We covered a myriad of topics, starting with all the biographical
stuff–are you Latina, how do you manage your business, how many scripts do
you read in a week, how’d you get your start, etc. Then, we moved onto business
stuff–marketing, concept, getting repped, story analysis (aka what readers
want), fellowships, competitions, living in Seattle vs. LA, genre choices,
pitching, high concept ideas, etc.

As a self-professed “word
girl,” Pilar
excitedly advised and inspired us at the story, character, and dialogue level.
Her honest, yet hopeful insight gave us all food for thought, ammunition to
move on to the next step in our careers, and drove home that we need to get
that spew/vomit/shitty draft out first.

The Q&A was the best we’ve had in a
long time. I was amazed at how specific the questions were, including: how
do I format dialogue when people are speaking in different languages to one
another; how do I denote who is who in a body-switching script; how much description
is too much in a set-up; how to establish characters (via essence statements);
writing an adapted work; and many more. Great.

On Friday, Pilar’s energy level was infectious, which was easily met by the group’s enthusiasm. She said she wasn’t even tired after the day-long workshop. We went from concept to starting a rough draft, in five hours. This was truly one of the most important workshops I’ve taken and I know I will keep going back to the well with subsequent new concepts, first drafts, and rewrites.

All 25 of the attendees got to pitch their loglines, followed by each of us
contributing how our concepts were progressing through Pilar’s process. I was
impressed and excited by the ideas that the writers pitched, and the openness
that people brought to the workshop. If you missed it, don’t worry, we’re bringing
her back, for sure. But, before that, I highly suggest getting her ON THE PAGE
DVD. It’s basically a non-interactive version of her workshop,
which you watch over and over to work out your stories. Let me tell you, though,
the interactive part makes the live workshop all the better. Thanks Pilar

We just hosted the Way of Story Workshop with
Catherine Ann Jones. What a wonderful event! 15 writers showed
up and tackled their inner fears, wrote from the perspective of their heroes,
and many other timed writing exercises that stretched our brains and our
hearts. I was tired but invigorated by the workshop and Catherine’s obvious
mastery of story. We’re considering bringing her back to do an Acting for
Writers Workshop. 

She strongly suggested we all read "Respect
for Acting" by Uta Hagen.

I picked up a copy and can already see the benefit
of learning how real actors will approach possible roles that we write for
them.

On Wednesaday, I was invited by Lacey Leavitt of IFP to speak on behalf of
the Guild at the SIFF Screenwriters Salon at 911 Media
Arts. I accompanied Geoff Miller (co-founder of NWSG back in the day)
and his writing partner/former student, Troy Hunter.  We had a grand time,
often derailing all serious conversation by creating elegantly hideous pitches
together.  We covered
topics like loglines, elevator pitches, meeting preparation, what to pitch,
research, crafting your pitch, Screenwriting Expo, etc.  We were told
that this was the most entertainment Screenwriters Salon so far, which is high
praise.  I
hope everybody enjoyed themselves. We even got some members
out of it!

Next up is Marilyn Atlas in about two weeks. I’ll be interviewing
her on Friday, May 2nd (Clear Channel), and then she’ll be conducting a two-part
workshop on Saturday (NWFF). Sunday, she’ll be taking pitches from Compendium
Members (Sorrento Hotel), so get your scripts in. This is not to be missed.
Not only does Marilyn love writers, but she wants to spend a lot of time gettting
to know our members individually. So there will be several opportunities to
network with her and make a personal connection.

What else, oh yeah we’re in the hot and heavy of screenwriting
competition season.
Here are some upcoming deadlines:

• Apr 22 – Scriptapalooza
• April 30 (late) PAGE Int’l
• May 1 (regular) /May 8 (late) – WA State Screenplay Competition
• May 1 – Script PIMP
• May 1 – Nicholl Fellowship
• May 1 – Sundance Institute
• May 15 (normal) / June 1 (late) / – Austin Film Festival

By the way, I offered up some pages from my brand-new script (concept tested in the BSBS workshop), which will have some key mistakes in it, so you guys better have some examples of how I screwed up. Consider it payback for those of you whose scripts I’ve ripped with a red pen. 

My favorite Hauge gems of the night were, "Nobody likes to be grabbed, they want to be seduced in the first ten pages" and "When anyone in the industry reads your screenplay, they are doing it under duress." 

I’m pretty exhausted, but pleased that we now have 97 active NWSG members. NINETY-SEVEN. Go out and recruit three friends! Thanks to Diane for gatekeeping, Deb and Judy for bringing refreshments, Wally for getting Hauge up here, and Betty and Mark for being good company/good sports.  If I forgot anyone, forgive me.

Saturday’s workshop will have 46 attendees, with a tentative schedule as follows:

- Overall Structure
– Character arc and transformation
– Love stories
– Lunch break
- Pitching
– Exercises: Loglines
– Trash Mark and Aadip’s scripts
– Coach Pitches / Q&A

Those who participated in the 20-minute one-on-one consultations received invaluable advice and guidance in their careers.
Sanjay even mentioned that he was inspired by our accomplished writers (and some of their monster credits) and was excited to get back to writing.
We will definitely bring him back in 2008 to do a follow-up Q&A meeting and more consultation sessions.