BlueCat Logo
BC
What's New, BlueCat?                                          
The Official Newsletter of the

Bluecat Screenplay Competition   


July 2nd, 2013

IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
  • 30 Female Screenwriters to Inspire You 
  • Why Women Should Write More Screenplays  
  • Video Interview with JUNO Writer Diablo Cody 
  • Selected Script: JUNO
  • BlueCat Archived Interview: Ashleigh Powell, BlueCat Finalist 
  • Six Oscar-Nominated Writers on Nailing the Perfect Scene
  • 16 Recommendations For Filmmakers To Discover Best Practices For A Sustainable Creative Life
  • Your Career in Indie Screenwriting 
  • Willamette Writers Conference
  • Upcoming Workshops: Philadelphia, New York, and online
2014 Call for Entries
We are now open for submissions!
 

Official Call for Entries
Next Deadline: Thursday, August 1, 2013
Entry Fee: ($60 Features, $40 Shorts)
 
All screenplays submitted by August 1 will receive written analysis by September 1. 
 
This year, BlueCat establishes one of the largest cash prizes in the world for a Short Screenplay, with a Grand prize of $10,000, along with an increase in our Feature prize to $15,000.

Students will be eligible to submit their short screenplay at a discounted rate of $29 for the duration of the competition.

 

Each Short Screenplay submission will receive one written analysis, while each Feature Screenplay entry will receive two.


Best Feature Screenplay

 $15,000 Grand Prize
Four Finalists

$2,500 Prize

 

Best Short Screenplay

$10,000 Grand Prize

Three Finalists

$1,500 Prize

  

The Cordelia Award

Best Feature Screenplay from the UK

$1,500 Prize

 

The Joplin Award

Best Feature Screenplay from outside the USA, Canada or the UK

$1,500 Prize

 

Movie Title Contest:

Three Winners $250 each

 

 SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY

Recent achievements by BlueCat Alumni include:
  • Young Il Kim's script, RODHAM, a 2012 Blacklist Script, recently attached director Jason Ponsoldt (THE SPECTACULAR NOW). Young recently won the 2013 Alfred P. Sloan Commissioning Grant from Sundance, where he will write a biopic on Stephen Hawking.

  • Elijah Wood produced Ana Lily Amipour's A GIRL WALKS HOME ALONE AT NIGHT, set for release in late 2013.

  • Aaron Guzikowski's PRISONERS, starring Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal and Melissa Leo, will be released September 2013.  The Sundance Channel recently bought Aaron's TV pilot, THE DESCENDENTS, making it their second scripted show after RECTIFY.

  • Ashleigh Powell sold her script, SOMACELL, to Warner Brothers, with David Goyer attached to produce.

  • SOMACELL, along with RODHAM, were two 2012 Blacklist Scripts written by BlueCat Alumni.
30 Female Screenwriters to Inspire You   
Collected Interviews   
Screenwriter Katie Dippold (THE HEAT)
Last week we shared an article about the "spexism" of Hollywood (check out TheWrap.com) that an included an analysis of spec scales from the last 20 years. The findings showed just a small percentage of women writers behind those scripts.

Thankfully, The Aspiring TV Writer and Screenwriter Blog posted a list of 30 female screenwriters, along with a collection of interviews, meant to inspire female writers out there.

From the blog:

"There are plenty of women writers and directors out there - but perhaps...they're less outspoken, working hard under the radar. Ladies, you're not alone. What's encouraging to me is that it wasn't hard at all to find great female screenwriters to highlight. Get inspired by these 30 kickass women...
 
Why Women Should Write More Screenplays
From BigThink.com   
Follow the link below for one writer's take on why more female screenwriters should take a crack at writing screenplays.

From BigThink.com:
"When we see others like us-in my case, other female screenwriters-succeeding, then it seems more likely that I can navigate and succeed in that industry."

16 Recommendations For Filmmakers To Discover Best Practices For A Sustainable Creative Life 
From Truly Free Film  

Here's an interesting bit we found that offers some advice for filmmakers looking to maintain a creative life. Follow the link below for the list from film producer Ted Hope.

The last recommendation:

"Don't despair. As much as art has always shown us where we are, we also depend on it to show us where we want to be. The work you create moves us closer to the world you aspire to."

BlueCat Interview    
Ashleigh Powell, 2012 Finalist 
If you're looking for examples of recent spec sales by female writers, one of BlueCat's own, Ashleigh Powell, sold a script to Warner Brothers in late 2012.

To find out more about Ashleigh's experience with BlueCat, and her writing habits, follow the link below.
 
See Gordy at the Williamette Writers Conference
Portland, OR - August 
 
Enjoy Gordy's workshops? The Williamette Writers Conference will be held August 2-4th at the Portland Airport Sheraton Hotel. "Willamette Writers' goal is to provide and encourage a creative environment and support system for current and aspiring writers." Register and find out the details here
Interview with JUNO Writer Diablo Cody   
From DP/30     
DP/30: Young Adult, writer Diablo Cody
DP/30: Screenwriter Diablo Cody

Watch the video above for an extensive interview with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody. Cody took home the Oscar for JUNO in 2008. 
 
Follow the link below for Goyer's interview.

Selected Script:  

JUNO  
Written by Diablo Cody  
 
Six Oscar-Nominated Writers on Nailing the Perfect Scene 
From The Hollywood Reporter   
Here's another archival article from 2012. This Hollywood Reporter feature includes a handful of Oscar-nominated writers sharing their approaches to perfecting scenes from their Oscar contenders.

Those providing insight include the writers behind films such as THE DESCENDANTS and BRIDESMAIDS
 
Indievelopment: Your Career in Indie Screenwriting   
Script 
As studios produce fewer original films, it may seem like opportunities in Hollywood are dwindling. Don't fret. There are other options. Follow the link below for an article from Script on the life of an indie screenwriter. 

From Script:
"What matters to us trying to find our career in writing is that, as big Hollywood studios have decreased their demand for new writers, new opportunities have opened up and in many cases they are much easier to explore than Hollywood's system. They don't require you to live in Los Angeles, they aren't as hotly contested, and they don't have the same shark-tank feel that can typify the  studio world."
 
 
Connect With BlueCat!
Be sure to "Like" us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter, for your opportunity to win a FREE ENTRY.

Recent Facebook topics include sharing ideas with others and uncomfortable notes received as feedback.

Follow the conversation on Twitter and look for writing tips, videos, and screenwriting articles. 
Hey, Whaddya Say?

"It's really important to know not to panic, it's all going to come together; you've just got to keep pushing forward." 
-- Oscar Nominee Lisa Cholodenko
Advertise With BlueCat
Would you like to advertise in our newsletter? Interested in a dedicated e-blast? We have nearly 13,000 screenwriters who read our newsletter every week. To discuss, please contact Heather at [email protected].
BlueCat Workshops
 
BlueCat Screenplay Workshops are a one-day, intensive opportunity to certifiably improve your script in a small group environment, led by award winning screenwriter and BlueCat founder Gordy Hoffman.

Your script will be read in advance both by Gordy as well as the other workshop participants; everyone receives in-depth feedback on their script from a number of different perspectives.

UPCOMING WORKSHOPS:
Portland - August 1st - REGISTER    
San Francisco - August 10th - REGISTER 
Los Angeles - August 17th - REGISTER
New Orleans - August 24th - REGISTER 
Omaha - September 5th - REGISTER
Online Workshop - September 26th - REGISTER 
Los Angeles - October 26th - REGISTER
Austin - October 30th - REGISTER
Austin - November 3rd - REGISTER
Los Angeles - November 23rd - REGISTER

 

     Youtube Instagram