Calling all scene writers

Hey guys, just got this email from the WGA.  Sounds like an interesting opportunity to flex your skills.  I had to screen shot it, but you never know who will be in the room or what talent your scene will be matched with.  

 

 

 

ABC/Disney Writing Fellowship

Breaking news from the ABC Disney writing fellowship! The rules have changed! I can’t believe they’re just dropping this bombshell as it’s really late to pull a stunt like this. they want 2 samples of your writing. 1) An original pilot script that captures your unique tone, style and point of view, and 2) A spec script for a cable or broadcast series airing during the 2013-14 television season.

this is actually quite ridiculous. They should’ve told writers this months ago. That gives you maybe 6 weeks to write and perfect a pilot. A PILOT SCRIPT? those are freaking hard! So many moving pieces: you need to create the world of the show, get the back ground of all the characters AND tell a story for that episode.

Read all about it here

Nickelodeon writing program

Hey writers looking for your break! Its now or never for applying to the Nicklodeon writing program. Find out all the details and the important dates if you’re going to apply. If so and you want me to read your scripts to get them into the best shape possible, check out my contact me page. I’m a tough audience which is exactly what you need if you’re working on your scripts that the world will see.

And when you get in, get me a spongebob key chain!

Screenwriting competition staring Uma Thurman

 

While you’re running around looking for last minute gifts or stocking stuffers (Barnes and Noble has Menopause Magazine if you’re looking for a stocking stuffer for an older gal TRUE STORY saw it today)  I want you to also be thinking about 2014.  If you’re loved one wants to use my services, I do have gift cards!  

BUT I DIGRESS.

Getting your scripts or shorts in shape for the new fellowship, contest season is vital!  Here’s a great short competition only for those newbies who need an extra hand in breaking into the business.  So check out this AMAZING opportunity to write and direct a short film starring Uma Thurman.

No one in the WGA or DGA is allowed — which gives opportunities to those of you amazingly talented writers who haven’t yet gotten in the guild. SUBMIT!!

http://www.jamesonfirstshot.com/ 

 

What is a character’s voice?

What is wrong with me? I’ve neglected my blog for far too long. When last we spoke I was in the middle of shooting my short with Anjelah Johnson AKA Bon Qui Qui. It was produced for FOX digital platform that has yet to launch. That was months ago. I absolutely adored writing those short-coms as they were being called in the biz. Seriously, Bon Qui Qui is hilarious and an amazing character and I have no idea how i was able to capture her voice so immediately. It actually scared me how easily I took to her sassy voice. I wonder if my parents would be that surprised that i could easily turn on attitude! I highly doubt it. Fine i have attitude!

But it got me to thinking about how to capture a character’s voice. So what is voice? Think about how two different greet you. The first person says: “Yo, what up?” The second person greets you by saying: “how do you do?” These two people are saying the same thing, but how they say it reveals a lot about who they are, if they’re casual or formal, what they are like around people.

So now when you’re writing a spec script how do you mimic the voice of a character someone else has created? Well, ever since I started writing spec scripts, I would sit my butt in front of the TV and watch back to back to back to back to… well you get the point. I would watch entire seasons of shows just to understand how the characters speak to each other. It’s really one of the most effective ways to get that voice into your brain so you can then get it out on the page. Try it and let me know if it’s an effective strategy for you! Or tell me what you do to get a character’s voice into your head! Let’s share what works so we can have great scripts coming out of our group!

bon Qui qui part deux

Hey guys,

I can’t wait for you to see my Bon Qui Qui Short com on FOX digital.  It turned out really well. The shoot went great. Sometimes like I mentioned before you write a for a character that is so fun, full of life and outrageous that you just can’t help yourself be so delighted in what you do for a living!  Here are 2 photos from the shoot including the amazing, incredible Anjelah Johnson who is not just Bon Qui Qui but an amazing stand up comedian!  Go see her show in a town near you!I can’t wait for you guys to watch it! I’ll keep you posted.  Other than that, are you guys writing? PItching? Thinking?  what’s up?  I hope you’re all feeling good about your fellowship submissions.  Good luck!

Bon Qui Qui

Hey guys, i’ve been super busy these days. I sold a short to FOX last month and it had to be shot within the month so naturally my life was all about getting it done.  The webisodes star Bon Qui Qui, a character from Mad Tv who is ridiculous and hilarious and just about the most awesome character around! I had such a blast.  The actress/comedian who plays Bon Qui Qui is Anjelah Johnson and she’s amazing and funny and one of the nicest folks in showbiz.  It was an honor to work with her.  

I can’t believe how well i was able to write for this outrageous character!  It was such a blast.  You work on some projects where you never care about the show or the characters (mostly because you’re working for a horrible person who is insane, with an ego and a mean streak who is also a coward.. yes they exist in TV as well.  never work for a certain person with the initials WC.)  and then you write a quick digital short and you fully embody and embrace and  love who you’re writing for and have the best time doing it.  I simply adored it! We shot last week and i can’t wait for you all to check it out.  stay tuned!

 

 

Will Smith and John Lassiter TV script contest

Hey guys, I just discovered a cool new contest from Will Smith and John Lassiter’s company, Overbrook. Free to enter and you can win cash and script deal! I mean, say what? Run don’t walk to this new contest. Only a week left to enter so get on it. This is the way you get into hollywood if you have a great script!

It is being judged by Overbrook Entertainment, the award-winning entertainment production company co-founded by two-time Academy Award nominee Will Smith and acclaimed film producer James Lassiter

• The contest is free to enter

• Two winners will win $5,000, a meeting with Overbrook Entertainment, an opportunity to have their TV script further developed, and an 18-month option agreement on their script

• The contest submissions end on 3/21/13 by 1 p.m. PT

• The contest has two categories: a 30-minute comedy and a 1-hour drama

 

http://bit.ly/YKjcNP

 

TV writer fellowship season

Hey guys, so it’s about that time of year!  You’re all thinking about what scripts should I submit for the disney or warner brothers or nickelodeon upcoming fellowships.  It’s pretty exciting!  Check out my posts below on which comedies and drama specs to write and which ones to straight up avoid.  Why waste your time on a script that might not be use-able in 6 months right? 

I’m here to help get your scripts into shape! I read them and give you tons of notes to address some of the story problems or character problems that all us writers come across in our daily writing!  I mean every single writer is given notes on the most granular details of their scripts, but what ends up happening is those notes always  make the script better.  I have no seen a time when notes ruined a script… okay, that’s not true. One time on That 70s Show a writer got re-written and I’m not entirely convinced it was needed! (BTW it was not me!) Sometimes writers on staff get re-written and the re-write is totally linear. But whatevs it happens.  But it won’t happen to you! So contact me, send me your scripts and let’s do this!

 

I love notes!

 

Every writer has to deal with notes.  We get tons of notes. Notes from friends who read your script when you’re first starting out. Notes from your agent when you finally get one, notes from your showrunner on your first job, more notes from your agent on everything, notes from your friends on what you’re wearing (maybe that’s just my situation)

No matter when you get them, notes can be hard to deal with. Most times I get notes from TV network or studio execs and it takes my brain 2 days to work them out on how i’m going to apply them to my script. 

Anyway, I love giving notes. That’s why I love being the tv script doctor!  And for all those who have been my clients, you know I give insanely thorough notes, pages and pages of notes, really specific and also over all general notes. But we’re writers and we’re used to getting notes.

Well I just was sent a video promo from my friend who I went to Business School with.  He asked me to give him some feedback on his video commercial for his new website. I said of course, because I LOVE GIVING NOTES!  Well, I just finished and for a 50 second commercial, I gave AN ENTIRE PAGE OF NOTES! I’m talking an entire word document single spaced page of notes.  But he’s not a writer and I’m wondering what he’s thinking now!  But given my MBA and my notes giving skills I know this next version will be so much better and clearer as to what the product is and that’s what we all need!