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Jason Mirch is Stage 32's Director of Script Services and host of the Writers' Room. Outside of this role, he is a feature film, television, branded entertainment, and digital content producer and executive with over 15 years experience. Most recently, he produced a 3D animated feature film starring Jacob Tremblay, Christopher Lloyd, Mel Brooks, and Carol Kane. Full Bio »
Flashbacks are not meant to be a storytelling crutch, but rather a tool used to reveal additional backstory or subvert the audiences expectation of a character or situation. We will examine Casablanca, The Usual Suspects & Casino Royale.
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We’re back in the Writers’ Room for the Breakdown with LT Verrastro (Writer). We breakdown produced screenplays focusing on a different aspect of writing every webcast. Join us as writer/producer LT Verrastro breaks down his Season 4 Episode 4 of BASKETS.
We're back in the Writers Room this afternoon for The Breakdown Webcast Thunder Levin. Thunder Levin is a feature film and television writer/director. He is probably best known as the creator of the pop culture phenomenon “Sharknado” series of TV movies for Syfy Channel. He has written and directed four feature films: “Mutant Vampire Zombies From The ‘Hood!”, an independent horror/comedy starring C. Thomas Howell; “American Warships” a military action film starring Mario Van Peebles & Carl Weathers for the Syfy Channel; “AE Apocalypse Earth”, a science fiction film starring Adrian Paul & Richard Grieco; and “GeoDisaster” a disaster film released in 2017. He has written over a dozen produced feature films & TV movies, and collaborated on a videogame adaptation of the classic 90's TV series “Xena: Warrior Princess” for Universal’s “Series” mobile app. He is developing several TV series, feature film projects, and a comic book series. He’s a lifelong sailor and car enthusiast who’s recently taken up motorcycle riding and is at work on his first novel. Yes, that’s his real name.
If you hang a gun on the wall in the first act, it better go off. In this webast, we took a look at the "Chekhov's guns" in the Winchester of Shaun of the Dead, the rock hammer in Shawshank, the coins in In Bruge, and more!
Cursing in dialogue can have an impact on many things in your screenplay. We'll examine how swearing is used to reveal character, explore subtext, and drive a narrative forward.
During this hour-long webcast, Jason explores the uses of this technique to drive plot, reveal character and deliver exposition using some of our favorite films and television series including "Fleabag", Deadpool, Spaceballs, "House of Cards", Fight Club, The Big Short and more to find out how these projects break the fourth wall without throwing us out of the narrative. We discuss the how screenwriters weave this storytelling device into scripts and Jason gives you specific types of wall breaks to consider when writing as well as tips on how to write them!
Dramedy is a compelling genre to write because many argue it best captures the realities of life. There are comedic moments in some of the most tragic of times and dramatic moments that give way to levity. During the webcast, we examine some of the most critically and commercially successful dramedies - including "FLEABAG", PARENTHOOD (1989), THE BIG SICK, and SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK to understand why they work so well. We also discuss ways in which you can develop your characters and narratives so that your dramedy is as authentic as possible.