Bill - ProfilesArchive

About Me

This is the trailer I cut for the short film I produced and directed. "A Relaxing Day" is about a couple who go to the beach to relax ... and do everything but. It was written by playwright Theresa Rebeck (who was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in Drama for her Broadway play OMNIUM GATHERUM.

This trailer is rated "F" for frequent (and hopefully funny) use of the F-word. You can find out more about the movie by going to this link: "A RELAXING DAY" WebsiteTrailer for short film "A Relaxing Day"

Add to My ProfileI've written and produced several independent films, but my most noted (notorious?) is CHARMING BILLY , a very intense (some day downright depressing) film I wrote and directed about a guy with a gun on top of a water tower taking out his frustrations on the world below. If you're ever feeling a bit too up or happy, pop this baby in and I guarantee you'll come right down!
I've also written episodes of a couple of animated TV series, which is a fun way to cut loose and try different writing styles. I also teach at the New School in New York City and love the energy creative students bring into my classes, as it inspires me in my own work. You can check out more about my teaching and the script consulting I do at my regular site:

ScripTeach.com
And if you really want to know more, the video below may tell you much more than you care to know about the blood that flows through my veins!

My Interests

Well, definitley movies. And books, music and in moments of uncontrollable weakness, First Person Shooters.

Music:

Do I really have to admit that? I'll just say that my tastes reflect my Midwestern youth and, like FPS computer games, the harder the better.

Movies:

TAXI DRIVER, GODFATHERS I & II, ALIEN, ALIENS, BREAKING AWAY, 2001, SOME LIKE IT HOT, UNFORGIVEN, Sergio Leone spaghetti westerns, THELMA & LOUISE, ZOOLANDER, FIGHT CLUB, THE FISHER KING, THE ROAD WARRIOR... Oh, and...
CHARMING BILLY of course.

Softkey Left softkey Right

Television:

LOST, 24, ER, BOSTON LEGAL, WEST WING (bye-bye), ROBOT CHICKEN, THE DAILY SHOW...

Books:

THE CHOCOLATE WAR by Robert Cormier; THE STAND by Stephen King; BRAVE NEW WORLD by Aldous Huxley; A CLOCKWORK ORANGE by Anthony Burgess; HUCKLEBERRY FINN by Mark Twain; NATIVE TONGUE & STOMY WEATHER by Carl Hiaasen; THE PRINCE OF TIDES by Pat Conroy; COUNT ZERO by William Gibson; THE TITAN TRILOGY by John Varley...

Heroes:

Hmmm ... interesting category. I don't really think too much in terms of heros; there are many famous people who have accomplished much (MLK, Jr., Abraham Lincoln [a fellow Illinois boy!], Ghandi...), but I think I'm more moved and touched by everyday people who do what it takes to achieve their dreams, be it to provide a better life for their kids than they had, to strive to be creative when family, friends and circumstances conspire to convince them they can't be or just be civil and just in all their dealings with both people and environment in a world that doesn't seem to really give a sh*t.

My Blog

Script Copyright & Registration

As a screenwriting teacher at NYC's The New School for almost 16 years, E-V-E-R-Y semester I'm asked by students, "Do I have to send my script in to copyright it? Can't I just mail it to myself and t...
Posted by Bill on Tue, 08 May 2007 08:59:00 PST

REJECTION IS NOT FAILURE

As part of the process of submitting my short film "A Relaxing Day" to festivals, I spend time reading the film festival boards over at www.withoutabox.com. There myself and other filmmakers post abou...
Posted by Bill on Wed, 28 Feb 2007 06:41:00 PST

Advice to An Oscar Nominee!

I had a very cool film experience the other night: I went with a friend to a Kodak event where 10 animation filmmakers showed their stuff and talked about it. Half of the filmmakers had either won Osc...
Posted by Bill on Fri, 12 Jan 2007 09:05:00 PST

Choosing What To Write

As a screenwriting teacher and consultant I often get asked by writers to help them choose which story idea they should write next. Usually they have several ideas burning holes in their mental pocket...
Posted by Bill on Wed, 24 May 2006 01:56:00 PST

To Blog Or Not To Blog?

That is the question these days. I write scripts and teach screenwriting and it seems to me that I see more energy and passion poured into blogs about writing than I see actual writing of scripts. Gra...
Posted by Bill on Tue, 16 May 2006 01:10:00 PST