ACT ONE SCREENWRITING WEEKEND – HOLLYWOOD OCTOBER 14-15 To register online, visit www.actoneprogram.com/writersevents. Act One, Inc., a Los Angeles-based training program for writers and other film industry professionals, presents the Act One Screenwriting Weekend, a conference for professional and aspiring screenwriters. The workshop, slated for October 14-15, 2005 at First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, is an intense, practical overview of screenwriting basics and the current film market. Participants will study the craft of screenwriting – from story development and structure... Read more

Well, this is hard. Those of you who frequent this blog know that I have been writing less and less over the last few weeks. The blog has degenerated pretty much into news items from other sites, and media links about Act One. When I started the blog, the idea was that I would write original thoughts, as opposed to linking around to other spots around the blogosphere. Clearly, I haven’t been doing the posting of original thoughts thing much... Read more

#932 My best Acquaintances are thoseWith Whom I spoke no Word —The Stars that stated come to TownEsteemed Me never rudeAlthough to their Celestial CallI failed to make reply —My constant — reverential FaceSufficient Courtesy. Read more

What Hollywood Knows About Storytelling: How the Movies Get Your Attention and Haunt Your Dreams THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15TH7:00pm Emerald Heights Academy3850 156th Avenue S.E.Bellevue, Washington Cost: $10 or free will offering at the doorSponsored by Regnum Christi and Emerald Heights Academy Barbara Nicolosi will use film clips to present a filmmaker’s perspective of the seven levels of meaning in a movie, and what Hollywood means when it says a movie is a “visual” medium. She will also discuss how Christians... Read more

I wrote this to post about three weeks ago, but never got around to it. It was supposed to be sent as a letter to the editor of the always intriguing website “The Revealer” in response to their commentary about the pieve on Act One that appeared in the Washington Post. I am running here so can’t find the place to link to. But basically, the writer – was that you Jeff? – was challenging my assertion that Hollywood is... Read more

1. The Exorcism of Emily Rose, $30.2 million.2. The 40-Year-Old Virgin, $7.9 million.3. The Transporter 2, $7.2 million.4. The Constant Gardener, $4.8 million.5. Red Eye, $4.6 million.6. The Man, $4.0 million.7. The Brothers Grimm, $3.3 million.8. Wedding Crashers, $3.2 million.9. Four Brothers, $2.9 million.10. March of the Penguins, $2.5 million.11. The Skeleton Key, $1.6 million.12. The Cave, $1.3 million.————————————————————————— I haven’t caught the film yet because a series of trips and cruises have conspired to keep me from seeing it.... Read more

Here is the website of talented brother and sister duo Judd and Maggie. I had the opportunity to meet with them earlier this Spring and found them really charming and thoughtful. They were snatched up by RCA and have released their first CD in August. They are now touring in support of the release and will be singing here in West Hollywood on Friday. Clayton “Weight of Glory” Emmer has more info here. Check them out before they become too... Read more

Well, the long-awaited cruise to the Caribbean with my sister is now a memory. It felt weird every now and then to be cruising around splendidly while the images of Katrina were everywhere in our heads, in the papers and on the satellite TV. There was a priest on board who said daily Mass and his first homily was about the tragedy and how we should feel about it from the vantage point of sipping margaritas on deck while listening... Read more

Well, Barbara’s back so I’ll be retreating into my privacy. Thanks to all for reading this week and for all the nice words. As of right now, I don’t think I’ll set up my own blog because I don’t think I’d ever be able to keep it up. But it’s been a pleasure. Please feel free to say hi now and then. — [email protected] P.S. I’ll leave you with an Emily quote. “I will kill all of mankind! I AM... Read more

On a film set, the boss is the director. Beneath him or her are actors, producers, and the like. The technical crew is primarily made up of men who wear sweat-stained T-shirts from other movies they’ve worked on and cargo shorts filled with emergency items like lighting accessories, electrical tape, and pot. The rest of the set is filled with people who have funny names for themselves—grips (people who grip stuff), craft services (people who do crafts), gaffes (people who... Read more