The ISA Podcast

SYS episode 160

Screenwriter And Director Alexander Babaev Talks About His New Horror Thriller, Bornless Ones.

SYS episode 159

Director Michael Lennox Talks About His New Thriller, A Patch of Fog

SYS episode 158

Claire In Motion Writers / Directors Lisa Robinson And Annie J. Howell.

The fourth season of "Sherlock" strays too far from its source material.

Since its 2010 debut, Mark Gattis and Steven Moffat's modern interpretation of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic detective stories about Sherlock Holmes have become a worldwide phenomenon. "Sherlock" has also made superstars of stars Benedict Cumberbatch (Holmes) and Martin Freeman (Dr. John Watson). But in its fourth season, the show is starting to feel less about the detective's casebook and more about their family trees.

If character is story, then Holmes should be illuminated by his deductive work helping solve crimes. The stories in Conan Doyle's canon are procedurals, after all. But over the last two seasons, "Sherlock" has strayed from whodunit's and become far more obsessed with backstory. Holmes family history and Watson's marriage are interesting, but they shouldn't be the main mysteries. It seems almost elementary, but as the show continues it shouldn't stray so far from its classic source material.

SYS Episode 157

Screenwriters Barry Wernick & James R. Hallam Talk About Their New Teen Thriller Comedy Bad Kids Of Crestview Academy.

SYS Episode 156

Paul Tanter Talks About His New Contained Action Flick, Kill Ratio.

"Passengers" makes the trip with two big stars but too little sci-fi.

The science fiction/romance "Passengers" booked a lot of talent for its journey. This tale about the 120-year trek to a new planet has megastars Jennifer Lawrence and Chris Pratt along for the ride, not to mention Oscar-nominated director Morten Tyldum at the helm. Unfortunately, screenwriter Jon Spaights should've packed more complexities into his script. The film has its charms of course - breezy chemistry between its stars, A+ production values, and a redemptive ending that will leave audiences smiling. But the voyage needed more depth in its exploration of space travel and mankind's frailties. One wishes the script had more Serling, Bradbury or Roddenberry in it, instead of all the clichéd romantic comedy tropes. "Passengers" sets out for a pie in the sky adventure, but it's more like a cute date movie. It takes flight, but it never quite soars.

SYS Ep 155

John Fallon talks about his latest film, The Shelter.

"The Bye Bye Man" misses its opportunity to create a truly frightening monster.

What makes a great movie monster? "The Bye Bye Man" thinks it's a villain that combines the ghoulish look of Lord Voldemort, the haunting presence of "Candy Man", and the ability to create psychological terror a la Freddy Krueger. Unfortunately, those pieces don't make for much of a whole here. Thus, this first-out-of-the gate horror movie for 2017 is mostly derivative and a great disappointment.

Sure, this haunted house story conjures a few good scares, jolting its three innocent college student tenants, but then the script takes too many turns for the worse. Smart characters suddenly act stupid, internal logic flies out the window, and worst of all, the "Bye Bye Man" isn't given a backstory. We don't know who he is or why he's there doing what he's doing. He may be a demon, but he's a ghost of an idea really, one not nearly developed enough to cause chills or thrills.

Whenever you're talking about your writing or anything you want to be doing more of - eating healthy or working out at the gym - watch for when you're about yo say, "I have to...", or "I need to...", and reframe the question for yourself to be actually more truthful to reality, which is to say, "I choose to..."

Don't wake up and say, "I have to write." Wake up and say, "I choose to write."