Comments for Holly Race http://www.hollyrace.com Screenwriting tips from a script reader Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:38:59 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Comment on About Me by See You In September | The Creative Intelligence Blog. http://www.hollyrace.com/about/#comment-998 See You In September | The Creative Intelligence Blog. Tue, 19 Jul 2011 12:38:59 +0000 http://www.modernmythology.co.uk/?page_id=2#comment-998 [...] Towers. The move script – now called Between The Words – is going into development with Holly Race at The Script Factory, with some tight [...] [...] Towers. The move script – now called Between The Words – is going into development with Holly Race at The Script Factory, with some tight [...]

]]> Comment on Bones: Who’s a Gone-r? by Noblelox http://www.hollyrace.com/2010/12/10/bones-whos-a-gone-r/#comment-428 Noblelox Fri, 13 May 2011 19:32:53 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=138#comment-428 Was that it? After all that build up? That was the "major" character??? I feel conned, but then again, for all bar three episodes this series, I've felt conned out of 45 minutes of my life... Was that it? After all that build up? That was the “major” character??? I feel conned, but then again, for all bar three episodes this series, I’ve felt conned out of 45 minutes of my life…

]]> Comment on Stacking the Evidence: Writing Crime Shows by Noblelox http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/02/23/stacking-the-evidence-writing-crime-shows/#comment-79 Noblelox Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:38:27 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=174#comment-79 You forgot the car! Your detective has to have a distinctive car, it's all that's missing from castle! ;-) He did get his Ferrari out the other week, which is a start, but they need to build on that. My other favourite show of recent years was Life, which ploughed quite a unique furrow, compared to other cop shows. With it's darker under current, Charlie's Zen keeping him sane, and a total lack of romantic involvement between the leads, until it was hinted at in the very last minute of the series. Recently I have dipped my toe in Murdoch Mysteries, but I am finding them unsatisfying, in their stuffy Victorian-esque values, which might be mildly authentic, but after Sherlock, there is just no real need. Yes there is romantic tension between the protagonist and the doctor, but that appears to have gone a bit "Bones" in the stoopid lengths they go to to keep them apart. Whitechapel was also very good, and that has one of the other threads you can include in the cop show, "The Quirk" or "Damage", your lead has to have something up with them, we simply don't like them being better than us in all ways, so give them a dead wife or in this case, some OCD! And unlike Monk, this isn't slapstick OCD, this is debilitating OCD. Oh yes, they have to have something wrong with them, unlucky in love, can't sleep, wakes up screaming with nightmares, depression, drug use, yes, your lead has to be a screw-up some how. I personally have a great big DON'T with these shows, I hate it when everyone else is stupid. There is an expected level of superiority with our hero, that is lost on those around them, much like Holmes and Nero Wolfe, but when you take it too far and start having brain dead stupid police to really contrast our hero, then you are treating me like an idiot, and I don't like it. No sir! You forgot the car! Your detective has to have a distinctive car, it’s all that’s missing from castle! ;-) He did get his Ferrari out the other week, which is a start, but they need to build on that. My other favourite show of recent years was Life, which ploughed quite a unique furrow, compared to other cop shows. With it’s darker under current, Charlie’s Zen keeping him sane, and a total lack of romantic involvement between the leads, until it was hinted at in the very last minute of the series.

Recently I have dipped my toe in Murdoch Mysteries, but I am finding them unsatisfying, in their stuffy Victorian-esque values, which might be mildly authentic, but after Sherlock, there is just no real need. Yes there is romantic tension between the protagonist and the doctor, but that appears to have gone a bit “Bones” in the stoopid lengths they go to to keep them apart.

Whitechapel was also very good, and that has one of the other threads you can include in the cop show, “The Quirk” or “Damage”, your lead has to have something up with them, we simply don’t like them being better than us in all ways, so give them a dead wife or in this case, some OCD! And unlike Monk, this isn’t slapstick OCD, this is debilitating OCD. Oh yes, they have to have something wrong with them, unlucky in love, can’t sleep, wakes up screaming with nightmares, depression, drug use, yes, your lead has to be a screw-up some how.

I personally have a great big DON’T with these shows, I hate it when everyone else is stupid. There is an expected level of superiority with our hero, that is lost on those around them, much like Holmes and Nero Wolfe, but when you take it too far and start having brain dead stupid police to really contrast our hero, then you are treating me like an idiot, and I don’t like it. No sir!

]]> Comment on Selling your USP by admin http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/03/20/selling-your-usp/#comment-86 admin Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:10:51 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=189#comment-86 Noblelox- I hadn't thought of it in terms of introducing consequence before. of course you're right, nearly all horror films do introduce the consequence of a certain action. However, I think my point about putting across your usp still stands. Many films other than horror do it, from rom coms to thrillers to comedies, so on the one hand it's not *that* rare, because the writer has to convince the audience that their film is not a carbon copy of all the other horror/romcom/etc films they have seen. But it is rare to see writers sacrificing one of the golden rules in favour of it (Scream introduces Sidney in the second scene- JP doesn't introduce Alan until, what, the fourth?), and JP just does it so well. Hah, I'm rambling now- too many scripts and films in my head, must to bed. Noblelox- I hadn’t thought of it in terms of introducing consequence before. of course you’re right, nearly all horror films do introduce the consequence of a certain action. However, I think my point about putting across your usp still stands. Many films other than horror do it, from rom coms to thrillers to comedies, so on the one hand it’s not *that* rare, because the writer has to convince the audience that their film is not a carbon copy of all the other horror/romcom/etc films they have seen. But it is rare to see writers sacrificing one of the golden rules in favour of it (Scream introduces Sidney in the second scene- JP doesn’t introduce Alan until, what, the fourth?), and JP just does it so well.

Hah, I’m rambling now- too many scripts and films in my head, must to bed.

]]> Comment on Bones: Who’s a Gone-r? by Noblelox http://www.hollyrace.com/2010/12/10/bones-whos-a-gone-r/#comment-63 Noblelox Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:07:02 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=138#comment-63 i have to admit, the episode with the dead doctor under the tree was very good, was the night security guard a real person?? and I thought it maybe on it's way back, but alas.... But it is nice to see eternal optimists in the world, you would think it would have been squished out of you by this cruel world we cling to, but no, you're still here, hoping...good for you! i have to admit, the episode with the dead doctor under the tree was very good, was the night security guard a real person?? and I thought it maybe on it’s way back, but alas….

But it is nice to see eternal optimists in the world, you would think it would have been squished out of you by this cruel world we cling to, but no, you’re still here, hoping…good for you!

]]> Comment on Selling your USP by admin http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/03/20/selling-your-usp/#comment-85 admin Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:01:57 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=189#comment-85 Interesting. I haven't seen Transformers at all (really not my thing), but it sounds like they've added a second usp because they were scared that their original one (cool robots) wasn't good enough. So they've gone down the hot couple usp route (see Mr and Mrs Smith) instead, and just jammed the two together. Possibly they also wanted to appeal to female audiences as well as male, so thought a love story perched haphazardly on top of an action would make that work. just an idea- you'll have to let me know if you think I'm right since I haven't seen them! Interesting. I haven’t seen Transformers at all (really not my thing), but it sounds like they’ve added a second usp because they were scared that their original one (cool robots) wasn’t good enough. So they’ve gone down the hot couple usp route (see Mr and Mrs Smith) instead, and just jammed the two together. Possibly they also wanted to appeal to female audiences as well as male, so thought a love story perched haphazardly on top of an action would make that work. just an idea- you’ll have to let me know if you think I’m right since I haven’t seen them!

]]> Comment on Selling your USP by Noblelox http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/03/20/selling-your-usp/#comment-84 Noblelox Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:58:47 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=189#comment-84 Same with Jaws, and as with Jaws, JP, doesn't really introduce the dinosaur, same way the jaws didn't introduce the shark, they both hint at the USP, but in reality they introduce "consequence". You go in the water, you die, you mess with nature, you die. They are like little pre-title public information films, warning the viewing public about what will happen if you are not nice or repentant. I don't think it's that rare of a prologue as you might think, I would say it is quite common place in horror, and it does stick to three of your golden rules, it introduces the world, the dramatic question and the theme.... Beach/what happens if you go into the water?/SHARK!!!, Tropical Island/ What happens if you mess with nature?/DINOSAURS!!! or even Scary old house/What happens if you go inside at night?/SPLATTER!!!! Same with Jaws, and as with Jaws, JP, doesn’t really introduce the dinosaur, same way the jaws didn’t introduce the shark, they both hint at the USP, but in reality they introduce “consequence”. You go in the water, you die, you mess with nature, you die. They are like little pre-title public information films, warning the viewing public about what will happen if you are not nice or repentant.

I don’t think it’s that rare of a prologue as you might think, I would say it is quite common place in horror, and it does stick to three of your golden rules, it introduces the world, the dramatic question and the theme…. Beach/what happens if you go into the water?/SHARK!!!, Tropical Island/ What happens if you mess with nature?/DINOSAURS!!! or even Scary old house/What happens if you go inside at night?/SPLATTER!!!!

]]> Comment on Bones: Who’s a Gone-r? by admin http://www.hollyrace.com/2010/12/10/bones-whos-a-gone-r/#comment-62 admin Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:50:20 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=138#comment-62 Oh I've already discovered and fallen in love with Castle! See http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/02/stacking-the-evidence-writing-crime-shows/#more-174 Yes, this series has been a real let down, but I keep watching in the vain hope that the writers will get back the old chemistry. And maybe bring back Zach... Oh I’ve already discovered and fallen in love with Castle! See http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/02/stacking-the-evidence-writing-crime-shows/#more-174

Yes, this series has been a real let down, but I keep watching in the vain hope that the writers will get back the old chemistry. And maybe bring back Zach…

]]> Comment on Bones: Who’s a Gone-r? by Noblelox http://www.hollyrace.com/2010/12/10/bones-whos-a-gone-r/#comment-61 Noblelox Mon, 21 Mar 2011 23:37:22 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=138#comment-61 Well as such a self-confessed story fan, I struggle to see how you can be a Bones fan, as for the last 2 years, it has lacked story more than anything. The writers have dragged out the Bones/Booth relationship so much that so few people now care, and the elastic has strained and will never snap back again. This weeks episode was embarrassing, with them writing a date for when they might get together... I swear this is written by people with no understanding of emotion. And when did Bones turn from a socially inept geek into the Tin-Man from the Wizard of Oz? "what are these human emotions you talk about"? Do yourself a favour, go watch Castle instead ;-) Well as such a self-confessed story fan, I struggle to see how you can be a Bones fan, as for the last 2 years, it has lacked story more than anything. The writers have dragged out the Bones/Booth relationship so much that so few people now care, and the elastic has strained and will never snap back again. This weeks episode was embarrassing, with them writing a date for when they might get together… I swear this is written by people with no understanding of emotion. And when did Bones turn from a socially inept geek into the Tin-Man from the Wizard of Oz? “what are these human emotions you talk about”?

Do yourself a favour, go watch Castle instead ;-)

]]> Comment on Selling your USP by Carl http://www.hollyrace.com/2011/03/20/selling-your-usp/#comment-83 Carl Sun, 20 Mar 2011 21:58:37 +0000 http://www.hollyrace.com/?p=189#comment-83 Good example of a film doing exactly what you say it shouldn't: Transformers 2 (to some extent Transformers). USP: MASSIVE AWESOME ALIEN ROBOTS FIGHTING. Yet we get to watch some kid and his 'hilarous' parents pack off to university. Ths is not a teen comedy goddammit. Perhaps the original cartoon may have been a convoluted way of selling toys, but even in that the autobots and decepticons all had distinct personalities, and any human characters were secondary. The world is hosting an interplanetary war beween giant disguied robots, and we have to waste time watching Shia 'bland' Lebouf and Megan 'oh christ she's dull' Fox go through a relationship crisis. The Transformers had so much more character than any of the humans, but we spend hardly any screen time with them. Good example of a film doing exactly what you say it shouldn’t: Transformers 2 (to some extent Transformers). USP: MASSIVE AWESOME ALIEN ROBOTS FIGHTING. Yet we get to watch some kid and his ‘hilarous’ parents pack off to university. Ths is not a teen comedy goddammit.

Perhaps the original cartoon may have been a convoluted way of selling toys, but even in that the autobots and decepticons all had distinct personalities, and any human characters were secondary. The world is hosting an interplanetary war beween giant disguied robots, and we have to waste time watching Shia ‘bland’ Lebouf and Megan ‘oh christ she’s dull’ Fox go through a relationship crisis. The Transformers had so much more character than any of the humans, but we spend hardly any screen time with them.

]]>