TWO MOVIES FOR HUMAN BEINGS

on Tuesday, May 14, 2013 ·

As the summer begins and the parade of noisy, mindless, non-stop roller coaster rides of movies invade our theaters, it seems appropriate to talk about two roller coaster rides for actual human beings like you and I.

The two movies are sometimes about human beings doing outrageous things, but the acts are human scale, relatable-to, engaging, endearing and leave you not with ringing ears and disappointment, but stay with you because they’re delightful and funny and most of all: human scale feelings and emotion.

Do yourself a favor – take a look at these films (available on NETFLIX)

KLOWN

A Danish film by writers Casper Christensen and Frank Hvam (they star)

Directed by Mickkel Norgaard.

It’s funny, it’s outrageous, it’s a movie you haven’t seen before. It’s sexual, it’s about family.

In the Special Features – it has an episode of a KLOWN television episode written by Lars Van Trier.

IN A DREAM

A biographical documentary about Isaiah Zagar, a mosaic master and his family, working in Philadelphia. Filmed by his son, Jeremiah, this amazing film documents his work, but more importantly, the implosion of his family.

What struck me about the movie was the depth we learn about these characters, leading to a depth of feeling rarely reached in fiction scripts and movies.

The question is “Why?” Why is the documentary so much more emotionally satisfying?

And also, how, as screenwriters, can we raise the level of our scripts to this totally satisfying level?

Anyone out there have any thoughts?

Join my blog:

LAZARUS RISING at TomLazarus.com

And read my recent book:

THE LAST WORD – DEFINITIVE ANSWERS TO ALL YOUR SCREENWRITING QUESTIONS

Categories: Lazarus Rising · Tags: DANISH FILM, FRANK HVAM, IN A DREAM, ISIAH ZAGAR, MOSIACS, MOVIE RECOMMENDATIONS, THE KLOVN

Comments are closed.

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

TWO MOVIES FOR HUMAN BEINGS

Subscribe to LAZARUS RISING:

Testimonials

Reviews for The Last Word

Archives