March 14, 2015

The very first screenwriting book (written in 1913) is free on Amazon this weekend.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00UMSC33M/secretsofactions

Screenwriting books did not begin with Syd Field, in 1913 there were four screenwriting how to books published, with at least one more in the following year. There have been screenwriting books for as long as there have been films! So let's take a look at one of the most popular books from this era, "How To Write Photoplays" by the #2 screenwriter at the time, Anita Loos.

In addition to the full text of the original book and a complete screenplay by Loos, we'll look at Ms. Loos' career, the role of women in Hollywood at the time (over half of all copyrighted films in this period were written by women), and the reason why there were so many women screenwriters, producers, directors and studio executives. Hint: the 19th Amendment.

We will also look at how the lessons from this 1920 book apply to screenwriting today.

60,000 words total, including the original 40,000 word book *plus* 20,000 words which are brand new for this edition! Also includes vintage photos, a real screenplay page from 1920, and some wonderful historical photos of the women's movement (including the "Silent Sentinels" chained to the White House gate!). This book is where history and screenwriting intersect, and the first in a series of *two dozen* vintage screenwriting books with added screenwriting information and historical information.

March 11, 2015

Summing up the Mayor's press conference from Ferguson MO:

Same old same old.
Business as usual.
That is all.