"The universe is made of stories, not of atoms."
—Muriel Rukeyser
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Showing posts with label Marilyn Horowitz. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Marilyn Horowitz. Show all posts

In Conversation with Marilyn Horowitz: 4 Magic Questions of Screenwriting



Marilyn Horowitz is an award-winning New York University professor, TV show creator, producer, and Manhattan-based writing coach, who works with successful novelists, produced screenwriters, and award-winning filmmakers. She has a passion for helping novices get started. Since 1998 she has taught thousands of aspiring screenwriters to complete a feature length screenplay using her method. She completed her tenure as a judge for the Fulbright Scholarship Program for film and media students in 2013 and as a judge for the New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) Ravenal Foundation Grant. In 2004 she received the coveted New York University Award for Teaching Excellence.

Listen to the Podcast here!


Marilyn Horowitz is an award-winning New York University professor, TV show creator, producer, and Manhattan-based writing coach, who works with successful novelists, produced screenwriters, and award-winning filmmakers. She has a passion for helping novices get started. Since 1998 she has taught thousands of aspiring screenwriters to complete a feature length screenplay using her method. She completed her tenure as a judge for the Fulbright Scholarship Program for film and media students in 2013 and as a judge for the New York Women in Film and Television (NYWIFT) Ravenal Foundation Grant. In 2004 she received the coveted New York University Award for Teaching Excellence.

Professor Horowitz has a created a revolutionary system that yields a new, more effective way of writing. She is the author of six books that help the writer learn her trademarked system, including editions for college, high school, and middle school. The college version is a required text at New York University and the University of California, Long Beach. Two of her books have been used in the Lights, Camera, Literacy! program taught to over 1,000 children in Maryland’s Montgomery County Public School System (a recent recipient of the “Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award” for outstanding scholastic performance).

Professor Horowitz writes articles for Script magazine, and she pens a monthly column for MovieOutline.com, an online magazine with 30,000 subscribers. She is featured in Now Write! Screenwriting anthology published by Tarcher/Penguin edited by Sherry Ellis and the 2014 edition of The Expert Success Solution. Marilyn’s latest novel, The Book of Zev, reached Amazon Best Seller status when it was released in December 2014.

Professor Horowitz has taught more than 100 classes, seminars, and workshops across the country for groups including the Writers Guild of America East, NYWIFT, Philadelphia Writer’s Conference, Script DC, Screenwriters World East, and the Great American PitchFest. In addition, she also hosts periodic writers retreats in Tuscany, Italy.

Professor Horowitz has written several feature-length screenplays. Her production credits include the feature films And Then Came Love (2007), starring Vanessa Williams and distributed by Warner Bros.; Caleb’s Door (2009), distributed by Around the Scenes; Found in Time (2011); Nocturnal Agony (2011); and The One(2011).


From the Writer's Trenches Marilyn Horowitz


One good thing about all of the snow was that it felt great to stay inside and write.  As I sat writing and watched the big white flakes fall, I marveled when I remembered that each snowflake is unique, in the same way that each of our stories is unique.  

One of the principles I use when developing a new TV series or screenplay is to encourage the writer to be as specific as possible. The more specific we are, the more universal we are. By embracing your personal past, ethnicity and race, the better the work gets, and the deeper the connection with the intended audience.

                                 


I met with my friend, Ken Atchity last week. Ken is a former professor turned producer, and is rare combination of erudite erudition, streetwise savvy and kindness. He has just written a new book, Sell Your Story To Hollywood: Writer’s Pocket Guide To The Business of Show Business.

There’s a lot of meaty information, but one thing that really spoke to me was his advice to writers when waiting for a meeting, for the deal to close, or production to happen. DON’T WAIT! Do something while you wait. 

Work on a new project. Every story has it’s own flow and it can take 10 minutes or ten years to set up a project. One of my colleagues just sold a project to Netflix that took ten years!


Ken quotes Ray Bradbury: “ Start writing more. It’ll get rid of those moods you’re having.”


I’m looking forward to speaking to FilmMakeHers, a dynamic group of women dedicated to furthering their careers in the business. I will be giving a talk about how to use The Four Magic Questions Of Screenwriting when structuring a film or TV pilot.  I’m planning to have the attendees use the technique to either structure a new story, or review one they are currently working on during the three-hour class.  It’s so exciting to work on new stories with new people!


Ask you write, consider how your personal history can successfully influence your work, and appreciate your own uniqueness.


Here's to your successful writing!



Professor Marilyn Horowitz

Marilyn Horowitz's the Book of Zev Available for 99 cents TODAY!

“What would you do if you knew you could stop evil?”
 
An exciting thriller about two gentle people who prevent a terrorist from blowing up the U.N. and Israel. 

purchase on Amazon.com




Praise for Marilyn Ida Horowitz and The Book of Zev
“This provocative novel weaves together suspenseful action, torrid sex, wrenching emotion, Jewish mysticism, and the deepest fears at the heart of our times.”
–Kenneth John Atchity, Hollywood producer and author of The Messiah Matrix

“A galvanizing work combining espionage, paranormal phenomena, religion, intrigue, and the realization that everything is political. Horowitz synthesizes these ideas within a psychological tapestry that showcases the decisionmaking prowess of a woman juggling survival and cultural identity.”
–Charles Coleman, Film Program Director, Facets Cinémathèque, Chicago

“A fast-paced political thriller that never loses sight of its heart: a skeptical woman searching for love and a faith she can live with, all while saving the world. A truly original heroine.”
–Chap Taylor, screenwriter, Changing Lanes

“Funny, fast-paced, and highly enjoyable.”
–D.P. Lyle, award-winning author of the Samantha Cody and Dub Walker thriller series

“A devilishly delicious feast and deeply imagined comedic thriller blending Kabbalah, the Bible, contemporary times, geopolitics, and life's absurdities in Portnoyesque fashion.”
–Mark Rubinstein, award-winning author of Mad Dog House and Love Gone Mad

“A fun book, original and full of surprises.”
–Abby Westlake, writer and widow of author Donald Westlake

“Horowitz's storytelling—twisty, sexy, smart—is so skillful, it's hard to believe this is her debut novel.”
–Michael Zam, former Associate Director of Programs in Humanities, NYU

“Well-drawn complex characters, tight suspense, action, and a healthy sprinkle of sexuality make this book a satisfying read.”
–Kristen Houghton, award-winning author of For I Have Sinned: A Cate Harlow Private Investigation

Check out Marilyn Horowitz's The Book of Zev



The Book of Zev is a black-comedy thriller that tells the story of two gentle people who change the course of history. Zev Bronfman, a strapping 32-year old-virgin, angry atheist, refugee from a religious Jewish life, and former engineer for the U.S. Patent Office in Alexandria, Virginia, drives a cab and sleeps around in New York City. After a bitter divorce, Sarah Hirshbaum, a beautiful, redheaded, depressed, God-hating kosher chef, seesaws between yoga and too much red wine. Independently, the two consult the same psychic who inadvertently sends Sarah Zev’s session tape. When Sarah contacts Zev to pick up the cassette, he discovers that she has been recruited by the Mossad to play Mata Hari with the current president of Iran, Mahmoud Zarafshan, who believes he is the 12th Imam, and must instigate Armageddon in order to facilitate the Second Coming. It is up to Sarah and Zev to thwart his plans.


purchase on Amazon.com


WRITING TREATMENTS THAT SELL FEATURED ON DR. MARILYN HORWITZ’ WEBSITE (NYU TISCH CENTER)



AEI client Marilyn Horowitz featured the book on her amazing blogsite—please visit it and get to know her and her great methods for finding the heart in your story.

Excerpt: One of my favorite seminars to teach is "Writing the Treatment" because this rarely taught skill is invaluable for the creation of new material, to analyze and improve current scripts and a compelling way of getting your ideas read. Many times, the treatment can be more difficult than writing the script, so it's important to learn a foolproof method for writing a strong treatment every time.

If you feel you're at a point where a treatment will be helpful, I recommend picking up a copy of Ken Atchity's Writing Treatments That Sell: How to Create and Market Your Story Ideas to the Motion Picture and TV Industry.

Go to Marilyn Horowitz's website here.

WRITING TREATMENTS THAT SELL FEATURED ON DR. MARILYN HORWITZ’ WEBSITE (NYU TISCH CENTER)

New AEI client Marilyn Horowitz featured the book on her amazing blogsite—please visit it and get to know her and her great methods for finding the heart in your story.

Excerpt: One of my favorite seminars to teach is "Writing the Treatment" because this rarely taught skill is invaluable for the creation of new material, to analyze and improve current scripts and a compelling way of getting your ideas read. Many times, the treatment can be more difficult than writing the script, so it's important to learn a foolproof method for writing a strong treatment every time.

If you feel you're at a point where a treatment will be helpful, I recommend picking up a copy of Ken Atchity's Writing Treatments That Sell: How to Create and Market Your Story Ideas to the Motion Picture and TV Industry.

Go to Marilyn Horowitz's website here.