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What's New, BlueCat?
The Official Newsletter of the
Bluecat Screenplay Competition
July 23rd, 2013
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IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
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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.
All screenplays entered by August 1st, 2013 will be automatically entered in our Movie Title Contest. Three winners will be determined by the votes of current 2014 BlueCat entrants and awarded $250 each.
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
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
SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY
Recent achievements by BlueCat Alumni include:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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"What's In A Movie's Name?"
This article may be from nearly 30 years ago, but much of what is said is still relevant today. Follow the link below for an examination into what studio executives look for in a title, and how titles are changed in hope of drawing larger crowds.
From the Chicago Tribune:
"Ideally a title has the capacity to allure as soon as it is read or heard. In a culture based on instant impressions, a title is like a first glance between a man and a woman. It`s either an invitation to learn more or an excuse to walk away."
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The Worst Titles
Everyone's a Critic
Last week we featured lists of misleading titles. For today's newsletter, we managed to find a number of lists of bad movie titles. With countless to choose from, we decided to share just two.
While we may not agree with every title on these lists, there are some that would be tough to debate (looking at you, F.A.R.T: THE MOVIE).
From Complex.com:
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The Definitive List of Cliché Dialogue
From Go Into the Story
Dialogue is difficult. Sometimes what seems like the perfect line in the perfect moment falls flat. One solution? Take a moment to reconsider. Ask yourself, "Is this original?" If you want to avoid tired dialogue, check out this list of clich é dialogue from Scott Myers of Go Into the Story, who originally shared a post from UK-based screenwriter Kevin Lehane. From Go Into the Story:
"You know as well as I do, I've literally been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and to be honest with you at the end of the day when push comes to shove and it all boils down to it if you're not part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Know what I mean? Basically, what I'm trying to say is with all due respect between you and me screenwriting is not rocket science, it's about breaking the mold, thinking outside the box, giving it 110% 24/7. And I think we can all agree clichés suck but, hey, it's a job. You gotta do what you gotta do. Just remember you're writing for an audience and there's no "I" in . . . you get the picture."
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15 Movies to Look Forward to for the Rest of 2013
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Prisoners Official Trailer #1 (2013) - Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal Movie HD
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2013 is past the half way point, and there's a lot of films coming down the pike in the coming months. Everyone has a list of what they plan to see, and this particular list, from the Athletic Nerd, caught our eye. You'll notice number eight is PRISONERS, penned by BlueCat alum Aaron Guzikowski (2005 Finalist). What movies are on your must-see list? Head over to Facebook or Twitter and let us know.
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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.
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Seven Words That Only Bad Movies Have in Their Titles
From Cracked.com
Evidently there are a few words that just don't belong in a movie title. There are exceptions, but according to a writer at Cracked.com, you can avoid tempting fate by steering clear of a few choice words.
From Cracked.com:
"You can tell a lot about a movie from a single word in its title, and that's lucky, because one is exactly how many words your potential audience is willing to remember...But there are certain words that make a promise of awesome and never, ever deliver."
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24 Filmmaking Related Twitter Accounts You Should Follow
If your Twitter feed is lacking in the film-related department, the first thing you should do is follow BlueCat. Your second step could be to check out the link below for a list of two dozen Twitter accounts that are related to filmmaking. Each account is guaranteed to provide a wealth of info, so a big thanks to Mentorless for putting this list together. From Mentorless.com: "I don't do #FF. I have rarely done it and long long time ago, I wrote a post explaining why I didn't feel comfortable doing it. That said, I regularly want to shout out 'Hey, I think this person is great and everybody should follow him/her!' so I have decided to do it my own way...It is not an exhaustive list, of course, it can't be, but each one of the account listed below regularly provides high-quality content filmmaking related..."
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Paul Thomas Anderson's Work Through Five Steadicam Shots
From Mentorless
Paul Thomas Anderson's use of steadicam is analyzed in this video essay from BFI, shared via Mentorless. Watch the video for breakdowns of the shots, as well as interpretations of Anderson's intent. Truly great stuff. From Mentorless: " BFI published an excellent video essay from Kevin B. Lee going through 5 steadicam shots from 5 Paul Thomas Anderson's movies...Anderson took the habit of putting steadicam shots in every movie, some being more elaborated than others, but each one of them bringing something to the story and telling something to the audience."
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Written by Paul Thomas Anderson
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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.
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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 info@bluecatscreenplay.com.
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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:
Online Workshop - September 26th - REGISTER
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