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Nice going,Brendon - mine did too. Expect to see both our names on the winner's list.

Al

Q How does a lawyer fall asleep?

A First he lies on one side, then he lies on the other.

My script UNDER THE MANGO TREE is a finalist congrads and good luck to any other finalists.

I've won 3 contests in the past 4 months. Telluride Indie, CreativeCrib, and WordsFromHere with two different scripts. These aren't huge contests but they all have had over 400 submissions.

I entered all at the last minute, just squeaking under the deadline. The advantage of each of these contests (to me) was all have multiple winners - Telluride had 15 best screenplays, CreativeCrib chose 15 best screenplays and Words From Here chose 5 best scripts. I write Action and Action/comedy which almost never wins contests or Academy Awards so my scripts have at least a chance of winning contests by genre.

Last year, I phoned after a contest deadline and got permission to send in a script late.

I always wait to the last minute because every time I enter early, I have an idea how to improve the script, rewrite it and wish I had sent in the revised draft.

Just got the phone call tonight - my screenplay Under The Mango Tree is one of the winners! Ya hoo!

They wouldn't give any more details. Will announce the winners at the Festival.

Anyone else get the phone call?

Al

Each catagory has winners, mine was for Action/Adventure.

This makes the 4th contest my screenplays have won this year.

Yup, a winner in Telluride Independent Film Festival too.

Iam,

"Under The Mango Tree" is also a finalist in ongoing Practical Paradox and second cut in CineStory.

re:hmm...put that money away for a low-budget film and produce it on your own.

Marcel,

If you can tell me how i can make my low-budget film for 30 bucks, go ahead, otherwise I'll take my chances entering contests where if my screenplay is good enough to win, I might have a chance of attracting the attention of a producer who might be able to raise more than $30 million to make my movie happen.

You go ahead and do it your way and I'll do it mine -- we'll see what happens.

If you don't play the lotto, you'll never win...

Allen Cody

Not yet.

A producer once told me NOT to tell what it's about BUT to tell the story.

I went, but only attended the awards ceremony and saw Marian Nesbit there. She won the Gold Award for short film, I won the Gold Award for Action/Adventure feature.

Came in 3rd.

That's the 5th contest in which I've won or placed in the past 5 months. Is this as record?

Al

Sue,

I checked Edward D Hansen on Google for you and got this thread:

From: Paul W. Silver (callshot@aol.comx) Subject: Edward D. Hansen, Inc. Newsgroups: mail.screenwriters View: (This is the only article in this thread) | Original Format Date: 1999/08/16

Does anyone out there have any dealings worth mentioning with Edward D. Hansen Inc? Ed Hansen is either a legitimate producer, director, and writer with an impressive resume, or a sophisticated con artist. If he is a con artist, I would like to warn aspiring screenwriters to steer clear of him. If he is legitimate, I would like to apologize. --Paul

There is another thread as well.

You may want to contact the email address of the writer(s) and ask if they found out anything else or if they sent they're scripts and has anything to say about the prodco.

Also for your information, an Atomic4 was a horrible, inexpensive, 4-cylinder, 40 horsepower gas engine, made prior to 60's for forklifts and put into small sailboats up to about 40' in length.

They had Zenith up-draft carburator that had the propensity to barf gasoline into the bilge and explode at the first available spark.

Comonly referred to as Abomimable4's most have been replaced with small diesels or should be.

My guess is look for this guy in a marina on a funky saiboat or look for the explosion at the end of the dock.

hope this is some help to you

Al

Sp. they're should be their

Just for the heck of it I entered two (almost) identical screenplays in Hollywood's Next Success Screenwriting Contest, but they had different titles.

One made it to the Quarterfinals - the other didn't...

Hold the press, just found this on IMDB under assistant director or second unit director, and misc. crew -- He's been kind of laying low for like about 20 years if that's your guy:

Edward Hansen Page 1 of 9 Sometimes Credited As: Ed Hansen Edward Hansen Amazon.com Video DVD Soundtrack Also available: Books -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Filmography as: Production Manager, Second Unit Director or Assistant Director, Miscellaneous crew --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Production Manager - filmography

Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983) (production manager) Fox and the Hound, The (1981) (production manager)

Tom,

Take a step back and slow down a bit.

Do you have a great script? Have you workshopped it to other screenwriters - Zoetrope or any professional readers? Have you re-written your script so many times to get every word, every scene, every character to the best it can be? Do you have more than one script? Ideally three or four at least - all polished screenplays?

If your answer is yes to all the above, you're ready for the first step.

If your answer is no, then your still learning and you need to keep writing and reading every screenplay you can get your eyes on until you perfect the art and the craft of screenwriting.

If your answer is yes, my advise is to submit to one of the logline query letter services that email hundreds of agents and prodcos that agree to receive email queries from these agencies. Venice Arts is one that I know and have worked with in the past. And now there are others.

Also, submit your screenplays to as many of the contests that solicit on this site that you think you have a fair chance of winning.

Then, if you win one or two, sit back and the producers will come to you.

I've managed to win or place in 5 contests with two of my screenplays so far this year and have had requests for reads from about 40 producers and agencies and one of the scripts is now on its way to be optioned.

Nothing works better on a query letter than to mention that your screenplay won a contest.

If you enter contests and don't place, then maybe it's a sign that your screenplays need more work, re-writing, or you should try writing more screenplays, ones that are written with passion and that might find a market before you contact producers and agents.

Best of luck and don't get discouraged -keep writing, when you have the right script, they will come to you.

Al

It's still pretty funny...

Anyone else win this contest? My action screenplay, KIDNAPPING CASTRO was selected a winner. That makes the 6th screenplay contest I've won or placed (with two scripts) since December.

Allen Cody Taube

Thanks, Marcel,

I'm working on a plan right now.

Al

Made top 100 also with the least likely of four screenplays I submitted. Good luck everyone.

A

Marcel,

Thanks for that. Just sent them a pitch for a Native American feature spec - a present day reservation action screenplay.

hokoshe la - Walk the good path, Navajo

R S,

If not telling the truth and not having integrity is the criteria for going to war, we could justifiably declare war on every politician in the world.

A.C.

D J Williams - wrong.

List of second rounders at:

http://www.wordsfromhere.com/contest/new.html

This is a neat little FREE contest. I was one of the 5 winners last year, got a copy of Final Draft 6 and a year's subscription to Script Mag and John submitted our scripts to a bunch of producers.

He really tries hard to run a good contest, stays in touch, and is very encouraging. I don't know how or why he does it for free.

Any other Moviebyters on the list?

Missouri Breaks: "The further North you go - the more things eat horses"

Stuntman: Peter O'Toole: "If God could do the things that we could do, he'd be a happy man."

Andrew,

I can help you. I am a screenwriter and professional sailor. Merchant Marine Master of Steam And Sail to 100 Ton. I will email you my email address.

Allen

Yo, James,

Two of mine, UNDER THE MANGO TREE and EYE OF THE WIND are also in the semifinals.

This contest has a funky name but boasts that they judge screenplays like the prodcos do: by the first 5 pages and the last 10 pages.

Best of luck to all semifinalists everywhere.

Al

Ellum,

Thank you. If only you were the producer or studio head with a spare 100 million looking for the next script --

Al

Thomas,

I agree. If you want to get your 8 bucks worth and like to see a well done fun action flick - check out Charlie's Angels 2.

Al

Gil,

Don't sweat it.

I saw your name on the list of semis, two of mine are on the list too, Under the Mango Tree and Eye of the Wind.

May the best first 5 pages and last 10 pages win.

Al

Any writer's conferences, workshops, pitchfests, film festivals going on in October?

Thanks, Ellum.

Al

My first agent got a heart attack and died right afer we signed. Then I entered a bunch of contests and won a bunch, 9 of them in just over a year.

And I got a phone call from ICM to send them all my scripts. To packaging. There was a buz and a bunch of promises.

The William Morris wanted me to send all my scripts email too about the same time. Then the WM assistant phones me all excited about one action script and gives it to his boss who flipped out and gives it to a producer.

Then nothing. Wouldnt even answer my call.

When you hear the words "We love this." coming from anyone in Hollywood, watch your back.

Then another agent requested and she sent me a contract, the next week. So I signed and she's been great.

Robbie,

I got a phone call from William Morris Agency from a logline on InkTip. (It may have helped that I wrote on the logline that I won 9 screenwriting contests and film festivals and listed a few of the more well known ones).

It was from packaging and the assistant requested three of my scripts to read that weekend and recommended one to his big boss.

Last I heard it was shopped to a director and waiting for word.

Here's how I do it:

EYE OF THE WIND drama/action

If a tree can talk, a blind girl can see.

*Awards: Winning drama screenplay Telluride Independent Film Festival 2003



That consistantly gets reads. In query letters to producers or agents.

Anyone else get the awards notice from Worldfest?

I disagree with both of you.

You are describing a formula and saying "this must happen exactly this way!"

If we all keep writing exactly the same way, using the exact same formula, then cinema is doomed to predictable redundancy.

Break the formula, see what happens.

A damn good story is a damn good story, formula or not.

You are saying that the hero MUST arc.

I'm saying that the STORY is way more important than the arc or any segment of the formula you call structure.

A script with compelling characters and radical arc is not a movie.

Story is king.