Donald L. Vasicek

Tag: zen

  • “Action, Sex, Violence, Hollywood Zen”

    To write a box office hit screenplay, you
    should do some research first before you
    decide to write a screenplay. Passion for
    your subject matter plays an integral role
    in the writing of your screenplay, but
    common sense dictates that you put certain
    elements in your screenplay if you want to
    sell and get your screenplay produced.
    Otherwise, it will be an exercise in futility
    as far as getting optioned, selling and/or
    getting produced.

    If you research the kinds of genres that
    have been the largest Hollywood box office
    hits, you will see that action,
    violence and sex, however subtle these
    elements may be in these films, dominate
    the box office.

    According to FilmSite.org’s listing, the all-time
    greatest box office hits are:

    1. “Gone With the Wind” (1939)
    2. “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope” (1977)
    3. “The Sound of Music” (1965)
    4. “E. T. The Extra-Terrestrial” (1982)
    5. “The Ten Commandments” (1956)
    6. “Titanic” (1997)
    7. “Jaws” (1975)
    8. “Doctor Zhivago” (1965)
    9. “The Exorcist” (1973)
    10. “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” (1937)
    11. “101 Dalmatians” (1961)
    12. “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1980)
    13. “Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back” (1959)
    14. “Star Wars: Episode VI – Return of the Jedi” (1983)
    15. “The Sting” (1973)
    16. “Raiders of the Lost Ark” (1981)
    17. “Jurassic Park” (1993)
    18. “The Graduate” (1967)
    19. “Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace” (1999)
    20. “Fantasia” (1940)
    21. “The Godfather” (1972)
    22. “Forrest Gump” (1994)
    23. “Mary Poppins” (1964)
    24. “The Lion King” (1994)
    25. “Grease” (1978)
    26. “Thunderball” (1965)
    27. “The Jungle Book” (1967)
    28. “Sleeping Beauty” (1959)
    29. “Shrek 2” (2004)
    30. “Ghostbusters” (1984)
    31. “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” (1969)
    32. “Love Story” (1970)
    33. “Spider-Man” (2002)
    34. “Independence Day” (1996)
    35. “Home Alone” (1990)
    36. “Pinocchio” (1940)
    37. “Cleopatra” (1963)
    38. “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984)
    39. “Goldfinger” (1964)
    40. “Airport” (1970)
    41. “American Graffiti” (1973)
    42. “The Robe” (1953)
    43. “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” (2006)
    44. “Around the World in 80 Days” (1956)
    45. “Bambi” (1942)
    46. “Blazing Saddles” (1974)
    47. “Batman” (1989)
    48. “The Bells of St. Mary’s” (1945)
    49. “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” (2003)
    50. “The Towering Inferno” (1974)
    51. “Spider-Man 2” (2004)
    52. “My Fair Lady” (1964)
    53. “The Greatest Show on Earth” (1952)
    54. “National Lampoon’s Animal House” (1978)
    55. “The Passion of the Christ” (2004)
    56. “Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith”(2005)
    57. “Back to the Future” (1985)
    58. “The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers” (2002)
    59. “The Sixth Sense” (1999)
    60. Superman (1978)
    61. Tootsie (1982)
    62. “Smokey and the Bandit” (1977)
    63. “Finding Nemo” (2003)
    64. “West Side Story” (1961)
    65. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (2001)
    66. “Lady and the Tramp” (1955)
    67. “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” (1977/1980)
    68. “Lawrence of Arabia” (1962)
    69. “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” (1975)
    70. “Rocky” (1976)
    71. “The Best Years of Our Lives” (1946)
    72. “The Poseidon Adventure” (1972)
    73. “The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring” (2001)
    74. “Twister” (1996)
    75. “Men in Black” (1997)
    76. “The Bridge On The River Kwai” (1957)
    77. “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World” (1963)
    78. “Swiss Family Robinson” (1960)
    79. “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” (1975)
    80. “M*A*S*H” (1970)
    81. “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom” (1984)
    82. “Star Wars: Episode II – Attack of the Clones” (2002)
    83. “Mrs. Doubtfire” (1993)
    84. “Aladdin” (1992)
    85. “Ghost” (1990)
    86. “Duel in the Sun” (1946)
    87. “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl” (2003)
    88. “House of Wax” (1953)
    89. “Rear Window” (1954)
    90. “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” (1997)
    91. “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade” (1989)
    92. “Spider-Man 3” (2007)
    93. “Terminator 2: Judgment Day” (1991)
    94. “Sergeant York” (1941)
    95. “Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000)
    96. “Toy Story 2” (1999)
    97. “Top Gun” (1986)
    98. “Shrek” (2001)
    99. “Shrek the Third” (2007)
    100. “The Matrix Reloaded” (2003)

    Examine each one of these films for sex,
    action, and violence. They are present.
    Locate these elements in each film.
    Utilize what you discover for your own
    screenplay and you will enhance your
    chances for success. Otherwise, find
    another job, or write simply for the
    sheer pleasure of writing.

    It’s that basic.

    Donald L. Vasicek
    Olympus Films+, LLC
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.netsbox o

  • “Zen Values, July 4th and Writing”

    What do you see when you
    look at yourself in the mirror?
    Exploding fireworks like July
    4th? If so, you’ve celebrated
    July 4th when it wasn’t July 4th.

    Why the fireworks? Does it
    have anything to do with how
    you feel about yourself, your
    life? If it does, then, you might
    want to replace the explosion
    with peace.

    “How can I do that? I’m in debt.
    I hate my job. Gas prices are
    greed at its finest. Peace? What
    am I supposed to do, smile while
    my life dissipates?”

    “That is your choice to make. I
    choose writing.”

    “What does that do for anyone?”

    “It gives one a point of reference,
    a place where one can go to pull
    the weeds out of their life. Writing
    can be metamorphic. It can change
    the way you perceive yourself and
    your life. Try it today. In one hour,
    you will feel something inside of
    you that you have forgotten.

    “Simply, you will remember to be
    happy today. Tomorrow is up to
    you, just don’t forget to be happy
    tomorrow as well.”

    Donald L. Vasicek
    Olympus Films+, LLC
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net

  • “Zen Haiku Article Writing”

    1) What is the correct format for writing an article?
    2) What is the exact distance between the first and second line?
    3) How many spaces between the first and the second paragraph?
    4) How many spaces are needed to indent the first line?
    5) What is the correct margin?
    6) Give me an advice on how to create an article.
    7) How to prepare an article that will have a chance of being published for payment?
    8) What to do in order to sell articles to a magazine?
    9) Relevant advice concerning article writing.
    10) How to improve your writing in order to become a professional writer.

    1. Indent seven spaces. Write in paragraph form.
    2. Double space.
    3. Two.
    4. Seven.
    5. Ten to twelve spaces.
    6. Focus on specific subject matter.
    7. Study similar articles that have been published.
    8. Write a query letter about your article. Send it
    to publishing outlets.
    9. Focus on the a specific subject matter. Do adequate
    research on the subject matter. Write as though
    you’re telling a story, with a beginning, a middle,
    and an end. Make sure you have a theme that holds
    everything together. The theme should be the subject
    matter of your article.
    10. The most effective way to improve your writing is to study writing
    and to write, write, and write.

    “Make Your Work Shine”
    Donald L. Vasicek
    Writer/Filmmaker/Consultant
    Olympus Films+, LLC
    http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
    dvasicek@earthlink.net