StoryLink > Articles > eZines > November 2009
StoryLink eZine - November 2009
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Attention Twilight buffs, Dexter devotees, and Step Up fans! Melissa Rosenberg, who wrote the screenplays for Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series and is the head writer and producer of Showtime's Dexter, answers questions from the StoryLink Community. Also in this issue, High School Musical screenwriter Peter Barsocchini discusses writing for young adults - in the musical genre, no less - and how his experience in other areas led him to the franchise. Plus, animation screenwriter Brooks Wachtel (Clifford the Big Red Dog, X-Men) addresses writing for kids of all ages. Check out StoryLink's Community News for information on Screenwriting Pro, the innovative web-based screenwriting software developed by The Writers Store. There are also lots of listings for upcoming events and contests, as well as a Coming Soon section for Family Films in the November StoryLink eZine. Keep the dream alive. Keep writing! Debra Eckerling |
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We are thrilled to have Melissa Rosenberg as our November Featured Screenwriter. The head writer and producer for Showtime's Dexter, Rosenberg also wrote the screenplays for the Twilight series (from the novels penned by Stephenie Meyer). Dexter is currently in its fourth season. Twilight: New Moon, the second in the saga, opens November 20. Rosenberg launched her screenwriting career with the box-office smash Step Up, and has hours of TV credits, including Ally McBeal, Party of Five, Boston Public, The Outer Limits and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She earned her B.A. in dance and theatre from Bennington College in Vermont, with a goal toward becoming a choreographer. When she moved to Los Angeles, she pursued a different avenue: writing. Rosenberg, who says she approaches the blank page "with terror," believes it's essential for a writer to learn the craft of screenwriting. "Talent is one thing," she says, "but it's useless without craft. Take as many classes as you can, with as many different teachers as you can. Go to lectures by screenwriters, talk to screenwriters, create a writing group, and always, always keep writing and getting feedback. I'm still learning about the craft and don't plan to stop." Rosenberg shares more tips and discusses her writing process for both TV and film in her answers to queries 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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Kirk Jones, the StoryLink Featured Screenwriter for December, wrote and directed the surprise hit Waking Ned Devine. The film earned him a BAFTA nomination for Best Newcomer and a nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast at the SAG Awards. His latest film, Everybody's Fine, starring Robert De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell, opens December 4. A remake of Giuseppe Tornatore's road movie Stanno Tutti Bene, the film follows a widower who embarks on an impromptu road trip to reconnect with each of his grown children. To prepare for the film, Jones embarked on a three-week journey across the country, traveling on Greyhound buses, sleeping in cheap motels, and photographing everything before returning to the UK to write the film. Jones, who directed Nanny McPhee, adapted by actress Emma Thompson from Christianna Brand's novel, Nurse Matilda, is also an accomplished commercial director. Among his many awards, his campaign for Heinz earned him The Silver Lion at Cannes. Jones is currently developing another project for Robert De Niro through his company, Story Pictures. Post a Question for Kirk Jones in the StoryLink Forum by November 25. If your question is chosen, receive The Dialogue: Learning from the Masters DVD (Winner's Choice) from The Writers Store. Post your question here! |
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Disney is synonymous with family-friendly fare. And what could be more fun for the whole family than the Mouse House's High School Musical franchise? Peter Barsocchini, screenwriter for High School Musical 1, 2 and 3, shares with StoryLink his experiences writing the small and big screen trilogy. He also offers tips for writing in the family and musical genres, and much, much more. Barsocchini began his professional writing career while still attending high school in the San Francisco area, chronicling for newspapers the explosion of the American rock scene in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Upon graduating from the University of California, Santa Cruz, he went on to win two Emmy awards as a television producer, before transitioning into screenwriting. His first screenplay, the Action/Thriller Drop Zone, was produced by Paramount. Currently, Barsocchini is writing a major musical for DreamWorks Animation, collaborating with Tony Award-winning composer and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights); a coming-of-age story for Mandate Films, to be directed by Debbie Allen; a film about the mods and rockers of the 1960s for HBO; plus television pilots for Nickelodeon and Fremantle (American Idol). He is also consulting with the Disney Channel on High School Musical 4, which presents a new cast and will return to television. Read the article... |
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Jungle Software will be at The Writers Store in Los Angeles on Thursday, November 12, from 3 pm to 7 pm, to demo StoryO and answer your questions. StoryO is a new software tool for writers that takes story outlining and idea organization to a whole new level. Designed by writers for writers, StoryO allows you to outline your story in broad strokes, jot down raw notes and ideas, flesh out details and then put it all in story order when you're ready. Use StoryO's built-in story outline template or create your own outline topics and questions to suit different types of writing projects. Enter events, scenes, notes and ideas onto electronic index cards, then insert text, characters and images to add even more detail. Rearrange and attach the cards to timelines to develop the structure of your story. StoryO is a great tool for aspiring and professional writers, students, bloggers, journalists and technical writers. Go to the Event Listing for more information and to RSVP. Hope you can make it! |
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Basics & Beyond: Final Draft Training Conducted by: Mario Moreno When: November 7 - 2:00pm-4:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $49.95 John Truby's Secrets of Genre Seminar Conducted by: John Truby When: November 8 - 9:30am-5:30pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $79.00 Meet StoryO at The Writers Store Conducted by: Jungle Software When: November 12 - 3:00pm-7:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free |
Basics & Beyond: Marketing through Blogging and Social Networking Conducted by: Debra Eckerling When: November 14 - 11:00am-1:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $49.95 Plot Workshop with Martha Alderson Conducted by: Martha Alderson When: November 15 - 10:00am-5:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: $95.00 (until 11/10/09) An Evening with Movie Magic at The Writers Store Conducted by: Stephen Koncelik When: November 19 - 7:00pm-10:00pm Location: The Writers Store Cost: Free |
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Brooks Wachtel has written more than 100 episodes of dramatic television - with shows as diverse as Fox's live-action Young Hercules to such animated hits as PBS' acclaimed series Liberty's Kids, as well as top Saturday morning action shows, such as: Tutenstein (for which he won an Emmy award), Spider-Man, X-Men, Iron Man, Robo-Cop, Silver Surfer, The Avengers, Mortal Kombat, The Mask, Transformers, Godzilla, Gargoyles and more. For younger viewers, he has penned many episodes of the pre-school hit, Clifford the Big Red Dog. Wachtel is currently serving on the Steering Committee of the Animation Writers Caucus of the Writers Guild of America and teaches screenwriting a UCLA. Wachtel answers the question: "What specifics does a screenwriter need to know about writing for different age groups?" "Writing kids' television takes the same mastery of plot, structure, character, and dialogue as any good screenwriting," Wachtel explains, "but it also has its own rules and conventions. "The first thing to remember above all else is: Make it fun!" Read the article... |
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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 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 (both 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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Chaffin's Barn Dinner Theatre Bob Lee Award for Comedy Contest Deadline November 15, 2009 StoryPros 3rd Annual International Screenplay Contest Deadline November 30, 2009 Screenwriter Showcase Screenwriting Contest Deadline November 30, 2009 Free Screenplay Contest 2009/2010 Deadline November 30, 2009 Fade In Awards Deadline November 30, 2009 |
Write On! Online - November Challenge Deadline November 30, 2009 The Inkwell Opportunity Deadline December 15, 2009 L.A. Comedy Shorts Film Festival and Screenplay Competition Deadline December 18, 2009 Table Read My Screenplay - Screenplay Contest Deadline December 30, 2009 Dream Quest One Poetry & Writing Contest Deadline December 31, 2009 |
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StoryLink is thrilled to announce the launch of Screenwriting Pro! This web-based script-formatting solution, created by The Writers Store, was based on years of feedback from thousands of aspiring and professional screenwriters. Everything users have been asking for in a screenwriting program is here. From advanced outlining capabilities to convenient Internet access to practical account options, Screenwriting Pro sets a new standard for scriptwriting software. Take part in the Screenwriting Pro beta cycle, and earn six months free. For more information, visit ScreenwritingPro.com. For the latest Screenwriting Pro news, become their fan on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. *** Read an interview with screenwriters Mario Moreno and Anthony Grieco, authors of The Pocket Screenwriting Guide: 120 Tips for Getting to FADE OUT. The book, published by The Writers Store, is an incredible resource for writers of all levels. *** If you missed Film Independent's 5th Annual Filmmaker Forum in October, read the re-caps here. *** Send your success story to StoryLink, so we can feature you in an upcoming eZine. |
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Kids' Stuff Disney's A Christmas Carol Opening: November 6, 2009 Fantastic Mr. Fox Opening: November 20, 2009 Planet 51 Opening: November 20, 2009 |
Tweens & Teens The Twilight Saga: New Moon Opening: November 20, 2009 The Blind Side Opening: November 20, 2009 Old Dogs Opening: November 25, 2009 |