Thursday, January 25, 2018

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #7: Black Dynamite with Executive Producer Matt Richards


In this very special episode of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, an inter-generational look at the movies, we receive a visit from producer Matt Richards to discuss his cult classic action/comedy/Blaxploitation spoof Black Dynamite. The crew all really enjoyed the film and got to discuss the fascinating path this independent film took from inspired creation to a botched theatrical release to comic books and an animated series. Take a look inside Hollywood with this fascinating episode.

Here's the trailer of the film:


Here's the video of the podcast:


Or you can listen to it on our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast

I had attended the New York premiere of Black Dynamite with producer Matt Richards. I discussed that evening in an earlier blog. Read it here: Black Dynamite

Here are a few photos:
Sean Murphy, Matt Richard and director Scott Sanders.

Deborah Murphy, Michael Jai White, Sean Murphy, Matt Richard


And here's a shot of Matt Richards with Fred Willard on the set of our film Holyman Undercover.




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My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.



Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Friday, January 12, 2018

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #6: The Night Watchmen


In this very special episode of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, an inter-generational look at the movies, we receive a visit from actor/producer Ken Arnold to discuss his recently-released horror comedy The Night Watchmen. The crew all really enjoyed the film and got to discuss the fascinating path this independent film took toward completion. We also learn the drawbacks of using corn syrup as blood make-up on a day-to-day basis.


Here's the trailer of the film:



Here's the video of the podcast:




Or you can listen to it on our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast

And if don't mind me ringing the bell, as it were, here's Ken in the title role of our short film that won the 48 Hour Film Festival International HD Showdown:


Our Podcast is now available for download on iTunes. Please subscribe!

Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
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Check out Ken's webpage: Ken Arnold
And follow him on Twitter: @kenarnoldactor

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.



Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Writer Tip #19: Readers


Trust me, dear reader, there is an endless supply of charlatans lined up waiting to separate unwary screenwriters from their money.

I strongly advise you to run, not walk, from any so-called manager, agent, or producer who asks you for money. I also believe most screenwriting contests are rip-offs, too. I have never been to one of those paid pitch-a-thons I see advertised online. I can't believe they are worth the money either. Who wants to be the 97th person in line to pitch some poor schmuck from a production company five log-lines? Not me. That said, I do believe it is worthwhile for a screenwriter to invest in a good reader.

I have always been blessed to have friends and associates who were both willing to read my scripts, and qualified to offer an intelligent opinion. Screenplays are not books. They are not an end product, but rather the blueprint of a film. People without an knowledge of screenplay form and structure may be able evaluate the quality of your story, but not necessarily the quality of your script.

For example, I recently read a script from a promising young screenwriter. She had been getting generally good feedback on the script, but she knew something was wrong with it. I read it. The script indeed featured the kind of lively characters that production companies want to see, but it had a glaring structural problem that relegated it to the "Thanks, but no thanks" pile. She was very grateful for my feedback, and made the necessary corrections. She only wished someone in her immediate circle who could have provided the feedback earlier.

My main reader today is my friend Trish, who worked in Hollywood as an assistant to well-known directors and producers. In addition to the knowledge necessary to evaluate scripts, she also possesses the honesty necessary to express it. That's what you need: Honesty. Brutal honesty. Remember, when you pitch your script, you won't just be competing with the local schlubs from your screenwriting class. You will be competing directly with pros like David Koepp, Shane Black, Ron Bass, and Joss Whedon. You better really make sure your script is honed.

One of the reasons I rarely read scripts is because most unproduced writers do not really appreciate or want honesty. They often get defensive and fight every little criticism and suggestion. I think most them have this fantasy that I will be so blown away by their writing that I will shower them with praise and send their script along to all of my contacts as is. Ain't going to happen. Sorry.

(Just as an aside, I never use readers for commissioned work. The producers who hired you are the readers!)

Aside from some reviews I had to purchase when I put a script on The Black List, I have not bought reviews from any of the multitude of script reading services online. I am sure there are many good ones.  If my friend Trish wasn't available, I would certainly trust the opinion of my friend David Warfield, who consults via his website StorySolver.  He is a successful writer with great Hollywood experience and a skilled teacher.

I am extremely skeptical of readers who claim to connect screenwriters with whom they have given a "recommend" with Hollywood producers. These services are factories dependent on repeat business to make a profit. They only get repeat business by encouraging their clients with recommends, and the more recommends you give, the less credibility you have. How many scripts do you think these companies can recommend to producers and still be taken seriously?  Not many.  If they do actually forward their recommends to producers, it must be in the form of a mass emailing that goes straight into the spam folder. Don't pay for that. You can email those same producers yourself.

One final word of advice: Don't believe everything everyone tells you. Sometimes you have to go with your gut. I ignore the opinion of the mighty Trish when I disagree with her. I realize that if she has a problem with something that other people will too, but sometimes you have to follow your vision.

Other Writing Tips:


Preview my horrifying new novel Chapel Street on Amazon:


Learn more about the book, click Here.

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Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #5: Cinema Paradiso


On this episode of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, an inter-generational look at the movies, our millennial representative Hassan brings us the classic 1988 Italian, Academy-Award-winning favorite Cinema Paradiso. It was a film we were all prepared to enjoy until our special guest, writer and comedienne Michele Wojciechowski (Wojo) brings her report on the newly-released director's cut of the film. The revelations in those restored fifty-odd minutes change the focus of the film and our opinions of some of the beloved characters. Be sure to check out the discussion.

Here's the trailer of the film:


Here's the video of the podcast:


Or you can listen to it on our webpage:  Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast

Our Podcast is now available for download on iTunes. Please subscribe!
Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out Wojo's webpage: Wojo's World
And follow her on Twitter: @TheMicheleWojo

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.



Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here:

Wednesday, January 3, 2018

Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast #4: Hellraiser


On this episode of the Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast, an inter-generational look at the movies, Generation Y member "Just Al" brings us the transgressive horror film Hellraiser, The crew agrees that the 1987 film, written and directed by Clive Barker, features some of the most iconic images and characters of the 80's horror cinema, but we disagree wildly about whether the film is any good. Listen to the lively discussion and feel free to express your opinion on Twitter or Facebook.

Here's the trailer of the original film:



Here's the video of the podcast:



Or you can listen to it on our webpage: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast
Our Podcast is now available for download on iTunes. Please subscribe!

Like us on Facebook: Yippee-Ki-Yay Mother Podcast.
Follow us on Twitter: YKYPodcast

Check out our other episodes here:


My novel Chapel Street is now available! You can currently buy the Kindle and paperback at Amazon and the Nook, paperback and hardcover at Barnes & Noble.



Learn more about the book, click Here.

Listen to me read some chapters here: