ABCs at the Movies: The Doubles Round!

[Fran]

[southendmd]

How about Spring Training?

[memento]

IMDB: A young actress must decide which of two lovers will be her husband. She daydreams about each one to help her decide.

[Fran]

aka My Man

[oilgun]

My first direct-to-video title ever, but I couldn't resist..Spring is often spent getting ready for that f*cking bathing suit..



I had originally picked the following "M" title but was a couple of seconds too late hitting "post":

[southendmd]

From a review on cbhd.org:  Barry Stevens begins his 2001 documentary Offspring with the following statement: "About a year ago, I found out that I might have one or even two hundred half brothers and sisters. I don't know who they are, nor do I know the man from whose body we were all made." The documentary chronicles the efforts of filmmaker Stevens to locate his family with the ultimate goal of finding out who his father was. It takes a unique perspective from a DI[donor-insemination]-produced person who was among the first to be conceived in this way in the early 50's in London by Doctors Berthold Wiesner and Mary Barton.

[Lynne]

From IMdB:

Influential documentary about the imprisoned genius Sergei Parajanov who was persecuted by the government, during the height of his artistic power, for his unruly life style and non-conformist films "Color of Pomegranate" and "Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors" -- regarded as one the greatest masterpieces of the 20th century. A film by his close friend, Russian Academy Award-winning filmmaker Mikhail Vartanov, includes the complete surviving camera negative of Parajanov's unfinished final picture "The Confession"; unique 1968 behind the scenes sequences of Parajanov on the shooting of the "Color of Pomegranates"; breathtaking coverage of Parajanov's last working day in cinema in 1990 and frightening letters from Ukrainian GULAG (hard labor prison camps) with a shocking secret request that Parajanov sent to Vardanov. Mikhail Vartanov made the film in a blockaded Soviet Armenia during the hour daily limits of electricity and water, no heat, no gas, food, transport and communication shortages. He wrote: Parajanov's dreams, the farewell to the characters of his films, which, along with thousands of fans, see him off to the last journey. The Last Spring... A dove emerges from within the grave and flies off towards the immortality. Life is gone... Life is still there, imprinted on celluloid of the Altar of Joy, Beauty and Sadness that Parajanov has created.

[Ellemeno]

Okay, I lucked out, suddenly remembering that the word for "spring" (as in "source") in German is "Quelle."  And lucked out further that a TV movie of that name was made in Germany.  And lucked out even further, that when I looked for an image for it in Google, a photo of Jake popped up.  Curious, I clicked on it, and it led me to this German Jake fansite, to a page with an interview with his mother, screenwriter Naomi Foner:

(Clarification - everything following has nothing to do with the movie Die Quelle, just with the interview with Jake's mom on the German Jake fansite.   
http://jakegyllenhaal.foren-city.de/topic,71,-family.html


Insider Interview with Naomi Foner

Born in New York, Naomi Foner received her B.A. in English at Barnard and her M.A. in Developmental Psychology at Columbia University. She wrote for the highly acclaimed PBS VISIONS series. Her first produced screenplay was the motion picture VIOLETS ARE BLUE, starring Sissy Spacek and Kevin Kline.

Her original screenplay RUNNING ON EMPTY, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Judd Hirsch, River Phoenix and Christine Lahti was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and a Golden Globe. Naomi wrote and produced A DANGEROUS WOMAN, starring Debra Winger, Barbara Hershey and Gabriel Byrne.

LOSING ISAIAH, which she wrote and produced, was Directed by her husband, Stephen Gyllenhaal and starred Jessica Lange, Halle Berry, David Strathairn and Samuel Jackson.

Foner is currently writing PILGRIM'S PROGRESS, which she is set to direct for Paramount.

It is with great pleasure that I introduce
Screenwriter Online's Artist of the Month, Naomi Foner.

Insider:
Welcome Naomi!

Naomi Foner :
Hello

Insider :
We have a lot of questions, so as soon as Naomi is ready, we'll delve right in!...

Naomi Foner :
I'm sitting here in formal clothes, in preparation for going to a dinner honoring Martin Scorsese....and I feel kind of foolish But I'm excited about this and ready for questions.

Question:
First question...Naomi what do you consider your first big break?

Naomi Foner :
I had it pretty easy. I was a producer in public television for many years and I was encouraged to write by many very wonderful people. Barbara Schultz of the PBS Visions series practically made me write my first screenplay and then produced it! It was about the blackout in NYC and of, course, it was filmed in LA!

Question:
Could you tell us what it was like working with Jim Henson?

Naomi Foner :
He was just like you might imagine. A lot like Kermit. Frank Oz is a lot like Bert. I loved them both.

Question:
Ms. Foner, what practical advice do you have for young would-be screenwriters?

Naomi Foner :
Write about something you know and care about. Know why you are writing a script. Stay true to your intentions.

Question:
Did You find it hard getting you and your work recognized with LA execs?

Naomi Foner
The first time I met an exec, they usually said "That's interesting but we don't know if you can execute it." The second time I met the same exec, they thought they know me and were willing to take a chance. Once I had some success, everyone was willing to take a chance.

Question:
Running was one of my favorite films. Was it an original idea of yours, do you have any novels you'd like to write.

Naomi Foner :
I want to write a novel. My kids are getting old enough now so I might consider taking that on. Running was an original screenplay.

Question:
How hard is it for screenwriters outside the LA group to gain acceptance and work with studios/producers???

Naomi Foner :
Everyone is looking for good scripts. Write it and they will come.

Question:
I have a script being negotiated right now, and it deals with a very complex human problem-Multiple Personality Disorder, but set in a sci-fi mode-"they" want it to be a DIEHARD MEETS SPECIES sort of thing. At what point does a new writer sell out?

Naomi Foner :
I don't think you should ever sell out. What about your idea is being compromised? Are they paying you?

Question:
Naomi, tell us about women screenwriters. We're all proud of Emma Thompson...And you too....You were also nominated for an Oscar, right?

Naomi Foner :
I wish there were more of them. Emma's success makes me very proud. The film made me feel like it is possible for a woman's sensibility to be translated to the screen. Yes, I was nominated. My son said that "Sense and Sensibility" made him feel "clean".  [Directed by Ang Lee!]I thought that was a very interesting.

Insider :
Its a wonderful movie!

Naomi Foner :
response. So much of what's on the screen today is not about feeling hopeful. Or doing the right thing. That film was about both. And it made you laugh and cry.

Question:
How much of your screenplay for Running on Empty differs from the movie cut?

Naomi Foner :
The film and screen play are quite close. Sidney Lumet is very respectful of writers. We did take out some scenes that slowed the pace down as the film came to it's conclusion. The most important one was between Gus and Judd's character in which Judd Hirsch explains why he can't help his old friend and the Gus character understands and wishes he had something to care about. But by then, everyone wanted to know what was happening to Danny and even a slight digression didn't work.

Question:
Which software do you use to write, if any?

Naomi Foner :
I use Stephanie Warrens Script Wizard. She designed something like it for me years ago. I'm glad it's available for everyone now. The Writer's Computer Store is my lifeline. I was computer illiterate when I began and they walked me through learning the computer like a baby. It really changed my writing. Made it fluid and more adventurous.

Question:
Naomi, did you feel any political pressure on the ending of LOSING ISAIAH?

Naomi Foner :
I hope not. The idea was that there was no answer. Only a beginning of a dialogue.

Naomi Foner :
Okay

Question:
Pilgrim's Progress is listed on many lists as one of the world's most boring...I happen to be a fan of the book but how on earth did you pick it for a project?

Naomi Foner :
Let me stop you right here. My screenplay has nothing to do with the book. The title is ironic.

Question:
Did you explicitly think a lot about the psychology of the characters in Running on Empty-I'm a psychoanalyst & think it was one of the emotionally most perceptive films I've seen.

Naomi Foner :
I thank you for that. I did think a lot about it. I saw the film as a more intense version of something we all go through. Parent and child is one of the only love stories that end successfully in separation. But you don't know that going in I was trying to deal with that in an exaggerated more dramatic situation.

Question:
I am re-sending my question for Naomi. Does she understand the political and ideological questions of which she wrote in "Running on Empty". The film deeply touched me for its intensity and social relevance.

Naomi Foner :
Thank you. I did know many people who worked in the political arena of that time. Several of my friends were underground for a period. I think I was formed by that time in all of our lives.

Question :
You stated earlier that screenwriters should stay true to their intentions. But how does one pierce the Hollywood veil?

Naomi Foner :
By staying really clear about why I was writing each screenplay and compromising only until that reason was threatened. You have to be driven by some kind of passion to get through all that's between you and a produced movie.

Question
Did you have an agent right off the bat? How important is the right agent?

Naomi Foner :
Yes, I had a most marvelous agent. Judy Scott Fox, who died last year. She was like the great book editors were years ago. She signed me right after I wrote Blackout I was very lucky.

Insider :
Okay...some very good questions tonight...I'd like to allow Naomi to say a few words to us...before we break for the evening...Naomi...please go ahead!

Naomi Foner :
Thank you for asking such good questions. I hope there are people out there who share my feeling that films need to be used to communicate with each other about important things. I like to say that I believe in the "trickle up" theory. Make people care...feel strongly about something...and maybe they will go home and think about it. So I look for stories that are little microcosms of more important things...The way Anne Frank make people feel for holocaust victims more than the numbers did. Thanks.

Insider :
Well put, Naomi!

Insider :
Thank you everyone, for joining us!

Insider :
Thank you Naomi...

Insider :
Goodnight Everyone! And thanks again for coming!

Quelle  [<--  This one word is the reason this page showed up when I Googled!] : www.screenwriter.com

[oilgun]

[southendmd]

A short film by Oliver Held. 

IMDb:  9 year old Franz has climbed on the 5 meter diving board to prove to himself that he isn't a coward. Once there his attitude changes; but because his friend Patrick is blocking the way he can't go back. Hand in hand with Patrick - eyes closed - he dares to take the leap....