Breakfast with Sharks Read online

  www.cinequest.org

  San Jose Film Festival

  476 Park Avenue, Room 204

  San Jose, CA 95110

  Phone: (408) 995-5033

  Festival date: February–March

  Entry deadline: October

  TEN MAJOR SCREENWRITING COMPETITIONS

  AUSTIN HEART OF FILM FESTIVAL

  707 Rio Grande

  Suite 101

  Austin, TX 78701

  Phone: (800) 310-FEST or (512) 478-4795

  Deadline: June 15

  Conference dates: mid-October

  THE CHESTERFIELD FILM COMPANY

  Writer’s Film Project

  100 Universal City Plaza

  Building 447

  Universal City, CA 91608

  Phone: (818) 777-0998

  CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS SCREENPLAY DISCOVERY AWARDS

  The C.C.S. Entertainment Group

  Screenplay Discovery Awards

  433 N. Camden Drive, Suite 600

  Beverly Hills, CA 90210

  Phone: (310) 288-1988

  Fax: (310) 475-0193

  CREATIVE SCREENWRITING MAGAZINE

  Script Competition

  6404 Hollywood Blvd.

  Los Angeles, CA 90028

  Phone: (323) 957-1405

  WALT DISNEY FELLOWSHIP

  Walt Disney Studios

  500 S. Buena Vista Street

  Burbank, CA 91521-0880

  Phone: (818) 560-6894

  NICHOLL FELLOWSHIPS IN SCREENWRITING

  Academy Foundation

  Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting

  8949 Wilshire Blvd.

  Beverly Hills, CA 90211

  Deadline: May 1

  SUNDANCE INSTITUTE

  c/o S.P.E.

  10202 W. Washington Blvd.

  Culver City, CA 80232

  Writers Lab deadlines: Postmarked no later than June 28 for the following January Lab. Postmarked no later than November 28 for the following June Lab (this one for filmmakers also).

  THE WRITERS NETWORK

  8306 Wilshire Blvd.

  Suite 482

  Beverly Hills, CA 90211

  Phone: (310) 843-9838

  WORLDFEST CHARLESTON

  J. Hunter Todd, Director

  P.O. Box 838

  Charleston, SC 29401-0838

  Phone: (803) 723-7600

  WORLDFEST-HOUSTON

  International Film & Video Festival

  P.O. Box 56566

  Houston, TX 77256-6566

  Deadline: January 15

  TEN ESSENTIAL BOOKS ON THE CRAFT OF SCREENWRITING

  Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush, Alternative Scriptwriting: Successfully Breaking the Rules, Third Edition

  Alternative Scriptwriting goes beyond conventional three-act structure to explore more-innovative storytelling forms. Readers will come away challenged to take risks and attempt new ways to create characters, genres, and tones.

  Lajos Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing

  The Art of Dramatic Writing is considered a trade secret by screenwriters. Egri emphasizes character analysis and psychological motivation to create natural story conflict.

  Alex Epstein, Crafty Screenwriting: Writing Movies That Get Made

  Epstein is a professional screenwriter willing to reveal plenty of tricks of the trade. Readers of Crafty Screenwriting learn how to create and polish hooks that will make their work stand out from the crowd.

  Syd Field, Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting

  Field is considered to be the patriarch of the modern Hollywood three-act paradigm, and Screenplay is every writer’s first bible for film writing.

  William Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade: A Personal View of Hollywood and Screenwriting

  Goldman is a screenwriting legend. His credits include Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Marathon Man, All the President’s Men, Misery, and The Princess Bride. His book is the ultimate insider’s glimpse into the world of movies and screenwriting.

  Robert McKee, Story

  Many readers will remember McKee and his writing principles from the movie Adaptation. McKee eschews structure in favor of substance and style. Story is an exhaustive tome that may be a tough nut for beginning writers to crack.

  Robin U. Russin, William Missouri Downs, Screenplay: Writing the Picture

  Writing the Picture is a very thorough but accessible guide to crafting screenplays, a true textbook/workbook. Beginning to advanced writers will benefit from Russin and Downs’s own practical experience in writing for Hollywood. The book takes the reader from conception to completion, covering each part of the writing process in detail.

  Linda Seger, Making a Good Script Great

  Many writers consider Seger’s book to be an essential companion piece to Syd Field’s work. Scripts are broken down into their nuts-and-bolts components, like character development and subplots, to create an optimal three-act structure.

  David Trottier, The Screenwriter’s Bible: A Complete Guide to Writing, Formatting, and Selling Your Script

  The Screenwriter’s Bible is an A-to-Z guide for formatting your script properly, as well as a primer for crafting your screenplay and marketing the result.

  Christopher Vogler, The Writer’s Journey: Mythic Structure for Writers

  Building upon Joseph Campbell’s preceding work on mythic structure, The Writer’s Journey establishes story archetypes for “the hero’s journey.” The paradigm is particularly useful for writers working in the genres of science fiction, fantasy, and action/adventure.

  TEN KEY PERIODICALS FOR SCREENWRITERS

  Creative Screenwriting Magazine

  www.creativescreenwriting.com

  (323) 957-1405

  Daily Variety

  www.variety.com

  (818) 487-4554

  Fade In Magazine

  www.fadeinmag.com

  (310) 275-0287

  Film Comment Magazine

  www.filmlinc.com/fcm/fcm.htm

  (800) 783-4903

  The Hollywood Reporter

  www.hollywoodreporter.com

  (323) 525-2150

  Los Angeles Times

  www.latimes.com

  (310) 314-1218

  Premiere Magazine

  www.premiere.com

  (800) 289-2489

  Scenario Magazine

  www.scenariomag.com

  (800) 222-2654

  Scr(i)pt Magazine

  www.scriptmag.com

  (888) 287-0932

  Written By Magazine

  www.wga.org/writtenby

  (323) 782-4522

  TEN VALUABLE ORGANIZATIONS, UNIONS, AND GROUPS

  AFI—AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE

  www.afi.org

  2021 North Western Avenue

  Los Angeles, CA 90027

  (323) 856-7600

  (323) 467-4578 (fax)

  Attend screenings and workshops or take courses.

  ALAMEDA WRITERS’ GROUP

  www.alamedawritersgroup.org

  P.O. Box 10727

  Glendale, CA 91209-3727

  E-mail: [email protected]

  Excellent networking, member script readings (weekly and bimonthly), guest speakers, +100 membership.

  AMPAS—ACADEMY OF MOTION PICTURE ARTS AND SCIENCES

  www.oscar.com

  8949 Wilshire Blvd.

  Beverly Hills, CA 90211-1972

  (310) 247-3000

  Fax: (310) 859-9351 or (310) 859-9619

  E-mail: [email protected]

  Screenings, seminars, exhibitions.

  ATA—ASSOCIATION OF TALENT AGENTS

  www.agentassociation.com

  9255 Sunset Blvd.

  Suite 930

  Los Angeles, CA 90069

  (310) 274-0628

  Fax: (310) 274-5063

  E-mail: [email protected]

  Executive Director: Karen Stuart

  Administrative Director: Shellie Jetton

  Seminars, ro
und table discussions.

  ATAS—ACADEMY OF TELEVISION ARTS AND SCIENCES

  www.emmys.com

  5220 Lankershim Blvd.

  North Hollywood, CA 91601-3109

  (818)754-2800

  Fax: (818)761-2827

  Foundation, seminars, events, screenings.

  DGA—DIRECTORS GUILD OF AMERICA

  www.dga.org

  Los Angeles Headquarters

  7920 Sunset Blvd.

  Los Angeles, CA 90046

  Los Angeles main number: (310) 289-2000

  Los Angeles toll-free number: (800) 421-4173

  Agency desk: (323) 851-3671

  Communications and Public Affairs: (310) 289-5333

  Contracts Dept.: (310) 289-2010

  Directors Guild Foundation: (310) 289-2037

  Membership Dept.: (310) 289-5350

  Membership Screening Info: (310) 289-5300

  Los Angeles main fax: (310) 289-2029

  Guest speakers, screenings, workshops, networking functions.

  New York Headquarters

  110 West 57th Street

  New York, NY 10019

  New York main number: (212) 581-0370

  New York Toll Free Number (800) 356-3754

  New York main fax: (212) 581-1441

  Chicago Headquarters

  400 N. Michigan Avenue, Suite 307

  Chicago, IL 60611

  Chicago main number: (312) 644-5050

  Chicago toll-free number: (888) 600-6975

  Chicago main fax: (312) 644-5776

  Functions, screenings, exhibitions, and workshop programs.

  PGA—PRODUCERS GUILD OF AMERICA

  www.producersguild.org

  8530 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 450

  Beverly Hills, CA 90211

  (310) 358-9020

  Fax: (310) 358-9520

  E-mail: [email protected]

  PGA East Chapter:

  E-mail: [email protected]

  PGA East Chapter Chair: Nancy Goldman ([email protected])

  PGA East Chapter Vice-Chair: Rachel Leib ([email protected])

  Seminars, job postings, free consultations.

  UCLA EXTENSION WRITING COURSES

  www.uclaextension.org

  10995 Le Conte Avenue

  Los Angeles, CA 90024-2883

  (310) 825-9971 or (818) 784-7006 (Registration and General Information)

  (310) 206-6201 (Academic Advisement)

  (310) 825-4246 (Financial Aid)

  (800) 554-UCLA (Order a catalog)

  Inexpensive, excellent courses covering the entire screenwriting field, easy to network.

  WGA—WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA

  www.wga.org

  7000 W. Third Street

  Los Angeles, CA 90048

  (323) 782-4528 (Credits)

  (323) 782-4502 (Representation)

  (323) 782-4532 (Membership)

  (323) 782-4522 (Written By)

  (323) 782-4603 (Interview requests: Gabriel Scott@Public Affairs)

  (212) 767-7870 (Interview requests: WGAC)

  Mentoring, guest speakers, screenings, wide range of writer services.

  WOMEN IN FILM

  www.wif.org

  8857 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite #201

  Beverly Hills, CA 90211

  (323) 463-6040

  Networking, seminars, classes, mentoring.

  ELEVEN IMPORTANT INTERNET RESOURCES

  AIN’T IT COOL NEWS

  www.aint-it-cool-news.com

  Harry Knowles is an industry legend, and this is his site. Get all the latest buzz on upcoming projects and soon-to-be-released films here.

  DONE DEAL

  www.scriptsales.com

  http://pub130.ezboard.com/bdonedeal (for the Message Board)

  Resources for script sales in Hollywood, along with interviews, advice, and contact information for agencies and production companies. The best part of the site is the industry chat room, where agents and professional writers mingle freely and post bulletin-board responses on hundreds of topics.

  DREW’S SCRIPT-O-RAMA

  www.script-o-rama.com

  Frequently updated site for downloading movie and television screenplays. Contains over 600 scripts.

  FILMBIZ RESOURCE GUIDE

  www.filmbiz.com

  Find entertainment industry goods and services ranging from camera equipment to wardrobe, as well as entertainment industry professionals.

  HOLLYWOOD LITERARY SALES

  www.hollywoodlitsales.com

  Everything to help screenwriters sell to Hollywood. Free script listing service; interviews, articles, and classes from industry pros; books, software, critiquing service; postings from producers.

  INTERNET MOVIE DATABASE

  www.us.imdb.com

  Extensive searchable database of above- and below-line film and television credits.

  INZIDE

  www.inzide.com

  Submit scripts online for free. Read interviews with industry professionals. Message boards to communicate with other writers. Stories of development heaven and hell. Get your questions answered by the people who know Hollywood.

  MOVIEBYTES

  www.moviebytes.com

  Features a database of screenwriting contests, script sales, literary agencies, film producers; publishes an e-mail newsletter.

  SCREENWRITERS FORUM

  www.screenwritersforum.com

  Over 300 articles covering every aspect of screenwriting, including character development, selling your screenplay, and protecting your idea.

  WHOREPRESENTS.COM

  www.whorepresents.com

  A quick but thorough guide for checking client representation and agent rosters.

  WRITERS GUILD OF AMERICA

  www.wga.org

  Home of the Writers Guild of America, West. Register your script online, or check out the many resources that include research links, writing tips, industry articles, and interviews.

  FIVE VALUABLE INDUSTRY DIRECTORIES

  HOLLYWOOD CREATIVE DIRECTORY

  (323) 308-3400 or (800) 815-0503 (outside of CA)

  www.hcdonline.com

  The HCD is basically the white-pages phone book of Hollywood. Here you’ll find nearly 10,000 producers and studio and network executives representing over 1,750 production companies, studios, and networks. The HCD includes addresses, phone and fax numbers, staff and titles, credits, and studio deals. Updated three times a year, end of December, end of May, end of September.

  HOLLYWOOD REPRESENTATION DIRECTORY (AGENTS AND MANAGERS)

  (323) 308-3400 or (800) 815-0503 (outside of CA)

  www.hcdonline.com

  The HRD is the way writers can locate agents and managers to read their work. Over 2,000 companies and more than 7,000 individuals are listed for talent agencies and management companies nationwide. Entertainment lawyers and publicity firms are also included. Includes addresses, phone and fax numbers, staff and titles. Published twice a year.

  HOLLYWOOD DISTRIBUTORS DIRECTORY

  (323) 308-3400 or (800) 815-0503 (outside of CA)

  www.hcdonline.com

  Everything you need to gain distribution for your film is here, including film festival listings and contact info. Over 800 companies and 5,000 names and titles are listed. Updated annually.

  HOLLYWOOD REPORTER BLU-BOOK PRODUCTION DIRECTORY

  (323) 525-2150

  http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr/thrblu/letter.jsp

  The Blu-Book contains more than 250 product and service categories with thousands of listings necessary to take a film, TV, commercial, or new media project from concept to completion.

  LA 411

  (323) 460-6304

  www.la411.com

  This is the directory that can take you from preproduction through post with everything from locating stuntmen to Porta Potties. You can procure production insurance or rent an elephant with the LA 411. The Blu-Book and the LA 411 are often used in tand
em by producers and production personnel.

  AMERICAN FILM INSTITUTE LIST OF THE 100 GREATEST AMERICAN MOVIES OF ALL TIME

  This list is both inspirational and crucial to understanding what kind of movies Hollywood sometimes aspires to make.

  Citizen Kane (1941)

  Casablanca (1942)

  The Godfather (1972)

  Gone With the Wind (1939)

  Lawrence of Arabia (1962)

  The Wizard of OZ (1939)

  The Graduate (1967)

  On the Waterfront (1954)

  Schindler’s List (1993)

  Singin’ in the Rain (1952)

  It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

  Sunset Boulevard (1950)

  The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957)

  Some Like It Hot (1959)

  Star Wars (1977)

  All About Eve (1950)

  The African Queen (1951)

  Psycho (1960)

  Chinatown (1974)

  One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest (1975)

  The Grapes of Wrath (1940)

  2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

  The Maltese Falcon (1941)

  Raging Bull (1980)

  E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial (1982)

  Dr. Strangelove (1964)

  Bonnie and Clyde (1967)

  Apocalypse Now (1979)

  Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

  The Treasure of the Sierra Madre (1948)

  Annie Hall (1977)

  The Godfather Part II (1974)

  High Noon (1952)

  To Kill a Mockingbird (1962)

  It Happened One Night (1934)

  Midnight Cowboy (1969)

  The Best Years of Our Lives (1946)

  Double Indemnity (1944)

  Doctor Zhivago (1965)

  North by Northwest (1959)

  West Side Story (1961)

  Rear Window (1954)

  King Kong (1933)

  The Birth of a Nation (1915)

  A Streetcar Named Desire (1951)