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.

JACK & DAN Heads to Dallas

Wade and I are currently writing on Matt Nix's awesome new Fox series called Jack & Dan.

Bradley Whitford and Colin Hanks as cops. They don't fight crime. Crime fights them.

It's gonna be incredible.

Read the Observer's announcement by clicking on the article below.

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!

VIGILS: The Reviews Are In!

Vigils has opened.
The reviews are in.

"shows off Haidle's almost uncanny sense of stage poetry - not just in the use of language but in every aspect of the theatrical experience...a haunting piece"
- Dallas Morning News


"It's a breathtaking, satisfying experience...director Aaron Ginsburg creates taut, unforgettable stage pictures while spinning his cast through rapid-fire exchanges and carefully choreographed repetitions.."
- Critical Rant & Rave

""strong, often moving, performances..."
- pegasusnews.com

"Directed by Aaron Ginsburg, the Kitchen Dog production is smart and ingenious, blessed with a remarkable cast..."
- KERA

"Ginsburg and his designers (Craig Siebels, scenic; Christina Dickson, costumes; Laura McMeley, lighting; John M. Flores, sound) succeed in creating a dreamscape of haunting images"
- Theater Jones

OPENING: Vigils at Kitchen Dog Theater

For the last six weeks, I've been directing an amazing play at the equally amazing Kitchen Dog Theater in Dallas, Texas.

Written by Noah Haidle (I also directed his play Mr. Marmalade in 2007 which earned me a DFW Theater Critics Forum Award for Best Direction), Vigils follows a widow who's firefighter husband is killed trying to rescue a baby from a blaze. However, instead of mourning his loss, she does what any normal person would do and locks his soul up in a box in her house. The play is beautiful, heartbreaking, surprising and... yes, a comedy.

The cast (the unrivaled quartet of Tina Parker, Ira Steck, Matthew Gray and Jim Kuenzer) will blow your mind, the technical team (genius extraordinaires Craig Siebels [set], John Flores [sound], Laura McMeley [lighting], Cristee Dixon [costumes], and Ruth Stephenson [stage management]) are brilliant, and my direction ain't half bad either.

It runs through October 10th, 2009 at Kitchen Dog Theater.

Check it out!

REAL HEROES: FIREFIGHTER - Out Now!

Real Heroes: Firefighter, the FPS game we wrote for the cool guys over at Epicenter, is OUT NOW for the Nintendo Wii. Check it out!

The game throws you into Engine Company 13 to battle dangerous blazes along side a ragtag crew of heroes voiced by James Marsters (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), John DiMaggio (Futurama and Gears of War), Jaime Kennedy (Ghost Whisperer), Jenette Goldstein (Aliens), Jack McGee (Rescue Me) and Michael Jace (The Shield).

Featuring Epicenter's proprietary "Thinking Fire" technology, the blazes seem to have a mind of their own as the flames attack structures, potential victims and firefighters themselves.

The coolest part? A portion of the proceeds from the game sales will be donated to the Firefighter Cancer Support Network.

Order your copy now at Amazon.com!

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