Having been a screenwriting contest reader for a number of years, many, many scripts have passed before my eyes. As any reader will tell you, we can flip through a script and tell you if it's going to be bad in about 2 seconds. Other problems come to light as...

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There are numerous ways to have your screenplay evaluated for free, both online and off.

American Zoetrope (www.zoetrope.com)
Some people may disagree with me, but this is one of the best places for free feedback I've come across. You post your screenplay to the site's Read page with a logline...

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When writing screenplays, beginning screenwriters often forget to add the element of the visually unforgettable to their stories. This element is called a Set Piece. To understand what a set piece is, think about Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest. Remember the scene with the sword fight on a big wheel while it was rolling...

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As I was browsing Helium I came across this topic about the WGA strike that is currently crippling the L.A. area. As I read through the topic area, I discovered an article and realized that many of the ideas put forth in it are pretty widespread non-industry thoughts regarding the strike.

If I may, I'd like to clear up so...

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I confess. I used to be a serial non insurance having lump of humanity. I'm talking no health insurance, no renter's insurance and I'm still convinced credit card insurance is nothing but a big ole scam. I only had auto insurance because I was still on my Dad's policy not because California requires it...

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In the wake of the fires that swept Southern California in late October, I wanted to share my experiences and lessons learned when my own apartment complex went up in flames in December 2006.

To give a little background, I lived in the Paradise Garden Apartment complex in North Long Beach. On Friday, December 8th, I came ...

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Having a fire destroy your home is a devastating thing to endure. While having insurance is a blessing, the companies have the potential to make a bad situation ten times worse once they get involved. So this doesn't happen to you, I'm going to relay the lessons I learned when my apartment building went up in flames in December...

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There are several easy flexibility exercises you can do at home. Before you begin, you should think of your muscles as chewing gum. When they're relaxed after no activity still in the wrapper they're stiff and not as prone to movement. To prepare for your stretches, you should do a brisk walk, start chewing, around your...

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Have you always wanted to learn how to swim? Do you stand on the side of the pool and admire the swimmers who make it look so easy? Do you wish you were one of them? Well, wish no more! With one simple drill to help you master the elements of an efficient freestyle, you'll go from cowering on the deck to zipping across the pool...

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Losing excess pounds generally tops New Years Resolution lists. Getting into shape sounded great when you added it to your goals for the year, but how do you actually go about achieving it? Starting an exercise regimen will quickly get you off the couch and on the road to a lighter you.

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I'm sure we've all had our share of bad family reunions. I thought I'd tell you about mine.

The day started innocently enough. And well, I might add. Earlier in the year, my mom had just been told she was in remission from the cancer that was trying to claim her life. Ecstatic that she finally...

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A while back, I was asked to give my thoughts on playing the lottery. Since I hadn't really given it much thought, I had to go to the scriptures to see what God says about it. This is what I found.

In Matthew Henry's commentary on 1 Samuel 14:36-46 he talks about how Saul and Jonathan went up against the Philistines. Jonathan...

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I am disgusted! And more than a little sad. As I was leaving work two nights ago, I heard on the radio that Congress is looking into the finances of several large television ministries. Because I'd only heard a blurb, I went online to learn more about the investigation...

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Why Should You Bother To Find It?

Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. Galatians 6:7 NKJ

What are you sowing? Is it something that you're sure you want to reap? When you don't have a passion, it's far too easy to just sow any old thing. If you're...

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Saint 1: "How are you?"
Saint 2: "Blessed and Highly Favored."

We're all familiar with the scenario.

This answer is so frequently used that it borders on cliché. There for a while I started to think something might be wrong with me if I didn't respond, "blessed and highly favored...

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A couple years ago, I stumbled upon a startling discovery. After commuting from Long Beach to Burbank, I've learned a thing or two about managing traffic. Still, I didn't know everything.

This miraculous breakthrough happened as a result of a flat tire I got when parked at my cousin's in-laws on...

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It's impossible to live for any length of time and not discover some issue in yourself that needs to be worked out. And in my thirty years, I've discovered plenty. But alas, therapy is expensive. Besides, I already know what's wrong me. Two words. My Parents. Every last bit of it. Is all their fault...

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We're all familiar with how banks work on earth. You open an account and deposit money. Depending on the type of account and bank, you can earn interest on what you put in. The flip side of what goes in is what comes out. You have to be careful not to take out more than ...

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God calls each of us to be watchful for the traps and snares Satan sets for us. In a world where there is so much going on all around and all the time, it's hard to distinguish when Satan is truly involved in the messes we find ourselves or if it's something of our own making. Just as a police detective solves a crime by...

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I can't believe the hospital just LIED to me!

Let me back this up a little bit. In November 2006, I was in a car accident. That's a story unto itself so I'll save that for another time. Right after, I thought I was okay. The next morning when I sat up in bed, my head dropped forward like it was just barely attached...

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It all began when I received a coupon in the mail for an oil change at a chain. Seeing that I'd save about $12 on that desperately needed maintenance, I happily decided to use it. The fact that every oil change received a free car wash was just icing on the cake. Having left it at a teammate's home...

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I will admit it. I'm not a political fanatic by any stretch of the imagination. I'm one of those voters who files the election date in the back of her head and puts off the choice until closer to time to enter that little booth. When I say closer to time, I mean about a month or so out...

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While managing your debt can become a panic inducing matter, there are steps you can take to alleviate the strain.

1. Calm down.

Having debt is not a world ending state of being. That said, it's not a sign of healthy financial management either. Your objective when managing your debt is to bring your income and expenses...

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Like many, I was highly anticipating the release of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street this Christmas. The trailer looked amazing. And Johnny Depp is...well...Johnny Depp. Having no previous knowledge of Sweeney Todd, I was eager to sit back and enjoy the film. And that's what I did at an advance screening last night...

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The film and television industry mourns the loss of one of its funniest ladies. Estelle Getty passed away in her Hollywood Boulevard home on Tuesday, July 22, 2008. She's best remembered for her portrayal of the outspoken Sophia Spirelli Petrillo-Weinstock on NBC's The Golden Girls.

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The other day, I ran across an article on the Wall Street Journal's Web site called, "The Insanity of Drive-55 Laws." I learned that Senator John Warner of Virginia has suggested a return to the federal 55-mph speed limit law that was initiated during the OPEC oil crisis in 1974. As someone who has recently learned firsthand that slowing down on the freeway does indeed save gas, I was ready to dismiss Mr. Stephen Moore's OpEd piece out of hand. However, I decided to keep an open mind and gave him a shot to convince me. And he did just that.

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The Fremantle Prison has seen its share of bold criminals come through its doors. Its also seen quite a few sneak out. While John Boyle O'Reilly is the only prisoner to successfully stay out once he escaped, there are some other amusing attempts that are equally noteworthy. For instance, let's take a look at Brenden Abbott's attempt at freedom. Of all the escapees, this guy is my absolute favorite.

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The Fremantle Prison had its share of escapes during its 150 year history. The best one was done by John Boyle O'Reilly. This guy nearly caused a war between the U.S. and Great Britain with his little escapade. And he's the only prisoner they were never able to recapture.

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The Fremantle Prison, located in Fremantle, Western Australia was built by convicts back in the 1850s. They weren't picky about the convicts they'd accept as British prisoners, local prisons, military prisoners, enemy aliens and prisoners of war all found themselves housed there. Some were housed more temporarily than others. Among those others, there were a few intent on escaping.

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Inhaling concentrated amounts of asbestos fibers can be deadly. That said, undisturbed asbestos is harmless and fire resistant. And since it's generally made of minerals, it is naturally occurring in the air we breathe everyday.

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Now that we're settling into those lazy summer days, the only thing that can make them better is to add a fast, frozen treat to the mix. Frozen Fruit Smoothies will definitely fit the bill. They are not only easy to make, but they're portable and delicious.

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Los Angeles is a city that is known for its abundance of traffic. At any given time of the day or night, both the freeways and the surface streets can be crammed with traffic. In this type of congestion where everyone has somewhere to be and no one can get to where they're going, it's only natural that the road rage that remains contained in other cities erupts in gunfire in L.A.

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