Screenwriting Blog
Ruminations about screenwriting, movies, Hollywood, and the Seattle filmmaking scene by NWSG President, Aadip Desai
October 2007:
Hey guys, this just in from Variety. As we know, the TV season is what will suffer most because of a strike. Too bad many of the new fall shows and several returning shows have not really held up. There is almost nothing to watch, although Big Bang Theory, Pushing Daisies, and Bionic Woman seem like strong additions to the prime-time lineup.
Have a safe and happy Halloween. Looking for a scary movie, I suggest the remake of The Hills of Eyes 1 and its sequel. The graphic novel prequel is also very cool.
I've heard from a few Expo-goers. It sounds like we have names of some prospective speakers, and NWSGs cripts have gone out to companies as a result of pitch meetings. Good luck!
For those of you going to the Screenwriter's Expo (24-28), you represent the Guild.
In that regard, please don't be shy. Get contact information from any speakers you liked or thought would be great to bring up here.
Here are some tips to stay sane at the Expo:
General:
- Bring snacks so you don't have to spend a ton of money at the hotel feeding yourself.
- Bring a ton of business cards.
- Bring a lot of paper and pens. I ran out a ton last year. Didn't even use my laptop to take notes.
Pitching:
- The atmosphere is very hectic because everyone else's nervous energy will permeate the hallways. People will be especially nervous because of the impending Strike. Right now agents are being asked by studios NOT to submit pitches or scripts.
- Don't dress like you are going on a job interview (no suits). Clothes should be clean, comfortable, and more on the casual side, but not sloppy.
- Take a deep breath, practice your pitch, and make sure you have a one-sheet leave-behind. List your Logline/Pitch, break out each Act with a short description, include the Climax and Resolution, Main Male and Female Leads (with possible casting ideas), and your Contact Information.
- Don't feel compelled to fill up all the time by going on-and-on about your story. Hit them with your pitch (30 seconds-1 minute), and hope they ask questions.
- Practice getting your pitch into a conversational tone, and make sure you give them the title, the genre (fish-out-of-water comedy, a revenge story, etc.), and bring note cards so if you get nervous/confused, you can refer to it.
- In some cases you'll get a "What else you got?" Have another script/story idea that you're ready to pitch.
- DO NOT.... DO NOT bring props like a musical instrument, stuffed animals/puppets, t-shirts with your movie's logo on it, etc.
- Remember that most of the people you will pitch to don't want to be there. You'll get some 20-year-old with no experience listening to your pitch. Don't take it personally if they reject it outright. They know less than you.
Classes:
- Take advantage of the interviews and panels with working writers. You will learn volumes from their trials and tribulations.
Get there really early for the big names, though. Last year we couldn't get in to see Oliver Stone and we got there over an hour ahead of time.
- Don't worry about the arbitrary designations for attending the Advanced and Pro seminars. If it interests you, go. People in the Guild tend to be far more experienced and prepared than most of the people who attend Expo.
- Take at least one course on the film market/industry. For those of us outside of LA, it is important to stay connected to what's going on.
October 20th, 2007 - WGA Strike Vote Approved (90%)
Hi Everyone. I know there's one question that's keeping many of us up at night, "Is there going to be a WGA strike?"
We can only guess what is going to happen, but the WGA writers came out in droves and voted 90% for the strike authorization vote (SAV). According to several of our Hollywood sources, the strike is supposed to start on November 1st, and could last as long as eight months.
Usually during a strike, all production ceases, no properties (scripts) get optioned, the TV season can be significantly delayed, and all the writers who were already working with WGA signatories will crank out their "if only I had more time" pieces. Those of us who are trying to break in will be up against these guys and gals when the strike ends.
How do we get around this? Well, we really can't. I just encourage everybody to enter the screenplay competitions, write as much as we can, refine our structure, hone our pitches, and hibernate. The good news is that maybe writers will get treated better if many of the WGA demands are ratified.
Check out the following sites for daily updates on the strike:
The Artful Writer
WGA West
Variety
October 15th, 2007 - Formatting and Parking
Anyone else exhausted from the past weekend? I know I am. But, I am excited about applying Hauge's theories on character, especially the discussion about identity vs. essence.
A couple of things:
1. FORMATTING: I want to allay your fears that you may be formatting incorrectly after Hauge's assessment of our scripts. He mentioned using David Trottier's book, The Screenwriter's Bible, which Wally and I did. After further review in Book III: Proper Formatting Technique, we found it is okay to use Master Scene headings with mini-slugs when moving room to room or location to location within a master location. You don't have to create a new Master Scene heading if you are in the same building/location. For example:
INT. RICK'S PLACE - NIGHT
Blah blah blah.
AT THE BAR
Blah blah blah.
IN THE GAMING ROOM
Blah blah blah.
2. PARKING: We've lost our parking privileges at the CTI Lot, one block north of Clear Channel. This is an unfortunate turn of events, but I wanted everyone to be aware that we are working on a solution. In the interim, I urge people to carpool, take the bus, ride their bikes, or take a cab. There is some street parking nearby, up in Queen Anne and on the street.
October 12th/13th, 2007 - Full House
I just got home from tonight's well-attended meeting starring the ovo-lacto Michael Hauge. After playing the opening clips from Brokeback Mountain and Wedding Crashers, he covered a lot of ground regarding openings, developing your hero, how to ask a question properly, and common mistakes that screenwriters make, including improper formatting and WAY too much dialogue.
By the way, I offered up some pages from my brand-new script (concept tested in the BSBS workshop), which will have some key mistakes in it, so you guys better have some examples of how I screwed up. Consider it payback for those of you whose scripts I've ripped with a red pen.
My favorite Hauge gems of the night were, "Nobody likes to be grabbed, they want to be seduced in the first ten pages" and "When anyone in the industry reads your screenplay, they are doing it under duress."
I'm pretty exhausted, but pleased that we now have 97 active NWSG members. NINETY-SEVEN. Go out and recruit three friends! Thanks to Diane for gatekeeping, Deb and Judy for bringing refreshments, Wally for getting Hauge up here, and Betty and Mark for being good company/good sports. If I forgot anyone, forgive me.
Saturday's workshop will have 46 attendees, with a tentative schedule as follows:
- Overall Structure
- Character arc and transformation
- Love stories
- Lunch break
- Pitching
- Exercises: Loglines
- Trash Mark and Aadip's scripts
- Coach Pitches / Q&A
October 7th, 2007 - Holy Sheet & Story Master
Just got back from Blake Snyder's Beat Sheet Workshop at the Freehold Theatre. All twelve of us (9 NWSG Members, including a founding member/ex-Guild President) started with either a germ of in idea, a concept, or even a solid premise for three separate stories. We pitched them to the group and together we chose the strongest piece for each writer.
Every one of us walked away with a completed BSBS with 15 major plot points, and the nerve-wracking experience of pitching our stories numerous times and having them broken down. Those of you who are attending Blake's sold out workshop in two weeks, you are in for a real treat. Those who missed out on both opportunities, Blake said he's coming back to see us soon, possibly to do his 40 scene workshop and to buy a condo. The guy is crazy for Seattle and our rain! He was hopping up and down in the classroom while it poured outside. Blake, I'll trade you some Beverly Hills sunshine for our early winter and non-summer.
What does the NWSG have next in store? Nobody should miss this opportunity - an entire weekend with Story Master, Michael Hauge, uber consultant, celebrated author, and in-demand lecturer. I've been reading "Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds," which is a tight piece of writing with instant tips on getting your pitches into shape. I am eager to spend another weekend digging deep into the screenwriting craft with a guy who has worked with some of the best in Hollywood. Remember to bring your pitches and story ideas to the workshop. For those of you going to CS Screenwriting Expo (Oct. 24-28) to pitch, this will be nice preparation. Good luck to everyone who is going to the Austin Film Festival (Oct 11-18). Finally, Scriptapalooza will start taking applications November 1st.
October 5th, 2007 - Catherine Ann Jones: The Way Of Story
I just met with the delightful Catherine Ann Jones. She is in town for her Way Of Story workshop in Edmonds and a book signing in U-District. My favorite story is when she heard Indian music for the first time - at her marriage to Raja Rao in Paris, with non other than Ravi Shankar playing during the reception. She'd love to come up this April and do a whole weekend workshop with us, just in time for The May/June competition season: Sundance, Nicholl Fellowship, Zoetrope, Slamdance, Shriekfest, Austin (screenplay competition), I.S.A., PAGE, Disney Fellowship, and the Expo competition opening.
Way of Story may appear as a deceptively simple memoir/manual, but it is not. Catherine rockets you into the essentials of craft, as well as urging you to dig deep into yourself and transmit your emotions to the page, and the story. Few books simultaneously pay equal attention to both the architecture AND the soul of the story. Finally, I think the book offers gems to both novice and experienced writers, including advice and a bounty of challenging exercises to get the ideas out of your head and onto the page. I wish I'd had this book when I started!
October 4th, 2007 - Seventy-Five is the New Fifty
A quick apology regarding the Michael Hauge Workshop.
I sent some incorrect pricing information out and caused some confusion.
The workshop is in fact $75 for NWSG Members, NOT $50. So far we have 19 registrants, so there is plenty of room left.
But, please register ASAP so we can prepare for this event.