Folks,

Glenn (a.k.a. IAmGlenn on the Discussion Boards) is the writer of a new series.

It has Aliens.

A secret organization of aliens are using their own technology to program humans in order to over throw governments around the world and obtain global dominance. That is if five escaped prisoners don’t stop them first.

Help out out the series on GoFundMe.

Deets on the series:
ProgrammedSeries.com – website
The Facebooks page for Programmed Series
InternetMovieDatabase Information

Congratulations to Matías. He just signed with C.A.A..

Matías has been contributing to the SimplyScripts Discussion Board since 2005. He is the 2014 Grand Prize Winner of The Page International Screenwriting Awards. He has written several produced scripts. You can read some of his work before I get a C&D from C.A.A. to take them down.

Alas, Matías has yet to receive the coveted crappy mug…

Congratulations to SimplyScripts members who had scripts in the 2015 Page quarter finals

Folks with two scripts in the quarter finals

Matias Caruso (last years’ Grand Prize winner)
David Lambertson

Folks with one script in the quarter finals

Dena McKinnon
Henry Christner
Jeff Bush
Rick Kinsella
Rod Thompson
Tim Westland

Let me know if I missed anyone. Check out the full list here. Thanks Pia for the heads up!

Say congratulatory stuff on Discussion Board

Certain events has compelled me to remind user that the SimplyScripts Discussion Board and Comments Section is privately run. Your freedom of speech and freedom of expression does not extend to this privately run discussion board or comments section.

While I am a huge proponent of freedom of expression and freedom of speech, if you post speech or symbols that I find offensive, I will delete them. If you keep doing it, I will ban you.

I promise you that I will not come to your house and stand in your living room and spew vitriol and brandish symbols offensive to you if you promise not to do it in my house.

You can also check out the rules that I use to govern behavior on the discussion board and comments section.

– Don

Some info on Space Rippers

The New York Women in Film and Television Writer’s Lab for Women Over 40 brings 8 women screenwriters over the age of 40 together with established mentors from the film industry for an intimate gathering and intensive workshop at Wiawaka Center for Women on Lake George, NY from September 18-20, 2015. The Lab is presented in collaboration with the Writers Guild of America, East. Read more about the background here.

Please read The Writer’s Lab Application Instructions for details on eligibility. At a high level: Applicants must be women who were born on or prior to June 1, 1975, and must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents. The Lab seeks submissions from all racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural groups. Submissions must be full-length narrative screenplays in English. (No TV scripts, shorts or documentaries.) They are seeking a broad selection of screenplays across all genres of fiction. Scripts by more than one writer will be considered, but all writers must be female, and only one writer can attend The Lab.

There are a lot of women writers who are members of SimplyScripts and I can’t think of one who hasn’t produced quality, professional and engaging work. And, I know that all members would be delighted to lend any assistance in the way of reviews and proof reading to help our their friends on the discussion board.

Grand prize is a $2000 option and purchase agreement.

Check out Status Media. Early Bird deadline is February 28th.

I know that “SimplyScripts” is suppose to be about “Scripts” and “Screenwriting” and I try to stick to that. But, this has been going through my head for quite some time. So, before I post up the scripts from the 1+6 Week Challenge, I thought I’d get this down on paper. I’ve tried several times before and haven’t been successful. I’m going to get this down on paper and push it out and walk away.

Last December, one of the members of the SimplyScripts discussion board took his own life. I never met Tony Gangemi face to face. I’ve read his work that he and his writing partner and wife Aimee put out. I thought they were a great team and wrote some great stuff. Tony is my contemporary. Old people die. People you don’t know die. When someone I know, particularly someone very much like me, dies, it bothers me, tho I don’t choose to admit it to anyone.

Oddly enough, or perhaps not so oddly, I have found comfort in Amiee’s blog, SixWordsBlog. Her inaugural essay The Still Point is a frank and honest recounting of the events of December 21st. Amiee is very open about her feelings on what was, ironically, the longest night of the year. She has been posting regularly for the past few months. I admire her courage to put herself emotionally out there in writing.

Just got word that an online friend recently lost his father. I wrote to him, what I hope were encouraging words. I told him to talk about his feelings and get them down on paper. And, get someone to read it. Don’t worry if you got it right or not. I’m taking my own advice. Good luck, Jack.

Thank you for indulging me.

Now, back to your regularly scheduled programming.

-Don

MoviePoet.com announces the winners of the June 2012 short script contest: “Even More of Less is More” – In screenwriting every page, every paragraph, every sentence, and every word counts. Tell an entire story in one page during our annual micro-short screenplay challenge.

“Vicious Circle” by Greg Tonnon ~ First Place
Michael is crestfallen when an accident he caused takes the life of his new bride. Thirty years later, technology gives him a chance to make things right.

“His Future” by Matthew Fettig ~ Second Place
An unemployed father barters his last pretense of success for his son’s birthday gift.

“Going Up” by Derek Anderson ~ Third Place
A destitute victim of domestic violence finds solace in an act of kindness from a stranger.

Each month, Movie Poet runs a free online five page screenplay contest. On the first of each month a new contest is announced. During that month, you can enter your script. During the next month, you can read, vote, and comment on all the entries. Finally, during the third month, the results are announced.

Head on over to Movie Poet and give it a go. – Don