The StoryLink Weekly

Your Big Break

Start pounding those keys, because your big break could be right around the corner! The 9th Annual Big Break International Screenwriting Contest, sponsored by Final Draft, is accepting early submissions by Saturday, March 1st, at a discounted rate of $50 per entry.

With over $30,000 in cash and prizes, free trips to Hollywood for industry meetings, and participation in CineStory’s annual writer’s retreat in Idyllwild, this is a fantastic opportunity for any screenwriter.

At the CineStory retreat in Idyllwild, writers meet with several retreat mentors to discuss their script submissions and possible personal pathways to a professional life in the business. At the conclusion of the three-day retreat, the Big Break contest winner will select two industry mentors with whom they will work for one year.

Previous judges of the Big Break Contest include Joel Schumacher, Todd Phillips, and Eva Mendes. Last year’s judges included Antwone Fisher and Brian Spink.

Break a leg!

February 21, 2008 1:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Pitch Coaching and Pitch Filming Event with Pilar Alessandra

I wanted to remind everybody that I will be recording free video pitches at the upcoming event, Pitch Coaching and Pitch Filming: An Afternoon with Pilar Alessandra.

On Sunday, February 10th, Pilar be your coach and guide in this informative, interactive event that preps you on how to make your best one-minute pitch. Pilar will review the elements of a basic pitch, and teach you a template writers can use to “hook” a listener in as little as one minute. Practice your short pitch with Pilar’s instruction, and then apply your knowledge in your own video pitch.

Get your pitch heard by Industry Professionals twenty-four hours a day in a safe, secure area of StoryLink. Include your log line, genre, and synopsis to grab the attention of Industry Professionals who are actively looking for new material.

Pilar Alessandra has worked for Dreamworks, ImageMovers and Radar Pictures as a story analyst and script consultant, and has trained writers and analysts at Nickelodeon, MTV, and ABC/Disney.

All attendees will receive a FREE 3-Month Subscription to Pitch Perfect!

I hope to meet many of you there, and I look forward to hearing some great pitches!

February 5, 2008 11:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | Add Comment

StoryLink Member Takes First Prize in Screenwriting Contest

Congratulations to StoryLink member Benjamin Ray, who has taken first prize in the Thriller category of the 2007 Pacific Northwest Screenwriters Contest with his script, "Marcus and Faith". Benjamin discovered the Pacific Northwest Screenwriters Contest in the Contests section of StoryLink, inspiring him to take a chance with his script.

Benjamin’s prizes include representation by 928 Talent Management, Final Draft Software, and the Writers Award. Judges for the contest included Daniel Yost, the screenwriter of "Drugstore Cowboy".

Benjamin’s award speaks to the collaborative success of our community, and I encourage members to check the Contests page frequently for the latest opportunities.

A recent addition to StoryLink, Acclaim Film & Television has posted its upcoming Script Contest. The first deadline for film and television scripts is February 8th, so dust off those scripts and submit your work. Good luck to everyone and congratulations again to Benjamin!

January 24, 2008 1:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Golden Globes Cancelled, but Voting Lives On

As many of you know, the 65th Annual Golden Globe Awards NBC telecast and champagne dinner has been cancelled. Complications from the Writers Guild strike lead to the decision this week, pushing the strike further to the forefront of pop culture.

I have been a little surprised by how many people are talking about the Golden Globes being cancelled, and more importantly, how upset people are about it. I think this is a great victory for the writers, as the Golden Globe cancellation shows how vital the writers are to Hollywood, and how American (and international) pop culture suffers from their absence.

Every year my family gets together to watch the Globes. We fill out our secret ballots and root for our nominees to win, and needless to say, there is some trash talking when each award is announced. I am disappointed that I won't be able to have this experience this year, and I am not alone. In the spirit of this tradition, I filled out my own ballot today, and I want to share it with all of you.

If you agree or disagree with my choices, I would love to hear from you. Let the debate begin!

1. BEST MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA THERE WILL BE BLOOD
2. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA CATE BLANCHETT – ELIZABETH: THE GOLDEN AGE
3. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – DRAMA DANIEL DAY-LEWIS – THERE WILL BE BLOOD
4. BEST MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL Blank (I Didn't Find Any Film Funny)
5.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL AMY ADAMS – ENCHANTED
6. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MOTION PICTURE – COMEDY OR MUSICAL RYAN GOSLING – LARS AND THE REAL GIRL
7. BEST ANIMATED FEATURE FILM RATATOUILLE
8. BEST FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM THE KITE RUNNER (USA)
9. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE CATE BLANCHETT – I’M NOT THERE
10. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MOTION PICTURE JAVIER BARDEM –NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
11. BEST DIRECTOR – MOTION PICTURE ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
12. BEST SCREENPLAY – MOTION PICTURE ETHAN COEN & JOEL COEN – NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN
13. BEST ORIGINAL SCORE – MOTION PICTURE MICHAEL BROOK with KAKI KING and EDDIE VEDDER – INTO THE WILD
14. BEST ORIGINAL SONG – MOTION PICTURE "THAT’S HOW YOU KNOW" – ENCHANTED
15. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA BIG LOVE (HBO)
16. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA EDIE FALCO – THE SOPRANOS
17. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – DRAMA HUGH LAURIE – HOUSE
18. BEST TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL 30 ROCK (NBC)
19.BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A TELEVISION SERIES –COMEDY OR MUSICAL TINA FEY – 30 ROCK
20. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A TELEVISION SERIES – COMEDY OR MUSICAL RICKY GERVAIS – EXTRAS
21. BEST MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE (HBO)
22. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION SISSY SPACEK – PICTURES OF HOLLIS WOODS
23. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION ADAM BEACH – BURY MY HEART AT WOUNDED KNEE
24. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION ROSE BYRNE – DAMAGES
25. BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A SERIES, MINI-SERIES OR MOTION PICTURE MADE FOR TELEVISION KEVIN DILLON – ENTOURAGE

January 10, 2008 4:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | Add Comment

Action-Packed Saturday Featuring Three Free Events at the Writers Store

Three FREE Events this Saturday at the Writers Store can help any writer take an idea and transform it to a script read by film studios and production companies. No matter where you are in your writing process, there is so much insight available on Saturday that any screenwriter can benefit:

•All great scripts start with an idea and finish in a Final Draft. This Saturday, learn how to take your thoughts and put them on the page in the format used by Hollywood insiders. Screenwriter and film aficionado Mario Moreno will lead this hands-on demonstration of Final Draft 7.1.3. Whether you are new to Final Draft or a seasoned pro, you can learn all of the new features that help every writer format his or her script like an Oscar winner.

• Now that you’ve gotten your thoughts on paper and formatted in Final Draft, receive FREE script critiques from Richard Walter, Chairman of UCLA’s Screenwriting Masters program. This mini-seminar gives writers the chance to workshop a sample of their work, and, more importantly, to arrange for a free script critique from Richard Walter after the event! Also, Richard Walter will teach the two essential principles embraced by UCLA's legendary Screenwriting Masters program that will take your script to the next level.

• You have written countless drafts of your script, you’ve received feedback and critiques from friends and professional script readers, you’ve formatted your script in Final Draft, and you are finally ready to release your work into the world….what happens now? What are studio executives looking for? What can a successful logline do for your script?

Let Rona Edwards and Monika Skerbelis lead you through what happens to screenplays and material submitted to each studio and/or production company. You will learn what Hollywood readers and executives look for in screenplays, including why the logline is important to sparking interest in your work.

Follow the links above for all event times. All events are free, but reservations are required. Please RSVP by calling (800) 272-8927 or stop by the Writers Store at 2040 Westwood Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025.

January 3, 2008 1:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Upcoming Pitch Coaching and Pitch Filming Event

You have one minute to pitch your movie. Ready? Go!

Not ready? Does the thought of pitching your story to a complete stranger in only 60 seconds terrify you? Then the Writers Store and StoryLink have an event for you!

On January 17th, the Writers Store will host Pitch Coaching and Pitch Filming: An Evening with Pilar Alessandra. Pilar will be your coach and guide in this informative, interactive event that preps you on how to make your best one-minute pitch. After pitching your story to Pilar and receiving her expert feedback, you can film your pitch at the Writers Store and upload it to Pitch Perfect—where Industry Professionals can view your pitch 24 hours a day.

Pilar Alessandra has worked for Dreamworks, ImageMovers and Radar Pictures as a story analyst and script consultant, and has trained writers and analysts at Nickelodeon, MTV, and ABC/Disney. Take advantage of her expertise while posting your polished pitch on Pitch Perfect.

I hope to meet many of you there, and I look forward to hearing some great pitches!

December 27, 2007 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Contest Deadlines Approaching

The clock is ticking! Put your fingers to the keys this holiday season and hit 2008 with a running start. We have some great Contests posted that are awaiting your work, and I want to alert you to some approaching deadlines:

• The International Family Film Festival deadline for short and feature-length scripts is January 10, 2008. Short scripts range from 1-44 pages, and feature-length scripts are 45-120 pages. Winners receive production software and a certificate—a great boost to any writer’s resume, and, of course, bragging rights.

• Another quickly approaching deadline is for the Big Bear Lake International Film Festival & Screenplay Competition. The early bird deadline is January 30th, so save yourself some money and finish that script! There are later submission dates, so don’t give up on the Big Bear Lake festival is you find yourself working on the same script in February.

• Also, the 2007 StoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest begins accepting submissions on New Year’s Eve. The final deadline comes at the end of March 2008, and the contest is sponsored by Movie Magic Screenwriter, among other industry staples. The 2007 StoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest offers more than $10,000 in cash and prizes for the best scripts. Good luck to all contestants, and don’t be shy about sharing your winnings with your Community Leader!

These deadlines may help keep your writing through the holiday season. Keep checking the Events and Contests for all the latest happenings around StoryLink and the screenwriting world at large. Merry Christmas to all and keep those questions coming!

December 20, 2007 11:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Enroll for Writing Courses before the New Year

With the end of 2007 quickly approaching, I am making my New Year’s resolutions. A bigger commitment to writing is once again at the top of my list. But how I can start 2008 on a path that will lead to a committed writing year?

One way to kick-start my year is to take a writing course, so I have enrolled in a Gotham Writers’ Workshop online course that starts on January 9th. I’ll be writing, reading, critiquing works, and getting others’ feedback in this 10-week course that should give me the momentum I’ll need to carry me through 2008.

If you are looking for a more manageable course load, I suggest the four-week courses offered by the Writers University. These online courses offer instruction in many screenwriting areas, from screenwriting basics and pitching, to selling your script and writing for television.

So along with exercising, eating healthier, quitting smoking and cleaning out the garage, start your writing year on the right foot and enroll in a writing class. Now is a great time to reserve your place before these courses fill up. Along with the links above, you can visit the Events page for upcoming classes.

November 30, 2007 4:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Holiday Haircuts

I got my hair cut last weekend by Roxeanne, a San Fernando Valley Super Cuts wizard that doubles as my conscience. I see her every four weeks and when I leave with less hair I always feel filled up, rejuvenated. Roxeanne talks about music and art and politics and I barely get in a word. She cracks jokes and cuts and cuts and cuts. She asks about my family and she updates me about her husband. Each haircut feels like a lunch with an old friend.

Roxeanne asked me what I was doing for Thanksgiving, and I told her the usual--spending the day at my parents' house with my brothers, watching football in the morning, eating until I can't breathe in the afternoon. Then Roxeanne told me her Thanksgiving plans. "I'm going to be at the Santa Monica Civic Auditorium giving haircuts to the homeless," she said without a whisper of self-righteousness. "We feed about 5,000 people and give them haircuts and medical supplies."

She continued clipping my hair and asked how my writing was coming. Most days I would complain about how my story wasn't going anywhere, or how frustrated I was with my characters, but I sat in the chair with my conscience pushing me to the ground. How can I complain about writing when there are people like Roxeanne in the world who spend their Thanksgiving helping people in need, people who would love to trade their problems for mine? What a blessing it is to have the time and the means to write.

Tomorrow I'll be with my family, and that is a blessing itself, but the least I can do is let others know about what Roxeanne is doing. If you are interested in helping this cause, the information is posted below.

Westside Thanksgiving Celebration
Santa Monica Civic Auditorium
1855 Main St., Santa Monica
November 22, 2007 11:00 am - 3:00 pm

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy your writing.

November 21, 2007 2:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | Add Comment

Pitch Perfect, StoryLink Member Sells Script

Some of you have been wondering about the new Pitch Perfect link at the top of your screen. If you haven’t checked it out, hit the Pitch Perfect link and read about our newest StoryLink feature.

Pitch Perfect lets you record your movie pitch with a webcam and post it in a secure area of the site, where only Industry Professionals (that we select) can view your pitch. These Industry Pros will search within the particular genres they are interested in, and your pitch will pop up when your story matches their needs. Also, you will be able to see who has viewed your pitch.

You can get your script working for you twenty-four hours a day while promoting yourself during the strike. You won’t be able to sign a deal during the strike, but you can make contacts and get people interested in your script.

Type in the code ‘EXPO’ to start a 90-day subscription to Pitch Perfect for FREE.

In other news, I want to congratulate our own Anthony Grieco for selling his script Hurt. You can read Anthony’s latest blog for the whole story. Anthony’s persistence and success should motivate any writer to keep writing.

One more reminder that John Truby’s launch party for his long-awaited book, The Anatomy of Story, is this Saturday. The script guru will dispense important advice for all writers about creating the best story possible. You should take advantage of this chance to gain some knowledge and inspiration for the upcoming holiday weekend.

Keep your emails coming and I’ll see you around StoryLink.

November 15, 2007 3:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | Add Comment