Category: Uncategorized

Greta Gerwig’s “Little Women” earned six nominations, including Best Picture, but the annual awards ceremony continues to mostly overlook stellar work from female filmmakers. via Oscars 2020 Shut Out Female Filmmakers in Best Director Race (Again) — IndieWire

Clare Dunne and Andrea Riseborough are best known for their acting work, but they’re both more interested in flexing their creative muscles on the other side of the lens. The duo appeared in a session Monday at Sundance Film Festival’s Cinema Café track moderated by Variety‘s Brent Lang, executive editor of film and media. Both […]… Continue reading Sundance: Clare Dunne, Andrea Riseborough on Lack of Female Filmmakers Nominated for Oscars, Closing the Pay Gap — Variety

Female filmmakers had a banner year in 2019, “reaching recent historic highs,” according to the latest “Celluloid Ceiling” report out of San Diego State University. The annual study, now in its 22nd year, found that women comprised 20% of all directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers working on the top 100 domestic grossing […]… Continue reading Female Filmmakers Reached “Recent Historic Highs” In 2019, But Their Employment In Key Roles Remains “Far From Parity” — Deadline

VIOLET was the winner of BEST MUSIC at the January 2020 LGBT Film Festival in Toronto. Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Madeline Graham & Christopher Whiteside: Same sex marriage has only recently become legal in Northern Ireland and we felt that it was important to give voice to the people who […]… Continue reading Interview with Filmmakers Madeline Graham & Christopher Whiteside (VIOLET) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your Pilot about? Lizanne Southgate: Lana, a teenager in a post apocalyptic world evades monsters and human predators as she searches for her missing sister, aided by a brain damaged Veteran, a grumpy dog and Lana’s own irrepressible sense of humor. 2. What genres does your screenplay fall under? Young adult […]… Continue reading Interview with Screenwriter Lizanne Southgate (LANA’S WORLD) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What motivated you to make this film? Ashley Gerst: I was motivated by my relationship between my grandfather and myself. He passed away in 2013, and I wanted to do something to honor his memory and to help me find a way through my grief regarding his death. 2. From the idea to […]… Continue reading Interview with Filmmaker Ashley Gerst (THE SPIRIT SEAM) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

Matthew Toffolo: What is your short story about? Maureen Kellar-Kirby: This story includes alleged communication from the spirit of Jimi Hendrix after a seance was held in 1972 (two years after he died) although it is only a part of the whole story which includes other material that has been condensed into a movie script. […]… Continue reading Interview with Writer Maureen Kellar-Kirby (Jiminy Cricket Has Jumped The Wicket) — Matthew Toffolo’s Summary

If you’re new to the screenwriting game, the longer it takes to sell a screenplay, the more desperate you might get after you face your first series of rejections and setbacks. Precious time passes quickly while you write new projects, send them out, and receive feedback—good or bad. It’s a long haul process to get […]… Continue reading Avoid looking or acting like a desperate screenwriter (even though you might be). — My Blank Page

As you travel along on your screenwriting journey, you’ll discover that time can drag on and on while you write your screenplays. Time is a screenwriter’s greatest asset to use or worst enemy. If we don’t have the proper amount of protected time to write—we don’t create the solid body of work necessary to compete. […]… Continue reading Time is your greatest asset, or worst enemy… it depends on how you respect it. — My Blank Page

We all have expectations after we complete a script. You know the creative high that you felt during writing it and you want to let the world know that you finished. You’re also probably coming down from that high as you turn in your draft to a reader or contest and await feedback. Did you […]… Continue reading Tips to survive the disappointments your screenwriting journey will bring… — My Blank Page