Is Indie TV The New Indie Film?
Very interesting piece for all independent filmmakers by Josh Bernhard over at TribecaFilm.com. Many of us have toyed with the idea of producing webisodic drama, here’s more encouragement.
Trey Parker and Matt Stone on story beats
It’s what I try and teach, only they are cooler, richer and have the actual Cartman:
Story Development with Julian Hoxter
STORY CONSULTATION AND SCRIPT DEVELOPMENT SERVICES:
I am pleased to announce that I am now able to take on limited additional private story consultation and script development work for screenplays and feature films. I regularly consult on independent feature films in development and in post production, and I offer a full range of services from a single script meeting through full story consulting on all stages of your project. If you are interested, please contact me for details and prices:
hoxter@btinternet.com
Recent testimonials:
“Julian was an invaluable story consultant on my more recent film, pushing me to ask essential questions. Always three steps ahead, with elegant solutions to what sometimes felt like insurmountable obstacles, he approached the material with a discerning eye.”
“He has story consulted on two of my films. His focus on story and structure all through a character’s needs really opened my eyes. For the first time I felt confident in my writing.”
“Your notes are right on and giving me a lot of clarity around what needs to be done.”
I have consulted on a wide range of feature projects at all stages of writing and production. I work with writers on story and script development; and I work with directors, polishing their stories in post production. In 2012, movies on which I consulted have been screened internationally at film festivals. I also consulted on a screenplay that was one of five selected for the prestigious Outfest Screenwriting Lab in LA.
Course: Writing the Screenplay Treatment
Another opportunity from the Writers Store:
The treatment is the most vital selling tool in your screenwriting arsenal. Without a dynamite treatment, even the most well-written script won’t stand a chance in the Hollywood fray.
Through Writing the Screenplay Treatment we will show you, step-by-step, how to create an electrifying treatment that is sure to spark a Hollywood bidding war on your script! We have made the anxiety-producing process of treatment writing simple with our ground-breaking approach to the form.
You’ll learn:
- What a treatment is and what it isn’t
- The proper format for a treatment
- How to choose what scenes go in your treatment
- What to do with your treatment
- And much, much more
Included with your course is a 36-page sample treatment pack featuring: The Exorcist,Inception, Pulp Fiction, The Social Network and Pixar’s Up.
Course Options
Students have three options for taking the Writing the Screenplay Treatment course.
1. Online Course
The 4-week online instructor-led Writing the Screenplay Treatment course takes place through our online course management system, and begins at a predetermined start date.
2. One-on-One Course
Can’t commit to a specific 4-week time period? Enjoy the flexibility of the one-on-one course option, which lets you choose when to start your course at ANY DATE following your purchase.
3. On Demand Course
Are you the independent type? The budget-friendly On-Demand option gives you the option to work with the same great Writing the Screenplay Treatment materials as the Online and One-on-One options, only without instructor feedback.
Never sweat through writing a treatment again. Writing the Screenplay Treatment will make you a master treatment writer!
Learn How To Write Your Screenplay Treatment Today For As Low As $99
Writing the Screenplay Treatment is one of the many professional courses offered by The Writers Store at a fraction of the cost you would pay at a major university. It’s just another way we work to support the creative community. Here are a few of our most popular courses. See the complete listing of our current courses on WritersStore.com.
Canadian Short Screenplay Competition
I know you are all writing shorts for class or your own movies so why not double the action, double the excitement and double the Van Dammage (no, anyone?) and enter this competition as well… eh?:
Writers Store Event: “Writing a Great Horror Film”
This could be fun for all you LA LA genre mavens:
One of the best ways to break into the film business as a first-time screenwriter is to pen a horror film. Because they’re inexpensive to make and can potentially generate substantial rewards at the box office, these fright flicks are extremely attractive to Hollywood producers.
Discover the little-known tricks of the trade that are vital to writing and marketing this money-making genre with Writing a Great Horror Film. In this live workshop taking place at The Writers Store onJanuary 21, 2012, award-winning screenwriter Glenn M. Benest will cover the unique methods for writing commercial horror scripts and creating scares for your audience.
Through analysis of scenes from well-known horror films along with student examples from past classes, you’ll learn the techniques they employed to make their projects truly memorable, including:
- Using more than just fear and terror to create the right mood
- Breaking tension with humor, wit, relief and fake jumps
- Creating relatable characters in compromising, scary situations
- How horror is all about dark secrets and “the tease”
- The importance of a truly horrible villain
- Horror sub genres, including The Creature Feature, Slasher, Teen Horror , Zombie/Vampire, Horror/Comedy, Horror/Romance, Torture and Supernatural
You’ll also work your writing muscles with exercises that elucidate key points discussed in the workshop. Plus, you’re encouraged to bring in copies of horror scenes you’re working on to be read out loud in the class in the style of a staged reading. Extensive handouts will also be provided, so you can continue your horror writing education at home.
Location: The Writers Store – Burbank
Date: January 21, 2012
Time: 10:30am
Tuition: $49
Smart Girls partners with Final Draft’s ScriptXpert
There’s an interesting piece over at Script about this new collaboration. Smart Girls Productions helps aspiring screenwriters get noticed in the industry and ScriptXpert is Final Draft’s script development service. Makes interesting reading for anyone trying to break in as a writer.
Another photo competition entry: ooh look, bunnies!
If you have read Write What You Don’t Know, you’ll know why this is an awesome photo. Now where’s my acid…
Thanks for a great event
Just a little note to thank everyone who came out to University Press Books in Berkeley tonight for my author event. Special thanks to Kelsa at UPB for the friendly welcome and contributions to the Q&A, to Megan Vrolijk for helping to set the event up and to Joe McBride for being my excellent interlocutor. I really enjoyed the discussion and hope to do more similar events down the track!
Screenwriters Summit in LA this December
SydField | JohnTruby | MichaelHauge | LindaSeger4 Master Teachers…One Amazing Weekendscreenwriters’ summit
| LOS ANGELES, CA | DECEMBER 10–11, 2011 |
Together they’ve sold over 2,000,000 books, spoken to over 500,000 people and traveled to more than 40 countries. Famed screenwriting gurus Syd Field, Linda Seger, Michael Hauge, and John Truby all come together in Los Angeles and Mexico City (click here for Mexico Summit details) at the Screenwriters’ Summit.
And we are pleased to announce the return of the Summit Mixer! The Summit Mixer is a great opportunity to relax and socialize with your fellow Summit attendees after a full day of learning, and is included with your registration fee! The Summit Mixer includes a free buffet dinner on Saturday night beginning at 6:45pm, along with a Q&A session featuring all four speakers on stage together from 7:15pm to 8:15pm! Eat, drink and enjoy a fun, loose Q&A with Syd, Linda, John & Michael!
”Michael Hauge is the only screenwriting instructor out there who might be truly wasting his time – because he should be writing screenplays instead. Higher praise I cannot give.”
Don’t miss this rare and exclusive opportunity to hear 4 world–class speakers in a single weekend where the goal is simple: to learn, network and have some fun at the same time. The Vancouver Sun called the Summit “a most amazing event’ that “drew an incredibly diverse crowd in terms of ages and backgrounds. Great event.’ The Screenwriters’ Summit in Los Angeles last December sold–out weeks in advance. In 2011, a sold–out crowd of 400 people packed the Summit in Tel Aviv in January, while 200+ packed the house in Toronto in April. So don’t miss the Screenwriters’ Summit in Los Angeles! It promises to be a great and unique opportunity to hear some of screenwriting’s best and most–respected teachers.
Ideal for: Screenwriters, Filmmakers, Independent Producers, Directors and More!
For more information on the upcoming Screenwriters’ Summit in Los Angeles starring John
Truby, Syd Field, Linda Seger and Michael Hauge, or to register, please visit our website:
Please Note: This event is strictly limited to 150 people
Summit Details
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What: Screenwriters’ Summit
When: December 10–11, 2011(Saturday and Sunday)
Times: 8:30am to 6:30pm each day
Fees: $429 (includes Summit Mixer!)
Venue:
The Sheraton LAX
6101 West Century Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90045
Map: Click Here
Need A Hotel?
We’ve made arrangements with the Sheraton Hotel (where the class is being held) to offer Summit attendees a specially discounted hotel room rate of only $99/night (normally $139–$179!). Rooms are limited. To book, please call 1–800–325–3535 and mention the Screenwriters’ Summit, or book online through Sheraton’s customized Screenwriters’ Summit reservation site: Click Here.
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Online: ScreenwritersSummit.com
Phone: 800–814–0544
E–mail: click here
And don’t miss the Screenwriters’ Summit in Mexico City!
January 27–28, 2012
