Brent Hartinger's Blog, page 11

So there’s this new movie out, The Lego Movie. I hear it’s pretty good, but I knew in advance that I’ll never pay to see it. Why? Because knowing how Hollywood works, if it’s a hit (and it is), they’ll now proceed to turn every children’s toy ever sold into a movie franchise. Oh, and we’ll also have fifty sequels to The Lego Movie.

How is The Lego Movie different from Toy Story (which I loved, along with all the sequels, and have recommended many times)?

If you’re a writer, especially a screenwriter, you know the answer: Toy Story tells a story about toys. The Lego Movie exists, at least in part, to sell toys — or at least bolster an existing brand of toys.

But hasn’t art always been about the conflict between “art” and “commerce”? Is this really such a big deal?

In ordinary times, maybe not. But the way I see it, we live in a time where studio-produced movies couldn’t be more soulless and derivative. You know the deal: studio movies today are basically all superhero movies, remakes, sequels, and reboots. With a few recent exceptions, creativity and risk-taking have mostly gone out the window.

And no, it hasn’t always been like this, and yes, it is worse than ever. I think this article on how the successful reboot of Spider-Man basically destroyed Hollywood is right on the money.

I hate this as a movie-goer, but I hate it even more as a writer trying to making a living selling my stories. The market for movies (and books too) has changed SO MUCH in the twenty years I’ve been doing this.

Nutshell? Now it’s all about brand-name recognition, pre-sold audiences, and marketing tie-ins. And speaking as a writer, all those things are absolutely antithetical to good story-telling.

Wasn’t the Internet suppose to change all this — give exposure to lesser-known artists and create a “long tail” of literary delights? Smarter writers than I have already written how an exposure to so many choices actually has the unintended effect of making a few very high-profile artists even more high-profile.

Basically, people are so overwhelmed by the clutter that they gravitate to the few well-known quantities, even when they suck.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, even the arts.

I hesitated writing this post because, frankly, there’s nothing I find quite so tiring as writers bitching about how horrible it is to be a writer (this is usually me in my head: “If you think the publishing industry [or Hollywood] is really that bad, why don’t you do something else? Why spend time doing something that makes you so miserable?”).

But what’s going on in movies these days finally has me genuinely depressed — mostly because I keep hoping for some kind of rebellion or outcry on the part of the audience, but it never happens. They seem to flock to the cynical, derivative crap (or stuff like The Lego Movie, which isn’t necessarily derivative crap but which will usher in a whole lot more of it!).

Oh, Lord, now I sound bitter and pretentious. It’s probably better for me to just stop now while I’m behind.

P.S. For what it’s worth, I still think contemporary TV is better than it’s ever been!

The post It’s Hard to Talk About Movies Today Without Sounding Bitter appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So there’s this new movie out, The Lego Movie. I hear it’s pretty good, but I knew in advance that I’ll never pay to see it. Why? Because knowing how Hollywood works, if it’s a hit (and it is), they’ll now proceed to turn every children’s toy ever sold into a movie franchise. Oh, and we’ll also have fifty sequels to The Lego Movie.

How is The Lego Movie different from Toy Story (which I loved, along with all the sequels, and have recommended many times)?

If you’re a writer, especially a screenwriter, you know the answer: Toy Story tells a story about toys. The Lego Movie exists, at least in part, to sell toys — or at least bolster an existing brand of toys.

But hasn’t art always been about the conflict between “art” and “commerce”? Is this really such a big deal?

In ordinary times, maybe not. But the way I see it, we live in a time where studio-produced movies couldn’t be more soulless and derivative. You know the deal: studio movies today are basically all superhero movies, remakes, sequels, and reboots. With a few recent exceptions, creativity and risk-taking have mostly gone out the window.

And no, it hasn’t always been like this, and yes, it is worse than ever. I think this article on how the successful reboot of Spider-Man basically destroyed Hollywood is right on the money.

I hate this as a movie-goer, but I hate it even more as a writer trying to making a living selling my stories. The market for movies (and books too) has changed SO MUCH in the twenty years I’ve been doing this.

Nutshell? Now it’s all about brand-name recognition, pre-sold audiences, and marketing tie-ins. And speaking as a writer, all those things are absolutely antithetical to good story-telling.

Wasn’t the Internet suppose to change all this — give exposure to lesser-known artists and create a “long tail” of literary delights? Smarter writers than I have already written how an exposure to so many choices actually has the unintended effect of making a few very high-profile artists even more high-profile.

Basically, people are so overwhelmed by the clutter that they gravitate to the few well-known quantities, even when they suck.

The rich get richer and the poor get poorer, even the arts.

I hesitated writing this post because, frankly, there’s nothing I find quite so tiring as writers bitching about how horrible it is to be a writer (this is usually me in my head: “If you think the publishing industry [or Hollywood] is really that bad, why don’t you do something else? Why spend time doing something that makes you so miserable?”).

But what’s going on in movies these days finally has me genuinely depressed — mostly because I keep hoping for some kind of rebellion or outcry on the part of the audience, but it never happens. They seem to flock to the cynical, derivative crap (or stuff like The Lego Movie, which isn’t necessarily derivative crap but which will usher in a whole lot more of it!).

Oh, Lord, now I sound bitter and pretentious. It’s probably better for me to just stop now while I’m behind.

P.S. For what it’s worth, I still think contemporary TV is better than it’s ever been!

The post It’s Impossible to Talk About Movies Today Without Sounding Incredibly Bitter appeared first on Brent's Brain.

The New York Times has an interesting discussion this morning about whether or not publications should publish “bad,” or negative, book reviews. The argument goes something like this: books, unlike movies and plays, are a “smaller” medium; since there are so many thousands of books vying for attention, why not devote precious print space to works of quality, and simply ignore the ones that don’t measure up?

(Just about everyone who makes this argument acknowledges that there are certain “high profile” writers, like Stephen King, Dan Brown, or J.K. Rowling, that always justify a review, good or bad, in the interest of their legions of readers.)

So what do I think about negative book reviews? Like virtually all writers, I’ve been the recipient of a few bad ones over the years. At the same time, in my capacity as editor at AfterElton.com and TheTorchOnline.com (two websites I co-founded), I’ve also written a few negative book reviews.

I absolutely think negative book reviews have a place in the world. As one of the writers in that New York Times article says, we authors are not kindergarteners bringing home potato print paintings. We’re professionals, and we know we’re submitting our work to the world for its reaction, for better or worse.

Plus, reviews aren’t about the author anyway. They exist to serve readers. And as a reader, I do sometimes consider them.

All that said, I’m pretty sure that I personally will never write another negative book review, not even on Amazon or Goodreads. In the end, it boils down to two reasons:

(1) The older I get, the less I think there’s any such a thing as a truly “bad” book or movie.

Yes, I still feel passionately about the stuff I hate, but there are usually just as many people who disagree with me. Case in point: I watched Silver Linings Playbook last night, and I thought it was watchable, not terrible, but nothing particularly special. NEVER IN A MLLION YEARS would I have imagined that that particular movie would be at 92% “fresh” on RottenTomatoes.com, or that it would be a “best picture” nominee, or that Jennifer Lawrence would win an Oscar for it.

Since December, I’ve read three “critically acclaimed” books that seemed to me to be very flawed. I’ve read two more that I thought were outright horrible. Was I right, or was it just my personal preference, like not liking cilantro? Who knows?

Sometimes I agree with the review “consensus” of books and movies, and sometimes I don’t, but more and more, it mostly seems somewhat random to me. (Personally, I think it ultimately boils down to our differing brains. Some of us like Jodi Picoult, and some of us like Stephenie Meyer, and it all has more to do with the way we’re wired than it does the books and movies themselves. We’re all so convinced we’re right because, well, we’re us!)

This realization hasn’t caused me to doubt my own opinions; I’m still inside my own brain, after all. But it has taught me to take all reviews with a HUGE grain of salt. They’re just someone’s opinion.

Anyway, since I take the whole business of “reviews” so much less seriously these days, I’m less inclined to devote my precious time and energy to writing them — especially since they’re really hard work to write, and there’s almost never any real money involved.

(2) There’s already so much negativity in the world, and I hate to add to it.

Strictly on the subject of negative reviews, I totally get why they exist, how important they are, and even how they ultimately might make books and writers better than they are.

But I also know how much rejection and humiliation is involved in being a writer (especially in the age of the internet and social media), and how personal it all feels. I simply don’t want to ever make another writer feel bad. And those negative reviews I have written over the years? I kinda wish I could take them back.

(Just to be clear, I am speaking strictly for myself. I’m not judging those who make different “negative review” choices — as I said, I totally get that the world sometimes needs negative reviews. And those people who have taken the time to review me over the years? I totally, TOTALLY appreciate it — especially if you didn’t trash me!)

What do you think of negative reviews? Do they have a place in the world?

The post Does the World Need “Bad” Book Reviews? appeared first on Brent's Brain.

For those of you asking about the DVD of the Geography Club movie, here’s the press release.

Oh, and for what it’s worth? The DVD includes a really great hour-long documentary on the making of the film. It gives an excellent feel for everyone involved — and also includes an interview with yours truly. It’s highly recommended!

Philadelphia PA - Breaking Glass Pictures, Huffington Pictures, and Shoreline Entertainment are pleased to announce the March 11thDVD release of Geography Club, produced by Michael Huffington of Huffington Pictures.  Starring Cameron Deane Stewart (Pitch Perfect), Justin Deeley (“Drop Dead Diva”, “90210″), and Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Geography Club has been a hit with audiences since its November theatrical and VOD release across the United States and Canada.  The film is currently available to rent on iTunes and on Demand. 

Screeners and streaming links are available upon request.

Based on the first novel in Brent Hartinger’s best-selling critically acclaimed Russel Middlebrook Series, Geography Club is a smart, fast, and funny account of contemporary teenagers as they discover their own sexual identities, dreams, and values.     

16-year old Russell (Stewart) is going on dates with girls while nurturing a secret relationship with star quarterback Kevin (Deeley), who will do anything to prevent his teammates from finding out.  Min (Ally Maki, “10 Things I Hate About You”) and Terese (Blonsky) tell everyone that they’re just best friends. And then there’s Ike (Alex Newell, “Glee”), who can’t figure out who he is or who he wants to be. Finding the truth too hard to hide, they decide to form a Geography Club, thinking nobody else would want to join. However, their secrets may soon be discovered and they could have to face the choice of revealing who they really are.

Supporting cast includes Meaghan Martin (“10 Things I Hate About You”), Allie Gonino (“The Lying Game”), Marin Hinkle (“Two and a Half Men”), Scott Bakula (Behind the Candelabra, HBO’s “Looking”), Dexter Darden (The Maze Runner), and Ana Gasteyer (“Suburgatory”, “Saturday Night Live”).

The DVD release of Geography Club ($24.99) will include an audio commentary with director Gary Entin, writer Edmund Entin andFrederick Levy and Bryan Leder, an audio commentary with cast members Cameron Deane Stewart, Ally Maki, and Andrew Caldwell as well as a making-of documentary, Membership Has Its Privileges: The Making of Geography Club.

Geography Club:  PG-13 / 83 Minutes / English

Download Sell Sheet

Download Press Kit

Download Hi-Res Stills

For more information on Geography Club and Breaking Glass Pictures, including preview screeners/streaming links, retail goods, interview requests, press photos, please contact: [email protected].

http://www.geographyclub.com

https://www.facebook.com/geographyclubmovie

https://twitter.com/GeoClubMovie

http://instagram.com/geographyclubmovie

The post GEOGRAPHY CLUB (the Movie) Out on DVD on March 11th appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So I’m on record as saying that every novelist should write at least one play in his or her life (and hopefully see it performed in front of an audience). The act of structuring a play — and plays, more than any writing medium except maybe screenplays, are ALL about structure — will teach you lots of wonderful things about plotting and narrative that every novelist should know.

Plus, once you see your own play bomb, as every playwright does at least once, you’ll do anything to make sure it NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN. (And failure in playwriting is almost always about being self-indulgent. Or in assuming your audience is stupid. Basically, it’s just like failing in writing a novel, except it’s somehow a lot more obvious with the audience sitting all around you).

But you know what else a writer of fiction should be doing in 2014? Playing video games.

I’ve been playing some new games that I got for Christmas — LA Noire, Lara Croft, and BioShock Infinite. And I’m reminded again that we’re living in an era where storytelling is being revolutionized.

First, let’s get one thing clear: the storytelling in video games is now easily as good as the best storytelling in movies and books. If you’re still looking down your nose at video games, it’s only because you’ve never played them. Granted, most video games are “genre,” so they’re less about characterization than plot, but even the characterization is often fantastic.

But video games have something that movies and books don’t have: inter-activity. And every year that goes by, the interactivity gets better and more comprehensive.

Like I said, it’s a true revolution — akin to the birth of film as a storytelling medium, and maybe even as profound as the rise of the written word.

Seriously, I think it’s just that big.

If you’re a modern-day storyteller, you simply have to be aware of this ongoing revolution. Even if you never choose to work on the creation of a video game (and at this point, I doubt I ever will), you still need to be aware of what’s going on. As with writing a play, it will help you see your own storytelling in important new ways. (I defy you to play Alan Wake and not learn anything about the creation of tension.)

Plus, hey, the people who play video games are your readers! You need to be aware of the ways in which your audience is changing — frankly, becoming much more sophisticated.

If you want to be a writer of fiction and you play video games, don’t feel guilty (assuming they haven’t taken over your life, and you also still read books). And if you don’t play video games, you totally should!

The post Advice for Writers: Play Video Games! appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So I just received some unsold book inventory. Since I have all the copies of my books I could ever use, I figured I’d offer them to people who might enjoy buying them as signed editions. I can personalize the books or simply just sign them (which is what most collectors want). Just let me know.

Oh, and these prices include FREE SHIPPING, as long as you’re in the United States. Unfortunately, for international readers, international postage rates apply (usually around $10 to $20 US a shipment — contact me with your location for an exact quote).

The prices (in US dollars) are:

Geography Club (paperback): $9.99

Geography Club (hardcover): $17.99

The Order of the Poison Oak (paperback): $6.99

Double Feature (paperback): $11.99

The Elephant of Surprise (paperback): $12.99

The Last Chance Texaco (hardcover): $13 (discounted from a cover price of $15.99)

Project Sweet Life (hardcover): $14 (discounted from a cover price of $16.99)

Drop me an email if interested!

The post Signed Editions of My Books? With Free Shipping, No Less! appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So a lot of people have been asking me lately if I’m going to write a fifth Russel Middlebrook book. And the answer is … yes! It will be released in December of this year.

At this point, the plot details are top-secret (not really — it’s just that the book isn’t done yet, and I could end up changing things). But I can tell you that it jumps ahead in time, to Russel and the gang in college. It’s a “reboot,” I guess — which makes sense when you consider that all the other series storylines were wrapped up at the end of The Elephant of Surprise.

So what else have I been working on lately? Well, I have a couple of other novels forthcoming, some young adult, some adult — and these projects really are secret, mostly because the publication details haven’t been ironed out yet.

I’ve also been working my butt off on a film adaptation of my play The Starfish Scream (which is another gay teen story, but very different from the Russel Middlebrook books). It looks good that they may film later this year, but nothing is ever definite in movies until the cameras are actually rolling. (I have a couple of other movie projects in the works too, but none of these are this far along.)

For what it’s worth? A fifth Russel Middlebrook book wasn’t really part of my plans, at least not this soon. Those of you who’ve read The Elephant of Surprise know that it’s all about closure.

But the reaction to that last book (and the sales figures!) really changed my mind. I know that a lot of the attention comes from the release of the Geography Club movie late last year. But when an author receives a hundred emails from readers asking for something, he has to be absolute idiot not to listen (!).

Long story short? I’m just incredibly grateful that these books have touched so many people, and I’m thrilled when people take the time to tell me.

A new Russel Middlebrook book? Yup, and you guys are the reason why.

P.S. The other question I’ve been asked a lot is: will there be a movie based on The Order of the Poison Oak? Alas, I don’t have any answer to that.

The post A New Russel Middlebrook Book? Yup! Look for it in December 2014 appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So a couple of weeks ago, I released my free short story Two Thousand Pounds Per Square Inch – part of the Russel Middlebrook Series, but also part of The Real Story Safe Sex Project, my new project devoted to fighting HIV/AIDS and promoting safe sex among gay and bi guys.

Some of the feedback I got was that my intentions were good, but it needed something more.

So I did what many writers do whenever they’re criticized: I decided to add more sex!

Truthfully, I’ve always been kind of reluctant to go too deeply into Russel Middlebrook’s sex life. The books in the Russel Middlebrook Series have more of a sweetly romantic vibe than an outright sexy one. And I’m basically sort of a “fade to black” kind of guy anyway.

But after adding the sex scenes to this short story, I thought: No, this is good! This is part of exactly what I’m trying to do with this project. I want to help make it okay for gay and bi guys to talk more openly about safe sex. I’d be a hypocrite if I didn’t do that too.

Plus, sex sells, right? So why not use it to sell safe sex for a change?

Truthfully, it also gave me a chance to revisit Russel’s relationships with Kevin, Web, and Otto a little bit. I learned things I didn’t know.

Anyway, I’ve uploaded the new short story to Amazon (and all other platforms). It’s still free, so check out the links below. (Keep in mind that the story is very sexually explicit. If this isn’t your thing, please keep away.)

Oh, and if you like the new story (and agree with my message), I’d appreciate a kind word or two on Amazon or GoodReads, and maybe a reTweet on Twitter. Why not help spread the word?

Finally, if you’re a writer or other artist, and you’d like to participate in the Real Story Safe Sex Project, Contact me! I’d love your help!

The post Russel Middlebrook’s Sex Life? Yikes! appeared first on Brent's Brain.

So the movie adaptation of my first novel Geography Club is now available nation-wide on iTunes, Amazon Instant Video, and most other VOD movie options. Check it out!

If you do see it, let me know what you think. I was really more of a by-stander in the creation of the movie itself, so you can’t really hurt my feelings. So tell me what you really thought! I’d like to hear your honest opinion.

As for me, I really did like it. And I can almost guarantee that if you liked the book, you’ll like the movie too.

The post GEOGRAPHY CLUB, the Movie, is Now on iTunes and Amazon Instant Video! appeared first on Brent's Brain.

I’m a Lady Gaga fan, but honestly, “Applause” aside, I haven’t gone crazy for ARTPOP.

But her latest appearance on The Graham Norton Show (an excellent UK talk show) reminds me why I fell in love with her in the first place, and it has nothing to do with her music.

Graham talks to Gaga about the devotion of her fans, and then segues into a Skype encounter with one particular uber-fan: a fat, effeminate, very enthusiastic African American guy.

It seems pretty clear that the point of the segment was so that everyone could have a good laugh at this squealing oddball. It’s Chris Crocker 2.0.

(I like Graham Norton a lot, but he tells too many jokes like this. And personally, I really, really hate it when comedians try to get laughs by picking on the weird and/or the powerless. It might be a cheap, easy laugh, but I just don’t find it funny. Basically, I think “bullying” and “humor” and “meanness” are sometimes all tied up together. And I think the world needs less bullying, not more of it. And please don’t tell me I’m humorless or can’t take a joke. This is my opinion. Your mileage may vary.)

But back to Lady Gaga. How does she react to all this? Watch how she deals with the whole encounter. It’s incredible.

Basically, from the beginning, she rejects the whole premise of the set-up. Laugh at this strange person? Nope, Gaga just doesn’t go there. She doesn’t give Graham the opportunity to make jokes at the guy’s expense. Instead, she totally bonds with her fan, praising and empowering him. There isn’t even the slightest hint of condescension or judgment on her part (unlike Graham).

Later, with tears in her eyes, she even compliments Graham for giving this guy his moment in the sun, for letting him have his voice. It’s sweet and touching and sincere.

But not only that, in three minutes, Lady Gaga has completely subverted the entire encounter, giving it a meaning that I’m sure Graham and his producers never, ever intended. She’s turned it from “Hey, let’s all laugh at the weird, fat, effeminate guy!” to “No, let’s celebrate difference and diversity, and let’s empower people who might seem at first glance to be ‘odd.’”

Whoa! Talk about a velvet glove. Lady Gaga is amazing, totally the real deal. And I think it’s entirely unconscious on her part; it’s simply who she is.

Like I said, it’s made me love her all over again. She stands for something, and it’s something really important.

Okay, now I’ve totally oversold this thing, and you’re going to be disappointed with the actual three-minute clip. Maybe I’m reading into it, but I don’t think so. Anyway, you should totally watch it:

The post I’m Back to Loving Lady Gaga (and it Has Nothing to do with ARTPOP!) appeared first on Brent's Brain.