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

BlueCat Screenplay Competition   



December 2nd, 2014


FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION

THE SCRIPTS OF THIS YEAR'S 

OSCAR HOPEFULS

 

Every year, the studios roll out the scripts of their hopeful Oscar contenders.

 

Here are the scripts that have been released so far!

 

BOX TROLLS                 THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

BOYHOOD                     GONE GIRL

BIRDMAN                      THE FAULT IN OUR STARS

BELLE                            KILL THE MESSENGER

GET ON UP                    ST. VINCENT

LOCKE                           THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING

CALVARY                       WILD

 

 

IN THIS WEEK'S NEWSLETTER:
  • A look at screenwriter John August's creative process
  • An interview with Jennifer Kent, writer/director of The Babadook
  • 3 ADDITIONAL SCRIPTS: Mean Girls, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, and Something's Gotta Give
  • BlueCat founder Gordy Hoffman on the importance of rewriting
  • An inspirational interview with screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan
  • A screenwriting lecture from Joss Whedon
  • Tips for writing a horror script
  • Wisdom from legendary screenwriter Leigh Brackett
  • The BlueCat Community Corner
  • BlueCat Workshop information

 

JOHN AUGUST ON HIS PROCESS
from Academy Originals

A fascinating look into the creative process of screenwriter John August (Go, Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) from the Academy Originals web series.

JENNIFER KENT'S NEW HORROR FILM: THE BABADOOK
From Film Comment

An insightful interview with Jennifer Kent, writer and director of the upcoming horror film The Babadook.


REWRITING YOUR SCREENPLAY
From The BlueCat Archive 

BlueCat founder and judge Gordy Hoffman gives some tips on how to rewrite your screenplay.

 

READ THE ARTICLE

 

SCREENWRITING LECTURE BY JOSS WHEDON
From Impossible News

Joss Whedon gives a fascinating and informative talk on screenwriting and creativity at the Impossible Screenwriters Workshop. 
HEY, WHADDYA SAY?

 
"Plot is people. Human emotions and desires founded on the realities of life, working at cross purposes, getting hotter and fiercer as they strike against each other until finally there's an explosion - that's Plot."

-Leigh Brackett
co-writer of The Empire Strikes Back and The Big Sleep
SELECTED SCRIPTS
Three Screenplay PDFs

MEAN GIRLS
by Tina Fey

MR. AND MRS. SMITH
by Simon Kinberg

SOMETHING'S GOTTA GIVE 
by Nancy Meyers


LAWRENCE KASDAN INTERVIEW
From Final Draft

  
Filmmaker and screenwriter Lawrence Kasdan (The Big Chill, The Empire Strikes Back, and the upcoming Star Wars: The Force Awakens) discusses his career and gives some advice for aspiring writers.  


HORROR SCREENWRITING TIPS
From No Film School

  
Check out these tips from a panel of horror filmmakers on how to craft a successful scary screenplay.  


HEY, WHATCHA UP TO? 

The BlueCat
Community Corner

 

BlueCat is continuing our new Community Corner in the newsletter where each week we 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?

 

Share your accomplishments as well as upcoming fairs, shows, screenings, and gatherings by emailing:

info@bluecatscreenplay.com

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: 

 

Online - December 4th - REGISTER

(Only 3 spots left)

 

Los Angeles - February 21st - REGISTER

(Only 3 spots left)

 

Salt Lake City - March 5th - REGISTER 

(Only 5 spots left)

 

Please let us know if 

 

you'd like the BlueCat Workshop 

 

 to come to your town!

 

See you soon.