EPIC VILLAINS IN A SOCIAL MEDIA WORLD

If I may quote Mission Impossible 2:

“Every search for a hero must begin with something which every hero requires…  A villain.”

We all love great villains.  They are the reason our heroes are called to action in the first place.  Throughout history we have been blessed with iconic and unforgettable villains.  The Wicked Witch of the West, Hannibal Lector, Darth Vader, Auric Goldfinger, Nurse Ratched, The Joker, Norman Bates, Freddy Krueger, Verbal Kint, Biff Tannen, Bill the Butcher, Doc Ock, Tommy DeVito, Alex DeLarge…

Dramas, horror, thrillers, comedies…  Every genre has it’s classics but no group faces more scrutiny that the Summer Blockbusters.  Big franchises, sequels and the unstoppable force known as the comic book movie.

It’s the first question we all ask when a giant blockbuster is announced.  Whether it’s a new franchise or a sequel we all want to know who our favorite heroes will fight next.  How will these villains look?  Sound?  Move?

Fans crave every detail leading up to the movies they cannot wait to see.  I remember staring at this image wondering what Christopher Nolan’s Joker would be like.

The Joker was brilliantly realized by Nolan and wonderfully portrayed by the late Heath Ledger.  However, by the time the movie arrived, we had several trailers, clips and more that took away at least a little of the mystery. Is that a bad thing?  I don’t think so.  We live in a different time.  I suppose the question is…

Can you keep a big villain secret?  Should you?

I wonder how much scrutiny Darth Vader would face if Star Wars was released today.  A world where studios preemptively release images from sets in order to beat the spies to the punch.  Every time a movie shoots an exterior scene, images shot on cell phones pop up online.  We live in an age of social media.  An era where promotion is 24/7 and fans are closer than ever to the development process.

Now, I don’t want to sound like a spoiled brat.  Here I am, discussing my relentless craving for new villain reveals while complaining that we know too much before they are unleashed.  I just appreciate the evolution of the villain reveal.

We may have 4 or 5 trailers for each big blockbuster these days but I could choose to avoid them.  I just don’t.  I simply cannot resist pressing play and envisioning the adventures that await on the silver screen.

There are filmmakers out there who work tirelessly to keep their big projects a secret.  J.J Abrams immediately comes to mind.  When he and his team produced Cloverfield, it nearly broke the internet when they unveiled the mysterious trailer.  What the hell did the Cloverfield monster look like?

Personally, it drove me nuts for months.  The director repeated this tactic when he created Super 8. It’s a proven way to generate interest in a film.   Super 8 was actually my favorite movie of 2011.

He’s doing it again with Star Trek Into Darkness.  Who is John Harrison?  Is it really Kahn?  The answers are coming.

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Honestly, I can’t decide which side I’m on.

Do I prefer the shroud of secrecy and the anticipation it ignites?  Or do I want a constant stream of updates and risk burning out before the lights dim?

WHICH SIDE ARE YOU ON?

In the last few weeks, we were treated to new trailers that revealed Superman’s enemy Zod and Thor’s next challenge Malekith.  Both look incredible.

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We were also given a glimpse of Jamie Foxx as Electro in next summer’s The Amazing Spider-Man 2:

Would you rather wait to see the villain?

I’m not sure if you can argue one way or another which approach is better.  Secrecy is frustrating but could ramp up the hype to impossible heights.  On the other hand, transparency invites discussion online and the promotion never stops.  There are pros and cons to both.  Sometimes too much secrecy can be seen as a weakness or a lack of faith in the studio.  Sometimes, a villain is revealed and hardcore fans tear it apart in vicious blog posts, tweets and parodies.

Yet sometimes, magic can be captured in the imagination of a film fan’s curiosity.  The same blogs and tweets can also be overwhelmingly positive.  Take Electro for example.  I think he’s going to look awesome on the big screen.  I can’t wait to see what he looks like with added effects.

At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how or when a villain is revealed.  Whether it’s a year out or opening night, the only thing that really matters is…  The story.

The next generation of heroes and villains are coming.  Which ones will claim their place amongst the greatest of all time?  That’s a search that will never end.

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A NEW WEBSITE FOR SCREENWRITERS IS HERE!

About 6 months ago, I took some time to completely reorganize myself online.  First, I deleted a dozen accounts on various sites I never used.  You’d be surprised how great that feels to be rid of so many user IDs and passwords.  I also eliminated a website I was maintaining but rarely contributed to.

From there I focused on The Athletic Nerd.  My 4 year old blog got a complete makeover with a new theme, an updated logo and new graphics.  Behind the scenes, I deleted tons of outdated posts, updated others and spent a lot of time refocusing the content and my promotional techniques.

It was time for a new project.  For years, I wanted to launch a screenwriting website.  I write about screenwriting on this blog all the time but I didn’t want this new site to be a blog.  I wanted to create a place that would inspire me to write more and in doing so, hopefully, inspire others.

The Screenwriting Spark was born!

This new screenwriting website was built around a simple idea: Screenwriters Inspire Screenwriters.

There are so many wonderful writers out there sharing their experiences using websites, blogs and social media. These unique stories are full of insight. I’ve learned so much about myself and my hobby of choice thanks to dedicated people who love screenwriting too!  I decided to collect all of these resources in one place.  (Screenwriting Spark)

The site is home to hundreds of links to amazing screenwriting websites.  Beyond that, it’s also home to blog posts, videos, tips, resources, interviews and much more.

Here’s a quick guide on getting started:

• Explore hundreds of screenwriting websites
• Resources, tips and more on the blog
• Tons of screenwriting videos
• 25 amazing screenwriting blogs
• Exclusive interviews with screenwriters
• A complete guide to screenwriting on Twitter

Among the highlights is an exclusive section where screenwriters share why they love writing screenplays, the obstacles they face and what keeps them coming back.  You can add your own story by answering 6 screenwriting questions found here.

The Screenwriting Spark began as a hobby and quickly became a passion of mine.  I had so much fun researching and gathering resources to pull it off.  I’m thrilled with how it turned out and I sincerely hope people enjoy the content there.  Subscribe for all the latest Sparks and happy writing!

CLICK HERE TO VISIT THE SCREENWRITING SPARK!

INSPIRE THE ASPIRING

THE SCREENWRITING SPARK IS HERE BUT WHAT ABOUT MY NEW SCREENPLAY?

Last summer, I challenged myself to put this blog aside and finish a new feature length screenplay.  I did.  It was an amazing experience that ended a year of doubt when it came to screenwriting.  I had spent so long thinking only of shorts I could produce I lost confidence that I could create enough content to fill the pages of a feature.

When I finished that script, I immediately began developing a new screenplay that would become my take on the superhero genre.  Towards the end of 2012, I gathered all my notes and script pages and began writing.  I made it through the first act and ran into a little bit of trouble.

Around this time, I got an idea for a new screenwriting website and decided it would become a hobby project.  I also stopped writing my superhero tale in favor of more development time.  Months passed and I continued working on both project in addition to regular posts on this job.  If there’s one thing my Summer of Screenwriting taught me, it was how to budget my time.  About a month ago, I had a big breakthrough in my screenplay.  It was a wonderfully inspiring moment as I was getting frustrated.  I didn’t know if I would ever crack the story and truly immerse myself in the world.  Thankfully, that wasn’t the case and I couldn’t wait to get started.

However, I was nearly finished building The Screenwriting Spark and I wanted to launch it before diving into a screenplay again.  Today is that day.  It took a while to finish the site but I hope screenwriters will find a creative spark there if they need it.  It certainly sparked my need to get back to writing.

Launch day is finally here.  Yesterday I woke up and my to-do list was empty. Over the last few months, I completely reorganized my online life.  I redesigned and simplified The Athletic Nerd, eliminated some of the creative clutter on my desk and designed a brand new site.  I’m all caught up.

What did I do with my free time before my shift?  I fired up the first act of my superhero screenplay, read it and began a brand new first draft.  I always say I missed screenwriting after a long lay off but that’s just a cop out.  I could have been writing all along.  I know it.  When I first started this screenplay, I thought I would have it finished before 2013 began.  I was wrong but I care more about the story now than I did in the Fall.  That’s more important to me.  Screenwriting is my escape from stress.  An activity that’s just for me.  If I don’t care about a story, it’s tough to keep my mind occupied and I wind up getting stuck.

Creating The Screenwriting Spark was just another challenge but it did the trick.  I created a website I hope will inspire screenwriters.  It certainly inspired me.  I don’t know when I’ll finish my latest screenplay but I’m just taking things one day at a time now.  No pressure.  Just writing.

Check out The Screenwriting Spark and let me know what you think!

I’m looking for some help with a new project and if you love screenwriting, it involves you.

Send an email to jason@theathleticnerd.com with the answers to the following questions:

1. How did you discover screenwriting?

2. What inspires your writing?

3. What do you love the most about screenwriting?

4. How do you cure writer’s block?

5. What is your biggest screenwriting weakness and how will you overcome it?

6. Describe your screenwriting experience in ONE word. (Ex: passion, creativity…)

Answers need only be a paragraph or two.

Don’t forget to include your name.  You can also include your website and Twitter page.  They will most definitely be promoted.  Please feel free to pass this along to any passionate screenwriters you know as well!

If you’re like me, you wake up every morning and immediately scan your favorite movie blogs.  Minutes after my eyes open, I reach for my iPad and scan for new announcements, trailers and updates.

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Sometimes, my blog surfing inspires a new post for this site.  It’s a routine I highly enjoy.  Today, I’d like to highlight the sites I frequent most.  They aren’t in any particular order although I definitely visit /Film and Collider before any others.

Combined, these 20 sites cover every big story from multiple angles.  It’s nice to be able to read different perspectives on the latest movie news.  These sites are the reason The Athletic Nerd isn’t a movie news blog.  It just didn’t seem right to publish news updates when I read them myself elsewhere.

Are some of your favorites on this list?  Any amazing sites I’m missing?

/Film

Collider

Joblo

Geek Tyrant

Screen Crush

IGN

Cinema Blend

Dark Horizons

Latino Review

Screen Rant

Film School Rejects

Screen Junkies

Rope of Silicon

Coming Soon

Ain’t It Cool

Total Film

Den of Geek

Bloody Disgusting

The Guardian

Yahoo Movies

Looking for even more movie sites?  Click here for thousands!