Thursday, June 03, 2004
GETTING THE FORMULA RIGHT
The Big Screen v. Lifetime TV
Although I have referred to these projects in the past, it remains, justifiably, not widely known that I am working, very slowly, on two different screenplays. Meanwhile, longtime readers know I have a weakness for cheesy Lifetime TV movies.
Given the number of such films as I have seen, I thought I knew enough to have determined the would-be screenwriter’s formula for success on that network. But one of my brothers, taking on the pretend role of a Lifetime TV movie screenwriter, one surprisingly knowledgeable about the intricacies of the genre, once wisely observed, “And there shall be a secondary character, an African-American woman. She dispenses wisdom.”
(He’s dead on with that. Just this afternoon, Lifetime showed “A Time to Heal,” which in addition to starring the, um, incomparable Nicollette Sheridan, featured Lorraine Toussaint, see below, as a physical therapist who, well, dispensed wisdom.)
I have to admit I’ve taken my brother’s advice to heart.
I’ll reveal only this about one of my screenplays: The film’s story line includes a nurse at a senior-citizens home, a nurse who could be played by an African-American actress -- I’m thinking Toussaint, CCH Pounder, or S. Ephata Merkerson, any one of which I would be thrilled to see in a starring role in my film -- who dispenses medications while she also dispenses wisdom.
Hey, look, it’s a formula. I’m aiming for the big screen, but if in the end I can master the Lifetime TV formula, I’ll be happy to cash the check.
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JAMES MARTIN CAPOZZOLA
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James Martin (Jim) Capozzola launched The Rittenhouse Review in April 2002, TRR: The Lighter Side of Rittenhouse, HorowitzWatch, and Smarter Andrew Sullivan in July 2002, and Bulldogs for Kerry-Edwards in October 2004. He is also a contributing member of President Boxer.
He received the 2002 Koufax Award for Best Post> for "Al Gore and the Alpha Girls" (published November 25, 2002). Capozzola's record in the Koufax Awards includes two additional nominations for 2002 (Best Blog and Best Writing), three nominations for 2003 (Best Blog, Best Series, and Best Writing), and two finalist nominations in 2004 (Best Blog and Best Writing).
Capozzola’s experience beyond the blogosphere includes a lengthy career in financial journalism, securities analysis, and investment research, and in freelance writing, editing, ghost-writing, and writing instruction.
He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from the University at Albany and a master's in foreign affairs from the University of Virginia.
Capozzola lives in Philadelphia with his bulldog, Mildred.
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