American Film Market or Bust!

I am setting some goals newbies!

Mark my words. Next November I will be at American Film Market 2016.

That is a promise.

Living in Atlanta in the midst of Yallywood is great and all. However, Atlanta is not known for its above the line labor activities. Most of the script decision making process happens on the West Coast. Hollywood remains supreme in that area of Above the Line labor.

For all those who are unsure what that means, Above the Line labor refers to directors, screenwriters, actors and producers attached to a project. They represent a fixed cost and can typically demand a pretty penny.

Georgia's workforce can supply the majority of the Below the Line workforce in the form of crew, extras and supporting cast, but the real decision making process for most films still happens in sunny California.

Which is why, as budding screenwriter it is important for me to attend the American Film Market event next year. The week long event is the ultimate in independent motion picture events--with a facet of  networking, film distribution, and deal-making events.

Even with the dates of  next years events, not yet announced I am claiming my ticket! I encourage you to make the the journey to this screenwriting mecca with me. This is our advance notice. So get your scripts in tip-top shape and start saving for your plane, train or automobile trip to Santa Monica for the 2016 American Film Market. It is newbie come-up season.

#KeepWriting,



- DW

#TBT Post! SCAD presents aTVFest "Backstrom" Cast Interview with Danielle Wilcox

I've Got My First Screenwriting Contract!

So two weeks ago I was approached by my internship coordinator, whose a great Director and taught me everything I know about being an office PA and set PA during my role at his production company. He asked me if I could help him out with a by critiquing his script. I read the script, took some notes and gave him some honest feedback including where I thought there was room for improvement.

From there, he thanked me for feedback and then surprised me saying he didn't have time to rewrite it, and asked me if I was interested in the gig.

I am sure I had a Macaulay Culkin Home Alone, YES moment--complete with dramatic arm victory swinging.

So I maybe seemed a bit over eager at that moment. I tried to real it back in with one of those understated professional statements...circa " I would be delighted to take part in this project".

But my joy was apparent and I think that actually may not be a bad thing at all. What's so bad about being passionate and excited about doing work that you love?

From there there were some steps to finalize. Newbies receiving an offer is not the end. I had to send him some writing samples ( which makes me so glad I did a feature and a spec ready), which my offer was contingent upon. Then there was a small bit of official paperwork to do concerning payment, timelines etc. 

I am excited to announce I have receive my first screenwriting contract. I am doing a re-write for a children's action adventure film. This is my first official week and I could not be happier and for my very first contract I would say I didn't do too bad.  

Being open, prepared and excited as well as staying keyed in with your network can lead to great results newbies. That is a lesson I have learned for sure over the last two weeks.

#KeepWriting

-DW

My Father Retired.... Which Means I Can Too

Putting an event together can be a massive feat! I am so happy I am done with the party. It was a great event and he really enjoyed it. My mother, sister and I transformed my parent's home into an island paradise complete with Jamaican Rasta rappers and a Hawaiin Hula Dancer.

Check out the video to be amazed and awed by the characters that make up the story of my life. After this experience, I think I am going to have to base a story off some true life characters in my everyday world.



Now that the party is done, the pictures and videos have been posted and the rentals returned, I have more time to write and I am so happy about that too. I took my own advice and carved out some writing time, even in the midst of a busy season in my life. I do have a little announcement: Minority Repore ( The Girls meets Girlfriends Project)  pilot is complete!



# KeepWriting





-DW

Today's Pep Talk for the Newbie Writer

Don't fall into the trap.  Don't so bogged down in the training, trying to massage your ego to get ready to write. Just write.

All right on the count of three pick up your typewriter, computer, or good old fashioned pen and notepad. One....two....three....WRITE!

#KeepWriting


- DW

Headshots Not Just for the Actors...

So I can't talk about what I am writing but I will talk about what else I am working on.... ramping up my personal brand.

Personal branding is key in the creative community. A head shot can create a personal ties through cyber space, distance and time. Since I am on the East Coast trying to get into a predominantly West Coast business this is especially key for me. While I have done a few head shots of myself using the timer function on my lovely Canon Rebel, I haven't yet had the experience of getting my photo taken where I receive instructions from a professional to help present me in the best possible light
(---double meaning intended). But I shall this weekend!

I can't believe I am just now about to get this done. Have I ever mentioned to you that I also own DWPV, a freelance creative brand focused on design, writing, photography, and video.  I am in the middle of a brand relaunch but customers are responding well to the new logos and focused mission. The website will be the next generation. I carefully designed my logo for that, because I knew it would be apart of my personal brand, just as my scripts are apart of my brand.  But all brands need a face too!

According to William Arruda, you should focus on the volume, relevance, purity, diversity, and validity of your brand. He refers to it as reputation, but I am a creative so I know better.


The shy girl inside of me often doesn't want to step out into center stage. I would prefer to stay behind the camera...which should be obvious as I have not posted a video blog message in months. There is a safety in being in the background with the camera in your hand, where as there is a vulnerability when your on the other side of the camera and your picture is taken.

Every freckle, scar or extra pound seems to stick out like a sore thumb to me every time in the past for graduations, family photos,  or networking events  so I got by with getting in the group pics.  It may be a side effect of looking at perfectly airbrushed images all day in movie posters and THR.

Headshots are coming my way. Who knows, a video presentation or self bio may be next. That would be a way to take this one step forward.

So does anyone have a recommendation for me in the Atlanta area for a place to get a killer headshot?

The Struggle is Never Ending

Dear Newbies,


I fell victim to the nothingness. I drowned faster than Bastian in the Never Ending Story into the depths of languid, luxurious moments couch potatodom. It felt so good to do nothing.  It was the highlight of my day...to return home from work after 8 hours at a desk, then sitting in 1+ hours of Atlanta traffic, to come home and do absolutely nothing! I even had a daily routine for it.  I would peel off the day, literally and figuratively, by changing into some long-awaited, sincerely anticipated sweat pants. This was followed by stuffing my face, then relaxing on the sofa while web surfing until it was time to go to bed. I loved it so much.  I still do. Being a couch potato felt so good.

But all good things must come to an end. Why? I felt like my original ambitions, were slipping further and further away. I don't want a pile of unfinished works. It is now beyond want, it is a need. My words need to be given life on the screen. I have to finish a script.  If I want to be a screenwriter, rule number one is to keep writing.

I know it. I preach it. I believe it.

Even with all the tutorials, tips, and best practices I have found to make the screenwriting process easier, it still goes to show that this process is a beast. Eventually, it leaves its mark. I fell victim to it and maybe this is the first of many times I struggle with this...maybe not. All I know is that I will always come back to writing, no matter what. That is my never-ending story.

What separates the true screenwriters and the want-to-be ones is the ability to get back on the horse or in this case, resurrect it.

So here I am admitting my short-comings and learning from them. Just like Bastian, it took a friend to help me dig myself out of woe-some routine. Thanks for being my Atrayu, @BellaWrites1.

Below I have included the encouraging video she sent me of Ava Duvernay that really got me moving forward again.  I hope it inspires you too.


#KeepWriting

-DW

Notes on Genre via The Script Lab: Thriller

Genre: Thriller - The Script Lab



Came across  this today via twitter and thought  it did an exellent job of phrasing  subgenres in aiper quick easy to understand  descriptions.  Meanwhile,  I've  been describing  the full  plot of  my film, Lazarus. SMH...



Thanks  Script Lab for showing  me how  to get to  freaking point.



#KeepWriting



-DW

All the Writing Before You Write....

So I have gotten advice from various sources on the pre-writing phase and everyone recognizes that you have to do something.  From alternate blogs, to screenwriting books, to Screencraft tweets to Film Courage videos....the verdict is all the same. Don't just start writing on a page. If you do, you will eventually go mad when your story goes awry.

For Blake Snyder's Cat People, it is all about a beat sheet that gets flushed out further in the form of a board full of notecards separated by your act breaks. Upon being placed in order on notecard, the story begins to take shape on the page.

For the Syd Field field-of-workbook dreamers, it is all about paradigm and structure. This camp of thought is also based on the Act breaks of old English theatre. But it focuses on the paradigm models at its core before the writing takes place.

What are some core parts in your process for creating a script? Do you like Blake, Syd or someone elses pre-writing process best?

Sorry for the Wait Newbies

This is one of the 10 videos I made for the #Sources2015 social campaign for the Source of Urban Educational Conference. Try to say that 3 times fast! 

...which is a video series I completed for GSU aka my 'day job'. They kept me occupied the last 2 weekends which is why my video post are delayed.  No complaints. It was fun and it was great to flex my directorial and editing skills.

Just wish I didn't leave my newbies hanging! Hopefully you took the time to do something constructive like, make some Beat Sheets and read some scripts.

I  promise I have not forgot about you or Lazarus or Minority Rapport. What is Minority Rapport you ask?  That is what I am calling my episodic narrative series project.

New video coming this weekend.

More #Sources2015 videos below if you are interested in learning more about the conference.


https://vimeo.com/127176275
https://vimeo.com/127176275
https://vimeo.com/127205994
https://vimeo.com/127221174

#KeepWriting

- DW

Story Analyst Kathie Fong Yoneda Talks About Writing, Pitching, and Networking

Pay special attention to what Kathie Fong Yoneda says at  8:12.

I AM IN FULL WRITING MODE

Hi Newbies,


Just wanted to check in with you and let you know I did not fall off the face of the planet. I have one week left of my screenwriting workshop left at Chez Studios and I am trying to write my little fingers to the bone before our last class so I have something to present. This 6-week workshop is brutal. Especially since the first 3-weeks are development!

I have a newfound respect for people who can write a feature script in 6 weeks. I only have to write one half hour comedy pilot episode.


#KeepWriting

- C. Danielle Wilcox

A Newbie Must Watch...Getting It Write - Full Film Courage Interview with Lee Jessup

Newbies,



Did you find this as inspiring, depressing, and informative as I did? These 22 minutes are packed full of information that all newbies need to know when getting started in this industry. I found it really interesting that it takes a new writer somewhere between 3 and 10 years to break into the screenwriting business. Was that eye-opening for you?


Share your thoughts and questions.  Did anyone re-evaluate there thoughts on anything after viewing this video such as representation, film school or creative development? Let's talk about it.

Screenwriting With the Newbie Ep.5: Juggling Life

The struggle is real ya'll...





The music featured in this episode is Frank Ocean "Hero" in celebration of his upcoming and much anticipated album, Boys Don't Cry and SZA feat. Chance the Rapper on the melodically haunting, "Babylon" which is featured in my Smooth Life Mix from weeks ago.

#KeepWriting


- DW

Lazarus Has Not Risen

Lazarus Has Not Risen...but He Ain't Dead Either!

Oh my gosh, I am so upset. I thought I was nearly done with my screenplay for Lazarus and when I printed it to do a read through I got all excited because last week when I checked it and it was around 85 pages. I did some revisions on my computer and it dropped down to 75 pages. I wanted to print it off to make editing it easier after my initial read through. I quickly scanned through the settings and realized that my pages had shrunk down to meek 49 pages. I am missing 25 pages worth of work.

I can't believe it! I am literally crushed right now. I just knew I was nearly done. I'm dumbfounded. I am reading the script again right now to see if in fact some pages mysteriously dropped out during the saving process or was the program giving me false hope in the print preview. It is possible I bumped one of the settings last week to make the script longer by accident, such as the skip a page between scenes function or choosing how many lines to skip between each scene, but I just can't say anything for sure right now.

 I did have an issue with saving last week. My internet connection kept timing out so the script kept saying it could not save, so I never shut down the program to keep my writing active. It is possible that is where the pages mysteriously disappeared to.

Lessons Learned:

1) When using Celtx check the word count to gauge your progress. Don't get excited until you have 2000+ words if you are writing a feature screenplay.

2) When you get ready print, make sure to check the settings to make sure everything looks right. I have used this program several times before when completing my shorts for school and have never encountered any problems before.

3) Save from cloud based screenwriting sites, by copying and pasting your work in Microsoft Word, when you suspect a system issue or a slow internet connection. Though once saved, they are saved for the life of your account, sometime the problem may be locking the information initially into your cloud.

The Silver Lining: 

 I have a full story within the 49 pages. Some parts are bare bones but the story is there. I can see what needs to be developed and what is spot on. I think my A story could use a little more development, the B story is very strongly developed. My A story is more sci-fi thriller, while the B story is a love story.

For those of you who have never watched my video blog, Lazarus is a sci-fi thriller centering around a widowed scientist who aims to finish her husband's research to expand the human life cycle, but the results of the Lazarus project turn deadly when a young mysterious boy enters her life.

I am going back to my index cards to see what happened. You may enter a set-back of your own so remember to just keep writing when the inevitable hiccup happens to you.

#KeepWriting



-DW

Girls Season 1 Episode 1 Beat Sheet

Hi Newbies!

I started a new project. It is currently untitled. I don't know if I am going to video blog about it yet but I will be posting about the development process starting with some research. The project I have in development will be similar to HBO Girls but with a twist.


Check out this beat sheet of the series premier below if you want to get a feel for the structure of the narrative, episodic program starring Lena Dunham. Check out her IMDB.

Let me know if you agree or disagree with my breakdown in this BS2 and then check out some others here:

Girls Season 1 Episode 1 Beat Sheet

Opening Image – Hannah eats diner with her parents in an upscale restaurant with 3 entrees in front of her.

Set-up –Bankrolled by her parents, Hannah depends on her parents to fund her lifestyle

Theme Stated: With only her friends in her corner, can Hannah transition into financial and emotional maturation in the big city?

Catalyst – Hanna’s parents cut her off.

Debate – She debates with her parents about the economy? Can she face this challenge of being jobless & moneyless? Does she have what it takes to make it on her own in New York?

B Story – the “love story” of Marnie and Hannah begins, best friends and confidants. Shoshanna’s cousin arrives from London and Shoshanna is totally smitten with the fabulousness of her cousin.

Break Into Two (Choosing Act Two) – Hannah forced into her journey decides to ask her internship provider to hire her.

The Promise of the Premise – Internship provider tells Hannah she can keep interning or get out. He is a total dick when Hannah mentions her book. Hannah takes takes the loss gracefully.

Midpoint – Hannah visits Adam. Everything seems great. Hannah remains upbeat.  Hannah gets the support she wants from Adam, who had been dodging her.

Bad Guys Close In – Inner doubt, fear, and disappoint overcome Hannah when she leaves Adam and he utters the hated phrase " I'll text you"

All is Lost –Hannah realizes she has about 7 days worth of funds to stay in New York. She is sad because she has to leave or find a job quick.

Dark Night of the Soul – Hannah hits bottom, and wallows in opium. Why hast thou forsaken me parents? internship? New York?

Break Into Three (Choosing Act Three) – Mourning the loss of her New York City dream, she gets contrasting advice from Marnie and Jessa. Hannah decides to try again with her parents.

Finale –Hannah goes back to her home while Jessa and Marnie fight over Hannah and who gives the best advice. Jessa reveals that she is pregnant.

Hannah makes her parents read her book. High-as-a-kite Hannah, passes out on the floor and her parents argue about is now the best time to cut her off. It appears her father may cave. She falls asleep with a smile. She wakes to find herself alone and that her parents left her a mere 20 dollars, the same as the maid--which she also takes.

Final Image – Hannah skips across a busy street in wide-open New York, signifying a new world.

#KeepWriting

-DW

Think Like a Team

Elevation in the Industry: Get Your Team Up!

This is a community based industry. Movies are shot with large crews of actors, producers, editors, and crew. Even though screenwriting is one area initially done it solitude, for the most part it takes a group to get a project made. Screenwriters need to make multiple contacts to get their projects sold either themselves or by way of an agent.

With that being said, how often do you think about the development phase being a team activity? If you haven't maybe now is the time to start. You have to have your idea together first, but then it's fair game to pitch your concept to get honest reactions and feedback.

When you involve your classmates, mentors, or auteurs into your creative process, your project will elevate. Great minds can build beautiful things when their energy is focused on similar goals.

Try it out with a few of your past or present classmates and watch how elevate together and apart.

Must Use Tool Kit for Screenwriters

Here are all of tools that should be in your arsenal as a screenwriter:

1) Screenwriting Software
2) Index Cards
3) Organizational Board
4) External Hard Drive ( back it up)
5) Cloud Based Storage Drive ( double back it up)
6)  2 Inch Brass Screenplay Fasteners
7) Support Group ( screenwriter blogs like this one, family, Meet-Ups and community groups)


#KeepWriting

-DW

My Favorite Playlist for Writing: The Smooth Life MIx

Do you ever need some extra motivation to keep you writing? Maybe you are feeling sleepy? Distracted? Down in the dumps?

Try some music!

The mellow yet complex playlist below boast electro-beats and subtle soothing lyricist create a cocoon of creativity that envelops you in. I listen to this thing like four hours straight when writing. I hope you enjoy it. Is there any particular song or playlist that keeps you in the writing zone? Shoot it over, and you may see your track on the playlist!


"The Smooth Life Mix" is private on SoundCloud so you must have the link to access it.  I hope you enjoy it!

https://soundcloud.com/c-danielle-wilcox/sets/the-smooth-life-mix/s-dhlZV

A Freebie from The University of Southern California Film School

So if you can't afford USC Film School you can still feel like you are there if you give this podcast a listen. Starting in 2007 the podcast has interviews from some of the most influential writers, directors and producers of the last century.


I decided to listen to them while at work. I take a note here or there when something really clicks but I feel like if I want to be a serious filmmaker I need to surround my self with the language and the tools of a filmmaker, learning from those who have paved the road before me is just one of the ways I walk my path towards filmmaking success.

Check them all out by clicking here.

Here are my personal notes from the Mark Fergus 2007 USC Interview. His works include “Children of Men” and “IronMan. Check out his full IMDB page here and  keep in mind I typed these while listening......

HOW HE GOT HIS START:

·       being HBO script analyst training helped him become a better full time screenwriter

·       found niche by tackling projects no one else would

·       Writing spec script at Showtime focusing on what he thought everyone else wanted to buy, but when he focused on the script he wanted to make to please himself & writing partner

·       found writing partner Hawk Otsby; but they live in separate locations but it works for them

COLLABORATION:

·       Collaborators should make you think beyond where you are and should make your ideas get better

·       You have to be open to letting people challenge your ideas and be able to look at them in a different way

·       Also if you agree that any of their ideas make it better, when you incorporate them, you give them a stake in the project. They believe in you and the project more

WRITING PARTNER:

·       Take turns doing outline, first draft, second draft, etc.

·       Collaboration worked so well that they decided to be represented together

·       Likes the surprise of seeing what they come up with separately and are able to fix each other’s mistakes

SCREENWRITING:

·       Biggest revelation, non-verbal is more important than what is verbally happening in your script

·       Trust your gut, it can deliver better than your brain when writing

·       Director, Jon Favreau liked working with  Fergus and Otsby so much he hand-picked them to write on Iron Man

·       You must finish what you started.  Deadline and pressure is screenwriter’s best friend.

·       Collaboration opportunities can be opportunities to move your script forward

·       Put your morals and passions into your writing. Unique viewpoints encouraged though the voices of minorities and women are often not heard.

·       People need to believe your story to go on a journey with your script

·       Big Franchise Sci-fi movies have producers that live, breath and eat the background for comic book characters. Use these experts to help script stay true to these comic book characters. They will protect their characters

·       “Everything you take away empowers everything you have left behind”

·       The common denominator of being productive in the business is being driven and wanting to make the best movie ever made.

·       If you believe in the work, the writing will come. Don’t write for the market place or what is cool.  The timeline for movies is 18 months so what ever is in will be out of style by the time it comes out.

PITCHING:

·       Less is best but be Concise. 4 minutes should be all you need to pitch

Screenwriting with the Newbie Ep. 2: Card. Board

So I just realized episode 2 of the vlog wasn't on the blog. Shameful... I know. So here is episode 2 which is all about those fabulous index cards and creating a board to layout your script before you type it all up.

I just graduated so my goal was to do this as cheaply as possible. If I had to do it again I would go with a magnetic board though. Eventually one of those pins stuck me. Ouch!

Different strokes for different folks on how yours will look. Feel free to shoot me a photo, link to your boards or maybe you are one of those few people who don't even need this step, because you did such a killer job with outlining.

But nonetheless, if you wanted information about my Screenwriter's Board and what a board actually may look like, this is the video for you.

"SAVE THE CAT?" A Follow - Up

Hi,

Here is a link to the resource used in my first and second video post related to the Blake Snyder book in case you were having any trouble finding it. I highly recommend it as it is an easy read to get you started on your journey. From one newbie to another, I think this is a great starting resource as it breaks down the structure into beats and offers some great initial advice for how to start.


I can only speak on the original book, as that is the only one I have read, but there are also a wealth of Beat Sheets, Podcast post, etc. on the Save The Cat site if you are having trouble understanding scripts or creating a starting point.




#KeepWriting

DW

Twitter, a Newbie Screenwriter's Best Friend: Check out the Top 25 Accounts to Follow

Twitter, a Newbie Screenwriter's Best Friend: Check out the Top 25 Accounts to Follow

I mentioned twitter in my last vlog video " Screenwriters Unite" and I wanted to expand upon it.  I cam upon this great list as a result of one of the accounts I follow on twitter.

Check out this list of the Top 25 Accounts for Screenwriters that +ScreenCraft posted. A lot of the resources I mentioned in the video made the list but there are even more resources than I could have imagined across the internet. What other resources from twitter would you add to the list?

I will keep posting them on the blog. Don't forget to follow me @danie11ewi1cox and the full 25 Accounts is in the link below:


http://screencraft.org/2013/10/24/top-25-twitter-accounts-screenwriters-follow/

Screenwriting With the Newbie Ep.4: Screenwriters Unite

#KeepWriting


- DW

Screenwriting With The Newbie Ep.3: Compelling Characters

The newest episode of #SWTN is available now! Check in with me and my journey as I create my first feature film.  Plus, pick up tips on how to start your brand new adventure in writing for film.



Share your thoughts, comments, and feedback with me as well. This is a discussion. I want to hear back from you. What is your favorite part of #SWTN Ep.3?



Some notes I took from this episode....



I think I am learning to be more comfortable as a public speaker and learning to be more comfortable in front of the camera. This is good because if I do end up having scripts sold, or movies made, then I will have to do my fair share of interviews so not only has vlogging become an extension in my writing process but it has also become an exercise in oration.

Welcome to my blog, Screenwriting with the Newbie~

My name is Danielle Wilcox and I am writing my first feature film. Though I have some screenwriting experience with shorts and a May-Mester course that I took with Sheldon Schiffer at GSU, I have never written a feature. I wanted to see if I was up for the challenge so that I could see if this would be my niche in my industry. I graduated this December so now seemed like the perfect time to work on it. This blog will document my journey through my first film as well as share the best tips and tricks I gain while going along with the process.

This site is accompanied by my video blog, "Screenwriting with the Newbie" which is currently posted on YouTube. A new episode comes out each week. Below is a link to episode one. Please feel free to share your comments, suggestions, etc. here or in the comments section on YouTube. I am also an avid Tweeter and as you will all find out, I am a bit of a goof ball.

Thanks for reading and keep writing everyone!


Sincerely,


C. Danielle Wilcox
Twitter:@danie11ewi1cox
Email: ms.c.daniellewilcox@gmail.com

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F11o6KKE6RI