StoryLink > Articles > eZines > September 2009
StoryLink eZine - September 2009
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This month's featured screenwriter is Rob Kutner, a four-time Emmy-winner for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, and a nominee again this year. Kutner, now a writer for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, answers questions from the StoryLink community on the craft, writing comedy, and more. Horror screenwriter Jeffrey Reddick, Final Destination, will be answering questions in the October eZine. We've also tapped top screenwriting expert Syd Field to discuss how screenwriting has changed and where it's headed in the future. Plus, William Akers, author of Your Screenplay Sucks!, suggests ways to get back into the writing groove after the long, hot summer. This issue features a new slate of Writers University classes, fabulous live workshops, events, contests, StoryLink Community News, and more. Keep your dream alive. Keep writing! Debra Eckerling |
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This ezine is sponsored by
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StoryLink is thrilled to have comedy writer Rob Kutner, an Emmy nominee this year for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, as our Featured Screenwriter for September. A four-time Emmy winner, Kutner now writes for The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. He contributed to the bestseller America (The Book) and is the author of the satirical end-of-times bestseller Apocalypse How: Turn the End Times into the Best of Times! Other writing includes HBO's Dennis Miller Live, as well as pieces for the Washington Post, New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Esquire, and Maxim. For those in the Los Angeles area, Kutner will be part of the Writers Guild of America West and Writers Guild Foundation's annual event on September 10th: Sublime Primetime, where a selection of the year's best television writers for a lively discussion of their craft, nominated projects, and the business of writing for television. In celebration of Emmy season, Kutner answered 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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If school's in session, Halloween cannot be far behind! StoryLink's October Featured Screenwriter is Jeffrey Reddick, who launched the Final Destination franchise. Reddick got his start in the film industry by interning at New Line Cinema when he was 19. He parlayed that into a full time job and worked at the studio for more than 11 years. While at New Line, the studio bought his pitch for Final Destination and hired him to write the first draft. The film earned over $100 Million at the worldwide box office. Final Destination 2, for which Reddick co-wrote the story - and executive produced - was released in 2003 and also crossed the $100 million mark worldwide. With the release of two additional sequels, the rest is thriller history. Reddick's love of the genre is evident in the 12 scripts he has sold or written for various studios and productions companies. Currently, he has a supernatural thriller, Dead Awake, set up at Gold Circle Films; urban horror film, The Pool, at Regent Entertainment, and a supernatural project at Valhalla Motion Pictures. In addition, Reddick is preparing to make his directorial debut with the supernatural thriller The Final Reel, which is based on a script he wrote. Post a Question for Jeffrey Reddick in the StoryLink Forum by September 28. If your question is chosen, receive The Dialogue: Learning from the Masters DVD (Winner's Choice) from The Writers Store. Post your question today! |
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One of the most sought-after screenwriting instructors today, Syd Field imparts his knowledge in a wide array of books, DVDs, and seminars. Syd will be teaching an all-new seminar entitled, "Mastering the Craft of Screenwriting," taking place September 21, 22, 28, and 29 from 7:00 to 10:00 pm, at The Writers Store. Come to just an individual day or buy all four classes at a special savings. In this article - Evolution/Revolution - Field talks about how films being released now commonly use the elements of a multimedia presentation, which is the mark of a new style of screenwriting. Writers are also employing the tools of the novelist, like point of view, memory, and voice over narration, that has changed the look of the contemporary screenplay. In all my screenwriting courses and workshops around the world, I've read thousands and thousands of screenplays. Exactly how many, I really don't know. I lost count many years ago. But no matter what country or city I happen to be in, I am usually asked the same question over and over again: what do I find be the biggest and most common problem of screenwriters? Well, there are many, of course: lack of the main character's dramatic need; structural weakness in the second act, lack of a strong ending, etc, etc. But the main problem I find is usually the same: most screenwriters tell their story in dialogue, in words, constantly explaining the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of the characters. Continue reading ... |
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Syd Field, the internationally celebrated author of eight books on screenwriting, brings his screenwriting knowledge to The Writers Store in Los Angeles for a special four-night stand! - Day One (9/21/09): Setting Up Character and Story - Day Two (9/22/09): Writing Great Scenes - Day Three (9/28/09): Writing Effective Dialogue - Day Four (9/29/09): Writing the Action Sequence Come to just an individual day or buy all four at a special savings. Each session to be followed by a Question and Answer period. For more information, check out the Event Page. |
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Robert McKee's Story Seminar - LA Conducted by: Robert McKee When: September 10th-13th - 9:00am-8:30pm Location: The Westin Hotel, Los Angeles Cost: $645.00 Sublime Primetime 2009 Conducted by: WGA, West & The Writers Guild Foundation When: September 10th - 7:30pm-9:00pm Location: WGA Theater, Los Angeles Cost: See website Basics & Beyond: Marketing through Blogging and Social Networking Conducted by: Debra Eckerling When: September 12th - 11:00am-1:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $49.95 Changing the World: One Story at a Time Conducted by: Writers Guild Foundation When: September 15th - 6:45pm-9:00pm Location: Writers Guild of America, West, Los Angeles Cost: See website |
Basics & Beyond: Screenwriting presented by Writers University Conducted by: Mario Moreno When: September 19th - 2:00pm-4:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $49.95 Syd Field's Mastering the Craft of Screenwriting Conducted by: Syd Field When: September 21st, 22nd, 28th & 29th - 7:00pm-10:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: See Website Ellen Sandler's Developing an Original TV Pilot One-Day Intensive Conducted by: Ellen Sandler When: September 26th - 10:00am-6:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $150.00 Film Independent's Filmmaker Forum Conducted by: Film Independent When: October 9th - October 11th Location: Directors Guild of America, Los Angeles Cost: See Website |
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Do you have an idea for a screenplay, but find yourself stuck before you even start? Do you have a good script that needs a little push in the right direction? Then it's time to look into customized Screenwriting Coaching from The Writers Store. The Story Specialists - The Writers Store's professionally-trained screenwriting coaches - provide customized guidance, based on your own screenwriting goals. They can take you from that first glimmer of an idea to a final draft, all while addressing your specific writing needs. The Story Specialists program includes: - A Personalized Assessment of your Project - A Project Path, Based on your Script Idea and Personal Goals - Weekly or Bi-weekly In-Person Sessions - Quality Feedback (written and verbal) For more information, call 800.272.8927 or stop by The Writers Store, 2040 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles. Local clients: We are offering a free 20-minute consultation with a Story Specialist, who will read and provide notes on your first ten pages in addition to a 20-minute in-person meeting regarding those notes. Those interested, please call the store; appointments are limited. |
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Beginning Television Writing with William Rabkin Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $149.95 Screenwriting Basics Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $49.95 How to Sell your Script with Evan Smith Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $149.95 |
Storytelling: How To Write Stories That Will Grab And Hold Your Audience Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $249.95 Writing Dialogue for Emotional Impact: Crafting Fresh Dialogue That Snaps, Crackles and Pops Off the Page Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $199.95 Writing the Screenplay Treatment Conducted by: Writers University When: September 14th - October 9th Location: Online Cost: $149.00 |
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William M. Akers, author of Your Screenplay Sucks! 100 Ways To Make It Great, has been paid to write for 20 years. A teacher at Vanderbilt University and a Lifetime member of the Writers Guild - three of his screenplays have been produced - Akers offers his expertise on restarting your writing engine. Question: "How can a writer get his groove back?" Answer: So, summer's over and you're finding it tough to climb back in the writing saddle? I feel your pain, even though your writer's pain is unique to you. I've got my own writer's pain, and getting back in the writing groove after, perhaps, an entire summer off, is something I understand. Oh boy, do I. Writing is hard. So too is coal-mining. With each one, you end up with a bad back, but at least with writing, you don't get Black Lung. The more I write, the more I understand the terrible rigor it entails. Continue reading ... |
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2009 Great Lakes Film Association Scriptwriting Competition Deadline September 26th, 2009 Write On! Online - September Challenge Deadline September 30th, 2009 Holiday Screenplay Contest Deadline October 31st, 2009 |
Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre Bob Lee Award for Comedy Contest Deadline November 15th, 2009 Free Screenplay Contest 2009/2010 Deadline November 30th, 2009 Fade In Awards Deadline November 30th, 2009 |
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Congratulations also to StoryLink Member No Restrictions Entertainment - the team behind the film One Hour Fantasy Girl, which was conceived, cast, marketed, and found distribution through online channels. The film, released last month on Amazon, is still a top-seller after 3 weeks, and is a HOT LIST item in New Releases on Amazon VOD. No Restrictions is in pre-production on their next film: The Magic Stone. Read an interview with screenwriter/director Edgar Michael Bravo here. Send your success story to StoryLink, so we can feature you in an upcoming eZine. |