Little Things To Inspire You #27
A few things I'm loving right now. And a hello from the airport.
Hello!
I’ve been stuck in an airport, and an airport hotel, for the past day as I try very hard to get to Athens for a screenwriting lab I’ve been accepted into. It’s The Owl Screenwriting Workshop, a lab for professional screenwriters who have a script that could potentially shoot in Greece. It’s the first script lab I’ve participated in, and I’m so excited. I can’t wait to share more about the experience here soon. For now, all I can say is if you’re traveling internationally and must arrive on a specific day, leave several days in advance, and don’t fly American Airlines if you can help it.
Despite my airport rage, this is an uplifting newsletter. In the past two weeks, I’ve consumed so much that I’ve loved, and today I have lots to recommend. I hope this post inspires you to go see a film or pick up a good book. Have a wonderful week!
Xo,
Ali
Dìdi, in theaters now
This is a beautiful coming-of-age story that pulled at my heartstrings and so perfectly captures the unique pain of not knowing who you are, despite clinging desperately to an identity. It’s Eighth Grade meets Minari, set in 2008 and full of nostalgia. I highly recommend it.
The Substance, in theaters now
This is one of the least subtle, most insane movies I’ve ever seen, and I absolutely loved it. It’s dark, gory, hilarious, smart, and camp all in one. A scathing take on what it means to age in Hollywood, and as a woman in general, it’s a body horror comedy masterpiece filled with some of the weirdest stuff you’ll ever see (and a lot of butts and guts, as described in the link below). It’s the kind of movie that makes you immediately want to read all about it. If you’ve seen it, here are two articles on it I liked:
My Old Ass, in theaters now
This sweet, funny film is another coming-of-age story that, like Dídi, makes you laugh at the awkwardness of growing up, and then punches you in the gut with emotion until you’re crying in a dark theater. Or at least that’s what it did to me. Led by excellent performances from Aubrey Plaza and newcomer Maisy Stella, it’s really hard to dislike this film.
Bogotá Story, a short film via The New Yorker
Take a few minutes of your day and watch this excellent short film Bogotá Story, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival in 2023. I met its director Esteban Pedraza earlier this year through the WeScreenplay Screenwriting Lab. I served as a mentor, yet I have a lot to learn from this outstanding writer/director, too. Enjoy his great film.
It’s the most wonderful time of the Year: The Great British Baking Show is back on Netflix
The first episode of the new season dropped on Friday. As always, the contestants are so perfectly curated, all of last season’s delightful hosts are back, and Paul gave a Handshake (yes, I’m capitalizing it) in the first 15-ish minutes. Hooray for us all.
Two projects I’m looking forward to:
Two friends of mine are making their own work, completely self-funded, and are looking for help from anybody open to supporting emerging filmmakers‚ whether it’s by investing in their visions or sharing the work. The projects are:
Unalive, a short film by Kwanza Gooden, via Seed & Spark. Kwanza is so talented, and I have total faith in her vision.
$HARE, a TV pilot written and directed by
. I’ve had the privilege of watching a rough cut, and it is excellent. You can support it here.
Long Island by Colm Tóibín
Colm Tóibín is an Irish author of many, many books, but most famously of Brooklyn, which became a very beautiful, Academy Award-nominated film. His new novel Long Island is the follow-up to the acclaimed Brooklyn. I’ll admit I didn’t read Brooklyn, but I did see and love the film, and I’m now reading Long Island. His emotionally distant characters are so very Irish, and the slow-paced story mixed with his punchy writing really works for me. I’m listening to the audiobook, read delightfully by Jesse Buckley. A wonderful way to consume it.
Blue Sisters by Coco Mellors
This was my September Book Of The Month selection that I’m just digging into. Coco Mellors’s debut Cleopatra and Frankenstein was a runaway hit, and though I haven’t read it, I’ve heard great things about her writing and I’m excited to explore her work. So far I’m enjoying the heartfelt but literary writing on sisterhood, grief, and family.
For whoever needs to hear it today:
(I have this written on a Post-it note and stuck on my desk.)
FROM IDEA TO DRAFT: WRITE YOUR PILOT IN 6 WEEKS HOSTED BY
If you have an idea you’re ready to turn into a TV pilot (comedy or drama), this is the class for you! I will take you from an idea to a first draft of a pilot in just 6 classes, for the unheard price of $595 for the whole course. I love Write or Die’s literary magazine and am so excited to offer a TV writing class for them. This would also be good for somebody who has a first draft of a script that they’d like to revise. You can sign up here, and feel free to respond to this email with any questions.
Wishing you a wonderful week!
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