Detective Parody and Movie Reviews collide.
Thanks to Devin V. Duncan.

The D. V. Detective Blog series uses the Raymond Chandler approach to movie reviews. It’s set in the present day and takes you on a duel journey to discuss movies in a different way than other parody movie sites. The purpose isn’t to make fun of movies, per se. It’s exploring how Detective Devin V. Duncan earns his cash by using his extensive knowledge of film, and other elements of pop culture, to solve cases for his clients. Still confused? Read his case logs and find out what your missing.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Why Did I Start This Blog Series?

In November of 2007, I searched for a freelance writing job online and stumbled across an ad needing writers for a parody movie review site. My first idea went nowhere. Then the idea of a down and out detective solving cases by writing movie reviews sparked my imagination. It combined my overall writing experience as a reviewer and a creative writer. After writing the “pilot” story, I decided not to submit to the movie review site and thought about creating my own, mainly because my example may not have fit the rest of the reviews. That parody site’s main focus was to make fun of the movies themselves. I concentrated on giving the movie review process a different twist. I mean, let’s face it, there are thousands of movie review sites and podcasts (audio and video) on the web these days . I needed a place where my offbeat idea could stand out. Thus, the D.V. Detective Blog is here and I hope to bring enjoyment to those who come to this site.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

My Writing History

Between 1994 and 1997, I, Christie Taylor, started writing music reviews and articles for several Rap music publications that included “Rap Sheet,” and “The Source.” My writing expanded as I began studying the art and craft of sitcom scripts. During 1998 – 2000, I wrote four spec scripts based on these following shows: “Frasier,” “Friends,” “The Drew Carey Show,” and the short-lived 1999 series, “Stark Raving Mad,” which starred Tony Shalhoub and Neil Patrick Harris (the show was pretty good IMO). While I tried to seek representation sitcoms, as the prominent television medium, was dying and the criteria agents required were changing. Therefore, I had to go back to the drawing board.

I took it upon myself to focus on an in-depth study of writing one-hour scripts by researching one of my favorite shows: “Moonlighting.” I believed if I could discover exactly what made this classic show successful (great dialogue, parody elements, screwball comedy and the dramedy structure), my writing would improve. To support my efforts, I created a fan fiction series called Moonlighting In the 21st Century in 2001. It was a great way to practice the one-hour structure and learn how to write an on going story. The premise of the series picked up where “Moonlighting” left off fifteen years prior. It concentrated on how David Addison and Maddie Hayes dealt with their responsibilities as a married couple, while raising two kids and running their resurrected detective agency.

This led me to establish a fan publication Moonlighting Strangers. It gave me the perfect opportunity to combine my illustrative, design and writing skills. The online magazine attracted interviews from many who had worked on the television show (Including: show creator Glenn Gordon Caron, Cybill Shepherd, Curtis Armstrong, Allyce Beasley, singer Al Jarreau and countless writers, producers and editors). It’s purpose was to help me (and a dedicated group of fans and friends) encourage the Hollywood powers that be to consider a “Moonlighting” reunion movie and have the entire series produced on DVD. We were one out of two; our group was credited by Lions Gate Home Entertainment for persuading the company to release the show on DVD.

During the campaign, I came in contact with ABC Daytime and wrote two sample scripts for “All My Children” in 2002-3. From there I renewed my energy towards my main goal: writing for primetime television. After the campaign, I wrote three one-hour scripts: two spec scripts (“House” and “Boston Legal“) and an original TV pilot. My “House” script reached the quarterfinal round of the Winter 2007 cycle of Scriptapoolza TV writing contest.

In addition to the D. V. Detective Blog, I plan on writing more online content. One will be a short story audio series and the other will be an audio drama.