Alan Ball speaks at Wellesley College

Alan Ball, screenwriter of American Beauty, spoke to a screen writing class at Wellesley College, Thursday, February 21. His new movie "Towelhead" was written by Wellesley College professor Alicia Erian. It is scheduled for release in August.

Category:

Film & Animation

Tags:

• ghsvid
• ghsnevid
• wellesley
• college
• townsman
• alan
• ball
• towelhead
• keith
• jacobson

[jstephenj]

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

[BentHenny]

What about Peter Krause he is great as well.

[abgrunder]

Very aptly put!

[TheRealBladeRunner]

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

[BentHenny]

Where did you get 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]

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 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]

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]

* how can

[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.)