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Aug 22, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
These days, new streaming services pop up like weeds between driveway pavers. On top of old gold standards like Netflix, Amazon, and Hulu, we’ve now got specialty items that focus exclusively on documentaries, horror films, or whatever niche one can think of. In the cut lies Tubi, which has almost become synonymous with ultra-low-budget fare.
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Jul 18, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
It is my firm belief that auteur Dee Rees should be a household name by name. Here are 5 Trademarks of her craft that I know will take her there. 1. Complex Romantic RelationshipsDee Rees burst onto the scene with her 2011 drama Pariah, based on her 2007 short film of the same name. Centering a spirited NYC girl coming to grips with her sexuality in a repressive home, Rees built her brand on the joys and pains of love in the margins.
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Jul 4, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
Hollywood and the independent entertainment industry have pledged to represent diverse perspectives. However, recent studies show that the numbers don’t lie—these lofty statements aren’t making it to the final print. Writers from all walks of life pour their various lenses into the works they craft and always have. But what happens between the page and the screen that keeps us from fully addressing the issues of hegemonic depictions?
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Jun 27, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
The notoriously fat-shaming entertainment industry has seen an uptick in risky behaviors around the perceived need to stay thin. In a world where we face a constant battle to accurately reflect the nuances of the human experience—aiming for honest and thoughtful depictions of diverse viewpoints—a deep dive into size inclusivity could be a new frontier for Hollywood.
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May 23, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
One of Los Angeles’ finest filmmakers has shifted the culture across the globe. Let’s explore five trademarks of a John Singleton film. 1. John Singleton’s Evergreen SoundtrackJohn Singleton loathed letting his directorial style be defined by whatever was hot at the moment, despite his career spanning from 1991 to 2019.
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Apr 25, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
There is arguably no story element that is harder to pull off than an elegant plot twist. The plot twist, or unexpected narrative turn, is a powerful hook that can define an entire story, if not a filmmaker’s whole career. Nolan. Shyamalan. Fincher. They are almost synonymous—for better or worse– with the term. But what’s so special about a device that is somewhat equivalent to narrative sleight of hand? Let’s get into it!What Is a Plot Twist, Really?
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Apr 11, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
Philly has so much to offer the cinematic world— and I don’t just mean the local 25 percent film production tax credit. Here, in no particular order, are 10 of the best films set in Philadelphia. 1. The Rocky Franchise (1976—Present)Perhaps one of the most famous cinematic nods to the city, this sprawling Sylvester Stallone saga about scrappy boxer Rocky Balboa is almost emblematic of the region. Any Philly-focused list that didn’t include the expansive Rocky oeuvre would hardly be taken seriously.
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Mar 1, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
Daughters of the Dust directed by Julie Dash is a 1991 feature-length, tone-poem of a narrative centered on a Gullah Geechee family’s generational ties to their coastal South Carolina community. Dash’s family history inspires the lushly visual narrative. This super independent film shot on an $800k budget is a slow burn in its patient storytelling and its recognition as one of the most important films of the 1990s—if not all time.
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Feb 15, 2024 | 
wescreenplay.com | Chris Courtney Martin
From blockbusters and music videos to intimate made-for-TV films, Halle Berry is one of the most recognizable actresses ever. Her “It Girl” status is almost an understatement to anyone who lived through the 1990s. Berry’s historic Oscar win for Monster’s Ball was just one entree in a smorgasbord of industry impact. Let’s look back on some of Halle Berry’s best roles that add up to her supernova stardom.
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Jan 31, 2024 | 
thescriptlab.com | Chris Courtney Martin
Sorry to Bother You (2018) is made to be unpacked. This unapologetic anti-capitalist absurdist film is a perfect case study for an avant-garde story structure analysis tool because it basks in the bizarre. Unabashedly, writer/director Boots Riley takes an out-of-the-box approach to highlight the ridiculous attitude that mainstream society has about the issue of inequality.
