A personal message from Mark Sevi, president of OC Screenwriters:

Hi, all.  Thanks for taking the time to read this.  

I've been a professional screenwriter for 20 years.  Had 19+ movies produced, more to come.  

Clark Peterson (IMDB page), my friend, has been responsible for three of them and I hope at some point ten or twelve more.

Clark ("Monster" "Dear Mr. Gacy" "Dim Sum Funeral" "Rampart") is a remarkable producer/writer/exec.  He's smart, in touch with today's markets, and a hard-working, no-excuses dude.  The movies on which we've worked were fantastic and that continues with everything that Clark does.  

His recent  film, "Devil's Knot" (original script by me) stars Academy Award-winning actors Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth.  It's one of the most compelling films in recent memory and based in horrifying true events.

A few years back, Clark fell in love with his soul mate, a talented (and gorgeous) writer/producer/show runner named Stacy Rukeyser ("The Lying Game" "One Tree Hill" "Greek" "Crash")  This not only made his heart happy but the two of them then became one of the more formidable Hollywood  producing teams out there.  

Clark and Stacy are both in direct touch with today's markets in features and television.  Because they're also both writers, they know 1st hand what it takes to be creative in a business that both rewards and ignores creativity.

FINDING A BALANCE between those two is essential - they can tell you how.  Clark and Stacy know this business from all angles, intimately, and they will inform and inspire you and your work...

- SERIOUSLY, DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT -

There are no more informed and industry-aware guests in this business.  If you really care about carving out a career in film, come listen to and ask questions of two of the most dynamic (and nicest) film/television producers (and people) that I have had the pleasure to meet in over 20 years of my professional life.

Come, learn, listen and network.  See you there!  Details after the jump.

Thanks,
Mark
OC Screenwriters

And the beat goes on...

The latest crop of film festival shorts from Orange Coast College were presented by OCC faculty advisor/photographer/musician Scott Broberg at the fabulous Regency Lido Theater. Sunday was a great day to view said shorts at the venue in Newport Beach for several reasons including the stunning theater itself firmly nestled in the history of the area.

And the students themselves were potentially making history.  Who knows which of them will continue his or her film career and become the next - well, you fill in the blanks.

I'm still working on uploading pictures from the 2012 Newport Beach Film Festival, but in the mean time check out some pictures from opening night!  Tom Arnold and Jaime Lynn Sigler were some walking the red carpet for Jewtopia...

April 26, 2012, L.A. Memorial Sports Arena.

Millions of words have been written about Bruce Springsteen.  I doubt if I will bring anything new to the discussion of this amazing musician and poet but the transformative nature of his work impels and propels me to say something.  

I will echo those who who have said that nothing (nothing!) compares to his live performances.  As my friend Kevin said on the way to the concert at the Sports Arena in L.A. - "it's like a old-time revival."  Yep.  

Not one to be overly, physically expressive at concerts I was up and screaming in a matter of the first few minutes.  Most stood immediately and never sat again for a nearly three hour show in which the master musician and his group of hand-picked sidemen wowed us through hits from the 1st album (back when vinyl ruled) to the newest material from his "Wrecking Ball" release.  I nearly cried at how amazing the music and musicianship was and I truly, nearly lost it when a moving tribute to Bruce's friend and sideman Clarence Clemons, who passed away last year of a stroke, was triggered by the lyric in an old song "Tenth Avenue Freeze Out" ("...and the big man joined the band.") Clemon's son played in the horn section and did all of Clemons' solos which was amazing in and of itself - although he still isn't The Big Man, but potential looms large.

LET THERE BE LIGHT! ACTION! CAMERA!

Day 3 at CinemaCon was perhaps the wildest yet, and one with promise for not only excitement on the screen, but two revolutionary technology breakthroughs that will change the way we watch film in theatres forever.

DISNEY ALIVE AND WELL, AND DEPP, BRUCKHEIMER, BURTON PROVE IT

The Walt Disney company showed everyone that it I alive and well, with a slate of great films, great stars, and great directors and producers working on some amazing work for the coming year.  And Uncle Walt would be proud of the variety and style of all that is happening at Disney.

CINEMACON
DAY 1

We are not endorsing this film festival - just passing on info we received from them - always be cautious with your intellectual property.  Mark

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER CITY, LA – Phenom Film Fest announces the launch of their First Annual International Film Festival and the open call for film entries, for the 2012 season. 

The Phenom Film Fest (PFF) was created to offer exposure and advance public interest in independent films without distribution, that might never be seen by the general public and to showcase the local region of Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana as a major film center for its' filmmaking resources and talent. We strive to support the spirit of independent filmmaking on a local, national and international level in all genres of film to include Drama, Comedy, Documentaries, Animated, Horror, Sci-fi, Fantasy, GLBT, Action/Adventure and their related subgenres.

The festival will be held in the Shreveport-Bossier City, Louisiana area from Sept. 6 - 9, at various venues around town. PFF will be joining the Bossier Arts Council sponsored Digital Arts Festival and Career Fair in creating an incredible multimedia and interactive experience for filmmakers and fans.

TV PRODUCER/DIRECTOR/AUTHOR DEBORAH M PRATT

Southern California Writers Association

Date: March 17, 2012 @ 10:00 AM

"The craft of writing for multiple media"

Deborah M. Pratt is a Director/Writer/ Producer and Author of the Science-Fantasy Trilogy of books The Vision Quest. Deborah was Co-Executive Producer and head writer of the award winning, Sci-Fi hit, “Quantum Leap” and Executive producer for The Net for USA Network.

Contact me at: email, lorenzo212@yahoo.com,.

Yeah, we've been gone a bit  but it's only because we were planning some fantastic late summer and Fall events.  This is our first.

MeetUp/Networking Event

WHERE:  The Fabulous Ritz Restaurant
880 Newport Center Drive
Newport Beach, CA 92660-6387
  (949) 720-1800 (map)

WHEN:  Wednesday August 17, 2011

TIME: 6:00pm start

MEET: OCSWA board member, Raymond Obstfeld.  
Raymond is a New York Time Best Selling novelist, and screenwriter.  His last book, a collaboration with Kareem Abdul Jabbar was just made into the film "On The Shoulders of Giants."   

Raymond's prolific career (60+ books and hundreds of articles and dozens of screenplays) makes him a fascinating and eloquent speaker.  Plus, he's a great teacher with encyclopedic knowledge of film and prose writing.

MEET:  Jule Selbo.
As a producer/writer Jule has worked for Disney, Dreamworks and many other studios.  Her prolific career so far includes nineteen movies as a writer and a dozen TV episodes as a producer. 

She is a fantastic writer and teacher who teaches screenwriting courses at UCLA Extension Writers' Program and is Chair of the Radio-TV-Film Department at CalState Fullerton, and Head of the MFA in Screenwriting Program at CSF.  
 

COST:  
$10.00 Advanced Registration (you can change quantities at PayPal)  
$12.00 at the door (credit cards accepted at the door - NO CHECKS please)

NOTE:  Students with recent I.D.'s can get in for $5.00 at the door. 

PAID ADMISSION includes one chance to WIN Final Draft 8.0 and other prizes.

INCLUDES:  Admission includes the Ritz's incredible famous finger food, and a chance to win prizes, including 1-2 copies of Final Draft. 
Extra tickets for the drawing will be available during the event for a cost of $5.00.  
Drinks are not included.

EVENT SCHEDULE:

6:00-6:30 - Check-in, Networking

6:30 - 6:45 - Introductions/org business

7:00 - 8:30 - Speakers Obstfeld and Selbo

8:30-10:00  - Networking

Mr. Ellroy will be signing books after the Q&A - books will be available for purchase.

When: November 13, 2010 10:00am
Where: Regency South Coast Village Theatre, 1561 W. Sunflower Avenue, Santa Ana CA 92704 - across from South Coast Plaza

This is a Free Event.

FULL DETAILS

All, don't forget this Saturday at the Regency South Coast Village Theatre our guest is writer
James Ellroy.  His latest, "Rampart" is filming now in L.A.

Details below or here;

~~~

'Rampart' movie kicks into production
November 9, 2010 | 12:27 pm
by Richard Verrier

The Orange County Screenwriters Association is a proud sponsor of the Anaheim Film Festival starting October 13th and running through October 17th. Join us!

website

The Orange Country Screenwriters Association has transfered the Zombie Walk event to OC Zombie Walk - we are no longer sponsoring it.

We are supporting the event with promotion and any help we can since it's for a beautiful cause - the OC Food Bank.

Please go to their website for further updates and information.

website: OC Zombie Walk 

Thanks!

 Wow! Upcoming events for the OC Screenwriters Association...more details

LINK LINKLINKLINKLINKlink

Info on some events coming very soon - please check back!

Our friends at MCAI sent this over.  

More details available: HERE

Sign up: HERE

The August 18, 2010 Meeting of MCAI is All About Audio.

We’ve booked four top OC experts. They’re masters of field production, live performance, recording, mixing, editing, sweetening, scoring and post production audio.

Got equipment questions? Music? Dialogue? Voice Over? Sound FX?

JUNE NEWSLETTER

Wednesday, June 23rd

Ritz Restaurant 
880 Newport Center Dr
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 720-1800

Come to the Ritz Restaurant in Newport Beach to meet professional and amateur filmmakers in a casual setting. Purpose - networking and sharing resources. 

Special guest: entertainment attorney James Hirsen (hirsenonhollywood.com/)

BYOD (BUY YOUR OWN DRINKS.) 

To our younger members, there is no problem with you coming to the Ritz but (of course) you must be 21 or older to drink.

 meetup link

On Thursday, May 27th, the UCI Film and Video Center will present:

"Screenwriter's Choice" series, in association with the UCI Screenwriting Festival:

THELMA AND LOUISE, directed by Ridley Scott
(U.S., 1991, 120 min., 35mm print)
with award-winning screenwriter Callie Khouri, introduced by Marie Cartier

Reception: 6:30 p.m. at the entrance to Humanities Instructional Building 100
Screening: 7 p.m. HIB 100

Admission: non-FMS Students: $3, Seniors $5, General $6

Legendary Screenwriter, Producer, Comic Book Author, Novelist, Journalist...J. Michael Straczynski.

His credits include: Changeling, Babylon 5, Ninja Assassin, Jeremiah, Lensman, Silver Surfer, Twilight Zone, Thor," and many more! (credits) 

When: Saturday, May 22, 2010
10:00am-1:00pm
Where: The Regency South Coast Village Theater (map)
1561 W Sunflower Ave, Santa Ana, CA‎- (714) 557-5701‎
How much: Free.

Also,radio personality  Manny Pacheco will be talking about his book "Forgotten Hollywood, Forgotten History" with renowned OC journalist and radio host Gary Lycan.

Join us for a Q&A and then a rousing discussion led by JMS as he details his career and tips about working in Hollywood.

JMS will be signing autographs after the event!

The 11th Annual Polish Film Festival at the Regency South Coast Village Theater.  

Movie schedule and slate HERE

Official site HERE

The Screenwriters Workshop will be screening the Edda nominated documentary Alfred Eliasson & Loftleidir Icelandic. Writer/director/member Sigurgeir Orri will join us to talk about the process of making the film and answer questions.

This event will take place at Orange Coast College. Arts Center Building off Parking Lot D. Room 216.  You can buy a Visitor parking permit at the Arlington entrance or park in metered space.

Non-members do not need to RSVP for this event.  More Information can be found here: http://www.meetup.com/SoCal-Screenwriters-Workshop/calendar/12997221/

Legendary Screenwriter, Producer,
Comic Book Author, Novelist, Journalist...

His credits include: Changeling, Babylon 5, Ninja Assassin, Jeremiah, Lensman, Silver Surfer, Twilight Zone, Thor,
and many more! (credits) 

Saturday, May 22, 2010
10:00am-1:00pm

Join us for a Q&A and then a rousing discussion led by JMS as he details his career and tips about working in Hollywood.

February 2010 Event

In conjunction with the Media Alliance of Orange County, we present a Q&A with documentary filmmakers at the Bowers Museum. 

NOTE:  Pre-registration is closed.  Please pay at the door at the event.  
Cost is $12.00 unless you present a valid Student I.D. in which case it is $5.00.

Full Details