Saturday, December 31, 2011

Plan for Success

So the New Year is upon us. There's a lot we can do with it. Promise to write more. Promise to get an agent. Promise to read more scripts or take more classes. It doesn't matter what you resolve to do to move your career forward, but just do something! For me, I can already see the New Year is heading in the direction I want. I have a lunch scheduled with a great producer so we can figure out what to work on together. I have another script with another great producer that we will find out in January if she wants to get involved. I plan on pitching to another great producer some ideas in January. And I have another idea with two other big production companies. So my 2012 is starting off exactly how I want it to. But what about yours? If you haven't set some goals for yourself and your writing, then use the time now. You can't achieve what you want unless you make some plans. So plan to be successful and map it out.

One book I'll suggest is Jack Canfield's Success Principles. Best book ever! Really helps you get motivated and make a plan and stick to it. I wouldn't be in the place with my career without his book. Seriously. I can't recommend it to enough people. And not everyone is going to read it or do the things he says. But then, you're really not ready for success. So ask yourself, are you? If the answer is yes, then make this the year you really achieve it or at least lay the foundation to get there.

Also, resolve to get rid of any negative people that could be tainting your road to success. I've had several of those people at the end of the year. And I'm hoping that it's the 2011 energy saying good-bye, and then making way for only awesome positive people in my career. The more we focus on the positive people we want in our lives, the more they will come into them.

So there you have it. Make this your best writing year ever! I know I plan to do it with mine. I'd love to have you along for the ride.

Have a safe and happy

New Year!

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Run and hide

What do you do when people are trying to screw you over? It feels like crap. Makes me want to hide my head under the covers. I'm usually sad for like a day, and then dust myself off and start again. Started yesterday for me. Won't get totally in it, because don't want to bad mouth anyone. I think things like that will always come back to haunt you. But felt left out by a writer on something. Could even be a producer involved. I'm really not sure. But it sucks! I'm left feeling like a 5 year old that no one wants to jump rope with. And hey, I'm really good at jumping rope!

So woke up feeling better. Feeling like okay, I put myself and my writing out there, this is par for the course. Of course I'm going to be judged and I need thicker skin. Then something totally separate happens today and I'm totally dissed, again! Argh! It's enough to make me want to hole up forever! Okay, that's dramatic. But it hurts. It sucks. I hate feeling like this.

All I can say is I'm looking forward to January and all the exciting things I have going on till then. So for now? I think I want to go lay down. All this dissing makes a person tired!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Soup's on!

So I met with the indie producer yesterday for lunch. But she wasn't hungry or thirsty, and I was only in the mood for soup and ice tea. So light lunch I guess! So she shared with me the notes on my script she wanted me to use for the final rewrite, and the notes on the other writer's script to use too. She was worried how in the heck I would combine these two scripts into one story as some of the ideas are so completely different. But I felt excited just talking about the story and seeing where it would go. But then when I sat down to write last night on it, yes, I did feel a tad overwhelmed. Not crazy, horrible, but a little. But I think only to the amount anyone feels when trying to unravel a story to do a rewrite. So I ended up writing about two hours and made some decent headway. And I can tell this story will definitely work out. I look forward to doing another pass after both scripts are put together. Just so I can cut what isn't needed and make sure there isn't anything in there that doesn't really need to be, and to really add my style to the script, which is what she's liking more over the other writer. I'm hoping to finish this script before the New Year, as I have a lot of exciting projects that are going to start in January. So I want to get this off my plate so I have the time to devote to the other projects heading my way. It will be an exciting time doing this rewrite, and an exciting New Year.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Let's do lunch!

So, got an exciting and unexpected phone call yesterday from the first producer I pitched to months ago. He was the first one that was interested in the idea we've got generating around town right now. So he called and apologized for not being in better touch. Of course I said, no worries, that's fine. But he sincerely apologized again and said he's been busy but really is sorry. Said as much as he likes the idea, the Studio he works with, he knows they're not going to want to produce this indie idea. That they're looking for big tent pole ideas. But, he says to me, I can do something even better. He tells me he's going to take me to lunch in January and pitch me the ideas he wants to do and see what I want to write! OMG! That's like a dream come true! He tells me, "You're a really good writer and I want to work on something with you." Yippee! Do you know how long I've been waiting to hear this from a huge producer?! I was on cloud 9 or 10 or 11 all day! Still am. So exciting. So can't wait for our lunch. Can't wait to hear what ideas he wants to do. Will be so much fun working with a producer that can get anything made and get huge stars attached. It's super exciting and feel like my 2012 screenwriting career is really moving forward. Yippee!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Judgement Day


So I found out yesterday that I didn't move forward in the Amazon screenwriting contest. I told you I'd share whether I did advance or not. It's never fun finding out your script was not one of the chosen ones. But you never know why one script gets chosen over another. It's possible the other ones were better, it's possible the readers just liked these for who knows what reason. All I know is I wasn't chosen. But this whole business is so subjective.

I'll never forget the time I was listening to the writer of The English Patient on KCRW. It was right after he won the Academy Award for writing for that movie. And he was telling a story about how the day after he won the award, he's in England where I think he's from, and he opens the paper and reads on the front of it and the headlines are something like, "England viewers choose The English Patient as the worst movie ever" or some horribly mean thing about his writing. And that's when I told myself, I will never again worry about if I can't please everyone with my writing. There's just no possible way you can. I mean, here's this Academy Award winner, and the whole country of England hated his film! Of course, as a writer, you need to have your trusted critics, like other strong writers who you respect, get their opinion. But no matter who you are, someone is not going to like your film. It just is how it's going to be. If an Academy Award winner is going to be panned by the whole country of England, what chance do we stand? All you can do is make your script the best it can be, and go from there.

Even another story of a talented writer friend of mine, who's had a few scripts sold and produced, before he got an agent, one agent told him that his first script was the worst thing she's ever read and there was nothing funny about it at all. He's a comedy writer, mind you. My friend's writing partner was ready to give up on their writing career, but my friend wouldn't let him. Then about a week later, a lawyer got their script around town and everyone liked it and they had a career from that point on. And I've read the script and it's very funny and very well written. So it goes to show, you just never know who's going to get your script. But you can't give up. You just have to keep writing, keep getting better, and keep getting it out there until that one person who believes in you and your writing finds you.

So yes it's a bummer my script didn't go far in this Amazon contest, but I've had enough really strong comments and feedback on it, from writers I really admire, and that's what I have to trust.

Then on a side note, the indie producer I've been working with, called me tonight to tell me she's ready to get back to finishing up the script I've been rewriting for her. She's hoping to get it produced in 2012. So that's exciting! So we're going to finish the rewrite next week and hopefully before the New Year is over. So that would be exciting.

And me and this other indie producer are meeting with the writer on Monday for the horror thriller we are hoping to produce. This will be the first time we have met her in person, so this is exciting.

So I could have an indie movie in production, producing my first film, and another script of mine produced by a huge studio! So even though the people of Amazon contest did not think I was worthy, there are plenty of other exciting opportunities in the works. That's what I have to remember. No matter what happens with some scripts, others are doing really well. And that's got to mean something.

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Strong hope

So my new writer's group, last night was our second official meeting. We don't have a name yet. I think we were going to talk about that last night. Oops! Oh well. Something for the next meeting. But what I have noticed, especially last night because I brought pages to read, is what a great and strong group this is going to be.



We all came from a previous group where I did learn a lot. But the four of us felt like it had run its course there, and as much as I still like the people there, it was just time to leave. So the four that are in our group, are all writers I really respect and can see that we are all really close to selling something, are all really passionate about writing, and really study the craft, a lot. That's not something you can find in your first writer's group, and I think it's something that perhaps as a writer takes time for you to mature and improve your writing, so you can notice that in other writers.

Heck I remember in my first writer's group we had no idea how to structure a group or what to really do. And then at one point that writer's group tried to join another, and the 2nd group was kind of like, what are you guys doing?! LOL So I guess we didn't know what we were doing! But you have to start somewhere. And each group I've taken something with me and grown and learned and gotten better. And now the group I have, I really do respect their feedback.

And after the outline I brought last night, I felt supported, and got great notes, and really felt they helped me understand what I need to do with my outline next. In other groups, that hasn't always been the case. I would of course learn how to find people that could help me out. But it's always such a problem when there's that other negative element I've talked about that just sort of ruins the stronger comments.

So I'm just glad I've got this new group. I really look forward to see what comes of them and us as writers. As time goes on, we hope to add other writers to the group. But only writers that are just as strong and passionate about their craft too. It's exciting.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Woo hoo

So today my writing parter and I changed our outline we had submitted to producer #1. Because when he met with producer #2, he said he wanted us to woo the reader more. The funny thing is, I knew exactly what he meant, because someone in my writing group had just sent a treatment for Terminator just last week, and that's exactly what HE did. So I went about wooing the reader. For those who don't know what that means, and believe me, my partner who's sold two scripts wasn't even sure what that meant till I did it, then you're not alone. And if I hadn't have seen the Terminator treatment, I probably would have been in the dark too. I'll post the opening of the Terminator treatment to give you an idea.

------
The Present.
Los Angeles ghetto.
Schoolyard.
Night.

Among the spray-painted school buildings a cat prowls
between the dumpsters. It looks up, freezing alert, at
something beyond human perception.

A sourceless wind rises, and with it a keening whine.
Papers blow across the pavement. The cat yowls and hides.
Windows rattle.
-----

Pretty good stuff huh? I could post more, but you get the gist. It's not boring, it paints the story from the get-go. You can see the movie just from the treatment. I love it! And love that I just so happened to get this treatment last week, days before the producer mentioned he wanted that. Love how things work like that. So will send it to him tonight so that when he meets with producer #2 in January, we've got an outline that woos the reader.

Monday, December 12, 2011

New Year's resolution

So I heard from the one producer that pitched my outline last week. He said the other producer seemed intrigued in our idea and excited, but they are both working on helping each other on other projects that are scripts first. So he thinks when they get together after the holidays, that he can bring it up again and see if she's interested. He did say pitching it as an outline is best, the way we have it. Apparently in this economy it's better to pitch than have a spec. That way the producers aren't spending time on something that needs to be reworked. So they only have to work on the outline with the writers, which is much easier than taking apart a script. I don't know why. But something about a writer rewriting something that's already written, just is harder. We writers get attached to our ideas and our characters, and then once it's on the page, we think it has to stay! So, at least it was good feedback. He said it was all positive. And now we wait till after the holidays.

I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little disappointed. I wanted that immediate yes! Let's move forward! But hey, that doesn't always happen. And the fact is, it was brought to this really huge producer and she is interested. So I have to focus on THAT. And before last week, this woman hadn't seen anything I'd done. So at least now, she knows my idea. And I've got someone she's becoming friends with, the first producer, who's pitching my idea. Who's also interested in my idea and on my side. So that's good! It's all new doors that are opening. And as long as this writing thing has taken me to get somewhere, this is all good.

And the holidays are not so far away. My son is already counting down the days and we're at less than two weeks. So, that's doable. And with all the freelance work I have coming up and holiday shopping, I'm sure it will be here before I know it. My New Year's resolution: sell a script. Now THAT would be a happy New Year.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Write as if your life depends on it

So I haven't written about this until today, I was hoping I could pretend it wasn't bothering me, but I found out two weeks ago one of my best friend's ex husband's was killed crossing the street. The memorial was today and it was just way too sad. He left behind an 8 year old daughter. I've noticed I haven't been writing as much as I usually do, and I couldn't understand why. But I obviously know now, that the sadness of all this has just been too much for me. So I think it's also why I started the blog. It gave me the ability to sort of be writing, even if it wasn't on a script. I did start writing my first character for my new script two nights ago, but didn't get very far. And that's so not like me. I'm usually writing every single night. At first I thought it was just that I've been sick off an on for two weeks. But now I can tell, it's the sadness of all this that's getting me down. I know I can force myself to write tomorrow night. I'm pretty good about just telling myself what I need to do when it comes to writing, and then just doing it. I think I needed to get through the memorial so that I could write. But today, I just need to be sad.

My younger brother passed away this year too. And I remember all I could do was watch comedies for awhile and not write at all. The only thing that got me writing again, was knowing the Nicholl's was coming up. I knew it was just a first draft and wasn't going to be ready, but it gave me something to shoot for, and I did reach the goal of getting it done. So sometimes, when life keeps you from writing your best, just do the best you can. At least I got a first draft even with my sadness. And then once you have a first draft, then you can always rewrite. But you can't rewrite anything you haven't finished.

The one thing I have learned with all this sadness, is that life can be short. Even if you die at 100, you still probably go, "wow, how did I get here so fast?" So the message is, to live life to the fullest. To follow your dreams, and to not let them pass you by. You don't want to get to the end of your life, wishing you had gone after your dreams. You want to take life by the horns, and enjoy it. So as soon as I feel ready to brush off my sadness, I'm writing more characters. And if it works out, that will be tomorrow night. As for tonight, I'm going to drown my sadness in 30 Rock.

Friday, December 9, 2011

Jumping for Joy


So I just got off the phone with one producer who has my outline. He read my sample script and said it was really well written, funny, hit all the right beats. Yippee! He likes the outline we sent and wants to get it to this bigger producer today. Eeeh! So excited! If she likes it, then we meet with her and start developing it. She's produced so many things I love, this could be so very cool. I don't know if I can wait to talk to him again. He's not even sure if he's going to call me back after the meeting. So who knows when we'll talk! I hope he's so darn excited that she says yes, that he can't wait to call. I hope! I can barely stand it watching the minutes tick away. Please don't make me wait all weekend or week to hear! It's super exciting and another step in the right direction of my soon to be successful screenwriting career. I hope the next thing I post is, it's a go!

Thursday, December 8, 2011

Being a mom has its advantages


So a nice mom in my son's class offered to have me get my outline to her hubby who's an exec at one the studios. I thought it was so nice of her. Some people don't like to help out in this business. You never know who does, and you never know who doesn't. So when you meet someone who does, it's sure a pleasant surprise.

Even my script that's at Disney, did I mention I had one there? A mom friend of mine from my son's soccer team, she's a producer at Disney, and she referred me to the gate keeper at Disney Feature Animation. So she helped me get my script in there. Another really nice mom.

The thing is, when I decided to become a mom, I was already working on my screenwriting. So I actually wondered if I'd want to make the sacrifices to be a good mom, a great mom, and be able to still write. I decided, yes, I wanted to be a mom. And then it's so funny to think how being a mom has only added to my screenwriting and has opened doors for me. Even both of the TV shows I pitched to ABC were about being a parent. I never would have had those ideas if I hadn't become a mom. Who knew being a mom would end up helping me write so much? I think many of my screenwriting ideas come from that too.

So now a word of advice on how to open doors for yourself. First off, if you find out someone is in the business, don't instantly ask them to help you. Some people might disagree. But the thing is, they must get bugged all the time by people and they probably can't tell you from a newbie writer who probably sucks beans or someone who's worth reading. I think the best way to handle it, is to let them know the things you have going on as a writer, if it comes up naturally, and see if they seem interested in reading any of your stuff. If they don't seem interested, you'll know. Then at least you haven't bothered them like every other Tom, Dick and Harry. If you get to know them in a regular situation, actually become friends with them, they may offer as time goes on.

As your career begins to get further ahead, you can decide if it's more comfortable to ask. Like for instance one of the producers my outline is with, was the brother in law of my friend/neighbor. I'd never asked her to talk to him for me before, until now. Because my outline has gotten a lot of interest, I knew that at least she'd know I wasn't some newbie any more. She's a super nice friend and was more than thrilled to ask him for me. And he's just as nice and was more than willing to talk to me too. Since the first producer we have our outline with and is interested in developing it, is a big well known guy, even he was impressed. So that boded well for us. So as you can see, I didn't reach out to her right away when I started writing. But I worked on my writing and waited till I got better and better and doors started to open for me. That way when things start happening in your career, it all builds on the other great things, and more people are interested. Momentum just sort of takes over. You might feel like it takes longer than you want. But I truly think that with time, your writing gets better and if you act when your career really is ready, that's the better time to act. As opposed to act on it when you're not there and blow any opportunity you might have had.

But what if you don't have any contacts? Well, I guess that's when contests can help out. Something I mentioned in an earlier post. Like I said, keep writing, keep entering contests, and see if you can move further ahead in them. That's how you know when it's time to act. The more contests you start to place in, the more you know your writing really could be ready for the real world.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Saving Face


So, I wrote yesterday that I was going to use my writing time and not allow myself to use the internet for facebook or emails, or anything like that. But the only problem is, I ended up freelancing all day so had to be online to work. So, that experiment really didn't get to happen yesterday. I am a freelance advertising writer, and not only did I have one client yesterday but two. So I was bouncing back and forth, online even, doing research and work.

Then, when I finally did get to stop, I saw a sale on photo books that I wanted to get my parents and in-laws for Christmas, that ended yesterday, so I had to do that instead. One could say that perhaps I was wasting time and delaying writing, but I don't think so. If it had been to do just any holiday shopping, I wouldn't have done that. And creating photo books is not a quick task, so it took up the rest of my night. So by the time I finally had any time to myself, it was 10:30.

But, I will say, instead of just getting into bed and turning on netflix to get my nightly dose of 30 Rock, I decided to force myself to write. So I think this is an example of how you can find time to write no matter what. So even though I could have just gotten all comfy, I knew I wanted to finish my outline. And it had been a week since I felt like I really worked on this story, so I felt tonight was the night if I was going to be disciplined. And I did!

And believe me, even in that little time I had, lets say thirty minutes, I was so tempted to check email, check Facebook. I think it's just a bad habit I've gotten into. Almost like a drug or addiction. Because it's just this awful habit where I just want to click there the whole time I'm writing. And I don't need to. So it was an interesting experiment to see if I could do it in that little amount of time. And you know what? I was able to. And I finished my outline! And I felt good about getting in some writing time. So you see, you can find the time. And, I still got to lay down and watch my 30 Rock.

So even though it wasn't the experiment I would hope it to be. I think writing can't always be planned the way we want. Life does get in the way a lot of time. But as writers, we need to make the time for it. Have to put it as a priority when all the important things are out of the way that have must do's.

Monday, December 5, 2011

Can Facebook zap your writing time?

How much time do you spend going on Facebook? Or Twitter? Or reading emails? What about the news headlines? If you're a writer, and you're working on a script or a novel, or any creative writing, you need or should be writing almost every day. But are you?

Now even I can blame myself for going on Facebook, headline news, emails, off and on all day. They're time zappers. We writers have to find ways to stop letting things like that get in our way of actually writing. So what can I do to stop that? Well, I'm going to try something, that I hope I can actually do. It might be hard for me.

But here's what I propose, I'm going to limit how many times I go on these sites. Perhaps it's one time a day, where I check all my emails and Facebook, and headlines, and that's it. No cheating and allowing myself to go on more. But can I really do that? It's really tempting when it's just a click away! Especially when I'm writing a script, I need some brain vacations to come up with other ideas, so going on Facebook is so mindless, it's the perfect way to take a break. But am I using up valuable time that I could be writing instead? Maybe I spend more time on there than I would if I just took a break. But let me start with at least one day, and go from there. Perhaps I can go a week like this. And before I know it, maybe add a lot more writing time in my day, and then it can become a habit. And I'm going to blog about this tomorrow, so I'm held accountable. It's a scary thing being accountable. But it keeps me from cheating at least.

And what about my cell phone? It dings every time I get an email. Like it's calling me, taunting me. "Check your emails," it says. But how many times are they even from someone I know? 90% of them or more are from stores that want me to purchase things that I probably never would want any way. But maybe I can turn off that ding so I don't know about it. What I don't know, won't hurt right?

There's also the cell phone calls, or home phone calls. When I'm serious about having writing time, I don't answer my phone at all. It's so simple to go, "Oh, my friend Lucy is calling! I haven't spoken to her in ages!" And then get stuck yapping about who knows what, and before you know it, your window for writing time has vanished. So me personally, when I sit down to write, I let it go to voicemail. That's what it's for, people! You can always call them back. I promise, you won't lose friends.

Now another time zapper for writers, is watching TV. I can't tell you how many writer friends have favorite TV shows they watch all week long. I would tell them, if you have time to watch TV, you have time to write. Or some friends who would work full time jobs, and then when they get home they're too tired to write at night. Well guess what? You can't be a writer if you're not writing. That's how I even came up with my blog title, "Screenwriter Writing" because I can't tell you how many writers I've known that just never make time to write. I'd even tell them, "if you have 20 minutes where you're not doing anything, write in those 20 minutes." Because, if you were to write 20 minutes every day, by the end of the year, you'd have something! A first draft of a script, or a book, many short stories, who knows! But you can't get there if you keep making excuses.

I've seen and met many people who say they're going to write that script, but just never do. Life always seems to get in the way. But does it need to? Do you really want to write that script? Are your actions and priorities helping you fulfill your destiny? Sure it's fun to post on Facebook, but will you remember what you wrote on there 30 years from now. Or is that script you're dying to write, the next big movie waiting to happen. Only you know. But you'll never know if you don't get it on that paper.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Out of this world

So I watched PAUL tonight, that alien comedy movie starring Seth Rogen as the alien, with a slew of other big names like Kristen Wiig, Jeffrey Tambor, Jason Bateman, Jane Lynch, a small part at the end with Sigourney Weaver, and some nice parts by Bill Hader and Jo Lo Truglio. It stars these two British guys, Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, who's mission in the movie is to travel America to see all the supposed alien sites. Only thing is, they meet Paul and end up on a journey to help him travel to a spot so he can meet his space ship and return home.

I wasn't sure what to expect when I saw it. The trailer didn't look great, some funny moments, but nothing that made me run out and see it in the theater. But I love Seth Rogen, so figured it couldn't be that bad....And you know what? I was delightfully surprised. This was a heart warming comedy that had a pleasant message that kept me laughing throughout. By the end of the movie, I was happy I had seen it, and know I'll be sure to share with all my friends that they should put it on their must see list too.

The fun thing about the movie too was that they had fun poking fun at all the alien movies we've known to love. And Kristen Wiig being one of my favorite actresses, for a long time, longer than Bridesmaids, I'll have you know, is as sweet and funny in this as all her other movies. If you haven't seen it, be sure to check it out.

Friday, December 2, 2011

Producer speak

So I finally got to talk to this one producer that has produced an indie I really liked. I was referred to him from a friend of mine. He's her brother-in-law. So she was nice enough to talk to him for me, and he was happy to talk to me today. I told him what was going on with my outline we pitched to the big production company, and that we got it to another big one. So he said, he wanted to hear it.

I'm sort of new at pitching still. But when we pitched our idea to the big production company, my writing partner showed me how calm you should be when you pitch. How you just really have to be yourself. And just tell the story as if you were telling a friend, likes it's about a movie you just saw. So I did the same with him. And he really liked the idea!

Sow now he's reading the outline, and if he likes it, then he's got an idea of this big female producer he wants to get it to. I looked her up on imdb, and she's got really nice credits! I'd be thrilled if she was involved. And he told me she's a power house in the "biz" and she's connected to all the big powerhouse female producers. I looked up one of the ones he mentioned, and she had a list of awesome films to her name too!

So I got off the phone just giddy! If this was a musical, I probably would have been tap dancing around the house with a cane, synchronized dancers coming up behind me on a lit up stair case! It was really great news, and just what I needed today.

So just goes to show you, you never know what good news is right around the corner. Or that there are awesomely nice producers out there. Can't wait to see what happens!

Thursday, December 1, 2011

It's an Amazon jungle out there

So, apparently Amazon has a screenwriting and movie making website. I'll include it in case anyone wants to try it for themselves. http://studios.amazon.com/

I'm not exactly sure how it works. But they had a deadline that was yesterday at midnight, and there is no entrance fee, so I figured, what the heck. I've always been against entering so many contests, so I'm trying the opposite of that and trying to enter more contests. This is my second one to enter in one week! So we'll see what happens. The judges were high profile, so I liked that. The prize money was good. If you win the whole thing, they make your movie and you get paid $200,000. So hello, I'll take that! And then there's some other option of it going farther and you make $400,000. So why not?

So far since I've submitted it, it looks like no one has read it. I can't tell if it's just the judges who read it or online people. It seems that I saw some comment about the whole world could read it now. And it also seems they can add notes to my script. So am I supposed to be getting rewrites from someone in the Russian tundra or something? Will they even know what it means to write a Hollywood movie? I can only imagine what their take could be on my stripper comedy. Hmm... I look forward to seeing what comes of this.

I was a little tentative of having anyone and everyone have the chance to read what I think is my best script I've ever written. But I also think I need to start getting my scripts out there to more people. Even if they do live in places that might not even know what "fade in" means. Okay, maybe that's extreme. But being a judge in a contest in LA, and seeing how little the "screenwriters" knew about writing a script, I find it hard to believe people from all over the world will be able to add much. But hey, maybe I'll luck out and some amazing cinema buff from France will think my stripper comedy is the next big Parisian hit! I guess only time will tell. I'll be sure to fill you in if something ever comes of it. I'm supposed to be notified in January sometime. That's just around the corner. Now if only my contacts from this contest could be too!