Ok... so this week I have been lining up articles, and interviews for the site. I had a bit of a bad experience with one of the cold calls. The woman I contacted was offended that I had not memorized her book, and by some of the questions that (you) our readers sent in to us. So she told me not to contact her again until I knew "more about what I was asking" and not until I had read her book "please". To paraphrase a chimp on roller skates from the Simpson's Season 5 - Deep Space Homer - "No. I don't think we'll be doing that". I thanked her for her time, and correspondence and told her that I personally didn't think there was a stupid question except the one that isn't asked.
ANYWAY... I'm still laughing about it really, because the next email I got was from someone who would love to share his knowledge with us! So...
We have 5 interviews lined up already and at least one new article from a wide range of talent. Indy Film producers, Directors, Writers for TV, Film and Animation... We're really looking forward to a great year!
I will have some updates from interviewees and winners of The-GreenLight.com Script contests and more...
We're having a blast and 2010 is shaping up to be a fantastic year!
Peace and good writing!
- G
Friday, January 15, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Cold Calling
Ok... so in order to get your name out there and get your writing in front of people you need to master the art of Cold Calling. I... am not a master. But I do know the importance of the activity.
I get butterflies in my stomach as I'm dialing the phone. I sit and re-read and re-read and re-read email queries over and over until I'm satisfied that they are 100% perfect... Inevitably I go back to them a day later and BAM! Spelling mistake, or I've accidentally repeated a word a dozen times. I think even veterans have this issue. BUT! Its an exercise that needs to be done.
Most of my cold calls are for interviews for the Website. Contacted people I don't know or haven't spoken to in years is difficult and uncomfortable. So here's a couple of tricks I use to make it a little less like a job interview.
1) Know your stuff. If they ask a question of you, you need an answer. So if you're pitching a show, know your world. So when they ask you... Why do the Purple dragons eat only vegetables and the Green dragons only marshmallows you can easily answer with something that sound splausible.
2) Know who you're calling. Find out about them people, the company, their prod. history and make sure that what you're ptiching is something they'd be interested in. If you're pitching a Sci-Fi Epic to a Documentary company you'll look like an ass.
3) Remember the worste thing that can happen is they tell you they are not interested. You have nothing to lose.
4) Remember your stuff is GOOD! I mean really good... BE confident, and self assured... but don't be a jerk about it. People LOVE to offer opinions... and yes, I'm sure you put everything you have into your script or show, but remember. You going to them. Show them that you know your stuff. That you are confident that you can do the job and get results... but that you're open to their ideas and expertise.
5) MAKE SURE ITS READY... Don't make a single call until you have something polished to show them. It's really hard to rattle off a completely polished script in 24hrs. So be prepared for them to say... Can you send us a sample? Make sure its polished. Get some expert Coverage done. Make sure you've dotted you I's and crossed your T's. A sloppy script won't sell... an unfinished script... unless you're Paul Haggis or Quentin Tarantino won't sell either... They can sell concepts... We're not so lucky...
6) If its a phone cold call... Rehearse with a friend. Have them pretend to be the producer and go through your pitch. It sounds stupid, but at the end of the day the more you go over it the more you know what will work and what won't. You don't want to run at the mouth and sound like an idiot on the phone. You want your conversation to be as polished as your script.
7) FOR GOD SAKES keep it short. Don't linger. A query letter is a page. Be breif. Answer questions, be informative, but don't ramble. Again... you'll sound like a Noob!
I have rehearsed cold calls in front of a mirror before. Just to get an idea of what I would sound like. I've also recorded myself answering questions to make sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot.
At the end of the day, the best advice I can offer that has helped me is... be prepared.
Anyway... Time for a few more calls...
Cheers!
- G
I get butterflies in my stomach as I'm dialing the phone. I sit and re-read and re-read and re-read email queries over and over until I'm satisfied that they are 100% perfect... Inevitably I go back to them a day later and BAM! Spelling mistake, or I've accidentally repeated a word a dozen times. I think even veterans have this issue. BUT! Its an exercise that needs to be done.
Most of my cold calls are for interviews for the Website. Contacted people I don't know or haven't spoken to in years is difficult and uncomfortable. So here's a couple of tricks I use to make it a little less like a job interview.
1) Know your stuff. If they ask a question of you, you need an answer. So if you're pitching a show, know your world. So when they ask you... Why do the Purple dragons eat only vegetables and the Green dragons only marshmallows you can easily answer with something that sound splausible.
2) Know who you're calling. Find out about them people, the company, their prod. history and make sure that what you're ptiching is something they'd be interested in. If you're pitching a Sci-Fi Epic to a Documentary company you'll look like an ass.
3) Remember the worste thing that can happen is they tell you they are not interested. You have nothing to lose.
4) Remember your stuff is GOOD! I mean really good... BE confident, and self assured... but don't be a jerk about it. People LOVE to offer opinions... and yes, I'm sure you put everything you have into your script or show, but remember. You going to them. Show them that you know your stuff. That you are confident that you can do the job and get results... but that you're open to their ideas and expertise.
5) MAKE SURE ITS READY... Don't make a single call until you have something polished to show them. It's really hard to rattle off a completely polished script in 24hrs. So be prepared for them to say... Can you send us a sample? Make sure its polished. Get some expert Coverage done. Make sure you've dotted you I's and crossed your T's. A sloppy script won't sell... an unfinished script... unless you're Paul Haggis or Quentin Tarantino won't sell either... They can sell concepts... We're not so lucky...
6) If its a phone cold call... Rehearse with a friend. Have them pretend to be the producer and go through your pitch. It sounds stupid, but at the end of the day the more you go over it the more you know what will work and what won't. You don't want to run at the mouth and sound like an idiot on the phone. You want your conversation to be as polished as your script.
7) FOR GOD SAKES keep it short. Don't linger. A query letter is a page. Be breif. Answer questions, be informative, but don't ramble. Again... you'll sound like a Noob!
I have rehearsed cold calls in front of a mirror before. Just to get an idea of what I would sound like. I've also recorded myself answering questions to make sure I'm not shooting myself in the foot.
At the end of the day, the best advice I can offer that has helped me is... be prepared.
Anyway... Time for a few more calls...
Cheers!
- G
Friday, January 8, 2010
Struggling
Ok... Sooooo... every once in a while you get a really great idea that needs to be forced out of your head and onto a page before it chews a hole in your brain like those weird beetle things from the Wrath of Khan.
I am currently STRUGGLING to get one such idea out. The TV Pilot... I know I've been cryptic about the content, premise etc. and I will continue to do so, but OMG! This project is going to kill me. I have so many ideas and concepts I want to impart to the audience during the first episode I'm STRUGGLING to find a good, straight forward storyline that has everything I need to have in it, with a little candy for the soul in order to snare the audience into my series trap...
So dilemma... do I give up some of the details and rescue the plot, or do I include the details and leave out some of the candy - that might be the difference between a sale and a pass...
It's a pretty complex concept that I'm trying to impart in 43min. During that time I also have to introduce the characters, their relationships, and personal goals... Ugh! My 5 page outline is pushing 17 pages now... By the time I get to writing the actual script I'm going to have no room for dialog!
Anyway... my rant of the day is simply this... Having good ideas is not always in your best interest!
Peace!
- G
I am currently STRUGGLING to get one such idea out. The TV Pilot... I know I've been cryptic about the content, premise etc. and I will continue to do so, but OMG! This project is going to kill me. I have so many ideas and concepts I want to impart to the audience during the first episode I'm STRUGGLING to find a good, straight forward storyline that has everything I need to have in it, with a little candy for the soul in order to snare the audience into my series trap...
So dilemma... do I give up some of the details and rescue the plot, or do I include the details and leave out some of the candy - that might be the difference between a sale and a pass...
It's a pretty complex concept that I'm trying to impart in 43min. During that time I also have to introduce the characters, their relationships, and personal goals... Ugh! My 5 page outline is pushing 17 pages now... By the time I get to writing the actual script I'm going to have no room for dialog!
Anyway... my rant of the day is simply this... Having good ideas is not always in your best interest!
Peace!
- G
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
2010 - The Year it all happens
Ok... I'm just going to throw this out there for ya... By the end of 2010 I will be a produced screenwriter. Period. There's really no question about it. Here's why... and please forgive me if this sounds egotistical... I don't mean it to be...
1) I'm good. I have a great imagination, and stories just come to me like farts to a fat man...
2) I've been told my dialog is "brilliant", "charming", "real", and "effortless"...
3) I know people... and they know people... ;)
4) Why not me? huh?
5) I work hard at it... (this is the real key)
6) I'm determined to make it happen (the second key...)
7) I am building a really nice library of material and it's going to pay off.
8) I listen to my critics. It's one thing to get coverage done and do a re-write... Its a little more difficult to listen to the message behind the comments and apply the theory.
9) See #1.
10) Because I look good in expensive suits and I have an acceptance speech prepared for my first Indy Spirit Award... :)
Really I think it boils down to #5,6,1,2... in that order. Writing is something you do because you have to, because you would be completely lost if you didn't have the outlet... BUT you also have to work at it. Every time you get a sharp comment from a reader you need to ask yourself. OK! How do I make this project better? You can't please everyone... but you have to...
Anyway. I have set some goals for 2010... Lofty ones... but with hard work they are attainable. Every month I will complete a script for a TV show I am currently watching to build my Library and exercises and develop my writing skills. I will finish and polish (to a fine porcelain sheen) my last script "Ghost Hunter" and my next Feature Project "Breakfast with Tiffany". My TV pilot will be complete by months' end and flawless by the end of February... Ready to flog to any and all who will listen... It will be a whirlwind... You won't know what hit you... I promise, I will do my best to entertain you, and when you read my work, I assure you you will walk away happy you took the time... Cheers!
Get ready... cause here I come...
All the best in 2010 my friends!
- G
1) I'm good. I have a great imagination, and stories just come to me like farts to a fat man...
2) I've been told my dialog is "brilliant", "charming", "real", and "effortless"...
3) I know people... and they know people... ;)
4) Why not me? huh?
5) I work hard at it... (this is the real key)
6) I'm determined to make it happen (the second key...)
7) I am building a really nice library of material and it's going to pay off.
8) I listen to my critics. It's one thing to get coverage done and do a re-write... Its a little more difficult to listen to the message behind the comments and apply the theory.
9) See #1.
10) Because I look good in expensive suits and I have an acceptance speech prepared for my first Indy Spirit Award... :)
Really I think it boils down to #5,6,1,2... in that order. Writing is something you do because you have to, because you would be completely lost if you didn't have the outlet... BUT you also have to work at it. Every time you get a sharp comment from a reader you need to ask yourself. OK! How do I make this project better? You can't please everyone... but you have to...
Anyway. I have set some goals for 2010... Lofty ones... but with hard work they are attainable. Every month I will complete a script for a TV show I am currently watching to build my Library and exercises and develop my writing skills. I will finish and polish (to a fine porcelain sheen) my last script "Ghost Hunter" and my next Feature Project "Breakfast with Tiffany". My TV pilot will be complete by months' end and flawless by the end of February... Ready to flog to any and all who will listen... It will be a whirlwind... You won't know what hit you... I promise, I will do my best to entertain you, and when you read my work, I assure you you will walk away happy you took the time... Cheers!
Get ready... cause here I come...
All the best in 2010 my friends!
- G
Friday, December 18, 2009
Holiday season
Hello...
Ok... so I'm an awful blogger... I haven't had time to write anything here 'cause I've been super busy on other projects. So here's the update....
The-GreenLight.com 1st Annual Script Contest was a success. Our winner T.L. Lewis wrote a masterful piece entitled "REBIRTH" set in the days of the Huguenots. It's brilliant.
Also we're now running a monthly contest that is doing very well... We'll be announcing our 3rd winner at the end of the month! The quality of script submissions is amazing. There are a lot of really talented and creative people out there... Sooooooooooooo... I'm reading and reading and that's an awesome thing.
Now for me... I am on the 3rd draft of the outline for my Pilot. That doesn't really sound all that impressive (3rd draft of an outline)... But if the outline sucks so will the script... Everything should be worked out ahead of time so you don't end up doing what I did with Ghost Hunter (we'll get to that in a minute). Also... when you have a good outline the finished piece practically writes itself. By the end of the outlining stage you should know everything you need to know so that all you have to do is drop in some of your witty dialog and BAM! 1st draft is ready for polishing.
Now... Ghost Hunter... It's my 3rd feature script. Post-apocalyptic Earth... A world shrouded in darkness... Well... Let me just say... don't start the first RE-Write if you haven't finished the 1st draft. I found myself re-writing the script before I had even finished the 1st draft. This lead to a number of problems not the least of which was the fact that some of the things I re-wrote in the early stages didn't line up with anything on the back end... So you have these things that seem like major plot points that vanish into thin air... Needless to say I have a Major overhaul to do on it before its ready to be sent off for its first round of coverage... If I sent it now... I would get a two word report back "EPIC FAIL!" - It's all good... I know its a hot mess... But its done! and the foundation is solid... Soooooo writing is re-writing... and I will do a re-write.
So... between polishing off the 3rd feature, getting 3 drafts of the outline for my TV Pilot and all the fun stuff we're doing on The-GreenLight.com I've been a little busy... Too busy to blog... BUT once my vacation starts in about 5 hours and 57 min... I have nothing but time...
My goals for this vacation... Write an episode of Hotwheels: Battle Force 5, an American Dad, and outline an episode of Trauma... Also... finish the outline for the Pilot, and get the 1st draft of the script written! I only have 2 weeks... So I'll be happy with just getting the 1st draft of my pilot done... BUT you have to set goals! and the higher they are, the more you'll prove to yourself what you can actually accomplish if you set your mind to it.
Cheers! and have a safe and happy holiday season!
- G
Ok... so I'm an awful blogger... I haven't had time to write anything here 'cause I've been super busy on other projects. So here's the update....
The-GreenLight.com 1st Annual Script Contest was a success. Our winner T.L. Lewis wrote a masterful piece entitled "REBIRTH" set in the days of the Huguenots. It's brilliant.
Also we're now running a monthly contest that is doing very well... We'll be announcing our 3rd winner at the end of the month! The quality of script submissions is amazing. There are a lot of really talented and creative people out there... Sooooooooooooo... I'm reading and reading and that's an awesome thing.
Now for me... I am on the 3rd draft of the outline for my Pilot. That doesn't really sound all that impressive (3rd draft of an outline)... But if the outline sucks so will the script... Everything should be worked out ahead of time so you don't end up doing what I did with Ghost Hunter (we'll get to that in a minute). Also... when you have a good outline the finished piece practically writes itself. By the end of the outlining stage you should know everything you need to know so that all you have to do is drop in some of your witty dialog and BAM! 1st draft is ready for polishing.
Now... Ghost Hunter... It's my 3rd feature script. Post-apocalyptic Earth... A world shrouded in darkness... Well... Let me just say... don't start the first RE-Write if you haven't finished the 1st draft. I found myself re-writing the script before I had even finished the 1st draft. This lead to a number of problems not the least of which was the fact that some of the things I re-wrote in the early stages didn't line up with anything on the back end... So you have these things that seem like major plot points that vanish into thin air... Needless to say I have a Major overhaul to do on it before its ready to be sent off for its first round of coverage... If I sent it now... I would get a two word report back "EPIC FAIL!" - It's all good... I know its a hot mess... But its done! and the foundation is solid... Soooooo writing is re-writing... and I will do a re-write.
So... between polishing off the 3rd feature, getting 3 drafts of the outline for my TV Pilot and all the fun stuff we're doing on The-GreenLight.com I've been a little busy... Too busy to blog... BUT once my vacation starts in about 5 hours and 57 min... I have nothing but time...
My goals for this vacation... Write an episode of Hotwheels: Battle Force 5, an American Dad, and outline an episode of Trauma... Also... finish the outline for the Pilot, and get the 1st draft of the script written! I only have 2 weeks... So I'll be happy with just getting the 1st draft of my pilot done... BUT you have to set goals! and the higher they are, the more you'll prove to yourself what you can actually accomplish if you set your mind to it.
Cheers! and have a safe and happy holiday season!
- G
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I'm still alive...
Ok... so I haven't blogged in a while. I'm REALLY busy though!
Let me summarize... I work at a University as a computer geek! (day Job), all the students are coming back in the next week. I have 5 Dept. to look after (mostly by myself), and they all want something NOW, or 5 Min. ago. Sooooooooooooooooooo... No time to blog... And really it is no time... 'Cause the other exciting part of my life right now is that every other waking moment I am learning to write for TV! I have been reading, and writing as much as I can! Thankfully I have a number of friends who work in the industry who are wonderful and fantastic enough to share their wisdom and scripts with me so I can learn the formatting and pace of TV Writing.
I have finished the 1st draft of the Re-write on Blood & Roses I started after the last contest results came in. It is obvious that there is something not quite right in the script. It makes it to the finals but is missing something the judges are all looking for to make it a winner... Sooooooooooo, re-write... and the 1st draft is done. Hurray! I have also been working on finishing Ghost Hunter. I have about 20-30 pages left on that one before I will turn it over to my script angel Xandy for her harsh and poignant critique (which is always right on the money). She, is a script saver! But... unfortunately for me, or rather fortunately for me, I had a brilliant idea about the story while waiting for the bus a coupe of days ago, so now I have to re-write a GIANT section of the script... so Maybe it's more like 50 pages.
Next, I have 2 spec scripts to write. 1 - 1hr TV Drama. and 1 - 1/2 TV comedy. I will likely do a Vampire Diaries for my drama... Looks like such a good series! and right up my alley. And an American Dad for my 1/2 comedy. I have been, for the last week and a bit, expertly guided into the wonderful world of Animation writing by Xandy's equally accomplished husband Stephen. Both have worked on some of my Favourite Saturday morning cartoons like The Batman, Ben 10, Superman: The Animated Series etc... Such good shows... So much fun! And I'm learning soooooooo much my brain can hardly contain the knowledge. I am also getting some good Q&A from both of them. I hope their investment in me pays off. I will certainly do anything and everything in my power to get to my goals... I have given myself 5 yrs to have one of my scripts produced into a Feature. I have my award speeches mostly written in my head...
"I'd like to thank the academy for this great honour, 5 yrs ago as I sat blogging about my writing career I never could have imagined the moment when I would be standing here..." So on...
I kid... but I do have a set, set of goals... (I actually carry them around in my wallet). I will accomplish every last one of them, and you know... I have set some pretty impossible goals out for myself before and blown through them like a F5 Tornado - Baby!... Soooooooooooooo... What if I do have my eyes set on that golden statue? I've got some good stories to tell. Now its on me to get them down on paper, and make them sparkle and shine like the Trophy itself. If I can do that, nothing can stop me...
Anyway... way off track... After I'm done the specs, I have to write my Pilot... Which I have also been working on. The universe is outlined, the characters are good... The working doc. is quickly turning into a Bible for the show. So it'll be a good reference to work with once I get down to outlining the pilot. Teh pilot will be quick paced and grab you before the teaser is finished... Once Esprit is introdced you'll fall in love and that will be the end of it... You'll be an addict! I promise!
So anyway, gotta jet...
KEEP WRITING!!!!! You know you want to!
- G
Let me summarize... I work at a University as a computer geek! (day Job), all the students are coming back in the next week. I have 5 Dept. to look after (mostly by myself), and they all want something NOW, or 5 Min. ago. Sooooooooooooooooooo... No time to blog... And really it is no time... 'Cause the other exciting part of my life right now is that every other waking moment I am learning to write for TV! I have been reading, and writing as much as I can! Thankfully I have a number of friends who work in the industry who are wonderful and fantastic enough to share their wisdom and scripts with me so I can learn the formatting and pace of TV Writing.
I have finished the 1st draft of the Re-write on Blood & Roses I started after the last contest results came in. It is obvious that there is something not quite right in the script. It makes it to the finals but is missing something the judges are all looking for to make it a winner... Sooooooooooo, re-write... and the 1st draft is done. Hurray! I have also been working on finishing Ghost Hunter. I have about 20-30 pages left on that one before I will turn it over to my script angel Xandy for her harsh and poignant critique (which is always right on the money). She, is a script saver! But... unfortunately for me, or rather fortunately for me, I had a brilliant idea about the story while waiting for the bus a coupe of days ago, so now I have to re-write a GIANT section of the script... so Maybe it's more like 50 pages.
Next, I have 2 spec scripts to write. 1 - 1hr TV Drama. and 1 - 1/2 TV comedy. I will likely do a Vampire Diaries for my drama... Looks like such a good series! and right up my alley. And an American Dad for my 1/2 comedy. I have been, for the last week and a bit, expertly guided into the wonderful world of Animation writing by Xandy's equally accomplished husband Stephen. Both have worked on some of my Favourite Saturday morning cartoons like The Batman, Ben 10, Superman: The Animated Series etc... Such good shows... So much fun! And I'm learning soooooooo much my brain can hardly contain the knowledge. I am also getting some good Q&A from both of them. I hope their investment in me pays off. I will certainly do anything and everything in my power to get to my goals... I have given myself 5 yrs to have one of my scripts produced into a Feature. I have my award speeches mostly written in my head...
"I'd like to thank the academy for this great honour, 5 yrs ago as I sat blogging about my writing career I never could have imagined the moment when I would be standing here..." So on...
I kid... but I do have a set, set of goals... (I actually carry them around in my wallet). I will accomplish every last one of them, and you know... I have set some pretty impossible goals out for myself before and blown through them like a F5 Tornado - Baby!... Soooooooooooooo... What if I do have my eyes set on that golden statue? I've got some good stories to tell. Now its on me to get them down on paper, and make them sparkle and shine like the Trophy itself. If I can do that, nothing can stop me...
Anyway... way off track... After I'm done the specs, I have to write my Pilot... Which I have also been working on. The universe is outlined, the characters are good... The working doc. is quickly turning into a Bible for the show. So it'll be a good reference to work with once I get down to outlining the pilot. Teh pilot will be quick paced and grab you before the teaser is finished... Once Esprit is introdced you'll fall in love and that will be the end of it... You'll be an addict! I promise!
So anyway, gotta jet...
KEEP WRITING!!!!! You know you want to!
- G
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Awesome Q&A with Canadian born Actor Noah Danby!!!
TGL - Today we have the pleasure of speaking with Noah Danby. Originally from Guelph, Ontario Canada (props to the hometown!), Noah has had an action packed career as a series lead on Painkiller Jane, as a regular on Stargate SG-1, and appearing on Sci-Fi hits like Smallville, The 4400, and Mutant X and in features like the upcoming release of Uwe Boll's Darfur. Thank you for taking the time to do an interview with us at The-GreenLight.com.
Writers often wonder what impact their words have on the people who bring them to life. As an actor, what makes a great script great? Is it well defined characters, good dialogue, or is it a script with more room for you to play?
ND - Well I think it’s all of the above but it all starts with a story. Dialogue can change according to the circumstances. Room to play is important but a lot of the time, trying to find what works with what is written is also challenging and fun. Well defined characters, is more like icing on the cake but at the very base of it all a story that people would take 2 hours out of their day to watch and listen to is what you want to go for. If you have that you’ve just up’d the anti for everyone working on the film and watching it.
TGL - It seems, at least from the sidelines that one of the major differences between TV and Features is that there is more collaboration between cast, crew, and the writers on a TV set. Have you ever have to opportunity to work with the writers to develop your characters and if so, what kinds of input can a writer expect from an actor?
ND - From my experience it all comes down to time. For feature films, there is a lot of time for development. So an actor can and should spend that time developing that character into something very different and unique. While with TV most of the casting is done the week before you go to camera so an actor is more inclined to spend his rehearsal time coming at the script from his or her own perspective rather than that of a fully developed and original point of view.
TGL - There was a really great episode of Painkiller Jane when your character Connor was suffering from hallucinations and almost took out the entire team in a hail of bullets. When you’re presented with material like that how do you take the written word and give it such emotion? Do you stick to the script word for word, or use it more as a guide and use your skill as an actor to provide the impact?
ND - I dare say that was some of the best material that Matt Hastings had ever shot. Those words came from his mouth not mine. After reading the script I had decided that I was going to bring everything I could to that particular scene and I did. We shot and shot and I went to that dark place for almost 16 hours. Wearing a body cam for 7 hours and then taking it off and shooting the rest of the material with the Vipers we had on set. But to answer your question. I don’t think anyone knew what was going to happen in this scene until they saw me do it for the first time. I ended up going above and beyond what was given to me in the script. We ended up shooting way past our time constraints for that day but Matt simply turned to the line producer who was questioning his decision and said “What do you want me to do, This is the best fucking footage I have ever shot. I have to keep rolling.” Out of all the work I did on that show that is definitely one moment that stands out.
TGL - You’ve done Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy, pretty much the entire spectrum. What type of script is your favourite? What captures your attention about it?
ND - My favorite material to work on, is the story that inspires. That, after watching, you think to yourself…”Yes I can!” Those were the movies that had the largest impact on my life and the least I can do, is return the favor.
TGL - If you could pick a role, any role from any movie or TV show ever made, what would it be? What aspects of the character, story line, and dialog makes that the role for you?
ND - My next role, is always the one I am most excited about playing because the possibilities are endless and it’s mine! ALL MINE!!!!!!
TGL - What advice would you give a screenwriter who’s just starting out in the biz? If you could offer any insight from an actor’s perspective what would it be?
ND - Work on your craft every day. Remain Disciplined with it. Like a workout or eating. LOL. Don’t sit and wait for inspiration because then it will pass you by.
TGL - What projects are you working on? Where can we catch up with you next?
ND - You can see me in the upcoming season of Flashpoint, The Bridge and in the Feature film Darfur. I am currently in preproduction on a reality TV show called Bounce set to start shooting this September.
TGL - Thank you again for taking part in this interview, we look forward to the release of Darfur, and talking with you again.
Writers often wonder what impact their words have on the people who bring them to life. As an actor, what makes a great script great? Is it well defined characters, good dialogue, or is it a script with more room for you to play?
ND - Well I think it’s all of the above but it all starts with a story. Dialogue can change according to the circumstances. Room to play is important but a lot of the time, trying to find what works with what is written is also challenging and fun. Well defined characters, is more like icing on the cake but at the very base of it all a story that people would take 2 hours out of their day to watch and listen to is what you want to go for. If you have that you’ve just up’d the anti for everyone working on the film and watching it.
TGL - It seems, at least from the sidelines that one of the major differences between TV and Features is that there is more collaboration between cast, crew, and the writers on a TV set. Have you ever have to opportunity to work with the writers to develop your characters and if so, what kinds of input can a writer expect from an actor?
ND - From my experience it all comes down to time. For feature films, there is a lot of time for development. So an actor can and should spend that time developing that character into something very different and unique. While with TV most of the casting is done the week before you go to camera so an actor is more inclined to spend his rehearsal time coming at the script from his or her own perspective rather than that of a fully developed and original point of view.
TGL - There was a really great episode of Painkiller Jane when your character Connor was suffering from hallucinations and almost took out the entire team in a hail of bullets. When you’re presented with material like that how do you take the written word and give it such emotion? Do you stick to the script word for word, or use it more as a guide and use your skill as an actor to provide the impact?
ND - I dare say that was some of the best material that Matt Hastings had ever shot. Those words came from his mouth not mine. After reading the script I had decided that I was going to bring everything I could to that particular scene and I did. We shot and shot and I went to that dark place for almost 16 hours. Wearing a body cam for 7 hours and then taking it off and shooting the rest of the material with the Vipers we had on set. But to answer your question. I don’t think anyone knew what was going to happen in this scene until they saw me do it for the first time. I ended up going above and beyond what was given to me in the script. We ended up shooting way past our time constraints for that day but Matt simply turned to the line producer who was questioning his decision and said “What do you want me to do, This is the best fucking footage I have ever shot. I have to keep rolling.” Out of all the work I did on that show that is definitely one moment that stands out.
TGL - You’ve done Sci-Fi, Action, Comedy, pretty much the entire spectrum. What type of script is your favourite? What captures your attention about it?
ND - My favorite material to work on, is the story that inspires. That, after watching, you think to yourself…”Yes I can!” Those were the movies that had the largest impact on my life and the least I can do, is return the favor.
TGL - If you could pick a role, any role from any movie or TV show ever made, what would it be? What aspects of the character, story line, and dialog makes that the role for you?
ND - My next role, is always the one I am most excited about playing because the possibilities are endless and it’s mine! ALL MINE!!!!!!
TGL - What advice would you give a screenwriter who’s just starting out in the biz? If you could offer any insight from an actor’s perspective what would it be?
ND - Work on your craft every day. Remain Disciplined with it. Like a workout or eating. LOL. Don’t sit and wait for inspiration because then it will pass you by.
TGL - What projects are you working on? Where can we catch up with you next?
ND - You can see me in the upcoming season of Flashpoint, The Bridge and in the Feature film Darfur. I am currently in preproduction on a reality TV show called Bounce set to start shooting this September.
TGL - Thank you again for taking part in this interview, we look forward to the release of Darfur, and talking with you again.
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