First Impressions: American Horror Story Season One

American Horror Story has everything you want in a horror story.

Current Project

Just a quick one today about the project I am currently working on.

Last week I saw an opportunity for a 30-60 minute drama script for those outside of the USA.

After thinking about it for several days and jotting down some ideas I began writing it just to see how it turned out.

Now, a first draft of anything is always a sketchy affair, particularly so when you don’t have a concrete idea of where you are going.

This has turned out rather differently than I was expecting, but that is not a bad thing. The characters were surprisingly different, but it is only an initial sketch.

What is interesting about it though is the fact that no matter how many ideas I try to cram into a script, it never seems to be enough. Writing this I was concerned that I would run over long from the very clear 30 minute drama as I could see it.

I started this morning and got to the end by the evening. Putting in all the ideas I felt were appropriate for the pilot, it still came in short by about ten minutes. (I wrote about 4000 words, which after looking at other scripts, I equate with about 20 minutes worth of material).

I can now see even more clearly where the weakness of character development lies and which scenes need to be considered and extended as well as which characters need to be redrawn.

Once that is completed, then the writing of dialogue into something resembling human speech begins.

All in all a productive week.

Something For The Weekend: Jack Reacher

There is nothing new about Tom Cruise playing an action star and there is nothing new here. Jack Reacher is a pretty silly film about a super trained former Military Police Corps Officer who has dropped off the grid. When a sniper kills a bunch of people Reacher turns up to solve the case.

There is intrigue and plotting and a pretty silly plot, but jogs along at an enjoyable enough pace and isn’t so stupid as to make you want to jump out a window.

There is also a really good performance from acclaimed director Werner Herzog, playing the main bad guy. He brings a menacing performance and his philosophy about the cruel indifference of the universe allows him to bring an honesty to the role.

This is a quintessential weekend film.

End Of Season Review: How I Met Your Mother Season 8

Please note, spoilers ahead.

It has been a long, hard slog but finally (finally!) the eighth (and hopefully penultimate) season of How I Met Your Mother Has finally finished.

First Impressions: Hannibal – Season 1

First there was Manhunter.

Then Silence of the Lambs.

Then the sequel, Hannibal.

Then the sequel/prequel/Manhunter remake, Red Dragon.

Then the origins story, Hannibal Rising.

It was only a matter of time before it was adapted for the small screen and that is precisely what we have in Hannibal.

TV Pilot Review: Heat Vision And Jack

Before Dan Harmon became “that crazy guy who got fired from Community”, he was, along with regular collaborator Rob Schrab, the minds behind a TV pilot called Heat Vision and Jack.

Harmon has described the show as “something my 10 year old self would want to watch” and that is pretty close to the mark.

(Don’t!) Go On

It is that time of year folks, where the TV Gods (well, executives) decides who is to love and who is to die.

Here is an update on some of those shows.