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18 Movies with Writer Characters featuring Michelle Pfeiffer, Jennifer Aniston, Anne Hathaway and More

Posted on May 14, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Writers have always had a great place in the movies. Not just because they write the scripts, but scripts about writers have always been a favorite of Hollywood. I always find it interesting to check out our occupation on the big screen. The movies don’t have to focus on a writer’s career or they don’ need to take place in the world of publishing. These movies all have leading characters that write for a living, in one form or the other. The numbers don’t represent my love for the movie, they are there to make the list post.

1. The New Daughter starring Kevin Costner

John James’ (Costner) wife has left him so he moves to the country with his two kids. While his beautiful house and the somewhat remote location might be ideal for writing, it turns out it is the beginning of a nightmare.

2. The Best Man starring Stuart Townsend and Amy Smart

The Best Man starring Stuart Townsend & Amy Smart.

This is a sweet romantic comedy where writer Olly (Stuart Townsend) meets the fiancé of his college friend and falls head over heels. It might help his conscience a little that his friend is a big jerk and Olly is a really nice guy.

3. Love Actually starring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant & Liam Neeson

Love Actually starring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Emma Thompson & Keira Knightley. Image via sinepil.org.

This is a romantic comedy/drama written and directed by Richard Curtis. When writer Jamie (Colin Firth) catches his girlfriend cheating with his own brother, he goes to his house in the woods to write. Here, he hires a Portuguese Aurelia (Lucia Moniz) to do his housekeeping. Despite the fact that he can’t speak Portuguese and she doesn’t know a word of English, they fall in love. This movie features one of the most successful ensemble casts of all time, featuring Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Liam Neeson, Bill Nigh, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, Keira Knightley and more.

4. The Devil and Daniel Webster starring Alec Baldwin and Jennifer Love Hewitt

The Devil and Daniel Webster starring Alec Baldwin, Anthony Hopkins and Jennifer Love Hewitt

When struggling and almost starving writer Jabez Stone (Alec Baldwin) loses everything and kills a human being by accident, making a deal with the devil (Jennifer Love Hewitt) seems like his only solution. The movie is also known as Shortcut to Happiness.

5. Love Happens starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston

Love Happens starring Jennifer Aniston & Aaron Eckhart. Image via movcenter.net

Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart) has become a bestseller with his book on loss. He has written it to cope with the death of his wife. It has also provided a great distraction with all the book tours and workshops. But he will be confronted with his own feelings eventually, especially he wants to have a shot with Eloise (Jennifer Aniston).

6. Numb starring Matthew Perry

Screenwriter Hudson (Perry) is experiencing a whole new level of depression. He was never the happiest bloke around but for a while, he is unable to feel anything. It is killing him that he is feeling so detached. He can’t feel alive or connected. The movie tells the tragicomic story of Hudson as he tries to juggle his creativity, friendships, love life and depression.

7. I could never be your woman starring Michelle Pfeiffer and Paul Rudd

I Could Never Be Your Woman starring Paul Rudd & Michelle Pfeiffer. Image via lebleb.com

Rosie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is pretty, 40, a single mother and the writer of a popular teen show. Things get complicated when she falls for the cast’s newest member: The 29-year-old Adam (Paul Rudd).

8. Becoming Jane starring Anne Hathaway and James McAvoy:

Becoming Jane starring Anne Hathaway & James McAvoy. Image via lebleb.com.

Becoming Jane is a delightful romantic period drama that tells the semi-fictional life story of the popular author Jane Austen (Anne Hathaway) and her romance with Tom Lefroy (McAvoy).

9. Adam starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne:

Teacher and children’s books’ writer Beth falls for Adam, her new cute neighbor with the Asperger’s Syndrome.

10. Dedication starring Billy Crudup and Mandy Moore:

Obsessive-compulsive Henry (Billy Crudup) writes children’s books. He is definitely not one of the easiest guys to get along with. Lucy (Moore) finds this out the hard way when she needs to work with him as an illustrator. Of course things get more complicated as Henry starts to fall for her.

11. Shelter starring Trevor Wright and Brad Rowe

Shelter starring Trevor Wright & Brad Rowe.

Zach (Trevor Wright)’ s only consolation is surfing. He is trying to be both uncle/father/older brother to his 5-year-old nephew Cody as Cody’s mom/his sister is not the most responsible mother around. He has postponed his dreams and his life. His on and off relationship with Tori isn’t helping him either. However when he runs into Shaun (Brad Rowe)-older brother of his best friend- things begin to change. Shaun has become an accomplished author and he is back in the neighborhood to write. They share a connection, however the connection seems more intense then Zach can handle. He can’t be falling for a guy, can he?

12. Romancing The Stone Starring Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas

Romancing the Stone starring Michael Douglas & Kathleen Turner. Image via Sinema3.com

Bestselling romance novelist Joan Wilder (Turner) needs to get out of comfort zone when her sister is kidnapped in Columbia. She will have to go through a challenging and romantic adventure as she meets and joins forces with adventure lover Jack Colton (Douglas). Directed by the Back to the Future series’ director Robert Zemeckis.

13. Before Sunset starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy

Before Sunset starring Ethan Hawke & Julie Delpy. Image via amazon.com.

*** Spoilers about Before Sunrise, beware!!!!!!

Before Sunset is the sequel to Before Sunrise. In the first movie Ethan Hawke’s Jessie and Julie Delpy’s Celine had met on a train and decided to get off and explore Vienna together. The very next day, they had to say goodbye as she had to go back to France and he had to return to the States. They promise to see each other in 6 months. The second film starts in Paris, 9 years later. Jesse and Celine haven’t been able to meet as they arranged. Jesse has written a book about their relationship and has become very successful. Paris is the last stop of his book tour. As they walk around Paris and catch up, old feelings come to surface.

14. Blood and Chocolate starring Hugh Dancy and Agnes Bruckner:

Vivian (Bruckner) is a shape-shifter- she can turn into a wolf. Aiden (Dancy) is a graphic novels writer who is Hungary for research. When he meets Vivian, he is immediately smitten. But Vivian may not be all that willing for a romance with her secret.

15. The Holiday starring Kate Winslet

The Holiday starring Jude Law, Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet & Jack Black. Image via sinepil.org.

Journalist Iris (Kate Winslet) has been desperately in love with Jasper (Rufus Sewell) for years. However Jasper is more interested in being friends with benefits and occassionaly using her as his editor and critic. While Jasper is not a main character, he plays a big part on Iris’ actions and decisions. The movie also stars Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Jack Black. Written and directed by Nancy Meyers.

16. Misery starring James Caan and Kathy Bates:

Based on the novel by Stephen King, Misery is about a bestselling writer Paul Sheldon (James Caan) and his obsessed fan Annie (Kathy Bates).When Sheldon has an accident and rescued by Annie, he has no idea that Annie will be his biggest nightmare and there will be one hell of a hostage situation.

17. Purple Violets starring Patrick Wilson and Selma Blair

Purple Violets starring Debra Messing, Patrick Wilson, Edward Burns & Selma Blair. Image via cinemagia.ro

Patti (Blair) is trying to be an accomplished writer. She doesn’t have the best husband in the world and when she runs into her college boyfriend, who is now an accomplished writer, sparks start flying all around. Written and directed by Edward Burns, who is also co-starring with Debra Messing.

18. The Leading Man starring Jon Bon Jovi and Thandie Newton:

Playwright Felix Webb has a problem. He is in love with somebody else- actress Hilary (Thandie Newton) in his play. It doesn’t help matters that he is married with kids. He wants to get rid of his wife, also a playwright, Elena (Anna Galeina) as quickly as he can. He sees solution in the form of Robin Grange (Jon Bon Jovi)- a Hollywood star who will be starring in his play opposite Hilary. He wants him to seduce his wife. Being mischievous, seductive and sexy by nature, Robin agrees. After all, Elena is beautiful. But of course trusting Felix might be a mistake as he might try to seduce Hilary in the process as well. Now Felix wants to get rid of Robin, for good…

11 Writing Job Requirements That Are Against Freelance Nature

Posted on April 25, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

freelance picture — Image via teknosarj.com.

This is how wikipedia defines freelancing:

“A freelancer, freelance worker, or freelance is somebody who is self-employed and is not committed to a particular employer long term.”

Pay attention to the “free” in the word freelancing. Freelancing is -by definition- different than a regular desk/office job. You don’t have one boss, you don’t have set working hours. You don’t typically make the same income every month.

Unfortuntely, economy is almost always tough, and many employers in the marketplace have some unreasonable demands, or just demands that resemble more of the demands of a controlling office boss.

Below are some of these unreasonable, un-freelance-like demands that I run into often:

1. Hourly pays

Some employers want to pay you hourly. While it can make sense for some writers, most freelancers like to freelance because of the freedom.

Some jobs can take you 30 minutes and some can take 4 hours. When you are expected to bill in, your performance and motivation can dramatically decrease.

Of course if you manage to snatch a writing job that pays $500/hour, by all means please take it. I know I would.

But jobs that pay $10/hour? Thanks, but no, thanks.

2. Webcam on desktop turned on

There are freelance job sites (such as odesk) and employers who request that they can see you working. It is a very odd demand, as even your ex office boss didn’t probably have a chance to watch you directly, unless you worked in a very small office.

How can you concentrate or feel liberated when you know someone can observe you anytime? Yikes.

3. Bidding

There are many bidding job sites, such as Elance, Guru, oDesk and more.

The concept on these sites is that an employer gives you his budget and you estimate how much your time should be worth. Then you make a bid at a common denominator.

But of course the employer will be likely to choose the writer that charges less, given that the credentials are equal. This doesn’t work in the favor of the writer as the cheapest most qualified writer tends to get the job. The only benefits here is obtained by the employer.

And since most projects don’t really involve impressive budgets, these bidding sites decrease the amount of money the writer is going to make.

4. No-pay jobs and Internships

The idea behind applying to a job is to make money. Some job posters do not disclose how much they are offering. And you quickly find out that this is mostly because they don’t intend to pay at all. Under the name of internship, recognition and work-experience, you are supposed to work for free. But who is going to pay for the bills?

5. Very low pay

Some businesses ask you to turn in about 10-20 articles a week. This is doable, unless you are expected to get $5 or less for each article. Then why would you do it? You could write whatever you wanted for user-generated content sites, and maybe earn even a little more, without being obliged to write about something you don’t have control over.

I am not defending content mills blindly, but I am really opposed to taking $5/article jobs. The lowest I ever went for was $10/500 words -on a topic I could write my eyes closed. Let me put it this way: I used to talk about these topics (my favorite bands) all the time when I was in high school. No one paid me then.

If an article is going to take you a lot of time, and it is not on a subject you’d write about even for free, even $20/500 words is low.

6. Low pay, but maximum quality requirements

Some companies do offer to pay you $1-5 per article, and moreover, they demand the quality of a $50-100 article. Yes, you heard right. This is not any more rational than a guy who demands a loyal wife while he wants to be allowed to sleep with whomever he wants. These are things that should never happen!

If noones takes these jobs, no matter how desperate they are, people won’t post it. If there is no supply, how can there be demand?

7. Only employing people from certain countries

Many employers have some specific location requirements. Of course being from New York would help if you are to write New York-related articles. But if you are going to write about universal topics, such as blog traffic tips, what difference does it make if you are in New Zealand and your employer lives in Japan?

8. Only hiring people of 5 years’ experience

Some jobs go very overboard with their requirements, such as demanding multiple years of experience. While experience is a bonus, not all jobs really require that much experience. Sometimes experience is wanted only for experience’s sake alone.

I mean, if you have 5 years of experience, chances are you are not applying to jobs to get clients. Clients are contacting to hire you.

9. Phone calls and face-to-face interviews

One of the most appealing things about freelancing in the 21st Century is that you can handle anything via an internet connection and a laptop.

However some editors like to treat their freelance writers as they are office-bound, or as if freelancers need to live nearby. While it might be helpful on some occasions, having to meet/see your employers is something you did frequently when you weren’t freelancing.

I’m not opposed to the occasional skype conferencing, but commuting to offices? It wouldn’t work unless you lived close to where the hiring company is located. Remember one of the most attractive things about freelancing versus office jobs: Eliminating commute!!!!

10. Revenue-sharing job ads

Many internet writers take advantage of revenue sharing sites such as Factoidz. I did. I actually still do. It is fun to get paid while I do article marketing and link-building.

However when I am searching for writing gigs, I don’t want to run into ads of a million sites who only pay according to your adsense earnings. There are already many websites that work in that fashion. If I were satisfied with their paychecks, I’d write for them only. After all, nothing hardly beats the freedom of writing about whatever you want.

11. Job ads of sites already famous for revenue sharing such as Hubpages and Suite 101

It might be a blessing for newbies to find out about as many revenue-sharing sites as they can but for a more seasoned web-writer, it becomes old and boring news. Because chances are you already checked out Hubpages or Suite 101 ages ago and you are either writing for them or you aren’t.

I really don’t want to see their ads on my favorite job-hunting sites!

What writing job requirements do you find against freelance nature? Do you agree with any of these 11 pet peeves of mine? What are yours?

What Editors Can Learn from the Movie Up In The Air

Posted on March 30, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

Up in the Air movie poster - starring George Clooney.

Editors are busy people. We get it. They receive a gazillion submissions and manuscripts, most of which aren’t even relevant. We do feel their pain. But then again, for every writer who is too lazy to study the writer’s guidelines, there are many writers who put tremendous effort into researching the magazine, dissecting the guidelines and perfecting that query letter. And there is the endless waiting on the writer’s part, when the writer’s going crazy with all the questions in his head:

-Did they even see the query or did it just get lost in the mail box?

– If they did read the query, did I not get an answer because my e-mail account failed me or because they forgot to reply? Or was it because they just didn’t want to spend time sending out a rejection e-mail?

Did any of these sound familiar? After spending all that time on a query, and spending even more time waiting for the publication’s response time to pass, we are left wondering in the uncertainty of it all. Now, I don’t care how busy the editors are. I want that reply, whether it is positive or negative, right after the response time is over.

This is where the connection (that I made) with the movie Up in the Air comes in. Up in the Air is a romantic comedy/drama starring George Clooney. It is a very bittersweet & entertaining movie and you can read a detailed review (without spoilers) on my entertainment blog. But if you haven’t seen the movie, all you need to know is that George Clooney’s character fires people for a living. If a corporation wants to do the layoffs through an outsider, they get him to do the dirty work. Yes, it is not a pleasant career. And it is not a great moment to hear that you were fired. But it is better to know, as soon as possible, so that you can move on.

With writers, the problem for the most of the time, is that we have to wait weeks, or months to hear we were “hired” or not. Since editors are so busy, wouldn’t it be so find a person who would tell the writers that they simply weren’t right for the job. Writers need to know when they aren’t going to be assigned an article, so that they can pitch the idea to other magazines. Plus, telling someone they are not hired is not as depressing as telling them they are fired.

We need to know. One way or another. So if editors are too busy to reject us, why not let someone else do it? Might be wishful thinking, but I think this idea would actually do both sides a big, fat time-saving favor. What do you think?

8 Similarities Between Job Search for Writers and Other Professionals

Posted on March 29, 2011 Written by Pinar Tarhan

So you are a writer. When you mention this to others, they usually either picture you unemployed, or they think you’re working on your novel. But when it comes to making money from writing, novels are usually only a small part of the picture.

Usually selling non-fiction articles, as well as blog posts, is far more lucrative fo writers. So there’s a lot of query-writing, pitching to magazines and well, until you have built an impressive portfolio, applying to job ads.

Appling to writing job ads is mostly not any different from applying to any other job, whatever the industry. I should know; my non-writing experience includes 3 internships (one PR firm, one advertising firm & Coca Cola), 1 office job (consultancy) and a freelance translation gig.

I survived many interviews, applications and CV-writing. I also observed my friends’ job-hunting processes and listened to their (horror) stories. Since we all have friends and acquaintances with different degrees and qualifications, it becomes very easy to study the job-hunting process on a multi-industrial or even a universal basis. Now that I’m writing for a living, things aren’t as different as some mighjt think:

Similarities – Job Hunting for Writers and Non-Writers

– The job hunter selects the job-posting websites that appeals to him most. Sites like Monster or Linkedin are great for career management. Not to mention, each country has its own sites where job ads are posted. It is no different with the writing industry.

– Many job posters reply very late. When you are not hired, most of the time the editors/business owners don’t take the time to contact you to say you weren’t hired.

One of my friends had an interview at this big toy manufacturing company. The next day, he was contacted through a very sincere and personalized e-mail that they were unable to hire him. He was over the moon. Yes, he didn’t get the job but it was very refreshing that interviewers respected his time and goals.

– Even when you are hired, there is a chance they returned your email weeks, if not months, later. By the time they do, you are probably wrapped up in other projects or there is a good chance you don’t even remember you applied to that specific ad. It happened to me with writing jobs, also jobs in advertising jobs, business, marketing and public relations.

– They offer a lot less than they ask for. All employers want the perfect employee. While this makes sense at a certain level, it is fairly unfair and I’ll dare say unprofessional when the employer himself couldn’t be further from perfect.

Think about it. Everyone wants the perfect candidate: Best schools, years of experience, outstanding portfolio…. Yet they rarely offer the perfect working hours, paycheck or the working environment. How many times did you come across very selective and highly demanding writing job requirements only to find out they are offering only $10 per article?

– Your happiness is the least of their concerns. Unfortunately this is most often the case. You live to make your boss/supervisor/manager/editor happy. It seems like people often forget that happy employees are more productive and successful.

– You usually need to wait for at the end of the payment period to see if they really pay. No matter how we much we ask around and google the company, we can’t always be sure the payment will appear in our bank accounts. Sometimes the firm is too small or new for us to acquire their “credentials” and reputations. And sometimes we just want or need the job so badly that we take our chances.

– Some ads have requirements that are totally hypocritical or plain irrational, like wanting writers only from certain countries (with the few exceptions. A Chicago lifestyle writer has to be from Chicago. We have no objections to that). Some expect you to give you sample of work when they haven’t even offered the pay rate and/or the name of the company. Or some expect you to be a blogger with a blog –ranked 3 or 4 on Google and offering you 10/15$ a piece. If I have that page rank, I won’t bother with that pay rate.

Talking about other industries, I used to work at an education consultancy firm where was paid about $900/month and was expected to work on Saturdays as well.

But my favorite pet peeve is when I was one time interviewed by a public relations agency. The woman wanted me to work for 3 months for free, as a trial period. I said no.

– You need a customized CV. Not all of your experiences or hoobies are relevant to any give job. You need to higlight different areas. Applying to Coca-Cola may require a different resume than applying to Nike. The same goes for writing.

How familiar has these sounded to you? You have probably been there, done that. Job-hunting is rarely fun for anyone, although there have been some exceptions. What’s your industry? What are your experiences?