Friday, May 27, 2005  

The 2nd Annual New York PitchXchange

scr(i)pt magazine Presents:
The 2nd Annual New York PitchXchange

Last year, over 30 executives (agents, managers, producers) attended the Inaugural New York PitchXchange to hear five-minute pitches from over 500 aspiring and working screenwriters. Companies included Miramax Films, Dimension Films, MTV, Abrams Artist Agency, The Howard Stern Production Company and many others.

This year’s the event will topple last year’s. The first day offers a full-day seminar with Hollywood producer and “Pitch King” Robert Kosberg. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn from the master and participate in a Q&A session. The day wraps with Pitch Idol-- American Idol with a pitch.

On the second day, pitches will rain from the sky as writers pitch their best ideas, five minutes at a time. In between pitches writers will have the chance to attend one-hour classes on subjects ranging from “How to Writer a Query Letter” to “Writing a Great Opening.” Throughout the entire weekend, one-on-one pitch coaching will also be available in 15-minute sessions. Finally, writers and executives will party like rock-stars and have the chance to meet and mingle at out VIP Networking Party.

This year, we aim to create a sequel that surpasses the original. Our readers have responded and the turnout spoke for itself; East Coast writers must have a way to access Hollywood without traveling 3,000 miles! And, there is no better location than that of the East Coast’s finest film program--New York University.

This year’s event will take place over the weekend of June 10-11, 2005 and is sponsored by IFP, WGAe, Screenstyle, Drama Book Store, Cinewomen New York and Final Draft.

For more information click here: http://www.pitchxchange.com

Friday, May 20, 2005  

Screenplay :: Star Wars Episode 3: Revenge of the Sith

 Now that the movies out… care to read the screenplay? I was able to locate, what seems to be, an unformatted production script of STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH.


If you haven't gone to see the movie, don't read the screenplay. See the movie first, then read the script to notice any differences from page to screen. It's a great way for us amateur screenwriters to see how collaboration changes a project.

For new comers to this blog, refer to a previous article I wrote, "Watch The Flick & Read The Script", to learn more about movies and the scripts they are made from.



The STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH script is intended for educational purposes only.

I hope you enjoy this unique look at the movie.

The script is provided in PDF format. You must have Adobe Acrobat reader installed on your machine to view the script.

Click Here to view the STAR WARS EPISODE 3: REVENGE OF THE SITH Screenplay.

Thursday, May 19, 2005  

Learn To Write a Screenplay in Just Four Weeks

If you have an amazing idea for a movie, but don't know how to begin writing it, this self-paced online course is for you. Screenwriting Basics, the result of over 23 years of helping writers succeed, guides you from FADE IN to FADE OUT - for only $49. There's no easier way to learn the fundamentals of writing a page-turning script.

Session begins June 6th. Sign up today at http://WritersUniversity.com

This course and many others are brought to you by Writers University, a division of The Writers Store.

Intensive Seminar Program > You Lost it in the Second Act

"Rated BEST online Screenwriting Class" by Screenwriter's Monthly Magazine!

ISP is designed to offer maximum exposure for your screenplay. Our professional instructor will read and write an evaluation of your script. This evaluation will focus on your second act and any issues that need to be addressed. It's not writer's block, but second act issues that effect your ability to finish your screenplay! The instructor will provide proven strategies for second act success. There are several things that can be picked up on early in the writing process that will spell disaster as you try to punch through the second act and still maintain narrative trajectory. This is an 8 week program from start to finish and includes script evaluation (second act emphasis), rewriting, live instruction and training, and online readings. You will receive analysis, and then have 4 weeks to perform rewrites, during which you'll meet with instructor several times in live training sessions to discuss issues that arise.

You Got Close To Page 60 But... In general, there are five MAJOR reasons why you "Lost it in the Second Act."

1. Failure to outline your Dramatic Arc (This I cover in detail and show you where your script is going wrong and pinpoint early warning signs.)
2. No exit strategy for your second act (This is the bread and butter of the course. I will provide you with specific and proven strategies for properly setting up and getting through your second act.)
3. Overt awareness of screenplay structure (Seems like a simple thing but there are ways to manage your narrative and also increase tension and conflict without sacrificing tempo and beat.)
4. You took your eye off the ball (Doing more re-writing than writing? I'll help you avoid this with some helpful tips.)
5. Your desire to complete the story wanes (You lost the passion, why? We'll look at the dynamics of effective story selection and development.)

Who should take this class? Anyone who has one or more screenplay's they can't seem to finish; feels their completed screenplay is missing something, and/or feels overwhelmed after only 30+ pages of writing. You do not need a finished screenplay to take this ISP!

Cost: $375
Class size: 8 (Class size is limited to guarantee you plenty of one-on-one time with instructor!)

http://www.4screenwriters.com/ISP_Second_Act.html

Wednesday, May 18, 2005  

AAA Screenplay Contest

The AAA Contest ends June 1st. That's just 14 days away!

Call for Entries!
Breaking into the world of screenwriting is no easy task. Creative Screenwriting Magazine is proud to present the AAA Screenplay Contest, a chance for a few talented writers to take the next step in their writing career.

Access
The winning script and synopses for the top ten screenplays have been requested by 252 production companies and agencies including:

* A Band Apart
* Atlas Entertainment
* Beacon Pictures
* BenderSpink
* BET - Black Entertainment Television
* Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
* The Broder, Webb, Chervin, Silberman Agency
* Conundrum Entertainment
* David Foster Productions
* Davis Entertainment
* The Donner Company
* Endeavor
* Escape Artists
* The Gersh Agency
* Gunnfilms
* Guy Walks Into a Bar
* Hofflund/Polone Management
* International Creative Management
* Michael De Luca Productions
* New Line Cinema
* Paradigm
* Radar Pictures
* The Radmin Co.
* Regent Entertainment
* Section Eight
* Single Cell Pictures
* Spring Creek Pictures
* Weed Road Pictures
* Weintraub/Kuhn Productions
* VH1
* Winkler Films
* Zide/Perry

Plus over 230 additional agents, managers, and development executives. For an updated and complete list of companies, click here.

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.

Achievement
Prizes include $3,000 cash for the Grand Prize winner, plus the winning script mailed to over 100 agents, managers, and development executives who have requested it, screenwriting software, a subscription to Creative Screenwriting, and free admission to Screenwriting Expo 4. Second and third places receive $500 cash, free software, subscription, and admission. Plus the top ten have synopses for their scripts submitted to over 100 agents, managers, and producers who have requested them.

Submit your best work in any genre. Only $40 to enter.

Deadline: June 1, 2005.

For complete details, click here!

To submit your screenplay right now, click here!


Contact Information

email: info@creativescreenwriting.com
voice: (323) 957-1405
web: http://www.creativescreenwriting.com

Article: "Title Search"

Screenwriting Column 24
by Terry Rossio

A project isn't real until it has a title. Titles to avoid: 'PERFECT, the Legend of.' Don't help the reviewers along. Saying the title in the story. Lamenting the loss of the literary title.

Here's the cynical view:
At one point the movie business was a wide-open field, a culturally relevant popular art form that drew the most creative individuals of society, who challenged themselves to achieve ever-higher levels of expertise, always pushing the boundaries of the medium, pursuing excellence with artistic integrity and creating a new golden age of cinema.

That all ended around 1985.

continue article