Being Geek Chic is a blog about one woman navigating the male-dominated industries of production and tech. It's written by Elizabeth Giorgi, Founder, CEO and Director of Mighteor - one of the world's first internet video production companies. Learn more about Mighteor here.
So many of today’s biggest blockbuster movies come from other material, like comic books, novels, memoirs or even older versions of the movie. That’s why an original screenplay can feel so magical. It’s a story that is confined to a specific moment with characters who are defined in their own right.
If you’ve never actually sat down and read a screenplay before, I recommend trying it. You’ll be shocked to find that most production screenplays are tightened up to match what happens in the final cut of the film, but if you can find an original, you should do so.
1. Juno: I mean, it won an Oscar, so it can’t be bad. But in terms of irreverent comedy that works just as well in the written word as it does on screen, you can’t beat Diablo Cody’s Hollywood debut.
2. Annie Hall: There are two kinds of romantic comedies: ones that came before Annie Hall. And those that came after Annie Hall and still don’t measure up to Annie Hall. It’s really that simple. And more than anything, it’s a lot of fun to see just how awkward everything feels even when you can’t see Woody Allen’s face along with it.
3. Citizen Kane: This is one of those movies that everyone should see once and if they are a good American, already has seen at least once. BUT, if you haven’t, do me a favor: read the screenplay for this incredible story first. Then, go do your patriotic duty and watch this movie. I’ve always wanted to know if the fresh read is as shimmeringly brilliant as the first time you sit through a showing of the film and I need your help. That’s how much I love this story both on the page and on the screen.
We still have a few more months before Game of Thrones returns to our screens and who knows when George RR Martin is going to get his next book finished. And while we can watch some of the kick ass characters on other shows (Hi, Natalie Dormer, love you!) - it’s just not enough.
Here’s a few ways to survive:
Soak yourself up in the fun facts about the show so that you can totally use to impress your friends:
Play games inspired by the show:
The new Game of Thrones online game by Microgaming, immerses fans in the mythology of the show. Imposing castles, misty backdrops and fire-breathing dragons are all part of the adventure. It’s not available until Dec. 2014, but that’s only days away! You can find online locations featuring this game at Microgaming Tribune as well as other nerdy betting games.
Get immersed in the books from the series and beyond:
My brother is a HUGE fan of the books and he is always giving me the details on what’s different between the show and the text. I mean, there are six freaking books to read! And a brand new universe with an encyclopedic volume to give you behind-the-scenes facts. Also, don’t forget about all the show’s art books.
Go Outside and Enjoy Winter like a true Northerner:
There’s something about putting on a pair of snow shoes and wandering through the woods that truly makes you feel like Jon Snow could be your brother. I’m a huge believer in embracing winter to survive it and perhaps putting on your best fake fur and throwing on a fuzzy winter hat that makes it all feel more bearable.
It’s no surprise around here that I love movies. But another thing I love to dive into and obsess over is movie books. Or books about movies. Or books inspired by movies. Or books that were adapted into great movies. And while there are few I dislike, there are a collection that I hold dearly.
These books are just, win and whether you want to read them for pleasure to or hone your craft, these books will just make your life better:
Thrift shopping is something of a family tradition. My mom always took us to the local thrift before taking us to the mall at the beginning of each school year - I hated it as a child but now I appreciate it so much. This long-time tradition has made me a pseudo expert on finding awesome stuff at the thrift store. Like, fun fact: did you know that Target donates all its un-purchased clearance to Goodwill?
However, as much as I like a deeply discounted Target find, it’s actually vintage books that I’ve become more recently obsessed with. Most Goodwills sell hardcovers for about $2.99 and most other thrift stores will go even lower than that. And while you may expect to find a million copies of Chicken Soup for some such soul (and indeed, you will likely find at least 100 per store) - you are also likely to find some serious gems if you know how to look.
Those three right there? A 1970s National Geographic book on planetary lifeforms (left), a book on the real lives of Gypsies from the 1980s (center) and a Random House picture book on Astronomy from the 1970s (right). Found all of them in ONE stop. Here’s how I did it:
1. Peel back those dust covers: Oftentimes dust covers are pretty elaborate and focused on trends, because it’s cheaper to print on paper than on the actual book binding. There can be some seriously brilliant stuff behind those covers. There was possibly the ugliest illustration of the sun I have ever seen on the cover of that Astronomy book. That got tossed in the trash heap and its amazing binding is now on display.
2. Look behind the neatly organized rows: The thing about a lot of thrift stores is that they are wickedly disorganized. Don’t fret - this is to your advantage. Books are a popular donation item because they are heavy and take up a lot of space, so what most thrift stores do is they create deep rows of books per shelf. Behind the first row there is usually another row or just a general heap of books. That’s your treasure zone.
3. Don’t be afraid of a stink: Unless you can SEE the damage, whether that be water or dust or dirt, don’t put something down because it has a bit of a smell. My foolproof way for getting rid of a strange smell in books? Putting dryer sheets between the covers and between every 40 to 50 pages. Close it up and leave it be for a few weeks and then remove the dryer sheets. So simple.
4. Make the reference section your friend: A common organizational method at thrift stores and used book stores is: fiction, non-fiction, reference. Why? Because Encyclopedias were a ridiculously common gift pre-internet and now every widow, divorcee and retired librarian is donating those hulking books. However, often times a lot of other great hardcover books that are about that same size get thrown into that mix. It’s because they either don’t seem to have a logical location OR they have a binding that looks suspiciously like a reference book.
5. The children’s book section is full of awesome: Ok, so this is a weird one, but it’s a fact I’ve found to be true over and over again. A lot of illustration books are thrown into the children’s section because: no words = for kids, I guess. At least that has been a consistent theme in my experience. Photo books usually don’t end up here, but if you like illustrated books or compilation books with lots of random artist’s illustrations - then you are likely to find them here.
Good luck finding your new book porn. Before I let you go shopping though, here’s a fact about these books: I actually do buy books I am interested in - not just because they have a rad cover - although it can be tempting. But I also see books as art, which is why I probably will never read every page of these books. Some people may find this wasteful. I think it’s smart. So find something you like, buy it, page through it and then find it a great spot in your home. It’s like any coffee table book - it’s for conversation and appreciation.
Thursday seems like a perfect day for a giveaway. And while many of you are headed back to class, I always find that autumn is the perfect time to pick up a new book. Or how about 12 books in the case of this giveaway?
If you like emotional thrillers, than you are probably no stranger to Ellen Hopkins’ books. Since the release of her New York Times Bestseller Crank 10 years ago, Ellen Hopkins has continued to write powerful verse fiction that has been impacting readers for the last decade. And Rumble promises to be just as amazing.
Here’s what you’ll WIN:
A copy of Rumble PLUS the back-catalog of Ellen Hopkins books, including:
ENTER HERE:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*The fine print: Giveaway only open to US readers. All prizing is provided by Simon & Schuster and Being Geek Chic. The total value of the prize is $75 plus shipping and handling. The giveaway also includes the cost of shipping to one address in the continental United States. Please follow the rules and be kind to one another.
