NewEnglandFilm.com

Building on last year’s Screenwriter’s Symposium and determined to give the Austin and Nicholl’s Competitions a run for their money, the Providence Film Foundation intends to put New England on the map. The Map of the Stars, that is. And if their success at bringing Hollywood filmmakers to Rhode Island is any indication, the new Screenwriter’s Conference and Competition will be the first of many. Co-sponsored by the Providence Film Commission and Providence Mayor Vincent A. Cianci, Jr., their aim is high — "By Writers, For Writers" — and their mission, outlined by Conference Director Rob Hofmann, worthy:

"We want to find and nurture writers whose work makes a difference, [and whose] screenplays reflect the human community through examination of character and relationships."

The Screenplay Competition will honor this commitment to writers not just with money (though the $2,500 cash, airfare, lodging and pass to the Conference for First Place is more than pocket change), but by offering the winner a staged reading at Trinity Rep — one of the best Regional Theatres in the country. If there’s a greater reward for a writer than to have her vision brought to life by nationally-acclaimed actors, it could only be the knowledge that her words will wing their way to a Hollywood Executive the next day, courtesy of the Competition. Not a bad pay-off for a $25 entry fee — and a few pints of sweat on every page.

One new twist: unlike the Austin or Nicholl’s, an applicant may have previously sold or optioned a screenplay (though not the one submitted to the contest) for up to $1000, which should ensure a level playing field of some really sharp writing. Start polishing now — the deadline for submissions is May 15th, and an application and usual disclaimers can be found at: http://www.communitywriters.org/MEMBERSHIP/rules.htm

or by writing to:
Tom Dooley, Screenwriting Competition Director
Providence Film Foundation
P.O. Box 6705
Providence, RI 02940-6705

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Not ready for prime time? You can get in writing shape fast at the Screenwriters Conference to be held on August 7-9 in Providence. From the opening ceremony at the Westin Hotel (a Gala Dinner and reception honoring the Competition winners) through evening networking with agents, producers and even (gasp!) other writers, there’ll be something for beginners and pros.

The short list of workshops and panels includes:

‘The Art of the Pitch’ and ‘Screenplays Producers Want’ with Anne Marie Gillen, Executive Producer of Fried Green Tomatoes and Chief Operating Officer of Revelations Entertainment, Morgan Freeman’s production company.

‘Tools of the Screenwriting Trade’ with Esther Luttrell, writer-producer of features, MOWs, hit sitcoms and over a dozen documentaries.

‘Selling Your Screenplay’ with Esmond Harmsworth, Literary Agent and co-founder of the Zachary Schuster Agency.

‘Preparing For Hollywood’ with Skip Press, author of the Writer’s Guide to Hollywood Producers, Directors, and Screenwriter’s Agents and Write What You Want & Sell What You Write.

Lectures will include: ‘Writing the Movie Comedy,’ ‘A Story is a Promise: How to Avoid Getting Stuck in Plot,’ and ‘Producing and Directing Your Own Scripts’.

Highlight of the Conference: Richard Walter, Screenwriting Chair at UCLA’s Film School, and author of the best-selling Screenwriting —The Art, Craft and Business of Film and Television Writing. In addition to having taught the most successful screenwriters of the past two decades everything they know, he’s written numerous feature assignments for the major studios and has sold material to all three major networks. Walter’s new book, The Whole Picture — Strategies for Screenwriting Success in Hollywood is just out, and will serve as the theme for his special lecture on how to sell scripts from right here in New England. His message? "Unless a writer wishes to build their career in television, a writer for film may enjoy a life outside of Hollywood. In fact, studios are looking outside Hollywood more and more for fresh material."

Selling to Hollywood without moving to L.A.? That’s welcome news for writers on the East Coast, and Walter intends to let conference attendees in on the secret of how to go about it.

Given the extraordinary agenda this conference is sure to fill up fast, so mark your calendars now and head on over to: http://www.communitywriters.org/MEMBERSHIP/screenwritersconference.htm for registration information. The next major screenplay sale may be your own.