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Anyone have any information on Dixie Productions?

My script, Rockinitis, garnered an Honorable Mention in a RedInkworks contest a year ago and Larry has been in constant communication with me since then....frequently offering a good lead. No deal yet, but one of the better contests I've been involved with.

Anyone have any info on this group?

What's up with this contest?

One of the great features of this seminar is that they have staged readings of selected scripts. Quite fun with really great local actors. Sessions have all been great and Santa Fe is home to many writers, actors and film and tv professionals providing an opportunity to meet industry people out side of the "scene". Jack Kolkmeyer Santa Fe

They have requested a script from me as well. Just how they knew about it, I'm not sure. Buck Flower is well known among Horror flick fans....he's had a very interesting and unique career...most well known recently, perhaps, for "Pumpkinhead"...just do a search for Buck Flower and you will find some info.

One of my scripts, Rockinitis, won an honorable mention on Red Inkworks. Larry continues to be in touch with me and contacts me with potential leads. Coverage was excellent and useful. It was a good foot in the door for the early career of this particular script. Worth entering.

Sent them a script a month ago but have not heard back.

This has been a very interesting discussion. Thanks. Like a number of you, I have had lots of hits on log lines and synopsis and several requests for a script. I have chosen, also, to not respond to any of them on the assumption that if they like it, they will come. But I also take a slightly different view of it. When I get a hit, I take the time to research the prodco. You can find out a lot on the web. Some of them turn out to be music video producers looking to do a first film. Some of them are documentary film makes looking for the right theatrical material. Some of them do commercial ads, looking to break into the biz. Being a first time film writer, I write lots of other things professionally, it makes me, as I like to say, "hone the hooks"! Everyone in the music, film and video biz, quite frankly, is looking for a hook.

I always try to create an actual "soundtrack" for my scripts. Helps me visualize transitions and cuts. What I listen to then depends on the script. My 1959 music script that is currently making the rounds caused me to listen to literally hundreds of doo wop tunes...which also helped in researching words and dialogue. A recently completed sci fi script led me deeply into new age and electronica and a modern western completed a few years ago relies entirely on jamaican dub music which really opend up my thinking. Just starting a golf comdedy which, so far, has musically stumped me!!!

What's the skinny on Script Notes?

Well, yes, it is one way to go. There are, of course, numerous paths. But you won't go anywhere unless you have some kind of "credential". So any kind of finish or recognition in a contest (semifinals, quarterfinals, honorable mention, winner) getrs you started. Plus it gives you some solid feedback and confidence. BUT (and as Pee Wee Herman once said, everyone has a big but)pick your contests carefully. That takes research. Pick ones in which you might actually have a chance.

I entered this contest last year...which I believe was their first year. My script was awarded an Honorable Mention and as a result was added to a number of winning script sites. I've received a number of inquiries and requests for the script as a result of their site. While I didn't get much feedback from them, it was run very professionally.

As a Santa Fe resident, I attended the very first event, which was several years ago. They have added quite a few different activities, including pitch sessions. They also had "live read" sessions with local actors reading the first ten pages of various scripts which were really fantastic. You might want to check into this as well. It's a very relaxed conference on a beautiful campus and Santa Fe is home to many talented writers, actors, musicians and other assorted gadflies...so you never know who you might run into. A very well-run affair though.

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Yes. They apparently are interested primarily in urban, African-American oriented material. I, too, sent them a synopsis some time ago but never heard back. My script was both urban and African-american oriented.

Yes, Frederick, we are waging a war against banality.

I sent them a synopsis over three months ago. Didn't know of the personnel change. Thanks. Believe I first got their info from a post on WSN. Do believe they also have contact info on Done Deal.

There are quite a few comments on KM on this site. You'd be well advised to read them. Also, do a search on the name and see where it takes you....probably to a modeling agency...and then see where that takes you.....hmmmm.

hmmm, again...please note, Mr. Storey, that in my post I did not tell the originial poster not to sell, I suggested that they do some research...having grown up in the movie biz...and I mean the biz not the glamor...I can attest to the fact that hollywood is like politics...there is no such thing as a good politician...and you still vote don't you? As sreeenwriters, we want to see our material become movies...one has to take whatever road opens to them that feels comfortable traveling along....but, and as Pee Wee Herman once said, everyone has a big BUT...one should understand the context of the choice they want to make.

Anyone have any info on this person? Wants to offer "help" with a script of mine that he read a synopsis for. Haven't heard from him on how he can "help". Thought someone might have some info.

The "help" turns out to be www.hireacoach.net. Anyone know anything about this?

This appears to be one of those "Ed hansen type" deals...where your script is great but needs re-writing and you are sent to someone who can do that for you...for a fee. Upon looking into this one, it ultimately ended up at Planet Shark and a person named S. O'Brien aka Soho Sharky, who among other quirky things provides, of course, script coverage...check it out. Probably want to pass on this one.

Happens to me with every script! I find that it always has to do with the fact that the script at that point is way too wordy. You've heard this many times before...a script is primariy visual...some will say always!!! But, almost always, scripts of new writers are way to wordy...go through your script with an editorial lawnmower...cut the hell out of it and I can guarantee, almost, that when you read it again, it will not be boring!

It's interesting that we all jump at the opportunity to speak in tongues...why is that? Is there something hidden deep inside of us that we can't get out? Write on, MacDuff.

If you are writing and action script, my favorite is "The Secrets of Action Screenwriting" by William Martell...it covers all the tricks!

Just read another Letter to the Editor in our local paper praising the recent screenwriting conference in Santa Fe. While I did not attend this year, hope those of you who did had a great experience. There is a strong push here, again, to continue to make Santa Fe a creative center for writing, acting and film production. Would be interested in comments from anyone who attended.

What a funny post...can't believe I read every message!!! giggling about Tracy Lords and wanting to see "Revenge of the Killer Tomatoes" just one more time...now, in retrospect, having read all the posts, guess I would have to vote for "The Girl Can't Help It"...great music but a terrible movie...except for Jayne Mansfield's bra...what was it about the bras of the 50's???!!! Forget naked!!! Let's get to the point!!!!In all reality, however, the worst movie ever made was more than likely "The Worm Eaters" by Herb Robbins...actually was in the top ten in the book "The 100 Worst Movies Ever Made"....Herb lived here in Santa Fe and in the late 80s a number of us local actors and writers helped him make "The Brain Suckers"...I played the local police chief...unfortunately, for some obscure legal reasons, it was never released....now let me tell you, if that had ever been released, there is no question, none...that would have been the WORST movie ever made.

Well, just for punctuation here...if you want to see a good film with a great script...and gret music to boot, go see "Bend It Like Beckham"....if just one American film was like this....

I entered this contest two years ago when it first sarted. My script was awarded an honorable mention. While that didn't "award" me anything, I have received several contacts from sites where they have placed info about the script. Didn't get any script feedback or personal communication.

Here's two things to try. Type "Zimbabwe names" into your search engine. My Google pulled up extensive lists of both male and female Zimbabwe names. Another thing I do frequently if I'm looking for foreign names is to go to a record store and look for music from that county. Then check out the credits...musicians, producers etc. Always good names there. Being a music aficianado, I just pulled out Zimbabwe Frontline v.3 and there are dozens of great Zimbabwe names.

Wondering the same thing. One of my scripts made their semifinals. Wondering, too, what that means. Any one else have experience in the contest?

Wow. I'm impressed. Hope one of us wins. By the way, if you've never been to the Santa Fe Screenwriting seminar, it, too, is a good one....and the scenery is pretty entertaining here as well. Best of luck to all of you.

Hey, Michael, I'm a Pittsburgh transplant, too, living way out here in Santa Fe, and there ain't nobody out here to root for!!

Interesting that I have a Pgh screenplay set in 1959, when I grew up there, about the incredible music scene of the 50s and 60s and it constantly makes the semi-finals and sometimes the finals of contests I enter it in and the feed back is almost always...."no one is really interested in 50's films...or don't do a period piece for your first script....my view is, the time just isn't quite right and at some point, someone out there will take an interest in it...I just have to wait...and write other stories in the meantime...but the good feedback from contests, at least, let's me know that it is fairly well written....keep on movin'.

Any suggestions for a couple of good, up-coming Sci Fi/Action Adventure contests?

Anyone know what's up with the final winners announcement in this contest?

Thanks for the suggestions.

Trying to find a contact at Rhino Media/Films. They did "Why Do Fools Fall in Love" and "Fear and Loathing". Anybody got any leads? Thanks.

The New Mexico State Pen is also used for filming. The Longest Yard was recently shot there.