Introduce Yourself to the Group

[Roger Stone]

Hola everyone. I’m Roger Stone (not the evil one in DC)

i’ve written a lot of scripts and was lucky enough to have a few produced.

I’m getting ready to start finding a book publisher or agent to represent me and my YA novel. I’m hopeful this class will help me in this process.

I came to Hollywood as a songwriter/lyricist.

[Paul SOKAL]

My name is Paul Sokal. I began screenwriting in October 2021 and since starting, I’ve written eight features and one short. I’ve placed in multiple competitions and have received Consider and Recommend ratings from coverage. Nonetheless, I have failed at getting any notice so that’s what I’m hoping to get out of this class, learning the skills to get a film produced. I started my screenwriting career after 40+ years of practicing medicine, which gave me an intimate looks at humanity, which I believe is the source of most good stories and I consider my previous career as my writing school.

[Stephanie O'Leary]

Hello, everyone! My name is Stephanie O’Leary and I’m currently working with a film producer, fleshing out a short horror story I had published into a feature-length script. I’ve written in other genres (local arts reporting, music reviews, op-eds, advertising copy, picture books, poetry, and even the occasional obituary) but this is my first decent script. (An earlier attempt when I hadn’t truly committed to the work years ago resulted in a flawed but fun effort that will never see the light of day 🙂 I hope to gain a better understanding of the business concerns of the movie biz, improve my pitches, and quell my nervousness about pitching face-to-face. As far as “unique” goes, I designed the house my husband and I live in (BIG architectural salvage fan) and am owned by a handsome orange tabby named Leonidas = ^;^=

[Jake]

Hello, everyone. My name’s Jake and I’ve written a couple of scripts for other people, and I have a couple of my own that I’m working on. I hope to gain the skills I need to approach and pitch managers, agents, and producers; but ultimately sign with a manager for the long term. I like the aroma of steaming hot tar. I think this is sort of strange, because whenever/however this came up in conversation with anyone, they just laughed and never agreed. I also enjoy skateboarding, swimming and biking. I eat healthy and I have a cat named Thunder. Best regards to everyone and your path to success. I look forward to learning and working together!

[Elizabeth Cochrell]

Hi my name is Elizabeth Cochrell (aka Christine Dupree) and with the help of a few screenwriting courses, I have the following:

1) A complete first draft for a feature family sports drama entitled, “Mother Love” which I am working on from coverage notes for the second draft.

2) An almost finished 1st draft of a romantic crime drama, “Curse of the Scream Queen”

3) A complete 40 min spec 1st episode script for the “Dead to Me” season 3 series.

As a beginner, I’ve just written scripts that excite me, but in order to improve my chances of selling them I want to learn what grabs the attention of major actors, markets, and the power players who get them sold!

I’ve raced through my life of exotic adventures enjoying the roles of stripper, Penthouse Centerfold, kickboxer, boxer, wrestler, actor, video producer, and author always looking forward to my next interesting episode. You can find out more about me at the website for my self-help book: http://www.hotromanticescapades.com

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Elizabeth Cochrell.

[Sandy Fugate]

Greetings from Indiana. If you have a good enough telescope, you might be able to detect a blue speck in the center of the state. That’s me.

Am currently enduring a lull in my brilliant career as a freelance writer/editor. I’m also a former journalist, educational publishing editor, and playwright.

I just started work on my fifth screenplay. I’m hoping this class will help me find representation and develop the guts/ability to deliver a pitch. (I suck at it. It’s almost like a superpower…)

>>Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?<<

I’m pretty boring, but Paul Sokal, you might find this interesting: I’m a descendant of the “blue Fugates” of Kentucky. I was born and raised in the Detroit area, but my dad was from Kentucky. He was diagnosed with methemoglobinemia when he was in the Army. However, he only turned bluish when he was sick or really tired, and it was mostly in his lips and hands. (Army docs thought he was dying once. Apparently, an Army doc wrote an article about him for a military medical journal during the Korean War.)

• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Sandy Fugate. Reason: Ignore me. I edit compulsively

[Margaret Doner]

<div>1. Margaret Doner
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2. 6 completed screenplays. I have been optioned twice. I am also a novelist and I also write metaphysical and spiritual material.

3. Better understanding of marketing and writing loglines and pitches.

4. I work as a massage therapist…for 33 years!

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[H. Vince]

1. Hi everyone! I write as H. Vince.

2. How many scripts you’ve written?

Full blown? Just a few but I do have a number of unfinished ones including a couple I started for ScreenwritingU classes.

3. What I hope to get out of this class is discovering better ways to sell my scripts.

4. Maybe one unusual thing is not using my first name so strangers online are not sure if I’m male or female. I started doing that long ago for a family security issue I have. Maybe I’ll write about that someday.

[Stephanie O'Leary]

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• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary.
• This reply was modified 1 year, 11 months ago by  Stephanie O'Leary. Reason: I posted my Lesson One Assignment here instead of on the correct forum. It's now been posted on the correct thread - sorry for the screw up!

[Edward Leschke]

My name is Ed Leschke from Mpls, MN. I’ve written nine complete scripts and a host of unfinished. Hoping to get marketing strategy to get some reads of my scripts. My favorite way to avoid writing is to play online chess.

[Vincent Crapelli]

Chasen Ruddy here. I’ve written four screenplays, two pilots and two stage plays. I hope to learn a system for soliciting producers, managers and other buyers. I have many years of sales experience cold calling prospects by phone and in person. I’ve also worked as a talent agent in NYC, so the phone is a friend.

[Edward Etzkorn]

Hi All! I’m Ed. Great to meet you all! I’ve completed 3 screenplays, starting in 2021. I’ve published 3 novels over the years, one of which provides fodder for a screenplay. I’ve entered a number of screenplay contests, never won one but didn’t do too badly. Hoping to figure out what to do next with the screenplays. i’ve also been a doctor for quite a few years, still practicing in California.

[Amelia Hambrecht]

Hello everyone! Sorry I’m late! Went to a party last Monday, had oysters and an oyster fought back! A week of Vibrio will lay anyone up, and I have turned out to be no exception. Three days of Doxi though has me back in order and I’ll be playing catch up. Look forward to meeting everyone! To answer the q’s:

Name: Amelia

Number of scripts: probably around 10

What do I want: I have optioned one script in my life, have interest in another (although some of the producers (family, not industry) want to take out all the interesting bits), and want to get at least one on the screen. I have written full time at times and am currently unemployed so want to get some ground on this. Let’s see where this class can take me.

Unique?: Oyster survivor? Former Peace Corps Volunteer (Morocco 07-09)? Live on Martha’s Vineyard? Successful single mother? I don’t know how unique any of these things are but they are my life.

[Vincent Saia]

Vincent Saia

About 20

I hope to get some insight on getting my work to those who can produce it.

I never use a handkerchief. Only tissues.

[KINCAID Jones]

Hi All,

Late to the party here but catching up…

I live in Venice and have worked in Hollywood for 30 years in many capacities, to includer writer/producer/director. I’ve written a screenplay, a TV Pilot, and just yesterday finished my debut novel FIVE WEDNESDAYS which I hope to adapt into a series.

I make my living as an Entertainment Copywriter and have probably written a trailer or poster or tagline you remember (kincaidjones.com).

I’m one of Hollywood’s go to copywriters for female movies, but have come to dislike the way older women are portrayed and hope to write smarter material for adult audiences.

Looking forward to reading about all of you and getting up to speed on the assignments.

Until then,

Kincaid