Ideas may not be copyrightable . . .

Ideas may not be copyrightable… but scripts are! 

Here are a few links to some good blogs and articles that encompass the idea that although ‘it’s all been done before’, you can do it differently.  Also, a few good blogs and articles that illustrate the importance of copyrighting what exactly it IS that you’ve done:
 
Screenwriter’s Utopia – this site is generally a wealth of information in a nice shiny package.  Check out this article on copyrighting scripts:
http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/blog/?p=45
 
I love this blog!  I just think it’s so cool that a working screenwriter takes the time to tell hopefuls like me about it.  Here’s a particularly interesting post, although I recommend checking in on Mr. Epstein daily:
http://complicationsensue.blogspot.com/2006/09/interesting.html
 
I’m sure this site is already familiar—go here, they offer a script registration service for both members and non-members:
http://www.wga.org/
 
An interesting item I found on The Script Factory, although the site is from the UK and spells ‘organization’ with an ’s’ and talks about the cost of things in pounds:
http://www.scriptfactory.co.uk/go/Resources/FAQ_12.html
 
And finally, here’s kind of a nuts and bolts recipe for copyrighting your script:
http://www.ehow.com/how_2272038_copyright-your-script.html

Writer’s Block and the Tooth Fairy

Writer’s Block and the Tooth Fairy.  These are two things I don’t believe in.  Sure, there is evidence to support the existence of both—that dollar bill under your pillow replacing the tooth you’d left there the night before, that daunting blank page where your Oscar-winning script should be.  I don’t remember how I figured out that the Tooth Fairy was actually my mom—I think I finally noticed that the dollar bills always smelled exactly like her purse, that particular blend of Trident gum, Charli perfume spray and leather.  The evidence was too strong. 

I think it was the first day of TheFilmSchool’s Warren Etheredge’s class ‘Such a Character’ that he raised the idea that Writer’s Block doesn’t exist.  I initially bristled against this claim—Writer’s Block is such a great excuse!  Finally, the evidence against Writer’s Block came to me in the form of a crime report in the ‘On The Record’ section of a daily published in Sequim, WA.  Under ‘disturbances/suspicious’ for April 20th and 21^st:  “Someone left a jar of salamanders, W.Washington St.”,  “Red Toyota ran over duck, E. Cedar St.” and “People in car in parking lot, been there for a week, Hooker Road.”  Extrapolate on THAT!

 

Here is a list of blogs and sites of the bizarre that should be food for inspiration, if not for your next great script, at least for a writing exercise to get the ball rolling. Emphasis on INSPIRATION as, remember, these are real stories about real people!  Enjoy!

 

This is the best…this magazine specializes in notes, photos, grocery lists, etc., that people find on the street and send in.  The ‘Find of the Day’ is a source of endless entertainment and wonder:

http://www.foundmagazine.com/

 

For seriously strange news tidbits from around the world:

http://bizarrenews.org/

 

Need inspiration for a crime drama?  File this link under the category of you-can’t-make-this-stuff-up!

http://discovery.blogs.com/bizarre/

 

This one has a list of what they call ‘Lunatic Blogs’, in other words, endless ongoing craziness available at this link:

http://www.theweirdcrap.com/

 

Yeesh…some of these stories are not for the faint of heart.  This site is for the most intense battles you find yourself fighting with Writer’s Block:

http://www.thatsweird.net/

Stay sharp!

One of the best ways to improve your mad skills and stay inspired to write is by reading script after script after script.  Not only will you start thinking (and even dreaming!) in script format, you’ll start to pick up the cadence, the rhythm and the patterns of successful screenplays.  Here are just a few great resources for free downloadable scripts that will keep you on your toes!
 
For a huge list of free scripts: 
http://www.script-o-rama.com 

For movie and TV scripts alike, and a great links page full of resources for screenwriters: 
http://www.dailyscript.com

This one focuses on classic movie scripts like Cool Hand Luke and Annie Hall: 
http://www.aellea.com

Beyond its tons of scripts, this one has other fun things like wallpapers and screensavers so you can completely geek out: 
http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.php

And finally, this source for free scripts makes you feel like you’re in a trendy New York club!  Turn on those speakers! 
http://www.geocities.com/thelunalounge

How to (continue to) Write

One thing that was a challenge after finishing my stint as a student at TheFilmSchool was figuring out how to maintain the momentum for that mixture of creativity and hard work that a student of TheFilmSchool experiences during the 3-week program.  TheFilmSchool instructor and legendary writer of ‘A Rebel Without a Cause’ Stewart Stern referred to the program appropriately as ‘a vacation from oblivion’. True that!  It was a dreamy and exciting hideaway where I was able to forget bills, laundry and my day job and concentrate on writing, my voice and my future vision for myself.  It wasn’t all kittens and lollipops, of course.  The days are long, the work is intense.  Funny thing, though, my sleep-starved brain was always up for another day of it.  Now that I’m back in my real-ish world, I’ve done a little googling on the writing practices of others to see if anyone has a magical recipe for success.  Some come close.  Here’s a very brief list of ideas, and some sites that have given me help with budgeting time and with keeping my writing fresh.  Now I’m going to go heed #1 on the list and get to work.
 
Stop procrastinating—duh.  This is from the annals of the master of the obvious. 
 
Spend your time like you’d spend money (that is, if you spend your money wisely).
 
Prioritize. Identify and focus on what’s really important, e.g., should organizing your utility drawer while watching Survivor REALLY come before working on your script’s outline?
 
Find a ‘writing buddy’ (or come up with a less syrupy name for someone for whom and to whom you’ll be responsible for new work).
 
Start a group.  This is for people who like more than just one guy’s opinion on their work.  This is one of the great benefits of the intimacy of TheFilmSchool 3-week program, you’ll likely find your ideal writers group right there with your classmates.
 
See if you can set up a place and a time where you write everyday.  This is one of those rare instances where being a creature of habit is going to be something to be proud of.
 
For excerpts on a book that has been influential to me in my writing habits:
http://www.37signals.com/svn/posts/322-excerpts-from-stephen-kings-on-writing
 
For great ideas on starting a writing group and for writing exercises in general:
http://www.6ftferrets.com/
 
Sure, it’s plain old about.com, but Ginny Wiehardt who maintains the fiction writing site has some good exercises and will keep you up to date on genre award ceremonies and things like that:
http://fictionwriting.about.com/
 
For seriously excellent tips on budgeting your time (and, once your script is finished, organizing that utility drawer):
www.goodhousekeeping.com

Jenni’s favorite blogs

Hi all, I’m Jenni, guest blogger for TheFilmSchool.  We’re getting dangerously close, not prohibitively close, but very very close to the final date on which applications for the Summer Session of TheFilmSchool will be accepted.  If you are interested in filmmaking, storytelling, finding your voice and/or most of all, as was in my case, just getting excited and inspired about being creative and genuine, you absolutely must apply for this program.  I am not usually the type of person that envies…but I envy anyone who is about to embark on this journey.  The 3-week Session I took at TheFilmSchool was, literally (literally literally) life-changing.  Now I’ve got this bug and I can’t get rid of it.
 
I hold onto that feeling of inspiration by seeing what other folks who feel the need to express themselves creatively are up to.  Here are some favorites. Check these (disclaimer: non-TheFilmSchool-affiliated) bloggers out, in no particular order:
 
Self-Reliant Films, for reasons self-evident in the site’s name:  http://www.selfreliantfilm.com/
 
Silent Bob Speaks, because no matter how you feel about Kevin Smith, he’s a film-maker, and he’s finding time to update us all about it!   http://www.silentbobspeaks.com/
 
Jason Reitman’s Blog, Okay.  He doesn’t blog very often.  The most recent blog refers to Juno as his “new movie” as if no one’s ever heard of it.  Still, the archives are chock full of great info.  http://thankyouforsmoking.typepad.com/
 
Long Pauses, for among other things, its great film diary:  http://www.longpauses.com/

Alumni screenplay reading this Sunday (4/13)

“Complicated Lullaby” by Amelya Hepner
Sunday April 13th, at 4PM
in the TPS rehearsal space in the Seattle Center’s Center House, in room #C (on the forth floor)

This event is by invite only, but is open to any graduate of The Film School.   You must RSVP to Amelya at amelyadawn@yahoo.com.  (Amelya hopes to have a bigger, public reading sometime soon.  Stay tuned for details.)

Good luck, Amelya!

Austin Film Festival calls for entries

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/

“The 15th Annual Austin Film Festival is announcing a call for screenplay/teleplay/film entries.  The festival, to take place October 16-23, 2008 in Austin, Texas, screens entries in six competitive categories: Narrative Feature, Narrative Short, Narrative Student Short, Documentary Feature, Documentary Short, and Animated Short.  The festival is recognized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences as an Oscar Qualifying festival for Short Films. Submit your film with the new online form.”

A few grads of TheFilmSchool have spoken very highly of the screenplay competition and the conference.   I plan on entering myself.  Good luck!

Screenwriting lectures 4/11 and 4/12…

Northwest Screenwriters Guild presents a Weekend with Catherine Ann Jones, Award-Winning Author of “The Way Of Story” and Writer, “Touched By An Angel”

Northwest Screenwriters Guild (NWSG) is pleased to host Catherine Ann Jones, award-winning stage and screenwriter, and author of “The Way of Story,” an expert guide through the craft and soul of writing. On Friday April 11th, and Saturday April 12th, Catherine will present her unique approach to writing from the inside, developing solid craft, and bringing an original voice to the page. This is not to be missed. Sign up by April 2nd for a discount on the workshop fee.

A Fulbright Research Scholar to India and winner of the National Endowment for the Arts Award, The Way of Story is now required for NYU writing program and other schools. Ms. Jones works as a story and script consultant, and lectures internationally. www.wayofstory.com

Friday April 11th, 7-9PM
At the NWSG’s monthly meeting, Catherine will present a lecture entitled: “Can Movies Make a Difference?” Exploring how, through stories, movies in particular, meaning and purpose are given to people’s lives. Without story, we do not exist. The power of story is how we discover who we are. She will also give a preview of her “Way of Story” workshop, followed by a Q&A session.
Admission for Friday night’s event is free for NWSG members, $15 for General Public, and $8 for its partner film organizations (Writers Guild of America, Women in Film, 911 Media Arts, Northwest Film Forum, Pacific Northwest Writers Association, students and graduates of The Film School).
Event will take place at the Clear Channel Building, located at 351 Elliott Ave W, Seattle, WA 98110, on the Waterfront. Free parking is available at the CTI parking lot one block north.

Saturday April 12th, 10AM-4PM
The Way of Story Workshop - The Craft and Soul of Writing:
The Way of Story offers an integrative approach to writing narrative, combining solid craft with experiential inner discovery. Craft alone is not enough. No other writing workshop offers the solid craft to guarantee a good story along with the intangible inner dimensions of writing.
• For writers of all levels & all narrative forms including plays, screenplays, stories, novels, & memoir
• Seven Steps to Story Structure
• Create memorable characters & dialogue
• Balancing craft with intuitive skill
Workshop Cost:
Early Bird Registration (through April 2nd):
NWSG Members: $75
Non-NWSG Members: $125
Regular Registration (after April 2nd):
NWSG Members: $100
Non-NWSG Members: $150
Register for event - http://www.nwsg.org/register

TheFilmSchool speaker series in March

Here is the latest info on the upcoming TheFilmSchool speaker series, corresponding with the March session (which still has some space for students — spread the word!) 

Tues March 4th: Peter Miller
at The Warren Report HQ
7pm talk
Known as “The Literary Lion,” Peter Miller has been an extraordinarily active literary and film manager for more than thirty years. He is President of PMA Literary and Film Management, Inc. and Millennium Lion, Inc.; he and his company have successfully managed more than 1,000 books worldwide, as well as dozens of motion picture and television properties. These works include eleven New York Times Bestsellers, and eleven produced films that Miller has managed or executive produced. Three of those films have been nominated for Emmy Awards: Goodbye, Miss Fourth of July (The Disney Channel, with four nominations); A Gift of Love (Showtime, two nominations); and Helter Skelter (CBS, one nomination). In addition, Miller has a number of film and television projects currently in active development, with some nearing production, in association with Warner Bros. Features, Sony Pictures Television, Warner Bros. Television, DreamWorks, and many other producers and production companies.

Peter Miller spends most of his time in New York or Los Angeles, but he also frequently tours the country to speak at writers’ conferences and workshops. He regularly attends publishing gatherings such the BookExpo America Convention and the Frankfurt Book Fair, as well as various film festivals including those at Cannes, East Hampton, and Sundance.

March 8th: Boaz Yakin
at The Warren Report HQ
2pm talk

A writer and director with a gift for dealing with controversial issues on personal, human terms, Boaz Yakin was born in New York City in 1966. Yakin’s parents had a creative bent — they met in Paris while both were studying mime with Marcel Marceau — and after graduating from high school, Yakin opted to study filmmaking at New York City College.

He soon moved on to New York University, and made his first deal for a screenplay at the age of 19. After finishing school, Yakin worked in the film business helping to develop projects for several companies, and saw his first screenplay reach the screen in 1989, when THE PUNISHER, a vehicle for Dolph Lundgren, was released. A year later, Yakin’s next screenplay arrived in theaters — a project called THE ROOKIE, starring Clint Eastwood and Charlie Sheen.

Wanting to take on more personal material, Yakin opted to direct his screenplay— FRESH — himself, attracting talents such as Samuel L. Jackson and Giancarlo Esposito to star in it, and the film won critical raves, earning the Filmmaker’s Trophy at the 1994 Sundance Film Festival, as well as prizes in the Tokyo film festival and other festivals throughout Europe.

Yakin went back to his youth for inspiration on his next project; while his parents were non-practicing Jews, they enrolled their son in an Orthodox private school, and his experiences with the Chassidic community informed his screenplay for A PRICE ABOVE RUBIES.

Yakin’s next took on his first studio project; REMEMBER THE TITANS, starring Denzel Washington. The film was a major box-office success, and a perennial audience favorite. He then made a foray into comedy with UPTOWN GIRLS starring Brittany Murphy and Dakota Fanning.

With DEATH IN LOVE, Yakin is making a dramatic return to the kind of independent filmmaking that is his first love and source of inspiration. DEATH IN LOVE stars Josh Lucas, Adam Brody, Jacqueline Bisset and Lukas Haas.

March 22nd:  Richard Price
at The Henry Art Gallery
Noon screening of CLOCKERS
2PM talk

Richard Price, novelist and screenwriter, was born and raised in the Bronx. From the early 1970’s, Price earned his reputation as one of New York’s preeminent writers with The Wanderers (1974); Blood Brothers (1976); Ladies’ Man (1978); The Breaks (1983); Clockers (1992), which was nominated for the National Book Critic Circle Award; Freedomland (1998); and Samaritan (2003). In addition to his literary career, Price has also written numerous screenplays, including THE COLOR OF MONEY (1986), which was nominated for an Academy Award in Screenwriting, SEA OF LOVE (1989), and RANSOM (1996). In his latest book, Lush Life, Price continues to peel back the layers of his beloved city to examine the crustier side of Manhattan’s Lower East Side, standing in direct opposition to the glamorous faux-bohos who recently put the area back on the trendy map. Richard Price was the recipient of the 1999 Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters. In 2007, he shared an Edgar Award for his writing on the HBO mini-series The Wire. He currently lives in New York with his family.

March 29th: Richard Shepard
at  tba
Possible noon screening of THE MATADOR
2pm talk

Richard Shepard was born, raised and lives in New York City. He attended NYU’s film school but did not graduate because he failed his required science class. He is still awaiting his honorary degree.
In the course of his career, Mr. Shepard has written, directed and produced five independent features, written numerous screenplays for the studios, directed Emmy-winning television and once fired Shelley Winters.
Mr. Shepard’s film, THE MATADOR, starring Pierce Brosnan, Greg Kinnear and Hope Davis, was released by The Weinstein Company. The film, a black comedy, was purchased at the Sundance Film Festival, where it had its world premiere. It subsequently had a gala screening at the Toronto International Film Festival and was the opening night movie at the 2005 Deauville Film Festival. The spring of 2005 found Shepard directing the television pilot CRIMINAL MINDS for producer Mark Gordon. The show, starring Mandy Patinkin, was subsequently picked up by CBS for the 2005 fall season. Prior to that, Shepard wrote and directed the well-received indie thrillers OXYGEN, starring Adrien Brody and Maura Tierney, and MERCY starring Sam Rockwell and John Rubinstein. He also directed the romantic comedy THE LINGUINI INCIDENT, starring David Bowie and Rosanna Arquette, and MEXICO CITY, starring Stacy Edwards and Robert Patrick. Mr. Shepard also produced the 2001 Sundance Dramatic Competition entry SCOTLAND P.A., directed by Billy Morrissette. The film, starring James LeGros, Maura Tierney, Christopher Walken, Amy Smart and Andy Dick, was picked up and released by Lot 47 Films. Shepard also appears nude in the film as a streaker. This fact should not stop you from renting it at your local Blockbuster. For television, Shepard won the 1996 Monitor Award for single-camera directing of twelve episodes of AMC’s REMEMBER WENN. THE ROYALE a children’s television special he directed, was nominated for an Emmy Award. He also directed the USA cable flick CLASS WARFARE for producer Neal Moritz. Variety called it “a guilty pleasure.” Shepard calls it something else. Most recently, Mr. Shepard wrote and directed THE HUNTING PARTY, which stars Richard Gere and Terence Howard.

For more information, see www.thewarrenreport.com.

Latest alumni (and instructor) round-up

Here are the updates that were collected by John in January:

“Our talented students continue to push ahead.  Kate Wharton was a finalist in the comedy category for the PAGE international screenwriting competition.   Also Kate’s first children’s book, “What Does Mrs. Claus Do?” will be released by Tricycle Press in the Fall 2008.  Kate and Alex Landes took first and second prizes, respectively, in Jeff Kitchen’s national screenwriting competition this past year on screenplays mentored through TheFilmSchool. Corrie Moore appeared this winter in Book-Its Peter Pan and finished her feature film, Dark Horse, which she wrote, directed and produced.  Lyle Holmes is Editor-in-Chief of the newly redesigned Boxoffice.com.  Randy Webb, Heather Hughes, and Kate Wharton, attended the Austin Film Festival Writer’s Conference in October. Sue Corcoran’s film She’s a Dog just won a Gold Remi award at World fest Houston, and her short film Circus of Infinity showed at the Seattle International Film Festival, San Francisco Indie Fest and the Science Fiction Film Festival and won the Accolade Award for Best in Show and Best Direction. Her feature Gory Gory Hallelujah is also available at major retailers and was recently picked up for international distribution. Sonya Lee received an artists trust award. Andrea Seybold won an honorable mention in the Script Savy national competition. Beverly Magid published her book, “Flying Out of Brooklyn” which Martin Landau called “a wonderful read”.  Adam bale got third place in the “music in film” contest.  Elena Gartwell’s play “in our name” is going to be published in “plays and playwrights 2008”, a great honor. Heather Hughes signed with a major Hollywood agency for a new script mentored through TheFilmSchool. She has advanced, placed or won in the San Diego Film Festival, Slamdance, Austin, Kairos, Beverly Hills, One in Ten, Page, Phoenix, and was a finalist for Sundance. Heather was in the top 3 percent for the Academy Awards Nicholls fellowship and has been awarded a residency at Hedgebrook. Lisa Halpern took second place the Washington State Screenwriting Competition in 2005. She has optioned a screenplay to Lockspring Productions and was a quarter finalist in the Writer’s Network Screenplay competition, and the American Zoetrope screenplay contest. Lisa was also placed on the Consider list of Screenwriting Magazine’s AAA contest. Winda Benedetti’s feature screenplay Freak won the Washington State Screenwriting competition in 2006 and her screenplay Sundown has advanced to the final round in the 2007 competition. Her screenplays Sundown and Fist have been optioned by Lockspring Pictures, and her short films Geek Like Me and Interview with the Zombie have appeared in festivals around the country, including the One Reel Film Festival and The California Independent Film Festival. Elena Hartwell’s play “In Our Name” will be published in Plays and Playwrights 2008, a huge honor.  Andrew Kwatinetz, who also serves on the our board, completed his screenplay Welcome to Millville and held a very well-attended and received public reading at the Capital Hill Arts Center with an all-star cast, directed by a terrific and always humble director, John Jacobsen.
 
Our superb faculty continues not only to teach and inspire our students, but to push ahead in their own careers as well.  Rick’s Expiration Date was completed and screened in almost every country in the world, I do believe.  If you haven’t seen it, that would make you the only person who hasn’t.  Warren completed his film Humor Me and has shot a couple episodes of a new television pilot.  John completed two commissioned screenplays this year and directed a faaaabulous Christmas show, and Tom and Stewart – well, what can I say – they  continue to appear on the big screen and small and guide us all forward.  All of the instructors continue to mentor film school graduates, and I have to say this has turned out to be one of the most successful, most inspiring, most essential programs the school has created.”

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