Contest Update

I got news from the last two script contests I entered this year: the Screenwriting Expo and the Scriptshark Insider Contest.

Neither "Heaven's Mandate" nor "Stars and Stripes Forever" advanced to the quarter-finals of the Screenwriting Expo. They both finished in the Top 20%, though. It's something.

For the Scriptshark Insider, I entered just "Stars and Stripes Forever." It made it to the quarter-finals. Finalists'll be announced come mid/late November. I'll be curious to see what happens.

Anyhoo, I have changes in mind for the scripts, which I'll make and I'm working on at least one other script to enter in contests next year.

Looking forward to sending my "Ra-Gho-Zu" SF fiction story out to WOTF later this month. Must get back from Austin first.

Austin Film Festival Results

Earlier this week, I got the results for the scripts I subbed to the Austin Film Festival (AFF).

"Stars and Stripes Forever" didn't advance to the Second Round.

"Heaven's Mandate" made it to the Second Round and almost advanced to the Semi-Finals.

I'm told that Second Round scripts fall in the top 10-12% of the 4000+ scripts submitted this year.

And I'm told that if I'm able to attend the conference this year, I'll get a badge that'll give me producer-level access to panels, parties, film viewings, etc. and that us Second Rounders and higher will be feted by the AFF and we'll get a chance to say "Hi" to major Hollywood players.

Nice.

Two sticking points are getting enough time away from work (Oct 11-18) and getting the money. Even with the discounts I'd get from the AFF for lodging and travel, it won't be cheap. After going to Taos, I hadn't been planning on going anywhere for a long time.

I'll have to see if I can swing this AFF trip.

But since I have the feeling that "Heaven's Mandate" is more of a foreign film project that Hong Kong would like better than Hollywood, I wonder how benficial going to AFF will be for me?

PAGE AWARDS UPDATE

I just learned that the finalists for this year's PAGE Awards Contest were announced.

I'm not one of 'em. :-/

Shigata ga nai.

I had a good run. At the very least, I can use it as a credit on a query letter. I'm told that some of this year's quarter-finalists and semifinalists will be approached by judges who're interested in optioning, producing, or representing them.

It'll be awesome if one of those fringe benefits spill over my way.

Anyhoo, I have ideas in mind for the next draft of my "Stars and Stripes Forever" script and I'm moving on with other stories.

Later.

PAGE AWARDS 2007 SEMIFINALIST

Hey all,

I just learned that my "Stars and Stripes Forever" script advanced to the semifinals in the "Historical Film" category for the PAGE 2007 Awards.

Finalists will be announced on 8-30-07 and winners will be announced on 9-15-07.

I don't know how to feel at this point. I wonder if semifinalists will get script read requests from production companies, agents, etc?

I'll learn soon enough.

On the flip side "Stars" didn't make it to the quarterfinals of Blue Cat, Scriptapalooza, & Nicholls. I'd subbed "Heaven's Mandate" to Scriptapalooza & Nicholls also, but it didn't make the cut neither.

Interesting to see how different contests have different responses.

Shigata ga nai.

"It can't be helped" as a Japanese saying goes.

Must get on with my fiction now.

2007 PAGE Screenwriting Contest Quarterfinalist

I just got the news that my "Stars and Stripes Forever," made it into the quarterfinals of this year's PAGE contest.

I was told that 3,411 entries were received. My script made it into the top 25% (a total of 872 scripts). Because so many excellent historical epics and biopics were entered, the contest created a new Historical category; so my story is entered as both a Drama and Historical script.

It's an American "Master & Commander" tale about a real-life navy lieutenant who struggles to destroy an American frigate captured by pirates before it's used against the United States.

Incidentally, I wrote the first draft of this script in a Winter 2005 UCLA screenwriting class under Jack Sowards.

Thanks Jack.

Semifinalists will be announced on July 30.

I've also entered a bunch of other contests. I'll look forward to the reports. :-)

Boris

Laurie Hutzler Script Consultation/Possible 1st Film Break?

Today I had a phone consult with Laurie Hutzler, the sixth I've had in about 3 years, the first I've had since starting this blog.

It was top notch as usual.

Laurie went over my Chinese Joan of Arc epic "Heaven's Mandate" and my rom com "Twice In A Lifetime."

I'll be restructuring both fairly heavily and taking them up another notch. I expect to get back to those next year, though, since I'm currently working on fiction and have other scripts to work on after that.

Laurie also mentioned that she knows someone who is starting up a production company in China and would be a likely person to send the rewrite of "Heaven's Mandate" to--provided it's up to par. She also knows someone who could help me translate the script to Chinese. :-)

When this script is ready, hopefully "Crouching Tiger" director Ang Lee will get attached and "Crouching Tiger" heroine Zhang Ziyi will be signed to played the heroine. :-)

I'll also look forward to sending my rom com out when it's ready.

I get the feeling something good started today.

Thanks Laurie!

FILM COMPANY RESPONSE TO "HEAVEN'S MANDATE"

Hey all,

I called up a contact today at Jerry Weintraub Productions. She said her company has to pass on my Chinese Joan of Arc script, BUT I can approach her when I have a script appropriate for Warner Bros.

Woohoo!

So I've got two companies, Tapestry Films and Jerry Weintraub Productions, which I can approach with a romantic comedy I'm getting set to redraft later this year. I wrote the first draft in the UCLA Professional Program under screenwriter Alex Metcalf. It's called "Twice in a Lifetime."

Logline: A widowed man and an engaged woman seek their perfect match with one another.

When it's ready, I'll send it out to all the major contests in 2007 along with "Heaven's Mandate," and an American "Master and Commander" script I've dubbed "Stars and Stripes Forever."

Now I have to hook "Heaven's Mandate" up with a film company that'll want to do it whether in Hollywood or Hong Kong. Winning in the top contests next year will help.

Looking forward to putting my screenwriting cap back on when I'm through with my fiction.

Later.

Sit Rep (New handle I'm trying out)

Let's see...

Screenwritingwise, on Friday, 9-22-06, I made calls to some film companies and managers that requested to read my Chinese Joan of Arc script in June or July.

One person who I've been in touch with at Jerry Weintraub productions has said that she's waiting for the comments of a reader who has the script and asked if it was available as in not optioned or sold. I answered in the affirmative.

Regarding the others, I've been leaving messages on office voice mail. So we'll see.

I also called up on my own Focus Features and Rogue Films since they're both co-headed by James Schmaus ("Crouching Tiger" producer & writer plus long-time Ang Lee collaborator).

The person who took my call at Focus gave me the rote "We do not take unsolicited material" answer. No problem.

At Rogue, which released "Fearless" on 9-22-06 and which I'm planning on writing up a review, I reached the office of Adrienne Biddle, who was named the senior vp production in January 2006.

I queried his office about my script. There was enthusiasm. Then I was asked if I was the writer, which I admitted. I was told very nicely that Rogue can't get the script directly from the writer, but they can take it from any representation I obtain. I thanked him for his time and left messages on the voice mails of the managers who have my script on the following Monday of 9-25-06. I'll see what comes of this.

I have other strategems in mind, though.

On the fiction front, I mailed off some stories for Pocket Book's Star Trek Strange New Worlds 10 (SNW) contest. Very excited. I sent all my tales via priority mail. They're supposed to arrive sometime in the afternoon on Friday 9-30-06. Well before the Monday 10-2-06 deadline.

Now I'll have to wait till late December 2006/early January 2007 for the results. I think I've got a shot this time.

Tempus omnia relevant.

Time reveals all.

Now I'm going to smooth out some Writers of the Future (WOTF) contest subs before I get cracking on my screenplay contest tales.

Now I'm gonna prepare 3 stories for this year's Star Trek Strange New Worlds (SNW) fiction contest and then another 3 stories for the Writers of the Future SF/Fantasy fiction contest.

Once I take care of those, I'll prep 3 scripts for all of next year's major screenplay contests.

Hmmm...

3 stories each for 3 contests. I wonder what the odds are? Is there some hidden meaning here with 3 three's?

If the gods're with me, I'll get some of my first fiction sales in the next year and I'll be in LA again (not relishing that 100%) to see my cousin, receive some film script contest awards, and build on the connections I've made so far this year.

Later

UPDATE

Hey all,

I've been busy with fiction lately, hammering out some stories for this year's Star Trek Strange New Worlds (SNW) anthology, which is published by Pocket Books.

Some very useful readers have given good feedback. In a word, I'm "hopeful."

I'm starting to shift gears to my Writers of the Future (WOTF) subs now. I'm "hopeful" for that, too.

On the screenwriting front, Tapestry Films, one of a couple of production companies and film reps, that requested to read my Chinese Joan of Arc script got back to me on Friday, 9-8-06.

Tapestry Films likes the script...except they're into comedy, thrillers, and horror.

But when I have a script appropriate for them, they want to read it. Woohoo!

When I finish with my fiction stories, I'll have to get cracking on a romantic comedy I have in my portfolio.

I can hardly wait till the other companies and reps get in touch with me.

I also did talk to an entertainment attorney earlier this year in July when I went to LA. Things are in the early stages now. Her role would be to hammer out contract details when I have a contract that needs to be negotiated. As things build up, it'll come with the territory

That's one of 3 recommended reps for screenwriters: attorney, agent, and manager.

Some recommend that a person also get an agent for the tactics of submitting stories and a manager to provide strategy and help advise one's career. Managers/agents often help a client get the other.

I'll see how things shape up as they go.

Later

Weekly Update

I'm up to page 33 or 4,395 words in my latest Trek short story now. The end is in sight. Only 1/3 left of my handwritten draft to type up. I'm loving this story.

I've also been told by the UCLA Professional Programs office that a second press release for the contest results will come out in this week's edition of Variety Entertainment magazine, which is... today.

Woohoo!

I've also had another manager call me up, asking to read my Chinese Joan of Arc script. Bene as an Italiano would say.

And it's T-minus 4 days to my trip to LA with 20 or so film producers and studio execs. Things're looking busy.

I'm also planning on watching "Pirates of the Carribbean II: Dead Man's Chest," though the buzz is it's not as good or fresh as the original. :-(

Nichevo.

Later.

UCLA GRADUATION

I've completed the requirements for the Advanced UCLA Screenwriting Certificate program and the ceremony was held on the UCLA campus today.

Very low-key. No caps and gowns, degrees, obnoxious paparazzi, etc.

No major industry players showing up to network with neither, which is the down side.

People who showed up got their certificates and if they won in the UCLA screenplay competition (like yours truly), they got an award for that and a nice little check, which is good for paying a monthly bill or two. (For more details on my contest win, new readers can see my
UCLA Screenplay Contest Winner post.

Grads also get to go to a nearby coffee shop and shoot the breeze with classmates and teachers. Very cozy.

I couldn't show up, though, but I'll get my certificate and award in the mail.

C'est le vie....

If I were Russian, nichevo.

Time to move on, continually improve, write, sell, break in, that sort of thing.

UCLA SCREENPLAY CONTEST WINNER

Let's see...

First order of business, I'm up to page 15 in my latest Star Trek fiction rough draft and

I placed as a winner in the UCLA Professional Programs Screenplay Competition. Woohoo!

I don't know where I rank among the five winners, but I'm third in alphabetical order.

I don't know what I'm supposed to feel yet.

The script I placed with is "Heaven's Mandate." It's a tale about a Chinese Joan of Arc who fights with a magic sword to thwart a power-mad noblewoman from making herself the empress of China.

Anyone curious can find an excerpt in my
"Heaven's Mandate" Screenplay Excerpt post.

I'll look forward to learning where I finished and what the winners get.

Also, here's the e-mail I received from the Professional Programs Office:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please join us in congratulating the winners and honorable mentions for the 2005-2006 UCLA Professional Programs screenplay competition.

ALL students who participated in the contest are to be commended for their hard work. It should be noted that this contest is one of subjectivity. Many judges participated in the contest, and while one may not have preferred a particular script, another may have adored it (just like one agent may love your work, and another may say it’s not for them). There were many exceptional scripts that did not make it to the final round, and many of the judges have told us that the quality of this year’s submissions was extremely high. We'd also like to extend our deepest thanks to all of the judges for their participation.

Without further ado...

WINNERS (in abc order)

Barbara Curry
THE NOMINEE

Ryan Gilmore
THE DEVIL’S PLAYGROUND

Boris Layupan
HEAVEN’S MANDATE

David Mango
BLACK’S SONATA

Peter D. Pham
DERAILED


HONORABLE MENTIONS (in abc order)

Adriana Espinosa
SONS OF ILLUSION

Shaun Kosta
THE POSER

Susan Manard
EXTRA INNINGS

Robert Tomaguchi
EXHUME

Russ Tyler
TWOFACE