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Power Up Your Premise, Power Up Your Story, Power Up Your Career.
Invitation to participate in a series of live webinars with the newly formed Entertainment Industry Association of Consultants and Educators (eiACE).
Screenwriting Book by Eric Edson : The Story Solution : Screenplay Storytelling : Scriptwriting Tips
THE STORY SOLUTION offers a completely new approach to building powerful screen stories that keep producers, agents and audiences glued to their chairs.
What Is A Typical Career For A Working Screenwriter In Hollywood? by Eric Edson
Eric Edson shares key takeaways from a recent interview with Film Courage.
ERIC EDSON INTERVIEWED BY FILM COURAGE
Eric Edson, author of The Story Solution, a how-to book on screenwriting and storytelling, was recently interviewed by Film Courage.
Screenwriting Lessons from December Blockbuster Movies
Dear Writers,
The end of the year is always an exciting time. People celebrate various holidays and wish each other the very best of health and happiness. They look back to consider the ups and downs of the past year, and look forward to a year yet to unwrap itself. Best of all, aspiring screenwriters get to take their inspiration from blockbuster holiday movies the studios release just in time for Christmas season viewing fun. If you are writing a movie script, be sure to spend extra time studying these December films, and think about what they have that makes them such a hit with audiences, or, in some cases, what might be lacking.
In this newsletter, I provide some thoughts about scriptwriting for a December release, and as examples look at two films that are making a big splash this year. I also take a look back at what happened for The Story Solution in 2016. If you are looking for more screenwriting tips, or know someone who wants to be a screenwriter, my book, “The Story Solution,” makes a great holiday gift!
Screenwriting Lessons from December Blockbuster Movies
I’m sure scriptwriters know there are two huge times of the year for movie releases – summer and December. These seasons can make or break studios, and launch stellar careers for screenwriters. While summer leans toward the action genre, December movies tend to be more thoughtful and are often the best movies of the year. Audiences flock to local cinemas to see the latest Hollywood offerings, looking for cinematic heroes, drama, comedy, meaning – and a script that draws them in.
I advise my scriptwriting students to write each script as if the movie will be released in December. Here are some reasons why you should shoot for this goal, too:
Award season is fast approaching: Winning a major award can catapult a movie and its screenwriter into the stratosphere. December movies are often the last chance to generate awareness and build momentum for an Academy Award nomination. If you write with a December release in mind, you’re automatically motivating yourself to produce Oscar-worthy material, because end-of-the-year releases must be very well written.
The movie business rewards a December release: Because of the stakes at hand, movie production and distribution politics are at an all-time high during this season. A break-out script or star can change the entire outlook for a studio, so getting a December release slot is not easy. That means you need to study the kinds of stories being offered in December.
Shorts work well, too: If you’re not yet ready for a full feature film, keep in mind that December is the month when movie theaters run more shorts from student filmmakers, in order for those shorts to qualify for Oscar consideration. It’s good to try your hand at bringing a short script from idea to reality – and THEN try your hand at directing it. But in film directing there’s also a whole lot to learn. Read, take some classes, be prepared to stretch your directing wings! Just have your short film finished long before December, of course. Plan ahead.
Study movies that are released in December, because they are usually well written and frequently high concept, with an eye toward an Oscar nod. This is also why movie studios would rather NOT release a fantasy action around this time of year, and usually wait until late spring or summer for the younger audiences of superhero movies. A couple of December movies which are already generating a lot of Golden Globe and Academy Award buzz include:
La La Land: Release date: December 9, 2016 (USA). Starring Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone, John Legend and Rosemarie DeWitt. Director Damien Chazelle is a 31 year old screenwriter/director who might have a huge hit on his hands. Already nominated for seven Golden Globes, including Best Screenplay, La La Land is the musical story of an aspiring actress and a jazz musician, who are struggling to achieve success in Los Angeles. The film takes viewers through the course of the first year they are together and then, in a unique story move, jumps ahead to compare what happened for them with what could have been. The script covers the joy and agony of pursuing your dreams, and leaves the audience wondering whether fame or love is more important.
Silence: The film was previewed November 29, 2016 at Vatican City and is scheduled for a limited release in the U.S. on December 23, then wide release in January. Starring Andrew Garfield, Adam Driver, Liam Neeson, Tadanobu Asano, and Ciarán Hinds. Screenplay by Jay Cocks and director Martin Scorsese, based upon the 1966 novel. Scorsese invested over 28 years into bringing this novel’s vision to life. His efforts have already been rewarded with a 2016 National Board of Review award for Best Adapted Screenplay. Set in the late 1600s during the time of “Hidden Christians” in Japan, the movie tells the story of two Portuguese Jesuit priests who face the ultimate test of their faith when they travel to Japan in search of their mentor. The script explores the difficulty of pursuing conflicting goals of personal enrichment and spiritual transcendence, and is a testament to Scorsese’s dedication to searching for an answer. It’s also an object lesson for all screenwriters: getting movies actually made from your scripts takes a long – sometimes incredibly long – time. I personally wrote one original feature screenplay that took twelve years to get produced. Your commitment to your craft must be deep.
A Year in Screenwriting Tips
Updated Website: I’ve revamped and updated my website to make it easier and more effective to use. More to come.
Expanded Download Library: Visitors to my website can access many screenwriting resources, including my complimentary Hero Goal Sequence breakdowns for popular movies. Already available are “Bridesmaids” and “Back to the Future,” and I’ve recently added “Finding Nemo.” Visit now and learn how my Hero Goal Sequencing process applies to these – and all – megahit movies.
Blogs: I’m constantly sharing information on screenwriting. Look for my blog updates for inspiration and insights.
Interview for (Virtually) Everything Story: I was thrilled to be asked to provide an exclusive interview for this first-of-its-kind virtual story conference, talking about “Building Powerful Movie Stories.” I got to share my secrets for writing movie scripts that get deals. And don’t miss the interview my dear friend, Michael Hauge, and Laura Leigh Clarke conducted with Will Smith to learn about his insights into storytelling.
AND – the year ended on an extremely high note when I announced our new partnership with Final Draft®, the world’s most popular screenwriting software. My Hero Goal Sequences® Story Structure Paradigm is now a downloadable template included in Final Draft® 10.
My very best to you this holiday season, and I look forward to finding even more ways to help you become a great screenwriter in 2017.
Happy Holidays!
Eric Edson
About The Story Solution: Eric Edson’s The Story Solution provides screenwriting tips for those interested in screenplay writing. Seen as one of the best books on screenwriting and currently #1 in its category on China Amazon, Edson outlines 23 actions used to create three dimensional heroes. Visit the website at http://www.thestorysolution.com to learn about writing a movie script. “Like” the Facebook page to receive tips on scriptwriting. Call (818) 677-7808 for information about writing a movie script.
The perfect gift for a comedian in your life…
Dear Friends,
Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year, but bring friends and family together, add a little alcohol, and it can also be the funniest. That’s the feeling you get from Classic Friars Club Roasts – it’s like a Christmas family reunion on steroids.
We’ve gathered some of the best comedy roasts of all time for your holiday viewing fun. After you’ve watched our celebrity roasts and classic outtakes, you’ll also want to enjoy these funniest Christmas TV shows and movies:
Roseanne, “White Trash Christmas”: With characteristic Conner impunity, Roseanne’s family ignores the neighbors’ request to tone down their Christmas decorations. What can be wrong about wise men who spend more time adoring Mrs. Claus than baby Jesus?
“Jingle All The Way”: Yes, it’s Arnold Schwarzenegger as a harried dad who waited too long to pick up the kids’ Christmas gift. As they say, hilarity ensues.
Friends, “The One With The Holiday Armadillo”: Who would think it takes an armadillo, Superman, and Santa Claus to explain the Hanukkah miracle to a small child? The “Friends” writers brought it all together in one hilarious episode.
Scrooged: If you’re tired of the treacly classic interpretations of the Charles Dickens classic, try this outing with Bill Murray as Scrooge. It’s always funny watching evil TV executives as they try to learn how to be nice.
Santa Claus Conquers The Martians: And why not? Martian kids need overpriced toys, too. Watch the original, or take a peek at the Mystery Science Theater 3000 episode which has great riffs on this terrible yet amazing Christmas movie.
30 Rock, “Ludachristmas”: Forget Seinfeld’s Festivus; 30 Rock has the ultimate in alternative Christmas celebrations, served up with a side dish of angst. Meanwhile Jack Donaghy and his mom set out to prove that Liz Lemon’s family is just as dysfunctional as everyone else during the holidays.
Have a jolly holiday with Classic Friars Club Roasts – perfect for entertaining, your own viewing, or as gifts. Order the Jack Benny Roast, Milton Berle Roast, Johnny Carson DVD, Jerry Lewis Roast, or Don Rickles roast for just $14.99 each, or get the whole collection for only $89.95. Don’t forget the Bonus DVD with classic outtakes. We also have gift cards available.
GREAT NEWS: You can now watch Friars Club Roasts online anytime, anywhere on your laptop, TV, phone and tablet! Streaming memberships are available for $11.66/month, $28.74/quarter or a best value of only $95.52/year. Call us now at 866-987-3678 to order Friars Club Roast videos for your Christmas viewing entertainment.
Q&A with Friars Club Roasts
Q: Don’t they ever roast women? A: In fact they do, but it took quite some time to get to that point. Phyllis Diller once dressed as a man to get inside and see what the fuss was all about. Lauren Bacall sent an audio tape when they honored Humphrey Bogart. Since then, some of the women roastees have included Phyllis Diller, Sophie Tucker, Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett. Q: Which roast is the funniest? A: They all crack us up, but the DVD where Dean Martin roasts Don Rickles is one of our all-time favorites. Old Dino played the part of the lovable lush to perfection but he could certainly get serious when it came to delivering a punch line.
Q: Would these make a good holiday gift? A: Why didn’t we think of that sooner? Seriously, though, who doesn’t love a good laugh? And these are some of the best jokes that you and the lucky recipient will ever hear.
About Classic Friars Club Roasts: With Classic Friars Roasts you can own the best comedy roasts of all time on DVD. Order the Johnny Carson Roast or watch as Don Rickles roasts Hollywood legends. Erupt in laughter as Dean Martin roasts Don Rickles. Visit the website at http://classicfriarsroasts.com to learn more about these brilliant comedy sketches. “Like” the Facebook page for hilarious insights into Friars Club Roasts.
ERIC EDSON PRESENTS: THREE FESTIVE HOLIDAY FILMS
Christmas is the perfect time to gather around the TV with family and watch a holiday film, but just what goes into creating the perfect festive film script? From atmospheric settings to the right mix of comedy, family bonding and quirky plot twists, here are three festive holiday films that have their own unique Christmas magic.
Home Alone
Written by John Hughes and directed by Chris Columbus (1990)
It’s almost Christmas in snowy Chicago and the McCallister family is preparing to fly to France for the holidays. In the chaos of the departure, their youngest son Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) gets left behind. Kevin now must fend for himself as only an eight-year-old can: by gorging on ice cream, turning the house into an adventure playground and watching gangster movies on TV. Trouble comes in the form of burglars Harry and Marv, who plan to rob the McCallister home on Christmas Eve, prompting Kevin to rig the house with booby-traps for a spectacular slapstick climax. Kevin also has a big lesson to learn about the local creepy neighbour, rumoured to be a killer, Old Man Marley. This clever kid ultimately figures out that all he really wants for Christmas is his own family back, just in time for a touching reunion finale.
Home Alone has become an iconic holiday film because it touches on the key Christmas themes of family and childhood. We watch the action unfurl through Kevin’s eyes, witnessing the magic of Christmas and the dream scenario of being left home alone through a child’s point-of-view. The film has just the right amount of festive fun and comedy with a touching holiday message at its heart: that the real magic of Christmas lies in being together with your family, no matter how annoying they may be. Add in a hefty helping of Christmassy decorations, festive tunes and snowy weather, and it’s not hard to see why Home Alone remains a firm holiday favourite. What screenwriters can learn here is that at heart we are all children struggling to cope with burglars and scary, strange neighbors – frightening neighbors who, we find out, are really kind and just want the same things we do. Comedies are about hope and happy endings and remind us that the basic things which make life joyful – love and belonging – are sought after by all. So every once in a while, consider setting aside those “edgy”, apocalyptic or dark story ideas and go for something simple, sweet, and heart-warming. Because in the end, the child within each of us longs to once more be tucked into bed and hear that everything is going to be all right.
And if you write one of these stories, you’ll be giving the world a great gift.
Miracle on 34th Street
Written and directed by George Seaton (1947)
The original version of this classic holiday film tells the story of a little girl called Susan (Natalie Wood) whose mother Doris (Maureen O’Hara) has taught her not to believe in Santa Claus. This all changes when Doris, who works for Macy’s Department Store, hires an incredibly realistic Santa (Edmund Gwenn) who goes by the name of Kris Kringle and has the eccentric habit of insisting that he is the genuine Santa. As Susan witnesses Kringle’s knack for spreading Christmas cheer, she begins to believe that he could be the real Santa. Not everyone agrees and Macy’s psychologist has Kris committed to a mental hospital, where in deep despair, he deliberately fails his mental examination. Help comes from Doris’ friend Fred, who agrees to represents Kris in a legal hearing. The case rests on being able to prove that Kris is in fact the real Santa Claus. Can Fred possibly, by some miracle, win?
Miracle on 34th Street is a heart-warming Christmas tale that focuses on the human struggle between belief and reason. At its very center lies a cynical little girl who gradually learns the value of believing. Despite being set around a department store at the most commercially-driven time of year, Miracle on 34th Street also manages to assert an anti-consumerist stance, which makes it particularly forward-thinking for its time. In the film, acts of kindness are more important than gifts and Kringle even sends parents to a rival store to buy cheaper toys. Set between the Thanksgiving and Christmas period, Miracle on 34th Street is full of atmospheric holiday spirit. What writers can learn here is that holiday stories can also have powerful themes. Even in traditional folktale fantasies like this one there can be found genuine human truth. Don’t sell “Christmas movies” short and assume they must be all fluff. This film became a true classic because it speaks to audiences on several levels: seen through the eyes of a child it works as a simple Santa Claus story, but it’s also impactful for adults with a thought-provoking theme, that in all forms of human expression some truth can be found. We must open our hearts as well as our minds. In whatever sort of script or novel you may be writing, never forget the power of theme.
The Nightmare Before Christmas
Written by Tim Burton, Directed by Henry Selick (1993)
Jack Skellington (Danny Elfman), the King of Halloween Town, is bored of living in a land filled with ghosts and ghouls and organizing the annual Halloween festivities. So, he’s overjoyed to stumble upon magical doors leading to different holiday lands. Along with Jack, we’re transported to Christmas town, an enchanting world of elves and penguins, snow and sparkly red-and-green lights. Jack is so enthralled with the holiday that he decides to kidnap ‘Sandy Claus’ and run Christmas with the help of his ghoulish friends from Halloween Town, with terrifying results. Can Jack realise his mistake in time, put things right and save Christmas?
The Nightmare Before Christmas is an unforgettable, alternative holiday film that has become a cult classic. The king of macabre Tim Burton brings to life vivid, believable holiday worlds full of quirky characters and fantastical settings. Christmas Town, with its candy canes, cute elves and gingerbread houses, captures the cartoony essence of the holiday perfectly. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a stunning example of painstaking stop-animation and has something for all ages, including a haunting musical score composed by Danny Elfman.
If you’re creating a holiday script, think about including key heart-warming themes but don’t be afraid to put your own, alternative slant on a Christmas message. Yes, even a dark, edgy imagination – with an open heart – can create a holiday classic! Just remember to include plenty of festive scenery, music and… oh yeah, some unforgettable characters!
Happy Holidays to Everyone!
About The Story Solution: The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. He also covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, and screenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 818-677-7808 for more information.
How To Get Instagram Followers Fast
Instagram is another of the many social networking sites operating out on the web today. It is a platform where you can share your photos privately or publicly. Now, if you want to reach out to a wider audience, you have to start collecting your Instagram followers.
Here are a few legit and tried and tested techniques to get Instagram followers fast.
Public accounts -
If you have a private account, it's only your friends who can see what you share. Hence, the first step to getting Instagram followers fast is to go public. For those of your really worried about privacy, you can always keep a check on what you choose to share.
Hashtags -
Instagram uses hashtags to filter photographs. When you search for photographs, the social media network will display all the photographs with a common hashtag. Popularity is not the only criteria when selecting the hashtags to go with your photographs. You should also use relevant ones. 3 is an ideal number of hashtags to use with your photograph.
Regular uploads -
A dormant account doesn't usually get too many followers. Instagrammers on a regular basis tend to unfollow inactive accounts. Hence, the strategy is to refresh your account with new, original and captivating content.
As a rule of the thumb, don't post too little and don't flood your page. A photo daily is a good standard.
Use filters -
Why you should use filters? Well, they really improve the look of your photos adding a more personalized touch. This sense of added beauty is enough to draw more followers who love following quality work. Check how a particular filter looks before you actually apply it.
Picture collages -
Instead of uploading a lone picture, you can combine multiple images into a single one. Such images are more engaging as they tell a story. There are several paid and free, third party collage makers and photo-editing apps you can use for the purpose.
Time it right -
The most breathtaking photographs will have no viewers if you post it when the entire Instagram community is asleep. The peak times on Instagram are in the morning before work and in the evening after work. This is when most Instagrammers check their accounts. So, time your uploads right.
Follow, like and comment -
Yet another tip to increase your visibility on Instagram is to follow others. They might follow you in return. Take it a step further by liking and commenting on other's photos and videos. You're likely to grab the attention of the photo owner as well his/her followers. It might prompt them to check out your Instagram account, increasing the likelihood of followers.
Sync with Facebook -
With Facebook taking over Instagram, you can now share your photographs across both the platforms by integrating your Facebook and Instagram account. This way your Instagram activity gets streamed on to Facebook. Facebook Friends that also have an Instagram account will start following you, if they like what you upload.
Call to Action -
Your captions should have a strong Call To action. You should aim for better engagement with your captions. In that, they should compel them to comment or start an interesting discussion.
So, these are different ways in which you can get Instagram followers fast. You can also join micro-blogging groups and participate in discussions there.
Instagram, the photo-sharing site had gained immense popularity over the last few years. With most social networking sites, the more followers you have, the more you are able to leverage their potential.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9378869
How to Remove Snapchat Best Friends
As one of the top video and photo sharing apps available, Snapchat's recent news release reported over 500 million snaps sent and received on a daily basis. One of the most popular features of Snapchat is the Best Friend list, which is both hated and loved equally. Users enjoy this feature due to its easy availability of exchanging snaps with folks you often snap with, and it is equally hated because it shows the Best friends list on your profile -- meaning anyone can see it.
The Snapchat Best Friends List Explained
Snapchat Best Friends, or your "top list" as they're known informally, are 3 individuals you most frequently share snaps with. The list gets updated each week, meaning that if you snap people more frequently throughout the week, they'll show up on your Best Friends list. You can see this list when you get ready to send a new snap, as it is shown on top of the contacts list to get easy access to it. It can be seen by anyone who has you in their contacts, and it is displayed on your profile publicly.
How to Bring Up Your Contacts' Best Friends
To see the best friends of all your contacts, simply use the following method.
· Scroll down to the name or username of the friend you want to know about
· This brings up their profile, where you can see their username and friend score.
· There, you will see lists of those users your friend snaps with most often.
· You can move your number of best friends from 3 to 5 to 7 in the settings pane.
Keep in mind that the best friends algorithm works in such a way that if someone sends you snaps regularly, but you just reply a few times, that person could be on your best friends list simply because the score gets higher every time she sends snaps. Likewise, if you regularly send a snap to someone more often than other people do, they'll end up on your list.
How to Remove Snapchat Best Friends
Learning how to remove Snapchat best friends is a fairly simple process, but you'll need to fully understand how the feature works in order to use it correctly. First, Snapchat has a certain score for your best friends, with the score being the number of snaps in total that you've received and sent. This means the score you'll see on your profile is the total activity number you've accumulated since starting to use the service. Secondly, the score is measured by the conversations you've had between all your friends, which determines who makes it onto your best friends list.
Then, based on Snapchat's specific algorithm for friendship, it displays the number of snaps you've sent between you and all your best friends, displayed next to their names. In newer updates of Snapchat, you will see the scores in order from the top 3, 5, or 7 friends on the list. Since these friends get updated weekly, the score will reset to a 0 rating each week once the list gets updated.
Assuming you'd simply prefer to not have someone on your best friends list, you can simply control who shows up there. There are plenty of reasons you might want to do this. First, your best friends are public for anyone to see, which seems a bit odd. Why should anyone know who you're talking with most often? Secondly, if your significant other is not the person you're talking to most frequently, he's going to notice that when ge goes to your profile. So some other guy you are talking to will show up on the list and your SO is going to ask some questions.
So, you can simply remove them. In order to do so, you will need to block your friends. This allows you to reset the score mentioned earlier.
A Simple Workaround to Take People Off Your List
You can't completely hide the Snapchat Best Friends list. Instead, you'll have to use a simple workaround to remove individuals from your best friends list. And this method also lets you replace people on your best friends list with other users, simply using a basic blocking and unblock method. Then, you can replace the people who you've blocked with new friends, which creates the illusion that you're chatting with different people. Using this method, it will disguise whomever you'd rather not see on your best friends list, effectively "removing" them.
To block someone, follow these simple instructions.
1. First, go to your best friends list and click on the settings icon, which looks like a gear.
2. This brings up a popup window that gives you the choice to Block and/or Delete that person.
3. Click Block.
4. When you block an individual on Snapchat, your score will be reset to 0.
5. That person will now be removed from all your lists, including best friends and contacts.
This is the simplest method because you can just remove that person by blocking. They will not be notified of this block -- and once you've done it, you can just unblock them and they will have a 0 score, so no one will have any idea how much you've talked to them.
Now, they'll just appear on your contacts list, and not on your best friends list.
To unblock the person, scroll down to the lowest part of your contacts, where you can see your Blocked contacts within Snapchat. Next to each person's name you'll see a gear icon. Click that -- and then when the next window shows up, click on Unblock.
And that's it! Now the person you've taken off your best friends list is replaced by a new person -- the individual who has the highest score on your normal contacts list.
Chat With Others to Improve Their Scores on Your Best Friends List
Chatting with other friends will help you increase the score with them, which makes it more likely that new folks will become your Best Friends. This means that if you talk less often with the person you want to remove, the others will outscore the person you don't want to show up as high on your list. However, remember that the new best friend updates only kick in each week.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9274869
Top 5 CPA Marketing Strategies
CPA (Cost-Per-Action) Marketing is an internet marketing income opportunity that's very similar to affiliate marketing. The difference between affiliate marketing and CPA marketing is the fact that CPA networks pay you every time a user clicks on your link and takes an action - like fills out their email address, register on the landing site or download and install an app on their phone.
The actions required to profit from CPA programs depends on the specific program, but unlike affiliate marketing, CPA programs don't require an actual purchase to be made. This means that it's much easier to profit from CPA programs since users are only required to take a certain action, and then you get paid. With affiliate marketing, the user has to complete a purchase and pay for a product / service before you get paid.
This is only one of the advantages CPA marketing holds over affiliate marketing. It's also easier to convert users with CPA programs since the programs are usually related to global interests - like "Win the brand new iPhone 6s" or "Win a $100 Amazon Gift Card". There's also a lot of different download CPA offers available on different networks - with these programs, your audience needs to download an app or game on their phone for free, and then you get paid for every install you refer. These are all offers that targets a much more generic audience than a specific internet marketing or weight loss product you'd promote through affiliate marketing. Now let's take a look at my top 5 strategies for driving traffic and conversions to your CPA offers.
#1 - Use a squeeze page
The most important part of succeeding in the CPA marketing industry is to make use of a squeeze page. By using a squeeze page, you are increasing your chances for a conversion, while building a list of ready-to-take-action subscribers at the same time.
A squeeze page is a simple "landing page" where visitors will land before they are directed to the CPA offer. Your squeeze page should contain relevant information related to the CPA offer you are promoting - ask users to enter their email address into your email subscription form to continue. Once they add their email to your email subscription form, redirect them to the CPA offer. You can also have your auto responder send them an additional email with a link to the CPA offer in case the redirect didn't work in their browser, or they closed the browser too soon.
#2 - Use Social Media
Social media is a very important part of CPA marketing. Millions of users are turning to Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Google+ and other social media networks every day to catch the latest news, check up on their friends, search for coupons and offers, and much more.
This means that it's the perfect place to drop links to your squeeze pages / CPA offers. By promoting your CPA offers on social media, you are tapping into millions and millions of traffic - and if you do a good job, you can drive a lot of traffic back to your links.
The strategy to use here is to first join some groups related to the niche your CPA offer is targeting. If you're promoting a trial offer for a new dieting pill, then you should join health and weight loss related groups / communities on social media.
Once you've joined a couple of groups, start sharing helpful content with the group. Your content should provide some value - do not simply drop links! After a couple of posts, the group members will start to recognize your name and you'll have better authority in these groups.
Now it's time to drop a link to your CPA offer - add a good description and tell the group why they should click on your link. Also add a creative image that related to the niche you're targeting.
When dropping a link in these groups, be sure to add the link as close to the top as possible without starting the post with the link. Start with a title, drop the link and then add a description. The reason for this - when you create a long post on most social networks (except Twitter, where your tweets are limited) the post will be "shortened" with a "... " link that will expand the post. You want your link to appear above the text that gets cut off so people will be able to click on the link even if they don't expand the post.
#3 - Use Document Sharing Sites
Document sharing sites allow you to share PDF documents with others - they put your documents on their site and anyone browsing their site are able to see and read your documents.
This is another great way to drive traffic back to your CPA offers! By simply sharing a couple of documents related to the CPA offer you are promoting, you are able to drive hundreds to thousands of visitors back to your link, bringing you more conversions and more profit.
You might be wondering what documents you can share here... it's actually quite simple. Do some research about different topics in the niche your CPA offer is targeting. Try to find a few different topics you can target. Then create a simple new document on your word processor and start to write about the specific topic. If you're using a word processor such as Microsoft Word, you can also choose one of the templates that the software comes with to create a nice layout for your document. I usually go with the "Reports" templates.
Add some helpful information in your document - anything more than 5 pages would do. The more helpful and the more closely related the information you share is compared to the CPA offer you are promoting, the higher the chances of getting more conversions on your clicks. Make sure you add a couple of links to your CPA offer in the document!
Share your documents on as many document sharing sites as you can. Be sure to add unique descriptions for your document on each site, and also include a link back to your CPA offer in each description.
#4 - Use Instagram
Instagram is a social media network that focusses on multimedia - images and videos. This network is owned by Facebook, and it's almost as popular as Facebook. Instagram received millions of unique daily visitors, and there's millions of new images and videos posted every day.
With Instagram, you can post images and videos, and you can tag them so people can easily find them. You can also like another person's posts, as well as comment on them. The more comments and likes your post received, the better chance of going viral.
Instagram also allows you to follow other people, and offers a "timeline" view with the latest posts by the people you follow. The more followers you get, the more exposure your posts get.
Now to drive traffic back to your CPA offer using Instagram can take a while to get started, but once you've tapped into this market, you can drive hundreds of dollars' worth of conversions each and every day from Instagram alone.
To use this method, you should create a new Instagram account. Name your account something that relates to the offer you are promoting. You also need a landing page / squeeze page hosted on a custom domain - you CANNOT link directly to a CPA offer or you will be banned.
Add a profile picture that relates to your niche, and then add a bio that relates to the offer you are promoting. And finally add a link to your squeeze page in the "Website Link" field while updating your profile.
Now you should add only 1 new image / video per day on your Instagram account. You can find millions of images on the internet related to your niche. Tag your image with popular tags - there's many different apps and websites that will give you the most popular and trending tags. Then hit publish.
Once you've added your image, start to follow a couple of people in your niche. Also like some of their pictures, and also comment on some of their posts. Do NOT spam - be thoughtful and considerate, and find a good balance between posting new images / videos, following other people, liking other's posts and commenting on posts.
Continue doing this and you'll soon start building up followers and driving traffic to your squeeze page. Just be-aware that this drives MOBILE TRAFFIC so you need to ensure both your squeeze page and the CPA offer you are promoting are mobile-optimized.
#5 - Use PPV Advertising
The last strategy for gaining a lot of profit with CPA marketing is to use PPV advertising. PPV advertising is pay-per-view promotion, which means you pay an amount based on the total number of views your ad receives.
This type of advertising works, you just need to find the right network. There's several different PPV networks that you can make use of, and it will take some trial and error before you finally succeed - but keep at it and you will soon hit your first $100 day!
PPV advertising can cost you as little as $0.01 per visitor, which is really cheap. Imagine being able to convert offers at $0.01 per visitor. That's insane!
The only downside to using PPV advertising is the fact that most PPV networks require a large amount to start with. Most PPV networks will only allow you to start off with an amount of $50+ - this means you should have some startup capital if you want to use PPV.
If you don't have this much to spend right now, don't worry. There's still an upside to this!
I've shared with you 4 different strategies you can use to drive traffic to your CPA offers without having to spend a lot of money. Most of them are actually completely free. This means you can drive free targeted traffic to your squeeze pages and CPA links. So if you follow the first 4 strategies, implement them and keep with them, you will be able to push up your CPA earnings to the point where you have enough to invest in PPV advertising.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9344685
Write from the heart this Valentine’s Day with The Story Solution
Dear Friends,
Use Valentine’s Day to Inspire Your Hero’s Actions Valentine’s Day is so full of love and thoughtfulness that you can hardly turn around without hearing about some grand heroic act someone has committed for a loved one. Today’s media-genic heroes are saving lives, donating organs, stopping people from committing suicide, and rescuing babies from burning buildings. On the other end of the heroic scale are those who go about their daily business, performing jobs that save lives and transform the future.
With all this inspiration, you might think it would be easy to translate everyday heroic actions into big screen success. Too many hopeful screenwriters have found that creating a realistic on-screen hero is harder than it appears. As an accomplished screenwriter, I decided to write a book which would help new screenwriters make the leap from reality to fiction. My book, The Story Solution: 23 Actions All Great Heroes Must Take, provides many insights aspiring screenwriters can use to hone their craft. I’ve provided the tools necessary for any writer to construct a forceful emotional ride in his or her storytelling. My book reveals the 23 actions used in every successful movie to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes while linking together all parts of a captivating screenplay from first page to last. My paradigm of Hero Goal Sequences is so simple and easy to understand that it has raised my book into Amazon’s top list of the best-selling books on screenwriting. A Hero Goal Sequence generally consists of 2 to 8 pages of screenplay (2 to 8 minutes of film) in which the hero pursues a single physical, visible, short-term goal as one immediate step in achieving the main overall story objective driving the plot. EVERY commercially successful one-hero American movie contains between 20 and 23 Hero Goal Sequences. The Goal Sequence ends when the hero discovers FRESH NEWS, which is some form of new information that effectively ends the necessity to pursue the current goal and creates a new physical, visible, short-term goal – thereby beginning the next Hero Goal Sequence. FRESH NEWS either provides the hero’s next short-term goal, or sends the hero on a short search to find it.
To help you understand more about creating heroic characters, I’m inviting you to download my Hero Goal Sequence Breakdown for “Back To The Future” as my Valentine’s gift to you. Written by Robert Zemeckis & Bob Gale, Back To The Future is the perfect example of powerful story development. You’ll learn how the Hero Goal Sequences paradigm predicts the structure of great movies. Happy Valentine’s Day - May Your Adventures on February 14th Be Romantic!
Eric
About The Story Solution: The Story Solution was written by accomplished screenwriter Eric Edson. It reveals the 23 actions used to create dynamic, three dimensional heroes and link all parts of a captivating screenplay. He also covers screenwriting tips, screenwriting resources, and screenwriting books. Visit the website and Facebook page or call (818) 677-6608 for more information.
THE PERFECT VALENTINE’S DAY GIFT FOR A BUSINESS OWNER
It’s that time of year again…Love is in the air. Do you know someone who is a business professional in Santa Barbara, and you’re just not sure what kind of gift would be appreciated for Valentine’s Day? Help your sweetheart’s business, and buy tickets to attend the 2014 Santa Barbara Business Expo.
Show your support by attending the Santa Barbara Business Expo together. The Expo will be packed with ideas, speakers and business networking opportunities that can spark the creativity needed to take any business to the next level. Here are just a few of the Expo activities you can enjoy together:
Vendor Exhibits: Key business categories that will be showcased at the networking expo include business strategies, new technologies, business law, insurance, funding and financial management, and marketing/branding. Top members of the Santa Barbara business directory will also be showcasing their expertise in promotional products, education, and building a media and online presence, as well as health and wellness.
Extraordinary Speakers and Panels: Learn about solutions to critical business issues such a applying the latest technology, finding valuable business connections, developing effective branding, and building a marketing plan that works.
Author & Speaker Showcase Area: Pick up some of the latest books on business marketing and sales strategies, and meet the authors.
Professional Imaging Corner: Treat your Valentine to an on-site professional headshot by photographer Linda Blue.
Join in a Raffle-For-A-Cause: 100% of raffle ticket sales will be donated to this year’s charity, Hope Refuge. Their vision is to provide safe restorative homes for girls who are victims of the sex traffic trade in America, offering a residential program to address the hurt and trauma of sexual exploitation, focusing on empowering them toward their dreams and destinies.
Art Show: Enjoy works of art by local artists and craftsmen, or find something that’s just right for your Valentine’s office.
If your Valentine is interested in making more business contacts and increasing word-of-mouth sales, another great present would be to buy an exhibit table or sponsorship opportunity for the business. The Expo serves as both a Business-to-Business networking event and an opportunity for the community to become aware of the resources available to them.
Santa Barbara Business Expo was founded, and is directed by, Gino and Sandy Goe, local business owners and entrepreneurs who have a vision and mission to bring the business community together by encouraging collaboration and encouraging social responsibility. Local businesses interested in sponsoring or exhibiting can email Sandy at [email protected] or call 805-452-3632.
About the Santa Barbara Business Expo: Santa Barbara Business Network Expo is an interactive Business Convention, designed to help attendees bootstrap their business and make money. It is an opportunity for smaller businesses to gain valuable exposure in Santa Barbara, and for larger businesses to progress further through enriching their public relations. Visit the website andFacebook page or call 805-452-3632 for more information. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities may be obtained online.
How To Write Adwords Ads For Valentine’s Day
Show your business some love this Valentine’s Day…
Some businesses are obvious candidates to advertise with Google AdWords for Valentine’s Day. Since it is the second biggest gift-giving occasion right after Christmas, every gift-giving opportunity is online trying to attract attention – candy, flowers, photos, romantic getaways – you name it, somebody is using AdWords to attract leads. If you think your business can’t take advantage of this online marketing opportunity to drive more traffic to your website, you might want to think again. Even those businesses which might think they don’t have any relation to Valentine’s Day can benefit by adding some sort of Valentine’s twist to their advertising. You might find that the mere act of offering a Valentine’s deal could attract more site visitors.
If you’re not sure what Google AdWords are, they are those short ads which appear right next to organic Google search results. They offer a strong marketing opportunity for your business to boost website traffic and sales by being right in front of prospects that are searching for your service. It’s the perfect opportunity to draw attention. No matter what your budget, you can display your ads on Google because this is pay-per-click marketing. You pay only if prospects click on your ads and visit your website.
It’s easy to start a Google AdWords campaign. Simply pick a business category, write your ad, and set a budget. Then call Search Engine Pros at 800-605-4988 and we’ll kick your campaign into high gear. We’ll help increase clicks to your website and decrease the cost of those clicks by optimizing your ad positions.
Be sure to use Valentine’s Day related keywords to make sure your ad stands out. For instance a florist would have Valentine’s Day Flowers while a card shop would have Valentine’s Day Cards. A helpful word cloud from Google found that phrases like “Valentine’s Day meals” and “DIY Valentine’s gifts” were highly searched.
If your business doesn’t have a specific Valentine’s Day gift idea, you can always show your love for customers with a Valentine’s-related sale or bonus offer. Gift certificates might fall under the categories of “Valentine’s Day Gifts for Him” or “Valentine’s Day Gifts for Her.”
At Search Engine Pros your Google Adwords PPC Manager can help your company achieve its internet traffic and revenue goals. Your PPC Manager will assist you with pay per click campaign management, Google Adwords account set up, tune-ups, campaign audits and monthly management. A PPC Manager from Search Engine Pros will help you improve your ROI. Our PPC campaign management services can help you turn your PPC efforts into effective revenue drivers.
About Search Engine Pros: Search Engine Pros is a Santa Barbara web marketing firm located at 629 State Street, #204. The company offers online marketing, SEO marketing, PPC (Pay Per Click Google Adwords), or SEO/web design. Visit the website and Facebook page or call 800-605-4988 for more information or to request a copy of 101 Ways to Drive Traffic.
- See more at: http://www.thesearchenginepros.com/how-to-write-adwords-ads-for-valentines-day.html#sthash.ilJgNFiV.dpuf
Taylor Reaume: 7 Ways to Improve Your Content Marketing Strategy
There is no denying the importance that a first impression can make. And in today’s tech-driven world, in which impressions can be made in an instant, it’s vital that you are using content that is making a positive and lasting mark on your audience.
If you notice that you aren’t getting the type of traffic that you’d like, it might be time to evaluate the quality of your website. In your evaluation, ask yourself:
» Does the site look physically appealing for viewers?
» Does the site load quickly on different browsers and platforms?
» Does the site offer content that attracts people and sticks in their minds long after they’ve left?
If your answer is no to any of these questions, it’s time for an overhaul of your content marketing strategy.
The good news is that there are plenty of options from which to choose when trying to improve your strategy. The bad news is that the multitude of options makes it hard to narrow down the choices that might be best for you. To help with the process, here are the top seven ways to improve your content marketing strategy for your brand, product or service.
View from a Customer’s Perspective
Before you start doing anything with your new content marketing strategy, it might be time to look at your entire approach from a different perspective.
There is the possibility that you’ve been looking at your content strategy for too long as a member of the business. This may lead you to become biased or judgmental to certain parts of your website. In doing so, you’ll lose out on the perception that your viewers and customers have.
To do a better job of viewing your website from a customer’s perspective, be sure to ask plenty of questions and be open to honest feedback from others. If you fail to realize that your audience isn’t interested, or maybe it simply isn’t seeing your content, then you will have an incredibly difficult time trying to maximize your marketing strategy efforts.
Know What You’re Getting Into
If you plan to improve your online content strategy through blind luck, you may want to think again. Instead, you’re going to want to ensure that you put in plenty of research into your content marketing strategy before you get yourself too deep into anything. Reading this article is a great start, but there’s plenty more that you can do as well.
For beginners, look up the keywords that you plan to use and how you think those will be most useful with your specific site. By using a program like Google AdWords Keyword Tool, you’ll be able to create strings of keywords that are likely to bring back the best results for your website.
The more likely it is that someone is going to put in the string of keywords that you have, the higher likelihood that you’ll get visits to your site. Therefore, do enough due diligence beforehand to ensure that you know what you’re getting yourself into before starting your content marketing strategy.
Look for Cohesiveness Across Platforms
Remember earlier when we asked if your site looks good across platforms and on different browsers? Well, if it doesn’t, now is your time to get this figured out. You never know where your audience is coming from when it’s viewing your content. Visitors may be looking with their phones, their tablets or their computers, and there are also plenty of Internet browsers that they could be using as well. This is important because each browser works and functions differently, which may affect how your site runs.
Therefore, you should look for cohesiveness across all platforms for your website. The more smoothly your site runs on multiple browsers, the more likely it is that people will trust that they can visit your site no matter where they are coming from.
Allow Customer Feedback
Your customers want to let you know how you’re doing. If you don’t listen, you’re missing out on a prime chance to learn how to improve and make your company better. Therefore, a great way for you to improve your content marketing strategy is by letting others provide you with feedback.
Not only does feedback give you a better idea of how you can improve your image and what you can do better, but it also will help your SEO rankings. Finally, by having updated content in the form of customer feedback, other people will see that you make a diligent effort to provide the best service that you can for your clients.
Have A Personal Blog
A personal blog is another great way to improve your content marketing strategy. Since search engines like Google give priority to sites that are regularly updated, a blog is a great way for you to continually update your content. In addition, a blog is an ideal way for you to connect with potential clients who are looking to learn more about your business.
Get Social
Social media also take a big piece of the pie when you are looking for important factors for content marketing.
If you have Facebook and Twitter profiles, that’s a good start. However, do something about it and keep your account as active as possible.
Interacting with clients through social media will help to generate traffic to your site, and it’ll also boost your online web presence in the process.
Always Build Trust
No matter what you’re doing, your goal should always be to build trust with your clients. Every blog post, status update and change to your website should have your clients and customers in mind. Your content marketing strategy should be geared for the long run, which is going to require a lot of trust between you and your audience. Therefore, make sure that you continue to do the right thing in the eyes of your audience, and you’ll notice more loyalty on their behalf.
Content is king in today’s online world. But instead of just throwing any type of content out there, you need to have a precise strategy that will work. With the seven tips, you’ll be able to improve your content market strategy and build strong relationships with your audience.
— Taylor Reaume is an e-Business coach and founder of Search Engine Pros. He can be contacted at [email protected], or 1.800.605.4988. Click here to read previous columns. The opinions expressed are his own.
Ellen DeGeneres on Comedy
Why Disney's "Frozen" Is a Bad Movie
I just finished watching the popular Disney movie, "Frozen", for the second time. The hype surrounding the movie was obnoxious and everyone was saying that, "'Frozen' is one of the best movies of all time." Watching it my first time around, it wasn't great; the bar was set pretty high and my expectations didn't meet up to the reality of the movie. But after my second time watching it, it has solidified in my brain that this movie is one of the worst Disney has ever produced.
There's actually a funny history surrounding this movie. Walt Disney wanted to make this movie all the way back in 1943. "Frozen" was supposed to be Disney's adaptation of the popular fairy tale, "The Snow Queen", written by Hans Christian Anderson (Get it? Hans, Kristoff, Anna, Sven. Good job, Disney). "The Snow Queen" actually has, what would be Elsa, as the villain. They decided they couldn't create the movie in the 40s because they couldn't find a way to adapt it to a modern audience. They tried again in the late 1990s, but the project was scrapped when one of the head animators on the project, Glen Keane, quit. In 2010, they scrapped it again because they still couldn't find a way to make the story work. Then, in 2011, they finally decided on making Anna the younger sister of the Snow Queen, which was enough for them to create "Frozen".
"Frozen" was directed by Chris Buck (known for "Tarzan") and Jennifer Lee (known for "Wreck-it-Ralph"). The bar was set pretty high for me seeing as both those movies were well above the standards of a "kid's movie". The story was going to be just like the fairy tale, but then, Christophe Beck composed the hit song, "Let it Go". The production team went crazy; instead of trying to fit the song into the movie, they rewrote the entire plot and Elsa's entire character to fit the song. I have never heard of an entire movie being changed to fit one song. Because of this, it's blatantly obvious that no one could decide on anything in this movie. Since Elsa isn't the antagonist, there really was no real evil force. The Duke of Weaselton is brought up to be the villain in the beginning when he states, "Open those gates so I may unlock your secrets and exploit your riches. Did I say that out loud?" Why do you want to unlock the secrets and exploit their riches?
The Duke has absolutely no development to the point where he doesn't even have a name. He barely even gets screen time. So if he isn't the villain, who is? Well, in the last 15 minutes of the movie, Anna's fiance, Prince Hans, is brought up to be the villain, stating he wants to rule a kingdom and he can't because of his 12 other brothers. This comes out of absolutely nowhere. There were no hints, no evil glances, no sidebars or monologues, nothing. He even gives out blankets and hot soup to every person in the kingdom of Airendale. Prince Hans even says, he will protect Airendale because Anna left him in charge and "will not hesitate to protect Airendale from treason" when the Duke states he wants to take over. I can't stand it when they get so lazy as to just throw in a villain at the last few minutes because they couldn't actually bring up a real villain. Prince Hans states that he wanted to take over and he was going to kill Elsa and all this other crap, but Elsa was just about to be killed and he saved her life. Why would he save her life if he wanted her dead? None of it made sense and it irked me the entire movie.
Frozen recycles animation and character models from their previous hit, "Tangled". The main characters, Elsa and Anna, use the same exact model as Rapunzel from "Tangled". This controversy has been huge around the internet, calling Disney "lazy" and the such. Personally, I was okay with this. Disney is known for recycling animations (which can be seen here). Even though it was really strange that Elsa and Anna had the same exact face and body structure and the only difference between them were the freckles and their hair, it didn't bother me too much. But, during the coronation scene, Elsa says to Anna, "You look beautiful." Pretty ironic if you ask me.
The movie starts off with Elsa and Anna playing together with Elsa's ice magic. It's cute at first, but then Elsa strikes Anna in her head and they have to "thaw out the ice" or something along those lines. So they ask the trolls to heal her and they wipe Anna's memories of Elsa having magic. Then, they lock the castle doors so no one can ever see Elsa and lock Elsa away in her room to never speak to her sister again. This is where it all starts to go downhill. None of it made sense. Why would you wipe Anna's memories of Elsa having magic? If it was easily fixed, why not just explain to her that they can't play with Elsa's magic anymore because it's out of hand? She would've known the consequences afterwards. It's like if you touch a hot stove; you're curious, you touch it, you burn yourself, you never touch it again. The fear solidifies subconsciously. Even if you could explain why she needed her memories erased, why was Anna locked inside the castle doors too? Anna had no recollection of the events, even at the end of the movie, so why was Anna being punished for something Elsa did? They could have easily allowed her to talk to the townsfolk and have a good time outside the castle while Elsa was locked away.
There's this motif throughout the movie about locked doors; they lock the castle doors, Anna knocks on Elsa's door and she never answers, Anna and Prince Hans sing the song, "Love is an Open Door", Anna says to Elsa, "All you know is how to shut people out." I found the motif pretty clever until they forced it down my throat. When Anna reaches the ice castle, she knocks on the door. When the door opens, she says, "Well that's a first." It's a giant punch in the chest when you think you've analyzed a motif and you can go on and on about how amazing the directors were for putting it in there, but then the directors hold your hand and forcefully say, "Hey! This a motif! You should totally love us for this!" I would've been okay with it too if they just didn't put that one line in the movie. When you read a book and you analyze it, the author is trying to let you come to the conclusion yourself and let you discuss it. It's the same with movies. There was no need to forcefully tell us that this was a motif. Doing so was actually counterproductive. It popped my bubble.
This lead me to the question, "Why was Anna the main character?" Here's a checklist of every plot-moving event in the movie:
Elsa strikes Anna so they have to lock the castle gates and Elsa can never talk to anyone ever again Elsa is becoming queen The entire kingdom gets frozen over because of Elsa Elsa arguably has the best song in the entire movie Anna has to find Elsa so that Elsa can save the entire kingdom Hans has to kill Elsa to become king
Everything centers around Elsa. So why have Anna be the main character? Anna didn't have any real character development in the movie while Elsa was completely fleshed out in every scene that she's in. Just watch the scene from her song, "Let It Go"The entire song is about her "letting go" of her fear and coming to terms with her powers and being herself. This would've made a for a better plot; a woman finally coming to terms with herself, society trying to shut her down, and her fight to be accepted as who she is. Instead, it's about Anna trying to find her sister so her sister can save the kingdom. It's like Phil being the main character of Hercules or Mushu being the main character for Mulan. It doesn't make any sense. Anna isn't as interesting as Elsa. Sure, she's funny and relate-able, but that could easily have been Elsa. Everyone can relate to not fitting into the social norms. So I reiterate, why have Anna be the main character?
Speaking of Anna, they said the only way to save her was "one true act of love". There were many "true acts of love." Kristoff bringing her to the trolls, Olaf giving her that pep talk, Kristoff bringing her to Hans to save her. All of these were "true acts of love", but none of them counted because it didn't "fit the dynamic of sisterhood." The whole dynamic between Elsa and Anna felt so forced to the point where I stopped caring halfway through the movie. Mostly because Anna doesn't actually evolve as a character until the very end of the movie. Even then, the development isn't that major.Olaf is another thing that felt so force-fed. It was cute that the snowman Elsa and Anna created when they were young became a real living being and helped Anna out on her quest, but he didn't do much. At all. He sings a song about the summer, makes a ton of jokes, gives Anna a pep talk at the end of the movie, more jokes, then that's it. He doesn't really face much adversity, making him extremely 1 dimensional. It's obvious they put him in there just to be cute and to target a wider audience. There's a test that I use to explain 1 dimensional characters; if you can replace the character with a lamp, and the plot could still advance, then the character didn't need to be there. I promise you, if you watch the movie again and follow that test, you'll understand exactly what I saying. What's worse is that he could've actually been a catalyst to Anna regaining her memories of her sister and finally realizing why she feels the way she does. But instead, he's nothing but a comedic relief that has no part in the plot whatsoever.
The whole movie and plot felt so rushed and like no one could agree on anything. From the villains to the plot to the characters; it's all rushed. It felt like they said, "Hey, "Tangled" was great! Let's just take the stuff we used from "Tangled" and get this movie off our checklist after 70 years." But, there is one thing that did surprise me; the soundtrack. The music was phenomenal. Every song felt very broadway-esque and fit the scenes perfectly. "Let It Go", "Love is an Open Door", and all the rest of the songs made my heart soar and gave me hope for the next Disney titles to have music on par with the classics like "Mulan" or "The Lion King".
And that's my opinion on Disney's "Frozen". Honestly, this movie was just plain bad. I say, wait for it to go on Broadway and see it there. I firmly believe that the Broadway musical will be light-years better than this atrocity. They'll have more time for production, more time to explain and develop their characters and plots, and the effects will be really sick. I can't wait to see how they bring up Elsa's Ice Castle! If you don't agree with any of my points, do feel free to leave a comment with your opinion! Unless you're gonna argue that this movie wasn't targeted to my demographic and that it was "made for kids". I will then point you in the directions of the masterpieces known as "Tangled", "The Lion King", "Mulan", "Brave", and almost every other Disney movie before this. I would love to see what everyone else thought of the movie!
*DISCLAIMER* This is my opinion. This does not reflect on anyone else on this website.
*****THIS ARTICLE WAS ORIGINALLY POSTED TO UZERFRIENDLY.COM IF YOU ENJOYED THIS ARTICLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KEEP UP TO DATE ON ALL SORTS OF NEW BOOKMARK UZERFRIENDLY.COM NOW! ********
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Writing a Screenplay: Looking For The Perfect Holiday Gift?
Consider Writing A Short Personal Script For Family And Friends
As the holidays grow closer, we here at The Story Solution would like to wish you a happy Thanksgiving, and a very merry holiday season. We really love this time of year, as it gives us a chance to spend time with those who mean the most to us, and break away from the hustle-and-bustle of day-to-day life.
But for writers, one of the downsides of the holidays is the sudden rush to get out there and buy gifts for all your closest friends and family. It can be difficult to find the perfect gift for everyone… and it can also be a real budget buster.
Instead of buying gifts this holiday season, consider writing a personalized short script they will truly cherish for a long time to come. If you’ve been working hard on writing a screenplay or you’re lately testing the professional waters as a screenplay writer, the holidays are the perfect time to take a break and catch your breath. Try writing a personalized scene of, oh, maybe four or five pages for your family and friends. You might even film it yourself on your cell phone with a couple friends as actors. This can become a gift to remember.
Here are some things to keep in mind if you take a shot at writing a short 4-5 page movie script for your inner circle as a holiday surprise.
Develop Your Idea
Poke around and find a fun idea. What exactly is it that you would like to say to your friends and family in a personalized scene? How do you want to convey a subtext that says “I love you”? Some of the options include:
A fictional script about your family’s traditional holiday meal (set at the North Pole? Or on a spaceship traveling to colonized a new planet?);
A reenactment or loving send-up of a scene from your favorite holiday movie;
Your own personal fictional story, say, like trying to explain love to a space alien and why you care so much about the people closest to you;
Put your friends in the middle of an action-adventure epic–in a roaring car chase while speaking the chit-chat dialogue they would at a holiday dinner table;
Write a version of your usual holiday gathering as a sweeping melodrama;
Or anything else you can think of!
The truth is that a short holiday script scene/movie is your chance to really show off your personal screenplay writing. You can create the strong scene or scenes that will keep people glued to your pages if you just have fun with it. Develop your idea for a first draft, then see where it takes you. And remember that you’re writing for an audience that already loves you!
Pick Your Characters
Who do you want to be in your scene? Keep in mind that the best screenplay writers focus on their mix of characters and how they will create dramatic conflict for each other. Use your family and friends as archetypes, but be kind!
Keep It Lighthearted
The holidays are a time for cheer and happiness. Tell/imply/hint to your readers that you love them. This is not the place to criticize ‘em, of course! And you might want to avoid making your scene or scenes something that would fit in a horror movie or slasher film better suited for Halloween. People want to see movies during the holidays that get them excited and happy, so consider writing screenplays that fit this magical season.
Find That Spark
If you are having some trouble coming up with the right idea, then you may want to go after a bit of kick-start help with your movie. Consider thumbing through some of the best screenwriting books on your shelf to find that catalyst spark for an idea. Keep learning, even in a small fun project like this one. You should always be picking up tips that can make you a better writer. The more screenwriting tips you find, the easier any writing task will become.
When you’ve nailed your mini-movie, proofread it ‘till it’s perfect, then head down to the copy shop and run off the number you need. Have them spiral bound with appropriate plastic covers. Total cost: a few bucks. Impact on the people you care about: priceless.
Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving this year. Here’s to your success as a screenwriter!
The Story Solution from Eric Edson is aimed at helping screenwriters enhance their creative abilities. A creative writers block can be damaging to any writer. But with The Story Solution, you’ll be able to avoid writers block and get the most out of your writing. To learn more, follow us on Twitter @storysolution, and like us on Facebook for a chance to win a signed copy of ‘The Story Solution’ https://www.facebook.com/ScreenwritingBook