[Laurie Maier]

1. Name – Laurie Maier

2. How many scripts you’ve written? – 10

3. What you hope to get out of the class? – sharpen the skills within the class

4. Something unique, special, strange or unusual about you?

I’m in Prague right now. I slipped and fell down the stairs in my hotel room and got three stitches. Ugh! Ha! It’s funny now.

[Laurie Maier]

Laurie Maier

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.

[Laurie Maier]

1. Tell us your current logline.

Based on a true story, a 50’s rec-league star gets a shot at professional baseball after struggling through decades of frustration and doubt from the injury that ended his promising college career.

2. Look through the 10 Components of Marketability and pick one or two that have the most potential for selling this script.

A. Unique. – Over the hill, Dan gets a chance to fulfill his dream, play pro-ball

B. Great Title – The Dude is Legit

I like it. After Dan makes his pro debut, one of the other pitchers, a 22 year stud, yells at the team, referring to Dan, “the dude is legit!” Best compliment ever!

C. True. Based on a true events

D. Timely — connected to some major trend or event. – Baseball, America’s pastime

E. It’s a first. no

F. Ultimate.no

G. Wide audience appeal. Yes. Baseball and sports fans.

H. Adapted from a popular book. no

I. Similarity to a box-office success.

J. A great role for a bankable actor. Yes. Dan’s emotional journey through and injury and loss of a dream to heart surgery and nearly losing baseball for good, to playing proball

3. Do a quick brainstorm session about ways to elevate those two components for this script and tell us how you might pitch the script through the two components.

Unique – open heart surgery, playing against ex pro 20 something studs, way past his prime, knowing how to pitch and having four fierce pitches

Timely – Baseball is America’s pastime, a unifier during an era of disunity. Timeless themes of personal reinvention, hope, fulfilling dreams.

Example: If you say your script has a great role, in one or two sentences, tell us how you can emphasize that role as you pitch your concept.

4. Answer the question “What I learned doing this assignment is…?” and post it at the top of your work.

I liked diving in a little deeper into these two areas. I’ll keep thinking about how I can elevate these two as well as any other area.

[Laurie Maier]

1. Give us your Genre, Title, and Concept.

Drama, The Dude is Legit,

Based on a true story, a 50’s rec-league star gets a shot at professional baseball after struggling through decades of frustration and doubt from the injury that ended his promising college career.

2. In one or two sentences, tell us what you think is most attractive about your story.

It’s based off of a true story. It’s highlights timeless themes with the backdrop of America’s pastime, baseball

3. Tell us which you will target FIRST — managers, producers, or actor’s production company — and why you picked that target.

Producers. I don’t have a good reason for starting here.

4. Answer the question “What I learned today is…?”

I realized that I’m not sure of why I’ve targeted producers first. It’s a good one to learn.

[Laurie Maier]

Hey, I’m Laurie Maier. I’ve written 8 screenplays.

I’m really excited about this class so I can get one of these babies produced!

I’ve been scuba diving in WWII ship wrecks.