THE SIMPSONS

The Simpsons are coming home, and we here at Glowing Screen are going to make sure 'home' is right here. Warren and I are key members of the red-hot Strike Force that is generating ideas, conceiving concepts, and think-tanking the BIG IDEAS behind Springfield, MA's bid to host the premiere of the THE SIMPSONS MOVIE, and forever be recongized as the "true" home to Homer, Bart and company.

20 Century Fox has organized a pretty sharp promotion around the July 27 release of the big budget feature film. They have contacted 16 different Springfields across the country and solicited a short film from each that makes the case for each city.

Warren, myself, Scotty Kittredge and other illustrious minds are working hard with Dave Horgan and the Mayor's office to develop a 5 minute short film that will insure our place in SIMPSONS lore.

Check out City Hall's official page here if you have big ideas of your own. We're expecting the offical rules and guidelines on Wednesday, May 16.

More info to come!!

ATTACK OF THE SPACE CHICKENS

After having the written the script a couple of years ago for another producer, I'm now pleased to announce that pre-production is in full swing for an '08 release of ATTACK OF THE SPACE CHICKENS. I'll be producing with director Scott Kittredge of Bowling Squirrel Films.

I'm currently writing a revised second draft of the screenplay, and I'm gonzo in love with where it's going. Scott and I have develeloped some new ideas that's making the script funnier, scarier, and more open to some super cool effects. We're hoping to utilize all sorts of processes for the extensive effects work, including stop-motion, in-camera practical, prosthetics, animatronics and CGI -- there's just no ONE way to bring a Space Chicken to life.

Please visit our MySpace page, which you can find here, and send us a FRIENDS request.

And remember this, never forget this:

When it comes to Space Chickens, it's either them... or us.

12 AND HOLDING

I had the pleasure of "moderating" an informal Q & A session with screenwriter, Anthony S. Cipriano yesterday in the two screenwriting classes I teach at Westfield State College. Anthony graduated from WSC in 1997, and now lives in LA making a living as a writer.

After the classes, he screened his film, 12 AND HOLDING, a 2006 release directed by Michael Cuesta.

It's quite a film.

Shot for $400,000, 12 AND HOLDING tells the story of three childhood friends, all aged twelve, who must all deal with a tragic event while also dealing with the trauma of being twelve years old. Anthony's writing is spot-on in this story of grief, a subject he felt was necessary to deal with after the events of September 11. His premise was consistent, even when the film seemed to deviate in tone -- a decision that Anthony consciously made in the screenplay, and that Cuesta maintained in direction. It was quite a bold choice to introduce seemingly inappropriate comedic moments and music cues in an otherwise dour narrative, but ulitimately I think they pulled it off, creating a world where angst, anxiety and the joys of "growing up" naturally coexist.

The performances are amazing for such a young cast, and the supporting adult roles are all filled out nicely with true pros (w/ Jeremy Remmer's Gus blowing my socks off).

The final moments, and indeed the final image, were a suprememly challenging choice to make. Anthony could have gone in several directions with the narrative, which is in itself a testament to the film's structure -- so often there appears an inevitability in movies, a natural conclusion to which it is building, but in 12 AND HOLDING's resolution, we really have little idea what decision Jacob will make, and what consequence it may have on the rest of his life. When the decision is made, and conclusion reached, we are left with many questions about this choice, and the subsequent impact it has on the lives of those involved. Heady stuff.

Anyway, a big thank you to Anthony, and a big recommendation to all for 12 AND HOLDING -- proof that great talent comes out of the backwoods of Western Mass. And that students in our little state colleges can go on to great success and compete in New York, Hollywood or whereever they decide to go