Writing in the Dark,, an apt metaphor for anyone who has ever tried to tap out words on a backlit screen. This book, a collection of essays gathered by Max van Manen, shows how "different kinds of human experience may be explored, the methods for investigating phenomena contributing to human experience…the process of inquiry, reflection and writing…a valuable and rich resource". That is to say, writing is an attempt to reflect what goes on inside us. Inside us is where "story" occurs.Scott Popjes maintains a busy schedule, writing, producing and editing major theatrical trailers, promos and EPK's and developing and producing TV series and films, such as "The Remarkably 20th Century" and "The Long Ride Home". Born and raised in suburban New Jersey, this everyman director/editor loves making movies.Ernest Hemingway - The man who ran with the bulls. His literary sparseness and compression, well-worn and well-earned, captured the attention of critics and public in a volatile age. In 1952, he received the Pulitzer for The Old Man and the Sea. In 1954, he received the Nobel Prize for his "powerful style-making mastery of the modern art of narration." He wrote from life. Until his life subdued and rescued him.Will Shakespeare - Aka "The bard". Arguably the best English writer to ever glide pen to page, populist hero as well as aristocratic raconteur, though we wish he had used all women instead of all men to populate his plays. (Not a prejudice, just a fact.) His sonnets remain divine. Rare is the writer who can scribble successfully in one genre, let alone two. Some postulate this poet and playwright was, in fact, more than one man…or woman. What would he have done with film, we wonder?Though he produced fewer than 40 paintings, Dutch painter Jan Vermeer is one of the most respected artists of the European tradition. He is known for his serene, luminous interiors populated by one or two figures. Vermeer grew up in Delft, Holland, joined the painters' guild in 1653, and worked as an art dealer to support his wife and 11 children. In 1672, war with France ruined Holland’s economy and Vermeer's business failed. Soon after, he died of a stroke at age 42, leaving his family bankrupt. Vermeer's paintings were largely forgotten for nearly 200 years, until 1858 when a French critic began to write admiringly about his work. Interest in Vermeer surged again recently with his work exhibited at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City. Contemporary writers have also been inspired by him, including Tracy Chevalier whose novel Girl with a Pearl Earring imagines the life of the girl in Vermeer's painting of the same name. L.Ron Hubbard - Whatever you may think of his other worldly beliefs, the full body of L. Ron Hubbard's work includes more than 5,000 writings and 3,000 tape-recorded lectures, spanning five, highly productive decades. A humanitarian and adventurer, he believes, "There are only two tests of a life well lived: Did one do as one intended? And were people glad one lived?" We add, "And can one write about it, anyhow?"Johannes Vermeer's "Lady Writing a Letter with Her Maid" records a prior chivalrous age where class decorum reigned. (Oh, well, you can't have everything.) One of the most talented painters in the Dutch Golden Age, that's the 1600's, Vermeer's work was forgotten for centuries. The most brilliant artists of any century are probably never discovered, their paintings hidden till ruin, their pages dropping to dust in unfound attics. We find this oddly comforting. No martyr of time, this particular masterpiece hangs in the National Gallery of Ireland. Definitely worth a gaze.Jules Verne - Ode to childhood and the player within us. Verne was born, aptly, in Nates, France in 1828. He promptly ran off to become cabin boy on a merchant ship but was caught and sent back to his parents. Thus constrained, his imagination wandered. He wrote story after story, became very rich, bought a yacht and resumed his initial intent - to sail around the world. Or Europe anyhow. Our favorite remains Twenty Thousand Leagues.

TWP Interview With Screenwriter/Producer
Parker Briscoe

   
Parker Briscoe, 3rd place winner in The Writers Place
(TWP) Nov 04 - Apr 05 teleplay/short competition,
takes his winning script, Folklore , a step closer to fruition.
Folklore is fully story-boarded, and filming begins in late August 2006.
Scheduled release is for early to mid 2008.

How long have you been writing?
Since my youth -- I grew up in a northern Canadian city in the 70's & 80's. It was hard for an
artist to emerge and get support for making movies. But when you have stories in you all you need is a pen and paper, so I wrote. It has only been the last 2-3 years that I've been trying to write professionally.

What other scripts have you written?
I've written several features, both for live action & animation. They range from children's fantasy to horror. My subject matter tends to lean more towards the fantasy/thriller/horror
side of things.

What kind of writing recognition have you received over the years?
I'm still pleasantly surprised to see my scripts make it into the top 400 or 200 or get onto the "Consider" list for well-known screenplay competitions.

Has Folklore won recognition from other screenplay contests?
I made it to the finals of The Bare Bones, Filmmakers International, and American Gem 2005 contests.

Why did you submit Folklore to TWP?
I wrote this neat short script. TWP had a great rep - 4 stars on Moviebytes.com. And you accepted short scripts, so I sent it.

Has TWP truly been instrumental in Folklore getting off the ground? If so, how did TWP contribute?
Getting the 3rd place award from TWP was everything to get Folklore off the ground. This certificate has turned into a badge for me. I've been flashing it around at the right times and
it has got me through some doors to talk with people. I keep the original on my wall. I have a copy of it in my wallet.

When did pre-production begin on Folklore?
Three months ago in June I said I'm making this film, I was the one green-lighting it. I now have costumes and FX being made and a CG team working with me. I found a beautiful location for the sets and hired a cool team of budding actors and crew that love the project. First day of
production is August 21st.

What phase of production is Folklore in at present?
I'm in that stressful crunch just before filming. I'm finalizing my costumes and trying to secure my props. I'm keeping my Vancouver SPFX guys on track and pleasantly pushing them to make my deadlines. The 21st is rolling up fast.

When do you anticipate the release of Folklore?
I want Folklore ready for the festival submission dates in 2007. I'm not under any outside pressure, just my own deadlines. I want post-production & CG visual FX to be as quick possible, but I know that the work has to look flawless. It is going to take the rest of the year to complete Post-Production.

What film festivals do you have in mind for Folklore showcasing?
 I do want to try for the big ones. North America has such wonderful festivals: Vancouver Film Festival, Toronto Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival and all the other ones in between. Websites like 'Moviebytes' & 'Withoutabox' are pretty good at listing what is out there.

Once released, can TWP obtain a copy of Folklore for Web site viewing?
As long as I continue to hold the rights to the film I say for sure. Exposure is what I want with this film, and if it means good things for TWP I'm for it.

Do you have any advice for a budding filmmaker?
Write a script then storyboard your movie. People are impressed by seeing your idea. Visit film and make-up schools, say "Hi" to an old film school buddy, go to local theatre groups and film societies and frequent their websites and forums. It's all about meeting people in the arts and getting them to focus on your project.