2011
December 31, 2010
“We are the most monitored and spied-on citizenry in human history. Many of us have our daily routine caught on dozens of security cameras. Our proclivities and habits are recorded on the Internet. Our profiles are electronically generated. Our bodies are patted down at airports and filmed by scanners. And public service announcements, car inspection stickers, and public transportation posters constantly urge us to report suspicious activity. The enemy is everywhere.”
– Chris Hedges, A Brave New Dystopia
As we enter 2011, I would like to just sigh relief and viciously kick 2010 to the curb — with hopes of a better 2011. But I don’t think that will work any more. It didn’t work in 2008 and 2009, precursors to 2010 when I did just that, kicked the old year gone and wished for better in the new year. It is becoming steadily clearer things are not going to get better. They are only going to get worse. Unless we do something.
One thing to do is leave. Get the hell out. I talk about this. I do not think my friends believe me. I talk about Canada, France, maybe New Zealand. “Oh that is just Max. She is so dramatic.” That is also what people said when I talked about leaving the logging town I attended high school in. [And I left.] When I talked about going to college for a degree in the humanities. [I did.] And when I talked about making it in Hollywood. [I did that too.] It is interesting my whole life I have talked about doing things and then done them while everyone surrounding me shook heads, smiled like the indulgent parents I never had, and said, “Oh that is just Max. She is so dramatic.”
The other thing to do is stand and fight. Luckily for me, I still live in a society that has enough vestiges of freedom of expression clinging I can say that on a blog and not immediately hear a knock at the door. I do not know how much longer that is going to last. I am not some huge blogger that gets millions of visits a day so I am a little low on the priority list for dark visits and unwarranted incarceration. Julian Assange, on the other hand, got a bit too much web traffic. Look how that is turning out for him.
The press does not talk a lot about the people standing and fighting. The real people standing and fighting, not the circus people standing and performing. Over a hundred war veterans chained themselves to the White House fence and were arrested the other day for protesting the war[s]. I guess they didn’t get a permit to protest — one of the stupidest concepts on Planet Earth: Ask for permission to protest? Seriously?
Anyway –
130 + people went to jail the other day for standing and fighting. And you didn’t see much about that on the news. Guess who owns the news?
The other thing not many people on the news are mentioning is, it takes money to protest. And free time. Back in the 60’s when all those college kids were marching on Washington to protest the war? Well those college kids could do that because back home there was food on the table, a roof over the family’s head, and tuition in the bank. These days? It is harder to protest these days because back home, the family home is being locked up by a bank and tuition isn’t in a bank and mom and dad are out of work and food might be a little late tonight on the table. It is hard to protest when you are trying to find a job or working three part time jobs to cling to the illusion of the “American Dream.” Which is just that, a “dream” that just does not exist in reality any more. And hasn’t for some time. Where historically U.S. protest in the past has mostly been an act of privilege, if it is to take on power and duration in the foreseeable future, it will be an act of desperation — because American privilege is a thing of the past.
I’d love to stand in front of the White House and demand better treatment for myself and my citizens. But I can’t afford a week off work. And people out of work? They can’t afford the plane ticket and hotel. And people who are in the streets, sick and hungry? Well if they rise up, despite exhaustion and hunger, despite pain and sickness, to really protest? That won’t be pretty. That is how Rome and Russia fell.
It is also getting harder and harder to leave this country. I do not know if anyone else has noticed, but other countries don’t want Americans. Other countries have state supported medicine and are tired of footing the bill for Americans when Americans come calling and then need medical care paid for by their host’s tax dollars. It has become a big issue for other countries. And travel insurance is expected to jump 10-40% in 2011. So, in the same way the U.S. has been building walls to block out immigrants allegedly taking advantage of our nation’s resources and kindness? [Both of which are hard to find these days.] Other countries, one by one, are steadily putting up bigger and bigger barriers to expat Americans who might want to flee the Prison State the US of A has become. And it is just going to get worse as time goes by. Now we are locking up decorated war veterans just for protesting a war.
The window to flee is closing. The means to fight are diminishing. And the prison populations are growing.
Happy New Year.
where the art work comes from :
that is from sweetlibertyprims
10 years?
December 30, 2010
The Screenwriter’s Survival Guide;
Or, Guerrilla Meeting Tactics and Other Acts of War
2011 is the 10 year anniversary of the book’s publication. I do not know whether to yay or groan there, jeez, seriously, ten years? It does not seem like I OR the book can be that old. But —
It is good news for you. I am putting out a new revised edition late this year so am clearing the book hoard and that means a deal for you:
10 years | 10 bucks | Yay!
You still have to pay shipping, sorry the Post Office is just tiffy about paying postage so what can I do?
[If you are international we have to talk more about shipping.]
Still, it’s a pretty good deal for boxed first editions.
Grab ‘em while they last.
on visual writing
December 26, 2010
Readers are entirely dependent on you. There is no movie unless you put it on the page. So, you have, absolutely have, to give readers a visual.
This does not mean a map of the furniture layout in the protagonist’s room. This means an impression of the location.
Is the furniture out of Salvation Army or out of a French showroom? Does this location scream cash? Or last dime? What does the location tell you?
The three most important elements of location are, space, light, texture.
Consider these two examples:
INT. KITCHEN – DAYThe kitchen is ugly, small, cramped beyond thought, one small bare bulb overhead tries to illuminate the dirty linoleum floor and old Formica table without any help from windows.
INT. KITCHEN – DAY
The kitchen is huge, spacious, whoever lives here has more money than God. More than modern refrigerators with glass doors going on forever line the wall, frosty interiors illuminated by harsh artificial light….
Those are examples from yours truly just making up two very different kitchen locations on the fly. Notice how different the locations are using just three elements: Space. Light. Texture.
•Excerpted from the lecture series “On Visual Writing” by Max Adams
•Academy of Film Writing | Visual Writing
back to work
December 26, 2010
Upcoming 2011 —
Online Master Classes in Screenwriting
Taught by yours truly Max Adams:
January:
The Art of the Pitch, 01.11.11 [*full]
Visual Writing, 01.11.11March:
Character Writing, 03.15.11
High Concept Writing, 03.15.11May:
Non-Static Writing, 05.17.11
Structural Writing, 05.17.11July:
Character Writing, 07.19.11
Visual Writing, 07.19.11September:
High Concept Writing, 09.13.11
The Art of the Pitch, 09.13.11November:
Structural Writing, 11.15.11
Non-Static Writing, 11.15.11
•For more info on upcoming classes, visit :::afw courses:::
•For registration info contact Max via :::afw contact:::
•As of January 2011 AFW online courses are accepted accredited University of Utah courses. For info on course credit, contact Paula Lee in the Film & Media Arts Department via paula.lee @ utah.edu
return of my favorite christmas story
December 24, 2010
When in Doubt, Throw Hard Candy
[AKA The Santa from Hell]— by Toni McGee Causey
When the kids were little — I think Jake was three and Luke was seven — Christmas felt like it was going to be slim. Make that downright anorexic. So I was looking for a way to bring a little fun into the season, something that wouldn’t cost much.
I had a brilliant idea. (I should come with a warning label: If brilliant idea occurs, step way-the-hell back for your own safety.)
Anyway. The idea was to have someone play Santa at our house for a pre-Christmas visit. We’d invite all the neighbor kids and their parents and each family would bring a gift for their child ahead of time. I’d hide the gifts away and squirrel them to our Santa, who would come in the house with lots of Ho Ho Hos and joy and jovial warmth and after regaling the kids with whatever it is Santas regale kids with, he’d give out the presents. There would be hot chocolate and apple cider, a beautifully lit Christmas tree in the background. Maybe even singing, if the kids wanted to sing. We would be so sappy, Hallmark would sue. Or throw up, but whatever, it was going to be great.
When I write it out like that, it sounds like a very nice day, doesn’t it? It really does seem normal and sane and I should have known that in my world, “normal” and “sane” do not apply.
professor max
December 22, 2010
As of January 2011 —
AFW online courses are accredited University of Utah courses. For info on course credit, contact Paula Lee in the Film & Media Arts Department via paula.lee @ utah.edu or Max via :::afw contact page:::
Spring Classes:
The Art of the Pitch, 01.11.11
Visual Writing, 01.11.11
Character Writing, 03.15.11
High Concept Writing, 03.15.11For a list of all upcoming classes, visit :::afw courses:::
*afw classes are open to max students outside of the u’s film & media arts department for info on that contact max directly via the :::contact page:::
15 reasons obama sucks
December 20, 2010
This was —
Supposed to be a top ten list. But it grew. Oops —
Fifteen Reasons Obama Sucks
1. What happened to :::habeas corpus:::? :::Indefinite detention:::? Seriously?
2. Hey weren’t we going to close :::Guantanamo:::?
3. What is up with that closed door deal with :::Big Pharma:::? That was two months into office right?
4. Have you discussed that :::government transparency::: thing with that :::Assange guy::: or are you guys just playing phone tag?
5. Two words: Public. Option. Wait, let me rephrase: :::five health care promises “candidate” obama won’t keep:::
6. If the big auto bailout really worked, why can’t I find :::Detroit::: via global satellite?
7. If the bank bailout really worked, how come :::banks aren’t lending:::?
8. What was with those screaming tanks unleashed on :::Pittsburgh students:::? Aren’t those supposed to be used on “the enemy”?
9. Am I crazy or is :::putting BP in charge::: of an investigation of BP kind of like putting the lead suspect in a murder investigation in charge of the murder investigation?
10. White House beach themed parties :::during the Gulf spill:::? Genius!
11. Carbon? Wasn’t there something in there about :::carbon:::? [Sorry, so much has changed so fast my head is still kind of spinning. I guess the plan is to not block it yet?]
12. Say, didn’t a drawn out :::Russian Afghanistan occupation::: topple Russia? Or do you still think Reagan was responsible for that? Also, weren’t the Russians smart enough to get out after NINE years?
13. We all know being on TV is fun, but :::don’t you have a day job:::?
14. Being :::groped, fondled, and x-rayed naked::: for no apparent reason is one of the things we objected to in that Bill of Rights thing everyone signed here before we kicked King George to the curb. Also, :::unwarranted surveillance::: is not cool. You may not be familiar with the :::Bill of Rights::: but if you ask an aide, I am sure someone can rustle up a copy for you. Or just Google it: “Bill of Rights.”
15. :::Veterans::: came to see you this month. I guess you were busy. Your people threw 100 of them in jail. :::100 U.S. military veterans in jail!::: For fuck’s sake! What ever happened to hot chocolate?
[My kids are so not caroling at your place this Christmas.]
where the art work comes from :
that is from king of the wild frontier
45 minutes to save the world
December 20, 2010
How much did you spend on your car?
How much did you spend on your government?Which one works?
I am going to ask you to spend 45 minutes watching this clip. It won’t even cost you cash. Just time. Less than an hour.
[Oh like you do not have the time I know you spent at least that much time on your hair.]
Just watch it. It might save the world.
chris hedges’ hope speech
December 19, 2010
Chris Hedges speaks in Lafayette Park before being arrested in front of the White House.
poor bastard
December 15, 2010
For ONE HUNDRED YEARS —
This guy has been pulling on his tatty little red outfit and showing up to spread joy and commerce and what did you leave him this year?
Cookies right? Maybe some milk?
Poor bastard.
Next year leave cash.
And maybe a nice Men’s Warehouse gift certificate.
ten days till christmas uh ohs
December 15, 2010
*i can’t help it, i love this song
bad dates
December 13, 2010
No, that is not a Raiders quote —
“Date” dates as in the tragic courting ritual our society has melded into an extreme form of torture involving a man and a woman — or, if you aren’t straight, two people of the same gender — who are somehow trapped in the same room together with a suggestion romance might in some way ensue from the experience of small talk and chewing lettuce while surreptitiously checking your teeth to make sure there is nothing stuck on them that might make you look like a glaring dork to your prospective soul mate.
For some reason, people think of me when they hear about bad dates. I have no idea why –– okay I do but I am not telling — but I get lots of links and anecdotes. This started on FB tonight and mildly snow balled and I am not one to miss an opportunity to post something that requires the bare minimum of typing and wit from me so you get the benefit of the bad date snow flurry. Yay!
•from david l: :::The Italian from Brooklyn:::
[really this is all David's fault too he started it]
•from raincoaster: :::Worst Date Ever, AKA Dear Rebecca:::
•from max: :::Breadsticks from Hell:::
•from tommy t: :::A Wink & a Slap:::
•from max: :::Run Olga Run!:::
•from teddy z: :::How Not to Act on J-Date:::
*Did you hit all the links? Do not be a fool! Hit those links!
where the art work comes from :
that is from garron nicholls
plutocracy vs. democracy
December 9, 2010
upcoming max classes
December 9, 2010
MASTER CLASSES IN SCREENWRITING ||
from screenwriter max adams
JANUARY2011
THE ART OF THE PITCH
ONLINE 6 week master class | the art of the pitch |
START DATE 01.11.11 || •this class is full || *next class 09.13.11
VISUAL WRITING
ONLINE 6 week master class | visual writing |
START DATE 01.11.11 || •now registering || open
MARCH2011
HIGH CONCEPT WRITING
ONLINE 6 week master class | high concept writing |
START DATE 03.15.11 || •now registering || open
CHARACTER WRITING
ONLINE 6 week master class | character writing |
START DATE 03.15.11 || •now registering || open
MAY2011
NON STATIC WRITING
ONLINE 6 week master class | non static writing |
START DATE 05.17.11 || •now registering || open
STRUCTURAL WRITING
ONLINE 6 week master class | structural writing |
START DATE 05.17.11 || •now registering || open
