SCREENWRITING | Tom Lazarus

THE WORST SCREEN ADAPTATION EVER

Posted by Tom on June 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment

The movie AMERICAN PASTORAL, based on the fantastic Philip Roth novel of the same name, is the worst adaptation of a novel I’ve ever seen. The novel is detailed, human, perceptive, descriptive of a place in time, so beautifully observed and written it touches parts in me that literature – and the rare film […]

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: american pastoral, philip roth, screen adaptation, SCREENWRITING, the worst ever

HOW CAN THIS BE SO MUCH FUN?

Posted by Tom on June 7, 2014 · Leave a Comment

I’m writing a new script. It’s been a while. I’ve been solving other creative problems – that’s what I do – but I haven’t written a script in a while. The process of starting with the simple idea – of evolving it with research and free flow thinking – then organizing my thoughts and notes, […]

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: A NEW SCRIPT, FUN, SCREENWRITING

ONE OF THE GREAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CONCERT FILMS AND SCREENWRITING

Posted by Tom on September 4, 2012 · Leave a Comment

There are some great rock and roll concert films: Martin Scorcese’s THE LAST WALTZ, with The Band and others; Jonathan Demme’s Talking Heads doc STOP MAKING SENSE with David Byrne, and now I’ve seen another great one: BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN: LIVE IN DUBLIN, a documentary on the concerts held at the Point Theater in Dublin, Ireland […]

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: Bruce Springsteen, David Byrne, Jonathan Demme, Martin Scorcese, SCREENWRITING, SCRIPT CONSULTANT, Sessions Band, Talking Heads, The Band, Tom Lazarus / Heidi Klum sextape

A CREEPY GREAT MOVIE

Posted by Tom on August 21, 2012 · Leave a Comment

I watch a lot of documentaries. For me, it’s all about storytelling. In this day and age of evolving media, we’re not just screenwriters or just novelists, we’re storytellers – across media. These days, some of the best storytelling is happening in documentaries. They are fulfilling one of the original missions of movies – […]

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: DOCUMENTARIES, GONE WITH THE WIND, NEIGHBORS, NIGHTMARE NEIGHBOR, SCREENWRITING, SCRIPT CONSULTANT, SHUT UP LITTLE MAN!, STORYTELLING, THE LAST WORD, TOM LAZARUS

CONNIE MARTINSON INTERVIEWS TOM LAZARUS PARTS 1 & 2

Posted by Tom on August 8, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Veteran book maven Connie Martinson interviewed me about THE LAST WORD, my new book. She’s a terrific interviewer and to my surprise asked me to read a couple passages from the book. It was a fun interview, with lots of information for the screenwriter. There are two parts, and nowhere do I discuss the Kim […]

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: CONNIE MARTINSON, Kim Kardashian / Tom Lazarus Sex Tape, SCREENWRITING, SCRIPT CONSULTANT, THE LAST WORD, TOM LAZARUS, TOM LAZARUS READS

Reviews for The Last Word

“Some of Hollywood’s most successful writers whisper about learning it from Tom! His approach is unorthodox, but crystal clear and on the money. A master at teaching the elusive art of good screenwriting. The Last Word is his best book yet.”
Sid Ganis, producer and past president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences,

"If you’re sitting down to write your first screenplay, you need to read this book. If you’ve written a couple of screenplays and are still trying to break in, you need to read this book. Hell, if you’ve been earning your living writing screenplays for the past six years, you should read this book. Informative, provocative, illustrative — all the qualities of the great teacher Tom Lazarus are right here. Indispensable for anyone who writes or is thinking about writing movies."
Scott Frank, screenwriter: Get Shorty, Out of Sight, Minority Report,

“Smart, funny, and helpful to the max, this cleverly organized book of tips for the professional and would-be professional writer by veteran writer/producer Tom Lazarus demonstrates why his screenwriting classes at UCLA Extension fill with wait lists. A stellar read and recommended for every screenwriter's bookshelf.”
Bonnie MacBird, screenwriter: Tron, Emmy-winning producer, and former Universal Studios feature film story exec,

“A terrific guide for beginners.”
John Badham, Director,

“Serves up a delicious feast of what writers most need but seldom get – the truth. Want praise for every page you write? Ask Mom. Want to learn, grow, and become a top screenwriter? Take a deep breath and read “The Last Word.” It’s an enormously practical, lucid, spot-on book that will make you a stronger writer."
Eric Edson, screenwriter, professor, author of The Story Solution,

"Spells out the basics of screenwriting in a clear and concise way. Ignore the words of Mr. Lazarus at your peril. This book is simple, to the point, and invaluable.”
Matthew Terry, filmmaker/screenwriter/teacher – reviewer,

“Golden nuggets which every screenwriter needs to heed. I will recommend this book to every one of my clients.”
Stan Williams, Author of The Moral Premise,

“Really good advice delivered in a really practical way. Shows you bad writing and improved writing, and the light bulb goes on. Seeing the mistakes other writers make gives insights into the writing process that you don't often find. It promotes letting go of that critical voice that says ‘I’m no good at this’ or ‘who does he think he is?’ so you can take advantage of good feedback. This is a book I will keep on my bookshelf!
Kim Hudson, Speaker, Author, Script Consultant – Archetypal Structure,

“Provides a realistic, no-nonsense glimpse at what writers can expect when an agent, producer, or studio exec is considering your script for representation or purchase. Author, instructor, and screenwriter Tom Lazarus gives us a handy, but practical A to Z approach on some of the most common storytelling roadblocks that can spell the difference from a "pass" to a "sale" in a competitive marketplace!
Kathie Fong Yoneda, consultant, workshop leader, author of The Script-Selling Game: A Hollywood Insider's Look At Getting Your Script Sold and Produced,

"Tom Lazarus serves up non-nonsense story development notes in a clear, authoritative voice. He's the kind of ally smart writers want as they confront the bare page."?
David McKenna, Author of Memo from the Story Department,

"The Last Word takes screenwriting books to the next level. Think of this as going to grad school. Tom Lazarus has walked the halls of Hollywood in both film and television and knows how things work."
D.B. Gilles, author The Screenwriter Within, 2nd Edition,

Tom Lazarus

THE WORST SCREEN ADAPTATION EVER

HOW CAN THIS BE SO MUCH FUN?

ONE OF THE GREAT ROCK ‘N’ ROLL CONCERT FILMS AND SCREENWRITING

A CREEPY GREAT MOVIE

CONNIE MARTINSON INTERVIEWS TOM LAZARUS PARTS 1 & 2

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