Screenwriting Blog
Ruminations about screenwriting, movies, Hollywood, and the Seattle filmmaking scene by NWSG President, Aadip Desai
April 2008:
I just got back from dinner with Troy Hunter, writing partner with Geoff Hunter and former Guild member. We covered a lot of ground. We talked about what it's like to take meetings with the big boys, what winning the Austin Film Festival can do for you and what the Writer's Strike can take away, reading comic books (not graphic novels) as adults, writing treatments for the ultra-famous, our mutual crush on Wonder Woman (aka Linda Carter, who was my uncle's neighbor at one time), and why Santa Monica is the only place to live in LA (close to LAX and Culver City, beach, fresh air, walk to stuff, etc). So, basically we were just a couple of Seattle writers dorking out for a couple of hours.
April 20, 2008 - Long Time No Bloggy
As many of you know we've been positively slammed over at the ol' NWSG. Planning for our spring/summer program has been exhausting, but extremely rewarding. I'm learning the art and science of delegation instead of taking on too much. Damn Virgos, always overextending ourselves.
We just hosted the Way of Story Workshop with Catherine Ann Jones. What a wonderful event! 15 writers showed up and tackled their inner fears, wrote from the perspective of their heroes, and many other timed writing exercises that stretched our brains and our hearts. I was tired but invigorated by the workshop and Catherine's obvious mastery of story. We're considering bringing her back to do an Acting for Writers Workshop.
She strongly suggested we all read "Respect
for Acting" by Uta Hagen.
I picked up a copy and can already see the benefit
of learning how real actors will approach possible roles that we write for
them.
On Wednesaday, I was invited by Lacey Leavitt of IFP to speak on behalf of the Guild at the SIFF Screenwriters Salon at 911 Media Arts. I accompanied Geoff Miller (co-founder of NWSG back in the day) and his writing partner/former student, Troy Hunter. We had a grand time, often derailing all serious conversation by creating elegantly hideous pitches together. We covered topics like loglines, elevator pitches, meeting preparation, what to pitch, research, crafting your pitch, Screenwriting Expo, etc. We were told that this was the most entertainment Screenwriters Salon so far, which is high praise. I hope everybody enjoyed themselves. We even got some members out of it!
Next up is Marilyn Atlas in about two weeks. I'll be interviewing her on Friday, May 2nd (Clear Channel), and then she'll be conducting a two-part workshop on Saturday (NWFF). Sunday, she'll be taking pitches from Compendium Members (Sorrento Hotel), so get your scripts in. This is not to be missed. Not only does Marilyn love writers, but she wants to spend a lot of time gettting to know our members individually. So there will be several opportunities to network with her and make a personal connection.
What else, oh yeah we're in the hot and heavy of screenwriting competition season. Here are some upcoming deadlines:
- Apr 22 - Scriptapalooza
- April 30 (late) PAGE Int'l
- May 1 (regular) /May 8 (late) - WA State Screenplay Competition
- May 1 - Script PIMP
- May 1 - Nicholl Fellowship
- May 1 - Sundance Institute
- May 15 (normal) / June 1 (late) / - Austin Film Festival