by Terre Weisman After 30 years of churning out dozens of unmade film scripts, spec and original sitcoms along with directing two of my own independent features, all the while working a full-time job, I decided to take the ultimate leap—I let go of the steady paycheck and dedicated the next eight years to crafting a more personal film. In my third feature film, Max Dagan, which premieres as the Closing Night Film at Dances With Films on June 30, I explore themes of tragedy and loss, and how one's natural talents and strengths can empower an individual toward healing and redemption. They say write what you know, but I found that writing what I know includes not only my own life experiences, but also the emotional impact of those experiences, good and bad. So, influenced by that advice, I set off to write Max Dagan, which in turn helped me to become the writer and director I always hoped to be. Finally dedicating myself to writing as my sole vocation was the difference between many years of writing and learning the craft to actually being a writer. Making that kind of commitment led me to write not only a deeply personal story but yielded a script with enough potential to attract such wonderful talents as Rob Morrow (Northern Exposure), Michael Madsen (Reservoir Dogs), Zachary Gordon (Diary of a Wimpy Kid), and so many other dedicated artists. Finding Inspiration for Writing Max Dagan As with many original ideas, there is...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Friday, 21 June, 2024