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What's New, BlueCat?
The Official Newsletter of the
BlueCat Screenplay Competition
July 17th, 2012
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Collaboration
 Picture a stereotypical screenwriter and what do you see? Be honest: It's probably someone sitting in front of a typewriter, alone, a bottle of something strong within easy reach. Screenwriting is a challenging, rewarding, immensely creative process, but nobody ever said it looks terribly glamorous when you're doing it. Writing is, by its nature, a somewhat solitary craft: It requires a lot of concentration, which means that a lot of writers usually wind up isolating themselves as a defense mechanism against distractions.
It's easy to forget that a lot of screenplays are collaborative works written by two or more writers, working together. Of course, maybe you already know that because you're collaborating on a script yourself - and if that's the case, you're well aware of the unique set of opportunities and challenges that writing a screenplay with another person can present.
Writing a script with a partner gives you access to their creativity, their motivation, and their fresh new ideas when the well may have run dry for you. On the flip side, it presents a classic King Solomon situation: Nobody likes to share their baby, and when there's a disagreement about what's best for it things can turn ugly quick. (King Solomon also never had to deal with the potential for a development contract with a major studio.)
This week, we're all about collaboration - why it's good enough for you to try, and how to circumvent some of the potholes when you're doing it. So get reading! And if you like what you see, maybe find a friend to invite into your solitary writing cave...
-The BlueCat Team
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BlueCat Alumni Corner: Carlos De La Garza
Where Are They Now? Carlos de la Garza's script Two Rabbits was a BlueCat finalist in 2009. Since then, Carlos and his brother Mario have been pulling together a production plan to shoot Two Rabbits - the duo are working with a line producer to figure out a budget and shooting schedule, and they're planning on co-directing. How's that for a collaborator success story? |
BlueCat Alumni Corner, Part 2: Ana Lily Amirpour
Where Are They Now? Ana Lily Amirpour won big at BlueCat in 2007 with her script The Stones, and she hasn't slowed up since then - she's currently gearing up for production of her newest script, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, and she needs your support! Here's what she has to say for herself:
My first feature film is an IRANIAN VAMPIRE WESTERN, and it's a love story... with a strange and wonderful group of characters including a Vampire, a Prostitute, a Pimp, a Gambler, a Boss, a Princess, a 57 T-bird and a Persian James Dean...
I'm so friggin' excited about this project on every level! We are fully cast with a fantastic group of actors, we have our locations, our art department is awesome, and we even have a lot of our soundtrack already in place...
I'm looking for support, like we all do, amongst you my friends and fellow filmmakers. Whether you can throw us some money, or throw us a shoutout, like us on facebook or mention us on your blog or website... any and everything is appreciated.
If an Iranian vampire western is the sort of thing you'd like to see, mosey on over to Lily's indiegogo to get a look at the concept trailer and donate money to make this film a reality!
For an in-depth look at Lily's career and her upcoming movie, watch this space next week for a feature interview with Ms. Amirpour about her heritage, her preference for vampires, and just about everything else you could want to know! |
Christopher Keane: How NOT To Collaborate On A Screenplay
Words Of Warning
Lest you get too rosy a picture of the collaborative process, screenwriter Christopher Keane has put together a short but informative list of things that you and your writing partner should avoid doing, such as signing a contract after the fact or being in love with one another. |
Selected Script: Miller's Crossing
Complex. Convoluted. Collaboration.
We can't in good conscience talk about screenplay collaborators without at least mentioning the Coen brothers, the legendary indie film duo whose partnership has given us Fargo, The Big Lebowski, O Brother, Where Art Thou?, Raising Arizona, and this peculiar little gangster masterpiece, Miller's Crossing. The Coens were already established players when they wrote this script, but the story was so complex that midway through they abandoned the script for over a year to write Barton Fink. Give it a read and see if you can identify each brother's individual voice.
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Free Entry To BlueCat 2013!
Details Below!
 The 2013 BlueCat Screenplay Competition is getting closer and closer, and to celebrate we're going to be giving away free submissions to a few lucky contest winners over the next three weeks! Keep an eye on our Facebook page and Twitter feed, where we'll be announcing the contests and giving you a shot at entering BlueCat, getting two pieces of feedback on your script, and a shot at a $10,000 prize all for free!
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Gordy Video: Co Writer Agreement
Protect Yourself  If you're going to write a screenplay with another person, it's a good idea to lay a little groundwork before you two jump headlong into an enormous creative endeavor together. This week, BlueCat founder Gordy Hoffman talks to us about making a co-writer's agreement with your collaborator before you get started so that the only drama you encounter is the stuff that's going into the script.
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Right Writing: Top Ten Reasons To Write With A Partner
Thanks, Mr. Letterman!
Did the idea of a co-writer's agreement scare you? Or do you just think that you're so good on your own that you don't need to burden yourself with another writer? Either way, the husband and wife writing duo of Claudia Johnson and Matt Stevens have put together a list of ten reasons why it's a good idea to share your creative process with another person. Take a look!
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Finding The Right Writing Partner
We're All Looking For That Special Someone
 We've talked up the benefits of writing with a partner all newsletter long so far - but what if you can't find a good partner to tackle a script with? It's a legitimate concern; nobody wants to go into a screenplay with a sub-par writer on their side. Fortunately, Claudia Johnson over at WritersStore.com knows a few ways that you could find a suitable collaborator.
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Quote
 "My theory as to why [collaboration] works for them is simplicity itself: numbers...because there are two of them. I can't do it that way..."
William Goldman
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BlueCat Interviews
Miss an interview? Don't sweat it! All of our interviews with 2012's winners - along with some other interviews from BlueCat's past - are available on our website. It's a great opportunity to tap into the psyches of our winners and figure out what makes them tick - and, more importantly, what makes them write good screenplays! |
UPCOMING DEADLINES
The Clock Is Ticking - Yes, Already
AUGUST 1ST
Title Contest Deadline
Scripts submitted by Aug1st, 2012 will receive their written analyses by September 1st, 2012 and will be automatically entered in the Title Contest. $60 entry fee. OCTOBER 15TH Regular Deadline
Our Regular Deadline is October 15th with an entry fee of $65.
NOVEMBER 15TH
Final Deadline
Our Final Deadline is November 15th with an entry fee of $70.
SUBMIT YOUR SCRIPT
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BlueCat Workshops
If you're considering registering for our workshops in Australia and New Zealand, it's recommended you jump on it now.
We currently have only two spots open in Melbourne, four spots in Sydney, four slots in Auckland and two in Wellington.
Denver has sold out of Full Registration writer spots but there is still room for Regular Regsitrations $45
Can't make it to a workshop? Try our online workshop!
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We write screenplays for people.
The relationship between the story on the screen in the theatre and the people sitting in the seats makes or breaks the artistic and commercial success of the movie.
What does a screenplay do to authentically engage an audience? What compels a reader to keep turning the pages? Why do specific elements elicit stronger emotional reactions to our stories? How does a writer write this into their screenplay? Where does this come from within the writer?
An award-winning screenwriter, Gordy Hoffman founded the BlueCat Screenplay Competition in 1998, having since presided over the evaluation and adjudication of over 10,000 screenplays. This unique combination of writer and reader of screenplays has allowed Gordy to develop and evolve a keen eye and feel for how a screenplay works successfully, and the intuitive, personal ways to address the problems of a screenplay through a writer's approach.
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 Writers)
Participants read seven screenplays in advance of the workshop. Screenplays can be first drafts or rewrites, with first time writers and veterans all welcome. During the workshop, Gordy provides direct and in-depth feedback on each screenplay, with everyone encouraged to contribute his or her own thoughts and concerns. Gordy provides brief written notes to each writer after the workshop. Audit option available.
What if I don't have a script ready, but I'd like to attend?
Do you want to participate, but do not have a script to submit at this time? You can audit the workshop, which allows you to attend without submitting written material, read the scripts in advance and still participate in the discussion.
The BlueCat Workshops
Head for
New Zealand and Australia!
Inspired by our recent Joplin Award Winner (Best International Script outside UK, Canada and USA), BlueCat is traveling down under to lead a few workshops and have a staged reading of our Joplin winner in Wellington, NZ.
We hope to see you when we come in August! Have any places we need to visit while we're there? Like us to visit you somewhere? Let us know. We want to meet and talk BlueCat with you.
US SUMMER / FALL SCHEDULE
September Online Workshop
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)
SCRIPTS DUE: September 6, midnight PST
COMMENTS RELEASED: September 23rd, 6:00 PM PST
FOLLOWUP QUESTIONS DUE: September 30th, 6:00 PM PST
FOLLOWUP ANSWERS RELEASED: October 3rd, 6:00 PM PST
Full Registration: $195
Audit: $40 Register NowPhoenix
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Saturday, September 15th, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $225
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Saturday, September 29th, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $225
Audit $45Register Now
New Orleans
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Sunday, September 30th, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $225
Register Now
Wichita
First Ten Pages Workshop (Limit 10 writers)Sunday October 21st, 8:00AM-5:00PM Full Registration $115
TFA Member $85
Los Angeles
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Saturday November 3rd, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $175
Regular Registration $45
Los Angeles Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers) Saturday November 3rd, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $175Regular Registration $45 Register Now
San Francisco
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Sunday, November 10th, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $195
Register Now
Los Angeles Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers) Saturday November 3rd, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $175Regular Registration $45 Register Now
Los Angeles Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers) Saturday November 3rd, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $175 Regular Registration $45 Register Now Kansas City
Full Script Workshop (Limit 7 writers)Sunday, November 18th, 9:00AM-6:00PM Full Registration $195
Register Now
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