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 Sunday, September 27, 2009
Pitch Your TV Idea to Agents, Execs, and Producers... on Oct. 5!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks—
Just wanted to let you know,
I’m hosting and moderating Mediabistro’s “Pitch Slam” next Monday, October 5… and for
anyone working on an idea for the next “Royal Pains,” “30 Rock,” or “Kitchen
Nightmares,” this is an incredible opportunity!
Here’s how it works: we
bring in a panel of TV industry experts… you show up and pitch your idea to the
panel… the panel gives you feedback on your pitching technique, your
presentation, your idea, etc.
You also get to watch
everyone else’s pitch—and they get to watch yours—so it’s a terrific way to
learn about pitching, and what people respond to, even when you’re not in the
hot seat.
It’s been a while since
the last “Pitch Slam,” and we’ve got an incredible panel lined up… Jill Young, a creative executive at The
Littlefield Company (former NBC president Warren Littlefield’s production
company with ABC Studios); Alan Moore, an alternative/reality TV agent at APA;
and BJ Ford, a TV literary manager/producer at Roar Entertainment, one of the
hottest new management firms in Hollywood.
We’ll be doing pitches for
all kind of TV: comedy, drama, reality, and everything in between. So if you’re interested, here’s the
scoop… hope to see you there!
PERFECTING THE TV PITCH
+ PITCH SLAM
Pitch Your TV idea to
Producers and Agents
So you have an idea for the next Mad Men or The Big Bang
Theory? Do you want to be the new Larry David or Damon Lindelof? Do
you think you're ready to run your own hard-boiled procedural or sexy soap?
Well, before you can create the next great TV show, there's something you gotta
do first. Pitch it!
In this pitch slam --
limited to 20 attendees -- you'll have the chance to pitch your TV
idea to a panel of television's top agents, execs, and producers. Whether you're
developing TV's next big comedy, drama, or reality show, this is your
opportunity to bounce it off some of Hollywood's smartest, most influential
buyers and sellers.
Everyone who signs up
will get one chance to pitch their idea to our panel of guests, followed by a
round of feedback. While we can't promise you'll sell something, we do
promise you'll get top-notch, no-nonsense constructive criticism guaranteed to
make your idea -- and your pitching skills -- better, stronger, and more
sellable.
Panelists will include:
-- Alan
Moore, alternative/reality TV agent, APA
-- Jill Young, creative executive, The Littlefield
Company/ABC Studios (Keen Eddie, Love, Inc., Like Family, Do Over)
-- BJ Ford,
manager/producer
(TV Lit), Roar Entertainment
Click HERE for more
information…
WHEN: Monday, October
5, 7-9 pm
WHERE: Los Angeles, CA
(details to come upon sign-up)
COST: $65 ($50 for
avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call
212-547-7890 or click HERE
http://www.mediabistro.com/courses/cache/crs5146.asp
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Pitching | Writing TV
Sunday, September 27, 2009 12:07:53 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00) 
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Wednesday, July 22, 2009
The Wind Up... and the Pitch
Posted by Chad
Hey, TV writers--
If you have an idea for the next Flight of the Conchords, Burn Notice, or Nurse Jackie (which, by the way, I just started watching this week-- really funny!) but aren't sure how to sell it, I'd love to see you next Tuesday, when I'm teaching my pitching seminar for mediabistro here in LA! It's a great seminar and a fun night... here's the scoop...
THE ART OF THE TV PITCH
How To Sell Your Television Series Idea
You've seen the perfect TV show. It's got great characters, weekly
cliffhangers, comedy, drama -- everything you could want in a hit
series. There's just one problem: it's still in your head.This seminar will help take your idea from seed to sale. After all,
selling your show isn't merely the first step in bringing your vision
to life; it's the most important step. What are networks looking for?
How should a pitch be structured? When's the best time to pitch? Do you
need a franchise? Does attaching talent help?
We will break pitching into three stages: honing your idea, crafting the pitch itself, and getting your foot in the door with producers and executives.
We'll examine different kinds of shows and the necessary elements of
each. We'll then discuss how to structure a pitch to make it accessible
to producers, writers, and executives. Lastly, we'll explore the business
of pitching; not only how to gauge the marketplace to make your idea
irresistible, but how to navigate television's labyrinthine
network/studio system and what you can expect once you get there.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The necessary elements every show -- and every pitch -- must have
- The difference between different types of shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- How to structure a pitch, both verbally and as a written document
- Who you want to pitch to at networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach actors, writers, or directors to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're in the room, making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Click here for more information...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 28, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HEREHope you can make it... and to get you in the mood, here's a great pitching sketch from The Whitest Kids You Know.
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Pitching
Wednesday, July 22, 2009 8:55:59 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 07, 2009
Teach Your Kid To Be A Movie Critic!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks--
This was such a fun and interesting event, I had to post it up here.
On Tuesday, July 21, KidsPickFlicks.com-- the movie review site for kids-- presents “Popcorn, Pop and a Paycheck: How to Get the Life of a Movie Critic” at the Variety offices here in L.A.
For those of you who don't know KidsPickFlicks, its a movie review site which was started five years ago by a Cole McNamara, a 9-year-old who was sick of seeing movies he enjoyed panned by adult critics. So he started a site where he reviewed kids movies from a kids' perspective... and where other kids could post reviews as well. It's taken off and is now run by Cole (who's 14) and his 9-year-old sister, Riley. I interviewed Cole a few years ago, just as KidsPickFlicks was taking off... he's a great kid, incredibly savvy and articulate... and if you have children interested in movies or movie reviews, I have no doubt this will be a great program.
Basically, Variety critics Todd McCarthy, Brian Lowry and Justin Chang will meet with young, aspiring Leonard Maltins and Rober Eberts to share their stories of how they got into the business, what their life is “really” like, and the ups and downs of being film critics. Lowry will also teach kids his three fun and simple rules of writing a movie review.
If you're interested, here's the scoop...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 21, 2009; 1 - 2:30 pm
WHERE: Variety, 5900 Wilshire Blvd., Los Angeles, Calif.
Register kids 8 and older at KidsPickFlicks.com. Space is limited.
For more information, please contact Trish Vogel at Starshine Media, 615-400-3660 or Tara@KidsPickFlicks.com.
Riley's Picks & Icks (from KidsPickFlicks)
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Digital Media and Web Series | Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Tuesday, July 07, 2009 5:07:04 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Saturday, June 27, 2009
Sell Your Reality Show... Next Tuesday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
If you're hoping to sell the next The Bachelorette, American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars... or even if you just want to work on them... I'm teaching my reality TV seminar, "Writing the Reality TV Show," for mediabistro next Tuesday, July 7. If you're interested (and in Los Angeles), I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop...
(Also, for those of you who have already emailed or asked... YES-- this is the class that was originally scheduled for Monday, July 13. It's been moved up.)
Writing the Reality TV Show
So You Think You Can Dance. The Real World. Rock of Love. The Amazing Race. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps
(The City, Keeping Up With the Kardashians ) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Big Brother, Top Chef, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Dietribe, Ruby, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The differences between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Click here for more information...
WHEN: Tuesday, July 7, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HEREHope you can make it!
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV | Writing TV
Saturday, June 27, 2009 7:08:57 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 02, 2009
Wanna Sell Your Spec Pilot?...
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone--
If you missed it a few months ago...
I'm teaching another "Writing the TV Pilot" seminar in Los Angeles this month, and I hope you can all make it!
Spec pilots are selling like hot cakes these days... Matthew Weiner's Mad Men on AMC was a spec pilot... and so was Sons of Tucson, FOX's new midseason comedy. Yours could be next!
This is a great class for anyone working on a spec pilot or thinking of writing a spec pilot... or even if you want to be a producer, agent, or executive developing pilots at networks, studios, or production companies.
We'll also have a special guest... Stacy Traub, creator of ABC's Notes from the Underbelly, who's also written and produced for Spin City, Happy Family, Kitchen Confidential, Suddenly Susan, and HBO's upcoming Washingtonienne. (Last time we had Lesley Wake-Webster, who has written and produced for Kitchen Confidential, What I Like About You, Ruby & the Rockets, and That '80's Show.)
Here's the scoop... hope to see you there!
Writing the TV Pilot: Create & Sell Your Own Series
Now that E.R., My Name Is Earl, The Sopranos, and Friends are
off the air, networks are looking for the next great new show. And with
so many cable networks actively seeking original programming, the time has never been better to develop and pitch your own series idea.
This seminar will show you how to develop and write a pilot, detail
what to include in a proposal, and discuss the elements of the perfect
pitch.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- Which types of shows the networks are looking for
- Where to pitch and who to pitch to
- How to write a synopsis that captures producers' attention
- How to create compelling characters
- How to generate ideas for a season's worth of episodes
- What to include in your pitch -- and what to leave out
- How to write a saleable pilot
WHEN Monday, June 15, 7-10 pm
WHERE Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE or call 212-547-7890
PRICE
$65 ($50 for  ) And here for your viewing pleasure is a preview scene from FOX's upcoming half-hour comedy, Sons of Tucson, which was bought as a spec script written by Princeton college buddies Greg Bratman and Tommy Dewey...
Sons of Tucson
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Tuesday, June 02, 2009 8:38:06 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, May 29, 2009
READER QUESTION: Will There Be A Pitchfest in New York?
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks--
Wanted to respond to Rosetta's Great American Pitchfest question from a couple days ago...
"When will an event like this [or at least similar to it] be available
in the New York City region?... I
learned about this coming event a little too late to plan to attend and
would like to know about such future PitchFests."
Well, Rosetta, I talked to Signe Olynyk, the head of Pitchfest, who says that while they eventually hope to do a NYC Pitchfest, it's not on the radar quite yet. The event started in Canada, where they did two Pitchfests just before the Banff TV Festival and another in Vancouver, in association with the Film and Television Expo of Western Canada, but these were much smaller than the LA incarnation. While a New York version would be great, it would likely be much smaller-- both in professionals and attendance-- and they'd probably have to fly in many execs from California.
Having said, that GOOD NEWS!... Here are two well-respected New York events that DO have pitching opportunities, so check 'em out... they may be just what you're looking for!...
The New York Television Festival - September 21-26, 2009
Pitch Your Hit: Women-in-Film's Two-Day Workshop - June 9 & June 15, 2009
Good luck! And here's last year's pilot winner of the New York TV Festival's People's Choice Award, Teachers...
Classes Seminars Workshops | Conferences and Festivals | Events Activities and Things To Do | Jobs Contests Opportunities | Pitching | Reader Questions
Friday, May 29, 2009 12:29:09 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, May 28, 2009
Networking Group of the Week: HWAS (Hollywood Writers' Office Assistant Social)
Posted by Chad
Hey, all--
Just wanted to introduce you to a great new networking group... the Hollywood Writers' Office Assistant Social (HWAS).
This is an outstanding group geared toward working writers assistants, TV writers, aspiring writers, and anyone who works in a TV production office.
They not only hold periodic events like mixers, parties, and Q&A's, but they also have an excellent blog, which includes really informative interviews with writers, writers assistants, etc. This week's interview is with Christian Trokey, a story editor on FOX's Prison Break.
Anyway, it's a relatively young group, but they've already done some impressive work and proven themselves a great resource for working insiders and aspirants alike-- so check 'em out, and maybe I'll see you at the next party!
For more information, click HERE!
Books Tools Resources | Career Advice | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Thursday, May 28, 2009 7:19:42 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, May 27, 2009
A Quick Post re: Pitchfest
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys--
I've gotten some emails and questions about Pitchfest, so just wanted to respond real fast...
1) Rosetta-- I'm not sure if/when Pitchfest itself is coming to New York... lemme sniff around a bit. I'll also try to round up some info on some other pitch festivals, or similar events, and get it up here. Bear with me... I'll try to get it up in the next few days.
2) Just to clarify-- Pitchfest is free... AND costs money. Basically, the first day of classes and panels is free... but the second day, when you actually get to pitch, costs money... and there are different levels of payment depending on what you want.
Hope that helps, and Rosetta-- I'll try and get your info up here shortly!
Chad
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Pitching | Reader Questions
Wednesday, May 27, 2009 8:36:13 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, May 25, 2009
Sell Your Movie or TV Show... and Say Hello... at Pitchfest!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone--
Just wanted to invite you all to next month's annual Great American PitchFest, where I'll be speaking and doing pitch and project consultations.
For those of you who haven't been to PitchFest, it's a two-day festival where writers, producers, directors, and other filmmakers can take classes, network, and pitch their ideas to actual agents, execs, producers, and representatives from studios, networks, and production companies.
Previous participants have sold scripts, gotten jobs, and signed with representation... and last year's festival sold out!
Most importantly... I'll be speaking there at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 13... participating on "Making It Reel," a panel of reality producers including Tim Crescenti (I Survived a Japanese Game Show) and Donna Michelle Anderson (Big Brother, Queer Eye for the Straight Girl).
I'll also be doing pitch and project consultations that afternoon, and signing copies of Small Screen, Big Picture
at the Writers Store booth.
Anyway, it should be a valuable, productive, and informative weekend, and I'd love to see you all there!
For more information, take a look at the attached schedule and check out the website at www.pitchfest.com, or...
Just fill out the attached sign-up form and send it in to the address or fax number on the sheet!
Here's all the information...
WHAT: GREAT AMERICAN PITCHFEST
WHEN: Saturday, June 13th; 9am-6pm (Free Classes Day & Tradeshow)
Sunday, June 14th; 10am-6pm (PitchFest Day)
WHERE: Burbank Marriott Convention Center
2500 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank, CA 91505
OTHER SPEAKERS/PANELISTS INCLUDE: great writers like Shane Black (Lethal Weapon), Pete Briggs (Hellboy), Joe Forte (Firewall), Simon Kinberg (Mr. & Mrs. Smith), Michael Hauge, Blake Snyder, and many more!
And you'll also have the opportunity to pitch to execs, agents, and representatives from Dimension Films (Bad Santa, Grindhouse, Soul Men), Disney's Gunn Films (Race to Witch Mountain, Freaky Friday, The Haunted Mansion), Principato Young (Reno 911), BenderSpink (The Ruins, The Ring), Morgan Creek (Young Guns, Major League, Georgia Rule, Ace Ventura) and management companies or agencies like Untitled (Zachary Quinto, Elizabeth Banks) and Abrams Artists.
Here's the sign-up form...
Pitchfest Registration Form (2009).pdf (263.59 KB)
And here's a schedule of the weekend's events...
PitchFestSchedule2009.pdf (57.65 KB)
Hope to see you all there!
Chad
Classes Seminars Workshops | Conferences and Festivals | Events Activities and Things To Do | Pitching | Screenwriting (Film) | Writing TV
Monday, May 25, 2009 7:04:46 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Writers-- and employees of all stripes-- unite!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks-- Just wanted to invite you all to an important event tomorrow... it concerns not only Hollywood's writers, but employees everywhere! Join WGAW President Patric M. Verrone, WGAW members and the L os Angeles Federation of Labor as Los Angeles workers fight for the Employee Free Choice Act. Patric will be addressing a crowd that is gathering to tell Senator Dianne Feinstein that she should support the Employee Free Choice Act. If the act passes, it will greatly help reality writers, animation writers, alternative writers, and thousands of other employees-- writers and otherwise-- who aren't currently able to get health care, fair wages, or other standard working conditions! This historic piece of pro-worker legislation will dramatically change workers right to join the union of their choice without employer interference, and could help writers in reality, animation, videogames and other genres gain Guild-coverage. Wednesday, May 6th
Noon – 2pm
Federal Building, 300 N. Los Angeles
Downtown Los Angeles PARKING INFORMATION: JoesTil 7 PM - $5 flat rate Commercial and Alameda (1 1/2 blocks from site) City Lot #2Til 4 AM - $8 flat rate, Across from Edward Roybal Building 255 East Temple St. (1 block from site) LA Mall City LotTil 6 pm - $13.20 max. 225 North Los Angeles Street For more information, click here... EFCA_vigil_Los_Angeles.pdf (600.06 KB)
Events Activities and Things To Do
Tuesday, May 05, 2009 9:57:56 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Pitch Your Idea to Producers & Agents... Next Tuesday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys-- Huge thanks to everyone who came to last night's pilot-writing seminar at mediabistro... it was a terrific turnout, and I really appreciate everyone coming and being so interested! For those of you who couldn't make it... or those of you who have actual TV show ideas you'd like to pitch... or those of you who aren't sick of hearing me talk about television... I wanted to let you know about a very cool event coming up next week here in L.A. As most of you know, my TV book, Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer's Guide to the TV Business , came out from Random House/Crown a few weeks ago... so Barnes & Noble and I are hosting a pitch workshop and panel next Tuesday, March 31. It should be a blast... I'm going to do a short (45-50 minutes) seminar about pitching, and then we'll have a panel of guests who will actually TAKE YOUR TV PITCHES, then offer feedback on your idea and pitching style! And the best part... IT'S COMPLETELY FREE! (And the first 25 people to buy copies of the book that night will be guaranteed the chance to pitch!) Our guests will be Lindsay Howard, an outstanding scripted TV lit agent from APA, and producers from Joke Productions ( Scream Queens, Beauty & the Geek)... so whether you're interested in writing comedy, drama, reality, or alternative... we've got you covered! Here's all the info... hope to see you there! WHEN: Tuesday, March 31, 7:30 p.m. WHERE: Barnes & Noble, The Grove 189 Grove Drive, Suite K-30 Los Angeles, CA 90036 323-525-0270 (On a totally unrelated note, I am writing this while sitting in my backyard, on a beautiful California afternoon, listening to Johnny Cash's " Hurt" cover on repeat... IS THERE ANY SONG MORE POWERFUL THAN THIS???!" Simply awesome.)
IN RESPONSE TO TYLER'S COMMENT (see below): Hey, Tyler-- so glad you can come... and yeah-- I'll totally sign copies that aren't bought there! As for RSVPing... it's just first-come/first-served. (And again-- this song is awesome... now listening to the NIN version... but I think Cash's cover is better...)
IN RESPONSE TO JOAN'S COMMENT (see below): Joan-- thank you so much for the blurb on the blog... I can't tell you how much I appreciate it-- that's terrific! And wonderful blog! Everyone... please check out Joan's blog/website, The Publicity Hound, which offers free tricks and advice for generating publicity. It's a great resource for writers... especially since we often need to generate our own buzz and heat, but-- frankly-- are rarely that good at doing it. (I mean, come on-- we're writers... we're designed to sit in a room and talk to ourselves... which is why Joan's website is so handy!)
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | Jobs Contests Opportunities | Pitching | Reality TV | Writing TV
Wednesday, March 25, 2009 8:41:51 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, March 09, 2009
Write Your Pilot... and Sell It-- THIS MONTH!
Posted by Chad
Hey, all-- Just wanted to let you all know... I'm teaching my "Pilot Writing" course for Mediabistro again this month, and if you're in L.A., I'd love to see you all there! This seminar is a blast... it's one of my favorite classes to teach... and you'll learn everything you need to know about writing pilots in 3 hours! Plus, we're having a special guest this time... Stacy Traub, who created ABC's Notes from the Underbelly a couple years ago. (I always show the Notes pilot in class because I think it's such a well-constructed pilot, and I managed to convince Stacy to come by and chat about... so it's gonne be an extra-special class this time.) Here's the scoop...
Writing the TV Pilot: Create & Sell Your Own SeriesNow that Friends, Frasier, Sex and the City, and E.R. (almost) are
off the air, networks are looking for the next great new show. And with
so many cable networks actively seeking original programming, the time has never been better to develop and pitch your own series idea.
This seminar will show you how to develop and write a pilot, detail
what to include in a proposal, and discuss the elements of the perfect
pitch.
This seminar will feature special guest Stacy Traub, creator/executive producer of Notes from the Underbelly and executive producer of HBO's new series Washingtonienne. She's also written and produced Spin City, What I Like About You, and Kitchen Confidential. In this seminar, you will learn:
- Which types of shows the networks are looking for
- Where to pitch and who to pitch to
- How to write a synopsis that captures producers' attention
- How to create compelling characters
- How to generate ideas for a season's worth of episodes
- What to include in your pitch -- and what to leave out
- How to write a saleable pilot
WHEN Tuesday, March 24, 6:45-9:45 pm
WHERE Blankspaces, Los Angeles, CA 90036
FOR MORE INFO CLICK HERE or call 212-547-7890
PRICE
$65 ($50 for )
more info
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Monday, March 09, 2009 3:54:30 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, March 06, 2009
Join Me as I Get Bipolar on the Radio This Weekend! (Internet Radio)
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- Just wanted to invite you all to tune in this weekend when I'm a guest on LA Talk Radio's " Bipolar Nation" this weekend! LA Talk Radio is LA's premiere Internet radio site, and " Bipolar Nation," Bert Hamaoui and Susan Schofield's talk show, explores current controversies all things political, social, and entertainment. This weekend, we'll be talking about reality TV (how much of it is "real?"), this week's provocative finale of The Bachelor, and all things television! And feel free to call in with questions, disagreements, or just to raise hell and push buttons! Here's the scoop... WHEN: Sunday, March 8, 10 a.m.WHERE: streaming live www.latalkradio.comCALL-IN NUMBER: 323-203-0815Hope to talk to you all this weekend!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | Reality TV
Friday, March 06, 2009 10:51:48 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Sunday, March 01, 2009
Thanks for coming... now go pitch some shows!!!
Posted by Chad
Thanks so much to everyone who came to the my Small Screen, Big Picture
book signing and TV seminar, " Seven Steps to Selling Your Show" today at the Writer's Store! For those of you who were able to make it, I can't tell you how much I appreciated you coming and supporting the book! And thanks to Darren-- who introduced himself as a fan of the blog-- it's always great to meet readers... I love it when you guys introduce yourselves, so double-thank you, Darren... it was terrific to meet you! Also, thanks to Paula for taking and sending these pictures... for those of you who weren't there, here are some quick, fun photos of the event!...
An incredibly awesome part of the seminar... Another awesome part of the seminar...
Me with Paula Yoo, TV writer & author (The West Wing, Tru Calling, Good Enough , Sixteen Years In Sixteen Seconds: The Sammy Lee Story)
Me with Anupam Nigam, TV writer/producer (Psych, The Division)
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Sunday, March 01, 2009 2:02:00 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, February 19, 2009
THE 1ST EVER SCRIPT NOTES WRITING CONTEST: SEARCH FOR THE BEST TV SPINOFF!
Posted by Chad
Hey, folks— I am very excited and pleased to announce… THE VERY FIRST “SCRIPT NOTES TV WRITING CONTEST!”That’s right… you’ve asked for it… you’ve waited for it… and—at long last—here it is… with a prize and everything! (And hopefully this won’t be the last… I’m planning on doing a bunch of fun contests like this.) Here’s the scoop… THE CONTEST: Concoct and pitch the BEST SPINOFF to any TV show currently on the air THE PRIZE: A copy of veteran TV writer Larry Brody’s best-selling TV writing book, Television Writing From the Inside Out. Larry has written and produced on more shows than most working writers put together, including… The Huntress, Diagnosis Murder, Star Trek: Voyager, Walker Texas Ranger, Heaven Help Us, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Baretta, The Fall Guy, Automan, Partners In Crime, Mike Hammer, The New Rin Tin Tin, Police Story, The Bold Ones, Hawaii Five-0, Here Come The Brides, Partners In Crime, The Rookies, The Interns, The Streets Of San Francisco, Cannon, Ironside, Medical Story, Medical Center, The Six Million Dollar Man, and Barnaby Jones. He’s now the Creative Director of Cloud Creek Institute For The Arts, a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to nurturing young talent working in film, video, or new media. THE RULES:• Contestants are competing to pitch the best/funniest/most inventive idea for a SPINOFF to any CURRENTLY RUNNING TV SHOW… comedy ( 30 Rock, Californication, The Big Bang Theory, etc.), drama ( Lost, NCIS, Mad Men, etc.), or reality ( American Idol, The City, Little People Big World, etc.). • Contestants should submit a one-sentence logline and a short synopsis of no more than 150 words. • Contestants may enter AS MANY TIMES AS THEY WISH… there’s no limit on submissions • All entries should be emailed to WDScriptNotes@FWPubs.com. In the subject line, please write, “SPINOFF CONTEST.” • All text and submissions should be included in the body of the email… NO ATTACHMENTS, PLEASE! • Also include your name, email, snail-mail address, and a phone number. • The submission DEADLINE is Sunday, March 22, 2009. Any entries received after March 22 (thanks, E. Daniels, for catching the deadline typo!) will be disqualified. • The winner will be selected by myself and Larry Brody. I’ll select the top five Finalists, and Larry will pick the Grand Winner. • The winner will be announced here at Script Notes on Wednesday, April 1, 2009. • The winning spinoff idea, and the other four finalists, will be published here at Script Notes on April 1 (thanks for catching this typo, too, E. Daniels!) (FYI-- we were originally gonna start this earlier, so some of the dates didn't get changed-- sorry!). • If you have questions, please post them in the comments section here on the blog, or email me at WDScriptNotes@FWPubs.com• Be creative… get wild… and HAVE FUN!!!
Contests | Events Activities and Things To Do | Jobs Contests Opportunities | Writing TV
Thursday, February 19, 2009 2:23:52 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, February 11, 2009
"American Idol" Rally Next Wednesday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, writers-- Next week, the Writers Guild of America is hosting a rally outside American Idol to support the Idol writers who are not getting health care, pension, or union coverage... which is all of them. Obviously, the WGA has been very active in trying to unionize reality TV, and since American Idol is the biggest reality show in the history of television, this rally is an important event! Hopefully, if we can convince American Idol to go Guild, other shows will follow. Also... I'll be speaking at the Rally! So come by... support the cause... say hello... and hey-- if you're lucky-- maybe you can catch a glimpse of Simon or Paula. Here's the official WGA press release with all the information... hope to see you there! Support American Idol Workers!In 2008, the American Idol Truth Tour traveled across the country to expose the poor working conditions for writers and other workers on American Idol. On Wednesday February 18, the Truth Tour comes to: CBS TV CITY7800 Beverly Blvd, LA 90036 Genesee Gate Rally & picket begins 3:30 pm SHARPAmerican Idol continues to be a ratings juggernaut, raking in huge profits for FremantleMedia, the multinational corporation that produces AI and other popular shows like America’s Got Talent, Million Dollar Password, Family Feud, and The Price Is Right. Despite FremantleMedia’s success, the corporation does not provide the writers who contribute to the success of these shows necessities like health care and pension! As American Idol broadcasts live on Feb. 18th, join reality and game show writers, along with the Teamsters, Clergy & Laity United for Economic Justice, Professional Musicians Local 47 and other community supporters outside CBS TV City to demand that FremantleMedia treat its writers with respect! To RSVP, please email reality@wga.org. For more information call Trish Albert at 323.782.4185 or Laura Watson at 323.782.4747 or go to www.truthaboutfremantle.com.
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Wednesday, February 11, 2009 8:06:59 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, November 28, 2008
Havin' a Party... and You're Invited!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- Hope you had a great Thanksgiving and are at least half as stuffed as I am... I am literally writing this with the computer on the bed and me on my knees next because I'm too top-heavy to lift myself up any further. Having said that... Wanted to give you all an official invitation... to my L.A. book party! As you know, my TV book, Small Screen, Big Picture: A Writer's Guide to the TV Business, came out on Tuesday from Random House and Mediabistro... so Mediabistro and I are having a party! It's this Thursday at the Standard Hotel in Hollywood. Click HERE for all the info and to RSVP (be sure to RSVP so you get on the list). You can come by, say hello, grab a drink, and pick up a copy of the book! Hope to see you all there! 
Books Tools Resources | Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Friday, November 28, 2008 6:00:42 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Open WGA Meeting This Week: Reality & Game Show Writers Unite!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- As you know, I've been a vocal supporter and cheerleader of the Writers Guild's efforts to organize reality and unscripted (ha!) TV. This isn't a cause that concerns only reality writers... it's a fight for the rights of writers in all mediums. SO... Tomorrow night, the WGA is holding an open introductory meeting for new members and anyone interested in joining the fight. If you're in LA and would like to come, the WGA is providing dinner... (and free parking!)... Here's all the info... hope you can make it! WHEN: Thursday, November 20, 8:00 p.m. WHERE: Writers Guild, west - 7000 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048RSVP (or questions): talbert@wga.org ALFRE WOODARD SPEAKS AT WGA RALLY AT FREMANTLE MEDIA
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Wednesday, November 19, 2008 10:20:09 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, November 10, 2008
Fight for Writers' Rights... THIS WEEKEND! (And hey-- free lunch!)
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone--
As you know, reality TV writers rarely receive wages or benefits comparable to their scripted counterparts... even though they're writing scripts, shaping arcs and stories, defining characters, punching up jokes, etc.
So this Saturday, the Writers Guild is hosting a lunch event to educate and unite writers of all genres and mediums in the fight for fair and equitable treatment. Here's all the info... help join the fight-- this isn't just about reality TV; it's about fairness for writers everywhere...
The Real Deal: Writers Guild-Covered Reality & Game ShowsWhy don’t writers on shows like American Idol, America’s Got Talent, and Survivor receive portable health insurance, pension, proper credits and respect like the writers on Intervention, Dog Whisperer, and Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader? The difference is a Writers Guild of America contract. Join WGAW President Patric Verrone, writers and producers from some of the top reality and game shows in a lively panel discussion about how writers can win industry-standard benefits. Come learn strategies that could benefit your career as a Hollywood writer. Save the date for this exciting opportunity to network with ‘reality’ and game show professionals! Panelists include: • Jim Milio, WGAW members and co-owner of MPH Entertainment (producer of The Dog Whisperer) • Dan Partland, WGAW member and writer ( Intervention) • Jay Wolpert, WGAW member, screenwriter and game show producer ( Pirates of the Caribbean, The Price Is Right) • Lou DiMaggio, WGAW member and writer ( The Weakest Link, The Singing Bee, Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader) More participants TBA! Saturday, November 15th 12 PM – 3 PM
Sheraton Universal Hotel333 Universal Hollywood Drive Universal City, CA 91608 Lunch and parking will be provided. This is a non-transferrable invite. Must RSVP to attend. RSVP: Talbert@wga.org
Events Activities and Things To Do | Interesting Talking Points | Reality TV
Monday, November 10, 2008 8:23:52 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, October 31, 2008
Help American Idol Writers Fight for Fair Wages and Equal Rights!
Posted by Chad
Hey, writers-- We've talked a lot here about reality TV writers' fight for fair pay and equitable treatment. Reality writers are often paid less-than-minimum wages, work illegally long hours, and rarely get breaks or meals... yet they're writing jokes, breaking stories, and crafting scenes just like writers on The Tonight Show or The Simpsons or CSI or The Colbert Report. The Writers Guild is at the forefront of the fight for reality writers' rights, and their main target right now is Fremantle, the production company that owns and produces American Idol, one of the most powerful, profitable shows in the history of television. Well, here's an easy, painless, two-second way for everyone to get involved... Please CLICK HERE head to American Rights at Work and sign a letter to the American Idol producers showing your support. You can then forward the letter to you friends... and help demand Fremantle treat their workers fairly. Also, here's a video from the kickoff of the WGA's American Idol Truth Tour...
Events Activities and Things To Do | Industry Updates | Reality TV
Friday, October 31, 2008 7:29:45 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, October 10, 2008
Free Theater Across America!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- Huge thanks to my friend Hallie for cluing me into this, but this is awesome! Free Night of Theater is a program designed in cooperation with Theater Communications Group and the Association of Performing Arts Service
Organizations to get people out to see more live theater, introduce newbies to live performance, etc.... and it coordinates hundreds of theaters in cities across America! Between October 16 and October 31, hundreds of theaters in Atlanta, St. Louis, Los Angeles, New York, Austin, San Diego, Cincinnati, Lexington, Indianapolis, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Portland, Boston, and almost 100 more cities will be offering FREE NIGHTS OF THEATER! Click HERE for more info, or click HERE to find theaters near you... and enjoy a great night of live theater!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | Theater
Friday, October 10, 2008 8:07:40 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, October 03, 2008
Atlanta's TV Writers Need You... Tomorrow!
Posted by Chad
Hey, writers-- If you live in Atlanta, Georgia (or want to take a road trip), there's gonna be some exciting writerly/political action this weekend. Here's the scoop... Earlier this week, four writers were fired from Tyler Perry's hit TV show, House of Payne, which currently airs on TBS. Why were they fired? ...Because House of Payne isn't a Writers Guild show, and the writers wanted Perry to organize under the WGA so they could get fair pay, health benefits, and residuals. You can read the whole story HERE (New York Times). And for those of you who don't know House of Payne, it's the syndicated series from mini-mogul Tyler Payne, the writer/director of Madea's Family Reunion, The Family That Preys, Daddy's Little Girls, etc. Not only is it COMPLETELY ILLEGAL to fire employees for trying to organize, but Perry's House of Payne deal is valued between $200-$300 million dollars... which is more than enough to pay his writers standard union writers and benefits. So here's where things get fun... The WGA is staging a massive protest tomorrow, October 4, at the opening of Perry's new Tyler Perry Studios in Atlanta... and if you're available to go, they need everyone they can get! This isn't just a fight for the four writers ( Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, Lamont Ferrell) fired from House of Payne. This is a fight for writers and aspiring writers everywhere. (Especially since Tyler Perry bills himself as a "maverick" who bucks the Hollywood system and does thing on his own terms.) Here's the scoop... WHAT: The WGA Protest of Tyler Perry StudiosWHEN: Saturday, October 4, 2008
4:00 p.m.
WHERE: Tyler Perry Studios 2769 Continental Colony Pkwy SW
Atlanta, GA
If you can't make it but would like to donate money, or frequent flier points, to help fly other writers or WGA members to the protest, please contact Charles Allen at the Writers Guild asap. You can reach him at 323-782-4565, or email him at callen@wga.org. You can also CLICK HERE to sign the WGA's letter of support for Kellie Griffin, Christopher Moore, Teri Brown-Jackson, and Lamont Ferrell. Thanks for your help!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Friday, October 03, 2008 11:11:01 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, September 09, 2008
Great Story Seminar...
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys-- We'll have some cool posts over the next few days... some great book recommendations, interviews-- and per your question-- we'll discuss the highwire act of being a single parent and attempting to start a career in television writing. But first... I wanted to give you a heads-up re: a great educational opportunity. If you're in L.A. (or can get here), don't miss Jennifer Grisanti's Storywise Seminar on Saturday, September 20. Jen's one of the best TV execs, producers, and developers out there... she spent years at Spelling Television, and she's one of the creative forces behind shows like Beverly Hills 90210, Girlfriends, Melrose Place, Charmed, Medium, NCIS,
The 4400 and Numb3rs. She now runs Jen Grisanti Consultancy, and you may remember her from her interview here a few months ago. Well, Jen is leading a day-long story seminar/event designed to help aspiring writers network with working writers, execs, and producers, learn more about TV, and break into the industry. Some of the execs and writers on hand will be: Glen Mazzara, Executive
Producer/Showrunner of the upcoming series Crash on Starz; Elisa Roth,
Sr. VP, Drama Programs, Universal Media Studios; and Gaylyn Fraiche, VP,
Martin Chase Productions. Here's what Jen has to say about the day: "What if in one day you could discover how to increase your chances of
getting work AND get past your creative obstacles? What if you could
mingle with top executives who know what it takes for writers and
directors to land a job AND why want to share their knowledge with you?
What if you could walk away savvier about what makes a great story AND
how to get the most out of story meetings?... As a Current Programs executive for over a decade at top studios, I
learned from the best in the business about what makes the process of
writing and selling successful. I want to offer this same type of
opportunity to you by revealing some of the secrets I learned and
gathering some of the most talented executives in the business to share
their insights... Storywise is your
opportunity." Please forward this e-mail to anyone who you feel would benefit from this event. STORYWISE SEMINAR - GETTING TO THE NEXT STEP Date Saturday, September 20, 2008 Time 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Place UCLA Price $215 (if you purchase on or before 9/17/08) $235 (if you purchase after 9/17/08) $200 - Special discount price for WGA/DGA/SAG members. (If you are a WGA/DGA/SAG member, please contact me directly at jennifer@jengrisanticonsultancy.com about the special discount instead of going through Pay Pal. Group rates are $180.00 for groups of 5 or more. Please contact me about this at jennifer@jengrisanticonsultancy.com. To sign up, please email Jen at jennifer@jengrisanticonsultancy.com or visit www.jengrisanticonsultancy.com. Scroll down on the homepage. You can sign up there and get more information.
Events Activities and Things To Do | Classes Seminars Workshops
Tuesday, September 09, 2008 11:39:27 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Upcoming Conferences & Festivals: September Edition
Posted by Chad
Once again, thanks to MovieMaker magazine and its FestFlash emails for this great list of upcoming festivals, contests, and conferences...
UPCOMING FESTIVALS & CALL FOR ENTRIESAFI FEST 2008 presented by Audi, slated for October 30th to November 9th, brings the best of world cinema to the heart of Hollywood for 11 days this fall. Headquartered at the Hollywood Roosevelt, L.A.’s longest running film festival is packed with red carpet premieres, conversations with filmmakers and deep programming for a full sweep of the year’s best. Tickets on sale October 10. Passes on sale September 2. www.afi.com/afifest; 866/AFI-FEST. Tickets are available for the ANGELUS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL on Sept. 13! This festival honors future filmmakers as they create works that respect the dignity of the human person. Angelus-winning films reflect values such as redemption, spirituality, dignity, tolerance, equality, diversity, hope and triumph of the human spirit. Angelus alumni include Sundance winners Patricia Cardoso (Real Women Have Curves) and Tony Bui ( Three Seasons and Green Dragon). Other winners include directors Greg Marcks ( 11:14, starring Hilary Swank) and Sabrina Dhawan (screenwriter, Monsoon Wedding). For tickets or more information, go to www.angelus.org or contact Monika Moreno at Monikka1@verizon.net or 800/874-0999. Bold visions. Lovingly crafted. Cutting-edge. Artistically inspired. These are the kinds of films sought for the 47th ANN ARBOR FILM FESTIVAL, the longest-running showcase of independent, experimental and artistically-inspired films in North America. All lengths and genres accepted and considered: Experimental, animation, documentary, narrative and combinations in between. + More than $20,000 awarded to films in competition. + Qualifying festival for annual Academy Awards. + Select films participate on international traveling tour. Standard deadline October 15, 2008 = $40. Late deadline November 15, 2008 = $50. The 47th Ann Arbor Film Festival, March 24 - 29, 2009. Visit www.aafilmfest.org or e-mail info@aafilmfest.org. BENDFILM: Where Filmmakers Are Gods. Set against the backdrop of the stunning Cascade Mountains in Bend, Central Oregon. Now in its 5th year, BendFilm creates a memorable festival every October with more than $30,000 in cash awards including a $10,000 Best of Show Award. Additional cash awards are presented for Best Feature ($2,500), Best Doc ($2,500), Best Short ($2,500), Best Student Film ($3,000), Best Conservation Award ($2,500) and Excellence in Filmmaking By A Female Director ($4,000). Add that to the Audience Award, which takes home a percentage of ticket sales and you have a festival that filmmakers love. Deadline: June 30, 2008. Visit www.bendfilm.org. Executive Director: Sandy Henderson. Contact: info@bendfilm.org. BIG BEAR LAKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENWRITING COMPETITION is held the weekend of September 11-14, 2008. Screenings of independent feature films, short films, student films, High School student films, documentaries and a screenwriting competition. Festival holds educational filmmaker panels, seminars and a Pitchfest. Visit www.bigbearlakefilmfestival.com or call 909/866-3433 for more information. The BLACK MARIA FILM FESTIVAL seeks diverse, expressive and passionate short films and videos by independent makers. The festival is named after Thomas Edison’s motion picture studio and is known for its support of spirited, cutting edge, and otherwise singular film and video. The Black Maria is committed to works that explore the potential of the medium to illuminate, provoke, enrich and engage viewers. Imaginative and revelatory films and videos, which provide insight into the human condition and political, social, and environmental issues, as well as the lives of people with disabilities, or which investigate the aesthetic potential and eschew obvious conventions of the medium are also sought by the festival. www.blackmariafilmfestival.org. The 8th annual installment of the CONEY ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL hits the shores of Coney Island Friday, September 26th through Sunday, September 28th. This annual festival features over 80 films from around the world; a stunning array of high and lowbrow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. The festival kicks off with an opening night party featuring performances from The Coney Island Sideshow and Burlesque Performers. An annual screening of The Warriors runs Saturday night where the audience is encouraged to talk back to the screen! For details go to www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com. Contact Rob Leddy 718/907-3409 or rob@coneyislandfilmfestival.com. 10th annual CROSSROADS FILM FESTIVAL, April 2-5, 2009, Jackson, Mississippi. Come challenge Mississippi’s creative class & still be showered in Southern hospitality. This is where the music of delta bluesman Robert Johnson runs straight into the home of the international ballet competition. Tennessee Williams, Morris, Welty, Faulkner, James Earl Jones, Oprah, Morgan Freeman; some of the world’s greatest musicians, quirky and creative folks. There’ll be cash prizes, Southern celebrities, workshops, daily receptions and nightly jukin’ with live music to toast you, the filmmaker. It’s all about your story. Share it. They’ll show you a great time. Entry Deadline Dec. 20. www.crossroadsfilmfest.com. The 14th annual CUCALORUS FILM FESTIVAL is in the works! This "filmmaker’s festival" prepares for another rugged and rebellious celebration of filmmaking, taking place in historic downtown Wilmington, NC from November 12-15, 2008. Filmmakers from all over the world bring their independent visions to the screen with shorts, features, docs and motley mix of experimental films and events. Bring your brain and an extra set of eyes, Cucalorus is the real deal—a festival for filmmakers, by filmmakers. Full schedule for 2008 announced in early October, check out www.cucalorus.org to get the skinny and reserve your festival pass. Call 910/343-5995 or e-mail dan@cucalorus.org for more. FIRSTGLANCE FILM FEST 9 HOLLYWOOD—Call for Entries Opens Deadline December 1, 2008. Calling for submissions from professional, student and first-time filmmakers from across the globe for their 9th annual event to be held in Hollywood April 2009. All Official Selections receive a distinguished award presented by our screening committee and compete for the Best of The Fest prize worth tens of thousands, plus a new sliding scale prize, the more entries the greater the prize package. FirstGlance offers more short films the opportunity to get visibility with their online contest for shorts they cannot program due to time constraints but that they feel have great festival potential, with a great prize package and screening at the Closing Night Screenings. For the first time they have opened their categories to Webisode Pilots. Visit www.firstglancefilms.com to apply. The INDIE SHORT FILM COMPETITION is now accepting entries for its 2nd annual international short film competition. This innovative online short film competition is a great opportunity for indie filmmakers to advance their career, gain recognition in the filmmaking industry and receive international exposure. Open to shorts 40 minutes and under. $25,000 in cash and prizes. 10 categories to enter! Winners are determined by a judging panel of industry professionals. Sponsored by Sony Creative Software, Write Brothers, FrameForge 3D Studio, JellyPie Software, Media Servies, MovieMaker Magazine, Partners In Rhyme, Blackmagic Design, TwistedTracks.com, BoilerPlate and SmartSound! Deadline for entries is November 29, 2008. For more information visit www.IndieShortFilms.net. L.A. COMEDY SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL and L.A. COMEDY SCRIPTS SCREENPLAY COMPETITION Call for Entries! The Early Deadline for the 2009 festival is October 3, 2008. Now accepting submissions in the following categories: Comedy Short Films (30 minutes or less), Comedy ‘Shortie’ Shorts (5 minutes or less), Animated Comedy Shorts (30 minutes or less), Feature Comedy Scripts (80-130 pages) and Short Comedy Scripts (30 pages or less). Over $35,000 in cash and prizes. Presenters and judges will include top names from film and television including “SNL,” “Mad TV,” “The Boondocks,” “Boston Legal,” Austin Powers and more. Enter at www.lacomedyshorts.com or through www.withoutabox.com. The MAGNOLIA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL was founded by Ron Tibbett in 1996 to celebrate his vision of Independent film in Mississippi. “The Mag” has been called the most filmmaker friendly festival by many past contributors. The festival takes place in mid-February, in Starkville, Mississippi, and welcomes all genres and all lengths in competition for awards. Receptions, workshops and luncheons are held in the Starkville and West Point, MS area. Housing, meals, events and local transportation are provided for filmmakers whose work is chosen for screening. To learn more about the festival see www.magfilmfest.com. MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL: October 2-12, 2008. 2008 marks the Mill Valley Film Festival’s 31st edition. A celebration of the best in independent and world cinema, MVFF annually brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience great new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco’s beautiful Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious non-competitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children's films—something for every filmgoer. They invite you to join them in celebrating great film! For more information go to www.mvff.com. The OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries in the following categories: Narrative Features, Documentaries, Short Films, Animated Short Films, OFF the EDGE (Horror, Experimental, Dark Films) and Screenplays. Deadlines: Sept 8 (regular) and Oct 26 (late). Visit www.omahafilmfestival.org. With the creation of the festival's Film Education Initiative, ongoing learning opportunities have been provided to filmmakers during the annual festival and conference. Past participants include Shane Black, Mike Hill, Jon Bokenkamp, Josh Stolberg, Lew Hunter, Tom Elkins and Jeff Kitchen. CALL FOR ENTRIES! The SYRACUSE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL (SYRFILM) is preparing for the '09 Festival. April 24, 2009 - May 3, 2009. Accepting films through December 1, 2008. Submit early for discounted entry fee. Visit www.syrfilm.com for submission materials. SYRFILM '09 NOT JUST AN EVENT—AN EXPERIENCE. The 14th annual VICTORIA FILM FESTIVAL presents the most exclusive industry event of the year. Trigger Points Pacific has only 50 openings for producers who’ll have the opportunity of a lifetime to meet with 25 top industry acquisition execs in 30-minute meetings for incomparable access and results. With historic architecture and fabulous vistas, downtown streets are lined with theaters, shops, museums and cafes that provide the perfect backdrop for the home of the boutique schmooze. A great package is available at the legendary Fairmont Empress to make your business trip unforgettable. Online registration and information at www.victoriafilmfestival.com. Enter the 42nd annual WORLDFEST-HOUSTON INTERNATIONAL FILM & VIDEO FESTIVAL. Regarded as one of the best-conceived film festivals in the world. WorldFest gave first honors to Spielberg, Lucas, Ang Lee, Ridley Scott, the Coen brothers, David Lynch, Jonathan Demme, Brian De Palma and hundreds more. They offer International competition and Remi Awards for Indie Features, Shorts, Experimental, Student, Screenplays, Documentaries, Music Videos, New Media, TV Commercials, TV Production and Film & Video Production. WorldFest is one of the oldest and longest running International Film Festivals in the world and the third oldest film festival in North America. "Before there was Sundance or SXSW, before there was Toronto or Tribeca!" Simply go to www.worldfest.org, click on FAQ, CATEGORIES, ENTRY FORMS and HOW TO WIN! They welcome your participation.
Events Activities and Things To Do | Conferences and Festivals
Wednesday, September 03, 2008 11:25:18 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Writing the Reality TV Show - Next Thursday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, TV writers and producers-- If you have any idea for the next America's Got Talent, Good Eats, The Amazing Race or Criss Angel: Mindfreak... or if you're just trying to get your foot in the reality TV door... or even if you're just a big reality fan... check out the mediabistro seminar I'm teaching next Thursday night, September 4! Writing the Reality TV ShowWipeout. Big Brother. Sunset Tan. Making the Band. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps
(Dog the Bounty Hunter, The Hills) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (The Biggest Loser, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Tasty Travels, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The difference between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Click here for more information...
WHEN: Thursday, August 4, 7-10 pm
WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE
Career Advice | Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV | Writing TV
Wednesday, August 27, 2008 8:46:20 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, August 19, 2008
CONTEST: Worst Logline Ever!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- The Guide to Literary Agents and its editor, Chuck Sambuchino, are hosting a hilarious contest... the search for The Worst Storyline Ever! Basically, they're looking for loglines... and the lamer, stupider, and more ridiculous the better. The winner gets a query
letter critique from Chuck, a follow-up phone call to discuss the query
critique, a plan of action for seeing your work published, and copies of the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents and the 2009 Writer's Market. Runners up will receive a free copy of either the 2009 Guide to Literary Agents or the 2009 Writer's Market.
Either way, this contest sounds like a blast... click HERE to check it out!
(Oh-- and the deadline is the end of August...)
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | Jobs Contests Opportunities
Tuesday, August 19, 2008 5:25:13 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, August 18, 2008
Cool Writing Opportunities
Posted by Chad
Hey, screenwriters-- Just learned about these interesting new writing opportunities from Jeff Gund's Infolist, a great source for Hollywood jobs and writing opportunities. Check it out... ______________________________
Hi everyone, Here's an opportunity for a writer for a half-hour animation project ala Family Guy - details are below. As always, feel free to forward if you know someone that would be interested, and be sure to mention I sent you. Good luck, and have a great day! -Jeff Jeffrey R. Gund INFOLIST.comJeffrey R. Gund Music & Sound DesignJeffrey R. Gund on IMDbwww.myspace.com/JeffGundIf you like the InfoList - Add a Comment on my Myspace page and let me know what you like about it! ______________________________ WRITERS WANTED
HALF-HOUR ANIMATION PROJECT GEARED FOR ADULT AUDIENCES, ALA FAMILY GUYAward winning NY animation producer seeking writing talent to work with in Los Angeles. I am open to either new talent or experience writers, as long as you've got the talent. There will be pay, commensurate with experience. I am looking for someone to work with and develop a half hour format animated show geared for adult audiences, ala Family Guy. TO SUBMIT: Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com, and email your RESUME, and WRITING SAMPLE (if available), to: wise1too@aol.com. Hi everyone, This is an update to the previous posting - apparently the submission email address was not set up before and gave bounceback errors - but it's confirmed and ready to go now! So... Here's a great opportunity for playwrights to have their one-act or full-length plays produced by the Edgmar Center for the Arts (Board Members include Steven Spielberg, Jason Alexander, Neil Simon, Kate Capshaw, etc.) Details are below ˆ as always, feel free to forward if you know someone that would be interested, and be sure to mention I sent you for priority consideration! Good luck, and have a great day! -Jeff Jeffrey R. Gund
INFOLIST.com
Jeffrey R. Gund Music & Sound Design
Jeffrey R. Gund on IMDb
www.myspace.com/JeffGund
If you like the InfoList - Add a Comment on my Myspace page and let me know what you like about it! ______________________________ FULL-LENGTH AND ONE-ACT PLAYS WANTED FOR PRODUCTION
The Edgemar Center for the Arts is a two-theater complex located in the Frank Gehry building in the heart of Santa Monica, with board members including Steven Spielberg, Jason Alexander, Neil Simon, Kate Capshaw, and others. The Edgemar Theater Group is our resident theatre company which is looking for NEW WORKS for the Lab Theatre Season. We are looking for full-length and one-act PLAYS to be included in our monthly reading of selected scripts, which may then be considered for production by the company. We are open to all genres, comedy and drama, including "cutting edge" works. Unpublished and unproduced plays are preferred, but we are open to plays which may have had a small run or "limited exposure." This is a wonderful opportunity for writers to hear their works read by a group of talented actors, with the possibility of having your work produced by an established and reputable company. TO SUBMIT: Be sure to mention you heard about this from Jeff Gund at INFOLIST.com for priority consideration, and email scripts and your contact information to Les Brandt at: literary@edgemarcenter.org. OR scripts can be mailed to: The Edgemar Center Literary Dept Attn: InfoList Priority Submission 2437 Main Street Santa Monica, CA 90405 For more information on the Edgemar Center, please visit: www.edgemarcenter.org. We look forward to receiving your submissions!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Jobs Contests Opportunities
Monday, August 18, 2008 7:19:46 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Upcoming Film Festivals: August Edition
Posted by Chad
Special thanks once again to my friends at MovieMaker magazine for their awesome festival-and-contest email. As much as I love giving you all this info every month, I can't really take credit for finding it... so please head to www.moviemaker.com and check out their website, sign up for their free newsletter, or subscribe to their magazine! In the mean time, here's some great info on upcoming festivals, contests, etc... Tickets are available for the ANGELUS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL on Sept. 13! This festival honors future filmmakers as they create works that respect the dignity of the human person. Angelus-winning films reflect values such as redemption, spirituality, dignity, tolerance, equality, diversity, hope and triumph of the human spirit. Angelus alumni include Sundance winners Patricia Cardoso (Real Women Have Curves) and Tony Bui ( Three Seasons and Green Dragon). Other winners include directors Greg Marcks ( 11:14, starring Hilary Swank) and Sabrina Dhawan (screenwriter, Monsoon Wedding). For tickets or more information, go to www.angelus.org or contact Monika Moreno at Monikka1@verizon.net or 800/874-0999. The 5th Annual BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries for this year's event taking place November 19 - 22, 2008 at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas in the heart of the greatest city in the world. The BAFF is dedicated to showcasing and promoting the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world. The festival includes special New York City premieres, interactive panel discussions with industry professionals, networking parties and a closing night awards ceremony. Alumni films include Suffering Man's Charity directed by Alan Cumming, Love, Ludlow (Warner Home Video), Owl and the Sparrow (2008 Spirit Award nominee) and Chubb Chubbs Save Christmas (2007 Sony Pictures Release). Previous panelists, guests and keynote speakers include representatives from Samuel Goldwyn Films, Magnolia Pictures, HBO, Current TV, Wellspring Media, Cinematical.com, Zeitgeist Films, Wild Bunch Films, First Run Features and Gen Art. In order to bring the most elite talent to the silver screen, BAFF partners with a variety of New York City independent film organizations and media outlets including IFP, The Village Voice, Indiewire.com, Cinematical.com, The L Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine. For more information go to www.bigapplefilmfestival.com. BIG BEAR LAKE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENWRITING COMPETITION is held the weekend of September 11 - 14, 2008. Screenings of independent feature films, short films, student films, high school student films, documentaries and a screenwriting competition. Festival holds educational filmmaker panels, seminars and a Pitchfest. Visit www.bigbearlakefilmfestival.com or call 909/866-3433 for more information. To help inspire women to get into the sport of motorcycling, Harley-Davidson is sponsoring BIKES, CAMERA, ACTION!, a special contest challenging female moviemakers to capture the passion, independence and empowerment that embodies the spirit of female riders on film. Female moviemakers are encouraged to submit a two minute movie about women riders to the Motor Company by September 30, 2008, for the chance to win $5,000, a new High Definition video camera, Harley-Davidson MotorClothes® and the opportunity to showcase their film at a premiere party in Los Angeles. Visit www.bikescameraaction.tv for entry information and official contest rules. The 4th annual HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL takes place August 7 - 10. August 7 marks the opening night celebration at the Egyptian Theatre featuring short films from stars J essica Biel, Josh Brolin and David Arquette. They are also honoring filmmaker David Lynch with a special visionary award that evening. On August 8 they will host a music video celebration at Nacional in Hollywood. August 9 - 10 they will showcase short films from around the world and industry panels at Laemmle's Sunset 5. To follow that there will be parties and closing awards. Advertising opportunities still available, for rates, contact staff@hollyshorts.com. Tickets and schedule available at www.hollyshorts.com. Set for October 9 - 16, 2008, the 11th annual INDIE MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL is accepting submissions from across the country, in any style or genre, with an emphasis on films about the South or made by Southern filmmakers. Located in the home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the festival provides an environment that inspires independent filmmakers to connect and collaborate, building bridges from Memphis to all corners of the United States. Deadlines: May 16 /June 16 /July 1 /July 15. For details, call 901/246-7086 or visit www.indiememphis.com. MILL VALLEY FILM FESTIVAL: October 2-12, 2008 2008 marks the Mill Valley Film Festival’s 31st edition. A celebration of the best in independent and world cinema, MVFF annually brings together a community of filmmakers and film lovers to Mill Valley, San Rafael and beyond to experience great new films in the beautiful environment of San Francisco’s beautiful Bay Area. With its reputation as a filmmakers’ festival, this prestigious non-competitive event showcases international features, documentaries, shorts and children's films—something for every filmgoer. They invite you to join them in celebrating great film! For more information go to www.mvff.com. The PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting films and screenplays for its April Festival. Go to www.phoenixfilmfestival.com to submit your film today. The Phoenix Film Festival is the largest festival in Arizona and accepts features, shorts, animated shorts, student films and foreign films in both short and feature length. The festival has repeatedly been called "the best filmmaker festival" by filmmakers that have attended. The screenplay competition offers a cash prize and studio exposure. Held beneath the red rocks of Zion National Park, the RED ROCK FILM FESTIVAL comes back in November 2008 with more excellent programming that will both challenge and educate the mind. The Xtreme sports shorts and off-the-charts dramatic features are just the accessories to the festival’s staple of political documentaries and foreign film. The festival is just a two-hour drive north of Las Vegas and offers a breathtaking location to see film in the warm part of the state of Utah. For more information visit www.redrockfilmfestival.com.
Conferences and Festivals | Events Activities and Things To Do
Tuesday, August 05, 2008 2:41:58 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, July 31, 2008
Writing Your TV Pilot - Next Thursday!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- If you're working on a script for the next Lost, Friends, or 24... or toying with an idea... or just love television... check out the class I'm teaching for mediabistro next Thursday night... With broadcast networks trying new programming strategies and new cable networks springing up every day, there are more opportunities than ever to sell a TV idea and get a show on the air. But TV pilots are an artform unto themselves... they work differently than novels, movies, or even regular TV episodes... and if you don't have a solid grasp of how pilots work-- and what networks and studios look for-- it's nearly impossible to sell an idea! This seminar explores the art and craft of writing a TV pilot: structure, character, genre... and what a pilot must accomplish in order to impress and survive TV's development execs. (It's also one of my favorite classes to teach...) Click here for more information...WHEN: Thursday, August 7, 7-10 pm WHERE: Beverly Hills Bar Assoc., 300 S. Beverly Dr., 2nd Fl., Beverly Hills, CA 90212COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call 212-547-7890 or click HERE
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing TV
Thursday, July 31, 2008 3:55:25 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, July 11, 2008
Fight for Writers' Rights... and Get A Free Trip To San Francisco!
Posted by Chad
Hey, writers-- FremantleMedia is beginning its next round of auditions for FOX's mega-hit reality show American Idol, and The Writers Guild of America is using the opportunity to step up its fight to organize reality TV and game show writers... and they need your help-- AND YOU CAN GET A FREE TRIP FROM L.A. TO SAN FRANCISCO! Here's the message direct from the WGA... The Writers Guild of America, West continues to fight for WGA-coverage of all 'reality' & game shows. The WGAW stands with you to demand that production companies like FremantleMedia
respect you with industry standard benefits. The WGA's Network Organizing Committee (NOC)
is shining a light on FremantleMedia's unfair treatment of its writers. FremantleMedia's marquee show, American Idol, is conducting its Season 8 national auditions. WGAW members and reality & game show writers will be joined by Teamsters Local 399 & other labor allies on the American Idol Truth Tour.
Hundreds of supporters will be traveling around the country to American Idol auditions to expose FremantleMedia's unfair treatment of its workers.
The first stop of the American Idol Truth Tour is San Francisco, CA. On Wednesday, July 16th, reality & game show writers, WGAW members, Teamsters and other allies will be leaving Los Angeles for the first stop on the American Idol Truth Tour.
Come & get on the bus! Two large events will kick off the Truth Tour.
American Idol Truth Tour Kick-Off Press Conference
Wednesday, July 16th @ 10am
WGAW multi-purpose room, 7000 W 3rd St, Los Angeles
***Bus to San Francisco leaves immediately after the Press Conference. Transportation, food, and hotel will be provided.***
American Idol Truth Tour Rally
Thursday, July 17th @ 11am
Outside the Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA
***Bus to Los Angeles will leave after the rally and arrive in Los Angeles by 11pm Thursday night.***
COME TO THE LOS ANGELES PRESS CONFERENCE and RIDE THE BUS TO SAN FRANCISCO FOR THE AMERICAN IDOL TRUTH TOUR.
For more information and to reserve your seat on the American Idol Truth Tour bus, contact WGAW Organizing Department:
Trish Albert
WGAW Organizer
talbert@wga.org
323.819.1676
For more information on the fight to organize reality TV, check out the WGA's organizing page, or download the following study from Goodwin Simon Victoria Research: harsh_reality.pdf (195.68 KB)
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Friday, July 11, 2008 11:53:07 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, July 09, 2008
Please Set Your Tivos!
Posted by Chad
Hey, everyone-- Just wanted to give you a heads up and ask you to please set your Tivos and VCR’s for tomorrow night... The comedy talk/sketch/variety show I’ve been writing for, Reality Binge, premieres tomorrow, July 10, at 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Fox Reality Channel. Each week, we parody and poke fun at the funniest clips in reality TV with jokes, sketches, bits, etc. Think Saturday Night Live meets The Daily Show meets The Soup... but better than all of them! You can check it out on the web here... www.foxreality.com/realitybingeSo please watch... or if you can’t, record it! Thanks a million, everyone-- Chad Here’s the info again... REALITY BINGEThursday, July 10 7 p.m. & 10 p.m. Fox Reality Channelwww.foxreality.com/realitybinge
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, July 09, 2008 9:31:21 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, July 07, 2008
Upcoming Film Festivals: July Edition
Posted by Chad
Hey, screenwriters & filmmakers-- Once again, courtesy of MovieMaker magazine, here's a list of upcoming film festivals and conferences. Take a look... and also check out some of the great features at MovieMaker.com... Tickets are available for the ANGELUS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL on Sept. 13! This festival honors future filmmakers as they create works that respect the dignity of the human person. Angelus-winning films reflect values such as redemption, spirituality, dignity, tolerance, equality, diversity, hope and triumph of the human spirit. Angelus alumni include Sundance winners Patricia Cardoso (Real Women Have Curves) and Tony Bui (Three Seasons, Green Dragon). Other winners include directors Greg Marcks (11:14, starring Hilary Swank) and Sabrina Dhawan (screenwriter, Monsoon Wedding). For tickets or more information, go to www.angelus.org or contact Monika Moreno at Monikka1@verizon.net or 800/874-0999. BOULDER INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL: Their big idea? Provide filmmakers with huge, film-savvy audiences along with generous filmmaker hospitality and open the festival to gifted film artists worldwide. This has made BIFF into one of the most influential and popular young festivals in the U.S. Chris Gore, the author of The Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide and Film Threat, says, "The staff's dedication to championing true Indies, the amazing hospitality along with a classic theater (with a full bar), make this a festival that should be on the top of every filmmaker's list.” Submit today, you’ll love it there. Deadline July 25. Visit www.biff1.com or email staff@biff1.com for more information. The 5th Annual BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries for this year's event taking place November 19 - 22, 2008 at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas in the heart of the greatest city in the world. The BAFF is dedicated to showcasing and promoting the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world. The festival includes special New York City premieres, interactive panel discussions with industry professionals, networking parties and a closing night awards ceremony. Alumni films include Suffering Man's Charity directed by Alan Cumming, Love, Ludlow (Warner Home Video), Owl and the Sparrow (2008 Spirit Award nominee) and Chubb Chubbs Save Christmas (2007 Sony Pictures Release). Previous panelists, guests and keynote speakers include representatives from Samuel Goldwyn Films, Magnolia Pictures, HBO, Current TV, Wellspring Media, Cinematical.com, Zeitgeist Films, Wild Bunch Films, First Run Features and Gen Art. In order to bring the most elite talent to the silver screen, BAFF partners with a variety of New York City independent film organizations and media outlets including IFP, The Village Voice, Indiewire.com, Cinematical.com, The L Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine. For more information go to www.bigapplefilmfestival.com. FANTASTIC FEST is a week-long festival featuring the best in new science-fiction, fantasy, horror, animation, crime and Asian cinema. During his Keynote Address at the 2007 International Film Festival Summit in Las Vegas, former Variety president and publisher Charlie Koones listed Fantastic Fest in a list of "10 Film Festivals We Love," which he described as "interesting and exciting" events. In addition to the Fantastic Fest, the list included industry heavy-hitters such as Cannes, Toronto and Telluride. The festival strives to make it the most friendly, fun and exciting experience as possible for their out of town guests and visiting filmmakers. www.fantasticfest.com. Set for October 9 - 16, 2008, the 11th annual INDIE MEMPHIS FILM FESTIVAL is accepting submissions from across the country, in any style or genre, with an emphasis on films about the South or made by Southern filmmakers. Located in the home of the Blues and the birthplace of Rock ‘n’ Roll, the festival provides an environment that inspires independent filmmakers to connect and collaborate, building bridges from Memphis to all corners of the United States. Deadlines: May 16 /June 16 /July 1 /July 15. For details, call 901/246-7086 or visit www.indiememphis.com. The INTERNATIONAL HORROR & SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting submissions. Get your film and screenplay in now. Be part of the coolest genre fest in the country. Directors of acquisition from distributors will be in attendance to view films for consideration. This event will receive press coverage from the top genre press, both online and traditional. Submit your film and screenplay now to become part of the madness that is the International Horror and Sci-Fi Film Festival. Go to www.horrorscifi.com for more information. MOONDANCE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL cordially invites filmmakers and screenwriters, playwrights, short story writers, TV writers, librettists, composers, children's filmmakers & writers, young (18 & under) plus seniors (75 & over) and all filmmakers & screenwriters, music video filmmakers and multi-media filmmakers to attend and participate in the truly international 2008 film festival in beautiful Boulder, Colorado, USA. Moondance offers everyone a unique opportunity to come together with other writers, directors, producers and audiences, to create new opportunities, develop tools for success and forge new alliances within the international film and entertainment industry. Festival dates: August 29, 30, 31, 2008. Email: director@moondancefilmfestival.com or visit: www.moondancefilmfestival.com. The OMAHA FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries in the following categories: Narrative Features, Documentaries, Short Films, Animated Short Films, OFF the EDGE (Horror, Experimental, Dark Films) and Screenplays. Deadlines: Sept 8 (regular) and Oct 26 (late). Visit www.omahafilmfestival.org. With the creation of the festival's Film Education Initiative, ongoing learning opportunities have been provided to filmmakers during the annual festival and conference. Past participants include Shane Black, Mike Hill, Jon Bokenkamp, Josh Stolberg, Lew Hunter, Tom Elkins and Jeff Kitchen. The PHOENIX FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting films and screenplays for its April Festival. Go to www.phoenixfilmfestival.com to submit your film today. The Phoenix Film Festival is the largest festival in Arizona and accepts features, shorts, animated shorts, student films and foreign films in both short and feature length. The festival has repeatedly been called "the best filmmaker festival" by filmmakers that have attended. The screenplay competition offers a cash prize and studio exposure. For more information on advertising in MovieMaker's FLASH e-newsletter, contact Ian Bage at 800/677-4424 or ian@moviemaker.com.
Conferences and Festivals | Events Activities and Things To Do
Monday, July 07, 2008 3:13:02 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Reality Writers Unite!
Posted by Chad
Hey, TV writers (and writers of all stripes)... There was a great turnout at least week's WGA meeting about organizing reality writers... and there's another meeting this week. If you're interested in attending-- or have questions-- please RSVP or contact Jayson Pope. Here's all the info... WHEN: Wednesday, July 2, 8:00 p.m. WHERE: Writers Guild, west - 7000 West Third Street, Los Angeles, CA 90048RSVP (or questions): jpope@wga.org
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Tuesday, July 01, 2008 3:30:30 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 17, 2008
WRITERS UNITE!
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys— Just wanted to let you know about an upcoming WGA meeting to continue the fight for fair treatment and compensation for reality TV writers. Although the writers strike is long over, the battle for writers’ rights is not. Most reality writers work without equitable pay rates, overtime, or even insurance and retirement benefits. Some are even suing their production times for allegedly bilking them out of legal overtime hours in upwards of forty hours a week. This Wednesday, June 18, the WGA is hosting its next meeting of Reality and Game Show Writers to discuss further plans for organizing the world of reality TV. If you’re interested in attending, here’s the scoop… WHEN: Wednesday, June 18, 8 p.m. WHERE: The Writers Guild West 7000 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90048 This isn’t a meeting simply for reality writers… IT’S A MEETING FOR ANYONE WHO CARES ABOUT WRITERS AND WRITERS’ RIGHTS… whether you’re a screenwriter, poet, novelist, or reporter! Hope to see you there!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Tuesday, June 17, 2008 2:02:30 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Tuesday, June 10, 2008
PITCH WORKSHOP: The First Entry!
Posted by Chad
I am pleased to announce that we have our first entry in the Script Notes Pitch Festival! A big round of applause—and a thank you—for going first goes to E. Daniels, who posted the first one-sentence pitch Thursday evening. Just as a quick refresher… we’re in Phase One of our Script Notes Pitch Fest, where you all are invited to post one-sentence (“logline”) pitches of your movies or TV shows here on the blog, then readers and myself will give feedback. The idea is NOT to be judgemental, but to help one another whip our pitches into shape and make them as strong (and sellable) as possible. So without further adieu, let’s take a look at E. Daniels’ one-sentence pitch. E. Daniels writes… “Each episode finds our twenty-something heroine vowing that today, unlike all the other days, she will quit her job!!! ...just as soon as they validate her parking.”This is a great TV series pitch with which to begin our festival, because it’s got some strong things going on, and some things that can use improvement. First, the good things… WHAT I LIKE A LOT:
• E. Daniels’ pitch taps into a personal, emotional dilemma that millions of people experience every day… the desire to quit a frustrating, unfulfilling a job, but the inability to do so because you’re totally dependent on it. Everyone on the planet has gone through this… the feeling of being trapped in a job or relationship but not being able to quit. This gives E. Daniels’ pitch an important element necessary to virtually any pitch – relatability, or the ability to let audiences relate to the story and character, to see reflections of their own lives. • E. Daniels has also given the pitch’s main character a “want,” an objective, which is the first step in kicking off any story. Characters with strong wants and objectives are forced to act in order to accomplish those wants, and its that action that creates story. So whether you’re pitching a TV series, a movie, or a novel, it’s imperative to know what your main characters want; only by understanding this will we understand your story’s narrative engine. (Having said this, I have some thoughts on this particular want, which we’ll discuss in a moment.) SOME THINGS I'D IMPROVE A BIT:While the pitch definitely has strong relatability, it also lacks the specificity it needs to really bring it to life, to allow us to see the character and her world in our heads. In other words, IT’S TOO VAGUE. Here's what I'd work on... • Give us some more info about our “twenty-something heroine.” While this is only a one-sentence pitch, it’s still important to bring your character to life as much as possible… in as few words as possible. Give her a name and a few choice adjectives. For instance, rather than “twenty-something heroine,” which is fairly nondescript, say “Tara Stone, an impetuous 26-year-old clothing designer…” or “Free-wheeling 25-year-old Rita Webster, who dreams of being a decorated Air Force pilot…” or whatever info you need to give us. Whoever she is… BRING HER TO LIFE FOR US. • While I applaud the fact that you gave your heroine (who, for the sake of discussion, I’m going to call “Tara”) a want, I’m not sure you’ve given her the kind of want that can propel a television series. While all stories are driven by a character with a strong want, it’s usually tough to sustain a series when your main character wants only one tangible thing… like Tara’s desire to quit her job. This kind of singular objective is great for propelling one episode, or a movie, or a novel… but it’s tough to sustain a serialized story—like a TV show—with this. A) It means your main character is driven by the same objective week after week, and it’s tough to keep audiences interested in what is—essentially—the same story (or same story engine) week after week. B) In the world of television, these singular wants feel false and “cheat-y.” After all, if we’re following a woman trying to quit her job week after week, we know she can never ACTUALLY quit her job… because it ends the story. So we’re aware from the beginning that we’re watching something very finite, or we’re going to be strung along on the same repetitious journey for weeks on end. (A handful of TV shows DO work by giving characters singular, tangible goals. Each episode of 24, for instance, finds Jack racing to stop a calamity and stop a very specific villain. But not only are these shows few and far between, they’re rarely successful. 24 is an anomaly, and most of its copycats have failed miserably. Remember THE KNIGHTS OF PROSPERITY, about a gang of misfit thieves planning to burgle Mick Jagger? How about THIEF? Or HEIST? The robbery theme aside, these shows all centered on characters working towards a single event—which is why they’re often called “event dramas”—and most are miserable failures.) I’d give Tara some larger “life goals” that can not only drive her through the series as a whole, but generate episodic stories as well. On FRIENDS, Joey wanted to be an actor and Monica wanted to be a chef… both goals that would take years of trying, fighting, and figuring things out. More importantly, the characters on FRIENDS had enormous emotional goals… falling in love, figuring out their places in the world, etc. These emotional goals helped spawn smaller, weekly storylines like going on dates, trying a new job, moving to a new apartment, etc. I’ll give you some examples that will—hopefully—apply to this particular pitch in a moment, but first, I want to tie this into my next note… • Give Tara some relationships. (I know I pound this notion a lot, but I stand by it. There’s nary a story on this planet that’s not about one thing: RELATIONSHIPS. RELATIONSHIPS RELATIONSHIP RELATIONSHIPS. Giving your main character relationships is important for many reasons… A) Characters don’t exist in a void, so we only ever truly get to know them by seeing them interact with other characters. Tara—no matter how compelling you make her—will never be interesting on her own… she will only be interesting in the context of other people. B) Relationships bring the world to life. We all have different kinds of relationships depending on where we are… are work relationships are different from our family relationships, which are different from our romantic relationships, which are different from our friendships. So when your series is set in a specific world—and yours seems to be set in the world of Tara’s work—you should populate it with those appropriate relationships. C) All good stories (or for that matter, pieces of art in ANY medium) work because they reflect the lives and experiences of their audiences. So by giving Tara relationships that reflect the real world, we—your audience—are able to see reflections of our own lives in Tara and her life. If she has a tumultuous relationship with her mother, we see aspects of our own relationship with our mom in that… if she has a loving, supportive boyfriend, we see our own romances… if she competes with her brother, we recognize our own sibling rivalries. D) Lastly, TV shows, especially, are deeply grounded in their relationships. A movie, for instance, can often succeed with weak characters and relationships but a very strong plot. Not so with a television show, which needs to bring audiences back week after week. And while viewers obviously want strong stories, what really attracts them is relationships… returning each week to a world whose characters’ lives reflect their own. When you think of WILL & GRACE, for example, you may remember a few favorite episodes, but what you really home in on is the indissoluble bond between Will and Grace… their love for each other, their disagreements, their support, etc…. and the antics of their friends, Jack and Karen. This is why the “wants” of most TV characters are concerned not with singular tangible wants, but with their relationships with other people. For example, while Charlie and Alan on TWO AND A HALF MEN want tangible things in each episode—to score with a particular girl, succeed at work, etc.—their overall wants, the wants that propel them through the series, have more to do with being good fathers to Jake, finding female life partners, etc. Anyway, all of this to say… I’d swap out Tara’s want of quitting her job for something more relationship-based. Maybe something like… “26-year-old Tara, an impetuous assistant at Moshman Designs, attempts to navigate corporate politics, sniping co-workers, and a micro-managing boss as she struggles to succeed in the cut-throat world of graphic design.” Or… “As 24-year-old Tara knows, it’s not easy being the world’s greatest undiscovered opera singer… especially when your boss thinks you’re his girlfriend, your co-workers don’t trust you, and your only friend is the 15-year-old copy boy.” Or… “Incorrigible Tara longs to quit her job and start her own dance studio… but quitting your job is never easy, especially when you’re boss is your father.” (I’m not saying any of those are brilliant, or the story you want to tell, I’m just saying they tap into a bit of the same want and conflict, but they also flesh out the world and give a sense of Tara and her relationships.) • If possible, give us as much info as you can about what kind of series you’re pitching. Is it a one-hour drama like DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES? A single-camera comedy like EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS? A half-hour multi-cam like RULES OF ENGAGEMENT? And, if you can, give us a title! You may change it later, but a title helps establish the tone and gives us a bit of a visual image to wrap our heads around. For example… “EXPOSED BRIEFS is a single-camera comedy that follows the misadventures of Tara, a young paralegal who dreams of becoming a big-shot lawyer… if she can just convince the alpha-males at her father’s law firm to give her a shot.” Or… “INSEAMS, a one-hour dramedy, chronicles Tara, a seamstress in a floundering dress shop, as she juggles a domineering boss, back-biting co-workers, and a freeloading boyfriend as she struggles to quit her job and make it as Chicago’s hottest new clothing designer.” Anyway, E. Daniels—I hope this is helpful! Again—thanks so much for posting… and for the rest of you, keep the loglines coming. You can post in the comments section below this post, or back in the original entry. And feel free to post your thought on E. Daniels’ pitch as well!
Events Activities and Things To Do | Reader Questions | SCRIPT NOTES PITCH WORKSHOP | Writing Advice
Tuesday, June 10, 2008 3:32:26 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, June 04, 2008
Reality Seminar-- Back By Popular Demand!
Posted by Chad
Hey, screenwriters-- If you're in Los Angeles and interested in knowing how to develop and sell the next So You Think You Can Dance or Living Lohan, I'm once again teaching my 3-hour reality TV seminar at mediabistro.com next Saturday afternoon, and I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop...
WRITING THE REALITY TV SHOWWhen: Saturday, June 14, 1-4 pm
Where: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 303, W. Hollywood, CA 90046
Cost: $65 To sign up: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 or click HERE
Check out this webpage for more information... or here's the little blurb about it... Moment of Truth. Wipeout. The Paper. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps (Denise Richards: It's Complicated, Laguna Beach) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (Hell's Kitchen, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Tasty Travels, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The difference between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Classes Seminars Workshops | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reality TV
Wednesday, June 04, 2008 5:25:43 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Saturday, May 31, 2008
THE SCRIPT NOTES ONLINE PITCH WORKSHOP!
Posted by Chad
Hey, film and TV writers— I’ve gotten several emails and questions from readers with specific questions about pitching projects they’re working on, asking if there’s some way to use Script Notes to really get down-and-dirty, hands-on advice about shaping their TV and film projects. After all, whether you’re a newbie just penning your first script or a highly paid veteran working on your next Oscar winner, writing for film and TV (especially TV) is a highly collaborative process, and it often helps to talk about or bounce ideas off test audiences. So I am pleased to announce the kick-off of… THE 2008 SCRIPT NOTES ONLINE PITCH WORKSHOP… The online forum where you can test your TV and film pitches and get honest feedback from both myself… and your fellow Script Notes readers. (And by the way, I can’t take credit for this idea myself. A huge note of thanks to and Madeline SmootBuried in the Slushpile, one of the best writers’ sites out there, for giving me the idea… but more on Madeline in a moment…) Here’s how the workshop works… You guys, our Script Notes readers, can post your film and TV pitches in the comments section of this blog. Other readers and I will then comment on and critique them in the comments that follow. I’ll do my best to get to as many of your pitches as possible, giving some feedback on each one, and hopefully you’ll get feedback from other readers as well. (If you have specific questions to which you need answers (such as, “Are the stakes high enough for my main character?” or “Is my main character’s objective compelling enough?” feel free to post those as well.) Periodically, I’ll then select some of the pitches to discuss in a more specific way in larger posts—what seems to work, what doesn’t work, etc. As we go, I'll also post some tips or bits of advice on each phase. We’ll do the workshop in three phases, with each phase lasting about two weeks (depending on how many people post): LOGLINES, SYNOPSIS/ELEVATOR PITCHES, and SUMMARY. Here’s how each phase works… • A LOGLINE is a one-sentence description of your idea – each of these pitches must be one-sentence long ( here's a great discussion of one-sentence pitches on Madeline Smoot's Buried in the Slushpile) • A SYNOPSIS, or what Madeline calls an “elevator pitch,” is a one-paragraph description of your idea (here are two great entries from Madeline about "elevator pitching": "Fourth Floor Kitchenware, Loungeware, and Perfect Pitches. Going Up." And "Elevator Pitches Cont.") • A SUMMARY, or slightly longer description, is usually about 3 paragraphs to a page (for this, we'll say 250-400 words) Every two weeks or so, I’ll open the workshop to the next phase of pitches and ideas. Then, in a few weeks or months, we can start all over again. Now—before we begin—three important rules… RULE #1: WHAT KIND OF IDEA ARE YOU PITCHING? Aside from your actual pitch—whether a logline, synopsis, or summary—please be sure to indicate what kind of project you’re pitching: a movie, TV show, etc. The more specific you can be, the better: a feature-length romantic comedy (like 27 Dresses, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, etc), a TV sitcom (like Two and a Half Men, Friends, etc.), a one-hour sci-fi series ( Battlestar Galactica, Lost, etc.), a half-hour single-camera workplace comedy ( The Office, 30 Rock), etc. The more specific you can be, the better! And if you’re not sure, that’s okay, too! RULE #2: OFFER FEEDBACK, BUT BE NICE. Obviously, we all want and need critical feedback on our ideas. However, please be friendly and helpful in your criticism; this isn’t a forum to get mean or disrespectful of people’s ideas. It’s fine to dislike someone’s idea or their presentation, but tell them that in a way that’s constructive and helpful rather than snarky or destructive. RULE #3: IF YOU HAVE CRITICISM, TRY ALSO OFFERING SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS. This doesn’t just go for the Script Notes workshop, it goes for just about every meeting, pitch, or writers room you’ll ever find yourself in. And trust me—I’ve learned this (and watched other people learn this) the hard way. If you’re going to knock or shoot down someone’s idea, don’t just criticize it… suggest a “fix,” or a way to do it better. This isn’t just being polite, it’s because illustrating another way to do something often helps people realize the idea’s original problem. If you don’t have the perfect fix, offer a “house number,” or bad version of how to improve it. (I’ll often say to fellow writers something like, “It feels like the stakes could be higher. I’m not sure what the exact fix is, but maybe if—and this is NOT the right idea, but just as an example—if there was a ticking clock, like a bomb or a deadline they had to meet, it might heighten the tension and raise the stakes.”) If you have other questions or thoughts, please feel free to post them below or email me at WDScriptNotes@fwpubs.com. Otherwise… LET THE WORKSHOP BEGIN! Feel free to begin posting your logline (one-sentence) ideas! (And again… a huge special thanks to Madeline Smoot and Buried in the Slushpile. I met Madeline Thursday night when I had dinner with Brian Klems and Chuck Sambuchino from Writers Digest. The annual Book Expo America was here in L.A. last week, and Brian and Chuck hosted Writers Digest’s Books Writers Conference. I hooked up with them for dinner Thursday night and they brought their friends Miriam Hees, who runs Blooming Tree, a small publishing house in Austin, Texas, and Madeline Smoot, an editor at Blooming Tree who writes Buried in the Slushpile, a terrific blog for book-writers. (Writers Digest named it one of this year’s 101 Best Sites for Writers.) I highly recommend checking it out… it’s not geared toward screenwriters, but Madeline gives some terrific advice for all writers in general, and even her book-specific advise applies in many ways to TV and film. She runs a pitch workshop like this at Buried, and it was such a good idea I decided to borrow it.)
Events Activities and Things To Do | Pitching | Writing Advice | SCRIPT NOTES PITCH WORKSHOP
Saturday, May 31, 2008 11:47:26 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Friday, May 09, 2008
UPCOMING FILM FESTIVALS: May Edition
Posted by Chad
Hey, filmmakers-- Here's a list of upcoming film festivals that you can both attend and submit to. Much of this comes from MovieMaker Magazine, which does a great job compiling these things. Do yourself a favor and-- if you don't wanna subscribe-- become a regular at their site and sign up for their emails... they're terrific. Also, thanks to Lori B. and everyone else who has sent in festivals to promote. And if any of you know of other upcoming festivals, please let me know and I'll try and get them out there next time... The Nashville Screenwriters Conference (NSC) will bring some of Hollywood’s top writers to Music City the weekend of May 30- June 1. Guests will include writers and producers from ABC’s Grey’s Anatomy, Scott Frank (Minority Report, Get Shorty), Ted Griffin (Matchstick Men, Ocean's Eleven), Steve Nicolaides (School of Rock, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally), and many more. Anyone interested in film and TV can network and learn at the open-to-the-public event at Union Station Hotel. On Friday, May 30 at 1 PM screenwriter Larry Wilson (Beetlejuice, The Addams Family) will offer his “ Method to Madness” program about horror writing, and “ The World’s Fastest Screenwriting Course.” There will also be an advance screening of the HBO Films miniseries Generation Kill, by The Wire creators and Rolling Stone journalist Evan Wright, on Friday, May 30 at 5:30 PM at the Country Music Hall of Fame. A Q&A will follow the screening. Then, the “ Music in Film & TV Luncheon” will return this year on Sat., May 31 at 12 PM at the Country Music Hall of Fame, focusing on placement of music in films and TV. More info available at www.nashscreen.com. The ANGELUS STUDENT FILM FESTIVAL honors future filmmakers for creating works that respect the dignity of the person. Award-winning films reflect values such as redemption, spirituality, tolerance, equality, diversity, hope and triumph of the human spirit. Angelus Award alumni include Sundance winners Patricia Cardoso (Real Women Have Curves) and Tony Bui (Three Seasons and Green Dragon). Get complimentary tickets to the festival called “best bet” for student filmmakers by MovieMaker Magazine! Just e-mail tickets@angelus.org or call 323/874-6633. For details, go to www.angelus.org or contact Monika Moreno at 800/874-0999. The 15th Annual AUSTIN FILM FESTIVAL runs October 16 – 23, 2008 in Austin, Texas. Film categories: Narrative Feature, Short, Student Short, Documentary Feature, Short and Animated Short. Early Deadline: June 5, 2008, Late Deadline: July 5, 2008. Do not forget about their screenwriting competition! Screenplay Competition deadline: May 15 (early), June 1 (late). Teleplay Competition deadline: June 1. Get $5 off your film entry fee with a copy of this e-mail. For an entry form and more information, visit: www.austinfilmfestival.com. The 5th Annual BIG APPLE FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries for this year's event taking place November 19 - 22, 2008 at the world famous Tribeca Cinemas in the heart of the greatest city in the world. The BAFF is dedicated to showcasing and promoting the highest quality films from the New York City independent film community, as well as additional specially selected films from across the country and around the world. The festival includes special New York City premieres, interactive panel discussions with industry professionals, networking parties and a closing night awards ceremony. Alumni films include Suffering Man's Charity directed by Alan Cumming, Love, Ludlow (Warner Home Video), Owl and the Sparrow ( 2008 Spirit Award nominee) and Chubb Chubbs Save Christmas (2007 Sony Pictures Release). Previous panelists, guests and keynote speakers include representatives from Samuel Goldwyn Films, Magnolia Pictures, HBO, Current TV, Wellspring Media, Cinematical.com, Zeitgeist Films, Wild Bunch Films, First Run Features and Gen Art. In order to bring the most elite talent to the silver screen, BAFF partners with a variety of New York City independent film organizations and media outlets including IFP, The Village Voice, Indiewire.com, Cinematical.com, The L Magazine and MovieMaker Magazine. For more information go to www.bigapplefilmfestival.com. Compete for more than $3,500 in cash prizes at West Texas’s 4th Annual FLATLAND FILM FESTIVAL this September. Contests for live action, documentary, animated and experimental works. Flatland also screens invitational features by up-and-coming directors, brings in industry guests for a topical panel discussion and rounds out the evenings with fun parties. Visit to enjoy their Texas hospitality and mingle with filmmakers, enthusiasts and industry professionals at the beautiful Firehouse Theatre inside the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts in Lubbock, Texas. Visit www.flatlandfilmfestival.com or call 806/762-8606. The HAYDENFILMS 4.0 FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting entries! Haydenfilms is the premiere online platform for independent and student film producers to showcase their work. The festival is open to all student and independent films, with all genres accepted for review. Your short film could win the $10,000 grand prize! Each entry received must be accompanied by a completed Haydenfilms Official Submission Form, or be submitted through the Withoutabox.com entry process. The extended deadline is July 15, 2008. Visit www.haydenfilms.com/rules.html for more information on how to enter your short into this season's festival! The INTERNATIONAL HORROR & SCI-FI FILM FESTIVAL is now accepting submissions. Get your film and screenplay in now. Be part of the coolest genre fest in the country. Directors of acquisition from distributors will be in attendance to view films for consideration. This event will receive press coverage from the top genre press, both online and traditional. Submit your film and screenplay now to become part of the madness that is the International Horror & Sci-Fi Film Festival. Go to www.horrorscifi.com for more information. PALM SPRINGS SHORTFEST—August 21-27, 2008. Now in its 14th year, the Palm Springs ShortFest has become known world-wide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts and the quality and scope of its programming. This is the largest festival of its kind in America, showcasing over 350 short films from more than 40 countries, with a library of more than 2,200 films available to film buyers, industry and press in the Film Market running concurrently with the Festival. Included are seminars, technological demonstrations and 'one-on-one' meetings with industry experts and filmmaking professionals, free to all participating filmmakers. www.psfilmfest.org. The POPPY JASPER FILM FESTIVAL of Morgan Hill, CA seeks to showcase international independent short films. Taking its name from the rare Morgan Hill poppy jasper gemstone, the festival mines the fast-growing niche of less-than-30- minute films and brings the passion of filmmaking to the community. The festival has attracted the attention of a number of filmmaking notables, including Academy Award winner John Bruno (Titanic), screenwriter Victor Miller (three-time Emmy winner) and producer Susan Cartsonis (What Women Want, No Reservations and Where the Heart Is). Film submissions accepted until May 31, 2008. For further information, please visit www.poppyjasperfilmfest.org. Georgia’s ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “20 film festivals worth the entry fee,” is one of the best film festivals in the southeast. Each year RIFF features more than 100 films from more than 30 countries, including shorts and features in the categories of documentary, narrative, experimental and animation. Jury awards are presented for best narrative feature, documentary, narrative short, experimental film and animated short. Audience awards are presented for best feature and best short. RIFF is always the weekend after Labor Day in early September. Located in historic downtown Rome, Georgia, all festival venues are within walking distance. The festival also includes the Southeastern Film Industry Expo, a film industry convention featuring representatives from throughout the southeast. For more information, visit www.riff.tv. The SAN DIEGO FILM FESTIVAL, co-founded by an award-winning filmmaker, features four days of 100 films, industry panels, inviting audiences and hands-down the best parties. It’s no wonder San Diego Film Festival has been named one of MovieMaker Magazine’s Top 25 Fests Worth The Entry Fee; Ultimate Film Festival Survival Guide’s Best Beach Fest, Best Party Fest and Best Regional Fest; plus one of the Top 10 Film Festival Vacations. Visit www.sdff.org. The 8th Annual SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY COMPETITION takes place Oct. 10 – 19, 2008 at the prestigious Grauman’s Mann Chinese 6 at Hollywood and Highland in the heart of Hollywood. Call For Entries deadlines are approaching for new horror feature films, shorts and feature length screenplays. Film submission deadlines: Early—July 15, Final—August 15. Screenplay submission deadlines: Early—June 15, Regular—July 15 and Final—August 15. Winning screenplay receives $1,000 cash and Movie Magic software. Screamfest is sponsored by Boost Mobile, Write Brothers, Inc. and InBaseline. For more info www.screamfestla.com or email screamfestla@aol.com. STARZ DENVER FILM FESTIVAL * November 13-23, 2008 * Now entering its 31st year, SDFF presents approximately 175 films over 11 days and hosts more than 150 visiting filmmakers. Known for its exceptional hospitality and diverse programming SDFF has become an increasingly important stop for any filmmaker. Entry information available at www.denverfilm.org. “Few American festivals have put it all together in terms of size, scope and intimacy as well as the Starz Denver Film Festival.” —MovieMaker Magazine; “The best kept secret on the US Film Festival circuit may well be the Starz Denver Film Festival.”— IndieWire
Events Activities and Things To Do
Friday, May 09, 2008 7:44:39 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Thursday, May 08, 2008
The Art of Pitching - Wednesday Night!
Posted by Chad
Hey, TV writers-- If you have an idea for the next The Big Bang Theory, Bones, or Dancing with the Stars, I'm teaching a 3-hour seminar at mediabistro this coming Wednesday on "The Art of the Pitch: How to Sell Your Television Series Idea." Here's the scoop... WHEN: Wednesday, May 14, 7-10 pm
WHERE: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste 303, West Hollywood, CA
COST: $65 ($50 for avantguild members)
TO SIGN UP: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 or click HERE
To learn more, check out this webpage, or here's a little blurb...
You've
seen the perfect TV show. It's got great characters, weekly
cliffhangers, comedy, drama -- everything you could want in a hit
series. There's just one problem: it's still in your head.
This seminar will help take your idea from seed to sale. After all,
selling your show isn't merely the first step in bringing your vision
to life; it's the most important step. What are networks looking for?
How should a pitch be structured? When's the best time to pitch? Do you
need a franchise? Does attaching talent help?
We will break pitching into three stages: honing your idea, crafting the pitch itself, and getting your foot in the door with producers and executives.
We'll examine different kinds of shows and the necessary elements of
each. We'll then discuss how to structure a pitch to make it accessible
to producers, writers, and executives. Lastly, we'll explore the business
of pitching; not only how to gauge the marketplace to make your idea
irresistible, but how to navigate television's labyrinthine
network/studio system and what you can expect once you get there.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The necessary elements every show -- and every pitch -- must have
- The difference between different types of shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- How to structure a pitch, both verbally and as a written document
- Who you want to pitch to at networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach actors, writers, or directors to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're in the room, making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Please note:
While we will discuss in class your ideas and how to best pitch them (if you feel comfortable sharing), this class is not about evaluating ideas. To be honest, we have no idea what's a good idea or not. After all, we're not the ones who bought Desperate Housewives. Or, for that matter, Jerry Springer.
Events Activities and Things To Do
Thursday, May 08, 2008 5:30:35 PM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Wednesday, April 23, 2008
UPCOMING EVENTS: 2 Great Festivals
Posted by Chad
Hey, guys-- Whether you're on the east coast or the west coast, I wanted to give you a heads up to a couple cool festivals this weekend. First, check out the Indepedent Film Festival of Boston, which begins tomorrow, April 23, and runs through next Tuesday, April 29. Seven days of movies, music, and parties! Secondly... This weekend-- April 26 & 27... MY FAVORITE FESTIVAL IN THE WORLD!... THE LOS ANGELES TIMES FESTIVAL OF BOOKS! For those of you who live in L.A. and have never been... what the hell's wrong with you?? And for those of you who don't live in L.A.... this is why you should move. If you don't know about the L.A. Times' Festival of Books, it's an annual two-day festival held all over the UCLA campus... where hundreds of authors, booksellers, publishers, and book-lovers congregate to buy and sell books, listen to readings and interviews with authors, and meet and talk to other writers and readers. In short: it's sheer awesomeness. Plus, each year, they compile an amazing roster of guest speakers and panelists. This year's writers include Harlan Coben, Ray Bradbury, Michael Connelly, Tobias Wolff, Jane Smiley, and TONS of others. There are also countless speeches, seminars, and panels on novels, poetry, journalism, film and TV... and about different genres-- sci-fi, mystery, romance, comedy, you name it. Leonard Maltin will be hosting "Reinventing Hollywood: The 1960's and Beyond," a panel discussion with Peter Biskind, Mark Harris, and Kenneth Turan. Geoff Boucher is hosting "Comics: Superheroes of the Page & Screen," with Jeph Loeb, Mike Mignola, and Steve Niles. And Ron Hogan hosts "On Page & Screen," with veteran authos/screenwriters Tom Epperson, Mark Frost, Gary David Goldberg, and Chris Miller. And best of all-- the whole thing is FREE! Totally FREE-- every speaker, ever panel, every guest reader and program... it costs-- ZERO DOLLARS. (You DO have to have tickets to get into some of the popular events, however-- like Ray Bradbury, who-- if you've never seen him-- is an incredible speaker. You can get tickets through the website, and if they're sold out, they often have some available the day of the event.) Not to mention-- you can browse, peruse, read, or buy more books than you ever thought possible! Come on, people... books, authors, movie-talk, readings, food stands, gorgeous California weather... WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT FROM LIFE?!
(And, for what it's worth, there will also be a live interview with Valerie Bertinelli-- ex-wife of Eddie Van Halen, greatest rock god on the planet. Sure, she has a new book out, but again-- ex-wife of Eddie Van Halen. HOW COME YOU'R STILL READING THIS?! THIS THING JUST GETS BETTER AND BETTER! GET YOUR FREAKING TICKETS ALREADY!) Anyway, if you're in L.A. or Boston-- or can get to either city easily... take in some great film and literature-- there's no better way to spend a weekend! Independent Film Festival of Boston - 2008 Trailer
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, April 23, 2008 1:07:18 AM (GMT Daylight Time, UTC+01:00)
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Monday, March 24, 2008
Have Your Sketch Performed Live... and On YouTube
Posted by Chad
Hey, screenwriters— This sounded like an interesting opportunity, so I thought I’d pass it along. A few weeks ago, Zhura ( www.zhura.com) launched a new online screenwriting tool… a free website which not only provides screenwriting software, but allows screenwriters from around the world to trade thoughts, give notes, and share scripts and ideas. I haven’t tried it, so I don’t know if it’s any good or not. (To be honest—it seems weird to me… screenwriting, unlike TV writing, is a pretty private process, and I’m not sure I want notes from total strangers out there in cyberspace. But it may work for some people, so if you’re intrigued, check it out… and send me an email at WDScriptnotes@FWPubs.com to let me know what you thought!) HOWEVER — what I really wanted to let you know about was a cool partnership Zhura has going on with Improv Asylum, a sketch group out of Boston… and this may be worth your while! Basically, Zhura and Improv Asylum have teamed up for “ You Wrote It—Live!” on Saturday, April 12th. Basically, it’s a live sketch show composed of material completely written on Zhura by its members. Each sketch will then be performed by Improv Asylum, filmed and posted on YouTube, so no matter where you live— Kansas, Brazil, Kenya, Japan, Denmark, California—you can have your script performed live … and hear the roar of the laughing crowd. Check out these links for more information… • You Wrote It-- Live! - Improv Asylum page & instructions• You Wrote It-- Live! - Zhura page & instructionsAnd if you get one of your sketches in the show, please email me and let me know and I’ll post your sketch here on the blog! In the mean time, here's a quick look at some of Improv Asylum's "guerilla sketch" work... WINGMAN (2/8/08)
CUPCAKE DATE (12/29/07)
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Monday, March 24, 2008 3:17:23 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Upcoming Contests & Festivals
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- Moviemaker Magazine, one of the best resources out there for independent filmmakers, recently compiled lists of upcoming contests and festivals. Here are highlights from their lists... some are searching for entries, others are just great places to see interesting new work... check 'em out... 2008 BLUECAT SCREENPLAY COMPETITION: Now in its 10th year, BlueCat discovers more successful writers and provides more support through our analysis to more writers than any screenplay contest in the world. Sony just picked up the distribution rights for our 2005 winner, Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story, starring Seann William Scott and Randy Quaid. Lance Hammer, 2004 finalist, recently picked up two awards at Sundance. Every screenplay entered in BlueCat receives over 600 words of analysis. Winner receives $10,000; $1,500 to four finalists. LATE DEADLINE: April 1 ($60). Tickets on sale now! The 10th Annual CALIFORNIA INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL will take place in Northern California's Livermore Valley Wine Country Wednesday, April 16 through Sunday, April 20th, 2008. Over 60 feature films, shorts, music videos and documentaries from all over the world will be screened during the five-day event, where several Hollywood legends will be honored for their work in independent motion pictures. For more information about the event, visit the festival site at www.caindiefest.com. The 8th annual installment of the CONEY ISLAND FILM FESTIVAL hits the shores of Coney Island Friday, September 26th through Sunday, September 28th. This annual festival features over 80 films from around the world; a stunning array of high and lowbrow fare, as diverse as the neighborhood it represents. The festival kicks off with an opening night party featuring performances from The Coney Island Sideshow and Burlesque Performers. An annual screening of The Warriors runs Saturday night where the audience is encouraged to talk back to the screen! For details go to www.coneyislandfilmfestival.com or contact Rob Leddy at 718/907-3409 or rob@coneyislandfilmfestival.com Short films under 20 Minutes and screenplays under 15 pages ACCEPTED NOW. MovieMaker Magazine calls DC SHORTS “one of the nation’s leading short film festivals.” Filmmakers enjoy fabulous parties, city tours and are provided with housing, meals and transportation. But most importantly, they enjoy the opportunity to meet and learn from other filmmakers—an experience that comes from the premier showcase dedicated to short films and the people who make them. FIRSTGLANCE 11 PHILADELPHIA is calling for entries for Philly’s only festival that celebrates the truly indie filmmaker from down the street and across the globe! Open to professional, first time and student filmmakers with any budget, for North America’s premiere truly indie festival whose mission is to exhibit, promote and reward the best national and international talent in all genres in a competitive casual atmosphere bringing together emerging filmmakers, film enthusiasts, critics, distributors and indie film lovers. Named one of the best film festival investments and one of the Top 40 Indie-Friendly Businesses in the world, FirstGlance continues it mission by offering an online companion at this year's event! Submit through www.firstglancefilms.com or logon to www.withoutabox.com and apply online. Deadline: April 11, 2008. Over $50,000 dollars in prizes to be awarded in 2008. Since the NEW HAMPSHIRE FILM FESTIVAL’S debut in 2001 as the NH Film Expo, it has grown in leaps and bounds. These days, heavy hitters such as Avid and Regal Cinemas provide sponsorship, while industry leaders from Emerging Pictures, Film Threat and Philly Fests participate on panels and in workshops. Alumni film credits include national distribution, Academy Award nominations and screenings at major festivals worldwide. For more information about their upcoming event check out www.nhfilmfestival.com or email nicole@nhfilmfestival.com. Co-hosted by MySpace Film, the NOW FILM FESTIVAL advances the exposure of short film to thousands of viewers every week for 25 weeks. To submit your short film check out their website at www.nowfilmfestival.com <http://www.nowfilmfestival.com> or check film.myspace.com to watch the featured videos. Contact Sean Hackett at sean@nowfilmfestival.com if you have any questions. PALM SPRINGS SHORTFEST—August 21-27, 2008. Now in its 14th year, the Palm Springs ShortFest has become known world-wide for the extraordinary community of filmmakers it attracts and the quality and scope of its programming. This is the largest festival of its kind in America, showcasing over 350 short films from more than 40 countries, with a library of more than 2,200 films available to film buyers, industry and press in the Film Market running concurrently with the festival. Included are seminars, technological demonstrations and 'one-on-one' meetings with industry experts and filmmaking professionals, free to all participating filmmakers: www.psfilmfest.org. One of MovieMaker Magazine's "20 Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee," the ROME INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL is one of the best film festivals in the southeast. Each year RIFF features more than 100 films from more than 30 countries, including shorts and features in the categories of documentary, narrative, experimental and animation. Jury awards are presented for best narrative feature, documentary, narrative short, experimental film and animated short. Audience awards are presented for best feature and best short. RIFF is always the weekend after Labor Day in early September. Located in historic downtown Rome, Georgia, all festival venues are within walking distance. The festival also includes the Southeastern Film Industry Expo, a film industry convention featuring representatives from throughout the southeast. For more information, visit www.riff.tv. 8th Annual SCREAMFEST HORROR FILM FESTIVAL & SCREENPLAY COMPETITION takes place Oct. 10th–19th at the prestigious Grauman’s Mann Chinese 6 at Hollywood and Highland in the heart of Hollywood. Call For Entries deadlines are approaching for new horror feature films, shorts and feature length screenplays. Film submission deadlines: Early—July 15th, Final—August 15th. Screenplay submission deadlines: Early—June 15th, Regular—July 15th and Final—August 15th. Winning screenplay receives $1,000 cash and Movie Magic software. Screamfest is sponsored by Boost Mobile, Write Brothers, Inc. and InBaseline. For more info www.screamfestla.com or email screamfestla@aol.com.
Events Activities and Things To Do
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 12:29:13 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, March 05, 2008
Great Screenwriter Series!
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters— If you’re in L.A., the Writers Guild Foundation is putting on a terrific series of conversations with A-list screenwriters. “ Anatomy of a Script” is a six-week series of Tuesday night sessions, hosted and moderated by film and TV writers Robin Schiff ( Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion, Lipstick Jungle) and Winnie Holzman ( Once & Again, My So Called Life). Sessions are held at the WGA (7000 W Third St, Los Angeles, CA 90048), and there's free parking beneath the building. Each evening begins at 7:30 each Tuesday, and is preceded by a screening of something written by the guest writer. Here's a list of each week's guest and screening... STEPHEN GAGHAN on TrafficTuesday, March 11 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of Traffic: 4:35pm NANCY OLIVER on Lars and the Real GirlTuesday, March 18 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of Lars and the Real Girl: 5:20pm JASON KATIMS on Friday Night LightsTuesday, March 25 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of Friday Night Lights (Pilot): 6:00pm BRUCE JOEL RUBIN on GhostTuesday, April 1 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of Ghost: 5:00pm LARRY WILMORE on The Bernie Mac ShowTuesday, April 8 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of The Bernie Mac Show (Pilot): 6:30pm SHONDA RHIMES on Grey's AnatomyTuesday, April 15 - 7:30 - 10pm Screening of Grey's Anatomy (Pilot): 6:00pm
Tickets are $50 for the general public, $40 for WGA members, and $30 dollars for students. To buy tickets, visit www.wgfoundation.org or call 323-782-4692. Have fun!
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, March 05, 2008 5:00:39 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Saturday, March 01, 2008
Creative Screenwriting's AAA Screenwriting Contest
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters--
Just wanted to let you all know that Creative Screenwriting's AAA Screenwriting Contest is open for business! Creative Screenwriting is easily one of the most top-notch, respected screenwriting magazines out there (and for what it's worth-- I am not being paid to write this... I truly just think they do a good job), and the AAA (Access, Acclaim, Achievement) offers some terrific prizes. The first deadline is APRIL 15, 2008. To learn more about it, click HERE, but here's a list of their prizes...
ACCESSThe winning script and synopses for the top ten screenplays have been requested by the following companies:
|
BenderSpink
David Foster Productions
The Donners Company
Endeavor Agency
Escape Artists
The Gersh Agency
Hofflund/Polone Management
ICM
New Line Cinema
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Paradigm
Radar Pictures
The Radmin Co.
The Robert Evans Co.
Spring Creek Pictures
VH1
Weintraub/Kuhn Productions
Winkler Films
Zide/Perry
|
Plus over 330 additional agents,
managers, and
development executives. For an updated and complete list of companies,
please click here. There
is no better way to introduce your screenplay to the top echelon of the
entertainment industry than by winning the AAA Contest.
ACCLAIM
The winner of the AAA
contest
will be profiled in Creative Screenwriting
magazine and the names of the top ten finalists will be published in CS
Weekly. Finalists and their screenplays will also be
publicized in press releases and ads placed in industry publications,
and in Facebook.
ACHIEVEMENT
You
have put the work into crafting an extraordinary screenplay. Now it is
time to reap the rewards of your effort.
PRIZES
| GRAND PRIZE:
$8,407 in cash and prizes (in addition to Acclaim
and Access): |
| • |
$5,000
cash |
| • |
Winning
script mailed to over 350 agents, managers, and development executives
who have requested it. |
•
|
FilmTracker
InfoSource Database subscription for one year ($720 value) |
| • |
Movie
Magic Screenwriting software ($250 value)
Blockbuster story-development software ($295 value)
Free coverage from Coverage Ink and and Script Alley ($279 value) |
| • |
A
full-year subscription to Hollywoodbyphone.com ($564 value) |
| • |
Free Gold Pass
registration to
Screenwriting Expo 7 ($399 Value) |
| • |
Five
free Golden Pitch Festival pitch tickets ($125 value, plus selection
priority). |
| • |
Full
set of Creative Screenwriting educational DVDs ($750 value) |
| • |
Free
one-year subscription to Creative Screenwriting Magazine ($25 value) |
| • |
If you live too far from the
Expo to drive, up to a $300 refund on air transportation (no cash or
other considerations will be given in lieu of this prize) |
| 2ND
& 3RD PLACES: $1,923 in cash and prizes: |
| • |
$1,000
cash |
| • |
Synopsis
mailed to over 300 agents, managers, and development executives who
have requested it. |
| • |
Movie
Magic Screenwriting software ($250 value)
Blockbuster story-development software ($295 value). |
| • |
Coverage
from Script Alley ($150 value)
Six month subscription to Script Shark's Spec Market ($30 value) |
•
•
• |
Free regular
admission to
Screenwriting Expo 7 ($149 value)
One free ticket to Golden Pitch at Expo 7 ($25 value, plus selection
priority)
Subscription to Creative Screenwriting
magazine ($24 value) |
|
SUZANNE'S PRIZE--BEST LOVE STORY OF 2008: $4,502 in cash and prizes: |
| • |
$2,500
cash |
| • |
Regular
pass to 2008 Screenwriting Expo ($149 value) |
| • |
Five free Expo pitch tickets ($125 value, plus selection priority) |
| • |
One free year of Hollywoodbyphone ($564 value) |
| • |
Free Truby Blockbuster software ($295 value) |
| • |
Full
set of Creative Screenwriting educational DVDs ($750 value) |
| • |
Free Truby Love Story software ($95 value) |
| • |
Free
one-year subscription to Creative Screenwriting Magazine ($25 value) |
•
• |
The winning script will be sent to producers, agents, and managers
who
have asked to see this Special Jury Prize winner.
The synopsis
and
logline will be sent to over 300 agents, managers, and development executives who
have requested it. |
| TOP 10
FEATURE SCREENPLAY FINALISTS |
| • |
Synopsis
mailed to over 350 agents, managers, and development executives who
have requested it. |
| • |
Six
month subscription to Script Shark's Spec Market ($30 value) |
| • |
Free regular
admission to
Screenwriting Expo 6 ($149 value) |
| • |
subscription
to Creative
Screenwriting magazine ($24 value). |
|
FEATURE
SCREENPLAY SEMIFINALISTS
|
| • |
Free
regular admission to Screenwriting Expo 6. |
| • |
Subscription
to Creative Screenwriting. |
| • |
Free
Expo
DVD.
|
|
TELEPLAY
PRIZE
(TWO WINNERS)
|
| • |
$500
cash |
| • |
Winning
script
will be submitted to three companies of the winner's choice from the
AAA List.
|
|
EVERYONE
WHO
ENTERS
|
•
•
• |
15%
off Script Shark coverage
15% off Script Alley coverage, 15% off
FilmTracker subscription
One free month of Hollywoodbyphone.com. |
| • |
$5
off any
Coverage, Ink service.
|
Entrants will receive an e-mail with information on these gifts when
the contest
announces semifinalists.
Career Advancement
In
addition to the above prizes, winning or placing in a high-profile
screenwriting contest can open significant doors for your career in
Hollywood. The AAA Contest and Creative Screenwriting
will do everything possible to promote our winners and finalists to the
industry.
Events Activities and Things To Do
Saturday, March 01, 2008 4:59:01 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Writing the Reality TV Show - Monday night!
Posted by chad
Hey, TV writers and producers-- If you're in L.A. and interested in knowing how to develop and sell the next Dancing with the Stars or Millionaire Matchmaker, I'm teaching a 3-hour reality TV seminar at mediabistro.com this Monday night, and I'd love to see you there! Here's the scoop... WRITING THE REALITY TV SHOWWhen: Monday, March 3, 7-10 pm
Where: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 303, W. Hollywood, CA 90046
Cost: $65 To sign up: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 or click HERE
Check out this webpage for more information... or here's the little blurb about it... American Idol. Deal or No Deal. My Super Sweet 16. From the
multi-million-dollar series of broadcast television to the low-budget
niche shows of cable, reality programming dominates television. But are
reality shows really "reality?" How much planning and production goes
into unscripted storytelling? And, most importantly, how can you get in
on the action?
This seminar lays the groundwork for anyone wanting to break into
the lucrative world of reality TV. We'll look at various types of
reality shows and what makes them tick, from docu-dramas and docu-soaps
(Rob & Big, Laguna Beach) to game shows and elimination-style competitions (Hell's Kitchen, Survivor) to personality-driven and "aspirational" series (Tasty Travels, Extreme Makeover: Home Edition).
We'll then discuss how to conceive, develop, and sell your idea.
What are the critical elements of a pitch? Should you attach talent?
Does your series work as a strip? We'll explore how to structure your
reality pitch and get it to the right people. Who are the major
players? When should you attach a senior producer? What networks are
best for your concept? Whether you're a writer, producer, or host,
reality television's waiting for you.
In this seminar, you will learn:
- The difference between reality shows, and how to pitch them accordingly
- The critical elements every reality show and pitch must have
- How to structure a pitch both verbally and as a written document
- How to pitch to networks, studios, and production companies
- When to attach hosts or producers to your idea, and when not to
- What to expect when you're making your pitch, and what happens when you leave
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, February 27, 2008 8:22:04 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Get Ready for Staffing Season (with a great discount)
Posted by chad
Hey, TV writers-- With staffing season ramping up in a matter of weeks ( upfronts have already been announced for May 12-15, which means staffing will begin immediately afterwards), now is the time to whip your TV spec into shape. So I'm teaching another 10-week spec-writing workshop with mediabistro.com, beginning Wednesday, February 27. This is a terrific class for anyone hoping to get staffed this year. Over the course of ten weeks, whether you're writing a Dexter, 30 Rock, The Office, Criminal Minds, or Weeds, you'll take your spec from mere story nugget to fully written script. We'll talk about how to structure your episode, nail your characters' voices, and-- most importantly-- inject your own original voice. And the class ends April 30... just in time for staffing season. And the best part is... Script Notes readers get a $75 dollar discount. Just call Stefanie at mediabistro (310-659-5668) to sign up, and tell her you're a Script Notes reader. Here's some more info, or click HERE to read more at mediabistro.com... WRITING THE TV SPEC SCRIPTWhen: 10 weeks, Wednesdays, February 27 - April 30, 7-10 pm
Where: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 303, W. Hollywood, CA 90046
Cost: Originally $610, but tell them you saw the blog, and you get a $75 discount... only $535 To sign up: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 For more information: Click here...
Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing Advice
Tuesday, February 19, 2008 8:22:21 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, February 18, 2008
READER QUESTION: Are there any good TV-writing contests?
Posted by chad
Hey, guys-- happy President's Day... I'm not quite sure how we're supposed to celebrate, but hey-- day off, can't complain. Especially because I'm sitting at home, nursing a mild hangover from being at the Magic Castle all night. And I don't care what anyone says: the Magic Castle is the COOLEST PLACE ON EARTH. Saying that, of course, may make me a complete dork, but I don't care-- it's true (the Castle part, not the dork part, which is also probably true). And anyone who denies it hasn't been there or is lying. ANYWAY... after Friday's post about the Scriptapalooza screenwriting contest, I received a couple emails asking if there were any good TV writing contests, so I thought I'd take a minute to give you my thoughts on that. First of all, are there TV writing contests? Yes. Are there any good TV writing contests? That depends on your definition of good. If your definition of a "good" TV writing contest is a contest that rewards its winner with bragging rights, maybe some cash, and hopefully a chance to get their work read or seen by agents, execs, showrunners, etc.-- then YES: there is a tiny handful of TV writing contests (which we'll get to in a second). If your definition of a "good" TV writing contest is a contest that rewards its winner by landing them a staff job or getting their pilot made at a network or studio, then NO: there are no good TV writing contests. And here's why... Movies (and, therefore, movie scripts) are finite pieces of work. A movie lasts two hours, it's over, done. The story will never continue, go on, or repeat itself. (Sure, there are sequels, but most movies aren't written with a sequel already in mind... sequels are created as follow-ups to a proven successful property.) Most movies, by design, are intended to be close-ended experiences. This makes it very easy for producers, studios, or production companies to buy a script from a writer, say "thank you very much," and dispose of the writer. And I'm not saying "dispose of the writer" as a judgement call-- like when we all hear screenwriters complain about how they're treated like crap by the studios (which is often true, but a separate issue). I'm simply saying that once a screenwriter has finished a movie script, his work is done. The script does not go on. (This is one of the reasons we say film is a director-driven medium; while the story begins with the writer, it's really the director who brings it to life and puts his creative stamp on the movie. The director has much more control over the film's vision than the writer.) But this doesn't happen in television. Television shows make mini-movies every week, so they need their writers to stick around. When one script is finished, another must be written. Immediately. Thus, TV is a writer-driven medium... it's the writer or showrunner's vision which drives the show every week. This affects TV in two big ways... 1) It's why TV shows have staffs. One writer couldn't write twenty-two scripts back to back and have them be very good. (I know we read about Aaron Sorkin and David Kelley doing it, but they were clearly subjects in some bizarre genetic experiment that gave them amazing literary superpowers.) (I'm kidding. To be fair, no one knows how those guys do it. Centuries from now, archaeologists will look back and wonder who made Stonehenge, who erected Easter Island, and how the fuck Aaron Sorkin and David Kelley wrote so many scripts.) So writing staffs sit in a room together, for 8-15 hours a day, and write their episodes as a group. 2) It's why studios and networks rarely (and I mean rarely) buy shows and pilots from inexperienced TV writers. Designing a TV show-- and running it successfully-- often takes years of experience, so buyers tend to buy projects only from writers who have proven they can be sucessful TV writers and producers. And neither of these two points is very conducive to winning a contest. Winning a contest might get your script in front of people who could help you get a job-- showrunners, execs, agents, etc.-- but getting hired on a TV staff is about much more than just writing a good script. Being a TV writer is 50% writing talent and 50% personality (and, in the cases of some writers, more like 10%-90%). Thus, most showrunners hire people they already know: writers they've worked with, their own writers assitant, etc. And when they do hire a stranger, they definitely meet with that person-- at least once-- and usually try to recommendations from other people who have worked with them. And winning a contest definitely won't get your pilot picked up or produced as a series. (Of course, never say "definitely," because now that I've said it, it'll happen... but for the most part, I stand by my "definitely"). In fact, the very notion of winning a contest is antithetical to what it takes to develop and run a series. To be totally honest, if you see a contest purporting to give winners their own pilot or TV show: run-- it's probably not legit. Any contest claiming it can give winners their own TV show clearly doesn't have a firm understanding how TV shows are bought and sold. HAVING SAID ALL THIS... should you still apply to TV-writing contests?Sure, why not? What they will give you is... • Something cool to put on your writing resume • A possible open door to execs, agents, and showrunners • Hopefully, a bit of cash • Maybe some constructive feedback • A giant warm fuzzy • Experience writing • Experience getting rejected (which is going to happen to you way more than getting accepted, no matter what level you're at. Even David Kelley and Aaron Sorkin's shows get canceled.) So, here's a short list of TV writing contests that are-- at the very list-- legit. There may be more that I'm missing... if they are, please let me-- and everyone else-- know about them in the comments section below. As for these, I know nothing about the talent pool that applies to them or how successful they are at getting winners through important doors, but they at least aren't criminal fronts: • Writers Digest Screenplay and TV Writing Contest• Austin Film Festival Screenplay & Teleplay Competition• Scriptapalooza International TV Writing Competition• Larry Brody's Spec Scriptacular at TVWriter.com
Career Advice | Events Activities and Things To Do | Reader Questions
Monday, February 18, 2008 5:00:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, February 15, 2008
Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Contest 2008
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- Some of you know the Scriptapalooza screenwriting contest, but for those of you who don't-- it's one of the industry's widely respected screenwriting competitions... and its deadline is March 5 (with its final deadline on April 15-- when you'll already be racing to get in your taxes). There are a lot of screenwriting contests out there, but most of them are either bogus or ignored by the industry... but Scriptapalooza is one of the few with street cred. Lifetime films Queen Sized (starring Hairspray leading lady Nikki Blonsky) and The Family Holiday both came from Scriptapalooza winners. And this year, for the first time ever, scripts are emailable to the contest... which is cool both because it's green-- and it saves you money! (Although personally-- every time I save money by being green, I use that money to go to a forest and chop down a tree. Just because I can.) Anyway, it's a good contest. Check it out at www.scriptapalooza.com.
Career Advice | Events Activities and Things To Do
Friday, February 15, 2008 1:53:23 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, February 11, 2008
Come Celebrate... Hollywood-style!
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- If you're in the L.A.-area tomorrow, I'd love to invite you to a special party I'm hosting at Twist, the new bar/restaurant at the Hollywood Renaissance Hotel. You may have read my post a few weeks ago about Morning Call Time, the industry news podcast I'm launching with mediabistro.com and FishbowlLA. Well... tomorrow is our official launch party, and I'd love to see you there! We're hosting the party together with JHRTS (the Junior Hollywood Radio & Television Society, the junior organization of HRTS), one of the best networking organizations in town for young execs, writers, agents, producers, etc. So come by... have a drink... say hello... and meet a ton of great people, including other writers and producers working in TV, film, and new media. Here's all the info, and CLICK HERE to RSVP... WHERE: Twist - The Hollywood Renaissance Hotel 1755 N. Highland Ave. Hollywood, CA 90028 WHEN: Tuesday, Feb. 12 7:00 - 9:00
CLICK HERE TO RSVP (this is Hollywood, where ya gotta be on the list...) Hope to see you there!
Events Activities and Things To Do
Monday, February 11, 2008 7:25:38 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, January 30, 2008
TEACHING THURSDAYS: Learn From Hollywood's Best Comedy Writers-- This Thursday, Jan. 31
Posted by chad
Hey, guys-- If you're in LA, this is an incredible opportunity to meet and learn from some of the best TV and film writers working today... The WGA has declared every Thursday during the writers strike " Teaching Thursday," meaning that each Thursday, picketing writers from different genres meet at the Warner Brothers Lot ( 4000 Warner Blvd., Burbank, CA 91505), Gate 2, to discuss the craft and process of what they do: structure, character, style, you name it! This Thursday-- tomorrow!-- is multi-camera comedy day, and you'll have the chance to learn and talk about sitcom-writing with the staffs of The Big Bang Theory, The War At Home, and others! Here's the scoop... WHERE: Warner Brothers 4000 Warner Blvd., Gate 2 Burbank, CA 91505 WHEN: Thursday, January 31 9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 6:49:10 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, January 25, 2008
STAYING INFORMED - One of my favorite (and little known) resources
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- This is a Script Notes exclusive! If you're an entertainment news junkie like me, you know that staying informed on industry happenings and business developments is essential to succeeding in entertainment, whether you're a writer, director, producer, whatever. I'm not talking about staying on top of where Lindsay Lohan hangs out or whom Russell Crowe punched. I'm talking about real in-the-trenches news: what movies sold, what pilots were greenlit, easy-to-read industry economic analyses, etc. And while anyone can check Variety, The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline Hollywood, etc. on a regular basis, I wanted to tell you about one of my new favorite news sources (and the best kept secret in Hollywood)... My good friend Jen Godwin, a writer who works with Kristin of Watch with Kristin fame at E! Online, culls through Variety, the Reporter, Ad Age, etc. and sends out periodic emails (usually two or three times a day) linking to the best, most important/interesting articles on what's happening inside Hollywood. She's got a great nose for what's important, and does a phenomenal job of cutting out the crap and sending you only the most compelling, relevant articles. Here's the catch: she only sends her emails to a select group of people.But because I can't get enough of her emails (and I begged a little), she agreed to include Script Notes readers who wanted to be added to the mailing list. So all you have to do is shoot her an email at jgodwin@eentertainment.com and tell her you read the Script Notes blog. You'll be added to the list-- and I hope you get as much out of it as I do. Lemme know what you think! Chad
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | Industry Updates
Friday, January 25, 2008 8:53:55 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, January 24, 2008
Great Contest for TV Writers, Filmmakers, & Online Content Creators
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- just got this notice from the New York TV Festival, which is a terrific up-and-coming TV festival (and there aren't many of those-- most TV festivals are totally bogus... but this one has some good traction and support)... The New York Television Festival (NYTVF) is proud to announce that it is now accepting submissions to the fourth annual Independent Pilot Competition (IPC). The NYTVF, held each fall in Midtown Manhattan, is the first-ever independent television showcase, uniting prominent industry figures, artists, and TV fans in one forum. This year’s NYTVF will be held in September, on dates to be announced soon.
This year, the NYTVF has instituted a number of important changes to the IPC. The most significant change is that the IPC will now accept pilot entries between 5 minutes and 22 minutes in length, reduced from between 15 and 22 minutes. The reason for this shift is simple. The NYTVF recognizes that television is evolving into new and emerging platforms, and the opportunities for our artists to create television content for new media outlets have never been greater. We feel it is a service to our pilot-makers to give them the flexibility to create pilots tailored to these platforms while still allowing them to present ideas for more conventional television developers. For more questions about this change, please do not hesitate to contact the Festival directly at submissions08@nytvf.com.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Official Selections to the 2007 Independent Pilot Competition were screened directly for development execs, agents, and producers throughout the TV industry. Additionally, all pilots were broadcast online on MSN Video for viewers all over the country to enjoy, maximizing the exposure our artists received for their work. As with previous years, a number of independent pilot-makers met with top development people and were signed by major talent agencies as a direct result of being featured at the NYTVF. As part of artist initiatives launched in 2007, selected pilot-makers named to the NYTVF Fellowship program have the opportunity to enter mentorships with top producers, such as Tom Fontana, Mitchell Hurwitz, Michael Davies, and Phil Rosenthal. The artists also have the opportunity to screen their pilots at international TV festivals in places such as Edinburgh and Rio de Janeiro.
The NYTVF accepts pilots of all categories and genres, both scripted and unscripted. We encourage our artists to push the boundaries of conventional genres, such as comedy, drama, and reality shows, and to create innovative, original programs that take risks. For more information, please visit www.nytvf.com.
There has never been a greater demand for original, quality content, and the NYTVF is dedicated to giving artists a platform for showcasing their work to the decision-makers in the industry. We hope you will join with us in advancing this new artistic movement.
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Thursday, January 24, 2008 8:01:21 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, January 23, 2008
The Accolade Competition: Call for Entries Issued to Filmmakers
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters & filmmakers-- The Accolade Competition isn't anything I've ever worked with, but it sounds cool. Check it out...
The Accolade is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices. It receives entries from all over the world, recognizing filmmakers, large and small, who demonstrate
exceptional achievement in craft and creativity. Undiscovered and
first-time filmmakers are often recognized.
Annually, a special award is given to a production that makes a significant contribution to social change or a humanitarian effort. The Accolade is an award recognized for its rigorous evaluation process by buyers and distributors; they are confident that winning productions are of high quality. The Accolade team works passionately to help worthy productions gain the publicity and distribution they deserve.
Deadline: February 15, 2008
Go to www.TheAccolade.net for rules and entry form.
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, January 23, 2008 4:22:22 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Saturday, January 19, 2008
Calling All Reality TV Writers!
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters--
Regardless of how the strike pans out, the WGA is working hard to protect the rights and livelihoods of TV's reality writers. If you can attend, here's info on a meeting tomorrow morning to help bring reality writers under the juristication of the Writers Guild...
WGA ORGANIZING COMMITTEE: ACTION MEETING ALERT!: Open meeting for ALL reality, game show and nonfiction writers (you don't have to be WGA to attend) WHEN: Saturday, January 19th @ 11am-1pm WHERE: WGA Headquarters 7000 West Third Street Los Angeles, CA 90048 (Underground parking in WGA garage – enter on Blackburn Street) At this meeting, you will hear important information such as: • Statement of support from WGA leadership • Recent committee activity • How to file wage claims against non-signatory production companies • “Reality On The Line” picket week • How you can get involved Please RSVP to jpope@wga.org to secure parking and lunch. This meeting is for ALL writers-- you do not have to be a WGA member to attend! Please spread the word to anyone who wants to learn more about this critical campaign to win industry-standard benefits for all writers.
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Saturday, January 19, 2008 2:24:41 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Shawn Ryan, Warren Littlefield, and other Hollywood bigwigs duke it out over TV censhorship
Posted by chad
Hey, guys-- I know this is super last-minute, but if you live in L.A. and have nothing to do tonight, this should be a great evening... THE JUNIOR HOLLYWOOD RADIO AND TELEVISION SOCIETY
PRESENTS
CENSORSHIP, FREE SPEECH & POLITICAL DISCOURSE ON TELEVISION
MSNBC’s Senior Political Analyst Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr. to Moderate
WHAT: The Junior Hollywood Radio and Television Society ( JHRTS) presents an evening discussing censorship, free speech and political discourse on television. WHO: Olivia Cohen-Cutler, SVP, Standards and Policy, ABC, Inc. Warren Littlefield, Former President of NBC Shawn Ryan, Creator of “ The Shield” Ben Sherwood, Former Exec. Producer, “ Good Morning America” Eugene Volokh, Professor, UCLA School of Law-1st Amendment Expert Tim Winter, President, Parent Television Council Lawrence O’Donnell, Jr., Moderator, MSNBC Sr. Political Analyst, Former Exec. Producer of “ The West Wing” WHEN: Wednesday January 16, 2008 Media Check-in: 7:00p.m. Panel: 7:30p.m. WHERE: Creative Artists Agency Ray Kurtzman Theatre (Screening Room) 2000 Avenue of the Stars Los Angeles, CA 90067 Self Parking at CAA-$5
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 10:40:03 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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TrackingB Screenwriting Contest (and a great resource)!
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- Just wanted to make you aware of a great new service and website out there: TrackingB.com, a subsciption-based tracking board. Tracking Boards are one of the main resources of writers, execs, agents, and producers working in the film industry. They're forums for trading and monitoring inside information on scripts, projects, and films in development and production. Wanna know what romantic comedies studios are buying? Check your tracking board. Wondering what Lions Gate has on its development slate? Ask your tracking board. Wanna know what execs thought about a hot spec script on the market? You got it-- tracking board. Traditionally, most tracking boards have been invitation-only, formed by exclusive groups of industry friends and colleagues who handpick who can participate in the tracking board. But TrackingB.com is changing all that-- as Hollywood's first major subscription-based tracking board. And at $69/year, it's very affordable. So... check it out-- the information you'll find there is invaluable to anyone trying to break into the industry! Also... TrackingB is hosting The TrackingB Inaugural Screenplay Contest, with entries being judged by agents and execs from major companies like Underground Films, Anonymous Content, and Drew Barrymore's Flower Films. The entry fee is only $35.00, and you can click here for all the details. Three selected finalists will receive promotion on TrackingB (which has already received requests to read the winning scripts), and they'll receive feedback from each judge on the contest's panel. Five honorable mentions will receive a plug on the site, as well as free TrackingB membership for a year. The bad news: the entry deadline is this coming Sunday, January 20, 2008. I would've posted this sooner, but I'm just learning about it. Still, if you have something you can submit-- go for it. TrackingB is a rising company, and it's a chance to be read by some of Hollywood's real movers and shakers. Good luck... and lemme know how you do!
Events Activities and Things To Do
Wednesday, January 16, 2008 9:56:20 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, January 10, 2008
Support the Writers Strike, Go To Prom
Posted by chad
Hey, everyone-- this is hilarious... As you know, NBC has had to cancel the Golden Globes this weekend because they refuse to make a reasonable deal with the Writers Guild... meaning the Guild was planning on picketing the Globes, and-- since the actors support the writers in their quest for a fair deal with the TV and movie studios-- all the TV and movie stars refuse to cross the writers' picket line. And as if the writers are the ones acting like a-holes, NBC President Ben Silverman (you know-- the guy who's developing a TV series version of Robinson Crusoe) actually said this to E!'s Ryan Seacrest yesterday... "Sadly, it feels like the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in the high
school are trying to cancel the prom. But NBC wants to try to keep that
prom alive." I'm not sure which is more idiotic... that he thinks the writers are to blame for this, or that he just called writers "the nerdiest, ugliest, meanest kids in high school." Not that any of this should be surprising: Silverman's jackass media blunders have landed him in hot water before... like when he hired Isaiah Washington only heartbeats after the actor was fired from Grey's Anatomy for making homophobic comments... or when he claimed he had nothing to do with ousting former NBC president Kevin Reilly-- a man who helped make Silverman a successful producer by standing behind Silverman's then-ailing comedy, The Office-- a claim so spineless it prompted ABC President Steve McPherson to tell Silverman to " be a man." ANYWAY... to celebrate the PR genius that is Ben Silverman, the Writers Guild is hosting-- you guessed it-- a prom at Ben Silverman High School (aka "B.S. H.S.") (aka "NBC Studios"). Here's the scoop... BENJAMIN SILVERMAN HIGH WINTER PROMWhen: Thursday, January 17th from 11am-2pm Where: BS High School (located at 3000 West Alameda in Burbank - often referred to as NBC Studios) Dress: Prom Formal And to raise money for the Industry Support Fund, you can buy a Ben Silverman High School T-Shirt just like the one below!... 
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | The Writers Strike 2007
Thursday, January 10, 2008 8:44:11 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, January 09, 2008
Writing the TV Spec Script (with a great discount!)
Posted by chad
Hey, everyone-- If you're gearing up for the post-strike staffing season, I just wanted to let you know that I'm teaching a new TV spec-writing class at Mediabistro in Los Angeles, beginning next week. And to make it even better, tell them you saw this blog, and they'll give you a $75 discount. Here's the scoop... WRITING THE TV SPEC SCRIPT: Complete a Draft of a Sitcom or Drama
When: 10 weeks, Wednesdays, January 16 - March 19, 7-10 pm
Where: mediabistro.com, 7494 Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 303, W. Hollywood, CA 90046
Cost: Originally $610, but tell them you saw the blog, and you get a $75 discount... only $535 To sign up: Call Stefanie at 310-659-5668 For more information: Click here... You want to write for TV, and you've mastered the basics of meeting
deadlines, mastering wordcount, and editing. Now you're ready to get
your script off the gorund. In this class, you'll start and finish the
first draft of your sitcom or one-hour drama spec script. Each
week, you will bring in the amount of pages for your spec script that
your instructor requires. Each student will read his or her work (with
the help of fellow "actors" in the class), and the teacher and students
will take turns critiquing the piece while adding suggestions for
making it tighter. The entire last class will be devoted to reading
final drafts and learning how to get your script into the right hands.
Class is also heavy on TV clips and sample scripts.
In this class, you can expect to learn:
• Everything there is to know about the TV business from an industry expert
• The rules for creating characters that are true
• Structure: How to "break for commercial," find a good ending, wrap things up seamlessly
• The secret behind perfect dialogue
• Subplots: Where to put them, how to tie them in
By the end of class, students can expect to have:
A complete spec script of a one-hour drama or sitcom.
Admission requirements:
Please submit a letter of interest (including a brief work history), and a writing sample (less than 2,000 words).
Career Advice | Events Activities and Things To Do | Writing Advice
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 6:46:12 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Special Presentation with Sopranos Writer Matthew Weiner
Posted by chad
Hey, screenwriters-- this is too cool an event to pass up! If you're a fan of The Sopranos or AMC's Mad Men, check out this special Writers Guild Foundation discussion with showrunner Matthew Weiner... The Writers Guild Foundation presents MATTHEW WEINER ( Sopranos, Mad Men) Wednesday, January 16, 2008 - 7:30PM Writers Guild of America, 7000 W Third St, Los Angeles 90048 VERY LIMITED TICKETS AVAILABLE: 323-782-4692 or www.wgfoundation.orgMATTHEW WEINER ( Sopranos, Mad Men) discusses his career in television with writer-showrunner and WGF President, Chris Brancato ( X-Files, Boomtown). Audience Q&A included. Proceeds go to the Writers Guild Foundation Shavelson-Webb Library and other Foundation programs. A dessert reception will follow the formal part of the evening. Free parking under the WGA building. TICKETS: $20 - General Admission (available at www.wgfoundation.org) $10 - Student (please call 323-782-4692) $15 - Faculty (please call 323-782-4692) WGA Free (please call 323-782-4692)
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff
Wednesday, January 09, 2008 12:50:24 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Enter the 1st Annual United Hollywood Short Film Contest!
Posted by chad
After the tremendous response to United Hollywood's FairDeal4Writers video contest, United Hollywood has expanded the competition into the 1st Annual United Hollywood Short Film Contest, open to any aspiring writer, director, or filmmaker. Winners will receive an autographed strike poster from Hollywood's top writers, producers, directors, and actors, as well a new package of Final Draft screenwriting software. Here's a short message from judge Marti Noxon (Executive Producer/Showrunner: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Private Practice), as well as the blurb from FairDeal4Writers.com. For more information, visit UnitedHollywood.com or FairDeal4Writers.com...
Recently, United Hollywood announced the FairDeal4Writeres video
contest. Response has been great, but so much has happened in the last
several weeks that we’ve decided to make it an annual event.
United Hollywood is proud to announce that the FairDeal4Writers
contest has become the first Annual United Hollywood Short Film Contest.
We’re still looking for videos on how to get the Moguls to make a
fair deal, but we’ve expanded the scope of the contest. You can now
choose to make a film on any WGA contract issues that inspires you. If
you’re not sure what the issues are check out our blog spot www.unitedhollywood.com. Be innovative and find an aspect of the negotiations that strikes you.
Keep in mind that we’re not looking for you to talk to the camera
and tell us how you would end the strike. Videos should be
cinematically creative. Our theme for this years’ contest is still a
FairDeal4Writers.
Videos can be no longer than four minutes. They can be any genre
(comedy, drama, mockumaentary, commercial, whatever!). All videos must
contain the phrase “fighting for the future,” and the last line of the
video must be “We’re all on the same page.”
The winner of the contest will receive an authentic WGA strike poster
with over 175 signatures by writers, actors, actresses and directors
who autographed it while on the picket line and a copy of FINAL DRAFT.
“You have a story to tell. Use Final Draft to write it.”
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | The Writers Strike 2007
Tuesday, January 08, 2008 8:00:37 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, January 03, 2008
Write and Own Your Own Show at StrikeTV!
Posted by chad
Hey, writers-- wanna create, write, and OWN your own show? Here's your chance... Last week, the Writers Guild announced the formation of StrikeTV, an ad-supported online "TV channel" boasting all original content written, directed, and produced by professional screenwriters, directors, and producers. Which-- frankly-- is more than the networks and studios have right now. Proceeds from the ad money generated by StrikeTV goes toward the Writers Guild Foundation's Industry Support Fund, which helps union diretors, actors, and below-the-line workers keep food on their tables during the strike. But unlike the networks and studios, StrikeTV allows the writers, creators, and producers of its shows to maintain ownership of their own content... meaning if your show becomes a hit-- no one profits but you! StrikeTV is holding a seminar entitled "StrikeTV: Adventures in New Media," this Saturday, January 9, at 1:00 p.m. at the WGA theater (135 S. Doheny Dr.
BH 90211). The first half will be devoted to speakers and discussions about
the emerging world of digital media, as well as how writers can maintain
ownership and become financial partners in their own content. The second half focuses on actual physical production.
For more information about the seminar or StrikeTV in general, check out StrikeTV's official MySpace page!
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Thursday, January 03, 2008 8:35:48 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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You Gotta Fight For Your Right To Late Night
Posted by chad
Hey, everyone-- Fans In Support of the WGA Strike, an online group of fans backing and fighting for the striking TV and film writers, is calling on all fans of late night TV to get on the phone and voice your frustration to GE/NBC heads Jeff Immelt & Jeff Zucker and Disney heads Bob Iger and Anne Sweeney. As you may know, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants has struck its own deal with the WGA, allowing them to return to CBS's air tonight with their writing staffs intact. NBC and ABC, however, still refuse to make a deal, forcing their late night talk shows back on the air tonight... with no writers. So here's the latest post from Fans In Support of the WGA Strike... help the writers end the strike and get your favorite shows back on the air!
Action Item For The Week: Call NBC, GE, Disney & ABC To Support Jimmy, Conan & Jay Personally
Greetings my fellow WGA supporters! Did everyone have a decent Hannukah/Christmas/Kwanzaa/winter holiday? Was New Year's good and relaxing for you? I
hope so because it's time for us to go back to work so we can get other
writers (and their shows production teams) back on their jobs already. The
action item for the week for the LJ community is to call NBC, ABC and
also GE and Disney and express our displeasure at the untenable
position they have put Conan and Jay and Jimmy Kimmel into. We can all
agree to support Jay and Conan and Jimmy as WGA writers, heck it was
great of them to be putting out so much of their own money to support
the non writing staffs for as long as they did (Conan, Jay & Jimmy
who tried to hide this from the media, nice guy that he is) and showing
up on the picket lines of LA (Jay & his head writer Joe Medeiros on
the picket lines)  or doing appearances on their staff's unofficial show blogs (Conan and all kinds of videos on http://www.latenightunderground.com, especially one entitled 'Strike Beard' )
So
please call the following numbers between 9am and 5pm Eastern time (9am
- 5pm Pacific for ABC & Disney) and leave messages for the 2 Jeffs
as well as Anne Sweeney & Bob Iger letting them know that you
support Conan and Jay and Jimmy as WGA writers but are displeased that
they have been forced back to work without their writers and that you
would feel more comfortable watching their shows and buying the
products and services that are running advertising spots (not to
mention buying GE and Disney products and services) if only they would
make fair deals with the WGA writers just like Worldwide Pants did for
David Letterman's show and Craig Ferguson's (whose shows you feel good
about watching and whose sponsors products and services you will
strongly consider buying)
You can and leave the usual name,
gender, age range (for example at 38 I fall into the highly sought
after 18-49 and 25-44 age groups), an approximate range for your
household income (they especially love to hear from people whose
household income is $75,000 or more a year, so if you fit that
description, say so!), your closest NBC or ABC affiliate (station call
letters and number or the city and state it is located in), and city
and state where you live.
If you also support other shows on
NBC/USA/SciFi/Bravo or the ABC/ABC Family/Disney networks feel free to
mention those shows in your call as well.
GE
Jeffrey Immelt, President (the last name is pronounced 'eye-melt')
3135 Easton Turnpike
Fairfield CT 06828-0001
Phone 203-373-2211
Fax 203-373-3131
NBC
Jeff Zucker (last name rhymes with 'Tucker')
Phone 1-212-664-4444
Fax 1-212-703-8533
Disney and ABC
Robert Iger President & CEO of Disney (last name pronounced 'eye-grrr')
Anne Sweeney, President of ABC, ABC Family, & Disney Networks
Phone 1-818-560-1000 for the general line
1-818-560-6929
for Mr Iger's office (that will teach the operators for the general
line not to hang up on me 3 times in a row although I'm still calling
the FCC to complain about that)
Happy dialing!
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Thursday, January 03, 2008 12:53:33 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, December 31, 2007
Get Cool Writer-y Stuff (produced scripts, autographed photos, etc.)!
Posted by chad
To raise awareness for the plight of the striking film and TV writers, Fans4Writers, a website and organization of TV and film lovers, is launching a creative ad campaign: filling the skies over Pasadena with skywriting messages during Tuesday's Rose Bowl game. And to help raise money for the skywriting (their goal is $6,500), they're hosting a silent auction... auctioning off tons of terrific TV, film, and screenwriting paraphernalia like produced Battlestar Galactica scripts and autographed photos. You can check it out, bid on items, or just donate money to the cause by clicking here!
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Monday, December 31, 2007 6:32:58 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, December 26, 2007
WGA Video Contest!
Posted by Chad
Christmas may not be over yet... at least not for all you aspiring screenwriters and filmmakers. In the wake of Nikki Finke's grim pre-Christmas reportage, UnitedHollywood.com, the official blog of the Writers Guild strike, is sponsoring FairDeal4Writers, an online video contest for writers, directors, and producers across America.
All you have to do is shoot a four-minute (or less) video showing how you would get the AMPTP to make a fair deal. Videos can be in any genre: comedy, drama, mockumentary... even a "commercial." It must contain the phrase “fighting for the future,” and the last line of the video must be “We’re all on the same page.”
The winner will receive an authentic WGA strike poster with over 150 autographs of writers, actors, actresses and directors who signed it while on the picket line.
To enter the contest, simply upload your video to YouTube, then email the contest at videos@FairDeal4Writers.com. The contest ends January 20th, the winner will be announced January 28th.
Also, here's Oscar-winning screenwriter Paul Haggis (Crash, The Black Donnellys) with more information...
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | The Writers Strike 2007
Wednesday, December 26, 2007 8:27:42 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Save Jon Stewart!
Posted by chad
Miss The Daily Show because the studios walked away from the negotiating table in the midst of the writers strike? Want the Daily Show writers-- and writers of all your other TV shows-- to get paid fairly so you don't have to sit around watching reruns of Nightline and The Singing Bee for the next eight months? Well, take a stand!
MoveOn.org has launched its own petition to bring back The Daily Show... as well as all the other shows which have gone dark because the studios don't want to pay their writers. Click here to sign the petition, which will be sent to studio executives in an effort to convince them to share a tiny piece of the $170 million they're making from airing shows online. (And just to be clear... that $170 million is being made off shows written by writers... none of whom make a dime when the studios show their work online.)
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007 7:26:39 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, December 12, 2007
The AMPTP May Be Rich... but They Don't ROCK!
Posted by chad
Marti Noxon, Dawn Prestwich, Nicole Yorkin,
and the United Showrunner Committee
cordially invite you to attend
WRITE AID
A Benefit Concert to Provide Assistance
to Industry Employees Affected by the WGA Strike
Performers currently scheduled:
Eddie Izzard
Lewis Black
Patton Oswalt
Sarah Silverman
&
Tenacious D
(featuring Jack Black & Kyle Gass)
ONE NIGHT ONLY!
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 14th at 8 p.m.
ROYCE HALL at UCLA
Tickets - $75 per person
Tickets can be purchased
By visiting
www.UCLALive.org
Or calling
(310) 825-2101
Or by contacting
Ticketmaster
Tickets also available in person at the UCLA Central Ticket Office
Southwest corner of the James West Alumni Center
And at
All Ticketmaster Outlets
Write Aid is presented by members of the Writers Guild of America West, the Screen Actors Guild and West Beth Entertainment.
The idea originated with the United Showrunners Committee who wanted a way to reach out to the Industry community during the strike. Dawn and Nicole, Executive Producers of "The Riches" approached star Eddie Izzard. "I wanted to help because the WGA struggle is in the same area as the SAG struggle will be in a few months time." Izzard said. "We will also be negotiating over Internet residuals, so doing the benefit seemed like a good way of helping out and showing solidarity."
"A small group of writers and performers came together recently in the hopes of reconfirming our solidarity, as well as raising spirits and money as the Holidays fast approach," explains Marti Noxon, Executive Producer and Showrunner of the series Private Practice.
For 30 years WestBeth Entertainment, led by President Arnold Engelman, has produced critically acclaimed work in live entertainment. Productions have included the sold-out national tours of Eddie Izzard's Dress to Kill, Circle and Sexie; Billy Connolly's Too Old to Die Young (North American Tour); Lewis Black's Nothing's Sacred (Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall) and Red, White and Screwed (NY City Center); The Family Guy Live (NY, Los Angeles, Chicago) and Wigfield featuring Stephen Colbert, Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello (Off-Broadway, National Tour); WestBeth recently produced Margaret Cho's The Sensuous Woman in New York and Eric Idle's play What About Dick? in Los Angeles.
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Wednesday, December 12, 2007 9:45:29 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Friday, December 07, 2007
A Reality Check for the AMPTP
Posted by chad
For those of you not interested in battling demons with Spike and Faith (see the Buffy post below), help the Writers Guild send a message to the AMPTP when they picket this afternoon outside Fremantle, one of the world's largest suppliers of high-end reality fare. Fremantle makes millions of dollars off shows like American Idol, The Price Is Right, Family Feud, Temptation, The Next Great American Band, Farmer Wants A Wife, and America's Got Talent. All of these shows use writers... and none of the writers get health insurance, residuals, pension contributions, or proper credits. So join the WGA for this afternoon's Reality & Game Show Rally and Informational Picket at... WHERE: FremantleMedia North America, 4000 W. Alameda Blvd (1 block east of
Pass Avenue), Burbank. WHEN: 12:00 pm – 2:00 pm Speakers scheduled to appear include: WGAW President Patric M. Verrone, SAG member/actress Alfre Woodard, and writers Aaron Solomon and Kai Bowe. Tenacious D. (Jack Black and Kyle Gass) will also perform live.
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007 10:01:17 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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The Writers Strike Hits Sunnydale!
Posted by chad
(For those of you who have no idea where-- or what-- Sunnydale is, trust me: this post is not for you. For those of you who know that Buffy the Vampire Slayer is quite probably the greatest show in the history of television, read on...) Buffy and her friends are pissed... the AMPTP has risen out of the Hellmouth, and it's going to take more than a stake in the heart to kill them. Or at least get them to cough up some freakin' internet residuals. So the Scooby Gang, and a bunch of their writers, are joining the picket line at FOX, and they need your help. If you're a Buffy, Angel, or Firefly fan... come to Mutant Enemy this day at the FOX lot... and help strike down the biggest bad since the Mayor. Or Glory. Or Adam. Here's the scoop from tomorrow's strike captain at Fans4Writers.com Coming to Mutant Enemy Day? (At last count, between 150-200 of you said you are! Click here to add your name to the list.) Here's what you need to know. Date: Friday, December 7 Time: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Location: FOX STUDIOS, 10201 W Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90064 ( MAP) Meeting Point:
We'll meet in the parking lot of the Cheviot Hills Recreation Center,
across the street from the Fox studios, then head over as a group at 10
a.m. This will cut down on the number of trips we need to make across
the intersection and allow us to get organized before hitting the
picket line.  Parking: Extremely limited! Public transportation
is recommended, if at all possible. If you must drive, the Cheviot
Hills Recreational Center parking lot -- off of Motor Avenue -- is
walkable to the Fox lot. public transit for the LA area http://www.metro.net/default.aspOther things to keep in mind:- Please check in with the fan strike captain (that'd be me ... look for the hat!) when you arrive. I'll get you set up with a picket sign and supplies to customize it if you like.
- We will have water available for everyone. Please stay hydrated!
- You'll be doing a lot of walking (albeit in a fairly small area) so make sure to wear comfortable shoes.
- Wear sunscreen!
- Restrooms are available in the Cheviot Hills Rec Center across the street, and at the Century City Mall, about 1/2 mile away.
- Stay
on public areas (i.e., sidewalks) and off private areas (i.e, the
studio itself), and make sure you're allowing enough room for people to
walk by you on the sidewalk.
- Stay safe. Stay out of the street!
Finally, while I KNOW this won't be an issue, I have to say it anyway. This is a picket line, not a convention.
This will be a unique opportunity for us all to interact with Joss and
the rest of the Mutant Enemy folks, and while you should feel
comfortable approaching them and talking to them, and generally being
yourself, it's not a great time for asking for autographs, etc. Remember, we're there to support them!ME folks who have confirmed will be attending: Tim
Minear, Steve DeKnight, Rebecca Kirshner, David Fury, Jane Espenson,
Ben Edlund, Marti Noxon, Amy Acker, Nathan Fillion, Summer Glau, Eliza
Dushku, Felicia Day, Juliet Landau, Tomy Lenk, Morena Baccarin, one or
both of the Feldman twins and, of course, Joss. also, possibly in attendance: Doug Petrie, Amber Benson, Adam Busch and Brian K. Vaughn. ME day shirts can be purchased http://www.zazzle.com/mutant_enemy_fandemic_day_t_shirt-235324359038372345 and http://www.cafepress.com/bixmeday.192290226there will be a canned food drive http://www.fans4writers.com/forum/index.php?topic=408.0 please contact orangepenguino or visit the thread for more details there will be a picnic afterwards http://www.fans4writers.com/forum/index.php?topic=437.0 as well as a midnight serenity screening (the picnic will not last until midnight tho, so plan accordingly) http://www.fans4writers.com/forum/index.php?topic=502.0there will be LOTS of people with cameras of all kinds, we have a flickr group http://www.flickr.com/groups/fans4writers/pool/ or http://www.flickr.com/groups/mutantenemyday/
and request that you post your pics there (in addition to wherever else
you post) so we can share with folks not attending (and one site to
point them to makes it much easier) For more info on what to expect when lending your feet to the picket line, see our new Picketing FAQ. For those of you not able to attend, we will be doing a live update throughout the day on our twitter feed www.twitter.com/fans4writers so stay tuned!
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007 9:54:47 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Hate Carson Daly
Posted by chad
(Note: the title of this blog is not " I Hate Carson Daly" or " So-and-So Hates Carson Daly." It's " Hate Carson Daly," an imperative sentence-- a direct command. I'm telling you: hate Carson Daly. Please.) Last week, NBC talk show host Carson Daly not only became the only late-night talk show host to cross the picket line to restart his show, he actually sent out an email setting up a phone hotline for a select group of scabs to secretly call in jokes. In the email, which was posted on The Smoking Gun, Daly said he'd been getting “A TON of my friends and family... calling me, leaving messages,
offering their help with jokes because they know that I don't have any
writers working and hosting a latenight show without them will be
nearly impossible for me." (You're right, Carson-- it is impossible... that's the whole point. You're supposed to be helping us make the studios see that.) And when he received a public lashing for re-starting his show, Daly responded by saying, "I feel I have supported my four Guild writers and their strike by
suspending production for a month... While I continue to
support their cause, I can't, in all good conscience, stand by and let
that happen to the vast majority of my loyal staff and crew." (FYI, Carson-- your friends Jay Leno, Dave Letterman, and Conan O'Brien also have loyal staff and crew... and they're paying them themselves during the strike. Also, going back to work does not constitute "supporting their cause.") But finally, the writers (and anyone who's ever wondered why the hell Carson Daly even has a TV show) have their revenge!23/6, the snarky news site that boasts itself as having "some of the news, most of the time," has started it's own phone hotline: for all your jokes about Carson Daly. The best calls will then be compiled into an audio file which the 23/6 folks will post on the site. So... interested in bashing America's least recognizable talk show host, a guy who apparently got his own show simply because he once banged Tara Reid? Here's the number: (866) 236-1977Pass it on. Tell your friends. Support the writers. And if you don't hate Carson Daly for being a scab, or spitting on the writers, (or sleeping with Tara Reid-- which, let's be honest, is probably more dangerous and less socially acceptable than crossing the picket line), hate him for running down an innocent striker in an SUV.
Events Activities and Things To Do | Fun Stuff | The Writers Strike 2007
Wednesday, December 05, 2007 5:48:07 PM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Monday, December 03, 2007
Picket Updates
Posted by chad
Strike negotiations don't resume until tomorrow, but that doesn't mean it's time to slack off the picketing. In fact, in the wake of the "non-proposal" offered up by the AMPTP Thursday night, it's even more important for the writers to stay strong, maintain solidarity, and hold tight on the picket lines. Picketing will resume at all the studios this morning, and picketers will be joined by members of the Writers Guild Board of Directors, as well as the Negotiating Committee, who will be on hand to answer questions and discuss the battle plan. In other news... just because the writers are striking doesn't mean they can't have fun. If you're a single writer, and looking for that other special-single-writer-someone, join the strikers for singles picket line party today at Paramount's Bronson gate. (Even if you're not a writer, they need all the bodies they can get... and you can interpret that however you want to...)
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Monday, December 03, 2007 7:12:06 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Thursday, November 29, 2007
Pay It Forward
Posted by chad
Hey, writers-- It's payback time. Or pay-forward time. Or whatever. The 1.9 million members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)-- janitors, public employees, security guards, healthcare workers, etc..-- have been incredibly supportive of the writers strike, including paying for billboards and joining us in marching. NOW THEY NEED OUR HELP. Please join them for a solidatity march tomorrow morning in downtown L.A. Here's the scoop... WHEN: Thursday, Nov. 29th, 11 a.m. WHERE: 1247 W. 7th Street (7th & Bixel St) - Los Angeles, CA (downtown) Meet at 7th and Bixel at 11:00, when busses will take everyone to the southeast corner of 5th & Flower (Library Park). The rally/march is from 11:45 - 1 p.m.
Events Activities and Things To Do | The Writers Strike 2007
Thursday, November 29, 2007 2:42:48 AM (GMT Standard Time, UTC+00:00)
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Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Pitch Your TV Idea - This Weekend (and get a special blog-only discount)!
Posted by chad
Hey, everyone--
Just wanted to give you all a great invitation. I'm teaching/hosting a two-day pitching seminar, culminating in a "pitch slam," for Mediabistro here in L.A. this weekend. It's a great class... you'll learn why TV shows work the way they do, what studios and networks look for in a pitch, and how to construct pitches that actually sell. Then, at the end, you'll get a chance to pitch actual studio execs and producers. And best of all...
It's $100 off for readers of this blog! The class is normally $300, but for you guys it's only $200. I hope to see you all there, and if you're interested, here's more info...
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