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IN THE PIPELINE

Robert Luketic wrapped 21, the big-screen adaptation of Ben Mezrich’s 2002 book, Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas For Millions, in April. Kevin Spacey and Dana Brunetti – whose Trigger Street Productions originally optioned the book and set it up at MGM – produce with Michael de Luca for Sony.

Sandy Isaac is adapting Mike Lupica’s novel, BUMP & RUN, about a Vegas casino host’s pursuit of a Super Borl win for an NFL football team he inherits from his father, for Universal.

John Stockwell recently handed in his re-write of CHASING THE WHALE, the real-life story of Vegas high roller Mark Gore, to producers Gil Netter and Wayne Rice. Stockwell is attached to direct the New Line project, wich was previously set up with Regency and Fox.

ONE OF A KIND is another true story book adaptation – this one about the rise, fall and untimely death of poker phenomenon Stuey Unger – and is set up at Warner Bros. for Initial Entertainment to produce.

From ScriptShark.com, a part of Baseline StudioSystems.

THE UNSUNG CRITIC's First Screenwriting Contest (deadline extended)

For those of you interested in submitting to THE UNSUNG CRITIC's first screenwriting contest, two important updates:

First, the deadline has been extended to SEPTEMBER 30th, 11:59pm PST. This hopefully will allow more writers to send their work.

Second, the number of entries has been limited to no more than THREE SCRIPTS per writer. Some have sent everything they have, and while the enthusiasm is much appreciated, the volume is simply too great. So if you have several scripts under your belt, please send what you feel are your three best.

Good luck and happy writing. And remember, the contest is FREE.

http://theunsungcritic.blogspot.com

The AAA Screenplay Contest

Don't Wait!
The AAA Contest ends July 15th.

Breaking into the world of screenwriting is no easy task. Creative Screenwriting Magazine is proud to sponsor the AAA Screenplay Contest, a chance for a few talented writers to take the next step in their writing career.

Access

The winning script and synopses for the top ten screenplays have been requested by 375 producers, development executives, agents, and managers including:

* A Band Apart
* Atlas Entertainment
* Beacon Pictures
* BenderSpink
* BET - Black Entertainment Television
* Brillstein-Grey Entertainment
* The Broder, Webb, Chervin, Silberman Agency
* Conundrum Entertainment
* David Foster Productions
* Davis Entertainment
* The Donner Company
* Endeavor
* Escape Artists
* The Gersh Agency
* Gunnfilms
* Guy Walks Into a Bar
* Hofflund/Polone Management
* International Creative Management
* Michael De Luca Productions
* New Line Cinema
* Paradigm
* Radar Pictures
* The Radmin Co.
* Regent Entertainment
* Section Eight
* Single Cell Pictures
* Spring Creek Pictures
* Weed Road Pictures
* Weintraub/Kuhn Productions
* VH1
* Winkler Films
* Zide/Perry

For an updated and complete list of companies see website below.

Acclaim

The winner of the AAA contest will be profiled in Creative Screenwriting magazine and the names of the top ten finalists will be published in CS Weekly. Finalists and their screenplays will also be publicized in press releases sent to industry publications.

Achievement

Prizes include $5,000 cash for the Grand Prize winner, plus the winning script mailed to over 350 agents, managers, and development executives who have requested it, screenwriting software, a subscription to Creative Screenwriting, and free admission to Screenwriting Expo 6.

Second and third places receive $500 cash, free software, subscription, and admission. Plus the top ten have synopses for their scripts submitted to over 350 agents, managers, and producers who have requested them.

Submit your best work in any genre. Only $40 to enter.

Deadline: July 15, 2007.

email: info@creativescreenwriting.com
phone: (323) 957-1405
web: http://www.expodvds.com

See your script come to life!

Sit back in the director's chair and watch as your script comes to life with FRAMEFORGE 3D STUDIO.

Unlike the convoluted storyboarding software of the past, FrameForge makes it effortless to plan and present your project like never before. With FrameForge, you can import a complete script from either Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter and start storyboarding right away.

You'll also save time and money with optically correct storyboards that display shots just as they would be seen through the camera. Best of all, FrameForge 3D Studio allows you to share your work easily with the people who can turn your cinematic vision into reality.

Suggested retail price: $399.
Sale Price: $349.
Save $50 when you enter or mention promo code MOVIEMAKER during checkout.

Available at The Writers Store: 800/272-8927; 310/441-5151 or online at http://www.writersstore.com/?e=1032.

CALL FOR ENTRIES: The Accolade

Film, Television & Videography

Deadline: July 20, 2007

Information: http://www.theaccolade.net

The Accolade is a nontraditional, virtual venue with seasonal deadlines that allows timely online publicity and distribution opportunities for moviemakers, television producers and videographers. It is a top tier, international awards competition in its fifth year. The Accolade receives entries from all over the world including the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Spain, Ireland, India, Czech Republic, Malaysia, Hong Kong, etc. Subtitled, foreign-language films are welcome. The awards go to those moviemakers, television producers and videographers who produce fresh, standout entertainment, animation and compelling documentaries.

Since The Accolade is not a traditional festival, it gains eyeballs for winners online through its Website, press releases and blasts to its e-mail database of more than 25,000 producers, distributors and buyers. The Accolade is an award known to buyers and distributors and gives them confidence that winning productions are of high quality.

There are three levels of awards, all based on quality and creativity: Best of Show, Awards of Excellence and Honorable Mention. No more than 15 percent of entries are granted Awards of Excellence. Best of Show honors are granted only if worthy productions are discovered. Notable artistic and technical productions are recognized at the Honorable Mention award level. Annually, a special award is given to a production that makes a significant contribution to social change or a humanitarian effort.

Winners benefit as The Accolade team works passionately to help worthy productions gain the publicity and distribution they deserve. Clips of the Best of Show productions are streamed on The Accolade Website. All Award of Excellence and Honorable Mention winners have a listing with a link to their Website if requested. Every moviemaker, television producer and videographer wants credibility and buzz, and that is what The Accolade is all about! It is a showcase for cinematic gems and unique voices.

The goal of The Accolade is to help the winners of this coveted award achieve the recognition and distribution they deserve.

Please submit your production by July 20.

Go to www.TheAccolade.net for rules and entry form.

Screenwriting Fundamentals

CONCEPT:

Adaptation

The great majority of Hollywood movies has been adapted from other sources, e.g., novels, biographies, plays, short stories, epic poems, news articles, real life, etc. An adaptation simply has greater chance of being made into a movie--of appealing to producers and investors.

Why do producers like adaptations?

Primarily because they have a more predictable chance of succeeding at the box office. They have a greater appeal to an audience already familiar with the story and author, and who anticipate the cinematic release.

Perhaps even more importantly to a producer bewitched by the endless 'developmental hell' of getting a script properly written and into production, the concept, story, and characters of an adapted screenplay have all been tested in the marketplace. The story 'works' beginning to end--and it has achieved a certain fame and popularity because of it.

An adapted script often comes from a story penned by a well-known writer, perhaps a giant from yesteryear. It may even be one of the producer's favorites. That he's simply familiar with the story or the author is a major plus.

These benefits generally put the adaptation way ahead of an original 'spec script' on the producer's stack. And these same benefits help you as a writer both to write an successful screenplay, and, obviously, to get it sold.

Why don't more writers adapt?

In spite of the enormous hold adaptations have on the Hollywood movie machine, new writers continue to submit original stories--the very hardest both to write and to sell--almost exclusively. Why? Ego, partly, the desire to tell their own story their way, even though no one in Babylon yet knows their name or abilities. Most importantly, though, are the rights to the story and the imagined difficulties of getting them.

For major contemporary bestsellers the going can certainly be tough for the new writer without substantial legal and financial resource. But with the major classics, and the undiscovered gem, there's still considerable room in the adaptation game for the newbie. First of all, the overwhelming share of world literature put out since the beginning of time has now passed into the public domain, meaning nobody holds the rights to it anymore. You may adapt such material to your hearts content without fear of legal reprisal. (more)