How we work: David Chase, scriptwriter

Chase and the script team for The Sopranos write, edit and re-edit a nested structure of storylines for each episode, gradually moving from story to script:

'In the writing room, Chase and the show's other writer/producers "flesh out the story for each episode, listing the 'beats,' i.e. scenes, for the A-D stories, one story at a time, on a wipe-off board. Each strand has a beginning, middle and end and could stand alone as films." [...] Once the writers are satisfied with the scene order "aka story" the taped pages are retyped and voila: an outline that the writer, whoever he is, must faithfully follow.'

More how we work.

Comments

[joe biondo]

Hello
I am writing so that you may reveiw my project for a possible something in the future. It is at the publisher now and should be in paperback form in the next coming months.
Attached is an intro to my manuscript.

- Retribution - Dead men tell no lies.
by Joe Biondo

Joe Biagi was good Sicilian kid, who through his parents teachings and the streets he grew up on had his own ideas of what the rules actually were. If you saw it you remebered it, never bragged about it and always covered your own ass. If you saw some idiot taking advantage of the weak, you stepped in and helped them out. Never make a move that would disappoint your parents... unless it was out of your control. To grow up with the values of a Sicilian male, you grew up up with certain values that others just didn't understand. If someone crossed you or yours, in time your paths would cross and getting even just seem to happen.
Joe never looked for trouble; he was a model kid, student, freind, and son. He was tal, dark, athletic, smart, and always willing to help.
He was headed to the top until certain situations changed his direction. When that happened he had to do what was right, even if it was, against the law. Retributiojn means- time to get even, and in some cases this kid was not willing to sit back and let it go. He was willing to die to satisfy the urge of avenging the injuring and deaths of the innocent and weak in his life. Never was this suppose to happen with this young man, it just worked out that way.
In life you never take on the mobs and gangs, they're just to strong and dirty and almost always get their man. But this time they met their match. Joe Biagi was too smart and not willing to let it go. The only way that he would get caught is if he didn't plan out his moves. If he needed a month, he took a month. If he needed a year, he took a year. If it had to happen now and the situation was right, it happend now.
The styory takes you from his family's entrance into America to their middle class existance and then shifts to follow Joe as he makes his way through life. It shows you what he learns from what he's seen on the streets and how he uses it to his advantage. The story mixes with the good the bad and the ugly that life has to offer. It has love, hate, dreams and sorrows. The dark side of Joe is the catch. As his eyes and mind turn black, the story unfolds. His calculating ways grip you as one by one he eliminates the scum that hurt the ones he loves and respects. It all starts as an accident and winds its way to an almost socilpathic existance. The difference is that someone else always gets the blame. He makes connections that help him which in turn helps them. You get caught up in the story because of the lead inns to his calculating manner and how he uses the victims own properties against them. I guess you can call it a story of vigilanty justice.
To me the story just takes you to different place and is almost a rag's to riches story with some very tough decisions along the way. No matter what, Joe couldn't lose. His strong roots helped him the whole time. It's written in a different format, I guess you could call it a bit street wise due to the written as they sound. People from the streets aren't literary geniuses but they get their point across fine. I guess you could compare the writing to the movie, "The Bronx Tale." Not the story but the dialogue.
The story starts out in Buffalo, N.Y. and ends up in San Diego, Ca. The murders do the same. The love of his life gets involved as he makes his decisions to steer his life in a different direction. The story ends as all the good, bad and indifferent comes to a head as another chapter is soon to begin. He completes his last mission with a masterful technique which helps an old man and a crusty old cop stop a nasty situation. Surley as life goes forward more killings will follow, but thats left to your own imagination.
To say anymore would be to give it all away. But one thing stands true. The only people who knew it was him were the ones he killed and dead men tell no lies.....
sincerely,
Joe Biondo

[Louis Lombardi]

I would like tomake contact with David Chase
of the sopranos. I have an outstanding
script for future show. A new idea with a
new twist.

[tony defrancesco]

I would like to contact david chase,I have a script idea with no idea where to go next,please help

[marianne rosner]

I am mark rosner's sister in law marianne rosner I own a granite and marble business on long island I have a great script for you

[rodcorp]

Marianne, is the script related to your granite and marble business? A stonemasonic thriller would be interesting.

BUT... folks, please remember that I don't have any contact details for David Chase or any of the other people I write about for this "How we work project". Some thoughts on how you might get hold of their agents are here http://rodcorp.typepad.com/rodcorp/2004/12/how_we_work.html#contact but I imagine that most of them are probably not going to want unsolicited contact anyway because they're busy people. Good luck with the scripts.

[vaness]

I just would like to ask Mr. Chase why did he do that to us with the ending of the Sopranos? I followed the show for nine years and I must say that was the biggest let down in TV history.

[mob widow]

Perhaps David Chase would like some very interesting real life mob stories.

[elizabeth]

I NEED to get in touch with David Chase. I have a movie idea and research material that I have worked on for over 10 years making me an authority on the subject. The subject is the Holocaust and I KNOW it is Oscar material! Its chilling and exciting and corrupt and all REAL and TRUE!!

Please help me contact Mr Chase directly and Im sure this story will fascinate him. Elizabeth

[joe biondo]

"RETRIBUTION-Dead Men Tell No Lies"
adaptation and book by Joe Biondo
_________________________________________
Hi,

I am trying to find someone to develop my script (adaptation) to my book into film. This is the hardest, most frustrating thing I've ever been involved in during my writting career. It is nearly impossible to crack the shell of this crazy showbusiness empire. I feel I have something here and everytime I see the garbage on tv of at the movies I cringe.
There are some fabulous things on the big screen but then there is that one film that you just shake your head at. You all know what I mean. Below is the introduction and overview of my story. Take a chance, someone please, YOU WON'T BE SORRY!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a two part script, complete, edited and ready to go. Part I is 120 pgs, Part II is 108 pgs. The book was published in early 2006. It is available at:

www.authorhouse.com
www.Barnesandnoble.com

WGAW REGISTERED ‘ 07 (Adaptation)
COPY RIGHTED ‘ 08 (Adaptation)
___________________________________________
Basic List of Main characters:

Joe Biagi – main character, Sicilian (12 yrs old transition to 18, 22 yrs old)
- street wise, vigilante
Alexis - Joe’s girlfriend, sexy
(20, 21, yrs old)
Dino - Joe’s friend (19 yrs old)
Woody – street rat (wanna be mobster)
Big Lou Fabiano – Mob Boss
(50’s heavy, cigar, raspy voice)
James Colone – actor, slick (40’s )
Tweedy – police detective
(50’s, about to retire, crusty, bald)
Tommy – James’ bodyguard (30’s, 6’4”- 260lbs)
Jimmy – bartender, Joe’s boss (late 40’s)

A few other short parts, mobsters, gang banger’s, street wise people and family.
The story takes place in Buffalo, NY and San Diego, CA.
_____________________________________________ INTRODUCTION:

“ RETRIBUTION - Dead men tell no lies”
By Joe Biondo (fiction)

Joe Biagi was a good Sicilian kid, who through his parent’s teachings and the streets he grew up on had his own ideas of what the rules actually were. If you saw it you remembered it, never bragged about it and always covered your own ass. If you saw some idiot taking advantage of the weak, you stepped in and helped them out. Never make a move that would make your parents unhappy with you…..unless it was out of your control. To grow up with the values of a Sicilian male, you grew up with certain
values that others just didn’t understand. If someone crossed you or yours, in time your paths would cross and getting even just seemed to happen.

Joe never looked for trouble; he was a model kid, student, son, and friend. Almost everyone who came in contact with him loved him, he had a special magnetism. He was tall, dark, athletic, smart, and always willing to help others.

He was headed to the top until certain situations changed his direction. When that happened he had to do what was right, even if it was, against the law. Retribution means – time to get even, and in some cases this kid wasn’t about to sit back and let it go. He was willing to die to satisfy the urge of avenging the injuring and deaths of the innocent and weak in his life. Never was this suppose to happen with this young man, it just worked out that way.

In life you never take on the mobs and gangs, they’re just too strong and dirty and always got their man. But this time, they met their match. Joe Biagi was to smart and not willing to let it go. The only way that he would get caught is if he didn’t plan out his moves. If he needed a month, he took a month. If he needed a year he took a year.
If it had to happen now and the situation was right, it happened now.

The story takes you from his family’s entrance into America to their middle class existence and then shifts to follow Joe as he makes his way through life. It shows you how he learns from what he’s seen on the streets and how he uses it to his advantage. The story mixes with the good the bad and the ugly life has to offer. It has love, hate, dreams and sorrows. The dark side of Joe is the catch. As his eyes and mind turn black, the story unfolds. His calculating ways grip you as one by one he eliminates the scum that hurt the ones he loves and respects. It all starts as an accident and winds its way to an almost socialpathic existence. The difference is that someone else always gets the blame. He makes connections that help him which in turn helps them. You get caught up in the story
because of the lead inns to his calculating manner and how he uses the victims own properties against them.

You can call it a story of vigilantism.

To me the story just takes you to a different place and is almost a rag’s to riches story with some very tough decisions along the way. No matter what, Joe couldn’t lose. His strong roots helped him the whole time. It’s written

in a different format, I guess you can call it a bit street wise with the quotes written as they sound. People from the streets aren’t literary geniuses but they get their points across. I guess you could compare the writing to the movie The Bronx Tale. Not the story but the dialogue.

The story starts out in Buffalo, New York, and ends in San Diego, California. The murders do the same.The love of his life gets involved as he makes his decisions to steer his life in a different direction. The story ends as all the good, bad and indifferent comes to a head as another chapter is soon to begin. He completes his last mission with a masterful technique which helps an old man and a crusty old cop stop a nasty situation. Surely as life goes forward more killings will follow, but that’s left to your own imagination.

To say anymore would be to give it all away. But one thing stands true. The only people who knew it was him were the ones he killed and dead men tell no lies.

Please consider this project, its ready and I am also. Any more info you may need please don’t hesitate to ask.

Sincerely,
Joe Biondo - [email protected]
[email protected]

[Shelley Craig]

I have a great!!! story for David Chase pleawe let me know how to get it to him????

[Shelley Craig]

Does anyone know how I can get my story to someone I want this made into a series or movie if you know of anyone willing to take a look at it please email me

[email protected]

[Lucianno Young]

if you read this than thaks i am 14 i relli am talnted i wanted to make another mob show and work with a pro to get my show produced please email

[Victoria Jawara]

I have written a come back for the Sopranos. Please have Mr. Chase contact me. It has a highly unexpected beginning and ending. With drama and intrege, with sitting on the end of your seat-suspense, lots of action, Major suspense. It is a cross between something you would see from Alfred Hitchcock to Silence of the Lamb, to Denzel Washington,to Oceans thirteen and Mission Impossible, to Bruce Willis Die Hard Series, with the Soul of the GODFATHER!. No! my come back isn't from these movies. It gives that same type of an element, excitement you would expect to see in those movies all ball up in one, mine;
"The Revenge of the Sopranos"

[rich porter]

Pls contact me before you write anything for a sopranos movie I have a screenplay that is perfect and is based on a true story in tampa fl and written by a writer who has already sold screenplays to top hollywood directors pls just give me 5 mins

[Joe Biondo]

Hey,
How is everyone today?
I'm back with my second book. "HIT SQUAD VENGEANCE" has just been released by authorhouse. I will include the link on here. Another fiction about the streets of Buffalo. Another vigilante hero taking matters into his own hands to protect the weaker of the worlds population. I have a third book in the works. Check out the books and the introductions on the following site: (hi-lite, copy and paste) http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/BookStoreSearchResults.aspx?SearchType=smpl&SearchTerm=joe%20biondo
Thank you so much
Joe Biondo

[Joe Biondo]

HIT SQUAD VENGEANCE - by Joe Biondo (2010)
This is a recent reveiw written by someone that likes what I have to offer as an author. I find it refreshing that with each person that reads my stories they see my growth as a writer. Thank You for your time.
Peace.
Joe Biondo
REVIEW:
The author, Joe Biondo has a definite passion to the streets he writes about. His first book, "RETRIBUTION - Dead Men Tell No Lies”, I would say was a great success. The story had family, love, passion and direction to make you not want to put it down. "HIT SQUAD - VENGEANCE”, does the same. I was actually hoping his second book was a continuation of the first as it made you want more with its open ending. The new story blends the passion and streets perfectly. He again has nailed the action to almost film quality with his explanation and description of the situations in which he writes. I loved the first book and now am hooked on this author. I look forward to more works from him and as one person said in a book review on his works, “He nailed it.” We all know how hard it is to write a story let alone a book. To keep you hooked and keep you thinking of it until the next time you pick it up is a gift. This guy by far is not a literary genius but he is a story teller. A good storyteller who can organize his stories and get them down on paper. I have read many books of this nature. He fills his pages with meaningful words not filler to prolong the story. He ends his stories so that if he wants to, he can continue it at a later date. In my eyes, this is an author to watch. Any book that keeps you thinking when you complete it deserves kudos. I give this author mine.
http://www.authorhouse.com/Bookstore/ItemDetail.aspx?bookid=68930

[David Walton]

I have a great television show in mind and want to know how I'd be able to get in touch with HBO in order for me to pitch my work to them. I have wriiten what the story is about. I'm 18 so don't really know what to do. I have written the pilot episode.

[Joe Biondo]

please check out Joe Biondo at:

www.joebiondoauthor.webs.com

coming soon is the American/Sicilian fiction,
"THE BOCCE CLUB"

A story written from the tales of the Sicilian American family.

[rodcorp]

Joe I much admire your persistence - good luck.

[Gus]

Rod, I'm not sure if you've figured out yet from in-linking and my searches that a number of these How We Work threads featured in my dissertation about people having trouble navigating the Internet -- http://www.studyplace.org/wiki/User:Gusandrews/SearchProject/1208chapters . I only used the Bill Murray, Santiago Calatrava, and Mohammed Al Fayed examples for various reasons... I'm chagrined to find this entire segment of your blog attracts comments like these. And from aspiring writers, who really ought to be readers, as well. You have impressive patience -- many bloggers facing this kind of confusion break down and scream at people.

Aside from all that, the focus on people's work habits is really interesting and unique -- keep it up :)