DIY Life

Here at DIY Life you've learned how to write a love song (and a song parody!), how to compose wedding vows and a love letter, and how to deliver a graduation speech to wow the crowd.

Do you still have your creative juices flowing? Are you ready to tackle something just a bit more involved?

On his blog, TV writer Ken Levine details how to write a romantic comedy, one that a studio will look at. He's got some interesting advice, stating that classes, reading, and film analysis aren't going to help you write a salable script. Here's what will, according to Levine:

• a hook, like the girl is a mermaid (his shout-out to Splash)
• a poster and tagline
• "trailer moments," to sell it to the viewers with ads
• songs from the 60's sung by lead characters
• spontaneous dance number

OK, me thinks Ken Levine is getting silly, but he's got a point. These are the things that get people to see movies sometimes, aren't they?

His blog post has more details and ideas that you may want to consider adding to your script to make it appealing to studios and audiences alike. Good luck!

I can't watch the preliminary American Idol auditions. I think it's because I feel too close to people who actually suck and my heart just breaks for their complete and total public exposure. Looking through these 41 hilarious science fair experiments tugged on those same heart-strings, but still left me compelled to share. Strange little psyche I have, but that's a story for another day!

Science fairs are said to shine a spotlight on the leaders of tomorrow. They are supposed to be highlighting those who really stand out as innovators. In my opinion they are more a reflection of who's parents can back off and let the kids do it and who can't help but step in and take over. You can always tell which ones Mom and Dad tinkered with and which ones they were asleep on the couch for.

This is our next generation of DIY'ers. I'm curious as to why the projects seem to have changed so dramatically over generations. It used to be about showing a real experiment, now it looks more like a research project. Where is all the mess? I want mess! No volcanoes, no slime, no models of that ideal pancreas? I'm not impressed. The display boards look great, the kids obviously took the time to make professional presentations.

They all look proud standing in front of their projects, and obviously put some very hard work into them, they just don't cover the topics I'd expect. Some of you with older children may be able to help me understand what's going on here. Are we not building robots and blowing things up anymore? Have Science Fairs changed? How do you think this impacts the next generation of DIY'ers; are they being encouraged to tinker and experiment less, with the new emphasis on creative displays and polished presentations?