Horizon Park Media

Playing this week... 02/18/08

2008-02-19T13:05:00.000-05:00

Rambo 7
Holy shit. I mean, seriously, what were the 24 producers (???) thinking when they approved this script? Rampant racism? Check. Atomic bombs? Check. Useless exposition that tries to qualify 100 + minutes of murder and mayhem? Double check. There's more blood and guts in this film than in Hostel, Pulp Fiction and Cabin Fever combined. And it isn't presented with the slightest hint of irony or apology. Yet you can't turn away from this bloodbath. It's impossible. Somehow Stallone is as endearing - maybe more so - than he ever has been. It's obviously so bad it's good, and if it came out in 1989 it might still be the highest grossing action film of all time. Take it for what it's worth. I took it, and I'll take some more, please. Personally I can't wait to find out more about the mysterious R. Rambo in Rambo V. I'd like to pitch Kris Kristopherson as Ronny Rambo right now. Even if he is younger than Stallone.

Mr. Brooks 4
Some of the most useless dialogue of all time, unexpected and unforgivable coming from an Oscar-winning penman. Costner shines with what he's given proving that he's back for yet another round. The secret to his success is not to let him anywhere near the director's chair clearly. For proof look no further than this and last years The Guardian. It's obvious that Demi Moore mailed this one in from somewhere in Malibu (too busy with Ashton, I suspect), but at least Dane Cook gave it the old college try. Just too bad he can't act his way out of a wet sack. William hurt plays the same character he played in A History of Violence - and that's not a bad thing. My rating of this film reflects the potential of the story, and what it could have been: there's a really slick thriller buried under the convoluted story. But it really is too bad that the characters have to talk to one another here.

Vacancy 1.5
Torture porn that's neither scary nor shocking? That's Vacancy. I won't waste much of your time with this review because you shouldn't waste it with this movie, either. I'm not sure who should be fired first: Luke Wilson's agent or Kate Beckinsale's. I'd rather sit through Underworld 16 than this trash. That's it. Stay away. Don't even rent it. Seriously. You'll smack yourself for it.

The Hoax 8.5
I always find it hard to get into a Richard Gere movie because he always plays Richard Gere. But The Hoax is one of the first times I can remember him really diving into a role where he wasn't responsible for the character solely on his own: I was wholly engrossed in the story of Clifford Irvine and his adventure defrauding McGraw Hill and sticking it to Howard Hughes. I guess it takes a true story to rip someone away from what they've always done. Alfred Molina, one of the ultimate character actors of all time and perhaps the most underrated actor of the last 25 years, is superb as Irvine's right hand man, Dick. The story is simple and easy to access but gripping at the same time. The only thing I didn't like about this one was Marcia Gay Harden, though I don't think I'll ever look at Marcia Gay Harden the same way after watching The Mist. What a bitch.

King of California 8
Bloody hell do I ever love Michael Douglas. A few years ago I really couldn't stand his smug ass. It was part the bad, wavy hair and part the fact that I watched The Player, Wall street and You, Me and Dupree in order. But then he goes and totally redeems himself with King of California. I was initially drawn to this because of the premise - treasure hunting with an insane, bearded Douglas sounded like too much fun to pass up. And while the story is fun and the adventure itself is hilarious - diving into a sewage drain beneath Costco in the middle of the night? This is a tug on your heartstrings kind of event. But I don't fault Mike Cahill for that. I do, however, fault him for the prolific use of shitty narration throughout. I want to look at Evan Rachel Wood, not listen to her tell me what's going on on screen. Also keep your eyes open for a hilarious animated sequence about Mexican treasure hunters. Those things always get me. It's not as good as the one from Bowling for Columbine, but it's entertaining.

Backgrounder

2008-02-07T10:08:00.001-05:00

Horizon Park Media

What is Horizon Park Media?

The Horizon Park Media literary legacy began in 2006 with the launch of the Books Publishing Division. Our mission is to publish fiction of substantial literary excellence while maximizing financial return by marketing to a mass audience. Our titles include fiction from both emerging and established authors from a wide spectrum of social, political and economic backgrounds.

We publish fiction of exceptional quality—quality in terms of physical value and literary excellence. Our books are printed by Canada’s largest commercial printer, promoted individually through comprehensive mainstream and innovative online campaigns and marketed to the public extensively. We target mainstream bookstores, direct sale outlets, online retailers, specialty shops and trade publications.

While commercial success is at the forefront of our mission, we believe wholeheartedly in the quality of our published material. While our work has been optioned for movie adaptations and targeted for large volume sales to mass audiences, our principal consideration is publishing fiction of substantial literary worth, a worth that will ensure our books are enjoyed and lauded as important additions to the international literary landscape for many generations.

Our Books Publishing Division is currently undertaking a massive marketing campaign in support of Shawn Parker’s debut novel, Night Has Fallen. The book is being released to stores on April 15th, 2008, and is available now from our publisher’s website in exclusive signed and numbered copies.

We are proud to announce that 2008 will also see the publication of Parker’s second novel, I Am Overcome, and fiction releases from a number of exciting Canadian authors.

2007 saw the introduction of our Media Arts Division and the announcement of soon-to-be released sequential art properties. This year alone we are publishing three original graphic novels in trade format, targeted for mass commercial release: The Pegasus Illusion, illustrated by the award-winning Des Taylor, as well as Crater Lake and Ill Mariachi, both from illustrator Matt Boismier.

We have also assembled some of the most distinguished and accomplished sequential artists working in the field today for Sand Castles, a prestigious anthology project targeted for an early 2009 release. SUGAR: Four Sweet Tales, the illustrated children’s book from Parker and Boismier, will be released following the launch of our first graphic novel.

Press Release

2008-02-06T22:25:00.001-05:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Horizon Park Media
CONTACT: Shawn Parker, President
(289) 221-3427 • shawn@horizonparkmedia.com
February 7, 2008

Night Has Fallen in the wild, but from the darkness a hero shall emerge.

Night has Fallen is the debut novel from acclaimed screenwriter and graphic novelist Shawn Parker. The book is available now online in an exclusive signed and numbered edition and officially scheduled for release to stores on April 15th, 2008.

Night Has Fallen is the story of four lifelong friends steered into adulthood by the impending marriage of their most reluctant member. As a grand farewell to their youth, the boys, now in their late 20s, plot an adventure to the furthest reaches of the Canadian north—with no prior knowledge of what it means to test the natural and savage elements of the world.

They descend on the wilderness with all the naivety and brazen disregard for safety that young men are disposed to. They are ill prepared, but it does not matter, for they are in search of adventure—a final voyage together, one for all time. In one horrifying moment the adventure becomes a struggle for survival. The rugged Canadian wild and the treacherous whitewater that cuts sharp swathes across the terrain will be their final playground, if they allow it. They have nothing to defend themselves against the wilds but a pistol and a can of bear repellent that may or may not contain hairspray. But they will survive. For that, all they need is each other. Night Has Fallen is the intensely affecting tale of a journey. It is an exploration of loss, betrayal, courage and friendship and a reflection on what man is capable of when he is faced with insurmountable odds: wanton destruction, incomparable compassion and unrivaled heroism.

Published by Horizon Park Media and printed in Canada, Night Has Fallen will be available in fine bookstores everywhere in April and can be ordered online now at www.horizonparkmedia.com.

Shawn Parker is the author of more than a dozen screenplays. WIRELESS, a terse political thriller produced by Dog Gone Mad Productions, will be in theatres in 2009. The first original graphic novel from Horizon Park, The Pegasus Illusion, written by Parker and illustrated by Des Taylor, debuts at New York Comic Con 2008. Parker’s second novel, I Am Overcome, is being released by Horizon Park in the fall of 2008.

Digital review copies may be obtained by contacting the publisher.

Tooninator and Night Has Fallen

2008-02-04T12:23:00.000-05:00

Check, check, check it out - the Tooninator with his copy of Night Has Fallen. Feel free to take your own pictures. Obviously that would be cool.

Iceberg Publishing

2008-02-01T11:29:00.000-05:00

Iceberg is an independent, family-run publishing company that has been publishing books related to the science fiction genre for more than five years. They first caught my attention when I was an undergrad at Wilfrid Laurier—while shopping for books I was supposed to buy I picked up a copy of Kenneth Tam’s The Human Equation, the first in a series of eight novels. At the time Kenneth and I were both studying communications and working in different capacities of the Laurier athletics community (alright, Kenneth was working. I was a dumb jock). To say that I was humbled and inspired by Kenneth’s success (a published author at a time when most students are doing… well, other things) would be a gross understatement.

Our careers took us to different places—Iceberg expanded its line of science fiction and non-fiction and moved into the realm of alternate history and now publishes the work of other major genre artists while I started banging drums in the film business. But late last year our paths crossed again, and Kenneth proved to be an invaluable resource during the publishing and launch process of Night Has Fallen. More importantly, he’s been a great friend and someone who is always available to answer whatever inane questions I come up with.

I encourage everyone to stop by the Iceberg web and order several dozen copies of each book. You won’t be disappointed.

I’ve included a Press Release about upcoming Iceberg Events.

Iceberg and Sci-Fi on the Rock to Partner in Series Launch

12/16/2007

Iceberg Publishing will launch His Majesty’s New World: The Grasslands, at a special event kicking off Sci-Fi on the Rock II, the second edition of Atlantic Canada’s largest science fiction convention. Grasslands, the first book in author Kenneth Tam’s new alternate history series, will be released on Friday, April 18, 2008, at the Holiday Inn St. John’s, Newfoundland, with the convention following on Saturday and Sunday.

“It’s a real privilege for us to be able to do this launch at Sci-Fi on the Rock,” explains Tam. “The book centers around the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, so it seems quite appropriate that it be released at a Newfoundland event.”

His Majesty’s New World: The Grasslands takes the premise that, in the1880s, explorers in the Canadian and American ranges of the Rocky Mountains discovered alien gateways that took them to a new planet. Starting in 1919, the series recounts a mission by the Royal Newfoundland Regiment to explore an untamed part of this new world.

“It’s a cross between a classic Victorian adventure of Empire, a Louis L’Amour western, and H. G. Wells,” Tam remarks. “It was incredibly fun to write, and it allowed me to put some of my recent historical research to good use!”

Partnering for the release is Newfoundland’s Sci-Fi on the Rock convention, the largest of its kind in Atlantic Canada. Started as a one-day event in April of 2007, it garnered so much interest and local support that organizers have turned the 2008 edition into a multi-day event, with guests so far including actor Jeremy Bulloch of the Star Wars films, authors, artists and more.

“We’re very pleased to partner with Iceberg Publishing for the launch of this book,” co-Head Organizer Darren Hann says. “The release will be on the night before our other programming gets started, and will be open to the public. Anyone who’s curious about what our convention is like can come down to get a free preview.”

Further details about the event will be released as it draws closer. More information on the Sci-Fi on the Rock convention can be found at http://www.scifiontherock.com/ and more details about Kenneth Tam’s His Majesty’s New World series can be found at http://www.newworldempire.com/.

Night Has Fallen - sample chapter

2008-01-27T19:06:00.000-05:00

Here’s an excerpt from the novel for you to sink your teeth into. I know authors usually give you the first chapter, but I’m not crazy like that. This is from somewhere near the beginning. Buy the whole thing on the right (formatting here is messed up, but you get the picture).

The dock provided ample opportunity to overlook the lake in all its vast, understated beauty. At this time of year the water is calm, interrupted occasionally by a spring swell or the localized dive of a long-necked crane. Sitting at the end of the dock long enough you might even catch a glimpse of a whooping crane—grus americana, according to the Manual on Northern Agriculture and Wildlife, left next to the toilet in Glen’s cottage—feeding on berries along the craggy shoreline. He might be a big bird, six, maybe seven feet tall. A truly majestic specimen with a shock of red feathers crowning his imperial skull. He’d strut proudly through the murky water, lifting his long legs high and exaggerating every step. Occasionally he would pluck a thin stickleback out of a footswell and swallow it whole. After chasing the fish with a bill full of berries, he would spread his ample wings and wrinkle the water with powerful thrusts, his black tips the last visible reminder of his visit vanishing beyond the trees.
Glen sat alone on a bench built for two dangling his toes in the water. He mused that the builder must have constructed both the dock and the bench during a hurricane using a rubber mallet, judging by the multitude and frequency of bent nails and splintered pine. The dock was likely intended as a fishing and swimming platform and maybe for mooring canoes or other small vessels, but in all likelihood was probably used for skinny dipping more than anything. Glen thrashed his bare feet in the cool water then pulled them out to examine the whitened flesh. The water was not quite warm enough for swimming, but it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he fell in. Or was pushed in. Or thrown in. All likely possibilities considering the company he was keeping. Maybe in the morning he’d dive in just to shock himself awake and this entire misadventure wouldn’t seem like such a lousy idea. Or he could get ridiculously drunk and go in completely dressed. Either or, whatever he had to do.
Ray spent the evening obsessing over plans and routes and supplies and food and other important adventuring decisions that real adventuring types have to concern themselves with. He had only himself to rely on because as far as the other guys were concerned this was it. They were living the adventure and they were going to continue to live it for another two weeks. They fell for it utterly completely, just the way he had planned it from the start. Maybe Lee did suspect something, but he had things with which to entertain himself and he wouldn’t be a nuisance. They couldn’t suspect the surprises he had in store. Soon they were going to embark on the real adventure, a journey they were never going to forget for as long as they lived. That would shut Glen up. And they had him and him alone to thank for it. Without him, Glen would be counting down the days to his wedding more miserable than he would have otherwise been, Mark would have spent nine nights out of ten killing time with Jack before the season began and Lee would be doing other things to various people. They were going to thank him, alright, even if they never said it. They’d thank him.

A light wind came up. Almost everyone was wearing at least a long tee or a sweater. Lee, as he was known to do then and again, was wearing a towel. After dinner he visited with the girls and told them the hot tub was working and it was a warm 102° and he would love some company. The girls agreed and it successfully ended any and all desire the others had of slipping into the fertilized water. Lee fiddled with the dials until there was just enough sucking and blowing for everyone to enjoy.

Mark hauled a thick log out of the woods and dropped it next to the fire, bracing it with rocks so it wouldn’t roll into the lake. He passed the expensive imported beer down the line and took a seat on a stump next to Buck and lost himself in the fire. He’d done a reasonable job getting it going, maybe a little too much paper and not enough kindling, but Buck was willing to give credit where credit was due. It had taken a little longer than it should have but now it was running where he could be proud, the flames dancing and cracking over the hot coals. Buck sipped his beer and said he liked how it tasted on his tongue and wondered if he could order it from the internet. One of the strangest phenomenons related to camping or hiking or trekking of any kind is the practice of buying imported beer. It’s a quizzical notion, to be sure. When at home, say on a Sunday afternoon during a professional football telecast or during a Saturday barbeque, most Canadians choose from the multitude of domestic beverages at their disposal. Canadians are widely known as the finest purveyors of lagers and draughts, save for perhaps the German, willing to be recognized and identified as nationals when far and abroad by a red leaf as strongly associated with a beer manufacturing corporation, or, say, ice hockey, than the Canadian flag. But send Canadians north of any city with a population greater than 200,000 and you are instantly whisked away to the land of clear bottles and laser-etched labels. Because Buck lived so far north the rule obviously did not apply to him, and, like stripper and taxes, there are always exceptions.
Ray finished his beer with one gregarious toke, preparing himself for the task at hand. He clapped his hands and asked for everyone to join him round the crackling inferno. Since they were already sitting around the fire they laughed. He passed around a bag of marshmallows and straightened coat hangars and passed them out as well.
“This story,” he said, in a low, coarse growl, “was told to me by an old fisherman while I was filming in Newfoundland a few years back.”
Glen groaned. “Haven’t we heard this one,” he said.
“You be quiet, I want to hear this story now,” Buck said, opening the floor for Ray to continue uninterrupted.
Ray set his chin in the way the best storytellers do, his eyes narrow and sharp, his shoulders hanging over the rest of his body. “This fisherman, he was a grizzled old chap, full of piss and vinegar, just like our Buck here, minus the stunning wit and imagination, of course.”
Buck raised his beer out of respect.
“But this man, this old, weathered fisherman, he had a story. Just like you or me might have a story of our own.”
Mark hit Ray in the face with a marshmallow. “How old is this guy? You’ve said old seven times.”
Ray shoved the marshmallow into his mouth then spit the puffed sugar into the fire. “Pretty old. To go along with being old he was very poor, and he worked hard hours for very little. He was on the water before sunrise and was never home before dark. But the fisherman also counted himself among the luckiest men in the world because, by some intervening grace, he had married the prettiest girl in the entire village. The fisherman and his wife were very much in love, but she very badly wanted to have children. It broke the fisherman’s heart because he knew they were too poor to support anyone other than themselves. Still, there are some things that are easy to control and some that are not. When the fisherman found out that his wife was pregnant and that she had been keeping it from him for months, he was very angry. She gave birth late one night and was too weak to stop her husband from taking the child. She begged and she pleaded with him, but it was to no avail. The fisherman knew that the only way they could survive was by giving up the child, so the man took the baby boy down to the lake—a lake very much like this one, so it is told—and he drowned it.”
Pam gasped and her hands went to her mouth. “He drowned the baby?”
Glen rolled his eyes. “How would you know that the lake was anything like this one? You’ve never been here before.”
Ray ignored Glen and looked into Pam’s eyes. “He did. He drowned that baby even though it pained him. It was the most difficult thing he had ever had to do because he loved his wife and he did not wish to hurt her, but to keep them alive and together he would do anything. And so it went on like that, year after year the woman would give birth, and each time the fisherman would throw the newborn into the river.
“On a wet spring morning the woman gave birth to the couple’s fifth son. As he had done with all the sons that came before, the fisherman took the baby down to the lake. His wife, still weak and bleeding from giving birth, followed him, begging and pleading with him to save their son. But the fisherman knew that he had no other choice. To save the child meant certain death for all of them and he loved his wife too much to watch her die a slow and terrible death. But there was something different in the way she begged this time. The woman said that she could not bear to watch another of her sons drown yet he paid her no heed. When the fisherman threw the child into the lake his wife followed, though she did not know how to swim. The fisherman tried to save his wife, but she was swept under the icy water by some unseen force and she drowned as all her sons before her had drowned. That night the fisherman sat by the shore, haunted by what he had done. He loved his wife. He did not know whether he could go on living without her. He sat there for hours, unable to think, not knowing what to do, until the moon was high in the clear sky. When he finally looked out over the lake he could not believe his eyes. Walking across the water was the spirit of his wife. The fisherman was terrified, but the spirit was unable to see him. He called to her but she did not answer. He realized that the spirit was searching for all the sons she had lost while living. The fisherman begged her to see him, to let him apologize for all the wrongs he had committed, but it was no use. She was bent to a singular purpose and it was as if he were the one made of mist.
“Night after night she returned, searching without hope for their dead sons. Soon the fisherman became angry and longed for peace. He begged her to return to the spirit realm, but she could not hear him. She could hear nothing, or was unwilling to listen. She was stricken beyond all hope and would tear at her hair and wail when the sun rose and she was swept away with the freshness of morning.
“A year passed and the fisherman was driven mad by the horrible wailing. On the first dawn of the second spring he grabbed his axe and jumped into the lake to kill the spirit because he could take the torture no longer. But like his wife he could not swim, and the current, stronger than it had been in many years, swept him away, and he drowned. He returned as a spirit himself, doomed to stalk the shore during the daylight hours, swept away when the spirit of his wife appeared in the nighttime. Some believe that on the coolest nights she can still be heard—the wailing woman, as she is called—a spectre over the water, screaming heartache for her doomed sons, one for every spring and a husband she’ll never see again.” He picked a leaf from the bottom of his shoe and put it in the fire. “That’s the story,” he said.
Glen made snoring sounds and Pam shoved him off his seat. “I thought it was a very sad story,” she said.
Buck smiled and nodded in agreement as if the had story touched him deeply. He looked about ready to cry so Pam changed seats and wrapped an arm around his shoulder. “Buck, are you okay? What’s wrong?”
“It’s nothing, darling. I’m fine. It’s just that I’ve heard that story before. Told exactly like that, too, in the very same manner. It breaks my heart every time because they say that my place is built over land that fisherman and his wife lived on. I swear that I’ve heard that heartbroken woman wailing in the early hours of the morn, even though I know it’s crazy and just a story. It ain’t supposed to be, I know that, but you watch, just before the sun comes up over those trees down there, you might catch a fleeting glimpse of something that I swear is not of this earth.”
He could not have looked more forlorn if he tried so she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a big hug.
Mark cocked a sideways glance at Buck and gave Glen a shot in the arm. “Are you buying any of this,” he said.
“The old man might be telling the truth, but this is way past anything Ray’s ever come up with on his own,” Glen said, half-joking.
Ray threw a marshmallow at Glen but he batted it away.
“You’re right, you’re totally right about that. He’s certainly not smart enough to come up with something like that on his own. It must be true,” Mark added.
“Piss off. Who are you people to say it is not true, if Buck, the most genuine and honest man I have met in my life, agrees with me? He says it’s a true story, and I’m inclined to believe him.”
“He didn’t say it was a true story, he said he’s heard the story before,” Pam said.
“Thank you for that,” Ray said.
“Besides, you said the current swept them all away. Lakes don’t have currents. Rivers have currents,” she said.
Ray’s story was blown out of the water and he was caught in the act. He shook his head and joked that he wanted to toss Pam in the river and Glen did a little dance and pumped his fist. Ray didn’t mind being caught in an untruth, but he would have appreciated being able to finish the performance.
“Whatever. You guys are just being stupid,” he said, trailing off and looking into the woods. “Did you hear that,” he asked, standing and stepping towards the trees.
Pam tried to say something but he quieted her with a wave of his hand. He held it out, extended for dramatic effect, and craned his neck and turned his head to listen.
“Get bent,” Glen said. “It’s not funny anymore.”
“It was never funny,” Mark said.
“Shut up. I swear I heard something.”
“You didn’t hear anything. Have another drink.”
Buck stood and the shadows of flame danced across his face and he took off his hat and crouched over. “Best not to go messing in the woods at night, friend. We’ve got our fair share of bears in these parts this time of year and we sure are nowhere close enough to a hospital should you find yourself in harms way.”
With his piece said Buck borrowed Pam’s hangar and cooked himself a marshmallow. He peeled off the charred shell before sliding the moist candy off the metal and popping it into his mouth. It was too hot and burned him but he didn’t want to seem rude so he puffed his cheeks and chewed rapidly.
“I don’t think it’s a bear,” Ray said. He inched closer to the woods and pushed back a branch as if doing so would open the night before him, cold and black and moist. The branch had the texture of ragged denim. Poplar? It was hard to tell. He didn’t really have a clue. He wandered further until the shadows no longer played on his back and he was lost to the darkness.
“You’re an idiot,” Glen called after him.
“Does he take everything this far,” Pam asked.
“Pretty much. You get used to it.”
“Doesn’t mean it’s any less annoying,” Mark said.
“You are correct, sir.” Glen passed another round and he took the cooler over to the hot tub and handed Lee and the girls a beer each. He wondered if they were wearing bathing suits. He couldn’t see any straps.
“Where’d Ray go,” Lee asked.
“Which one is Ray,” asked Tracy.
“He’s the dumb one,” Glen said.
“You boys are mean. Isn’t he your friend?”
“Good friend.”
“He’s my best friend,” Glen said.
“So where did he go? Was he telling a story?”
“Yeah. He thinks he heard a bear in the woods.”
“I hope he gets eaten by a bear.”
Tracy she splashed Lee in the face. “Be nice.”
Lee slid under the water until only the top part of his face was exposed and he was breathing out of his nose. Just like an iceberg. Then he submerged himself completely and was lost in the jets. A moment later Tracy yelped in surprise and he came up out of the water blowing bubbles between her legs.

Oscar Predictions 2008

2008-01-27T18:36:00.000-05:00

My annual Oscar predictions. Last year I got one right. It was my best year ever.

BEST PICTURE
"Atonement"
"Juno"
"Michael Clayton"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

WINNER: ATONEMENT

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
George Clooney in "Michael Clayton"
Daniel Day-Lewis in "There Will Be Blood"
Johnny Depp in "Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
Tommy Lee Jones in "In the Valley of Elah"
Viggo Mortensen in "Eastern Promises" (Focus Features)

WINNER: Daniel Day-Lewis

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Casey Affleck in "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
Javier Bardem in "No Country for Old Men"
Hal Holbrook in "Into the Wild"
Philip Seymour Hoffman in "Charlie Wilson’s War"
Tom Wilkinson in "Michael Clayton"

WINNER: Javier Bardem

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE
Cate Blanchett in "Elizabeth: The Golden Age"
Julie Christie in "Away from Her"
Marion Cotillard in "La Vie en Rose"
Laura Linney in "The Savages"
Ellen Page in "Juno"

WINNER: Ellen Page

PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Cate Blanchett in "I’m Not There"
Ruby Dee in "American Gangster"
Saoirse Ronan in "Atonement"
Amy Ryan in "Gone Baby Gone"
Tilda Swinton in "Michael Clayton"

WINNER: Cate Blanchett

DIRECTOR
Paul Thomas Anderson - "There Will Be Blood"
Ethan Coen & Joel Coen - "No Country For Old Men"
Tony Gilroy - "Michael Clayton"
Jason Reitman - "Juno"
Julian Schnabel - "The Diving Bell And The Butterfly"

WINNER: Jason Reitman

ORIGINAL SCREENPLAY
Brad Bird - "Ratatouille"
Diablo Cody - "Juno"
Tony Gilroy - "Michael Clayton"
Tamara Jenkins - "The Savages"
Nancy Oliver - "Lars and the Real Girl"

WINNER: Diablo Cody

ADAPTED SCREENPLAY
Paul Thomas Anderson - "There Will Be Blood"
Ethan & Joel Coen - "No Country for Old Men"
Christopher Hampton - "Atonement"
Ronald Harwood - "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
Sarah Polley - "Away from Her"

WINNER: Ethan & Joel Coen

ANIMATED FEATURE
"Persepolis" - (Sony Pictures Classics)
"Ratatouille" - (Pixar; Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Distribution)
"Surf’s Up" - (Sony Pictures Releasing)

WINNER: Ratatouille

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
"Beaufort" - Israel
"The Counterfeiters" - Austria
"Katyn," - Poland
"Mongol" - Kazakhstan
"12" - Russia

WINNER: Beaufort

ART DIRECTION
"American Gangster" (Universal)
"Atonement" (Focus Features)
"The Golden Compass" (New Line in association with Ingenious Film Partners) :
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)

WINNER: American Gangster

CINEMATOGRAPHY
"The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford"
"Atonement"
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly"
"No Country for Old Men"
"There Will Be Blood"

WINNER: No Country For Old Men

DOCUMENTARY FEATURE
"No End in Sight" (Magnolia Pictures)
"Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience" (The Documentary Group)
"Sicko" (Lionsgate and The Weinstein Company)
"Taxi to the Dark Side" (THINKFilm)
"War/Dance" (THINKFilm)

WINNER: Sicko

ANIMATED SHORT FILM
"I Met the Walrus"
"Madame Tutli-Putli"
"Même Les Pigeons Vont au Paradis (Even Pigeons Go to Heaven)"
"My Love (Moya Lyubov)"
"Peter & the Wolf"

WINNER: I Met the Walrus

LIVE-ACTION SHORT FILM
"At Night"
"Il Supplente (The Substitute)"
"Le Mozart des Pickpockets (The Mozart of Pickpockets)"
"Tanghi Argentini"
"The Tonto Woman"

WINNER: At Night

VISUAL EFFECTS
"The Golden Compass"
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End"
"Transformers"

WINNER: Transformers

COSTUME DESIGN
"Across the Universe" (Sony Pictures Releasing)
"Atonement" (Focus Features)
"Elizabeth: The Golden Age" (Universal)
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
"Sweeney Todd The Demon Barber of Fleet Street"

WINNER: Sweeney Todd

DOCUMENTARY SHORT
"Freeheld"
"La Corona (The Crown)"
"Salim Baba"
"Sari’s Mother"

WINNER: Freeheld

FILM EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal)
"The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" (Miramax/Pathé Renn)
"Into the Wild" (Paramount Vantage and River Road Entertainment)
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)

WINNER: Into the Wild

SOUND MIXING
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal)
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney)
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate)
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro)

WINNER: 3:10 to Yuma

SOUND EDITING
"The Bourne Ultimatum" (Universal)
"No Country for Old Men" (Miramax and Paramount Vantage)
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney)
"There Will Be Blood" (Paramount Vantage and Miramax)
"Transformers" (DreamWorks and Paramount in association with Hasbro)

WINNER: Ratatouille

ORIGINAL SCORE
"Atonement" (Focus Features)
"The Kite Runner"
"Michael Clayton" (Warner Bros.)
"Ratatouille" (Walt Disney)
"3:10 to Yuma" (Lionsgate)

WINNER: 3:10 to Yuma

ORIGINAL SONG
"Falling Slowly" from "Once" (Fox Searchlight)
"Happy Working Song" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney)
"Raise It Up" from "August Rush" (Warner Bros.)
"So Close" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney)
"That’s How You Know" from "Enchanted" (Walt Disney)

WINNER: That’s how you know

MAKEUP
"La Vie en Rose" (Picturehouse)
"Norbit" (DreamWorks, Distributed by Paramount)
"Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End" (Walt Disney)

WINNER: Pirates of the Caribbean

WIRELESS

2008-01-26T23:37:00.001-05:00

I haven’t been posting with any regularity lately due to the mammoth pile of work I’ve had to do with the production of Night Has Fallen (not to mention getting ready for the store release and launch in March/April) but I swear, trying to fix that. The Now Playing… feature was supposed to get me posting more often, and it’s worked—twice.

Thought I’d drop a quick update on Wireless and where we are. Because the script was OK’d quite a while ago (I actually finished the fourth draft in November of 2006) we’re not horribly affected by the strike. There were, however, a bunch of other things keeping the project from gaining momentum. For one, the Executive Producer, Ken Nakamura, is also the festival director for the Grand River Film Festival, and he had a lot of obligations there. But now things are full steam ahead, and we’re heading towards an August 11th start date in LA for filming. We’ll be in LA for six weeks then up in Saskatchewan (???) for two more weeks of on location stuff. Sounds like a natural fit, doesn’t it? Right… I was sent a package of pictures to go through last week and pick what I thought best represented my ideas—that was uber cool. I love seeing concept sketches and storyboards and renderings, but nothing beats the real live stuff. If I had a couple seconds to relax and appreciate these things I’m sure I’d be even more excited than I already am.

I’m not really supposed to say too much about casting until things are confirmed—so I won’t—but we’re working on two more fantastic actors that you guys are going to love. Once contracts are confirmed and people are firmly attached I’ll post. However, I thought this was pretty interesting—it’s the wikipedia entry for Jennifer Sciole, attached to star as Stacy Quinn. It’s the first time I’ve seen Wireless up on the net (not sure when it’ll be on IMDB).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_sciole

Oh, and for anyone that cares, here’s the Wireless blurb as it can be found in the back of Night Has Fallen.

One term removed from the Bush administration reckless US foreign policy has caught up with the most powerful nation on earth. International angst has risen to an all-time high. Terrorists have devastated the American intelligence community. The Vice President and other high-ranking officials are dead. With no other option, the President of the United States is forced to turn to a weapon more powerful than anything the world has ever known. A weapon able to infiltrate not only every piece of technological equipment ever built, but the human mind itself. When the group responsible for the destruction of the CIA steals the weapon, the President enlists the scientist who created it to get it back. Together they race against time to uncover a conspiracy that will take the world to the brink of World War III and beyond.

Oh, and one more thing. I heard a story a little while ago about the expression O.K. Supposedly during the American Civil War soldiers would report back to the commanding officers about the damages sustained during battle. When a soldier would report back 0 (ZERO) KILLS, this meant that everything was mighty alrighty. Not sure if this is even close to being true (haven’t looked it up on that glorious sink-hole of popular culture that is Wikipedia) but it sounds good to me.

Playing this week... 01/21/08

2008-01-21T19:43:00.000-05:00

I know I missed a couple weeks, but give me a break - i was in the Bahamas. And getting ready for the release of the novel (which, of course, you need to buy. Do it. It's on the right. You see it!)

I Am Legend 8.5
An action movie with a brain is the best way to describe the third adaptation of Richard Matheson's classic novella. Will Smith carries a film void of characters in a way reminiscent of Tom Hanks in Cast Away; from the onset his is a story we care about. The set pieces are gorgeous (the empty, overgrown streets of New York are haunting) while the effects leave a little to be desired. Obviously Weta and ILM were busy when the studio was sourcing the CGI - the 'dark seekers' look like rubber muppets. Purists will be disappointed with the derivations from the source material, but this is Will Smith at his best - don't be surprised if he sneaks in for an Oscar nod the way Johnny Depp did with the first pirates film.

Equilibrium 3
Further proof that there are no bad actors - just bad scripts. Okay, maybe Taye Diggs is still a bad actor, but come on. Hailed as a cult classic even before it was released (re: Nacho Libre) and a superior version of The Matrix, equilibrium is one gigantic disappointment after the next. Bale is believable as Cleric, a robotic cultural assassin, and the gun-tana is worth a look, but the story is so ludicrous and rife with insincerity that it's almost too much to stomach. Case in point: during on ten-minute stretch we're forced to endure a scene where Bale has to decide whether or not to sacrifice his puppy, his wife and his child for the good of the Father. It's a country ballad, circa 2071. There's a reason why Miramax has been a joke for almost a decade.

Eastern Promises 9.5
A cinematic sucker punch, even for those who thought they saw it coming. Cronenberg, always an awards darling, has tapped into Viggo Mortensen DiCaprio-Scorseses style to bring us the most devastating director-actor team in recent history. This is straight up drama/thriller fare, but it will make you squirm more than any of the helmer's previous efforts, The Fly included. Without spoiling the fun, I'll just say that you'll never look at a bathhouse the same way again. Filming half the film in Russian/Ukrainian is a clever device, though someone should have kept an eye on the dubber. Not sure why we need to see {speaking in Russian] on screen every time the actors speak in Russian. A little redundant, me thinks. Sure to be another awards-season darling. Watch out, Atonement.

Family Guy - Blue Harvest 7.5
I'll admit, I'm neither a diehard fan of Family Guy nor Star Wars (I think I've only seen each movie like, three times). Even as a casual observer this was a good time and a heck of a leap in quality over regular family guy releases. You can tell that the guys involved are junkies and or slaves to all that is Sith and Jedi and they really went all out. There are enough funny jokes and current culturally relevant jokes to keep an ordinary viewer happy and enough inside reference to please the fanatic. Even the title itself-Blue Harvest-is an inside reference to The Return of the Jedi and the secrecy surrounding that film's production. That being said, it's still an episode of Family Guy. If you love it, you'll really love it. If you don't you won't. Pretty simple, really. I fall somewhere in the middle-the 'meh' zone.

3:10 to Yuma 10
A fine example of what is essentially perfect entertainment. Why people keep saying the western is dead is beyond me. Three of the finest films released this year-Yuma, Assassination of Jesse James and Seraphim Falls are genre films. Reviewers are split on which film is better-this or the 1960's original-but either way, it's brilliant. Crowe is a masterful villain, Bale does his finest and arguably most sympathetic work as a leading man, and Peter Fonda is simply creepy. In a good way. Supporting cast is brilliant, led by the ever-impressive Ben Foster. The only blip on this kid's career is playing angel in X-Men 3- and that's saying something. Story is top notch and simple and the pacing is frenetic. ONLY blip on this film is the woeful casting of Luke Wilson as a slave-driving gold miser. That's about as appropriate as Stone Cold as United States President. I'm sure that's in the works from WWE Films.

Night Has Fallen - order now!

2008-01-01T21:13:00.001-05:00

Happy New Year!

NIGHT HAS FALLEN is now available to order. The book is being released to select stores on March 4th, but if you order directly through Horizon Park We'll ship it to you on January 24th – plus you’ll save $5 on the cover price! It’s a sweet deal. Seriously.

NIGHT HAS FALLEN

They descend on the wilderness with all the naivety and brazen disregard for safety that young men are disposed to. They are ill prepared, but it does not matter, for they are in search of adventure—a final voyage together, one for all time. In one horrifying moment the adventure becomes a struggle for survival. The rugged Canadian wild and the treacherous whitewater that cuts sharp swathes across the terrain will be their final playground, if they allow it. They have nothing to defend themselves against the wilds but a pistol and a can of bear repellent that may or may not contain hairspray. But they will survive. For that, all they need is each other.

Night Has Fallen is the intensely affecting tale of a journey. It is an exploration of loss, betrayal, courage and friendship and a reflection on what man is capable of when he is faced with insurmountable odds: wanton destruction, incomparable compassion and unrivaled heroism.

Literary Fiction/Adventure

ISBN 978-0-9809207-0-3

Size: 6 x 9 in

Pages: 320

Prestige Trade Format

Special release price - $20 CAD

I'll sign each copy and include a heartfelt message of thanks. I mean it! If there’s something specific you want me to write… I can do that, too.

Make sure you tell your friends. This book is probably the greatest gift idea in history. Probably.

Click BUY NOW on the right to order your copy.

FOR QUESTIONS - parker.shawn@gmail.com

Playing This Week... 12/20/07

2007-12-20T12:43:00.000-05:00

A new feature to the blog. Each week I'll bring you a couple words on whatever it is I'm watching. I'll try and include at least one pic that's playing in theatres and one classic from the vault.

Stardust - 8.5
Lighthearted fantasy at its best. This is what movies were all about in the 80s- watching this I can't help but be reminded of Legend, Labrynth, Willow and Neverending Story. A movie from a simpler time, before over-wrought epics dominated the landscape. DeNiro turns in one of his best supporting turns in more than a decade and pix star, Charlie Cox, has a genuine likability about him. Turns from Sienna Miller and Claire Danes round out a solid cast. Neil Gaiman at his most bare, stripped down and fun. A popcorn movie with a little heart.

Superbad - 9
Raunchy but genuine. Another brilliant piece from director-cum-producer Apatow and his crew of miscreants. Painfully funny and quotable. Michael Cera is real star in the making, though we're beginning to see Seth Rogan play the same character a little too often. This one will remind everyone of high school just a little bit. That's good and bad, really.

No Country For Old Men - 8.5
Not the tour-de-force it's touted as, but it is a return to form for the Coen brothers. There has likely never been such a faithful studio adaptation of a popular novel. McCarthy's book reads like the screenplay, warts and all. This film, like the novel, is still void of a third act. Just when things really heat up, Mcarthy punctures the balloon and it fizzles into an unsatisfactory conclusion. Still, virtuoso performances from Tommy Lee Jones and Javier Bardem and Woody Harrelson's best work ever are sure to please. When the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences awarded William Hurt an Oscar nod for his twelve minutes of screen time in A History of Violence they made a major mistake - they would be remiss if they avoided Woody on the same grounds.

Rescue Dawn - 8
Powerful and unsettling. Herzog does more with nothing better than almost anyone else. Bale turns in what has become a routinely captivating performance, but his willingness to envelope a character so fully is becoming distracting - his startling weight-loss here, like his work in the Machinist, takes away from the film itself. This is a stand up and cheer film, if that can be said about a POW pic. Getting through the first ten minutes is tough - useless exposition is rampant, and this film is the proud home of the worst plane crash in cinematic history. Cast Away has been out for 8 years, Werner- you can do better than this.

Spider-Man 3 - 4
One of the worst comic-to-film adaptations I have ever seen, even if it's not based on a single narrative. Almost everything in this film is flawed - they ruined Venom (an inspired performance from Topher Grace can't save the ghastly CG work); there are 4 story-ines where 1 will usually suffice; Peter's 'do and the Manhattan strut are an embarrassing travesty; the new goblin might as well sign on for the next installment of Spy Kids. Rami and the crew really mailed it in this year. Spidey looks more plastic and artificial than usual. Gwen Stacey was wasted entirely. No one cares about Harry Osborne and the Sandman storyline was tacked on as an excuse to flex CGI muscle. Spidey 3 continues the trend of horrid trifectas. Here's hoping that The Dark Knight, Iron Man and Hulk can save the superhero genre. Until Snyder drops Watchmen on us, that is. Then all bets are off.

American Gangster - 9.5
Russell and Denzel give the crime drama the kick in the nuts it so richly deserves. Nothing new here, but when you're playing on the same field as HEAT, Goodfellas and The Departed, you don't need to call any new plays. Washington plays he's so-damn-bad-he's-good to perfection and Crowe is abusive, masochistic, drunken white trash as only he can be. They aren't on screen together until the last fifteen minutes, but it's worth the wait; they set it on fire. Crowe's best work since The Insider and... a very good showing from Washington. It's sprawling and overblown in the way you expect it to be from Ridley Scott, but there's nothing here that will stop you from enjoying this film. One of the year's best.

NIGHT HAS FALLEN - coming soon..

2007-12-16T21:38:00.000-05:00

I know most of you out there have been waiting for that new Dark Knight trailer to premiere, but I've got something better... haha.

My debut novel, Night Has Fallen, will be available from Horizon Park Media in January 2008. That's this coming January, for those of you still living in 1999. Information on ordering, special promotions and a firm release date are coming in the next few days. Until then...

NIGHT HAS FALLEN
They descend on the wilderness with all the naivety and brazen disregard for safety that young men are capable of. They are ill prepared, but it does not matter, for they are in search of adventure—a final voyage together, one for all time. In one horrifying moment the adventure becomes a struggle for survival. The rugged Canadian wild and the treacherous whitewater that cuts sharp swathes across the terrain will be their final playground, if they allow it. They have nothing to defend themselves against the wilds but a pistol and a can of bear repellent that may or may not contain hairspray. But they will survive. For that, all they need is each other.

Night Has Fallen is the intensely affecting tale of a journey. It is an exploration of loss, betrayal, courage and friendship and a reflection on what man is capable of when he is faced with insurmountable odds: wanton destruction, incomparable compassion and unrivaled heroism.

The death of an inspirational legend of stage and screen

2007-11-01T09:07:00.000-05:00

October 31st, Halloween, is a day of celebration for many. It was no different for me, until yesterday. Yesterday will forever be remembered as the day the world lost its brightest shining star, the one, the only, the incomparable crooner, Robert G. Goulet.
In college I found myself drawn to the laid-back stylings of the master wordsmith, as did many of my contemporaries. When Will Ferrel brought the legend to the screen millions became privy to his genius. The world was stripped of that genius today, but his legend will linger on for all time. Rest in Peace, Mr Goulet. You truly were the master.

I leave you now with perhaps RGG's most famous diddy...

(I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa)
Throw your hands in the air, if you think you're a player
(I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa)
To the hunnies gettin money playin niggaz just like dummies
(I love it when you call me Big Pop-pa)

Robert Gerard Goulet (November 26, 1933 – October 30, 2007) was a Grammy- and Tony Award-winning American entertainer. He rose to international stardom in 1960 as Lancelot in Lerner and Loewe's hit Broadway musical Camelot. His long career as a singer and actor encompassed theatre, radio, television and film. .... That says it all, doesn't it? It does.

Another busy week

2007-10-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

It's been another busy week, but that's nothing new these days. A few exciting things happened (no, I'm not talking about the release of Guitar Hero 3 - though I'll be spending a lot of time with Slash and the boys shortly) including my signing with literary representation. Now, for screenwriters who know anything about the industry, finding an agent is one of the most difficult things to do. It's even more difficult to find an agent than it is to sell a script (another chicken vs. the egg scenario) so I count myself lucky that I've signed with an incredible company based in LA. We're working on selling a couple of features - DEAD MEN TELL TALL TALES, and I AM OVERCOME, a drama that I just finished less than a week ago (I told you I was busy).

Things are also moving along well with SUGAR, for those of you who are waiting for the books to drop on your doorstep. Matt and I both have a lot of responsibilities that take away from the time we would love to devote to our pet projects, but they are coming, slowly but surely. You're going to be blown away when you see the finish product, trust me.

I've started work on two new scripts. One, a man versus nature epic set in the Canadian north, is something I've wanted to do for the longest time but kept pushing it off. The other, an alien invasion story, is something that hit me over the head in the middle of the night and I scribbled down a bare-bones story so I wouldn't forget it. I am usually working on a couple things at once(see Crater Lake, The Beautiful War, Ill Mariachi, et al.) because I think it keeps me crisp. I never work in the same genre at the same time for fear of using the same conventions twice. I'm going to start updating with excerpts and try and give a feel for my process and how I like to get things done.

Last but not least, we're less than a week away from the start of NaNoWrMo. I'm really pumped to get rolling here, and I've already decided what I'm going to write about. I won't say too much about this because I've already posted, but if you do find your way to www.nanowrimo.org, add me to your profile and we can shoot the breeze (profile: park5300)

Shawn

NaNoWrMo - you heard me!

2007-10-18T11:18:00.000-05:00

NaNoWrMo is not only the worst acronym in the history of Western Civilization, it’s also National Novel Writing Month. I’d never heard of it before, but this site has been around for 7 years, and is essentially a writing community where people come together with the goal of writing a 50,000 word novel during the month of November. You track your progress as you upload, chat, browse the forums, etc. I signed up and am going to give it a go (not like I’m not busy enough … what’s a few thousand extra words a day?). It seems a little lofty, but a great challenge nevertheless. To put it into perspective, I just finished the rough draft of a new script, completed over two weeks, that came in at a shade under 20,000 words. But nothing fun is ever really that easy.

The goal is not to write the Great American Novel, but to write a novel, period. I started writings screenplays so I could better structure myself for novel writing, and now, 10 scripts later, I thought I’d give it a go. If you sign up you can add people you know, so link to my profile, park5300.

There are prizes and awards for winning, and last year 13,000 of the 75,000 who signed up actually made it to 50,000 words.

http://www.nanowrimo.org/

400 Girls in 100 Days

2007-10-16T08:22:00.000-05:00

The Tooninator is back at it again.

Instead of working on SUGAR like he's supposed to(I kid, I kid!), the Toonman and his buddies are pumping out one hundred female forms over 100 days each. There are four of them, so the math roughly works out to 400 girls. Righteous.

You should take a look. It's a pretty cool little number.

A New Friend of the Empire

2007-10-12T16:35:00.001-05:00

If you guys are ever scanning the web for por- I mean, really cool artwork - you should stop off at Erwin Haya's little slice of the net. Erwin is a brilliant graphic illustrator and has been honing his craft for years. Check out his site, buy his art book.
(http://www.brandstudiopress.com/)
(http://www.onesickindividual.com/)
(http://www.onesickindividual.blogspot.com/)

Tell No One

2007-10-07T15:31:00.000-05:00

On Friday night I was at the Grand River Fiilm Festival and the North American theatrical premiere of Guillaume Canet's TELL NO ONE. The film is a European blockbuster from France that set numerous box office records across Europe, but has recieved little fan fare on this side of the pond. However, if you're looking for something different to add to your DVD collection, this taught, intelligent thriller is sure to please. The only question you're going to be left with at the end of the film is where on earth the director found Dustin Hoffman's twin brother. Watch the film to understand.

Running on the Grand

2007-10-04T21:54:00.001-05:00

Tomorrow night I'll be attending the first annual Grand River Film Festival in Cambridge. It should be a lot of fun - the Canadian theatrical premiere for TELL NO ONE is a red carpet event and I've heard there are going to be a lot of interesting folk in attendance with whom to run elbows. Maybe I'll post some pictures over the weekend, because that seems to be what people do with these sorts of things.

Oh, and kudos to WIRELESS producer Ken Nakamura, Festival Director, for taking this thing from vision to reality in just over a year. See ya there!

How'd They Do That?

2007-09-27T13:38:00.000-05:00

I get a lot of questions from people asking me how I do what I do and where I learned to do it. More lately than usual in fact, thus the inspiration for this quick post. In the last two weeks I've randomly met two aspiring screenwriters, guys who have picked my brain for information on the art and craft of the live-action word. Where did you go to school? Who taught you how to write? How do you find the time?

All valid questions, to be sure, and each comes with a simple enough answer. The first, and ultimatley most popular, is the educational quiz. I did not, in fact, go to film school. I went to Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, ONT, known more for its business programs than anything else, and studied English and Communications. When film school grads (usually the unemployed ones) find out that I don't have traditional film training, I can most-oft hear them throw up in their mouths a little. You mean you didn't spend three years and $40,000 listening to a failed screenwriter complain about the industry before you wrote your first script?!

Of course not. Don't be stupid. I equiped myself with a liberal arts degree as backup in case I fall flat on my face in this run and gun film industry and need to revert to teaching (I kid, I kid. That's just a subtle jab at all my brilliant educator friends. You know who you are). The not-so-subtle truth is that if you're a talented writer you don't need to go to screenwriting school to learn the ropes. In fact, most of the grads I've run into in the last two years finish school with one short film credit to add to their resume and nary a single feature script fully developed. I know that's a vast generalization, but it seems like people in film school do everything but write while they're there.

On to the second question. I taught myself. It's as simple as that. I've been writing as long as I can remember - I finished my first (very, very poor) novella when I was in the 6th grade, and worked at writing a novel over the next fifteen or so years. I took a script reading and writing course on a lark in my third year of university as a way to help me structure my fiction writing, but was bitten by the script bug and have been plugging away ever since. I bought two books - The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier, and How Not To Write A Screenplay by Denny Martin Flynn - taught myself the nuances of structure, format and style, and began writing. And writing. And writing. It may come as a surprise to some, but writing is the key to screenwriting. It's even a major part of the word. Those two books, for better or for worse, were my film school. I've since read dozens of others, hundreds of articles on writing and every tip and trick to be found on the net, but nothing comes close to matching the sheer undiluted information imparted by those two authors. Buy them.

Where do I find the time to write... wherever I can. That's the only acceptable answer. When I first started writing and really concentrating on the craft I was a senior in university (okay, in terms of free time that's probably the single greatest example of all time). But when I graduated I started a full-time job like everybody else in this world. Where did I find the time then? After work, weekends, the middle of the night, holidays, any time, anywhere I could. You can't cheat yourself when you're trying to write. Some people can get away with three or four hours a week, but to really be successful you should be writing at least that much every day. I sacrificed virutally then entire summer of 2006 in order to ready a script for a producer at the Toronto International Film Festival, and against all odds left that little party hired to pen WIRELESS. If you're going to do it, you have to put forth an honest effort and not cheat yourself. There are no excuses, and I certainly don't want to hear them.

Once a month I'll run into someone who claims to be a writier. Great! What have you written? I'd love to take a look, is my first response. The answer usually runs along these lines: well, I don't exactly have anything written. I take a lot of notes. And I have a lot of ideas. Up here (taps temple with finger).

Here is an important newsflash; if you don't write anything, you're not a writer. Don't call yourself that. It's annoying. Sit down and write, for crying out loud. And don't ever say you don't have the time. Not a single professional screenwriter in the history of film "had the time" to write. They made the time, and they made it work.

HOW NOT TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY

http://www.amazon.com/How-Not-Write-Screenplay-Screenwriters/dp/1580650155/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-8761704-3938319?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190919358&sr=1-1

THE SCREENWRITER'S BIBLE

http://www.amazon.com/Screenwriters-Bible-Complete-Writing-Formatting/dp/1879505843/ref=pd_bbs_2/104-8761704-3938319?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190920390&sr=1-2

I HATE DATING option

2007-09-11T13:05:00.000-05:00

Some more exciting news on the film front. I have optioned my comedy script I HATE DATING to Darren VanCleave and RTG Productions out of LA. I can't begin to tell you how excited I am for this project to hit the screen. You guys are going to love it! It's a sex comedy in the vein of Wedding Crashers and Knocked Up, and the response that I've been getting from people who have read the script is that it is flat out hilarious. I know that sounds like I'm blowin my own horn a little, but so what. It's true. This was written as a true commercial story. Not in the sense that I'm a sell-out, but in the sense that I wanted to write something that would appeal to the broadest possible audience and give people something to talk about. Have you ever been on a date? Was that date less than stellar? There ya go. You'll want to see this movie. Trust me.

In terms of casting/direction etc, I can't say much yet. However, I will tell you that Darren has a lead on a HUGE star - seriously, huge - who is looking for a property like this to both star and direct. The only thing I'll say about him is that he's Canadian. We run in packs. Fo' sho'.

Crater Lake - Teasers!

2007-09-11T12:29:00.000-05:00

Here is the first little taste of Crater Lake for you folks. This is Hope, and in Matt's words, "she swims with the fishes." .... this is why Matt is the artist, and I'm the writer. She's one of the main characters from our forthcoming graphic novel CRATER LAKE. We love super heroes.

GRFF

2007-08-13T08:34:00.000-05:00

Hot on the heels of the Toronto International Film Festival comes something new and exciting to Southern Ontario and the Canadian Film community; the Grand River Film Festival. The GRFF is being championed by WIRELESS producer Ken Nakamura. I'll be there, in all my black-tie glory, for opening night and a few of the subsequent premiers. Check out a snippet from the press realease and grab tickets ASAP.

Grand River Film Festival 2007

It is with much excitement that Ken Nakumura of Midori Multimedia announces the launch of the inaugural Grand River Film Festival to be held on October 5-7 and October 12 - 14 at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge’s historic Galt district.

GRFF will provide young movie going afficionados with an annual opportunity to soak up all the atmosphere and excitement of a major film festival. Parties, receptions, special events with industry professionals and up to 72 hours of screenings of some of the coolest and most controversial films from around the world.

for more information and tickets;

http://www.cambridgenow.ca/cdps/cditem.cfm?nid=3942

Here it comes....

2007-07-31T09:23:00.000-05:00

We told ya so. Big things are on the way... stay Tooned.

Dead Men Tell Tall Tales

2007-07-30T09:41:00.000-05:00

Hey all. Just thought I'd share a little something with you. Dead Men Tell Tall Tales is now complete, like I talked about in my previous post. I've sort of half started marketing, but haven't had a whole lot of time to get into it lately. For anyone interested here you'll find the logline as well as a quick teaser synopsis. If you're a producer and would like to read the feature script, drop me a line; shawn@horizonparkmedia.com

LOG
All the bad liars are already dead. At least Detective Draken thought so. As if a drug addiction aquired on the job weren't enough, Draken no longer knows which former partner to trust; the serial killer or the drug dealer.

SYNOPSIS
Ethan Draken is a former homicide detective turned undercover vice agent ingrained deep within Deacon Delgado’s drug empire. Delgado, known to law enforcement agencies and the press as “El Tiburón,” has taken Ethan under his wing and dubbed him “Dark Man” for his unheralded dedication.

A botched sting results in the death of an undercover agent and renders the capture of Delgado a bittersweet success. Worn down and struggling with his own personal demons, Ethan vows to leave his career behind and spend time with his family. But a serial killer resurfaces and sends him a personal message; unable to retire with the prospect of capturing the killer staring him in the face, Ethan convinces Captain Palmer to grant him provisional status as a homicide detective in order to bring in Janis Barnum, a one time masterful forensic scientist.

Ethan, obsessive and self destructive, mortgages his personal life against his efforts to find Janis, knowing well that Janis is toying with him and his partner, Ryan Chambers. During their investigation they realize that Delgado, a self-confessed serial killer historian, might have contacted Janis long ago and the entire ordeal may have been predetermined.

Chambers is killed while visiting Ethan’s home, and his wife and daughter are abducted by someone posing as Ethan. Using the wig and prosthetic material left behind by the impostor, Ethan uncovers Janis’ base of operations. Ethan, Palmer and Janis head out to the swamp, where Janis is set to meet with Delgado. Ethan drags Palmer into the field to search for the cabin by themselves, with no backup, despite Palmer’s objections. Later Palmer reveals that not only has Janis been working with Delgado, Palmer, too, is on the inside. They believe that Ethan and Chambers stole the drugs and money and are using it to leverage themselves a better bargaining position. Ethan affirms him innocence, citing his ignorance and pleads for the release of his daughter. Quizzically, they assure him that they have no knowledge of his daughter’s disappearance. Ethan, more determined to find his daughter than save himself, escapes, but not before purposely killing Palmer and accidentally killing Delgado.

Meanwhile Janis has escaped. While Deacon and Palmer thought they were using Janis as an insurance policy, it was he who was manipulating them. He has been systematically murdering corrupt cops, sparing Ethan because he believed that he was one of the few who were honest and could be trusted. Ethan is charged with one final task before Janis returns his daughter. Ethan discovers the money and the drugs and meets with Janis once again in his laboratory. Here Janis transforms Ethan into Delgado and sends him on his final mission.

Ethan meets with officers from his own precinct, men also on Delgado’s payroll. Unable to simply make the deal and move on, Ethan blows his cover. He destroys the drugs and is shot, but also reveals the corruption of his coworkers in the process, and vindicates Janis’ mission in an ironic way. As promised, Janis delivers his daughter to him free of harm, along with a little surprise; Janis gives Ethan all the dirty money as a retirement present.

LENGTH: 119 Pages
FEATURE
CRIME/THRILLER

Big Things Coming!

2007-07-24T11:09:00.000-05:00

Hey All,

Sorry for the lack of updates recently. The summer months seem to slow everyone down a little, and it's tough doing a lot of work when it's so nice outside! But rest assured, we're back on track and we have a LOT of new stuff coming your way in the coming months.

For those who have been following our progress, you know that SUGAR time is less than a month away! That's right, starting August 20th, you'll be able to pre-order your own copy of SUGAR, and we'll send your limited edition print right away. You're going to love them!

On the movie front, casting is nearly wrapped on WIRELESS. It's been a hectic process that seems like it's taken forever. In reality, I only finished writing the script in December, but the anticpation to see everything move forward has been incredible.

In other news, I just wrapped a re-write on a script called DEAD MEN TELL TALL TALES. It's a crime thriller I started in LA last summer and ignored while things with WIRELESS and I HATE DATING were moving forward, but now I'm taking another look and am going to begin the daunting task of marketing. Serving as your own agent in this field has certain perks and pitfalls. On the plus side, I save 10% on every deal. ON the downside, I have to make all the big phone calls myself. Oh well.

One of the bigger ideas I've had in a long time has started to take shape as well. I won't give away many details other than to say that it's a totally original superhero property that is going to blow people away. I'm currently working on a film script and outlining a limited edition graphic novel concept, so stay tuned for more news on CRATER LAKE (oops, I let that slip!)

-shawn

Production is Underway !!

2007-06-29T13:48:00.000-05:00

The first story of 4 is currently being illustrated. Start getting excited.

Sugar Fix!

2007-06-23T13:54:00.001-05:00

Who doesn't love a sugar fix every now and then? Come on, try and tell me you don't. You can't do it! I knew it! That's what makes this even sweeter. Heh heh.

We here at Horizon Park are very pleased to announce that on August 20th, 2007 - that's 08.20.07 - De agosto el vigesimo, if you will - SUGAR: Four Sweet Tales will be available for preorder from our online store. And not just any preorder. A stupendous, magnificent preorder if there ever was one. Totally not kidding.

The first two hundred customers to preorder their copy will receive a limited edition print, limited to - what else? 200 copies - signed and numbered by Matt Boismier. Where else can you get a deal this sweet? A few places, quite likely, but we haven't bothered to look that hard. And neither should you. That's why you should reserve your copy the second the clock strikes midnight!

Book of the Month

2007-06-20T17:54:00.000-05:00

Time for an all-new feature here at the 'ol Horizon. Each month we'll select a book that we deem worthy for- well- selection. There is no real criteria here, just a book that tickles our fancy for whatever reason at a particular time.

MAVERIKANIM

Art of Matt Stewart

from Brandstudio Press

2007

Our first Book of the Month is from the creative genius of Matt Stewart. This fantastic art book is chock-full of women (come to think of it, I think I saw a couple of dogs in there. And maybe a scooter. And am umbrella. But it's mostly full of women), from cover to cover. Unlike most art books flooding the market today, Matt's designs are beautifully rendered in full-colour and burst from the high-gloss pages. There is a section dedicated to life drawing, but the collection is generally presented as a showcase of Matt's finished pieces, collected over a three-year span.

This book will knock the socks off anyone who appreciates the female form, or fans of beautiful art in general. 48 pages of stylized depictions of women, including pin-ups, portraits and paintings. Some of the full-page illustrations would not be out of place on a museum wall, but they are collected here and serve as a feast for the hungry eye.

The design aesthetic is just as fully realized as the images adorning the pages. Kudos to Alberto Ruiz at Brandstudio Press for putting together yet another wonderful collection. As with all the Brandstudio books, this volume is a special limited edition, so pick it up now while you can. This book is as fun to touch as it is to look at, I assure you. If you are not familiar with Brandstudio Press yet, you will be. With no less than thirty books ready to hit digital shelves before Christmas, Brandstudio is set to light the independent publishing world ablaze.

You can shop the Brandstudio online store at: www.brandstudiopress.com

And order your own copy of Maverikanim directly from Matt at: www.maverikanim.com

WIRELESS

2007-06-11T09:38:00.000-05:00

Thought I'd drop a quick note about the "BIG" project I've been working on since last September. As some of you may or may not know, I wrote a feature called WIRELESS last fall for Midori Multimedia/Dog Gone Mad Productions and producer Ken Nakamura. I finished the script in late November, and we entered pre-production in January. I've been lucky enough to have been given the chance to do a little "producing" myself; contacting agents, writing letters to prospective cast members, etc. etc. etc. It sounds pretty exciting, but let me tell you- it has been the most nerve racking experience of my life! When I called Bruce Greenwood's agent the first time, I was a stuttering mess- three weeks later, I was calling the reps for Ralph Fiennes like a seasoned pro (okay, maybe not, but I was getting better, bit by bit!).

I'll keep everyone updated as we press on, but as it stands, we're set to go before the cameras in a few short months! It's amazing to sit in on production meetings with the director and producer as they talk about our "small" budget and having to be careful with the little money we have; this thing has a $10 million budget! I guess that doesn't go far in terms of making movies.

Very excited to actually get this thing going - we had a few setbacks with casting, but we have some INCREDIBLE actors on board, and I shall be naming names shortly! I can tell you that Bruce Greenwood, a great Canadian actor, is attached, and we are lucky enough to have Derek VanLint directing. Derek was the cinematographer on Ridely Scott's ALIEN - if you've ever seen that movie, you'll understand why I'm so excited to work with him! For now, enjoy the teaser one-sheet.

SUGAR: Four Sweet Tales!

2007-06-07T12:33:00.001-05:00

'Alright,' you're asking. 'What's the deal? I see this funky sugar banner on the site, so I click it. when I click it, all I get is a new page with nothing but an empty turtle shell staring back at me. Spill the beans, guys.'

Secrets, ladies and gents. Secrets.

We were going to keep this one under wraps, but quite a few people have approached us with questions like this, so we thought we'd let the cat out of the bag on the SUGAR story.

SUGAR is the first illustrated children's book from Horizon Park Media. It is a collection of four uniquely cute and cuddly stories from Parker and Boismier, and it is going to be ready in time for all your Christmas wish lists!

Because this is our first kids book, we're doing something special. SUGAR is being printed as a limited edition hardbound book, each one indivudually singned and number by the writer and artist (and if you're extra special, you might get a quick little doodle in the back of your copy).

We are going to release a few special treats related to the book during the next few weeks, so stay tuned!

Guest Appearance

2007-06-03T15:59:00.000-05:00

I'm not usually one for public speaking, but a good friend of mine has asked me to come in and speak to his class about my life as a screenwriter and the roller coaster ride that has been the production of WIRELESS and the launch of Horizon Park. I agreed mostly because I think it's great when people take time out of their schedule to speak to kids (I used to look forward to guest speakers at school- I know, I'm strange), and I believe that if someone had come to speak to me about storytelling/screenwriting when I was in grade 12 I would have got a five year head start on my professional writing career. Plus this class meets outside regular business hours, so it's an excuse to go and do something fun!

The kids are starting a screenwriting unit in their English class, and they're about to adapt a selection of Orwell's 1984 for the screen. My appearance is pretty informal (not sure if they even know I'm coming), and I'm just going to talk to them about my work, how I write, how I learned to write and a few of the tips and tricks I've learned along the way. I have this vision of 25 attentive kids firing question after question in my direction, but the truth is that I'm probably more excited than any of them are! But hey, that's okay! I'll update later in the week and post some of the questions that the kids raise during the session.

UPDATE! June 10th, 2007.

I said I'd be back with an update to the last post, so here I am! What I have here are a list of the most frequently asked questions. The kids raised a lot of these at the information session last week, so I thought I'd expand on them. You can also find these posted on the Horizon Park site under the FAQ section (fancy that convenient!). We'll update with more as we roll on, and if there is anything specific you'd like to see in this section we're more than happy to flesh it out.

And a special thanks goes out to Burke Irwin at North Collegiate for having me in last week. It was a great time despite my fear of public speaking! I'll have to work on it.

I'm ready to send my completed script out to agents/production companies/producers/George Lucas. What is the point of providing a synopsis?

If you’re new to screenwriting, what you’re going to find out very quickly is that agents/producers/assistants have little time, and an even shorter attention span. If you’re lucky enough to have someone request your script after reading your query letter (more on the query later), one of the first things they are going to ask to see is a synopsis. This is a double-edged sword if there ever was one; on one hand, it gives you the opportunity to condense your meticulously crafted, 100+ page script into a 1-2 page document that highlights your best story features. On the other hand, it gives the agent/producer the opportunity to pass on your script in the blink of an eye. You want to make sure that your synopsis is concise, but creative enough to suck the reader in. The goal of a synopsis is to entice the reader into reading the full script. So be creative. This is where you can write in passionate prose about your story. It’s a less technical document than the script itself, so you should let your imagination run wild.
Have you ever read film reviews from the major Hollywood critics? You should. Use them as sources for inspiration. Log on to variety.com and read through the multitude of reviews. You’ll notice something very interesting; the critic piques your interest in the film with a positive review. He pulls out the best plot points, devices, characters, quotes and exchanges, usually in fewer than 750 words. When you finish reading a positive review, you’re ready to watch the movie. That’s exactly what you want your synopsis to do. Make it work for you. Make it shout the praises of your script from the rooftops. Suck the reader in, don’t let them go, and give them no other option but to turn to the script for the full story.

How scathing is the coverage Horizon Park analysts provide?
Our coverage is fair and honest, but never mocking or derisive. We’re here to help, and no one benefits from negative feedback. Our goal is to help you craft a better script, not turn you off of screenwriting by providing biting coverage. That being said, you have to understand that constructive criticism is a positive thing, and all of our analysts are trained to recognize problems as plain as they see them.
You might not agree with the coverage provided (one of the most difficult things to do as a writer is to acknowledge the fact that what you’ve written might not be Oscar-worthy), but you will agree with the honest and sincere voice of your analyst, a voice that will be apparent in the coverage provided.
Our coverage mandate encourages positive reinforcement. Pinpointing the problems with your work and providing tips on how to fix them is our way to encourage you to keep writing and one day reach that high recommend that we all strive for.

Why should I register my script before I send it out?
You want to ensure that your script and the ideas powering your script remain yours. While intellectual property laws state that simply writing the words down on paper constitute your ownership of your material, you have to take extra precautions to protect yourself in the event a copyright issue is raised. Mailing your script to yourself, taking a photo with you holding your script and a newspaper, emailing your script to your mom and locking your script in a safety deposit box are all tried, tested and true methods of ensuring ownership, but they are not nearly as safe or secure as modern methods. And most agents will require you to sign a release and provide your registration number before you can submit your work to them.
Registering your material with a writer’s guild is the easiest way to protect your material. Registration is simple, affordable and secure. Writers in the USA should visit the Writer’s Guild of America, West (www.wga.org), or the Writer’s Guild of America, East (www.wgaeast.org), depending on geographic location. Writers in Canada should consult the Writer’s Guild of Canada (www.writersguildofcanada.com). International writers should consult their local guild for more details.

Will you evaluate handwritten material?
No. Scripts need to be typed and in proper screenplay format. And we prefer electronic submissions over paper copies. We’d like to save a tree or two, and our analysts’ eyes, while we’re at it.

What do the grades mean?
High Recommend generally means that the script is ready for entry into the market. The cream of the crop. Well written, original, fresh, exciting, commercial and universally appealing. A wide demographic, major star appeal, clearly defined target demo and compelling visuals are the hallmarks of scripts in the high recommend category. In recent years studio readers have given out this grade to scripts for The Lord of the Rings, Day After Tomorrow, Harry Potter, Jarhead and A History of Violence. Major Hollywood studios will generally not get involved with a spec script unless it has passed through a number of readers who have graded it with a high recommend.
Recommend means that the script, and the idea powering the script itself, is still very commercial, although there is some risk attached to the project. Not necessarily a fresh idea, but not necessarily a huge gamble, either. They possess many of the same qualities as a highly recommended script. Some recent box office successes fall into this category, including Van Helsing, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Red Dragon. Many scripts labelled High Concept fall into this category, and commercial smashes with limited critical appeal often begin life with a grade of recommend. Great scripts can be graded with a recommend if they fall short in any number of categories, the most important being target demographic appeal.
Consider. Many scripts in the Hollywood system make it to the screen with a grade of consider. Scripts and stories can still be great in a literary sense, but their commercial appeal is less substantial. “Pet Projects” of A-list talent and directors often fall into this category. Examples include Adaptation., Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Underworld, Mystic River, Cold Mountain, Gladiator, Flags of Our Fathers and Letters From Iwo Jima. Many of the best period pieces written in recent history were graded consider, not because of the value of their screenplays, but because of their commercial worth. A tricky, ambiguous rating and the one that gives literary agents fits and keeps executives up at night.
Track. A script on life support. Not necessarily commercial, and not well written. The potential of the concept usually keeps scripts in this category from receiving a pass. Scripts in this category need a great deal of work in numerous areas. Scripts graded track or lower make it to the screen as independent films, executive gambles and B-movies, though it is not unheard of for big-budget movies to have scripts that were given a track rating. Unknown and unproduced screenwriters trying to sell a script that has received a grade of track rarely succeed. Under our rating system, the script is worth salvaging only after a massive overhaul.
Pass. A pass usually means that the script should be abandoned. Not a good concept, generally not written well, no star appeal and no inherent commercial value. This is where most scripts, especially from new and inexperienced screenwriters, will end up. Elements of the script can usually be salvaged, but the script as a whole has very little chance of making it in the marketplace. A work in progress in the truest sense.

Interpretations
If you’ve been reading carefully, you noticed that some scripts given a high recommend bomb at the box office (Jarhead) while some scripts given a consider become major box office performers (Underworld). What’s the deal? The deal is that there is no formula for box office or commercial success (until Lucas and Spielberg decide to share their secret with the rest of us). What’s vogue one day may be out of style the next. This means that on any given day someone could get lucky with a script that appealed to virtually no one in the system.
However, as an inexperienced or new writer, rest assured that entering the marketplace with a script rated consider or lower is like starting to climb the highest mountain in the world in your thong sandals. You might make it to the top, but you’re probably going to lose a few toes on the way. We want you to keep your toes in tact. That’s why our consulting services are designed to help you reach an eventual grade of recommend or higher and enter the market in a more favourable position. It’s akin to being dropped from a helicopter ten feet from the summit in the world’s most comfortable parka.

Is it difficult to receive a high recommend?
Yes. Very.
Why? The answer is simple, though most people don’t want to hear it: most screenplays on the market are not very good.
The motion picture industry is unforgiving, impatient and driven by the force of box office receipts. But it is also glamorous, fulfilling and rewarding (it is, perhaps, the most lucrative career a professional writer could ever wish for). So before you embark on your career as the next great Canadian screenwriter (move over Paul Haggis) you need to ask yourself if you’re ready for it.
If you’re an unknown talent trying to break into the market with a heartfelt, personal, self-fulfilling and moving script that fifteen readers have passed on (but I know it’s great!, you’re saying), you might want to change your career trajectory. Try writing a novel. Audiences eat up self-afflicting, meandering, plotless fiction. Just ask Douglas Coupland, who has made a great career out of it (that was just a joke, Doug; you’re my favourite author. Please don’t sue me).
Ponder this, if you will. Not too long ago I was a reader for a distribution and acquisitions company covering financed scripts in various stages of production. Over a six month period I covered 32 scripts. Of those 32, I did not give out a single high recommend. I recommended only one. The breakdown for the rest went something like this- Consider- seven, Track-10, Pass- 14. One of these scripts was written by an Oscar nominated screenwriter- that’s right- attached to four of the biggest names in Hollywood (two Oscar winners there, too), and powered by a studio marketing campaign in the tens of millions of dollars. I gave that script a grade of consider, while two of my contemporaries rated it with a track.

What’s the issue, you’re asking. That movie made it, and you just said the script wasn’t very good. Why can’t I do the same with my script?

I didn’t say that it can’t, but you don’t have all the information yet. That particular script lingered in development hell for four years and went through no less than nine re-writes before it received the green light from the studio. This is for a script with four A-list actors, a name director and an Oscar nominated screenwriter attached. What you need to know is that this is not the exception. This is the reality of countless mediocre screenplays in Hollywood. Getting a script to screen is tough for even some of the most experienced industry professionals. Why would you want to enter the market with a script that’s only going to make it tough on you to market yourself? That is, after all, the key to all this. Agents and executives want to know how you, as a screenwriter, are going to impact their bottom line long term.

We want you to succeed, because we know just how tough this market is. That’s why our coverage and rating systems are comprehensive and second to none in the industry. We’re as clear as possible on every point and strive to leave no question unanswered and no grade unexplained. An investment in our services is your key to crafting the best script you possibly can.

Welcome to Horizon Park!

2007-05-30T10:36:00.000-05:00

NEWS RELEASE: MAY 30, 2007

For Immediate Release -

TORONTO, Can.—Shawn Parker and Matt Boismier are proud to announce the launch of Horizon Park Media.

Horizon Park is a joint venture between two of Canada’s brightest young creative talents and is focused on fostering creativity through innovation. Horizon Park’s goals are: (1) to be the premiere screenplay consulting service in Canada (2), release high quality graphic novels and sequential art, and (3) premiere two feature length films per year under the Horizon Park Media banner. Each of Horizon Park’s three distinct branches (Consulting Division, Media Arts Division Film Production Division) focuses on one of these specific goals.

Horizon Park presents an exciting opportunity for anyone who has ever said, “I want to write a movie.” the staff at Horizon Park is composed of professional media personnel, including President Shawn Parker, screenwriter and author of Wireless and Dead Men Tell Tall Tales.

Horizon Park knows that the North American creative community is composed of brilliant young artists who, despite immeasurable talent, are limited in the number of resources that can help them break into the film and graphic novel industries. Horizon Park provides aspiring writers the opportunity to learn how to write a script, ensure that scripts are marketable and grant access to other professional industry personnel. A writer doesn’t need to live in Los Angeles to make it in the film industry– they just need a fresh idea, thick skin and a dash of talent.

Horizon Park is poised to provide clients with an invaluable creative service as well as exciting commercial properties. For creative artists looking to break into comics, Horizon Park will be holding an open casting call for material to be included in the company’s first ever anthology release. SUGAR: Four Sweet Tales, the first children's book from Parker and Boismier, will be out in the Fall of '07. Also, Basin of the Soul, the first graphic novel from the Media Arts Division, will bow in Q2 2008 through a limited release to select retailers.

I Hate Dating, the first independent film from Horizon Park, is currently in development and will be lensed in 2008.

For more information on any of the upcoming Horizon Park projects, please visit

www.horizonparkmedia.com