CrowdFunding ShoutOut: The Big 3 Project

CrowdFunding Shoutout

by Dave Bullis

In 2003, I was fortunate enough to come across one of the funniest movies ever made. I was flipping through the channels and came to a movie on Comedy Central. That movie was Windy City Heat . If you haven't seen it, GO BUY IT NOW! Trust me you won't regret it. 

The cult classic follow the comedy team, 'The Big 3', made up of Don Barris, Walter 'Mole' Molinski and the star of the film, Perry F Caravello, as they make a movie, 'Windy City Heat.' The concept is Perry play's Chicago sports PI, Stone Fury, as he tracks down a missing refrigerator belonging to William 'The Refrigerator' Perry. The twist? It's all an elaborate prank on Perry as the movie is completely fake and everyone on set is in on it... expect Perry of course. 

Directed by Bobcat Goldthwait and co written by Jimmy Kimmel, the film has cameo's from other celebs including Adam Corolla, Carson Daly and Dane Cook.
The film follows the The Big 3 as cameras are set up in a variety of locations to capture all of the pranks and crazy situations Perry is put in. Over the years the film has developed a cult following and various celebrities from Johnny Knoxville to Eminem have raved about the film. 

Here's a clip from the movie. 

The Big 3 have recently launched a project on the crowdfunding platform, FundAnything, to make a new reality show. Check out it and donate as little as $1 to help this great project. Trust me you won't regret it and if you're still hesitant on donating, check out their weekly free podcast. It's my favorite podcast out there and comes highly recommended. 

Today (11/22/13) their fan base are pushing to get #5ForWCH2 trending on Twitter. 

In closing, to paraphrase Perry from a scene in the movie, " Of all the gin joints in all the world, frankly my dear I don't give a damn." 

- Dave
Writer/Director/Producer
http://DaveBullis.Com
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Writers Wednesday: Remembering Syd Field

On Monday, Syd Field, noted screenwriting guru passed away.

Today there are a plethora of screenwriting books available (and yes I own most of them). A few are great,some are good, most are average. When reading through many of these books a lot will reference three books:
1. Robert McKee's 'Story'
2. Blake Snyder's, 'Save The Cat',
3. Syd Field's, 'Screenplay: The Foundations of ScreenWriting'

His book, Screenplay: The Foundations of ScreenWriting, was first released in 1979 and started the ball rolling of the topic of dissecting screenwriting as it became a best seller. (McKee's book was published in 1997 and Snyder's book was published in 2005). Syd's book made a mark because it was the first to really tear screenwriting down to the nuts and bolts. From that book, Field went on to write several more best sellers relating to screenwriting.













(Evolution of the 3 Act Structure)

Over the years Syd became a story consultant Disney, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Tri-Star and countless others. From there Syd toured the world giving seminars/workshops influencing countless people.

Syd went on to because the 1st inductee into the ScreenWriting Hall of Fame of the American ScreenWriting Association and an induction into the Final Draft Hall of Fame in 2012.

(Noted screenwriter John August tweets about Syd Field's passing)


Over the years, I've met a lot of screenwriting teachers and been to writer's group's where Syd is considered a guide and some where his book is considered to do more harm than good. Each side would discuss and defend their assertions but the fact remains that his book is pretty much the one book every screenwriter has read.

Tina Fey, (30 Rock, SNL) summed it up with her comment on his passing, "I did a million drafts and then I did the thing everybody does - I read Syd Field and I used my index cards."

Have you read any of Syd's books? Have they worked for you? If so please comment in the section below.

Keep writing,

Dave
Http://DaveBullis.Com

Netflix Instant Picks: October 2013

Cabin In The Woods (Goddard, 2011) - An homage of several different films,
CITW puts a new spin onto the Horror/Comedy film. 

I Sell The Dead (McQuaid, 2008) - A Horror/Comedy about grave robbers.

When a priest (Ron Pearlman) seeks a confession from one of the robbers,
 Arthur Blake (Dominic Monaghan) recounts his time robbing graves. 

Maniac (Khalfoun, 2012) - A remake of the 1980 film, the film is shot entirely from the murderer's, Frank Zito, (Elijah Wood) point of view. Frank is a loner who stalks and kills various women through out the city in order to 'build the perfect woman." 

PontyPool (McDonald, 2008) - An excellent film that feels like a hybrid of a film & stageplay. It follows a shock jock/radio announcer, Grant Mazzy (Stephen McHattie) and his crew as they attempt to figure out the strange occurences going on throughout the city. 

Slither (Gunn, 2006) - When a meteorite carrying an alien parasite is unleashed into a town all the residents become infected. 

The Frighteners (Jackson, 1996) - Frank Bannister (Michael J Fox) has the ability to see ghosts as a result from a car accident, he befriends 3 ghosts and starts a ghost busting business. When numbers begin to appear on people's foreheads, Frank soon has to face a ghost dressed as the Grim Reaper. 

Return to Horror High (Froehlich 1987) - If you like the campy 80's style horror then this is for you. A film crew sets to make a movie based upon real killings that happened years ago. When the killings start happening again, several cast members wonder if the killer is back. Also stars George Clooney in his first film role. 

Do you have any favorites playing on Netflix instant? Post them below!

- Dave
http://DaveBullis.com

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