Sealed Fates Gets an IMDB Page

Joe Ripple, our director, announced this week that the page is up. You can find the link here. I guess that means I'm officially a produced screenwriter. Yay!

It's also great to now formally be listed as a film editor and cinematographer. We all wear a lot of hats.

There are still more credits that need to be added, and a lot more detail about the film, but it'll get there. Plus I'm hoping we get promotion going in 2011.

imdb, filmmaking, screenwriting

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The Artful Writer Takes Screenwriting Consultants to Task

Craig Mazin, a working screenwriter, had some interesting comments about paying for a screenwriting consultant, or buying a book written by one of the so-called screenwriting gurus. He makes some good points, and I think his heart is in the right place. But not every reader agrees. There's a heated discussion in the comments section. Whether you agree with him or with one of the readers, that post is well worth checking out.

Personally, I've read quite a few screenwriting books, and I believe there is some value in them, but you can't expect to read books and become a career screenwriter. And Mazin is definitely right when he says,

"You’re far better off reading screenplays (lots of places on the internet to do that) and watching movies."

But I do like to read books, and as Terry Rossio put it in comment #22, 

"You might have overlooked one of the main reason why many people buy screenwriting books, from authors who don’t actually write screenplays.

Procrastination."

Read the post here.

screenwriting

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60 Best Blogs for Aspiring Screenwriters

Image via Wikipedia

http://www.bachelorsdegree.org has posted links to some great screenwriting and filmmaking sites. Check it out here.

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Celtx 1.0 Now Available

I've been following the Celtx software for some time. I currently use Final Draft for screenwriting, but I have a soft spot for free/open source projects.

Celtx has now released their version 1.0, which usually means it's ready for prime time. I can't say for certain that is true, but they have tweaked a lot of their features and added some new ones. I'm personally interested in the production tools: call sheets, prop lists, storyboard organization, etc.  I plan to try out the production features on our upcoming project. I'll post my results.

Horrorfind March 2008

Last weekend was Horrorfind Weekend.

As always, Timewarp Films had a table and we were hawking our films. It was nice to actually have a new one to offer. We weren't able to get copies of Dead Hunt for last August's show.

We shared space with our sister organization, Scares that Care (also run by Joe Ripple, our director). It really stole the show. We raffled off Ichabod, a creepy looking head on a stick, and conducted a silent auction--all for charity. It was a great success! We took in over $2000.

I spent most of the weekend hiding behind my laptop. I was updating a script for submission to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition. But I did pop my head up every once in a while to chat with fellow filmmakers, fans of Don Dohler and Timewarp Films (always a pleasure to speak with people that like your stuff), and, of course, the other Timewarpers helping out: Stewie, Rob (pictured; right), Zig, Colleen, Leanna (pictured; center), Eric, and the man himself, Joe Ripple.

Overall it was great fun. Unfortunately, the turnout wasn't what they hoped for. But this was the first time in a new location, and March doesn't bring out the fans like August does.

One highlight for me was getting to meet George Romero (pictured below). As a low-budget filmmaker, getting to meet a legend in the field is a real treat. He was taller than I expected, and a great guy to talk to. We shared our opinions on filmmaking, and he told me his favorite of his own films is Martin, a film I've wanted to see since watching Document of the Dead. Needless to say, I jumped on Amazon when I got home and ordered a copy.

Here's a pic of the table. The barely visible Zig is behind the TV, Stewie is filming Rob taking the picture -- exciting footage, it must be -- and that's me in the center, face buried.

Colleen, Leanna, and Eric pose to promote Dead Hunt.

And finally, a bunch of us went to the local Outback on Saturday to celebrate my wife's birthday.

A very busy and tiring weekend, but a fun one.

Thanks to Rob and Stewie for the pictures.

Murder Unscripted

This has to be the best strike video yet. Some of the best actors on TV, from Law & Order and Homicide, try and figure out what happened to a dead woman in a library--but they don't have a script. It's hilarious! Big thumbs up to the famous faces that are standing by the writers.

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/u_igKSYspPs" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

I'm a Semi-Finalist in Screenplay Festival

Two out of three ain't bad.

I was elated when I heard I placed in Red Inkworks. It takes a lot of work to write a feature-length screenplay, and I can't think of a better way to gage one's writing ability than becoming a finalist in a contest (other than an option deal, I guess). Plus, the feedback they offered was excellent.

And today Screenplay Festival announced their semi-finalists, and there I was in the Horror/Thriller category. Boy, that felt good. Of course there are about fifty screenplays in each genre, so the competition is pretty stiff, but I'm hopeful.

My plan is to enter one more contest with this script before possibly starting to query production companies and/or agents. Placing in two out of three contests has given me some confidence, and I feel the changes I've been making to the script have greatly improved it. So it seems the time is approaching (after the strike, of course) when I need to get out there and build some interest. I do, however, plan to research the dos and don'ts of querying before navigating those treacherous waters.

By the way, the final contest I plan to enter is the Bluecat Screenplay Competition. Its early deadline is Jan 1, and I should be finished tweaking by then. Bluecat is not only high profile, it offers coverage to all entrants, and a hefty cash prize.

Three out of four would be awesome!

Horror Writers Exorcise Studio Demons

WGA horror writers chime in with a genre-themed video about the strike. It's cute, and you get to see who wrote some of your favorite horror flicks.
[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/kl2f8Duqdyw" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Not the Daily Show

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/PzRHlpEmr0w" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

Here's another great video about the WGA strike. This one was created by writers of the Daily Show. It's hilarious! And there's a special guest near the end.

Compelling Argument for Why Writers are on Strike

[kml_flashembed movie="http://www.youtube.com/v/8a37uqd5vTw" width="425" height="350" wmode="transparent" /]

I have no stake in the outcome of the WGA strike, other than as a viewer of course. But this video does make a strong case for the writers.

Script Cops

What cha gonna do when they come for you? Drop your script and run like hell.

John August posted these links on his blog. Any aspiring screenwriter should get a kick out of these short films.

Script Cops, Ep1: Dom

Script Cops, Ep 2: McK

Script Cops, Ep 3: Traf

Proud Finalist in the Red Inkworks Screenplay Competition

As I mentioned in a previous post, I entered a few contests to see how my first feature-length screenplay would fare against other aspiring screenwriters. Well, I'm happy to say that I was selected as a top-50 finalist (27th to be exact) in the Red Inkworks competition, the second contest I entered. Woohoo! :yay:

As a result, my script's title and logline¹ will be posted on their Web site, and will also be e-mailed to various industry professionals, who may be interested in reading the script.

So, does this mean agents, managers, and producers will be beating down my door? That would be cool, but I have no illusions. I mean, I hope someone sees the listing and finds my story intriguing enough to contact me. But I doubt it'll be that easy. This is merely the first step in a long process. Albeit, an important step for my confidence.

One reason I entered this contest in particular, besides the fact that it's well reviewed on MovieBytes, is the feedback they provide. I found it very insightful, and was happy the suggestions were for minor changes only.

Folks, the notes alone were worth the entry fee. I highly recommend this contest for any new screenwriter who wants an objective opinion on his or her script--with the added benefit of possibly being exposed to "the industry".

¹A logline is a brief description of a script, usually 1-3 sentences, that is often used as a calling card. Loglines are harder to write then they may seem, but can be invaluable in conveying the gist of the story.

More Great Blogs for Writers

Here are a few blogs I failed to mention in my previous post, Great Blogs for Writers.

Scriptwriting - Oscar-nominated Roger S. H. Schulman shares knowledge from his experiences writing for TV and film.

The Artful Writer - Craig Mazin, who wrote Scary Movie 3, talks about screenwriting, with a focus on the WGA.

Seriocity - TeeVee writer Kay Reindl (Haunted, Millennium, The Dead Zone) shares witticisms on genre writing for the boob tube. Block some time for these posts; they tend to be long.

The Rejecter - A literary agent's advice to aspiring writers who want to get published. The bad news is about 95% of you won't.

Not My Big Break

I checked Final Draft's Web site this week and they had posted the semi-finalists for the Big Break screenwriting competition. I wasn't on the list. :(

I quickly went through the stages of grief. Denial - I checked the list three times to make sure my name wasn't on it; Anger - Don't they know a great script when they see one?; Depression - I suck and will never write again (that only lasted a nanosecond :lol:); and Acceptance - What's my next idea?

I'm not too disappointed, really. First, the script was an update to my first, which was written in 2003. I figured it would be awesome if it placed, but since a screenwriter doesn't hit his or her stride until about the 5th script (so I've heard), placing would just be gravy -- albeit good gravy, and maybe a little bread :D.

Second, judging is extremely subjective, and not everyone likes supernatural thrillers. That's why I've already entered a second contest, Red Inkworks, which offers feedback to every contestant (it doesn't hurt to get more feedback). And I'm considering the Gotham Screen competition, which caters to lower budget ($2-12 million) films. With the results of three contests, I'll have a better feel for where this script fits in the screenwriting world. Maybe nowhere. But that's okay; I've learned a lot since writing that script, and have many, many more ideas.

What's Happening in the Cellar?

A lot, actually.

First, and foremost, I became a daddy. ZOMG I STILL CAN'T BELIEVE IT! She's so tiny and sweet and cute and...okay, I could go on for hours. Suffice it to say my wife and I couldn't be happier.

And did I mention she's cute?

Anyway, when I'm not feeding her or changing her or just holding her for the hell of it, I've managed to find some time to work on several tasks, some for Timewarp, some just for me.

I submitted a full-length script to Final Draft's Big Break Competition. The deadline was June 15th and I just squeaked in at the last minute. Many thanks to those who proofread and offered feedback; I missed a few embarrassing typos.

I've heard mixed things about screenwriting contests in general, but I wanted to give it a shot so I could see how my writing compares to other potential screenwriters--at least in the eyes of the Big Break judges. If I place, I'll be ecstatic, not to mention the nice prizes they offer. And if some A-list prod. co. is interested in the script, awesome! Final Draft, in case you're wondering, is one of the premiere screenwriting packages on the market. It's used by many industry professionals, and is my software of choice. "Just add words," is so true.

I've also been working on the Dead Hunt DVD set due to be released this summer (We're hoping to have copies for sale at Horrorfind in August). This is the most ambitious DVD project I've worked on. The 2-disk set will have 2 audio tracks for the feature (including commentary), a stills gallery, alternate endings, bloopers, making of, and even an Easter egg. I have a few more tweaks, then it's off to the presses. For those interested, I'm again using DVD Lab Studio for the authoring.

Finally, I've started research for a new feature I'm writing for Timewarp (while I am a wannabe Hollywood screenwriter, I do write for our low-budget film company.) I'm looking into the world of Military Special Forces, so to say the film will be action-oriented is an understatement. But don't worry, it will have plenty of suspense and horror as well.

And for those eagerly awaiting news about Crawler, fret not, for my team and I will be picking up the pace once the Dead Hunt DVD is completed.

The Filmmaker's Exam

My wife noticed that at the bottom of the Fantasy Novelist's Exam is a link to a filmmaker's exam. It's even funnier for us filmmakers.

http://rinkworks.com/filmmaker/

Ken Levine Posts "Writing a Spec 24"

This hilarious post imagines a rejection letter to someone sending a spec script to the producers of 24. If you know the show, you will laugh.

http://kenlevine.blogspot.com/2007/01/writing-spec-24.html

Great Screenwriting Advice

Screenwriter John August, whose blog I surf to often (I actually set up an rss recently), posted some great advice for aspiring screenwriters: How to write a scene. Among the pearls of wisdom are questions to ask ourselves while coming up with the who, what, and why of the scene. Many of his suggestions become "almost unconscious" with practice, but it's nice to see them written out when you're still struggling with what comes after the slug line.

Free Screenwriting Software

If you're looking for screenwriting software and can't afford the $150 or more price tag of the top brands, give Page 2 Stage a try. It's free!

While I can't speak too much to how well it works, I did tinker with it a bit. I was able to flawlessly import a 120 page script that I exported from Final Draft (as RTF), and then easily edit random spots. P2S has many of the most popular features, such as multiple views (outline, index card, etc.), auto complete for character names, smart tab for paragraph style, and pagination (my favorite :D). It won't make you an award-winning screenwriter, but it will take some of the banality out of creating your masterpiece.

And if you're looking for a complete production suite including development and planning tools, you can try another free screenwriting package called Celtx.

Hell, try 'em both.