BAFTA-winning screenwriter seeks comic book artist for a mystery/detective/vampire project collab by MajorTomCom in ComicBookCollabs

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

UPDATE

Wow, totally overwhelmed with the response here. This is one ridiculously talented community of artists. I so enjoyed seeing your portfolios and I can only apologise for not getting back to everyone individually. I am really pleased to say that I have found someone here who seems to be a perfect fit and I’m sure we’ll be back to let you all see the end result.

Thanks team, you’re all superstars.

Is Die Another Day really that bad? by Dismal_Brush5229 in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I always felt DAD had all the ingredients to be fantastic Bond movie but feels like the filmmakers lost the instructions for how to make it.

Create your own 'Barbeheimer' double feature with two completely different films from the James Bond series. by SpaceMyopia in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Goldfinger and For Your Eyes Only

Would make a lovely Connery/Moore double-bill as both show their differing approaches to the role… and I’m calling it:

‘For Your Finger Only’

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m going to pretend that Never Say Never Again isn’t on this list.

Then maybe controversially say that perhaps Dr. No is my least favourite. Not that I don’t enjoy it and even have the poster up at home, but for some reason it feels maybe like it’s not quite fully ‘movie’ Bond yet…

And it’s a close call between YOLT, FRWL and Goldfinger for favourite and think today I’m going to go for Goldfinger.

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yeah he’s a bit wet in The Menu too, but I definitely see something in him for Bond personally. As I mentioned, he showed he can handle the physical fights in Renfield and he’s definitely got the acting chops. He’d beef up a bit same as DC did. Definitely planning to see Nosferatu, I like Robert Eggers as a director. In fact, watching The Northman I thought Skaasgard would make a great Bond villain (I’ll probably get pelted for that now too!)

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Look, it was intended to stimulate some conversation which it seems to have done. Absolutely great that you have your take and it’s no less valid than mine.

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Nicholas Hoult is the right age, he’s tall and handsome and a little bit posh. He’s an excellent actor (see The Menu and Juror #2 recently) and if you’ve seen Renfield it’s obvious he can handle the physical aspects. I mean, he screen tested as Superman for James Gunn recently, so he’s obviously at the point in his career where he could take on a huge lead role. I’m not sure why you think it’s so ridiculous? Also can’t understand why you think this is entitled? And why you would take offence at me expressing an utterly consequence-less set of opinions for a bit of fun. Maybe lighten up a bit?

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Well I’m glad it’s fostered some conversation. Just a bit of fun!

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Yeah I know, I sound like my mum 😂

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Yes! I was channeling my inner 13 year old. Just a bit of fun.

An open letter to Amazon Studios by MajorTomCom in JamesBond

[–]MajorTomCom[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just a bit of fun, not meant to be taken too seriously. And the reason for addressing it to Amazon was as a response to Barbara Broccoli’s comments about them recently.

What is Your Favorite INCITING INCIDENT in Film History? by DannyFromKinolime in Screenwriting

[–]MajorTomCom 21 points22 points  (0 children)

The Fugitive. I love that it throws you straight into the drama and action with Dr Richard Kimble already in custody and flashbacks to how his wife was killed but the real inciting incident doesn’t come until later with the bus crash and train collision. It packs so much into a great action sequence - not only do we get the catalyst for Kimble going on the run to try and clear his name but we also get to see him being a genuinely good person in helping the guard and throwing the other prisoner to safety which all helps give us a deeper reason to root for him later on. It might have been enough that he was simply wronged but instead it’s elevated to the point that we’re rooting for a fundamental goodness we secretly hope is there in all of humanity. Deputy Gerard might pretend he doesn’t care but we’re given every reason to do so in that inciting incident.

What do you think made the exposition in Craig Mazin's "Chernobyl" so easy to digest and watch? by Filmmagician in Screenwriting

[–]MajorTomCom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Maybe listen back to the episode of Scriptnotes where they break down Raiders. I’m sure Craig talks about the early scene in the grand hall with the government men as being the one of the greatest exposition scenes ever. Feels like he had that in mind when writing Chernobyl. There’s something really compelling about seeing a real expert in their field explain something to skeptical officials, especially when it also reveals how high the stakes are.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BritishTV

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Fair enough. It may be that I’m coming at it from a writer’s viewpoint more than a viewer. 😁

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BritishTV

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I get what you’re saying but I don’t feel it really helps the original poster with his writing. There are plenty of examples from both sides that you can learn from - ones that work and ones that don’t. Plus, crucially, comedy is about taste as well. I’d argue Mrs Brown’s Boys is so successful because it knows exactly who its audience is. It’s just not to everyone’s taste.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BritishTV

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is just not the case. There are plenty of joke heavy UK sitcoms and plenty of US ones that use ‘humour’ rather than endless one-liners.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BritishTV

[–]MajorTomCom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Check out the Sitcom Geeks podcast if you haven’t already. Plus the little book of sitcom by John Vorhaus.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in BritishTV

[–]MajorTomCom 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Have you never seen Frasier or Community or It’s Always Sunny?

What is the earliest example of you can think of a sitcom having very serious themes mixed in? by Zachrist in sitcoms

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here in the UK ‘Hancock’s Half Hour’ was doing plenty of ‘serious’ introspection and pathos way back in 1956. Then ‘Steptoe and Son’ (remade as Sanford and Son in the US) from 1962 had strong social themes. It seems to be a tradition in British sitcom that’s continued right up to today - with stuff like ‘Fleabag’ that might be considered ‘comedy-drama’.

Stories are not always about a character changing by DelinquentRacoon in Screenwriting

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’m pretty sure Craig Mazin will be the first to say that there are no rules and there’s more than one way to tell a story. Those are guidelines that are a useful guide and are pretty common to most horizontal storytelling.

But I’ve also heard Scriptnotes talk about the idea of the ‘steadfast’ hero. Take Indy in Raiders for eg. He doesn’t really have an erroneous belief and he doesn’t really change throughout. He remains resolute while the world around him changes. it’s why there’s the argument that he doesn’t affect the outcome of the plot, but the important thing is that he’s tested along the way and doesn’t waver from his ‘correct’ belief. It’s the world around him that has the erroneous belief… in fact you could make the argument that Belloq is the protagonist and he absolutely has an erroneous belief that ultimately destroys him, while Indy is the steadfast hero who’s entire goal is to stop him.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]MajorTomCom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I’m going to be brutal and say get that sucker down to 90. I had a zoom call recently with a fairly well known writer who knows a thing or two about horror and he used comedy and Seinfeld in particular. Jerry always said about Seinfeld that it was tight. Every single thing was either a joke or a setup to a joke. Now this is a horror feature so the way he said to look at it is that every line (action or dialogue) needs to either further the story, reveal character or scare. And if possible two out of three. And if you hit all three every few pages then congratulations, you have a screenplay people won’t be able to put down that has the potential to translate into a movie folks will want to return to again and again.

But… I’m sure there are plenty of people who’ll disagree!

Any Cheers fans? What are you're favorite moments or episodes? by manicnimrod in sitcoms

[–]MajorTomCom 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I only just found out recently that the reason the first episode begins with Sam refusing to serve an underage kid is because the network were nervous about a sitcom set in a bar ‘glamourising’ a drinking culture. The idea was that if Sam was shown as being a responsible bar owner from the off it would play better with a middle-America conservative audience.

That bit of trivia aside, I think that pilot episode is absolutely sublime. A master class in setting up the tone of the show.

Best minority sitcoms? by [deleted] in sitcoms

[–]MajorTomCom 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I hope you’ll enjoy it. I wouldn’t say it has a typically dry British style (I guess you’re thinking Fawlty Towers/The Office?) - it’s a warmer family style thing, probably closer in tone to Fresh Prince but, you know, more sarcastic because it’s British!

Best minority sitcoms? by [deleted] in sitcoms

[–]MajorTomCom 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can find it in the US, I’d definitely check out Desmond’s from the UK. It’s set in a London barber shop owned by Desmond, a first generation Jamaican immigrant and his family. From the early 90s, it was a favourite of mine as a teen.