LOGLINE July / August 2016 The Screenwriter’s eZine Volume 9: Number 4 Published by: Letter From the Editor The PAGE International In just a few days we will be announcing the 2016 PAGE Awards Quarter-Finalists, and I’d like Screenwriting Awards LO to take this opportunity to congratulate and thank everyone who entered the contest this year. 7510 Sunset Blvd. #610 Conceiving, completing and then submitting a script into competition is a victory in itself. Hollywood, CA 90046 www.pageawards.com Welcome, new readers, to the LOGLINE eZine! This is your bimonthly guide to the art and craft of professional screenwriting. In this issue, 2015 Bronze Prize winner Steven Canals opens the door to the TV writers’ room and shares his lessons learned. PAGE Judge Simon Herbert offers In this issue: personal insights into the thought process of industry readers. The leading expert on genre, John Truby, dismantles Richard Linklater’s latest feature, Latest News From Everybody Wants Some!!, and “Dr. Format” Dave Trottier fields questions from his mailbag. the PAGE Awards 1 Working writer Tyler Ruggeri, currently hosting a webinar on Stage 32, gives us a recipe for compelling characterization. Our summer issue concludes with three “hot leads” for writers, courtesy of InkTip! The Writer’s Perspective 10 Tips for Writers’ 2 Happy reading, Room Success GLINESteven Canals The Judge’s P.O.V. Your Objective in a 3 Subjective Business Simon Herbert Latest News From the PAGE Awards What’s Your Genre? Truby’s Take: 4 Everybody Wants ◊ Warner Bros. has acquired the action/thriller pitch Judgment Day, to be written by 2014 Some!! PAGE Grand Prize winner Matias Caruso, with Guy Ritchie, Lionel Wigram and Jeff Ludwig John Truby attached to produce. In addition, Matias’ action pic Mayhem recently completed filming in Belgrade, Serbia, and his PAGE Award-winning script Carnival is currently being packaged Spec Writing Tips by producers Mitchell Peck and Bard Dorros. Matias is represented by CAA, and he is proof Pre-Laps and Chyrons 5 Dave Trottier positive that you don’t have to live in Los Angeles to build a successful screenwriting career! Matias lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Industry Insider ◊ The summer road movie Dear Eleanor, written by 2007 Gold Prize winners Amy Garcia and What Makes a Perfect 6 Cecilia Contreras, was just released on VOD and DVD on July 5. Directed by Kevin Connolly, Protagonist? the movie stars Isabelle Fuhrman, Liana Liberato, Jessica Alba, Josh Lucas and Luke Wilson. Tyler Ruggeri Amy and Ceclia are represented by Ampersand Management and ICM. Sell Your Script ◊ The dark comedy Middle Man, by 2014 Bronze Prize winner Ned Crowley, premiered at the Hot Leads 7 Seattle International Film Festival on June 10, where it won the New American Cinema From InkTip Grand Jury Prize. Ned directed the movie, which stars Jim O’Heir (Parks and Recreation). ◊ The 2015 PAGE Award-winning family film The Storyteller, by Joe Crump and Rachel Noll, Recommended began filming on location in Indianapolis on June 27. Joe is directing the movie, which stars Resources 8 Samantha Colburn, James Snyder, Brooklyn Rae Silzer, Kristina Wagner and Cassidy Mack. ◊ In TV news, 2013 PAGE Grand Prize winner Brooke Roberts Eikmeier has received a double bump up to the position of producer on the CW series The Flash, where she has been a story editor for the past two seasons. Brooke co-wrote the show’s Season 3 premiere episode, which is scheduled to air on October 4. She is represented by WME and Circle of Confusion. 2016 PAGE Awards QuarterFinalists Announced: Friday, July 15 © PAGE International Screenwriting Awards 1 THE WRITER’S PERSPECTIVE 10 Tips for Writers’ Room Success by Steven Canals I was in my car when I received the call that would 3. Don’t take things personally. Sometimes your pitches change my life forever. I picked up the phone and my are overlooked. As good as it sounds in your head, it may manager blurted out the words, “you got it.” The “it” not be right for several reasons (e.g., budgetary constraints, was a staff writer position on Dead of Summer, a newly doesn’t suit the themes of the episode, etc.). As a staff created horror anthology set to air on Freeform. writer you can’t be precious or you’ll hold up progress. Move on and continue to generate new ideas. Actively The remainder of our Steven Canals won a 2015 listen and fill in gaps when you see them. A friend told me, conversation is a blur. PAGE Bronze Prize for his TV “as a staff writer, think of your showrunner as a painter. In an instant I went drama pilot Hope Projects, You have to be ready with brushes in hand to contribute a from aspiring writer which is currently in particular color when needed.” development. He is now to professional writer. working as a staff writer on I quickly cycled through 4. Develop a filter. If you’re anything like me, you get the new Freeform series the requisite feelings of really excited talking story. When the room has Dead of Summer, and his elation and panic. Like encountered a roadblock for a storyline, you may have five short film Afuera recently most writers I know, I am solutions in your back pocket. Take a minute to consider premiered at the 2016 L.A. a ball of neuroses. That whether those are all viable options. Sift through the Film Festival. Follow him on unsympathetic voice in options quickly. Will an idea blow up another arc that’s Twitter @StevenCanals. my head that emerges at already been carefully constructed? Take a step back and inopportune times made look at the story from the macro perspective before me question myself. “Am I good enough? Am I smart making those micro suggestions. enough? Am I talented enough?” I can remember thinking, “Steven, maybe you aren’t ready.” 5. Make yourself invaluable. As a staff writer you are there to help the writing team craft the best possible version of Let’s rewind. After years of talking about wanting to your show. At times you may feel like your contributions create film and TV, abandoning a career in education, aren’t enough. Become the “go to”person for something. moving away from family and friends in New York, and If you’re a family drama writer staffed on a science fiction spending thousands of dollars to attend UCLA’s M.F.A. show, be the writer who is tracking the characters’ Screenwriting program, you aren’t ready? Really? emotional arcs while the other writers are discussing the Okay, so I was ready. But (there’s always a but) I still cool sci-fi stuff. had a lot to learn. Nothing really prepares you for the 6. Don’t be a jerk. Of course, this should go without saying. experience of being staffed. What I’ve quickly Be kind and polite. There are a variety of personalities in a discovered is that writers’ rooms are like fingerprints writers’ room. You aren’t expected to love everyone, but or snowflakes: they share some characteristics, but you do have to respect everyone. This industry is very small they are all uniquely different. Like a box of chocolates, and word gets around town quickly. Leave a good you never know what you’re going to get! impression on everyone you work with, since you want to I’d like to share what I’ve learned over the past few have a sustainable career. Also, be nice to all of the months working on a TV writing staff so that you’ll be assistants. They may not be breaking story (yet), but they ready when you receive the call that will inevitably are part of the team, and they make your life easier. change your life for the better. So here are 10 tips to 7. Be authentic. There’s an unspoken understanding that help you succeed in the writers’ room: everything discussed in a writers’ room is said with a code 1. Study the room and your show. Who are the other of silence. This code is there to make you feel safe. Don’t writers and what experience do they bring to the table? be afraid to be vulnerable with your fellow writers. Open up What’s your showrunner/executive producer/show about your life experience for the sake of the stories you’re creator’s vision for the series? These are questions you telling. Trust me, it will make the narratives you are should be asking when first hired. If you’re staffed on constructing that much richer. a show that isn’t naturally in your voice (e.g., you’re 8. Rest your weary mind. To create an episode of TV you a historical drama writer working on a fantasy show) have to be a creative problem solver. Your brain is on conduct research on the show’s concept. Read books, maximum overdrive all day. You have to decompress. watch documentaries, and study shows in the genre. Indulge in the things that make you happy. You’ll be at your 2. Actively listen and observe. Silence is golden. best in the room if your brain has an opportunity to rest. Listening is a skill you really need to cultivate if you 9. Move your body. You’re sitting all day! Snacks abound. haven’t already. As a newly staffed writer you’re going If your body is stationary, your muscles (and artistic skills) to want to come out of the gate guns blazing with will atrophy.