StoryLink > Articles > eZines > May 2009
StoryLink eZine - May 2009
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This month's featured screenwriter is Peter Elkoff, writer/producer of The Education of Charlie Banks and ABC's Ugly Betty. Elkoff covers a range of StoryLink community questions, from "when is a project better for TV or film" to "do I have to live in New York or LA to make it as a TV writer?" Television experts William Rabkin and Ellen Sandler also weigh in on the industry. Rabkin explains how writers can incorporate innovation to get their writing noticed, while Sandler, author of The TV Writer's Workbook, answers the question: "How does someone get staffed on a TV show?" One of the largest pitch events of the year is just around the corner! Join us for StoryLink All-Stars Live at The Great American PitchFest on June 13, where courses are FREE for members of the StoryLink community. You can find full information on this and other exciting events, classes, contests, and our newest feature, "StoryLink: Community News," in this jam-packed eZine. Keep your dream alive! Keep writing! Debra Eckerling |
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Writer/producer Peter Elkoff (The Education of Charlie Banks, ABC's Ugly Betty) has worked in both film and television in Los Angeles for the past 15 years. Like most industry screenwriters, he believes consistently writing, reading, and observing are keys to keeping those creative chops going. "Write every day," Elkoff says. "Even if it's just a page-long description of the beautiful barista missing two fingers who made your latte this morning." "Eavesdrop on conversations in bars. Read great books. Read great screenplays. See great movies. Get notes from people whose work you respect. Rewrite until you're sure you can't make it any better." Elkoff is a proponent of writing stories that matter. "Don't write what you think will sell," he explains. "I know that might sound counter-intuitive to someone who wants to "make it" in the business, but when you write something that really means something to you, readers feel that. Actors, too, if you're lucky enough to get to casting. And as a writer you are compelled to fight through those difficult sections - for me always mid-second act of a feature - because there is more than just money driving you." Elkoff offers more insight into writing for television and film, as he answers questions from the StoryLink Community. Those whose questions were chosen will receive a The Dialogue: Learning from the Masters DVD (Winner's Choice) from The Writers Store. Read the article... |
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William Rabkin started writing for television 20 years ago. He wrote a spec, sold it to Spenser: For Hire, and has been working ever since. Rabkin has been a freelancer, a showrunner, and everything in between, and currently teaches TV writing at Writers University and screenwriting at University of California Riverside - Palm Desert's creative writing MFA program. Rabkin's suggestion for getting work in TV: Write a script that is so spectacular, it has to get noticed! Read the article ... |
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StoryLink is proud to once again present our acclaimed (and 100% FREE) event, StoryLink All-Stars Live at The Great American PitchFest, June 13th and 14th, at the Marriott Hotel & Convention Center in Burbank, CA. These classes, conceived in partnership with The Great American PitchFest, who shares our mission of helping screenwriters advance their craft and their careers, are presented in the interest of developing strong writers and to further the screenwriting craft. On Saturday, June 13, take FREE classes with: - Pilar Alessandra, On the Page - Michael Hauge, Author, Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds - Dara Marks, Author, Inside Story - Ellen Sandler, Emmy Nominee & Co-Exec Producer, Everybody Loves Raymond - Blake Snyder, Screenwriter & Author, Save The Cat and Save The Cat Goes To The Movies - Chris Soth, Million Dollar Screenwriting & Hollywood By Phone - Kathie Fong Yoneda, Former Disney Exec & Author, The Script Selling Game - Julie Gray, Founder & Director, The Script Department - And many more! To register for a free class, please visit the StoryLink All-Stars Event Page. Please note that all classes are available on a "first come, first seated" basis and tend to fill up quickly. However, participants who have also registered for The Great American PitchFest are guaranteed seating in all classes. For more information and to register for The Great American PitchFest, please click here. See you there! |
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Movie Speak with Tony Bill, Academy Award-Winning Producer Conducted by: Tony Bill When: May 23th - 11:00am-12:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free Basics & Beyond: FrameForge 3D Studio 2 Training Conducted by: Jeff Stoltzfus When: May 23th - 2:00pm-4:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $39.95 The Write Environment: Interview with Jay Kogan (Simpsons, Frasier, Malcolm in the Middle) Conducted by: Jeffrey Berman When: May 28th - 7:00pm-8:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free Basics & Beyond: Writing for the Action Genre Conducted by: Thia Montroy When: May 30th - 11:00am-1:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $49.95 |
You Can Act! with D.W. Brown Conducted by: D.W. Brown When: May 30th - 2:00pm-3:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free 8 Characters of Comedy with Scott Sedita Conducted by: Scott Sedita When: June 6th - 11:00am-12:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free The Great American PitchFest 6 Conducted by: Signe Olynyk When: June 13th & June 14th Location: Marriott Burbank Hotel/Convention Center Cost: See Website StoryLink All-Stars Day at the Great American PitchFest 6 Conducted by: StoryLink When: June 13th - 9:00am-6:00pm Location: Marriott Burbank Hotel/Convention Center Cost: FREE for StoryLink Members |
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Ellen Sandler, author of The TV Writers Workbook, believes the way to get work as a staff writer in television is to write, hone your craft, and keep writing. Producing more writing is not just a way to improve, she says, it's practice for the writing life you want. Sandler received an Emmy nomination as a Co-Executive Producer of the CBS hit Everybody Loves Raymond, and has created original pilots for ABC, CBS, NBC, Fox, and Disney Channel, among others. She will be speaking at StoryLink All-Stars at the Great American PitchFest on June 13. Read the article ... |
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The first step in getting your project noticed is to have a dazzling and informative query. Enter the Write On! Online/The Write Environment Query Contest by June 22. The winner in each category - Screenplay, Teleplay, Fiction, and Non-Fiction - will have their query read by a literary agent, among other prizes. Write On! Online and The Write Environment are pleased to join forces for this contest, designed to help writers jump-start their careers. Sponsors include The Writers Store, iScript, Blake Snyder and Save the Cat, and more. Click here for details. Submit your query today! |
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The 2009 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards Deadline May 15th, 2009 Cowrite: In Association with Benderspink Deadline May 20th, 2009 The 16th Annual Writers Network Screenplay & Fiction Competition Deadline May 31st, 2009 Austin Film Festival Screenplay and Teleplay Competition Deadline June 1st, 2009 |
StoryPros Awards Screenplay Contest Deadline June 15th, 2009 Big Break Contest Deadline June 15th, 2009 FOX-NYTVF Comedy Script Contest Deadline June 15th, 2009 10th Annual Cynosure Screenwriting Awards Deadline June 27th, 2009 Write On! Online/The Write Environment Query Contest Deadline June 30th, 2009 |
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Congratulations to screenwriter and StoryLink Community member Benjamin Ray. Benjamin's short script - Bring on the Pain - was optioned and made into a short film. Watch it at www.resolvefilms.com. If you have news to share in the next eZine, send a message to me. |