Michael Frost Beckner launched his writing career in the early 1990’s with three record-making “spec” script sales: “Texas Lead & Gold,” “Cutthroat Island,” “Hunchback of Notre Dame.”

Today, with dozens of screenplays and rewrites for major studios, twenty pilots for commercial and cable networks, numerous episodes for network television, Beckner has—from his first original film, “Sniper,” that introduced the phrase “One shot, one kill” to the public vernacular and spawned three sequels—built a reputation as a film and television writer of realistic, character-based historical, military and espionage dramas.

The Screenwriter Series on Movie Beat with Michael Frost Beckner IS BELOW!

UPCOMING LIVE: Wednesday October 8, 2014 11aET, 10aCT, 8aPT TO LISTEN CLICK THE BOLDED LINK Below

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Discussions with Michael on Mini-series he is producing To Appomattox. TO LISTEN CLICK THE BOLDED LINK Below

Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat chats with screenwriter producer Michael Frost Beckner

Rex Sikes’ Movie Beat chats with screenwriter producer Michael Frost Beckner PT 2

****NEWS!!!  Michael and I are conducting a writer’s series. Tips, suggestions, secrets, on writing, selling and getting your screenplay made. Stay tuned!!! More to come!

***** THE SCREENWRITER SERIES with Michael Frost Beckner & Rex. How to write, pitch, sell and produce your screenplay. SCROLL DOWN FOR UPCOMING EPISODES *****

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Episode 1. We discuss – idea, generating ideas, plot, how to develop plot, story and what makes it important. The importance of Characters to the story and how these all relate to creating a strong project and selling it. (Show Note – cable company cut cable 3 minutes from end of show – ends abruptly but we will continue the conversation topic in Episode 2.

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Episode 2 We picked up where we left off and continued to explore story and character development. Michael talked about creating character backstory and how you screenplay story emanates from the character not the other way around. We discussed rewriting to keep it a page turner and began discussing crafting your opening, and how important theme is, plus much more.

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Episode 3 We continue the discussion where we left off and began to significantly the notion of THEME in your writing. Why and how  it is important and what it means to the reader and audience.

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Episode 4 We will pick up where we left off and continue to explore these and new topics. How to Pitch Studio executives and producers. Michael provided valuable tips and suggestions for how to pitch and what to do.

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Episode 5 Continues the exploration and discussion on pitching and selling your screenplay. The conversation includes studio, independent production, television and features. Incredible information you can use is in each episode.

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Episode 6 Michael and I discuss pitching your feature or spec film and how it differs from pitching Television executives. We discuss the necessity of networking and career success.

ENJOY THE SCREENWRITER SERIES

Beckner’s major big-screen success came with the Universal Pictures, Tony Scott directed film of Beckner’s spec script, “Spy Game” (2001) starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt.  The release of that film coincided with the debut Beckner’s CBS series, “The Agency” (Creator, Executive Producer, Writer; 2001-2003).  This pilot holds the distinction of being the only dramatic series ever allowed to film at CIA Headquarters in Langley, Virginia.

Beckner began his career as Academy Award winning director, Barry Levinson’s Writing Assistant working with the director on “Good Morning, Vietnam” and “Rain Man.”  From 1997 to 2008, he worked extensively with Academy Award winning director, Sydney Pollack, adapting John Le Carre’s “The Night Manager” and writing two more films and developing two television series; Beckner considers Mr. Pollack his mentor and the greatest influence on his writing and his career.

Recent writing credits include: “CSI: Crime Scene Investigators” (CBS) and “Gold Fever” (Discovery), and is preparing the “Spy Game” prequel “Muir’s Gambit” for production and has adapted his novel “Berlin Mesa” into a 4 hour mini-series for AMC.

Beckner has also developed a working profile in European television writing the miniseries “The Plan” (UK; Purecom Entertainment and Freemantle) based on Alex Dryden’s bestsellers “Red to Black” and “Moscow Sting,” as well as “The Sleepwalkers” based on Christopher Clark’s international bestseller of the same title (Germany;Odeon/H&V Productions).  Beckner is currently working on “City of Lies” which continues his creative partnership with director Wolfgang Petersen they began with “The Agency” (Radiant Productions/Endemol).

As a personality and commentator on American espionage he has appeared on CNN, Fox New, TF1 in France, and was a featured guest on Bill Maher’s “Politically Incorrect.”  As a Civil War speaker, he has spoken at universities and to private organizations on the history behind his upcoming Civil War Event Mini-Series “To Appomattox.”

He is one of three children of Olympic gymnast, coach and judge, and NCAA champion (University of Southern California) Jack Beckner and Barbara Beckner; he attended USC and received a degree in novel writing under the tutelage of award-winning novelist T.C. Boyle; the father of five children, Beckner makes his home in Montrose, California.

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