Alan Ball speaks at Wellesley College

[TheRealBladeRunner]

Best screenwriter ever ladies and gentlemen (Six Feet Under season 1 Pilot episode.)

[BentHenny]

That Pilot is probably my favorite episode of the series!

[TheRealBladeRunner]

If I had to chose I would say the Pilot is the best episode, so I agree.

[BentHenny]

But really they were all great! What did you think of Towelhead and have you seen any episodes of True Blood?

[TheRealBladeRunner]

lol at Towelhead and True Blood!

Of course not: In England we have to wait decades before films and TV shows come out. So when you're 30 I'll let you know if I liked Alan Ball's latest work. ;)

[BentHenny]

You can watch or order the DVD online of Towelhead and True Blood!

What did you think of American Beauty?

[TheRealBladeRunner]

Yeah I know but usually I get rentals first rather than imports or buying it straight out.

I thought American Beauty was excellent.* You?

It's a shame that Thora Birch doesn't get more work. She was in AB and Ghost World and was great in both.

* I usually don't describe why I like films in detail b/c I think film analysis is sort of useless for screenwriting. Screenwriting. more instinct based imo.

[BentHenny]

OK well you can rent Towelhead and True Blood online!

I was just wondering what you thought about American Beauty and what it meant to you. Its not like you wrote it.

[TheRealBladeRunner]

I feel what it meant to me, I don't know what it meant to me, not really.

E.g. the first scence with the VO: was amusing, unnerving and a little depressing. Not sure why though, it just makes me feel all those emotions. I could try to describe why but I don't think it will help my screenwriting in anyway or improve my enjoyment of the film.

What did you think of it?

[BentHenny]

Once again the question about American Beauty was not to help your screenwriting because that script is already written.

[TheRealBladeRunner]

I'm incapable of thinking of film in that way I believe.

I think like: "How film analysis help my screenwriting" From research I conclude that it can't imo.

When you say "what did you think" of American Beauty could you be more specific please? Do you want me to comment on a certain line of dialogue or story aspect? I'd be happy to try.

I guess you're thinking from the perspective of an actor, I'm thinking from the perspective of a screenwriter (assuming you don't screenwrite.)

[TheRealBladeRunner]

* how can

[BentHenny]

You did not write American Beauty, so if you talk about the film and what you thought it meant will not hurt your screenwriting. Unless you are writing AB2.

I have read Screenwriting books before and I would like to write one.

[TheRealBladeRunner]

I have no thoughts on the film, just emotions and images roaming around in my mind. It's difficult to describe. If you tell me e.g. "what did I think about scene x" and then tell me what you thought about it, that might help me.

btw I hate screenwriting books and think they're useless. E.g. in that they can't tell you how to write amazingly good films. If they can't tell me how to improve my screenwriting I don't care for them. See Kaufman's Adaptation as an e.g.

Feel free to correct me.

[BentHenny]

There is a general format to writing a screenplay and I found that a teaching book helped me. I am not talking about story or ideas just format. If you dont have the right format people wont even look at it!

[TheRealBladeRunner]

I just use Final Draft, does it all for you all the formatting. I have a demo version, didn't need to buy it.

[BentHenny]

Where did you get it?

[TheRealBladeRunner]

I'll send u the link if I can find it.

[BentHenny]

What about Peter Krause he is great as well.

[TheRealBladeRunner]

Krause is awesome, but Lauren Ambrose is even better imo.

[jstephenj]

American Beauty is Alan Ball's David. Six Feet Under is his Sistine Chapel.

[abgrunder]

Very aptly put!

[smithhedgehog]

i wish he'd come to my uni

[seventyeight]

Awesome, thanks for posting this.