Screenwriting BUZZ

Germaine de Pibrac James has been hired by independent filmmaker Mark Stoddard to write a script he plans to use to compete on the high level festival circuit to break into feature directing. She is also working with independent filmmaker Nathan McLeod on a similar project. Nathan read Germaine�s screenplay �Dark Time� as a writing sample and said � I must say I was quite blown away. I cannot remember reading better, more real dialogue with more distinctive voices and characters. Not a clich�d line in your script.�

Keep an eye on Germaine.  She’s going to be a big success!

Congratulations to Simon Garrity (Writer, ProSeries 4) who just had his corporate thriller “Exam” wrap principal photography at Elstree Studios in England. Simon’s first feature film story credit was the result of an eight year odyssey which saw his original short story evolve into an hour long drama for television and then ultimately bloom into a taut feature script by ace screenwriter and first time feature director Stuart Hazeldine.

Says Simon: “It’s surreal to be on set at the same studio where they made Star Wars, The Shining and the Indiana Jones movies! It’s amazing to see your ideas emerge fully formed into the world on such an awesome set and witness your characters take on flesh and bone with such a wonderful cast. It’s been a fantastic experience all around.”

Simon, I knew you could do it!

Zoran Pandurovic has been contracted by Katha Films to do a writing assignment.   Zoran responded to a script request that came through the ProSeries Alumni.  Katha Films released it’s first feature “Trade Offs” in 2004, now available on Netflix, Blockbuster or www.TradeOffs-Themovie.com

Excellent job, Zoran! 

Jill Maxcy and her partner, Julie C. Tucker, were hired for a paid writing assignment on a High Concept comedy with a major production company.

Way to go, Jill!

Playback Entertainment has commissioned Rie Natalenko to adapt the novel “Peter” for the screen.  The book was written by Kate Walker and won the Australian Children’s Book of the Year award in the year it was published.

Great job, Rie.

Networking at Women-in-Film, Melanie J. Grimes found herself in a discussion about an idea a producer had.  Melanie offered a few suggestions and impressed the producer so much that she was hired to write the script.   Makes sense to me.

They’re in pre-production right now, with the movie to be shot this fall. 

Great networking, Melanie! 

Their hilarious new comedy ‘Rapunzel - The Blonde Years’, had its world premiere at the Darklight Film Festival in Dublin last Friday (27th June).  It’s the first of a series of festival screenings - the next stop of which is the internationally-renowned Galway Film Fleadh (Gaelic word for festival).  

The film was commissioned by the Irish Film Board.  Trish Groves wrote and produced it.  Fiona Ashe directed.  

Have fun at the festivals, ladies. 

You can see it at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyKaJ9YmxB0

On a recommendation from ProSeries Alum Jon Bonnell, Aly has been hired to write a true life story.   This one centers around one man’s unique experiences in the AA program and how he survived some pretty harrowing encounters.

Aly landed the assignment after a 2 hour meeting. 

Great job, Aly.  And my hat is off to Jon once again.

Adite Chatterjee has been hired by a director to Write a Bollywood Film.   This occurred just weeks after completing the ProSeries. 

More details are to follow.   Well done, Adite!

Claire Riley’s character driven comedy drama, called THE PERFECT FAMILY, has been optioned by an Indie director who has already raised the majority of the funding to do the picture.

Way to go, Claire!