ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (March/April 2010)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out now.

For this issue, I had the pleasure to sit down with Linda Woolverton (Beauty & The Beast) and chat about her script for Alice in Wonderland. We talked about her decision to blend all of Lewis Carroll's Alice-texts together to create a revisionist sequel (of sorts), and she told me an insane story of how she broke into this business by marching into Disney and literally leaving her sample at the front desk.

For Alice, she got to make up a whole bunch of gibberish words in Carroll's style (awesome), and she revealed her favorite was futterwacken.

What does it mean? It's in the article...

Also in this issue, get ready for the final adventure from The Case Files of The Unlawyer.

A few years after moving to LA, I got one of the most unusual jobs: working in a high end entertainment law firm masquerading as a lawyer.

This is a true story.

I have been documenting the legal(ish) victories and the stressful disasters which could have been prevented by, presumably, a law degree... but the time has come to hang up the suit and tie.

The final installment --where I actually negotiated a contract for myself-- is called Talk To My Unlawyer.

Buy your copy today or subscribe here!

Illustration by wunderkind Paul Pape.

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (Jan/Feb 2010)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out!

Everyone always wants to know how to GET an agent... but for this issue, I decided to discuss something far more valuable: how to GET RID of one. There is truly nothing worse than the realization that the rep you worked so hard to land is as effectual as banking legislation.

Check out the full lesson plan -- How (Not) To Fire Your Rep -- in this month's issue.

Buy your copy today or subscribe here!


And check out the cool illustration by the incomparable Paul Pape.

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (Nov/Dec 09)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out!

For this issue, I decided to go way back into the recesses of our career horror stories to reminisce on the writing process of our first celebrity look-alike reality game show.

Yes, that's right, I said the FIRST.

Over the years, we were actually hired to write THREE different celebrity look-alike reality game shows: all were on different networks, with different producers... but, not surprisingly, all had exactly the same result: unmitigated disaster followed by subsequent (and immediate) cancellation.

But while working on the first of these masterpieces, Wade and I were truly inspired to strive for mediocrity thanks to the producer's motivating words.

Check out the full tale-- Aspiring To Passable --in this month's issue.

Buy your copy today or subscribe!

Illustration by my dear old friend, the incredibly talented Paul Pape.

Paul and I also collaborated on another little Easter Egg tucked away in this same issue. Enjoy!

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (July/Aug 09)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out!

For this issue, I wrote a heartwarming piece about the value of burning one's bridges in Hollywood. Sure, it's counter intuitive, but I feel I make a pretty compelling case. Sometimes, to protect yourself out here, it's best to simply light a match, take a step back and set a former business relationship ablaze.

All the names in the piece have been changed...

Oh, except for Craig's.

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Burning Bridges

Illustration By: Lisa DiPaula

From the Forums

Several months ago, I had the fortune to interview Matt Nix, the creator of USA's hit, Burn Notice. We chatted about breaking show's twisty plot lines, Matt's writing process, and then we blew up a CIA outpost.

I was proud of the article (which appeared in the Jan/Feb 2009 issue of Script Magazine), and recently, my editor discovered it was the topic of a Burn Notice Forum thread.

Not only do the fans declare the article to be "THE best Burn Notice-related interview," but they also seem to think my name is Aaron Goldberg. Sure. Let's just call it an alias...

Read the full thread here.

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (May/June 2009)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out!

For this issue, I got to sit down to chat with John Brancato and Michael Ferris about their small, quirky indie film, Terminator Salvation. Maybe you've heard of it? Not only do I get their two cents on the infamous Bale Meltdown, corner them on the death of their wonderfully bizarre fake identity, but we also have a cool discussion about writing oneself into a serious corner. As in: what happens when you end your previous movie with the full blown Apocalypse... and then the studios ask for a follow up?

Also in this issue, another exciting adventure from The Case Files of The Unlawyer.

In "Your Leopard Is Stuck In Customs," I discover that masquerading as an entertainment attorney at a reputable firm in Los Angeles isn't all fun and games. In fact, even the smallest mistakes can quickly ripple through the globe. Just ask the leopard.

True story.

Get your copy today, or just subscribe!

Your Leopard Is Stuck In Customs

Illustration By: Lisa DiPaula

The Key Lazzi

I just returned from a brief stint in Dallas where I was co-directing (with Kitchen Dog Theater co-Artistic Director Tina Parker) an awesome new play by Yussef El Guindi called Jihad Jones and the Kalashnikov Babes.

In it, an Arab-American actor finally gets his big Hollywood break. Unfortunately, that break is playing Mohammed, the most grotesquely stereotypical Islamic terrorist ever conceived. So, how much is one's dignity really worth?

One of the scenes we worked on (for hours) is a massively farcical comic set piece. Michael Federico, the brilliant actor playing the smarmy talent agent, blogged about his experiences in rehearsal on KERA.org's website.

Read his hilarious version of The Actor's Nightmare here.

And hey, if you're in Dallas, don't miss the final production of KDT's 08/09 season.

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (March/April 09)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is out!

This time around, I was thrilled to learn that my feature interview with Susannah Grant about her script for Joe Wright's upcoming drama, The Soloist, made the cover story. Susannah is an amazing writer, and our fantastic conversation delved beyond process and into the writer's responsibility to protect truth in storytelling.

Also in this issue, I share yet another dazzling tale of Hollywood douche-baggery!

In my article, Additional Writing, I ask the question: Just how much would it suck if you wrote a film that went to Sundance and the director took your name off of it?

Answer: A shit ton.

True story.

Get your copy today, or just subscribe!

Additional Writing
Illustration By: Lisa DiPaula

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (Jan/Feb 09)

Matt Nix [Creator/EP of Burn Notice]
and Aaron Ginsburg visit a CIA Defense Contractor.

That's right, the latest issue of Script Magazine is out now.

This time around, I tried my hand at some Gonzo journalism. Thankfully, Matt Nix was game and Spy Games, the piece that came out of our discussions about his Burn Notice writing process, was explosive... to say the least. Pretty proud of this one.

In the mag, you will also find my article, What A Load Of Talent, which details how a promising VH1 clip-show pilot Wade and I wrote several years ago ended up on the shelf, never to see the light of day again.

Buy your copy today!

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (Nov/Dec 08)

The latest issue of SCRIPT Magazine is on newsstands now.

In it, you will find my essay, The Unlawyer. This is the first of several tales which will recount the time when I accepted a job pretending to be an entertainment lawyer at one of Hollywood's most prestigious firms.

No, this is not fiction. Yep, it really happened.

No, I won't negotiate a better back-end deal for you on your latest film gig. The Unlawyer has retired, but his story is finally being told...

Buy your copy today!

ARTICLES: FOOD FIGHT!

AFI Los Angeles has announced the date and time for the screening of the documentary we worked on, FOOD FIGHT.

If you have freakishly superhuman eyesight, you can read the miniaturized version of an article about it that I'm posting right here...

If you have normal old human eyes, like me, then just follow this link.

If you have an unnatural fear of following hyperlinks through the spooky internet, here's the most important information:

FOOD FIGHT - Screening (Free!)

Saturday, November 8th 3:15pm
Mann Chinese 6
Hollywood, California

Hope to see you there!

ON NEWSTANDS: Script Magazine (Sept/Oct 08)

The latest issue of Script Magazine is on newstands now.

In it, you will find my interview with Inside Man's Russell Gewirtz where I do everything in my power to get him to reveal the big surprise twist ending of his next film, Righteous Kill.

You'll also find my one-on-one sit down chat with The Shield's Shawn Ryan where we talk about the final season of The Shield, the effects of writers strike, and who he likes better: me or Wade.

Also, you'll find my latest column, Making an Impression, where I talk about the time I nearly peed my pants in Spielberg's offices. No joke.

Buy your copy today!