JOANNE Bellew
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Joanne Bellew – Transformational Journey
1. “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” How quickly a concept can be put into place when these three logline needs are separated.
2. Tell us your logline for the transformational journey.
a. A fitness influencer facing bankruptcy for addictions searches for a way to pay off her debt and find success again after she is outed as pill-popping fraud.
3. Tell us what you see as the Old Ways.
a. Shopaholic.
b. Addicted to appetite suppressants and weight loss pills.
c. Narcissistic.
d. Awful to men.
e. Narcissistic boyfriend.
f. Is awful to a social worker at the gym who genuinely cares for her.
4. Tell us what you see as the New Ways.
a. After the journey of losing the money to buy the supplements and putting on weight because she can only afford junk food, she is more invested in educating the poor.
b. Lives within her means.
c. Eats healthy food.
d. Empathetic.
e. Rejects the narcissistic boyfriend for the social worker at the gym who cares. Helps him with health education for the poor.
f. Is offered a contract from the original company, but instead takes a contract from a health food company.
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Joanne Bellew – First Three Decisions:
1. What is your profound truth? Your own truth holds the answers to your most fulfilled life.
2. What is the change your movie will cause with an audience? To reach into their core and feel what is the right path for them, rather than focusing on external things like influencers, trends, or political beliefs.
3. What is your Entertainment Vehicle that you will tell this story through?
1. First screenplay: Metaphor;
2. Second screenplay: The embellished as-it-happened conflict.
4. “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” What I learned from doing this assignment is that it’s the character’s/characters’ arc/arcs that makes the change for the audience. The audience’s change is born from how they see the story and how that could empower their own lives and unique circumstances. Everything will come back to the profound truth in the story, so it is important to know what that profound truth is before development. We have the responsibility of the audience’s vision and journey and sharing that profound truth with the world is a big responsibility. I see more clearly now why I don’t resonate with writing horror. I feel my path is to enlighten. If I were to write in the horror genre, inside of the story, there would have to be a journey of strength and resilience not just gore. I also appreciated the advice on putting the cause in the background.
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GROUNDHOG DAY, written by
DANNY RUBIN AND HAROLD RAMIS.
1. TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY:
It is up to us to be the best we can be. To analyze our behavior and the way we look at life. It’s living life over and over again, making mistakes and learning until we finally get it right. Phil goes from being an egocentric misogynistic narcissist who objectifies women and views anybody and anything that doesn’t serve his path to greatness as beneath him. He goes on a journey of living the same day over and over again until he finds who he is, sees what he’s capable of, sees the beauty in life, and realizes that to love is to be loved.
For the audience: It doesn’t matter how attractive the personal package appears, an honest, true, honest heart that gives love and kindness is the true path to true happiness and contentment.
2. LEAD CHARACTERS:
Change Agent: PHIL CONNORS
Transformational Character: RITA
Oppression: The universal spell Phil is under that wakes him to the same day every day, February 2nd – the official Groundhog Day. Phil unknowingly holds the key to unlocking this spell.
3. CONNECTION WITH AUDIENCE:
A love story where two opposites come together. Can Rita’s innocence and vulnerability change the narcissistic, misogynistic Phil?
RELATABILITY:
a. We open with the weatherman. People trust what the weatherman says, and Phil lays it on thick.
b. Fascination with celebrities and the entertainment industry. Seeing it through ‘talent’s’ eyes.
c. They want Rita to get her way because she’s a good girl, but how is she going to make Phil stop his narcissistic ways and appreciate life?
d. Can the Groundhog predict the weather?
INTRIGUE:
a. How is Rita going to be able to control Phil?
b. How is Phil going to stop this repetitive existence?
c. How will Phil survive in this very pure town?
d. The groundhog is Punxsutawney Phil. Another Phil! Punxsutawney is the “Original Weather Capital of the World”. Phil, the most sarcastic and clearly inaccurate weatherman, is bad at predicting the weather.
e. What’s going to happen when Phil’s stuck in a town he can’t relate to?
f. Will he want to stay or leave when he starts to enjoy his life there?
g. Will he ever be able to woo Rita?
4. Looking at the character(s) who are changed the most, what is the profound journey? From “old ways” to “new way of being.” Identify their old way: Identify their new way at the conclusion:
OLD WAYS VERSUS NEW WAY:
Old ways: Phil is disrespectful to everyone at the news and in the town. He puts himself first, and disregards anything that stands in his path or does not serve his ego. He hides his insecurities by acting over-confident. He likes Rita, but doesn’t feel confident enough to tell her. He has big aspirations to be a celebrity and tries to convince all that he’s being scouted by major networks. Once in Punxsutawney, he is a manipulator who tries to make the repetitive days serve himself.
Rita thinks Phil is obnoxious and egotistical, but because of her sweet nature, she feels she has to help him.
Larry points out Phil’s bad character traits as often as he can.
NEW WAY AT END:
Phil realizes that he had trapped himself in a toxic existence being so egotistical and unkind, even before the Groundhog Day experience. He was his own worst enemy. Life is what you make it. Through the angelic Rita’s inspiration, Phil becomes the best person he could be and the spell is broken. In giving absolute respect and love, Phil receives absolute respect and love, even for himself.
GRADIENT OF CHANGE:
1. Narcissistic, egotistical, rude (from hiding insecurities).
2. Desire to be recognized as a celebrity. Wants to work at a place greater than PBS.
3. Voices himself as being better than others, refusing to embrace Punxsutawney.
4. Underestimates Rita’s good producer skills. She’s not putting up with his crap. She’s caring and there to do her job… ‘keeping the talent happy’.
5. The dilemma: Phil is stuck in a time warp, waking to the same day every day – Groundhog Day – February 2nd.
a. Day 1. He’s obnoxious and sarcastic to everyone he meets. Doesn’t realize he is going to wake up to the same day. He wants to get it over and done with and get back for the 5.00pm weather report. Calls the townspeople hicks. Refers to Punxsutawney Phil as a ‘rat’. Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter. Phil thinks it’s all crap and can’t wait to get out of there. He makes a comment to Rita about her wanting him. She smiles it off.
b. Day 2 – Same day. It’s not only the day that’s the same, he gets out of bed the same. Washes his face immediately, etc. He’s abusive, then confused. He struggles to grasp the reality. Thinks he’s having a mental problem. He knows Ned Ryerson’s name, and he didn’t know it the day before, so it must be happening, but why?
Rita wonders if he’s drunk, but she directs him to work. Shows she’s not so ditzy.
To prove he’s not going insane, Phil snaps his pencil and leaves it by the bed.
c. Day 3 – Same day. Phil checks the pencil. It’s normal. Not snapped. Panicked, Phil tries to avoid contact with everyone but Rita, who he thinks is the only sane person there. He ditches the report and meets Rita in the diner instead. He goes to the psychologist who tries to make an appointment for a day that will never come ‘tomorrow’.
After the bowling alley, Gus points out that if there is no tomorrow, there’s no consequences. Phil throws caution to the wind and goes wild, expecting no consequences, putting Gus and his friend in danger. Phil’s thrown in prison.
d. Day 4 –Same day. Phil’s pumped! It’s a life of no circumstances. Elated, he jumps out of bed. He races excitedly to the window. Breezes through the day answering questions before they’re asked. Starts to manipulate and set things up for the next day. The only person he can’t manipulate is Rita. He’s no longer complaining about the town. He sets Nancy up for the following day to take advantage of her.
e. Day 5 – Phil lies to Nancy to get her into bed… but keeps saying Rita’s name. Phil’s trying to create his perfect day.
f. Next Day – Phil steals money and buys a Mercedes. He takes a different woman to the movies. Says he’s seen the movie over 100 times. He’s working his way through the town’s women.
g. New Day – Phil’s happy. He acts professionally in the report. He sets his sights on Rita. Asks her about what she likes so he can woo her the next day. She wants to get out of the city, out of PBS. She wants a man who’s intelligent, supportive, funny and humble. Kind, sensitive, gentle. Great body. Not afraid to cry in front of her.
h. New Day – Phil’s everything Rita wants. He pulls something from the truck engine so Rita and Larry can’t leave. People compliment the upbeat Phil (Rita’s perfect man). Rita says that she always toasts to world peace.
i. Days Ahead –Phil manufactures the perfect date with Rita. He tries to rush her into bed. Makes the mistake of telling her he loves her. Rita freaks… he doesn’t even know her. She practically accuses him of being a stalker.
j. Days Ahead – Phil’s date plans with Rita aren’t having the same effect. She’s the one changing, less tolerant of Phil’s eagerness to woo her and get into bed. She slaps him at every date, in different places. Things are hard to predict for Phil now. Anyone not in love would give up at this point. Phil lives days of Rita slapping him over and over. His mind shifts to the negative of no hope. He’s depressed. He stops making the effort. He starts to spend his days and nights inside the hotel.
k. Days Ahead – Phil’s lost the excitement for waking. Does horrible reports. Tells only the truth (which makes him look crazy and angry). Rita’s concerned. Rita and Larry think he’s snapped. He tries to stop the repetitive day by killing himself and Punxsutawney Phil.
l. Days Ahead – Phil makes no effort with life at all. He walks around in his PJs, continuously trying to kill himself. He can’t.
m. Days Ahead – Phil tries to convince Rita that he’s a God, an immortal. She thinks he’s bonkers. Phil proves he knows more about the town than he should. When he’s telling Rita about herself, he offers up everything beautiful about her, without any attempt to manipulate her. She believes him. Rita decides to spend the day with him as an observer. It’s a perfect night. Very honest. Phil shows his vulnerability. Doesn’t try to take advantage of her. Tells her he would love her for the rest of his life if he could (as she sleeps). He confesses that he never felt secure enough to ask Rita out. Rita doesn’t hear any of it. He falls asleep beside her. Phil is in love.
n. Next Day – Phil wakes by himself, but this time, he is acting like Rita would. Seeing the world through her eyes. He wants that time with Rita over again. His perfect Groundhog Day. So… he reads French poetry, learns the simple and finer things in life. He takes piano lessons. Learns that life’s joys are created by oneself. Phil has learned not to waste life. He feels happy — alive. He gives to the poor, hugs Ned Ryerson, which he discovers is the antidote to having insurance seller, Ned, chase him. When a homeless man that he has been giving money to dies, Phil tries to redo the day to save him and demands to see his chart at the hospital.
o. Next Days – Phil feeds the old man. Tries to get him healthy. The man seems in good health, but dies anyway. Phil realizes that he can’t manipulate life and death, and the things that really matter. He has to accept that. He also has to accept that he’s not a god. He’s a human trying to do good, and he won’t always get his way.
p. Next Day – Phil finds peace in being a good person. He’s honest. Respectful. He makes a heartfelt peaceful speech about the wonderful people in Punxsutawney. Rita’s mesmerized. Feels she’s misjudged Phil. She’s falling for him, intrigued, and wants to have coffee, but Phil rainchecks. He has errands to run. Phil has decided to use his gift of knowing what happens every day to save the townsfolk from harm; rescuing kids, fixing flat tires, exhausting himself to help people. Now he really IS a celebrity, a respected celebrity.
At the Bachelor auction, Rita bids for Phil with everything in her purse. He takes her to the park. She’s cold and wants to go inside. He encourages her to wait as he carves her face in the snow. He tells Rita he loves her, and this time Rita doesn’t balk. Phil’s had the perfect day.
q. Next Day – Phil wakes. Rita is beside him, happy and in love. Through the angelic Rita’s inspiration, Phil has become the best person he could be… and the Groundhog Day spell is broken. In giving absolute love, Phil now is receiving absolute love. He proposes that he and Rita move to Punxsutawney to live life together. She accepts.
BELIEFS CHALLENGED:
a. Phil believes that celebrity is everything. Having celebrity over people will mask his insecurities and his unworthiness of being loved.
b. There’s no downside to treating people poorly. People don’t matter. They’re morons.
c. He initially sees Rita as a timid people pleaser, below him, on his beck and call. But when he demands attention from Rita, she won’t give it. He needs to manipulate her.
5. What are the most profound moments of the movie?
a. Phil mocks Rita in the opening scene. He used the greenscreen weather map to show off his ‘talent’, whilst at the same time mocking towns in the US.
b. Rita familiarises herself with the greenscreen weather map by waving her arms about and laughing at her face and hands in the middle of the map. She sees the fun in it.
c. Phil realizes he’s not a celebrity when nobody cares about him when he’s trying to get out of Punxsutawney.
d. The diner moments when Rita is just putting up with Phil.
e. Phil and Rita’s dates the night they dance in the park. Phil and Rita are both happy and falling in love.
f. Phil telling Rita how much he knows about her, clearly in love, in the diner.
g. Phil reading Rita French poetry to Rita in the B&B after she’s willing to stay all night. Knowing he might not get the day and night again, he still spends the night doing everything she loves. He doesn’t make a move on her. He makes the night what she wants, because that’s what makes him happy.
h. Bed and Breakfast: Phil has the most honest, unselfish night he’s ever had and is happier than he’s ever been. He makes no attempt to take advantage of Rita.
i. When Phil takes on Rita’s characteristics after the night he confesses his love and sees the world change.
j. Hospital: The old man dies. Phil tries to save him by redoing the day, but he dies anyway.
k. Gobbler’s Nook: Phil says he could not imagine a better place to spend a long winter than in beautiful Punxsutawney. Everybody is listening. Everybody applauds. Phil spends his days doing whatever he can to help, whatever he can learn to help himself and those in distress. He’s found a way to love life.
l. When Phil carves Rita’s face in the ice/snow. He realises that the most important time is ‘now’ not in the future. It’s all about the now.
m. When Phil wakes to Rita beside him and the spell is broken. Then, his proposal to move their lives to Punxsutawney.
PROFOUND DIALOGUE:
TV Station:
PHIL (Off Kenny, re: Rita): “She’s fun, but not my kind of fun. I will be here for the five.”
Van:
PHIL: (To Larry) “…I’m probably leaving PBS. This will be the last time we do the groundhog together.”
RITA: “I think it’s nice. People like it.”
PHIL: “You are new aren’t you? People like blood sausage, too. People are morons.”
Day 1 – Bed and Breakfast:
MRS LANGCASTER: “Did you sleep well, Mr Connors?”
PHIL: “I slept alone, Mrs Lancaster.”
MRS LANCASTER: “Will you be checking out today, Mr Connors?”
PHIL: “Chance of departure today, a hundred percent.”
Day 2 – Bed and Breakfast.
MRS LANCASTER: “Will you be checking out today, Mr Connors?”
PHIL: “I’d say the chance of departure today is (beat) eighty percent (beat) seventy-five to eighty.”
PHIL (on phone): “Well, what if there is no tomorrow? There wasn’t one today.”
Groundhog Celebration:
PHIL: “Sleep okay without me? Tossed and turned didn’t you?”
RITA: “You’re incredible.”
PHIL: “Who told you?”
Highway:
OFFICER: “Now, you can go back to Punxsutawney, or you can go ahead and freeze to death. It’s your choice. So, what’s it gonna be?”
PHIL: “I’m thinking.”
GAS STATION:
PHIL (on phone): “Don’t you have some kind of line you keep open for celebrities”… “I’m both, a celebrity in an emergency.” The celebrity’s immediately knocked out of him by a customer who hits him unknowingly with a snow shovel”.
DINER:
PHIL: “Rita, I’m living the same day over and over again… Groundhog day.”
GUS: “Phil, like the groundhog, Phil?
PHIL: “Yeah, like the groundhog, Phil.
Psychologist’s Office:
PSYCHOLOGIST: “I think we should meet again. (off Phil’s nod) How’s tomorrow for you? (off Phil thumping the pillow) “Is that not good?”
Bowling Alley:
PHIL: “I was in the Virgin Islands once. I met a girl, we ate lobster, drank Pina Coladas. At sunset we made love like sea otters. That was a pretty good day. Why can’t I get that day over and over? Phil tries to create that day with the women in the town.
Car:
GUS: “That would mean there were no consequences and no hangovers. We could do whatever we wanted.”
PHIL: “What if there were no tomorrow? That’s true. We could do whatever we want.”
PHIL: “Sometimes I think you have to take the big chances.” “I’m not gonna live by their rules anymore. You make choices, and you live with them.”
Diner:
RITA: “The wretch, concentred all in self, living, shall forfeit fair renown, and doubly dying, shall go down, to the vile dust from whence he sprung – unwept, unhonored, and unsung. Sir Walter Scott.”
Gobbler’s Nob:
PHIL: “Isn’t this how everybody talks?”
RITA: “Kind of.”
Diner:
PHIL: (off Rita saying the qualities she needs in a man – opposite to Phil’s old ways) “And this is a man we’re talking about right?”
Park:
RITA: “I’m just amazed, and I’m not easily amazed.”
PHIL: “About what?”
RITA: “How you can start a day with one kind of expectation and end up so completely different.”
RITA: “It’s the perfect day. You couldn’t plan a day like this.”
PHIL: “Well, you can, it just takes an awful lot of work.”
Bed and Breakfast:
RITA: “I could never love anyone like you, Phil, because you’ll never love anyone but yourself.”
PHIL: “That’s not true. I don’t even like myself.”
Bed and Breakfast:
RITA: “Well, I don’t know Phil. Maybe it’s not a curse. It depends on how you look at it.”
Bed and Breakfast:
RITA: “What were you saying?”
PHIL: “I think the last thing that you heard is only God can make a tree.”
RITA: “Really?”
PHIL: (off Rita sleeping) “I think you’re the kindest prettiest person I’ve ever met in my entire life. I’ve never seen anyone that’s nicer to people than you are. From the first time I saw you something happened to me and I never told you that. I knew that I wanted to hold you as hard as I could. I don’t deserve someone like you, but if I ever could, I swear I would love you for the rest of my life.”
Hospital:
NURSE: “Sometimes people just die.”
PHIL: “Not today.”
Park:
RITA: “It’s amazing, how did you do that?”
PHIL: “ I know your face so well, I could have done it with my eyes closed.”
RITA: “It’s lovely. I don’t know what to say.”
PHIL: “I do. No matter what happens tomorrow, or for the rest of my life, I’m happy now… because I love you.”
RITA: “I think I’m happy too.”
PROFOUND ENDING:
Phil becomes Rita’s hero, the town’s hero, and humbly his own hero through making the most of every day, learning who he is, giving love and respect, and putting his energy into positive things instead of wasting life on being a narcissist.
He realizes that what he has always wanted was there all along, the moment Rita walked in.
PROFOUND TRUTH:
Life is what you make it. If you are toxic, you will see toxic. To have a beautiful life and receive love, you need to show love and be love. Everybody has the opportunity to change, even in the worst cases like Phil. It’s just a mind shift, but an honest one… not one that is manipulated. The way into anybody’s heart is through being kind to yourself, loving and respecting yourself, and then extending that to others.
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Hi All,
My name is Joanne (Jo) Bellew. Very nice to meet you all. I have five completed scripts (four features and one TV).
I am always looking to sharpen my craft and that’s what I’m hoping to get out of this class.I have worked in the fields of spirituality, law and medicine. Oh, and I have an epileptic cat!
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Joanne Bellew.
“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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NOT AGREE, in which case, you hit “Reply to this topic” and type in the words “I’ll do the class privately.”
If you agree to the terms of the release form, then you can post your assignments into the group and your cohort can give feedback on them.
Also, if you don’t agree to this group confidentiality agreement, you’ll still need to sign an agreement that says you will keep the strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential.
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
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Hi All,
My name is Joanne (Jo) Bellew. Very nice to meet you all. I have five completed scripts (four feature and one TV).
I am always looking to sharpen my craft and that’s what I’m hoping to get out of this class.I have worked in the fields of spirituality, law and medicine. Oh, and I have an epileptic cat!
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Joanne Bellew
I agree to the terms of this release form.
3. Please leave the entire text below to confirm what you agree to:
GROUP RELEASE FORM
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
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Hey Cheryl, Hal and Everyone!
I’m excited to meet you all and to be doing this course with you. I’ve read your introductions. What a cool group of fun and very talented souls!!
For questions 1. and 2., I’ll post my little bio below:
JOANNE BELLEW is a Blacklist writer from Australia who has received over 90 awards in respected competitions such as The Page Awards, the Austin Film Festival, the Titan Awards and Roadmap Writers Top 50. She has several high-ranking screenplays on Coverfly and her work has also appeared on Coverfly’s Red List. Her most recent feature placed Top 10 in The Final Draft Big Break. After working in the fields of law, spirituality and alternative medicine, Joanne likes to find the crack of light in challenging situations and weave that hope into features and TV. She also enjoys acting in features and TV.
3. What you hope to get out of the class?
I want to learn all I can about this industry so that I can perform in it well and with respect. I’ve been acting now for a couple of years which has helped a lot with knowing the other side of the camera. With regards to my completed screenplays (4 features and 2 TV) I am in rooms now talking to execs (looking for management and/or production) and I want to know how to be a good person in the room as well as the best writer I can be.
4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you? I have an epileptic cat that’s like a toddler who appears in meetings often!
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Project 1: $15 million to $40 million
TITLE: RUDY’S CHRISTMAS REVENGE (completed – currently on The Blacklist)
FORMAT: Feature
GENRE: Comedy
LOGLINE: After his one chance at a big break is shattered by a local bully who goes on to have a highly successful music career, a down-and-out Texas bus driver finds a risky opportunity to claim his revenge decades later.
Project 2: $15 million to $40 million
TITLE: NOW I AM NOT AFRAID (concept)
FORMAT: Feature
GENRE: Drama [LGBTQ|Bio]
LOGLINE: A young man fights for the rights of gay and Black South Africans during the time of apartheid, but then must fight for his life when he is thrown into prison for treason.
Listening to the teleconference has opened up a new world for me that I did wonder about. I have written four spec features and two spec pilots. I’m looking forward to hearing more. I love taking notes from execs and I enjoy the banter of creativity. It’s the contractual side of things (as in sorting those out) that daunts me the most. I agree with the process being ‘whatever it takes to get the movie made’. I have 400 pages of unpaid TV to prove that, which apparently the director is certain will happen in due course. COVID shut it down. I can’t say whether it will or won’t, but I definitely gave it my best. I’m not bitter about it. Even if it doesn’t, it was a great experience for me.
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I agree to the terms of this release form.
As a member of this group, I agree to the following:
1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.
2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.
I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.
3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.
4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.
5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.
6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.
This completes the Group Release Form for the class.
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Hi Ginny,
I’m so sorry to hear about your Long Covid illness. I hope it improves very soon for you.
I’ve never met a professional ghostwriter before. That’s so interesting. Looking forward to doing the course with you. 🙂
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Hey Karen,
I think you’re in my other group. I’m just joining both now, so at the moment everyone is in one group in my mind – LOL. You have such an interesting and inspiring life. Very positive. I grew up on the ocean, so I completely understand the need to be close to water.
You are clearly a very capable writer. So happy to be on this journey with you. 🙂
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You had me at ‘my left nipple is larger than my right.’ Love it!
I do yoga several times a week, Will. Sounds like you’ve had some good industry experience. I think we should see more of your type of story on the TV. Looking forward to being in the group with you. 🙂
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Hi Susan,
Gosh, the T-Rex!! You’ve already changed people’s lives. I can only imagine the wealth of knowledge you have.
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I love horses too, Patricia.
On the ‘creating an awesome screenplay’ front, I’m actually doing Hal’s Writing Incredible Movies course right now as well. I’ve just started, but even the intro’s fantastic.
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Sounds like you have a very intelligent script inside of you Bill. Looking forward to being in the group with you!
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Hi Bob,
Thanks for being a veteran. So sorry about your health. Hopefully, the writing will be part of your healing. Sounds like you’ve got a good story in there!
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Another spiritualist. I love it! Very cool that you’re getting back into the writing, Francine. Looking forward to working with you!!
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Sounds like an exciting life, Ashley. Brilliant. Looking forward to working with you, too!
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Such an interesting story, Chris. He’s probably right about the VHS logic. Thank God for streaming. You’re fine unless someone borrows the TV and doesn’t give it back!
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Congrats on your success with the stageplay, Brian! Sounds like you’re a master of many trades. Awesome!!
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That all sounds very cool, Cheryl. I bet there’s a very good comedy screenplay in there!!
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It’s so exciting that you’re getting those rejected manuscripts out of the drawer, Lenore! Brilliant!!
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So cool, Eden!!
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Oh my Lord, I love that I have a fellow spiritualist in here (I have a spiritual rom-com and a spiritual comedy)… and I’m also a huge fan of Hawaii. I travel there several times a year. I also do a spot of acting as well. I spend time each year at silent Buddhist retreats.
Congratulations on all the good stuff you’ve achieved. Love it. Finalist of Writers on the Verge is huge. I actually traveled with Jen Grisanti to South Africa last year on the Screenwriters’ Safari.
Excited to have a soul sister in the group, Julia. Bring on the laughs and the zen.
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Sounds like you have a WEALTH of things to write about, Agnes. Really happy to be in the group with you and excited to hear about your stories.
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Congrats on such a successful entertainment career to date, Ferdinand. Amazing. It’s great that you’re putting energy into your own concepts again.
We should chat at some stage down the track. I’m writing a South African story at the moment. My co-creator is a South African who lives in Australia.
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Yes… Happy retirement, Patricia!
I know how hard the law is. My husband has just retired from the Supreme Court bench here in Australia and has taken the position of head of the Parole Board. Writing scripts must be such a free feeling for you. I hope your Coming-of-Age idea grows into something fabulous.
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Wow, Rodney. Much respect. That’s awesome. We’ll be your cheer squad. Thanks for not tackling it in winter. We won’t have to freeze our buns off.
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Love it Ruthie,
AND I’m from Australia, so you have a sister in here with regard to the spelling. LOL — I’m finding myself using US spelling at home here. Excited to hear that you’ve had success with the script option. Best of luck with that. Keep us posted. Cool about the tattoo!
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Hi Again Brian!
What a cool story about your eyes!
Looking forward to seeing the outcome of those scripts in due course.
I think we’ll all have fun sharing ideas and feedback. Awesome group.
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Hey Alyssa!
Great to meet you and be on this journey together. Sounds like a smart plan you’ve got.
I hope the contest goes well!!
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I like you already Richard Bailey. You’ve got spunk. I wonder if one of those irreparable stories will find a life again? Fingers crossed!
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Nice to meet you H. Vince. So great to see that you’re heading down the professional route. Awesome.
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Nice to meet you Sangeeta. Sounds like you’re going to have a lot of fun entering this world. Very freeing if you love writing.
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Wow… that’s a very cool intro Paul. NASA and the Space Shuttle!! I bet there’s a good screenplay to be written just from that emotional and visual ride. Amazing.
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Wow… that’s a very cool intro Paul. NASA and the Space Shuttle!! I bet there’s a good screenplay to be written just from that emotional and visual ride. Amazing.
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Hey Cassie, great to meet you!
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Hahaaa… oh yes, I have stories Brian!! Great to meet you! Thanks for the morning laughs. I’m in Australia, so my replies may be a few hours behind. Good luck with the course and writing!!