Edwin Adrian Nieves: Director in Tarrytown, New York.

Good job with the interview, Trev. We're on the same boat with admiring Malick's filmmaking.

Thanks for putting this up, Edwin. Terrance Malick has long been inspirational for me.

Absolutely loved this video, truly all the best! Edwin Adrian Nieves

Al- I am saving it . It's my get into movies last resort I have tried everything else my Uncle Hy Anzell(IMDB)was great with you can you give me a letter of introduction card. P.S. Yes I have met him and yes He knows who I am and yes I want to wait till Moskowitz & Lupowitz is ready(my 5th script) and then and only then might I try. But it is a very tricky subject. I got my cousin Gary Craig to contend with who might put up some road blocks. "Don't ask" Family oi vay Show Business family Oi Oi Vay. Well that's the story. I think I might go with my Moses short script before HSM , It is very Mel Brooks funny and it is a short with only (4) interior scenes and half the actors. Because let me tell you something: As killer a script HSM is its going toibe a monster, NYC exterior shots, Period picture, extras a whole big deal. Who knows maybe I will win PAGE or Nicholl and let someone else produce it. Because let me tell you something. When it comes to ideas for movies I have endless ideas .Endless. There are stacks of paper I throw on memo pads and scrap paper. I only started writing HSM in August 2014, I now have (12) scripts on my celtx program in the genres of Comedy, Sports Comedy, Action/Adventure, Sci Fi, Documentary Animation and (1) TV sit com(Yeech! Boob Tube) and one TV drama pilot. I wish my father the musician/composer was still alive. All the time he was alive I only did advertising copy writing and than went into telemarketing for Carnegie Hall.(started in 1998. Always was the black sheep of my family around the Thanksgiving table. Surrounded by my Uncles, Aunts, cousins all actors, Musicians and Composers.They would call me Mr. Madison Avenue. Even as a teenager my Father and my Uncle tried to get me into show business but I refused. Make a buck make a buck. Who knew at the ripe young age of 62 I would finally find my voice , my passion. It is the most fun I have with my clothes on. I love telling stories making up stories. The joy I get when someone laughs at what I write you cannot put a price on then again if it is in Macy's window you got to hey lets face it we want to sell some tickets here. Sometimes when I sit down at the keyboard and start pounding away I never know where it is going to lead. I however do have enough sense to make sure the (2) screenplays I have posted on my Profile page have US copyrights. You know C.Y.A. Oh well I guess I went off on the deep end with Woody Allen. I guess he was probably the final element that got me to screenwriting. Did I ever tell you the story of that chance meeting I had with him? No well maybe some other time. Oh well what the heck So I am walking along East 81 street one day towards Central Park when I see him up ahead with his wife (this was July 2014). So I don't want to be a paparazzi and I was still quite happy working at Carnegie Hall at my telemarketing job. So than I thought you know I could walk up along side him and just thank him for all the great roles he gave my Uncle Hy Anzell(IMDB) over the years. So that's what I did. It started a short 2 minute conversation which ended with: "Well if you ever get into the business let me know" . A month later on August 16th to be exact at 3 AM in the morning no less I am sitting in the Hot N' Crusty Bagel Shop over on Lexington Avenue and 85th street just practicing my Spanish and hanging out with my Mexican friends when I hear a Madonna song on the Radio. It triggers a memory of a news event I was part of back in 1985. And then I thought of my encounter with Woody. The next thing I know I am in the CVS buying a $1.19 memo pad of 80 pages and a couple of pens. (10) memo pads ,847 pages later(they were small memo pads) I had a script called "HOPE SAVES MANHATTAN" I wrote every solitary word in that Bagel shop in the wee hours of the morning over the next several weeks. The guys started a nickname for me "Senor Hollywood". Anyway that is how I started this Journey. And you're right Al sooner or later there will be another conversation with the Woodman. But it has got to be timed just right and I am only going to get one shot. I think when M&L is done. Because when My Uncle Hy Anzell(IMDB) was alive he always wanted Woody to make a film about Moskowitz & Lupowitz our families legendary Show Business restaurant. But Woody would always say sure but show me a script Hy. Hy never did. But I can and I have about 40 more pages to go. And I am not taking any chances with my cousin Gary. It is copyrighted. Let him try He never was an Anzelowitz and never will be. You see My father and my two Uncles Hy and Bob never let my Aunt Bunny (Gary's Mom) to be involved in the restaurant and I remember all the fights that Gary, Phillip, Andre and my sister Lois all heard. I think that is why Gary has such a resentment towards me entering the family Business. Because since Uncle Hy died he is now the family show business success. He does not want another Anzelowitz to come in and ruin his glory. Thanks for reading AL. sorry I rambled on.

For one thing when you're asking for money never give a range. Know exactly what you can make it for and stick with that budget. It makes it look like you don't know what you're doing when you don't have an exact budget. Investors are thinking, "Well which is it $100,000 or $250,000."

Steven- thanks for sharing your story. It's actually nice to know that someone besides me rambles on once in a while! ha ha. I totally agree with your strategy of keeping powder dry till you're ready.

Murch is a big figure in world cinema.

No. As long as you've got a well-crafted story, length isn't that much of an issue, the reader's going to be sucked in.

Yes.

Being on the short side is always better. Think of a meal. You finish a great meal. The chef says I have more if you would like it. "Yes please," you say. And more arrives.

You had a desire for more and it was satisfied. But if there wasn't more. Being left with that desire is still a nice experience.

On the flip side. You are eating. You have had enough, no matter how good the food is, see at least half a plate in front of you ruins the experience. Perhaps the chef has no idea of potioning.

I aim for 110 pages or less - ideally 105 - just because the books says "120 pages," remember that each extra page is $$$$$$$$ - don't write and write assuming the reader will read on - if you don't hook them in the first ten pages, it doesn't matter how many pages your write, 110 or 150 - you are selling a product not a piece of writing if that makes sense

I hadn't heard of No Alternative or The Fifth Wall movement, but I will now be learning more about both. I agree wholeheartedly with this article. Thanks, Edwin!

Glad you enjoyed the article, Marli!

Shorts can be a great tool to build audience and for the filmmaker to distinguish him or herself. Digital technology has democratized filmmaking so, especially for an independent filmmaker, they allow you to show your filmmaker's style and what you can offer as an experience to viewers. I also just think that it's great they add to one's filmography. I always wish, after watching all the films of Kubrick or Scorsese, for example, that there could be more work for me to discover from these directors that spark my interest. If shorts can add to my appreciation of certain filmmakers, then I say keep them coming.

I agree, Edwin. Plus, some ideas are better served through a short film. When I watch a feature film where the concept feels 'watered down', I think about the impact it would have had as a short. It's great to have the option, even if the money isn't quite there...yet. : ) Although, I understand where you're coming from as well, JD.

Thanks for sharing the information and "A Reasonable Request"> Truly, brilliant, funny, dare I say 'Heartwarming".

I want also to annunce, that I am writing the development of my first length featured movie :) I hope to have the first draft around June, it is a Drama with a subgenre familiar drama with a mix of genres comedy, with a proof trama and or educational trama too..., it is a very very low budget idependent film..., so if there are any producer that could be interesting will be great to have a talk about..., one thing I am back in Spain canary islands so hopefully distance will be not a problem..., we will never be so far from each other enough in order to make a great movie... ;)

anyway I will do it by myself, so don´t be committed..., I just want to share...

ok a good producer will be welcome... :)

Edwin - you're right about Mr. Vallee. He's been very prolific over the last few years. William - you're right...that's a really great opening scene.

Wild features an unexpectedly cool performance from the love W. Earl Brown (Deadwood, Black Mass). He's a nice man and one of our greatest character actors.

Just came back to Stage32 from watching Demolition...highly recommended!

Not to get off-subject....but since the beginning of time, the creation and interpretation of art has been and continues to be personal and subjective. I wouldn't say "this isn't art" if someone else feels that it is. Like Phillip Hardy's hair, for example. Man....that is some piece of art, bro! How do you do that? I'd need at least a 50% wallpaper powder ratio mixed in with 25% spray and 25% gel to achieve that type of hold and effect

Bill: Here's the hair secret. I cut is short and spikey like Kirk in Spartacus. Then while it's damp, I use Crew extra hold molding stuff and then spray with any cheap hairspray, voila! it's a quick, easy regimen and I'm blessed to not have a ridiculous comb over like the leading Republican candidate.

LOL, that was great Phillip. And yes, I believe screenwriting is art...actually fine art.

These are great additions! Alicia Vikander was also amazing in Ex Machina and A Royal Affair. She's one of my favorites, but I still need to see Pure. Emily Blunt is another favorite of mine and Michelle Williams gave a powerful performance in Blue Valentine...I haven't seen Meek's Cutoff. I'm not yet familiar with Anya Taylor-Joy, but I will make it a point to see The Witch. Three more movies for me to see...another movie marathon this weekend. : ) Thanks for sharing, Edwin! Oh, I almost forgot Shu-Qi in The Assassin...make it four!

Oh, and Charlotte Rampling in 45 Years!

Absolutely, Charlotte Rampling is brilliant in everything, from Stardust Memories and The Look, to her guest appearances on Dexter! It's powerful to play such a memorable character in a series about killers, without being a character that actually kills. : ) I haven't seen 45 Years, so it is now on my 'must-see' list, to which you have now added five films. Thanks again, Edwin...and keep 'em comin'!

List of today's filmmakers I feel accomplish "masterly" work in film: Nuri Bilge Ceylan, Steve McQueen, Martin Scorsese, Wong Kar-wai, David Lynch, Alejandro Gonzalez Iñárritu, Terrence Malick, Nicolas Winding Refn, Claire Denis, Hou Hsiao-hsien, Tsai Ming-liang, Joel and Ethan Coen,, Apichatpong Weerasethakul, and I just realized, lucky for us, there's more to include. A first feature filmmaker that I have my eyes on is Robert Eggers, the director of The Witch. His film just felt like a veteran of filmmaking directed it. Highly recommended!

This is a great list, Edwin! I didn't recognize a couple of the names, but I will definitely check them out. Thanks for sharing!

Awesome, Marli! And if I can be of any help with where to start, let me know!

1. It's a team sport. It's basketball not golf. No matter how talented you are, you ain't that special until you're paired up with at least one or two other great actors/directors/writers/producers. Even geniuses have real limitations. Scorsese doesn't write his own scripts neither does David Fincher. Tarantino is an outlier among outliers, he's a movie savant, a guy who's seen 5 times as many movies as anyone else. Just about everyone else in Hollywood is very much dependent on another talented person or two or three to have any hope of success.
   2. So because it's a team sport, figure out what you do well and do that. Are you a good 3-point shooter? THEN JUST DO THAT. Don't waste time trying to be a low-post player and a floor general and a slasher. If you suck at dialogue, you will probably always suck at dialogue, so get a co-writer to work with or let the actors have freedom to reimagine the dialogue. If you're not visual, don't try to be more visual, team up with a talented DP - recognize your strengths and be honest about your weaknesses - this way you will vastly improve your odds of making a good product and enjoy the process more

Vincent's advice is good too!

Hire a career 1st A.D. and listen to them., Raise a budget big enough for what you want to do and cast name actors

this was the film that changed my whole perspective towards films. watched it in film school since then it is my bible