by John | Jan 19, 2023 | Alex Ross, Elite Consulting, Our Books
Blockbusted is a new book charting the evolution of Hollywood’s calculated blockbuster, and will be released in the coming months – but the book has already been recognized and acclaimed by leading industry professionals. It’s even challenging the industry’s long-held assumptions, as you can see below. Check out these first endorsements – just the start of the industry acclaim for Blockbusted we’ll be updating you with over the coming months. Get the input of the book’s author Dr. Alex Ross into your own project at here – or email us at info@writemovies.com to get the ball rolling!
Universal Pictures former Head of Production and Paul Sammon
“This book outlines in extensive and unique detail how studios make money not just on blockbusters, but also eventually from all movies, as Alexander Ross uses his vast experience, inside knowledge, and scholarly expertise to lay out both the successes and the mistakes of the ‘blockbuster era.’ I highly recommend it to scholars in film studies and business, film school students working toward a career in the film industry, and budding film producers and studio executives.”
– Hal Lieberman, Former Head of Production at Universal Pictures
“You are holding a volume which, to my relatively seasoned mind, adds a unique contribution to text-based cinema studies. This book is a persuasive, rigorously researched study of the evolution of the contemporary Hollywood blockbuster. It lays down a parallel track which posits an apparently astonishing argument, flagrantly challenging a long-held bit of supposed critical wisdom – William Goldman’s oft-quoted dictum that “nobody knows anything.” Indeed, Alexander Ross maintains that certain players inside The Dream Factory’s upper echelon of studio chiefs, producers, and mega-agents are not only intelligent, sophisticated mavens, they actually know what they’re doing.”
– Paul Sammon, film industry professional and author
These are the first examples of the industry acclaim for Blockbusted we’ll be sharing with you over the coming months.
by John | Jan 13, 2023 | Alex Ross, Elite Consulting, Our Books
Essential reading for screenwriters this year! The history of the modern Hollywood blockbuster, with dozens of awesome interviews!
We’re proud to announce that this year Dr. Alex Ross will be publishing his new book BLOCKBUSTED – a history of modern Hollywood blockbuster films, packed with amazing industry interviews and insights. Film fans are going to love this!
The book is due to be published in May or June. Alex says: “every fan of The Godfather, Jaws, Star Wars, ET, Back to the Future and Blade Runner will want to find out more, as the book will provide never before shared insights.”
We’ve got lots of insights, endorsements and extracts from the book to share with you over the coming months… let the countdown begin!
Click here to see what Alex can do for you!
by John | Nov 12, 2021 | Horror Award
To celebrate the latest edition of the WriteMovies Horror Award, we’re looking back at some of our favorite films and TV shows in horror. Find out what scares us the most… and what we’re looking for from a horror script! Next up: ALIEN… (more…)
by John | Nov 8, 2021 | Directory
Today, we’re launching a new category on the WriteMovies Directory: YouTube Channels for screenwriters and filmmakers!
(more…)
by John | May 3, 2021 | Sci-Fi and Fantasy Award
The final deadline for the WriteMovies Sci-Fi and Fantasy Award is in just one week on May 9th! Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win great prizes – as well as getting FREE, automatic entry to our Spring Contest and the chance to win the Grand Prize of $3500!
As tomorrow is May 4th – also known as Star Wars Day! – we look to celebrate the most successful sci-fi franchise of all time (sorry Trekkies!).
Since the release of STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE in 1977, the Star Wars universe has expanded across every medium of storytelling. With games, books, TV shows, spin-offs and sequels, even the most dedicated fan struggles to keep up with the vast number of stories.
For writers, the STAR WARS universe represents the potential of your IP. The sci-fi and fantasy genres are arguably the most successful for building large franchises and extended universes, probably because of the freedom the writer has in creating the setting and sheer level of imagination involved; the lore of these worlds gives the writer extra tools to tell their story, which can itself end up captivating audiences.
However, this can also pose risks to the structure of the story. Imagine if A NEW HOPE had opened by introducing us to all the complex politics, history, and technology of a galaxy far, far away. It would a total snooze-fest, right? Instead, it uses its lore to enhance the story, focusing instead on the Hero’s Journey of Luke Skywalker and only explaining the minimum we need to know.
The key to a great sci-fi and fantasy script is creating a fascinating world for the characters to inhabit without losing focus on the story at heart.
Have you written the next STAR WARS? Have you come up with a fantastical world for audiences to fall in love with? Enter the Sci-Fi and Fantasy Award by the deadline on May 9th before it’s too late!
by John | Feb 7, 2021 | Writing Insights
Writing is a skill like any other. Having a talent for it is a good start, but “practice” makes perfect and is what separates the professionals from everyone else. Luckily, there’s a simple tactic you can use to make sure this happens: writing every day.
(more…)
by John | Nov 18, 2020 | Ghostwriting
We continue our series of ghostwriter profiles today, giving you an insight into how our screenplay ghostwriting service works and the skills our ghostwriters have. The next writer to be profiled is Simon Bowler! (more…)
