For those who missed it, maybe we can bring him back again. It was well worth it. Steven doesn’t let you off the hook.

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 are so lucky to have someone of her caliber conduct one
of her workshops for an extremely affordable fee. For those of you who are
vacillating about attending the workshop, don’t. Pilar is a very highly sought
after screenplay consultant (with a big waiting list) and screenwriting instructor
(sold out shows everywhere she goes).

This amazing workshop will change the
way you develop concepts and write screenplays from here on out. She’s one
of those people in LA who other filmmakers (screenwriters, showrunners, directors,
producers) come to for help with their concepts and their craft. Check out
her podcast at iTunes to cram before she gets here.

James Keblas at the Mayor’s Office included us in their newsletter today for
the first time ever!

Let’s show her that
Seattle is serious about screenwriting.

On
the way to the hotel, Marilyn and I had so much to talk about, from stereotypical
roles for actors of color and our mutual Law and Order addiction to hot rapper/actor/producer-types
(Ludacris, Ice Cube) and the types of concepts coming out of
film schools (Oh no, not another heist or vampire movie).

After barely surviving Friday traffic in Seattle, a few Board Members had
a great time at Taste of India with Marilyn, hearing some old war stories
(Marilyn’s trip to Uzbekistan) and getting our guest sufficiently full of rich
curry, wild salmon, and bottomless chai infused with cardamom.

At the meeting, Marilyn and I had a great conversation/interview about
writing scripts that will attract actors–actors being the folks that really
get projects made–the dreaded or lauded “attachment” thing. Marilyn loved
the questions from the audience, which I thought were excellent.  Marilyn
was an absolute gem, extremely forthcoming, and honest. I learned so much.
I’ll have to get someone’s notes!

I just got back from our workshop at the NW Film Forum (we lost our usual
room for today) and I learned even more. The first thing–the Sorrento Hotel
loans their guests the world’s most dangerous umbrella.
 

We’ve yet to have someone speak from the actors’ or actors’
representatives’ perspective. I think it was instrumental in driving home how
important character development is. We get structure crammed down our throats
till kingdom come, but structure doesn’t sell screenplays–it’s character,
dialogue, and of course, concept. I guess actors don’t look at a script and
say, “Wow,
I love how the writer created that false victory at the midpoint” or
“Man, that catalyst is something I can really sink my teeth
into.” They
want to see that there is a character that a) lets them stretch/leaves them
room to create, b) is compelling/non-stereotypical, and c) they have
an emotional connection with. She confirmed that the worthwhile screenplay
competitions are the Nicholl, Austin, Big Break, and Sundance.

She made it clear that our first ten pages must be stellar
and to view each scene in the film as if it’s the first scene–memorable, meaningful,
and pushes the story forward.

She went around the room and asked everyone to
name two memorable tv/film characters and why they were memorable. The characters
we discussed were: Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins in Silence of the Lambs),
Travis Bickle (Robert DeNiro in Taxi Driver), Madeleine White (Jodie Foster
in Inside Man), Nikolai (Viggo Mortensen in Eastern Promises), Michael Dorsey
/ Dorothy Michaels (Dustin Hoffman in Tootsie), Erin Brockovitch (Julia Roberts
in Erin Brockovitch, duh), Edward Scissorhands (Johnny Depp in ES), Darth Vadar
(Star Wars), Ophelia (Jamie Lee Curtis in Trading Places), Indiana
Jones (Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones), James Bond (a bunch of dudes in a bunch
of flick), Jason Nesmith (Tim Allen in Galaxy Quest), Ana Garcia (America
Ferrera in Real Women Have Curves), Roy Batty (Rutger Hauer
in Blade Runner), Roger ‘Verbal’ Kint (Kevin Spacey in Usual Suspects), Roy
Neary (Richard Dreyfus in Close Encounters of the 3rd Kind), and many more.

Marilyn also discussed how dialogue, subtext, and description reveal
character–very illuminating.  We reviewed scenes and sides from Habla
Con Ella, School of Rock, Mystic River, The Departed, Three Kings, and Devil
Wears Prada. She also reiterated that we all see Wedding Banquet (Ang Lee).
I think I speak for all in attendance that we definitely got our time and money’s
worth. I’ve never been to a workshop like that before. Did I mention that
Marilyn is just a helluvalot of fun to be around?  She’s
a firecracker. 

Then I gave Marilyn her newly acquired pedometer so she can get all her steps
in (rehabbing her leg). Tom procured some popcorn and shared it with the masses.
Who doesn’t love popcorn?  On the way back to the hotel, Marilyn and I
had a nice romp through Rite Aid–nothing like boding over toiletries,
gossip magazines, and eye drops. 

Tomorrow will be
full of pitching at the Sorrento, which Marilyn is anticipating greatly. She
was unable to hide her excitement about Seattle and the members
of the NWSG. Apparently we’re very insightful. Yay us!  Hey, while those
L.A. screenwriters are at the beach or Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, we’re avoiding
the rain by penning that next great movie, right? I prefer the beach/writing
combo, but I always get too much sand in my MacBook, and Brando gets sunburned.
His poor pink belly.

Oh, I found this
old Seattle PI article from Thursday, April 20, 2006 about how everyone wants
to be a screenwriter instead of being a novelist. We made the list of some local
resources for aspiring screenwriters, including "Best Local Support System
and Best One-Stop Rundown of Script Contests." Yay us again. It is again
if it happened two years ago?  Whatever.

Laura and I are about to sit down and watch The Mark of Cain, a documentary
on russian criminal tattoos. It’s probably cause of all that talk about Eastern
Promises today. I love that movie.

Every one of us walked away with a completed BSBS with 15 major plot points, and the nerve-wracking experience of pitching our stories numerous times and having them broken down. Those of you who are attending Blake’s sold out workshop in two weeks, you are in for a real treat.  Those who missed out on both opportunities, Blake said he’s coming back to see us soon, possibly to do his 40 scene workshop and to buy a condo. The guy is crazy for Seattle and our rain! He was hopping up and down in the classroom while it poured outside.  Blake, I’ll trade you some Beverly Hills sunshine for our early winter and non-summer.  

What does the NWSG have next in store? Nobody should miss this opportunity -  an entire weekend with Story Master, Michael Hauge, uber consultant, celebrated author, and in-demand lecturer. I’ve been reading "Selling Your Story in 60 Seconds," which is a tight piece of writing with instant tips on getting your pitches into shape. I am eager to spend another weekend digging deep into the screenwriting craft with a guy who has worked with some of the best in Hollywood. Remember to bring your pitches and story ideas to the workshop. For those of you going to CS Screenwriting Expo (Oct. 24-28) to pitch, this will be nice preparation. Good luck to everyone who is going to the Austin Film Festival (Oct 11-18). Finally, Scriptapalooza will start taking applications November 1st.

The workshop is in fact $75 for NWSG Members, NOT $50. So far we have 19 registrants, so there is plenty of room left.
But, please register ASAP so we can prepare for this event.

Way of Story may appear as a deceptively simple memoir/manual, but it is not. Catherine rockets you into the essentials of craft, as well as urging you to dig deep into yourself and transmit your emotions to the page, and the story. Few books simultaneously pay equal attention to both the architecture AND the soul of the story.  Finally, I think the book offers gems to both novice and experienced writers, including advice and a bounty of challenging exercises to get the ideas out of your head and onto the page. I wish I’d had this book when I started!