I saw a final cut of THE GATEWAY MEAT, filmed in Massachusetts. I appear in the film, I get brutally murdered and got to write my own death scene. Unfortunately my face is bound up with duct tape and we shot for 8 or 10 hours and I couldn't see and was covered in cold fake blood all day. The DVD will be out soon. The film is AMAZING- oh my god- so gory! I was only in a small part and did not see the script so knew nothing about the plot of the film or anything about it except my scenes.
Also out soon on DVD:
Countess Bathoria's Graveyard Picture Show, which debuted at the Fantasia Film Fest, and which I co-wrote.
I am writing for The Independent Magazine website and will be interviewing Jeremy Kasten, director of the upcoming remake of The Wizard of Gore.
I have an interview in the next Girls and Corpses magazine with Erik Ruhling, author of Infernal Device, an illustrated book of torture devices.
Although I put it aside months and months ago it looks like my script A Fistful of Anger may be optioned.
For our new Podcast New England Art Scene we had the pleasure to talk with local Screenwriter Lawrence Doc Pruyne about his latest screenplay “Battle Road”.Since Doc is in the trenches shopping his screenplay, we thought this was a perfect opportunity to pick his brain on breaking in.
Q. Doc, thanks for taking the time to talk with us. You just completed your screenplay “Battle Road”. What is it about?
A. It's about two black men who changed the course of history at the first battle of the American Revolution.One was 75 years old and the other was a slave.
It's quintessential New England, a big plus, because there's a billion screenwriters in L.A. writing L.A. scripts.The key for screenwriters --New England and otherwise -- is to separate your script from the masses and make it unique and producible.
Q. You are a New England artist pitching your spec script to LA and beyond.How is that going?
A. Right now it's a waiting game.I entered four or five contests and used a script query service, and now it's a matter of seeing what results."Battle Road" is into the semi-finals of the PAGE competition, so that's a good sign.
Q. Did you consider getting an agent before shopping your screenplay?When is the best time for a new screenwriter to reach out to an agent?
A. I used ScriptBlaster, which faxed query letters to 930 agents, production companies and managers.I received 13 requests for a copy or treatment, which is quite high, and a couple are still active, including at Escape Artists, Steve Tisch's prodco ("The Pursuit of Happyness" among others).A query service like that gets the project out there effectively because all you have time for is the logline, which I can recite from memory, and a few details.
Q. Any advice from the trenches on how to create heat for a screenplay while living in New England?
A.Contests can help.Win a contest and the script starts sweating.
Q. What is the best advice you can give to the first time writer with a great idea for a screenplay?
A. Spend 10 percent of your time on structuring your characters and plot, 20 percent writing the first draft, 70 percent editing and polishing.Get feedback from screenwriting groups and paid consultants (don't ask Uncle Oscar) and polish and polish and polish.No first draft is salable.
Q. Any closing thoughts on making it as an artist in New England?
A. It's tough being a screenwriter anywhere.You need to realize that filmmaking is highly specialized, a highly developed discipline.What's nice is that opportunity is opening up now, more than I've ever seen before, even as the competition gets stiffer.No matter how much digital technology makes shooting a film more affordable, though, it's still about the story.Story and character are still king.
For more about screenwriter Lawrence Doc Pruyne and his latest screenplay “Battle Road” check out our new podcast New England Art Scene at: www.NewEnglandArtScene.com.
If you are a New England artist and would like to be featured on a future New England Art Scene podcast, please visit our website:
Dystopia (n.) a fictional, and often futuristic, society that lives under the control of an oppressive government.
Perhaps I'm wrong, but it seems to me that almost all dystopian-based films, no matter how good or bad, develop at least a cult following. There are plenty of horror films, sports films, and romantic comedies that fly under the radar, but when a dystopian-themed film is made, it almost immediately develops a legion of devoted fans.
Let's take The Matrix franchise and the Star Wars prequels. I'm glad these movies have come and gone simply so I don't have to hear someone tell me that they're the greatest movies ever made. This isn't to say that I have anything against dystopian films. As a matter of fact, I'm a big fan of them. The original Star Wars, Blade Runner, A Clockwork Orange, The Terminator, Metropolis, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari: these movies are fantastic.
What is it, though, about dystopian films that causes fans to latch onto them with the same conviction that one might have for a religion? Is it as simple as the human desire to fight authority? Perhaps it has more to do with dystopian films echoing the themes of ancient myths and texts (the Israelites overcoming the Pharaoh or the Babylonians, for example). Many dystopian films are meant to comment on current political issues, but is this commentary reason enough for such extreme devotion to a film?
If anyone has thoughts on this subject, I'd love to hear them. As a matter of fact, I've been on quite a dystopian film kick recently, so if anyone has recommendations, please let me know.
The independent-film and screenwriting competition, which was founded with the purpose of providing funding, distribution, exposure, and other resources to indie filmmakers, is off to its most successful start yet. This year, we've assembled a panel of judges that range from Boston-area film professionals to Hollywood writers and actors, and the panel is still growing. Here's a rundown of judges who are participating in this year's event:
Judges:International Short-Film Competition From left to right: Stephen Root (actor: Dodgeball, actor: Office Space); Keiko Agena (actress: Gilmore Girls, actress: Kim Possible); Cirroc Lofton (actor: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, actor: The Hoop Life); Sayed Badreya (filmmaker: AmericanEast, actor: The Insider); Ty Burr (author, critic for The Boston Globe), and our very own Safa Sadeghpour -- more judges coming soon!
Judges: International Spoof-Writing Competition From left to right: Siu Ta (actress: Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, filmmaker: Kata Practice); Jane Bussmann (writer: South Park, writer: So Graham Norton), and Toddy Walters (actress/musician: South Park, actress: South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut) -- more judges coming soon!
This year, the BMPAs are giving away 1,000s of dollars in cash and prizes, including a distribution agreement, the opportunity to have your script produced, and other assorted prizes from Cineaste Magazine, Showreel Magazine, and MovieMaker Magazine.
To learn more about the Boston Motion Picture Awards, please visit www.BostonAwards.com.
To apply using Withoutabox.com, simply click the link below:
The 3rd Annual 
