15. SCREENPLAY

The Foundations of Screenwriting

by Syd Field

14. SCREENWRITING UPDATED

by Linda Aronson

13. ADVANCED SCREENWRITING

Taking Your Writing to the Academy Award Level

by Linda Seger

12. THE 101 HABITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS

Insider’s Secrets from Hollywood’s Top Writers.

by Karl Iglesias

11. LEW HUNTER’S SCREENWRITING 434

The Industry’s Premier Teacher Reveals the Secrets of the Successful Screenplay

by Lew Hunter

10. STORY

Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting

by Robert McKee

9. YOUR SCREENPLAY SUCKS

100 Ways to Make it Great

by William M Akers

8. SAVE THE CAT

The Last Book on Screenwriting You’ll Ever Need

by Blake Snyder

7. THE SCREENWRITER’S BIBLE

by David Trottier

6. POWER SCREENWRITING

The 12 Steps of Story Development

by Michael Chase Walker

5. SCREENWRITING FROM THE SOUL

Letters to an Aspiring Screenwriter

by Richard W. Krevolin and Jeff Arch

4. ALONE IN A ROOM

by John Scott Lewinski

3. CRAFTY SCREENWRITING

Writing Movies That Get Made

by Alex Epstein

2. REAL SCREENWRITING

Strategies and Stories from the Trenches

by Ron Suppa

Check out my exclusive interview with author Ron Suppa.

1. HOW NOT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY

101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make

by Denny Martin Flinn

Which screenwriting books inspired you?

8 STITCHES? REALLY?

When I was in 9th grade, we had to take a shop class equally divided between automotive, wood working & electricity.  My interests didn’t really align with any of them but I did my best.  When 11th grade came along, I decided to take a full semester of wood working as it was my favorite of the three.

We started small, creating simple projects while learning about the tools and… Ahem…  Safety.

Towards the end of the semester, we were given free reign to create whatever we wanted for our final project.  Naturally, I decided to make a movie shelf.  I had began working at a local Pizza Hut so I had money to buy used VHS tapes.  My collection was beginning to grow and I needed something to hold my movies.

The shelf I had in mind could not have been simpler to build yet I found a way to screw it up.  In the process, I changed the way they taught wood shop safety forever.

THE PLANER

A planer is used to make planks of wood thinner.  I was using it to create my frame and shelves.  Now…  a key step in the process is to never set the machine to shave off too much wood at once.  The wood gets stuck in the blades.

When a plank gets stuck, the procedure is to shut off the machine and use another piece of scrap wood to free the wood.  I shut off the machine but failed to wait long enough for the blades to slow down.  Being an intelligent human being, I grabbed a metal ruler to fight against the planer’s sharp teeth.  The second the wood was free the ruler nicked the blades and came flying out of the machine.

It sliced a huge cut in the palm of my hand and I immediately went into shock.

I raised my hand and class went silent.  The teacher sent a student to get the vice principal and wrapped my hand.  They called an ambulance and my Dad while my friends straddled the line between laughter and concern.  I was actually okay until the paramedics got there and told me I needed stitches.

I’m not a fan of needles.  In order to get stitches they have to numb the area with a needle and then use a separate needle to stitch the wound.  The color drained from my face.  Throughout my life, I’ve experienced injuries but they were always related to sports.  I was an enormous sissy about the stitches.  My Dad could tell I was terrified and smiled accordingly.

After a long wait in the emergency room, it was finally time to get stitched up.  It hurt but I got over it…  Above all else, I’m thankful the ruler didn’t hit my thumb.  The doctor told me I could have lost it if the ruler hit me at a different angle.  Even now I think about how lucky I got and what a wimp I was.

I eventually finished the shelf and I still have it to this day although it’s buried in a closet somewhere.  From what I’ve heard, the story of the idiot who needed 8 stitches is told on the first day of school…  Every year.

Last summer, I decided to put aside writing short films and focus on features again. For the longest time, I had written shorts almost exclusively. When I began writing a new feature, I found it harder to find time to work on it.

It’s all excuses really. I know it and you know it.  You either find time to write or you don’t. Whether it’s shorts or features, it’s the act of writing that’s important. So I challenged myself to finish a feature screenplay by summer’s end.

I accomplished my goal.

XTRA | The Summer of Screenwriting: Complete Series

Almost immediately I dove into a brand new feature. To this day, I’m still working out the finer details of my new script.

Lately, I found myself missing the rush of completing a short screenplay in one sitting. The immediate satisfaction you get when you can pump out a first draft in a few hours.

I think once I finish my new feature, I may take a few weeks and write a couple more shorts. Not for anyone else but myself.  But I don’t know if I’ll make it given the dream I had the other night.

THE DREAM

I don’t know if I’m alone on this or not but for years, I’ve watched movies in my dreams. I’m the camera. It’s the oddest thing but I’ve had tons of dreams like that. Sure, I’m the star in others but I was just an observer in my latest subconscious adventure.

It was set in a senior citizens center where the tenants were gearing up to put on a play. They were led by an ambitious elderly man who is easily the coolest character I’ve ever accidentally made up.

By the time I woke up, the story development was done. I had a complete concept ready to go. I just needed to write it down. Since then, I’ve often thought about my latest inspiration and what it could become if I really focus on writing a first draft.

Right now, I remain focused on finishing my feature screenplay. It’s an action script and I’m having a blast creating the world and the characters that live there.

Who knows when I’ll get to another short screenplay. What I find encouraging is that inspiration can quite literally strike at any moment. Awake or not.

I had a good night sleep too.

Click here for more Screenwriting.

THE FIRST GENERATION VS THE NEW GENERATION

Welcome to a new 3 part series on The Athletic Nerd.  One Trek.  One No Trek.  A debate between two very different Star Trek Fans.  It’s a look at the evolution of the franchise and the characters we love or have grown to love.

A friend of mine is a massive fan of the original Star Trek series.  But…  To say he disliked J.J Abrams’ 2009 reboot would be an understatement.

I’ve never seen an episode of the original series but I absolutely adored the new Star Trek.

Contrasting viewpoints to say the least.  With Star Trek Into Darkness on it’s way to theaters in May, there’s no better time to debate old school vs new school.  A life long, die hard fan vs A new recruit. (Lens flares vs no lens flares)

Click here for Round ONE

XTRA | Top 5 Moments: Star Trek Into Darkness Trailer #1

XTRA | 44 movies to look forward to in 2013

WELCOME TO JURASSIC PARK

To steal a line from Seth MacFarlane, Jurassic Park needs no introduction…

10. GENNARO

This…  This is just unfortunate.

9. SICK TRICERATOPS

This entire scene is breathtaking but my favorite moment is Dr. Grant’s fascination with the dino’s breathing.  I’m not sure I’d be in a rush to give an actual Triceratops a hug though.

8. HOLD ONTO YOUR BUTTS

Samuel L. Jackson.  His role isn’t big but, as always, he makes the most of it.  Just think, if the system reset DIDN’T work, he might have survived.

7. T-REX VS RAPTORS

The penultimate moment in the film is fantastic.  Who doesn’t get excited thinking about a T-Rex hurling a Raptor into a fossil display?

6. LIFE FINDS A WAY

Dr. Ian Malcolm is overwhelmed by the science of that place.  It’s a quiet moment that wonderfully foreshadows what can happen when you play with Dino DNA.

5. FEEDING RAPTORS

If I had to choose between the goat or this poor cow, I’d be the goat.  Either way it’s bad but those raptors…  They’re really something.

4. DILOPHOSAURUS

This dinosaur scared me more than any other in Jurassic Park.  There’s something about the sound it makes and that vicious shaking…  head… flap… that I find terrifying.

3. CLEVER GIRL

What must have gone through his mind when he realized he was about to be devoured…  Gross…

2. VISUAL ACUITY

Don’t move and your chances of survival increase.  (Just ask Gennaro)  But NOT moving also created one of the more suspenseful moments during the big T-Rex attack.

1. WELCOME TO JURASSIC PARK

I consider this moment to be one of the most iconic moments in cinematic history.  Everything came together and we all watched in awe as dinosaurs roamed on the big screen.  Truly one of the most memorable movie moments of all time.

Click here for more Movie Countdowns.

ANOTHER TAKE

No one I know loves Jurassic Park more than my good friend Eric.  I asked him to weigh-in with his top 10 moments as well:

10. THE GOAT
9. SIX FOOT TURKEY
8. CLEVER GIRL
7. CHILEAN SEA BASS/”WHO’S HUNGRY”
6. CHAOS THEORY
5. T-REX VS RAPTORS
4. RAPTORS IN THE KITCHEN
3. FEEDING RAPTORS
2. T-REX ATTACK
1. WELCOME TO JURASSIC PARK

What’s your favorite Jurassic Park Moment?