William Dickerson's Blog

There's just ONE DAY left to enter the Goodreads Giveaway for my latest book, "DETOUR: Hollywood - How To Direct a Microbudget Film (or any film, for that matter)."

https://www.goodreads.com/giveaway/sh...

I think both filmmakers, and non-filmmakers, alike will enjoy it. The Movie Waffler writes of the book: "As mentor, Dickerson is informative, but as a writer he is also truly entertaining. 'DETOUR: Hollywood' is paced like a thriller, with all the plot twists, protagonists (the filmmakers) and antagonists (circumstance in general), that you would hope for."

Please add "DETOUR: Hollywood" to-read and enter the giveaway for a chance to win a free copy!

Thanks!

The "No Alternative" Book Tour is holding a GIVEAWAY through Rafflecopter!

It can't be any easier: Sign up and win FREE stuff! Enter for a chance to win signed copies of "No Alternative," ebooks, signed DETOUR posters, rare copies of William Dickerson's film, SHADOWBOX, Amazon gift cards and free blog hosting for writers.

It's FREE to enter, and the more actions you take (liking this facebook page, tweeting about the giveaway and following @WDFilmmaker on twitter) the greater the chance of winning!

Here is the link:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...

Enter now!

-wd

"No Alternative" is going on tour!

From April 15th through April 27th, my words and I will be hopping from one website to another in what is sure to be an exciting and most interesting journey.

Please tune in, read and comment...and register to win some amazing prizes!

Check out my website for more information on the tour:

http://williamdickersonfilmmaker.com/...

Be sure to enter the "Rafflecopter" to win prizes like signed books, signed movie posters, DVD's, gift cards and free blog hosting! You can sign up here:

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/disp...

Thanks...see you on tour!

-wd

While most of you on Goodreads know me for my book, "No Alternative," I'm also a filmmaker. My debut film DETOUR is being released in Theaters, On Demand and iTunes tomorrow, March 29th. It was a long journey making this film, a lot of blood sweat and tears were shed; but I couldn't be happier with it and that it's getting out there!

Here is a link to an article I wrote in which I talk about the backstory of DETOUR, the trend of minimalist thrillers and all things indie filmmaking --

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/blog-po...

Check out DETOUR this weekend, if you can! In a theater or in the comfort of your own home!

http://www.detour-thefilm.com/

Thanks!

-wd

While "No Alternative" did not win any prizes at this year's WRITER'S DIGEST Self-Published Book Awards, their feedback was positive. I wanted to share the judges' review; it was an honor to participate and I'm glad they enjoyed the read:

"I really like the cinematic feel this book possesses. One can definitely tell the author has experience in the film industry, just by the details he brings to light on the page. It feels like you're watching a movie as it cuts to certain images.

I may be a little biased toward liking this because I was a teen in the 1990s, so I am predisposed to being in tune with all the pop culture references and such the author inserts. One does have to be careful with pop culture, so as to not date a book, but I think it works with this piece because the time period is so very specific. It wouldn't be the same book without references to the time.

The author does a fantastic job of creating a unique voice and maintaining it throughout the piece."

-Writer's Digest

I'm very excited to have "No Alternative" reviewed favorably by Publishers Weekly.

http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0...

Thanks PW...it's an honor!

-wd

I've written & directed a few book trailers over the years, one of which was the successful preview for "The Four Fingers of Death" by Rick Moody.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkyAv...

So I figured, hell I got the filmic resources (and God knows the time...us filmmakers in Los Angeles often find ourselves with a surplus of time at our fingertips) I might as well shoot some stuff to promote my book.

I've shot three trailers for "No Alternative;" I guess you could say they're trailers. "Book Trailers" are a funny thing, and by funny I mean just plain odd. A book trailer is a piece of filmed entertainment promoting something that is not filmed entertainment; something that, in many ways, is the antithesis of filmed entertainment. An actual movie trailer is a montage of "moments" from the film used as an advertisement for that film. Conversely, a book trailer is created from nothing but the imagination of the person creating it; in most cases, a vision that arises from his/her interpretation of the book.

That's how I made "Four Fingers." If it ever gets made into a movie, I wonder if the director of the adaptation will look back upon this book trailer for inspiration -- perhaps he might use it to guide his/her casting decisions for the film -- perhaps he might cast the actors from it?

All of this is unlikely.

This is just to say, I didn't bother casting any actors, rewriting and otherwise reinterpreting the story of "No Alternative" to facilitate the making of a trailer. I just listed a bunch of shit that had to do with the 90's, the era in which "No Alternative" takes place.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuaM7-...

I also shot a rap video and edited some home-movie footage of the "Kurt Cobain Bridge" in Aberdeen, Washington, as other promos (or "trailers") for the book.

I think they're interesting, amusing, and maybe...thought-provoking? Not sure about the latter, but I had fun making them; and besides, if I started shooting scenes from the book...well I should probably keep shooting them and make the whole darned movie!

-wd

I said it. Yes, I did:

http://wdfilmmaker.blogspot.com/

Swingin' on the flippity-flop!

-w

I will be interviewed by Dan O'Brien this evening (6:00pm pst) on his show "Amalgamation Live" --

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/amalgama...

I much prefer written interviews -- I'm a writer after all -- but I will certainly do my best not to embarrass myself. These things make me nervous.

If you don't catch it live, it will be archived at this same link.

Forever.

Or at least as long as the internet lasts, I think.

-w

What are your thoughts on reading blogs from authors? Is anyone reading mine?

Does blogging somehow diminish the impact of the author's prior written work?

The word "blog" has its origins in the fusion of the words "web" and "log." Did internet enthusiasts tire of the first syllable? The "we?" Is that part of the word too inclusive for someone who prefers the solitude of his or her computer station, be it laptop, desktop or portable computing device?

-w