April Deadline Extended: Fri. May 4th: Thanks to Columbia College Chicago @writersbootcamp @SILA_CCC #film #screenplay #screenwriting “The Writers Boot Camp Fellowship Educating Future Professionals  Save 50% on Your Application Thanks to Our Partner: Columbia College Chicago  (see below) All-Genre Fellowship Deadline:  Friday, May 4, 2012 Once again, The Writers Boot Camp Fellowship is open this month in All Genres.  As of next month we will return to the focus on different genres and themes rotating monthly throughout the year. We will be awarding three $5000 Fellowships to candidates who submit script ideas by the deadline for feature film, television pilot and “diversity” or “inspired” bonus categories.  Each Fellow selected will win one year of Writers Boot Camp’s Online Professional Membership based on our Full Development coursework, including three script deadlines and evaluations within the year.If you do apply in the diversity category—and applying to more categories certainly increases your chances—please remember that evaluation is based on the subject matter of your story and/or the background of your principal character(s), not on your own personal heritage.The sponsorship of the Fellowship by one of our organization partners means that your application fees will be reduced by 50% when you enter the promo code CCC50upon checkout. Thanks again to this month’s partner Columbia College Chicago. Their Semester in L.A. (SiLA) is an opportunity for Columbia College Chicago students to experience the business of Hollywood on a studio lot while maintaining full-time status. Our shared sense of mission in professional education also intersects with supporting the Chicago talent pipeline in the business.  Writers Boot Camp founder Jeffrey Gordon is originally from Chicago and co-founded the annual Windy City West party in LA 25 years ago and also founded Chicagoans In The Industry (CITI), so this association with Columbia College is a natural fit.   Fellowship Caliber & OpportunityIf you’ve been following recently, we’ve been able to encourage participation and provide savings to candidates through our partnerships with organizations who share our sensibilities and mission in the entertainment industry.  Our mutual goals center not only on discovery of new talent but on professional education. Feel free to pass along this information to other writers and filmmakers who would benefit.  Again, enter the promo code CCC50 upon checkout to save 50%, including all of the additional categories you select.  We are pleased to provide the 50% discount on the application fee.  Additional FAQs are available on the Fellowship page at writersbootcamp.com.  In terms of additional tangible value, win or lose, the application includes a 15-minute phone conference to review your project and the evaluation notes.  Many candidates significantly increase their chances to win by just one additional category of consideration.”
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April Deadline Extended: Fri. May 4th: Thanks to Columbia College Chicago

@writersbootcamp @SILA_CCC

#film #screenplay #screenwriting

“The Writers Boot Camp Fellowship

Educating Future Professionals 

Save 50% on Your Application

Thanks to Our Partner: Columbia College Chicago  (see below)

All-Genre Fellowship Deadline:  Friday, May 4, 2012

Once again, The Writers Boot Camp Fellowship is open this month in All Genres.  As of next month we will return to the focus on different genres and themes rotating monthly throughout the year.

We will be awarding three $5000 Fellowships to candidates who submit script ideas by the deadline for feature film, television pilot and “diversity” or “inspired” bonus categories.  Each Fellow selected will win one year of Writers Boot Camp’s Online Professional Membership based on our Full Development coursework, including three script deadlines and evaluations within the year.

If you do apply in the diversity category—and applying to more categories certainly increases your chances—please remember that evaluation is based on the subject matter of your story and/or the background of your principal character(s), not on your own personal heritage.

The sponsorship of the Fellowship by one of our organization partners means that your application fees will be reduced by 50% when you enter the promo code CCC50upon checkout.

Thanks again to this month’s partner Columbia College Chicago. Their Semester in L.A. (SiLA) is an opportunity for Columbia College Chicago students to experience the business of Hollywood on a studio lot while maintaining full-time status.

Our shared sense of mission in professional education also intersects with supporting the Chicago talent pipeline in the business.  Writers Boot Camp founder Jeffrey Gordon is originally from Chicago and co-founded the annual Windy City West party in LA 25 years ago and also founded Chicagoans In The Industry (CITI), so this association with Columbia College is a natural fit.  

Fellowship Caliber & Opportunity

If you’ve been following recently, we’ve been able to encourage participation and provide savings to candidates through our partnerships with organizations who share our sensibilities and mission in the entertainment industry.  Our mutual goals center not only on discovery of new talent but on professional education. Feel free to pass along this information to other writers and filmmakers who would benefit. 

Again, enter the promo code CCC50 upon checkout to save 50%, including all of the additional categories you select. 

We are pleased to provide the 50% discount on the application fee.  Additional FAQs are available on the Fellowship page at writersbootcamp.com. 

In terms of additional tangible value, win or lose, the application includes a 15-minute phone conference to review your project and the evaluation notes.  Many candidates significantly increase their chances to win by just one additional category of consideration.”
Writing as a Martial Art Source: @jeannevb #screenwriting #writer #screenplay “……..while watching TALES FROM THE SCRIPT, I realized how similar writing is to martial arts. Persistence, determination and belief in oneself are needed to finish any script or novel.   Coincidentally, those qualities are also found in a martial artist. Let’s compare the journeys: 1. Training: MA: We train by repeating blocks, kicks and punches over and over until sweat drips from our bodies. Writer: The first draft is never good enough, so we write it over and over, until our brain and fingers throb. 2. Fighting under pressure: MA: Once you’ve trained hard enough, the moves become “muscle memory”.  When under the pressure of fighting, we need our moves to occur without thought. Writer: When you’re under a deadline, you need your words to flow effortlessly.  That won’t happen if you spend your days procrastinating and not putting words down on paper (side note: the program Write or Die is fantastic at honing your writing-under-pressure skills). 3. Being tested by your Master: MA: The test day for your next belt arrives.  If you’ve practiced, your Master will know it and reward you.  But if you haven’t, he can see it with one look into your eyes.   There’s no way to fake being ready. Writer: Every time you send out your work, you’re being tested.  Are you prepared? Did you do as many drafts necessary to make it your best?  Will your work be viewed as amateur or professional?  Do you have the stamina to wait for, and then deal with, the feedback?  It’s a test.  It’s always a test. 4. Number one rule of fighting is to avoid a fight at all cost: MA: Never, ever fight if you don’t have to.  Only fight if it’s…..” 
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Writing as a Martial Art

Source: @jeannevb

#screenwriting #writer #screenplay

“……..while watching TALES FROM THE SCRIPT, I realized how similar writing is to martial arts.

Persistence, determination and belief in oneself are needed to finish any script or novel.   Coincidentally, those qualities are also found in a martial artist.

Let’s compare the journeys:

1. Training:

MA: We train by repeating blocks, kicks and punches over and over until sweat drips from our bodies.

Writer: The first draft is never good enough, so we write it over and over, until our brain and fingers throb.

2. Fighting under pressure:

MA: Once you’ve trained hard enough, the moves become “muscle memory”.  When under the pressure of fighting, we need our moves to occur without thought.

Writer: When you’re under a deadline, you need your words to flow effortlessly.  That won’t happen if you spend your days procrastinating and not putting words down on paper (side note: the program Write or Die is fantastic at honing your writing-under-pressure skills).

3. Being tested by your Master:

MA: The test day for your next belt arrives.  If you’ve practiced, your Master will know it and reward you.  But if you haven’t, he can see it with one look into your eyes.   There’s no way to fake being ready.

Writer: Every time you send out your work, you’re being tested.  Are you prepared? Did you do as many drafts necessary to make it your best?  Will your work be viewed as amateur or professional?  Do you have the stamina to wait for, and then deal with, the feedback?  It’s a test.  It’s always a test.

4. Number one rule of fighting is to avoid a fight at all cost:

MA: Never, ever fight if you don’t have to.  Only fight if it’s…..” 

How to find a writing partner Source: @KenLevine #screenwriting #film #television “Here are some Friday Questions to kick off your weekend and the baseball season. Trixie Malone wants to know: How does a budding comedy writer find other budding comedy writers to partner up with? I’ve tried the number on the bathroom stall trick, but those people just aren’t funny. Any suggestions? One of my readers, Darren, saw this and offered a great suggestion:Try this group.    It’s an online group of about 600 TV writers around the world. Occasionally, people post looking for writing groups and partners. We share info, scripts, do meetups in LA and commiserate. It’s 3 parts education, 2 parts support group, 1 part Alcoholics-Not-Very-Anonymous. Good luck! Thanks, Darren. Another avenue is through writing courses. Lots of people pair up that way. From time to time the WGA holds events where writers seeking partners are encouraged to attend. Go to their website and keep an eye out for future events. David and I once spoke at one of these and the ad read, “Who knows? The next Levine & Isaacs could be formed at this meeting.”  My reaction was, “Hey, WE’RE the next Levine & Isaacs!” Nick asks: I’ve often heard the old story about how Cheers came dead last in the ratings in it’s first season - my question is an obvious one: How or why was Cheers even renewed for the second season when it’s ratings were so bad? Also - when did the ratings start to improve (because the quality of the show is evident even in season #1) and if it was on the air today would it survive? Or is today’s TV environment too different?…..”
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How to find a writing partner

Source: @KenLevine

#screenwriting #film #television

“Here are some Friday Questions to kick off your weekend and the baseball season.

Trixie Malone wants to know:

How does a budding comedy writer find other budding comedy writers to partner up with? I’ve tried the number on the bathroom stall trick, but those people just aren’t funny. Any suggestions?

One of my readers, Darren, saw this and offered a great suggestion:

Try this group.   

It’s an online group of about 600 TV writers around the world. Occasionally, people post looking for writing groups and partners. We share info, scripts, do meetups in LA and commiserate. It’s 3 parts education, 2 parts support group, 1 part Alcoholics-Not-Very-Anonymous. Good luck!

Thanks, Darren. Another avenue is through writing courses. Lots of people pair up that way. 

From time to time the WGA holds events where writers seeking partners are encouraged to attend. Go to their website and keep an eye out for future events. David and I once spoke at one of these and the ad read, “Who knows? The next Levine & Isaacs could be formed at this meeting.”  My reaction was, “Hey, WE’RE the next Levine & Isaacs!” 

Nick asks:

I’ve often heard the old story about how Cheers came dead last in the ratings in it’s first season - my question is an obvious one: How or why was Cheers even renewed for the second season when it’s ratings were so bad? Also - when did the ratings start to improve (because the quality of the show is evident even in season #1) and if it was on the air today would it survive? Or is today’s TV environment too different?…..”

Greatest Speech Ever Made: Charlie Chaplin

#screenwriting #film #humanity

Do you get a manager or an agent? Source: ScreenwriterWriting #screenwriting #film #screenplay “That’s the age-old question for writers who are getting into TV and film. When is it time to get a manager or an agent? We feel the pressure that if we’re a real writer, we must need one of those. People who we tell we’re writers, always ask, do you have an agent? Well, it’s not as important as you think, and not as simple to answer if you need one, just yet.  First, something I’ve said before, is that if you haven’t been writing probably about 10 years, 5 years minimum, with a stack of about 10 scripts under your belt, you’re probably not ready to get either. I hope this doesn’t discourage anyone. It just means the chances of your material being ready for the industry, means it probably isn’t. If you doubt me, then by all means submit to some contests and see how you do. Of course contests aren’t the end-all-be-all answer. But it’s at least a barometer. I mean I placed in Nicholl’s with one of my earlier scripts that I wouldn’t even say was good any more. Yet more recent scripts that are way better, haven’t. So it’s kind of a judgement call on if the contest can predict if you’re ready. If you enter a few different kinds of contests you might get a better idea. The good thing about entering contests too is you might make contacts that could just help you get an agent or manager any way. But, if that doesn’t happen, then how do you decide? Well, I’ll put it to you this way, if you haven’t sold a script for six figures, you’re not ready for an agent. It’s that simple. They don’t want you, unless you can make them a lot of money right away, because they have enough writers that can. And they have enough writers that aren’t making them money and they don’t need more that won’t….. 
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Do you get a manager or an agent?

Source: ScreenwriterWriting

#screenwriting #film #screenplay

“That’s the age-old question for writers who are getting into TV and film. When is it time to get a manager or an agent? We feel the pressure that if we’re a real writer, we must need one of those. People who we tell we’re writers, always ask, do you have an agent? Well, it’s not as important as you think, and not as simple to answer if you need one, just yet. 

First, something I’ve said before, is that if you haven’t been writing probably about 10 years, 5 years minimum, with a stack of about 10 scripts under your belt, you’re probably not ready to get either. I hope this doesn’t discourage anyone. It just means the chances of your material being ready for the industry, means it probably isn’t. If you doubt me, then by all means submit to some contests and see how you do. Of course contests aren’t the end-all-be-all answer. But it’s at least a barometer. I mean I placed in Nicholl’s with one of my earlier scripts that I wouldn’t even say was good any more. Yet more recent scripts that are way better, haven’t. So it’s kind of a judgement call on if the contest can predict if you’re ready. If you enter a few different kinds of contests you might get a better idea. 

The good thing about entering contests too is you might make contacts that could just help you get an agent or manager any way. But, if that doesn’t happen, then how do you decide? Well, I’ll put it to you this way, if you haven’t sold a script for six figures, you’re not ready for an agent. It’s that simple. They don’t want you, unless you can make them a lot of money right away, because they have enough writers that can. And they have enough writers that aren’t making them money and they don’t need more that won’t…..