WGA's 101 Greatest Screenplays

How many of have you read? If you want to have your own on this list, then read them all.

The WGA, East and West have announced they are partnering with Premiere magazine to launch 101 Greatest Screenplays this spring.

Premiere editor-in-chief says: “We are excited to partner with the WGAE and WGAw, and are pleased to recognize these memorable screenplays and screenwriters, who have left an indelible mark on the history of film."

For more info visit: www.wga.org or www.wgaeast.org.

Fox defends home video model, sees digital future

The hysteria generated by Robert Iger's call for immediate home release of movies is still causing waves several months on. Box office is down. DVD sales are down. Everything is down.

Except for the fear of piracy. That is up. Way up! Hence Iger's comments. It's his belief that closing the window between theatrical and home release would make people less apt to pirating. Maybe so. But what it would really do is make people less apt to go to the theatre.

Message to Iger and all his studio friends: If you want to make more money, make better movies, for less money. Hopefully this doesn't sound revolutionary to anyone.

Look at this way: You can spend $1,000,000 on Jamie Foxx for "Ray" or you can spend $20,000,000 on Jamie Foxx for "Stealth"

Or this way: Who really wants to see another feature length film made from some mediocore 60s sitcom? Probably no one, but I bet every studio has 2 or 3 in the works. "Bewitched" anyone? Yeah, I slept through it too, but not at the theatre.

Black's Anatomy

The WGA site has Denis Faye's interview with former Wunderkind Shane Black, who set off a stampede of spec buying after he penned Lethal Weapon.

His scripts may have more formula than you like, but each of his films are lesson in how to construct movie dialogue.

Oscar Winning Director Robert Wise Dies

Robert Wise was one of the finest filmmakers we've ever seen. A consumate storyteller and an even finer person. I attended one of his lecturers while I was at AFI and it was just a pleasure to listen to him speak. Fifty plus years in the business and the respect and admiration of his peers and every young filmmaker that followed.

Many of you younger filmmakers may have never heard of him. Well now you have. Go to IMDB and look him. Add as many of his films, including the ones he edited, to your queue on NetFlix.

This guy was good!

Thank you, Mr. Wise.

Even bad TV has to have writers - Los Angeles Times

True. True. And those writers should be paid and represented with the full rights of their brethren in film and television.

Summer Bust Leaves Hollywood Uncertain

What is certain is that formula once again ruled the day for summer 2005. Even most of the hits were retreads of successes past: "Batman Begins," "War of the Worlds," and "Charlie and the Chocolate factory." I know that it is the movie going public that eats up sequal and remake mania every summer, but studio execs and producers are the ones shoveling this crap in the first place. I've seen two of the above mentioned summer blockbusters and one was a worthy continuation of a rich character that has a seat at the head of the table in the comic book pantheon, the other; however, should have left good enough alone.

Sadly, as a serious movie fan, I don't see as many films at the theatre as I'd like. Work and children often conspire to see to that. On the other hand, I know that if Hollywood was pumping out a string of great films, I'd find a way to be there.

Imagination, the vital spark of creativity that breathes life into an idea and transforms ordinary thoughts into something magical, is somehow missing from the equation. Huge names huge salaries huge FX budgets = lackluster blockbusters.

As one executive put it, "...I'm afraid what's foing to happen is, we're all going to sit in a room and say 'We need more penguin movies.' "So I don't really kknow what lessons we're going to take out of all this."