The ScriptJournal
V.4, E.2

SCRIPTSHARK
Tools for the Serious Writer

CREATE:
Treatment Notes : Treatments are the building blocks of the development process. The treatment should tell the complete story before setting it in script form, adding depth to character and story by filling in missing blanks. Let ScriptShark help you develop the ideas that lead to great screenplays.

DEVELOP:
Story Notes : A comprehensive report on specific trouble spots with your screenplay, this document is modeled after studio-style development notes (a studio document generated to improve the material). Story Notes focus less on critiquing scripts and more on improving them.

SUBMIT:
Coverage : Coverage Reports are documents prepared by Industry readers to help summarize a script's attributes and detractors. The report is a formal, unbiased review of the material and a by-product of a search mechanism developed to find new literary material and talent. If you receive a 'Consider' or 'Recommend' you will qualify for our scouting services.

www.scriptshark.com

What is a peer review web site?
Peer Review web sites very simply allow writers to post personal information and upload their material for review by other writers. In most cases, to do so, you must become a reviewer yourself and read other scripts. These services provide an interactive forum for exchange of ideas.

Can it help?
Getting feedback is one of the most difficult issues facing writers. This model allows writers the ability to get valid feedback from a number of different people. Others read your material because they need you to read theirs. While it's important to remember the person analyzing your project may know much less about writing than you, non-biased opinons can always help shape mechanical choices in future rewrites. That being said, there is no substitution for a professional opinion - someone that has a deep level of knowledg and will hold your material to high standards.

Are there concerns?
While minimal - there are two significant issues a writer should keep in mind before using a Peer Review web site. 1) You are posting your project's information (and often the material itself) to other writers you don't know. While theft of ideas happen far less than commonly believed, this is a forum in which the possibility is greater. Be sure to Copyright or Register your screenplay before it's posted.

Which sites should I visit?
Below are the most notable Peer Review web sites. Each have a unique approach and different style. All three offer great support for new and veteran writers.

33 WAYS TO BREAK INTO HOLLYWOOD

Got a script to get to Hollywood? Good. Then you need a map that
will guide you through the relentless obstacle course designed to keep 99%
of the screenwriters on the planet out.

"33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood" is divided into five categories:

A. The Standard Routes.
B. The More Aggressive Routes.
C. The Outrageous Routes.
D. Networking Your Way to Success.
E. The High Probability Methods.

Best of all, there's no charge for "33 Ways." It is simply a gift brought
to you by ScriptShark and ScriptForSale to help solve the problem so
many screenwriters have trying to break into the industry.

Armed with these strategies, your confidence will rise, your opportunities
will increase, and you'll have the staying power necessary to make it in
the film business. Never again will you be stuck for ideas to get in the door.

Visit http://www.scriptforsale.com/33ways/signup33.htm

THE BASELINE INSIDER

The Horror film genre spreads among a number of different sub-genres - slasher, supernatural, and creature feature to name a few. After a solid upswing in popularity during the 1990's, this year's "The Grudge" written by Stephen Susco proves that the genre is alive and well. Since the "Sixth Sense," the studios have been notably attracted to intelligent horror films with relatable human elements. Moving away from the classic teen slashers that owned the late seventies thru mid-eighties, focus has remained on finding material that will scare an audience, but remain PG-friendly. That puts the honus on writers to try and create something haunting while keeping the gore to a minimum.

All data from Baseline-FilmTracker.  For more biographical information on Christopher Guest or other writers, directors, actors, and producers, please visit BaselineFT.

2004 SCREEN-WRITING EXPO

Screenwriting Expo 3

For 3 days of Guests of Honor including Jerry Lewis, Robert McKee, William Goldman, Aaron Sorkin, Richard Donner, Paul Attanasio, Arnold Kopelson, and many more. A new guest every 2 hours.

For 3 Days of Panels on the Business of Screenwriting including 2 panels of agents, a producers panel, plus panels on legal information, entering contests, making your own break, selling your script over the Internet, TV writing, making your own movies, and more.

For Access to 300 Producers, Development Execs, Agents, and their Assistants at 6 different cocktail and networking parties. Don't miss this chance to network with these decision makers who can transform your dream into reality.

For Access to Over 350 Seminars and Worshops by the best teachers in the industry. Faculty include Robert McKee, Michael Hauge, John Truby, Richard Walter, and Jack Epps. These seminars are 90-minutes in length and cost $4 additional.

Plus Pitching to over 60 Companies including Industry Entertainment (Warner Bros.); Spring Creek Productions (Warner Bros.); Neo Art & Logic (Dimension Films); Gross Entertainment (Disney/Fox); Evolution Entertainment (Lion's Gate/Disney/Universal); Brad Luff Productions (Sony); Firm Films (Fox); Mosaic Media Group (MGM, Sony); Circle of Confusion, Miramax/Dimension Films, and The Brant Rose Agency, to name a few...

Use this link to Register:

http://www.screenwritingexpo.com/

Screenwriting Expo 3 is held November 5-7, 2004 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in downtown Los Angeles. We hope to see you there.