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

BlueCat Screenplay Competition   


September 9th, 2014

VOTING OPEN FOR BLUECAT'S 

MOVIE TITLE CONTEST 

 

Vote through September 12 at 11:59 PM PST

 

We've narrowed down 1,689 submissions down to 100 quarter-finalists! Now's your chance to  

choose the semi-finalists!

 

VOTE NOW

  

IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
  • Movie Title Contest voting open, vote for your favorites!
  • Advice from Gordy Hoffman on pushing past writer's block
  • BlueCat's coming to San Francisco!
  • 3 SCRIPTS: Moneyball, Election, and Meatballs
  • Find out how to be featured in an upcoming BlueCat newsletter!
  • Dramadies abound at the Toronto International Film Festival
  • How improv can free your creativity as a writer
  • The secret to getting started from Mark Twain
  • BlueCat Regular Deadline: October 15
  • BlueCat Workshop information
BLUECAT ADVICE VIDEO
From Ask BlueCat Videos 


 

"I have writer's block,  

what do I do?" 

 

Gordy Hoffman gives fantastic advice about how to push past writers block and finally put your ideas to paper. 

 

 WATCH THE VIDEO  

 

BLUECAT'S COMING TO
SAN FRANCISCO!
October 25, 2014 
 
 
 
Have your screenplay analyized by BlueCat founder Gordy Hoffman and walk away with specific strategies for your development as a screenwriter.  

 

 

Only 5 spots remaining for full registration! 

  

  REGISTER NOW 

  

HEY, WHATCHA UP TO? 

The BlueCat Community
wants to know!

 

BlueCat is starting a new Community Corner in our newsletter where we'll feature what YOU'RE up to.   

 

Do you play in a band, paint, write books, draw, sculpt, make short films or web series, etc.? Do you participate in an arts organization our community should know about?

 

Don't be afraid to beat your own drum and let us know the interesting ways that you stay creative!  

 

Each week we'll choose 2 individuals or organizations to feature in our newsletter. Share your accomplishments 

as well as upcoming fairs, shows, screenings, and gatherings by emailing: info@bluecatscreenplay.com

 

HEY, WHADDYA SAY?

 

 

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."  

    

-Mark Twain 

 

SELECTED SCRIPTS
Three Screenplay PDFs

MONEYBALL
by Steven Zaillian and Aaron Sorkin

ELECTION
by Alexander Payne & Jim Taylor

MEATBALLS
by Harold Ramis, Janis Allen,
Dan Goldberg, and Len Blum


MIX OF COMEDY AND DRAMA AT TORONTO FILM FESTIVAL 
From The Republic 
 

 
Comedians such as Bill Murray and Melissa McCarthy take tragiocomic turns in films such as St. Vincent at this year's Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), which goes through September 14.  
 

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU'RE STUCK IN YOUR SCRIPT
From Script Magazine

 

 

Writer and improviser Brett Wean shares how using some improv-based techniques can help you get you out of your head, free your creativity, and allow to simply "show up" to your story.

 READ THE ARTICLE   

 

 
Just so you know...

BlueCat's Regular Deadline is October 15th
($65 features, $50 shorts)

 
 
If you submit your script by the regular deadline, you'll receive your analysis by November 10th!

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.
BlueCat Screenwriting Workshops
 
BlueCat Screenplay Workshops are an 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.

Winner of the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival for LOVE LIZA, Gordy Hoffman has taught screenwriting at the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles, as well as led workshops all over North America, Poland, Australia, New Zealand and the UK. He has served as a panelist for the IFP Script to Screen Conference in NYC, Women in Film's Script DC Conference in Washington, DC, and the George Eastman House Film Festival, as well as a judge for the McKnight Screenwriting Fellowships in Minnesota. Gordy Hoffman founded the BlueCat Screenplay Competition in 1998 and remains its judge.

  

THE FULL SCRIPT WORKSHOP

Participants read all screenplays in advance of the workshop. 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.

  

Each writer will leave with a great sense of what they can do specifically to improve their screenplay, as well as a better awareness of where they might properly develop as a professional screenwriter as a whole. Writers benefit from the direct focus placed on their screenplays by the workshop, along with the analysis of the other scripts.

  

Screenplays can be first drafts or rewrites, incomplete or partial, with first time writers and veterans all welcome. Scripts are due 10-14 days prior to the date of the workshop.

  

Note: Screenplays submitted to the workshop are not eligible to be entered into the BlueCat Screenplay Competition.

  

  

Regular Registration Option

Do you want to participate, but do not have a script to submit at this time? Regular registration for the workshop allows you to attend without submitting written material, read the scripts in advance and still participate in the discussion.

  

  


UPCOMING WORKSHOPS: 
  

Honolulu - September 20th - REGISTER 

(only 3 spots left)

 

Online - September 25th - REGISTER  

(Full registration SOLD OUT,  
regular registration still available)

   

New York - October 4th - REGISTER
(only 3 spots left)

  

 San Francisco - October 25th - REGISTER  

 (only 5 spots left)

 

Online - November 6th - REGISTER 

 

Los Angeles - November 8th - REGISTER

(Full registration SOLD OUT,  

regular registration still available)

 

Online - December 4th - REGISTER  

 

Charlotte - December 13th - REGISTER 

(only 6 spots left) 

 

Please let us know if 

 

you'd like the BlueCat Workshop 

 

 to come to your town!

 

See you soon.