

More possible are lead actress for Scott, where she could be head to head with “ER”’s Angela Bassett to become the first African American lead actress Emmy winner in a drama series. Anika Noni Rose looks like a good bet for at least a supporting nomination as she has a good range on display, as well as an accent, so a win could be possible. Behind the scenes nominations should be plentiful as the series looks beautiful and writing is likely too as the dialogue is very entertaining, but also authentic.

“The No.1 Ladies’ Detective Agency” is a breath of fresh air in this mostly disappointing year for new series and could very well make a big impact on the Emmys as well as with audiences.

Add comment March 22, 2009

On Bass on MiND TV February 12th, 14th, and 15th

On Bass, a five minute short excerpt from the feature film script for Touching Bass will air this week starting on Thursday February 12th at 10pm on Channel 35/MiND TV/WYBE. In the short a young British woman, Zera Montgomery, discovers that her father Casey has passed away in their London flat. His last thoughts before he dies are about his home town Philadelphia. Casey had lived in exile for over 30 years as a jazz musician in Europe. Written/Directed/Edited by Nadine Patterson. Starring Warren Oree and Sia Kpakiwa. Thanks to the cast, crew and people in the community for making this short film possible. And special thanks to Hebert Peck and the people at MiND TV for continuing the series of Philadelphia Stories.

On Bass in Philadelphia Stories 6, MiND TV Channel 35 airs over Broadcast TV on these dates: Thurs. Feb 12th at 10pm; Sat. Feb 14th at 9pm; Sun. Feb 15th at 1pm

**Info for film fans: we shot it on Mini DV with the Panasonic AG DVX100-A camera in 24p. We used a 4 wheel dolly not just a tripod for the interiors. Black Pro-Mist Filter was used for interiors and a Polarizing filter for the sky shot.

Add comment February 8, 2009

NAACP Report Shows Television Industry Still Falls Seriously Short In Achieving Diversity

Organization’s ‘Out of Focus, Out of Sync—Take 4′ Report Urges Quick Action, Establishment of Task Force Encompassing Network Heads to Create Standards

Hollywood, CA, (Dec. 18, 2008) – The NAACP Hollywood Bureau today announced its latest findings in a new report titled “Out of Focus, Out of Sync—Take 4” that shows the entertainment industry, particularly television, continues to fall seriously short in achieving diversity.

NAACP officials warned that without quick action to reverse the bleak statistics cited in the 44-page report, the industry could face political action.

“At a time when the country is excited about the election of the first African American president in U.S. history, it is unthinkable that minorities would be so grossly under-represented on broadcast television,” said NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous.

“Perpetrating the situation is the fact that the few African Americans in higher positions in that industry lack power to green light new series’ or make final creative decisions, which has translated into a critical lack of primetime programming by, for or about people of color,” said NAACP Hollywood Bureau Executive Director Vicangelo Bulluck.

The “Take 4″ report cites statistics that show an ongoing trend where African Americans and other minorities continue to be under-represented in nearly every aspect of television and film businesses, while largely being denied access to significant positions of power in Hollywood.

Specifically, the report reveals that hiring, promotion and acting opportunities for minorities are directly tied to highly subjective practices, a closed roster system and potentially discriminatory membership guild requirements. The serious shortage of minority faces on primetime television can also be traced to the virtual disappearance of black programming since the merger of UPN and WB networks into The CW network, according to the report.

To help remedy the situation, the report recommends the establishment of a task force comprised of network executives, educators and NAACP coalition partners to update a  Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between parties and create best practice standards throughout the industry.

“The NAACP has a long history of working in partnership with the networks, studios, guilds, agencies and others to create substantive opportunities for people of color in front of and behind the camera,” Bulluck added.

For more information and to download a copy of the report, visit naacp.org.

Hipcinema Comment: You can always invent another special program for ‘minority makers’. However I believe the key to changing the industry is to provide capital to independent filmmakers who support diversity in front of and behind the camera. ‘Minority makers’ in America of Asian, Latino, and African descent need to work together in making and marketing our films.

Add comment December 18, 2008

Previous Posts