matt-macdonald.com

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Welcome

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2009/05/welcome.html

Monday, May 4, 2009. Just today, I have turned in the last of my thesis film submission materials to faculty and administrators, officially bringing our film into pre-production. Over the next few weeks, we'll be having our first few meetings production meetings and getting well on our way to finding locations, cast, and all the rest. This couldn't be any more exciting without such an amazing crew! Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom). Quarter-Finalist at the Big Bear Lake Screenwriting Competition. View m...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: 3 Specs in 5 Months

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2011/11/3-specs-in-5-months.html

Tuesday, November 22, 2011. 3 Specs in 5 Months. I'm back from vacation and taking a hard look at my life: I went to film school. Won recognition at film fests. And met agents, managers, and producers. I'm still an unrepresented writer/director looking for work. Might you be in a similar situation? Well, don't lose faith! I'll let you in on my not-so-secret plan. From my network of established screenwriters, I came back with 3 Great Pieces of Advice. A) Throw Smart Punches. It's On The Grid. Two of the v...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Reps: How to Take Notes

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2011/09/how-to-take-notes-from-agent.html

Tuesday, September 27, 2011. Reps: How to Take Notes. Weeks ago, I had the great fortune to meet a rep who agreed to read my script. And I filled you in on how best to follow up with a rep. As promised, I'm now giving you the skinny on How to Take Notes from a Rep:. 1) The Phone Call. After a few pleasantly persistent emails checking in on the script, the rep responded: He read the script and he would call me later this week. 2) A Brief Exchange of Pleasantries. 3) The Trick Question. This is a test!

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Truth Will Out

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2010/08/truth-will-out.html

Monday, August 2, 2010. Bruce Wayne is Batman. Dexter is a serial killer. And Rick and Ilsa will always have Paris. Dark secrets. Skeletons in the closet. Everyone has them. Last week, I was interviewed by the beloved internet personality That Guy With The Glasses. Best known for his hilarious 5 Second Movies. And wonderful Nostalgia Critic. Little did I know he was an investigative journalist ready to blow the whistle on my past. Here goes. *sigh*. I am Skippy Squirrel. How did I go from Animaniacs.

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Repped at Last

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2012/01/repped-at-last.html

Tuesday, January 17, 2012. That's right, folks. Yesterday, I signed with a literary manager at a major company. At our brief but wonderful meeting, my manager and I worked out a basic plan: I'll send her my scripts this week, we'll pick the best of my ideas to write next, and she'll get to work finding a buyer for my scripts while I get to work writing her a new script. And it's all thanks to you. I have shared with you my latest endeavors as an emerging writer-director. That felt good to write. Won the ...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: The Big C

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2011/08/big-c.html

Tuesday, August 16, 2011. Last few weeks, I made Semi-Finalist at the Page Int'l Screenwriting Competition. Met with an agent. Made Official Selection at our Tenth Film Festival. My wife got cancer -. Life SCREECHES to a Halt *. Yes, my wife Alexis has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Mucinous Colloid Carcinoma, to be exact. As cancers go, this one is very slow-growing, treatable, and rare. so rare, in fact, that Alexis refers to it sometimes as Hipster Breast Cancer. Nate, can you wash the dishes?

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Reps: Make a Good First Impression

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2011/07/advice-from-agent.html

Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Reps: Make a Good First Impression. Last week, I met with a manager. 20 minutes later, he asked to read my script. Here's how I did it:. So tell me - What's your story? Every up-and-coming writer needs to be ready for this question. Remember, this is not lunch with your friends, nor is it a business interview. You can't blather on about your cat for 5 minutes and neither can you recite the bullet points of your resume. You have to strike a balance between a fun, casual con...The t...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: The Case for Film School

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2010/07/case-for-film-school_12.html

Monday, July 12, 2010. The Case for Film School. The age-old question for the aspiring filmmaker is this:. Do I go to film school? Or do I just move out to L.A? I've asked this question at various Hollywood parties and on top insider blogs like Hollywood University. And The Anonymous Production Assistant's Blog. And the consensus is always the same: film school is a big. Waste of time and money. Most point out the lack of recent successful film school grads: where's today's George Lucas? I drafted contra...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Breaking the Myth of "Breaking In"

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2011/06/breaking-myth-of-breaking-in.html

Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Breaking the Myth of "Breaking In". I'm going to my 5 Year College Reunion. This weekend and can't help but wax nostalgic about what I've been up to since my days as a Dartmouth boy. until I read Conan O'Brien's Commencement Speech to the Class of 2011. One of the best Commencement Speeches I've read - funny, entertaining, inspiring - and Conan O'Brien even opened up a few old wounds to suggest we shift our perspective:. Do check out his awesome short film To Rest In Peace. Until ...

anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com

Another Life in Film: Is Girl Power Gone?

http://anotherlifefilm.blogspot.com/2010/06/strong-female-who.html

Monday, June 21, 2010. Is Girl Power Gone? There are no heroines in Hollywood today. The other night, I went to a party with several young screenwriters, all of whom were working on scripts - action, comedy, horror - with strong female leads. And none of us could catch a break with our scripts. Why? One writer told a sad story: he pitched an animated action-adventure TV show to a major studio. The show starred a brother-sister duo. The studio exec loved it, but he had one note:. So what happened to roles...