Seven6 Productions, LLC

Our Phoenix Screenwriters Connection meetup group is going pretty good. Writing is a lonely profession if you don’t have a co-writer or team of writers - most of us don’t. So, going to the screenwriting group meetings is a nice way to connect with fellow writers and talk. This month we did several table reads - all really very good - in my opinion … lots of interesting ideas and concepts. We talked about our works in progress and hopefully inspired each other to move forward … writing!

One of our members gave me a great idea about expanding on my short screenplay, Metal Detecting. He said that I should expand the script to a feature by making the detective the lead character. I had never thought of that - both expanding it and moving the main character to the detective. If I hadn’t connected with these writers, I would have never gotten that feedback or idea.

I’ve been gone for a bit - vacations, other things, etc. but now I’m back on the screenwriting track. I wrote a couple more shorts. One being, Euthanasia Machine - a bit morbid but maybe timely at least as to what the future might bring.

And - I’m on two 48hr. film challenge teams. This ought to be fun, an education, and totally tiring! But, I want to see how these things go - how they are managed - what has to be done. Then maybe I’ll try one myself.

I’m also working on my Hawaii short. It’s hard work but fun. My mind goes round and round. Just like writing a script. And I have to put some music to it and that’s not easy to decide how it should feel. I’ll get it done though - and I’m sure will learn a lot. 

We went to see 10 shorts at the IFP June Cinema Lounge. Out of 10, I liked one. Some had very good ideas - and poor production - while others had poor ideas - and great production. Melding the two must be difficult. 

Our screenwriting group read our 3 minute film screenplays. All were pretty good. We scored each one and came up with the best four. Then the indie group will choose one to produce. I really hope it isn’t mine.

Well, that’s what I’ve been up to. I will write more often - probably about my 48hr. film experiences. 

Yesterday, we had our first PSC -Phoenix Screenwriters Connection - meeting. It was a very good meeting. Everyone was very enthusiastic about the group and screenwriting. I think we motivated each other to keep moving forward with our screenplays. We also decided to start and write a group collabrative screenplay. I think that will be a lot of fun - as well as - a great writing and learning experience.

After the meeting we went down to the PFF. As usual, my expectations were so much higher than what I saw. I guess when I hear the word festival - I envision LOTS of people. I would imagine though, most people were inside watching movies - the whole reason for the festival in the first place. We didn’t watch any movies. We went for the seminars. I’d like to go to one of the late night parties. I’m sure they are packed with people.

Yesterday we went to the Robert Forster talk. If you don’t recognize his name as an actor - he was the “boyfriend” in Jackie Brown, a Quentin Tarentino film. He’s been around for a long time acting in the 60’s to present time. Below is a photo of him.

Then there was some entertainment, wine tasting, lots of vendors with informational booths.

Today, we went to the Screenwriters seminar - Script to Screen. There was a very impressive panel discussing the art of screenwriting - as well as - answering questions from the audience. Then the next seminar was about the Arizona film industry’s future. Below is a photo of the screenwriting panel.

I think the festival was a huge success! Maybe next year, I’ll have a film submitted!

I went to a table reading session last Wednesday. There were about 10 people there, no one who actually sold a screenplay to Hollywood - at least I don’t think so - that would have been a nice brain to pick. We read each others script pages and critiqued them. The comments were constructive for me and I took what I felt I could use and discarded the rest. That’s how it should be - you are the writer and you should write “your way”. There is no exact format to follow - nothing written in stone. If you took a look at many scripts that were huge hit movies - you would see format sometimes flies out the window. If the concept and idea is good - it’s good no matter if you capitalize the wrong words or have too many … dot, dot, dots or even exclamation points!  I will try to write correctly though - it’s the perfectionism in me.

I’m trying to make every table reading and bring current things I’m writing (nothing earth shattering). One thing I did notice is that when the screenplays are read - many people cannot grasp them. I’m wondering if that is common … or maybe … the intense concentration of trying make sure your read your character has anything to do with it. It’s a question I’d like to find the answer to because many people just didn’t grasp the ideas presented. I know that I was more interested in making sure I didn’t flubb my character than actually listening to the screenplay.

That’s all for now …

I will sell a screenplay to Hollywood!!!

We went to the Arizona Screenwriters Association monthly meeting. The place where it is held is kind of a maze. I almost gave up and went home. But we walked around the building one more time. Although the group this month was small - it was a really good evening. We did 4 table reads of scene challenges. Out of the 4 - 2 I got, 2 I didn’t. I enjoyed hearing the scenes read aloud. The writing sounds very different read aloud. We also found out about a web site that lets screenwriters list their work. They charge a fee for long screenplays - and shorts are free to list. The site is called: InkTip - http://www.inktip.com 

Tonight, I want to go to the table reading group in Mesa. 

What a treat to get tickets to the Peoria Film Festival. I got a two day pass and another one for the workshops! I will definitely attend. The festival is March 1 - 4, 2007. Check out their website for more info - www.peoriafilmoffice.com

February, 24, 2007 - I did go to a meeting of the Phx. Indie Film Group. I decided to attend to first see what was going on in the world of film in Phoenix — and second, to see if it was the group for me. I found this meeting online at Meetup.com. I thought I was out there by myself but to my surprise there is a whole filming world out there in Phoenix. Lots of people have the same interests as I do. And the energy is amazing. The meeting was full and everyone was enthusiastic about the future of this new group.

We all introduced ourselves and to my surprise there were quite a few screenwriters, aspiring like me and accomplished, at the meeting. Someone was also trying to set up a screenwriters group as well. I think a screenwriters group would be good to push each other along.

All in all, the meeting was very informative and fun. I will attend the next one and hope to meet more people. Until then ….