August 09, 2005

• I've never been, but sounds like junk to me. Specifically the part about getting an agent and "marketing your script on the internet." Things like this will teach you very little about "art" and even less about business: they're selling pipe dreams. The way to get an agent is to get a referral or get really lucky- no seminar is going to help, ever. And I dont even know what they mean by "market your script on the internet." The only seminar I think is of value is Robert McKee's, and even for that I'm told you can buy the book "Story" and save a huge amount of money. If you dont have "Story" get it and study study study. If you're not in a writer's group where you review each other's work, get in one. You'll learn a thousand times more from your peers then from a seminar full of 1000s of desperate hopefuls* screaming at a so-called "expert." For once someone is curious about an area i know something about, so feel free to email me if you have any other questions. (add "@yahoo.com" to my user name) *not that I'm not one myself
• I'm guessing squidranch might be helpful here.
• I've never heard of this expo. The guests of honor are quite impressive, and the panel discussions seem legit and logical, but I wouldn't put too much promise into breaking into screenwriting on the basis of attending. I just checked the price to register. If the cost is only $75 all inclusive, and you take in the better panel discussions, I think you'll get your money's worth. Go. If it sux, you're only out $75 and a weekend.
• I'm guessing squidranch might be helpful here. Thanks for the vote of confidence there. As I said above, I have my suspicions, but William Goldman is certainly a notable speaker and if you have the money to spare, there's no reason not to go. However, my above recommendations stand: getting into a writer's group will do 100 times more than any amount of sitting and listening to speeches, no matter how esteemed the speakers may be...
• Sorry, drjimmy. I just knew that squiddy had experience in that field. Not to take away from your advice, honest!
• ehhh it's all good.
• Thanks for that, drjim and Squiddy (and your peek-in, Tracicle). drjim, i really appreciate the e-mail offer, I'll take you up on it. I've read "Story" twice and I think it's great. I've done one screenplay and it sux! So clearly I need to work at it. You're right about the writer's group. It's one reason why I'm having trouble getting in gear. Four of the grads from our scriptwriting program have kept in touch but for one reason or another we don't have a group. Part of it also is that I'm in Ottawa, which in film community terms is Smallsville. Squiddy, i agree attending the expo won't turn me into a success overnite. (Actually in a way, it would be disappointing if it did). You guys both make a good argument from the cost/benefit approach and the marquee names sooo I will take one for the team and sign up! I'll report back on how it goes...
• I'm coming to this thread a little late, but the list of speakers does seem impressive, and pretty good for $75. Also, this highly positive review of the expo is written by a friend of mine whose judgment I trust, so that bodes well. That said, there are a ton of really smart and experienced screenwriters who post their stuff for free on the Net. If you aren't already familiar with them, go read Wordplayer, The Artful Writer, JohnAugust.Com, Kung Fu Monkey, and (WARNING: SELF LINK) The Blank Page. Of course, you might find inspiration from being physically at an expo with a bunch of other writers, in which case, you'll get something out of it that you can't get from the net. In the long run, though, the only way to make progress is to keep writing. I didn't get paid to write a screenplay until I had already written 8 feature film specs, plus a bunch of TV specs, plus a variety of other stuff. If the expo kicks you into writing gear and gets you to write your next script, then it's worth it. Otherwise, I'd say it's not. Good luck!
• Good luck with "The Government Manual for New Superheroes". Looks like it'll be really funny :) /derail
• Wow, jacobw, thanks for those links. I also just browsed your website, it's excellent. Thanks for sharing your experiences. Just knowing that you found light at the end of the tunnel is reassuring. I've done one screenplay, i guess i have at least another seven to write. Best get started.
• Well, I just got back from the LA Screenwriting Expo. For a beginning screenwriter, I'd say it was well worth it. (If you've any questions about the event, post it here, cuz i don't check e-mail often). Great things about the expo: * cost - $75 to sign up. $4 for 90 minute seminars by some great speakers who are industry pros with real experience. Free talks by some giant names. Got to listen to William Goldman, David Koepp. John August and Josh Whedon were there also. * content - best thing about the expo for me was that I came away with a more realistic feel for how the industry works. Also some good talks on the craft of writing. Top speakers for me were: Mark and Elaine Zicree, Linda Cowgill, Dov Simens.
• Some more things about the expo, some good, some not so. * crowds - 4000 people attended so it was noisy. The upside is that you get to meet some like-minded people. Despite the numbers there were no problems getting in to the seminars (graded "beginner", "advanced" and "pro"). * confusion - they lost my registration info, but the administrators was good enough to remedy the situation right away. * crassness - there was some of what drjimmy warned against namely, the peddlers were out in full force. This was regrettable in at least two cases. Karl Iglesias and John Truby are both noted for giving good concrete advice on the nuts and bolts of screenwriting. *But* in one of Iglesias' seminars we were treated to a continual stream of promotional references to his books/DVDs/talks. And Truby did a hard sell at his booth in the expo. A bit of a turn off for me. * swag factor - some pens, a "Do Not Disturb - screenwriter at work" sign, a "Day jobs suck" button. Hilarious peddling literature: "How to make a six figure income as a script consultant!!". "Pay $1500 and we'll e-mail your pitch to a thousand people!". * Hunh? moment. At one of the seminars the speaker went on about the richness of the visual metaphors in the movie "English Patient". Particularly the contrasting use of "dryness" and "wetness". The only thing is the movie takes place in a *desert* so dryness comes with the um, territory. * telling statistic. 1000 scripts were sold in Hollywood last year. Of those 70 were spec scripts, i.e. new writers. * computing woes. To take part in the pitchfest, where you meet for 5 minutes with a rep from production companies and agents, you had to book ahead over the Net. Trouble was their little web app's not built to take the traffic. So you basically had to keep clicking continuously for *six* hours to get a slot. I'm glad I didn't.