by admin on September 22, 2012
For those of you who haven’t heard of it yet, there’s a new state of the art crowdfunding studio that wants to help produce and create meaningful and socially relevant films called Cinema Dreams. Founded in 2012 by Don Stewart Baldwin, Gary Sanders, John Lee, Jim Goodrich, Bob Glaser, Bruce Feldman, Joan Farber, Jack Miller, Natalie Wenninger and David Elliot Thompson, it is their mission to assist artists with the process of bringing projects from page to screen by removing their financial restrictions. Cinema Dreams hopes to take advantage of the advances in technology which have brought us more affordable digital cameras and data storage and cost effective editing costs. The company wants to be known as the place where writers, directors, actors and crew can break into the arts and study their craft in order to turn their dreams into reality without relying on traditional business avenues.
They have devised a simple formula pairing season and educated professionals with talented and energetic novices in order to produce quality projects. The result will be a cross-supportive group being formed for each individual film. With the success of Kickstarter in creating a viable and well respected vehicle for fundraising, Cinema Dreams will be able to incorporate the highest levels of film participation and rewards. They plan to thoroughly involve their supporters in many aspects of their projects, which will lend the artists much needed assistance in bringing their films to completion.
Right now the production company is involved in bringing John Lee’s world renowned true story “The Flying Boy Healing the Wounded Man” to the screen. Examining the reasons why men run from relationships the movie plans to show how the book has changed so many people’s lives. The story relates how a college poetry professor meets the woman of his dreams, falls madly in love and will do anything for her except stop trying to manage her feelings while flying away in his heart. When the relationship dies he decides to examine who he really is and what he needs to do in order to have the relationship he deserves. Lee is the only author to ever be featured three times on Oprah Winfrey’s Show discussing the same book, which is still in print. The full length feature is being adapted and directed by award winning writer Don Stewart Baldwin.
I will have more on Cinema Dreams, the principals involved and “The Flying Boy Healing the Wounded Man” project in a future blog post. Until then you can find out more information by visiting their website at http://www.cinemadreamworks.com/.
by admin on September 13, 2012
Not a day goes by when I don’t receive at least one email offering a class for screenwriting, producing, directing, marketing or directing films. Most sound very similar and sometimes it’s just a matter of style and the likability of the instructor in determining which seminar proves to be the most interesting. One of the more interesting messages I received recently came courtesy of the Writers Store promoting the 2 Day Writers Homicide School being held on Saturday and Sunday October 6 & 7 from 9AM – 3PM PST at The Satellite inSanta Monica,CA for $350.00. Led by Sgt. Derek Pacifico, a 22 year veteran of the San Bernadino Sheriff’s Department, the course includes teaching interview and interrogation techniques, reading crime scenes, handling evidence and proper police jargon.
This will assist writers who want to incorporate grisly murder scenes or serial killers in their stories to become familiar with the types of details that help a story or scene ring true. Sgt Pacifico will share the reality of life as a homicide detective, provide insights into real investigations, show crime scenes and investigations, help you understand police characters and what their common traits are and give you the ability to create more authentic dialogue. In addition to hearing Sgt Pacifico’s true life experiences, writers will be taught how to read crime scenes revealing information that is unwittingly left behind by suspects; they will hear real interrogation techniques, good cop/bad cop, the reality of CSI and how to determine if someone is lying; and finally learn about Body Roll examinations and Autopsy protocols used when examining a body.
Several years ago when I belonged to a local writer’s group inLas Vegaswe had the Clark County Coroner Mike Murphy come and speak. He explained how crime scenes were handled in Las Vegas and various procedures used by his office and it was of tremendous help to all of us interested in writing about various aspects of the mystery genre. I just hope that at some point a class like this one is offered as a webinar so that it will be available to everyone regardless of where they are located. For more information visit http://www.writersstore.com/writers-homicide-school/.
