Are you interested in the Reality TV genre? Would you like to write or cast a Reality TV show, or maybe even star in a Reality TV series? Maybe you're interested in shooting your own Reality TV show? Good, you came to the right place -- not me, but the resource I'm going to give out to you. BUT, you have to follow the rules, which are--
*watch this trailer (sizzle reel) to understand the massive influence and power of Reality TV and why you should buy the book!
Reality TV Book Video Trailer / Sizzle Reel
*buy the book, it's the definitive source on all aspects of Reality TV, and it has fantastic reviews, especially on Amazon.com, click here to read about the Reality TV book!
*go to the Reality TV book blog, by Producer Troy Devolld, and read posts, comment, ask a question. DO NOT, by any means, DO NOT--
a) go to the blog to complain or whine about the Reality TV genre. Get a job (in it)!!
b) give or reveal a pitch or concept. Your idea may be great, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF FOR NOW! By pitching, you are throwing a legal liability on anyone who hears or reads it, because you'll turn around and say they stole the idea later on. Work on your concept but don't tell us what it is, we DON'T want to know and you will be branded amateur and maybe be banned from the blog posting.
c) do not call Troy, BY ANY MEANS, unless directed to do so. Don't f'n do it or you will be blacklisted!
d) did I mention not to bitch about the genre, not to pitch or reveal a concept, and absolutely not fucking call Troy Devolld?? Call him and you're going to ruin at least one good shot at this, whatever your dreams are.
Reality TV Book Blog by Producer Troy Devolld
Summary -- in harsh terms, don't fuck up this blog. It's young, new, refreshing,,,like the old days when you first found message boards (or free porn) before anyone else knew about it, and you learned a lot, and there was a certain camaraderie, until it got all exploited and out of context and chatty and full of ads. NO Hollywood producer gives access like Troy Devolld, so behave, don't call him or pitch, and don't fuck this up for those of us like me who are learning from him and the blog.
THANKS x 10!!!
Thursday, December 8, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
NEW PHASE -- REALITY TV
"Reality", not "realty", that's what I said, probably to your chagrin because my ears are ringing as you get that disdainful thought you can't help but having. I wouldn't go into "realty", as in "real estate", the housing bubble burst and it's important to move on. Trends and markets change. Business cycles. Life goes on. What I'm saying is that you should still be proud of your spec script, but accept the facts -- unless you're Tina Fey or her peer, it's not likely you'll ever sell that thing. Move on when a market dies, if it's your true passion to be employed in it.
If that hasn't cured your denial then look at the TV ratings. Who doesn't know that "You're fired!" is synonymous with "The Apprentice"? For over ten years now, a majority of amateur screenwriters have (dis)regarded reality TV with at least some deplorable comment (yet probably enthusiastically watched the supertrailers and teasers).
If you're here to learn screenwriting, do check out this blog, my intensive research will save you time, money, and frustration. Learning the craft has enriched my life, and it just so happens, I will be using those hard-earned skills in my new venture with Reality TV, which is a genre by the way,,,I can hear your "sigh", but you can't deny, it has ruled the airwaves. I know that line was cheesy. Sell what they are buying, or watching, or at least watch me do it!
So, stay tuned as I select a mentor, make my brand (already exists), pitch it, get the elements attached (I'm a major one), and finally get on a shoot, bright lights and all! Get onboard and take this ride with me, because I've got some sliced bread to deliver right quick! I won't let you down, you're simply going to be amazed!
FADE IN!
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
SCREENWRITING -- THE NEXT GENERATION
In 2009, I created this blog to document an amateur's foray into writing screenplays. I started at zero, no prior screenwriting knowledge, just some creative writing experience with the number of websites I built throughout the years for businesses, including my own, in the arts.
I laid out the format for the blog to be as "script-like" as possible, and though simple, it has received many compliments, for both its look as well as content. I did not plagiarize a thing, I learned from others, then put that into my own words.
Below is the storyline that ran continuously on the right sidebar--
"STORYLINE
Brian, a middle-aged decorative artist and instructor by trade, ends up in rural South Carolina after a chain of events spurred by a dying economy. Bent on finding a new profession and returning to urban life, he discovers the craft of screenwriting, after his wife's enthusiasm over a published "op-ed" political column that he has written. His goal is to write a spec script in sixty days, in hopes of eventually selling it, generating enough cash to get back to the city life.
Can he write it? Will it be a sell? Will the economy ever rebound? Can South Carolina legislators do any more to embarrass him during his stay in this state? Is it a pipe dream to want to live within ten minutes of a "Barnes & Noble" and "Target" again?
Stay tuned, we'll see!!"
It was a creative, humbling, and enlightening experience, which continued until we got notice of a transfer to Houston in 2010. In no particular order, I learned that--
*most forms of writing are underrated, misunderstood, and taken for granted.
*writing is also not as easy as anyone assumes.
*most people have no idea what a screenplay is for, why it is necessary, or how it works, and the agonizing details that make one succeed or fail.
*since the economic / housing bubble burst, Hollywood is on a budget too. They don't buy ten spec scripts in one WHACK to "just to do it" anymore. They tend to buy screenplays written by actors, because that extra attached element gets them double BANG for the buck, from someone who actually reads scripts and has been on sets, and has a track record of performance under a director and producer.
*you can learn a lot from professional writers as well as producers, readers, etc., who graciously share their info online, if you are willing to do the work.
*you can easily be misguided by the more than 95% who post online, claiming they know how the system works, but have mysteriously never been produced.
*plenty of people are willing to "teach" you this craft for money, although most do not have produced scripts or strong credentials.
*a majority of amateur (meaning non-produced) screenwriters tend to be snarky, defensive, often extreme, as well self-righteous.
*professional (produced) screenwriters have a laid-back, friendly, approachable demeanor, are open-minded, and very often willing to help those they come into contact with. Omit this thought if they're actors...just kidding!
If you go through my posts in chronological order, by date, you will see how I start off with common mistakes, learn as I go, and work my way all the way up to writing screenplays. "CLUNKER" is my biggest claim to fame and I still believe in it, questionable if it will be ever made but I'm very proud of that piece of work.
After a long hiatus from writing, in a new town, with a changed career, I realized the other day that my next venture relies in part on my screenwriting skills. It is a joy to realize that. The lesson here is that learning something new is never bad, and you just might need it again one day.
Please stay tuned for the next chapter in my life, career, and something strongly related to screenwriting that seems to have much better odds in success than the spec script market, at least for the moment!
FADED OUT, NOW I'M FADING BACK IN!
I laid out the format for the blog to be as "script-like" as possible, and though simple, it has received many compliments, for both its look as well as content. I did not plagiarize a thing, I learned from others, then put that into my own words.
Below is the storyline that ran continuously on the right sidebar--
"STORYLINE
Brian, a middle-aged decorative artist and instructor by trade, ends up in rural South Carolina after a chain of events spurred by a dying economy. Bent on finding a new profession and returning to urban life, he discovers the craft of screenwriting, after his wife's enthusiasm over a published "op-ed" political column that he has written. His goal is to write a spec script in sixty days, in hopes of eventually selling it, generating enough cash to get back to the city life.
Can he write it? Will it be a sell? Will the economy ever rebound? Can South Carolina legislators do any more to embarrass him during his stay in this state? Is it a pipe dream to want to live within ten minutes of a "Barnes & Noble" and "Target" again?
Stay tuned, we'll see!!"
It was a creative, humbling, and enlightening experience, which continued until we got notice of a transfer to Houston in 2010. In no particular order, I learned that--
*most forms of writing are underrated, misunderstood, and taken for granted.
*writing is also not as easy as anyone assumes.
*most people have no idea what a screenplay is for, why it is necessary, or how it works, and the agonizing details that make one succeed or fail.
*since the economic / housing bubble burst, Hollywood is on a budget too. They don't buy ten spec scripts in one WHACK to "just to do it" anymore. They tend to buy screenplays written by actors, because that extra attached element gets them double BANG for the buck, from someone who actually reads scripts and has been on sets, and has a track record of performance under a director and producer.
*you can learn a lot from professional writers as well as producers, readers, etc., who graciously share their info online, if you are willing to do the work.
*you can easily be misguided by the more than 95% who post online, claiming they know how the system works, but have mysteriously never been produced.
*plenty of people are willing to "teach" you this craft for money, although most do not have produced scripts or strong credentials.
*a majority of amateur (meaning non-produced) screenwriters tend to be snarky, defensive, often extreme, as well self-righteous.
*professional (produced) screenwriters have a laid-back, friendly, approachable demeanor, are open-minded, and very often willing to help those they come into contact with. Omit this thought if they're actors...just kidding!
If you go through my posts in chronological order, by date, you will see how I start off with common mistakes, learn as I go, and work my way all the way up to writing screenplays. "CLUNKER" is my biggest claim to fame and I still believe in it, questionable if it will be ever made but I'm very proud of that piece of work.
After a long hiatus from writing, in a new town, with a changed career, I realized the other day that my next venture relies in part on my screenwriting skills. It is a joy to realize that. The lesson here is that learning something new is never bad, and you just might need it again one day.
Please stay tuned for the next chapter in my life, career, and something strongly related to screenwriting that seems to have much better odds in success than the spec script market, at least for the moment!
FADED OUT, NOW I'M FADING BACK IN!
CLUNKER Movie Script on Massify
This is a link to my best screenplay. Although the 2nd draft is better, you will definitely get the concept and what I wanted to convey when I wrote this draft.
It was uploaded to Massify.com, a great resource for the film industry, and is still WGA protected.
Keep in mind, this was written in less than 90 days by an individual with NO prior writing experience for screenplays (until my intense, free, online self-training), but it's fairly impressive, if I must say. Although reviewers on triggerstreet.com wanted to point out its faults, they couldn't deny making it clear that I was onto something. After reading many screenplays on that site, I think I did quite well.
If you enjoy travel, romance, comedy, family situations, have experienced financial highs and lows-- you will probably enjoy reading this. Please do not take the time to make or send corrections as that was handled in the revision, which isn't published. Thanks!
Logline-- "CLUNKER" is the story of a bankrupt auto-finance accountant who is forced to sell timeshares for an unethical sales team in Mexico, while a company non-frat policy forbids him to see his lover, a hotel waitress.
This is a video I made for the promo. I used "SWISH" for the animation, some photos, a graphics program, and my own voice. I linked it into triggerstreet when I put it up, and also received a number of emails from people who said I had an "obvious level of dedication and commitment to my screenplay" that they probably "hadn't seen in anyone", so that was very rewarding.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
DUSTY 1994-2010
Friday, we lost our little buddy of almost 16 years. Dusty was always there for us, as we were for him -- there's a missing piece to our puzzle now.
I don't want to say much more, just trying to focus on all of the good times we had. Irreplaceable loss sucks, plain and simple.
The "Coldplay" song below keeps coming to my mind. For me, it currently describes the way that trying caregivers see loss in an endless challenge, trying to fix things. From Dusty's perspective, if he knew you were down he would stay by your side and try to "fix" you. It always worked.
FIX YOU - COLDPLAY
When you try your best, but you don't succeed
When you get what you want, but not what you need
When you feel so tired, but you can't sleep
Stuck in reverse
And the tears come streaming down your face
When you lose something you can't replace
When you love someone, but it goes to waste
Could it be worse?
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth
Lights will guide you home
And ignite your bones
And I will try to fix you
Tears stream down on your face
When you lose something you cannot replace
Tears stream down on your face
And on your face I...
COLDPLAY - FIX YOU VIDEO
THE LATE, GREAT, FRED KNITTLE AND Y@H - FIX YOU LIVE
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
HOUSTON, THE SCREENWRITER HAS LANDED
We made it! 1000 miles of road striping and a two-day drive led us here. All pets are safe and accounted for, that's the main thing. The three rescue kittens hung out in Caesar the dog's large kennel, no problems at all. Stay tuned for a post on traveling with pets sometime.
It was hell getting out of South Carolina, the place sucked me dry until the last minute of repairs and painting. There wasn't even an informal goodbye -- van stuffed, and hotter than hades, we rolled out on highway 25, as if we had never met that town.
Houston is big, mostly busy, vibrant, hot, interesting, hot, spread out... did I mention hot? In the two weeks since landing we've moved and unpacked a ton of boxes and have gotten a considerable amount of work done on the home, which we just love. Highlight is an eight-foot waterfall, in the back patio area, which I have been working to maintain.
The most refreshing thing has been the services -- people actually coming when you call them! Getting real service and a "thank you" instead of a stupid look. Yes, believe it or not there are lots of friendly people in big cities. I always knew this but appreciate it a lot more after living in rural SC where people claim they're so nice and friendly -- HA!. More on that when I write my new screenplay, "Escape from South Carolina".
Back to the good stuff -- palm trees, a new, nearby dog park, TARGET on seemingly every corner -- we're in heaven! More than one grocery store, imagine that! People that are good at driving aggressively -- no prob! It's been a long road, in many ways.
I'm still far from being able to hang out with "the fonts". Currently working on a tile backsplash in the kitchen and I have a studio to set up on the second floor. I hope all of your projects are going well.
FADING IN ... SLOWLY!
It was hell getting out of South Carolina, the place sucked me dry until the last minute of repairs and painting. There wasn't even an informal goodbye -- van stuffed, and hotter than hades, we rolled out on highway 25, as if we had never met that town.
Houston is big, mostly busy, vibrant, hot, interesting, hot, spread out... did I mention hot? In the two weeks since landing we've moved and unpacked a ton of boxes and have gotten a considerable amount of work done on the home, which we just love. Highlight is an eight-foot waterfall, in the back patio area, which I have been working to maintain.
The most refreshing thing has been the services -- people actually coming when you call them! Getting real service and a "thank you" instead of a stupid look. Yes, believe it or not there are lots of friendly people in big cities. I always knew this but appreciate it a lot more after living in rural SC where people claim they're so nice and friendly -- HA!. More on that when I write my new screenplay, "Escape from South Carolina".
Back to the good stuff -- palm trees, a new, nearby dog park, TARGET on seemingly every corner -- we're in heaven! More than one grocery store, imagine that! People that are good at driving aggressively -- no prob! It's been a long road, in many ways.
I'm still far from being able to hang out with "the fonts". Currently working on a tile backsplash in the kitchen and I have a studio to set up on the second floor. I hope all of your projects are going well.
FADING IN ... SLOWLY!
Sunday, May 23, 2010
SCREENWRITER'S UPDATE - ALMOST READY TO ROLL OUT
Ahhh, fellow bloggies and black fonts, how I miss you so! It's been full-on reno here, in prep to put the SC house on the market and get our butts moved to Houston, where we just closed on house contract #3. The RELO company was a pain in the ass down to the last minute, just like two years before. I won't go into it all, lets just say I'm not impressed when everyone we deal with makes it seem like it's the first time they have ever done their job (because maybe it is?).
On this house, of course the work and things to move becomes three-fold before your eyes once into it all. Fortunately, I was able to recruit an eighteen year old guy I met at Starbucks to help me with the work. Unfortunately, this brought to light what a pain in the ass I must have been when I was also a mouthy eighteen year old! But, we're getting it done and exterior window painting continues this week.
The new house, which I have yet to see in person, has a 2nd floor addition of 500 square feet -- the same size as my old classroom in St. Louis -- so I plan to teach art again, out of that space. This helps me avoid a lease and a pesky landlord, as well as the fact that I can check in on all of our pets during breaks. The economy is slowly creeping back so I hope for a few students.
Just a few weeks and it will be a roll-out with six cats and a dog for 1000 miles, one overnighter. Last time we did 700 miles with three cats and I'm hoping this goes just as well.
Beyond the prep, not much, been sort of living in a bubble of reno. I catch world news when I can and the BP oil ordeal is heartbreaking as well as infuriating. Bret Michaels is still alive and should be on Trump's final tonight. Lee and Crystal will face off on Idol. And that's about all I know.
So, I hope you're enjoying late spring, looking forward to summer, and getting a break where you deserve. I'll write from Houston in a few weeks, god willing, whichever one you praise, lol.
FADE OUT... BUT FADING BACK IN SOON!
On this house, of course the work and things to move becomes three-fold before your eyes once into it all. Fortunately, I was able to recruit an eighteen year old guy I met at Starbucks to help me with the work. Unfortunately, this brought to light what a pain in the ass I must have been when I was also a mouthy eighteen year old! But, we're getting it done and exterior window painting continues this week.
The new house, which I have yet to see in person, has a 2nd floor addition of 500 square feet -- the same size as my old classroom in St. Louis -- so I plan to teach art again, out of that space. This helps me avoid a lease and a pesky landlord, as well as the fact that I can check in on all of our pets during breaks. The economy is slowly creeping back so I hope for a few students.
Just a few weeks and it will be a roll-out with six cats and a dog for 1000 miles, one overnighter. Last time we did 700 miles with three cats and I'm hoping this goes just as well.
Beyond the prep, not much, been sort of living in a bubble of reno. I catch world news when I can and the BP oil ordeal is heartbreaking as well as infuriating. Bret Michaels is still alive and should be on Trump's final tonight. Lee and Crystal will face off on Idol. And that's about all I know.
So, I hope you're enjoying late spring, looking forward to summer, and getting a break where you deserve. I'll write from Houston in a few weeks, god willing, whichever one you praise, lol.
FADE OUT... BUT FADING BACK IN SOON!
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