Best Original Screenplay Winner is:
The Hurt Locker - June 7, 2007 shooting draft script by Mark Boal – hosted by: My PDF Scripts – in pdf format

An intense portrayal of elite soldiers who have one of the most dangerous jobs in the world: disarming bombs in the heat of combat. When a new sergeant, James, takes over a highly trained bomb disposal team amidst violent conflict, he surprises his two subordinates, Sanborn and Eldridge, by recklessly plunging them into a deadly game of urban combat. James behaves as if he’s indifferent to death. As the men struggle to control their wild new leader, the city explodes into chaos, and James’ true character reveals itself in a way that will change each man forever.

Information courtesy of imdb.com

Oscar-winning screenwriters, Hollywood Agents, Studios, Producers, A-List Casting Directors, Top Casting Agencies, and A-List Actors are just a taste of the multitude of Hollywood professionals and insiders who will be at the NCS – Screenwriters, Filmmakers, and Actors Expo this March 26, 27, 28, 2010 at the Silverado Resort in Napa, CA.

Friday and Saturday will be presentations and workshops with top industry professionals. Sunday will be a “Pitch-Fest”. Actors can have their headshots reviewed by top Casting Agencies and Hollywood Casting Directors. Screenwriters can pitch screenplays to Hollywood Studios, Agents, and Producers.
For tickets, visit: ncsexpo.com. For a $100 discount, anyone interested should enter SIMPLY at checkout.

Mike Shelton hosts the SimplyScripts Radio Cold and Flu Edition.

Podcast rated R for “F” bombs, Cheeseheads and Boobs.

 

 SimplyScripts Radio - Cold and Flu Edition 1/29/10 [33:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (632)

In this episode, the panel of Pia, Sean, Michael and Mike dig into the SimplyScript Radio mail bag.

The panel also discusses:

Dialogue – How do the writers on the panel ensure their characters have separate voices? Not necessarily different dialects but separate people. One of my biggest frustrations is having fellow writers suggesting my characters sound alike. Any recommendations on reading or writing exercises?

Up The Stakes – How do you recommend checking your script for enough action or twists? Any tricks or tips?

Loglines – Tricks and tips.

SimplyScripts Radio is produced by Michael Cornetto and hosted by Mike Shelton.

Music provided by Incompetech.com.

Interested in joining the panel? Send an email to radiosimply (at) gmail.com

Mike Shelton hosts the SimplyScripts Radio – Squirt Edition.

Pocast rated R for use of the ‘F’ bomb and phlegm

 

 SimplyScripts Radio 1/15/10 [35:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (756)

Tyler Higgins joins tonight to discuss his web series Squirt about Dan who is quite abruptly endowed with the power to squirt a jet of water from his index finger.

You can watch the first episode below. You can also read a draft of the first episode on the discussion board here.

Tyler is joined by Pia, Michael Cornetto, James and Phil

They all discuss their love of Mystery Man on Film

James talks writing features and the past 7 Week Challenge

Phil talks about his feature Bad Penquin.

Pia talks writing a reality series.

Watch Squirt: Too Much Citrus

SimplyScripts Radio is produced by Michael Cornetto and hosted by Mike Shelton.

Music provided by Incompetech.com.

Interested in joining the panel? Send an email to radiosimply (at) gmail.com

Mike Shelton hosts the New Year’s Day edition of the SimplyScripts Radio podcast.

Rated R for language

 

 SimplyScripts Radio 01/01/10 [24:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (522)

James McClung is on to discuss the filming of his script Abattoir and his current project.

James also discusses some of his other work Black Market and Tis The Season and his foray into Romantic Comedy.

George Willson (author of the recently released novel The Fempiror Chronicles: The Initiation of David) talks basic scene construction.

Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) talks about his favorite Zombie scripts, Robert Skotte’s unproduced The Bay and Phil Clarke’s Not Even Death which has recently been filmed, the trailer of which you can catch here.

Pia talks about writing under a deadline, à propos of the recent 7 Week Challenge.

SimplyScripts Radio is produced by Michael Cornetto and hosted by Mike Shelton.

Music provided by Incompetech.com.

Interested in joining the panel? Send an email to radiosimply (at) gmail.com

Announcing the 2010 BlueCat Screenplay Competition where every screenplay receives written script analysis.

This year, BlueCat has created two new awards for international screenwriters, expanded early analysis deadlines and for fun, decided to have a best title contest to further support and find the new writer.

PRIZES

Winner receives $10,000

Four Finalists receive $1,500 each.

NEW! The best screenplay outside the USA, Canada and the UK will be awarded the Joplin Award and receive $2500.

NEW! The screenplay with the best title submitted in November and December, as voted by the public, will receive $1000.

NEW! The screenplay with the best title submitted in November and December, as voted by the public, will receive $1000.

SCRIPT ANALYSIS DEADLINE SCHEDULE

January 20 – receive analysis by February 1
Feb 1 – receive analysis by March 1
March 1 – receive analysis by March 20

COMPETITION DEADLINE

Title contest: December 31
Regular: March 1 ($50 entry fee)
Late: April 1 ($60 entry fee)

Any screenplay submitted early and having received our early analysis can be resubmitted by April 1, 2010 for the reduced fee of $35.

SUBMIT YOUR SCREENPLAY: www.bluecatscreenplay.com

David Johnson, screenwriter of the film, Orphan sat down and talked with Lance of DailyActor.com during Comic-Con. They talked about David’s new movie, Orphan, if he writes with actors in mind, improvising and other stuff.

There is a quick intro over on Daily Actor as well as the full interview in audio form.

The script has been floating around for a while. A February 5, 2007 draft can be found here among other places. (Thanks “V”, “phutreclash”, “dave” and anonymous es for the heads up – Don

NYC Midnight’s sixth annual Screenwriter’s Challenge persuades creative types to write what they [don’t] know by asking them to compose short screenplays of surprise genre and topic in as little as 24 hours. The first round of the contest, which runs from April 17th – 25th, challenges all registered writers to come up with an original short screenplay in just 8 days. Up to 100 winners will be selected to advance on to the final round, taking place June 5th – 6th, where they will have a chance to compete for over $13,000 in cash and prizes by writing an original short screenplay in just 24 hours.

If you use “SIXTHTIME” promo code you can get $5.00 the entry fee.

A number of SimplyScripts regulars have participated in the past and enjoyed it. Also, the SimplyScripts One Week Challenge is patterned after the NYC Midnight’s Screenwriter’s Challenge. So, give it a good and let me know how it goes. – Don

Thanks Audrey for the heads up on Fade In Magazine’s Response to the recent article in The Wrap entitled Are Aspiring Writers Being Lured With Promises Fade In Can’t Keep? which I blogged about last week.

After having received the following from Audrey…

You have a link to “Fade In response,” which does not go to Fade In Magazine’s response*, which is at – www.fadeinonline.com – It is illegal to disseminate defamatory and libelous information from a third party**. I understand why it’s newsworthy but would appreciate you also link to and or give Fade In’s side to the story***. If not, I’ve been instructed**** to contact our lawyers to send you a letter to remove the deragatory [sic] statements*****, as mediabistro****** and other sites******* have had to do in order not to be sued*******. I hope you understand. Please read my letter from the editor at www.fadeinonline.com and click on the links. You may understand better.*********
(astrisks added)
…I was left scratching my head about what I wrote in my blog post that was derogatory, defamatory or libelous (I’ll wait for the lawyers to let me know) and of course felt compelled not only correct the errant link, but also to make sure you are aware and have a chance to read Fade In Magazine’s response which begins, Did a new entertainment media competitor maliciously attack Fade In and its editor in chief in order to attract readers to its new website or is there something more sinister going on besides sloppy reporting? You decide.

So, read the other side of the story which I think you will find interesting and informative and a deep dive on the interworkings of online media magazines. – Don

update: For what it’s worth, MediaBistro still has their article on this up.

*That was the only response at the time
**ain’t been proved.
***done
****instructed by who? Zorgon? The Voice in your head?
*****What deragatory or derogatory statements?
******mediabistro’s article is still up.
*******nope, just two dorky sites have posted about this.
********Bring it. Hollow threat. Seriously, “put my link up or I’ll sue you.” Please have your lawyer contact me. You are pathitic and whiney.
*********see above response.