South Texas writers take note: A good one is coming to share his secrets. You’ve seen some of Carroll Cartwright's work in "Jumanji," "Pearl Harbor" and "What Maisie Knew," but now you get the chance to meet him.
Cartwright is a screenwriter and he’s in San Antonio for a two-day event put together by Arts San Antonio, Gemini Ink and the McNay Art Museum. First is the event put on by Gemini Ink.
“I was invited by Sheila Black from her writing program to come and teach one writing class,” Cartwright said.
Black is Gemini’s executive director, and the class will be held at Gemini Ink on South Presa.
“I’ve asked the people who have signed up for the class to bring in a few pages if they’ve been screen writing," Cartwright said.
He said he wants people to bring them so they can read them out loud.
“One of the most important things is to get people off the page, and thinking about it as something that lives off the page, but is a blueprint for actors and directors and cinematographers," he said.
Cartwright said reading it out loud will make some writers realize, "Oh my God! Nobody would ever say that line!"
The second event will be held at the McNay Art Museum.
“On Sunday the McNay will be screening 'What Maisie Knew,' which came out about this time last year,” Cartwright said.
Directors are often known for missing the boat on their adaptations of screenplays, but according to Cartwright, not so in "Maisie."
“It really looked onscreen like it did in my head," Cartwright said. "This was a film that took 18 years to get off the ground and it was worth the wait.”
After the 2 p.m. screening Cartwright will be there to answer questions.
Regarding the screenwriting changes in Hollywood, Cartwright said the news is a modified positive.
“Folks are really confused about how you can make a living doing it. But the good thing is, you can do it,” he said.
- For more on the workshop visit: geminiink.org
- More on the McNay screening at: www.artssa.org
