Deborah Meltzer
Forum Replies Created
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Hi everyone,
I’m Deborah and I’ve written four features and one TV pilot.
I hope to get a strong feel for using AI to the point where I can make great decisions about how to best blend it with my human creativity and inspiration.
One unusual thing about me is that I left the States at age 24 on a four-month ticket and didn’t return home for four years. My travels ran the gamut of strange, unique and very special places throughout Asia, Moscow, Greece and the Middle East.
I also wanted to let the class know I have a prior Thursday evening commitment through June, after which I will begin showing my face on Zoom and enjoying seeing yours there.
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Deborah Meltzer
“I agree to the terms of this release form.”
Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to.
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Tell us the following:
1. Name? Deborah
2. How many scripts you’ve written? 5 + Draft 1 of the 6th
3. What you hope to get out of the class? Learn how to craft excellent horror script
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? For many years I have felt the presence of and been in connection with loved ones who have passed.
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1. Tell us your speciality. Drama Comedy
2. Do a quick Google search for “top (genre) movies.” Select two of the top movies in your genre to watch. There are two suggested movies from the producer I’m working with that I will be watching.
3. As you watch each movie, take notes on how that movie fulfills the key parts of your genre. Still to be done.
4. For each movie, tell us the following:
Genre:Title:How it delivered on the genre conventions:
Outline of the movie, highlighting the parts that fulfill the genre:
Still to be done.
5. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and put it at the top of your work.
I learned that typically a producer will ask for a writing sample in the desired genre to audition a writer before making the deal and that in my case it happened a little differently. The producer read my script (a drama) and asked if I would consider doing a writing assignment in the horror genre for his two concepts. He was aware this was not my specialty but still wanted me to do it. After some discussion on our class Facebook page with Hal and another student who wrote horror, I made the decision to go ahead and have been proceeding with the producer. So far so good! It helps that he loves providing lots of feedback and notes on his vision, as well as making suggestions for films to watch he feels are closest to his structure. He also likes teaching about the genre. The icing on the cake is that the first concept turned out to be a horror comedy and I specialize in drama comedy, so the element of comedy is making this a more coherent first WA.
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Deborah’s Credibility is Going Up!
1. Based upon the Credibility Model in this lesson, fill in the Credibility Checklist to show us your current credibility.
My credibility up to Phase 4 of the recently completed MSC16 was that I specialized in drama and comedy. A previous script had won quarterfinalist status in a contest, but I did not include this in my pitches. Near the end of Phase 4 I got a writing assignment, which I understand from the lessons so far will increase my credibility upon completion, and perhaps during the process as well, as in “currently working on a writing assignment with a producer.”
2. Make a list of possible things you can do to increase your credibility in the future.
Enter (and win!) contests. I have only entered two of them so far, pre-pandemic.
Prepare excellent writing samples in the genre I specialize in, as well as another genre I may want to branch out into
3. Steps to take over next 30 days.
Continue to work with the producer over the next several months on delivering his vision by responding to his notes and suggestions, elevating my understanding and expertise in the genre by watching his suggested films and others in the genre, and reading the scripts of top movies to see how it was done. Make his vision for the script a reality and continue being involved in the project to the stage of getting the movie produced.
Discuss with the producer doing the second writing assignment with him for his other concept.
Continue marketing my current script to producers.
Continue seeking a manager.
Continue seeking additional writing assignments.
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Deborah’s Projects and Insights
1. Go to the forums and sign the Group Confidentiality Agreement. DONE
2. Introduce yourself to the group while you are there. DONE
3. Tell us the two projects you’re bringing into this class and give us a budget range for each; each project must be:
a. An idea that you would like to create. (TITLE OF HORROR COMEDY) $1-5M
b. A finished script. PLAYING WITH FIRE $10-20M4. Tell us what you learned from the opening teleconference. I learned that I have accomplished many of the described steps already in my first writing assignment and received validation on the next steps I am about to take.
Post your assignment in the forums .
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I agree!
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I, Deborah Meltzer agree to the terms of this release form.
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Hi everyone!
My name is Deborah Meltzer and I’ve written five scripts. I just graduated from MSC16 and got my first deal/writing assignment during the Phase 4 marketing! Hal advised taking this class would be perfect while I’m working with the producer. For that reason, my hope is that I will be able to have questions answered and receive clarifications when the need arises, and also that this class will improve my prospects and success with writing assignments in the future with other producers.
I’m searching for one thing to say here that would best illustrate something unique or unusual about me. First thing that pops into my head is that I left the States for four months when I was in my twenties and did not return for four years.
I just moved on March 1st, the first day of this class, and am looking forward to joining everyone for the second class this Wednesday!
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Hi Hope! I love goats and would love to hear some goofy goat stories some time.
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Hey old cohort! Nice to be in this class with you.