Screenwriting BUZZ

Mark Kratter (ProSeries 9) completed negotiations with Radar Pictures (The Amityville Horror, The Last Samurai, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, etc.), who will produce Mark’s latest screenplay. More details when they make a public announcement.

The budget is currently set at $20 million. See Mark’s IMDb and Radar Pictures IMDb.

Mark is a true professional in this business. Look for even bigger things from him in the future.

Way to go, Mark!

Lee Tidball (ProSeries 15) signed an option with Producer Matt Chapman (of The Matt Chapman Company LLC) for his screenplay “Princess Reborn.”

The producer will begin shopping the script (for a director, talent and funding) in the next few weeks.

Great job, Lee.

Natasha Williams (ProSeries 14) just signed the contract with a major production company to sell her concept and treatment. All details are confidential until the movie is announced to the public.

This is exciting because concept sales seldom happen anymore. You can learn more about Natasha at www.NatashaFX.com.

Way to go, Natasha!

Jean-Claude Lewis (ProSeries 11) was hired to rewrite the script for the upcoming movie “Blue Sky.”

The Indie movie is being done by producer Kate Przybytek of Red Pony Productions and has already been approved by the State of Michigan for film incentives.

Jean-Claude will receive credits as screenwriter and producer.

Excellent work, Jean-Claude!

Lynn Dickinson (ProSeries 18) was hired by producer Russ Pond of Top Pup Media, LLC to write a treatment for an upcoming feature film. (See Russ Pond’s IMDb)

Russ directed and produced the feature film “Fissure,” which will be in Blockbuster next month. He’s going to use the treatment to package and raise funds for an upcoming tween comedy project, (based on another award-winning short he made a few years ago), before he moves into script development.

This is Lynn’s second deal in the last three months.

Way to go, Lynn!

Don Macnab-Stark (ProSeries 6) has been hired to re-write a script called “The Fragdoll” for Arto Lekhamo’s Mainstream Films.

It’s a thriller set in the murky world of online gaming..

This is Don’s second deal this month! Congratulations, again, Don.

Kenneth Wallace (ProSeries 20) has been hired by 360 Entertainment to write nine episodes for an on-line kids animation series for the Australian Emergency Services.

Kenneth will receive pay and a writing credit for the episodes.

With Kenneth’s writing skills, this is just one step on the way to something great!

Michael Hockney (ProSeries 1) and Jacqueline Forster (ProSeries 12) have teamed up with noted Blackfoot writer, Beverly Hungry Wolf to adapt her feature film, “Running Eagle” for television.

After many rewrites and negotiations, the pilot has been optioned and is currently in the final stages of development.

Excellent job, Michael and Jacqueline!

Jon Bonnell (ProSeries 11) completed his latest film “Star Quest: The Odyssey” and secured distribution for it. Already, it has sold into Japan and will be pushed at Cannes this year.

His previous film, “The Abducted” (formerly titled “Match.Dead”) has already been sold into nine territories, including the U.S. and Germany. That film was written by Alyssa Alexandria (ProSeries 7).
See Jon’s IMDB and Aly’s IMDB.

Not to slow down for a second, Jon is already working on funding for this third film. More news to come.

You’re on your way, Jon!

Don Macnab-Stark (ProSeries 6) had his thriller script “Long, Cold Winter” optioned by Greencap Films with director: Miko Lazic (See his IMDB) attached.

This success follows two paid writing assignments. Don has a great career in front of him.

Well done, Don! We’re proud of you.

Nick Nolte (48 Hours, Down and Out in Beverly Hills) is attached to play one of the lead roles.  Greg Cipes (Teen Titans, Fast & Furious) is attached to play another lead.  (See Nick’s IMDB.  See Greg’s IMDB.)

Heidi Mastrogiovanni (ProSeries18) and her partner Michael Ruscio had their script, “Tumbling Down,”
optioned by Margaret and Margaret Productions in Los Angeles.

Heidi has worked as an actress, writer, and producer.  (See her IMDB.)  Michael has directed or edited shows such as True Blood, Cold Case, and others.  (See his IMDB.)  He will be directing the feature film that Heidi and he wrote.

Heidi and Michael are also partners in Wildhair 11 Productions.

Congratulations to both of you.  

Steven Hammon (ProSeries OZ3) is doing his third feature writing assignment with a Canadian Director / Producer. 

Well done, Steve! 

Adite Banerjie (ProSeries18) has been hired by a director to write a Hindi feature film based on the true story of an Indian activist/environmentalist.

This is Adite’s second paid screenwriting assignment.  In June of 2008, she was hired to write a Bollywood feature.  That script is going out to actors this week. 

You are happening, Adite! 

Richard Senne has been brought in to do a writing assignment for Producer Ian Fowler on an upcoming TV Series.  They’ve spent the last three months in development and are taking it out to TV companies and Networks in the next few weeks.  

Best of luck on it, Richard.  

Denice Lewis (ProSeries 15) just inked a contract with a producer to write a screenplay based upon a concept of his.  This is for an Indie film scheduled to be shot during 2009.   

Denice loves meeting deadlines and on this one, she’s going to be challenging herself.

Congratulations Denice! 

Michael Hockney (ProSeries 1) recently completed a paid writing assignment with Class 3 Entertainment to write a High Concept TV series. 

The comedy is currently being shopped to networks. 

Previous to this, Michael has completed three other writing assignments for different producers in Canada.  (See his IMDB.) He was also a staff writer on the “Ed, Edd, and Eddy” TV Series at Cartoon Network for two years. 

Michael is a true pro and a joy to work with.

Mark Kratter (ProSeries 9) was brought on to produce a $10 million movie.  The project is already funded and will be shot later this year.  He’s currently approaching A-list actors to fill the starring roles.

This project emerged as Mark was courting investors for another film.   They admired his professionalism and attention to detail, so they hired him.  (See his IMDB.)

Well done, again!

Mark Kratter (ProSeries 9) just scored another paid writing assignment.  This time, he’ll write a high concept thriller for a Los Angeles production company. 

Mark is a diligent writer/producer who clearly understands what producers need, so there will be many like this in the future for him.  (See his IMDB.)

Excellent job, Mark!

Huck Brown (ProSeries 18) is scheduled to go into production March 12th on a screenplay he wrote.  Mark Wilson of Panavision is set to direct.  The sets are being built in preparation for the shoot that will happen in Hollywood, CA.

This initial production will be a short that will be used to create buzz and to raise funds.

Here’s hoping that it is a huge success.

Jim Durkey (ProSeries 16) had his ProSeries script titled “Sword of David” optioned by producer Mike Le at HQ Pictures in Los Angeles.  (See IMDB of Mike Le and HQ Pictures.)

HQ Pictures is shopping for a director for the movie.  Jim is writing an other script on assignment and we’re looking forward to the announcement on that when it is complete.

Nice job, Jim!

Sheila Seclearr (ProSeries19) had her most recent script optioned last week by Class 3 Entertainment. 

The script is an adaptation of a book that is being turned into a video game.  Class 3 has optioned the book, video game, and script and is currently securing funding. 

Well done, Sheila!

Marla Hayes (ProSeries 6) won the Grand Prize for her short film PUSH.  Marla wrote and co-produced the film.  It will premier on Feb. 14th with the Symphony playing Holst’s “Mars, The Bringer of War” live and in sync with the film. 

Congratulations to Marla!

Oh, and I can’t wait to see her upcoming high concept spec script, but that is still confidential.

Class 3 Entertainment has optioned the book “Fendi, Ferragamo, and Fangs,” written by Julie Kenner (ProSeries 20), Johanna Edwards, and Serena Robar.   Over the few months, it will be shopped as a potential TV series or feature film. 
 
Another book series Julie wrote, “Carpe Demon,” was optioned by Warner Brothers, who just renewed the option while packaging it for a feature film with the production company 1492.

Writer/filmmaker Lis Anna (ProSeries 19) just made the news…again!  With short films featured at Cannes and already scheduled in a large number of festivals in 2009, she is on her way to becoming a high-profile filmmaker. 

Read today’s news piece about her and you’ll see why there will be many more written about her in the future.  See the article here.

Jennifer Quintenz (ProSeries 10) has optioned a feature screenplay to a Los Angeles based production company.  Details currently under wraps.

Since taking the ProSeries, Jennifer was hired onto the staff of two TV shows.  See her IMDB here. 

Great job, Jennifer!

After winning the “Nickelodeon Land A Pilot” contest, Simon Adams (ProSeries OZ ) and his co-writer Shane Elsmore are developing a pilot for their children’s TV series “Insomniacs”. 

The news hit the Industry trade mag at Cynopsis.com.  Read it here.

Great job, Simon!   This is going to turn into something great for you.

After being recommended by a Hollywood producer, a top entertainment attorney read Nevada Grey’s script.  Then, a week later, he read a second script and determined that she is clearly an undiscovered gem. 

So he signed Nevada Grey (ProSeries 10) and is already promoting her scripts. 

There’s a lot of buzz around this lady.  Stay tuned for some big successes!