Stephens College – Page 39 – On Screenwriting and Media with Dr. Rosanne Welch

Screenwriting Research Network Conference 2019, Porto, Portugal, All Sessions

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Here’s a look at the program for the Screenwriting Research Network (SRN) conference that just concluded last Saturday in Porto, Portugal.

I deeply enjoyed making my presentation on Writers Rooms in the U.S. but even more I enjoyed the presentations I attended.

This program is chock a block full of new international films to learn about (did you know there’s a Portuguese film with the name “Django” in it that has nothing to do with the one by Tarantino?) and new ways to teach writing students how to take in all the (often negative) notes they receive and decide which constructive ones to use to make their scripts stronger?

Just skimming the schedule shows the breadth of new ideas that are running around in my head right now. — Rosanne

12th SCREENWRITING RESEARCH NETWORK CONFERENCE
Porto, September 11-14, 2019 · School of Arts, Universidade Católica Portuguesa

PROGRAMME

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Theme: Foundation and Crisis of Europe in Screenwriting

Chair: Paolo Russo

Pablo Echart
Savage continent, united continent: the writing of a feature film screenplay about the “founding fathers” of the European Union

María Noguera / Miguel Muñoz-Garnica
Narrative detours in the cinematic representation of Europe in crisis: Ulysses’ Gaze, A Talking Picture and Our Music

Daniel Sierra / Marta Frago
Young Winston and Darkest Hour’s films: Winston Churchill as British Hero in a Changing Europe

Theme: Modes I

Chair: Nelson Zagalo

Ruth Gutiérrez Delgado
Causality is not casual in a film despite it seems to be: A Perfect Day

Paolo Braga
The line between fate and chaos in Collateral

Armando Fumagalli
Order and chaos in the ending of a film

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Video games following path of films in their marketing and “Death Stranding” Game Trailer

What’s interesting about this video game trailer (is first of all that they have trailers for video games!) but that at the 5:36 mark they begin giving the credits for all the relatively big name actors in this – including Guillermo del Toro and (for me) Lindsay Wagner (the original Bionic Woman) which shows how this new-ish art form is following the path of films – which originally did not name their actors until they realized actors bring in audience.

Also, that the branding of the creator “Kojima Productions”. The parallels between these arts-turned-businesses are so interesting. — Rosanne

** Notes originally from discussion with Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting students

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Screenplays of hit TV series, films and plays are outselling novels via The Guardian

Seeing the public show such an interest in reading the scripts of their favorite tv shows and films is right in line with the goal of the History of Screenwriting courses in our Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting program.

People are finally recognizing the work of writers and appreciating how their favorite stories took shape on the page long before they were cast, or filmed, or edited. Screenwriting Rocks! Join us to learn how to write the great American screenplay! — Rosanne

Loved the show, finished the boxset – now devour the script line by line
Screenplays of hit TV series, films and plays are outselling novels

For decades they were bought only by drama students, who would anxiously pore over well-thumbed copies trying to memorise audition monologues, and by aspiring screenwriters hoping to learn their craft.

Scripts and screenplays did not sell in huge numbers to the public – until now. Readers are increasingly keen to buy the texts of their favourite films and plays, and some cultural blockbusters are leaving bestselling novels in the dust.

Fleabag: The Scriptures, the collected screenplays of the two seasons of the hit television series spawned by Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s one-woman stage play, will be published in November. Sceptre bought the scripts in an eight-way auction, reportedly for £500,000.

Read this entire article – Loved the show, finished the boxset – now devour the script line by line

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“77% of TV shows have no women creators. Here’s how that ripples across the industry” says Los Angeles Times

This lack of female representation at the creative/gatekeeper levels is precisely what the Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting aims to change! More prepared female writers = more prepared female showrunners = more believable female character and stories permeating our lives. — Rosanne

77% of TV shows have no women creators. Here’s how that ripples across the industry

By Yvonne Villarreal – Staff Writer
Sep. 4, 2019

For the 2018-19 season, 96% of TV programs had no women directors of photography; 79% had no women directors; 77% had no women editors; and 77% had no women creators.

As a number of female-fronted TV shows, including “Veep” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel,” vie for Emmys later this month, a study released Wednesday finds that “historic highs” for women in television still leave them vastly underrepresented in key behind-the-scenes roles.

Read this entire article – 77% of TV shows have no women creators. Here’s how that ripples across the industry via The Los Angeles Times

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Save The Date! — Panel Discussion: Location as Character: The Craft of Writing Place – WGA – October 1, 2019

Location as Character: The Craft of Writing Place
Tuesday, October 1, 2019
7:30 PM 9:00 PM
The Writers Guild Foundation, 7000 West 3rd StreetLos Angeles, CA, 90048United States

Whether big city or small-town USA, a show’s location can have a powerful impact. We are teaming up with Columbia College Chicago on this special evening to sit down with a panel of TV writers for a discussion about how writing location, whether real or fictional, sets the scene and can shape the motivations of the characters.

Panelists:

Ayanna Floyd – Writer, Executive Producer, The Chi
Anthony Sparks – Writer, Executive Producer, Queen Sugar
Stay tuned for more panelist announcements!

Moderated by Dr. Rosanne Welch.

Doors open at 7pm. Event starts at 7:30pm.

All events advertised on our Events page are open to anyone who wants to buy a ticket—not just WGA members!

In the case the event is sold out, we will have a first come, first serve stand-by line at the event. The stand-by line does not guarantee entry into the event and we will only accept credit card transactions for any released seats.

Proceeds benefit the Foundation’s library, archive and other outreach programs.

Got a question about events? E-mail us at events@wgfoundation.org.

Fall 2019 Written By Magazine Features Transgender Writers (And On The Cover!); Entry- Or Mid-Level Writers; LGBTQIA+ Writers; Female Writers; And Writers Of Color

Read Online for FREE Now!

Just on time for your Labor Day Reading! The Fall 2019 issue of Written By magazine, the magazine of the Writers Guild of America, West is now available online.

Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting Executive Director Dr. Rosanne Welch, who serves on the Editorial Board of the magazine (along with program friend Glen Mazzara) is proud of this truly groundbreaking issue: it’s the first issue featuring transgender writers (and on the cover!); entry- or mid-level writers; LGBTQIA writers; female writers; and writers of color in every story.

Listen to the latest “How I Wrote That” Podcast with Screenwriter/Producer Tara Hernandez of The Big Bang Theory [Audio]

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Tara Hernandez started working on The Big Bang Theory as an assistant to the executive producer in season 4, and became a staff writer in the middle of season 5. From there she rose in the ranks to be a co-executive producer, helping to craft the series finale before moving to work on the show’s spin-off Young Sheldon.

The key to pitching sitcoms – there’s the event and then there’s the story. The event is the thing that happens but the story is her emotional realization that comes from the event… So for my first story that sold on Big Bang Theory was about the time Bernadette was getting married and Amy was going overboard so the girls decide to go dress shopping without Amy. That was the event that happened and then, because she was so devastated, Sheldon had to step up as a boyfriend and comfort her and it lead to their first cuddle. – Tara Hernandez

Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting alum Jackie Perez (2017) becomes semi-finalist in the 2019 ScreenCraft Public Domain Screenplay Contest

Congrats to Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting alum Jackie Perez (2017) for having her STEM-centric screenplay – AMAZING GRACE (based on the life of Grace Hopper) move from quarter-finalist to semi-finalist in the 2019 ScreenCraft Public Domain Screenplay Contest.

“It wouldn’t be in the shape it’s in without the insightful notes and feedback from Julie Berkobien, Sarah Amble Whorton, Amelia Phillips, and Amy Banks. Really appreciate all the Stephens’ MFA love and encouragement,” says Perez.

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Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting Alum Sarah Phillips (2017) among the Top Films for the Louisiana Film Prize!

Congratulations to alum Sarah Phillips (Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting Inaugural class of 2017) for her film “Supplements” (which she wrote, directed and produced) being chosen among the 2019 Top Films for the Louisiana Film Prize!

“Supplements” was created by Phileon Productions, a female-led production company located in Los Angeles.

In the film the year is 2289 and all that’s left on Planet Earth is the domed city of Old Centauri, roaming sun flares that scorch the land, and the nomadic tribes that mitigate the two. Kiirke comes from one such tribe, and she must travel to Old Centauri, along with her brother, to seek a small fortune to save her family.⁣ (Now if THAT doesn’t draw you in, we are at a total loss for what will!)⁣

Written & Directed by Sarah Phillips
Produced by Laetitia Leon & Sarah Phillips⁣
Cinematography by Sarah Phillips⁣
Starring Laetitia Alix Leon

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Event: Story Structure in Cinematography with Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting alum, Sarah Phillips

Story Structure in Cinematography with Sarah Phillips
Sep 05, 2019 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM PDT
Canon Burbank

Get Free Tickets at Canon

Come join Cinematographer Sarah Phillips (and Stephens College MFA in TV and Screenwriting alum (inaugural class of 2017)) as she talks about how to help (or hurt) your story structure with the way you (as a director, writer, actor, or producer) work with your cinematographer, and the way you craft light and character together.

Sarah Phillips is a cinematographer (and camera nerd) in Los Angeles who works in many areas of film. She primarily shoots independent films, including scripted features, documentaries, and short films, but also can be found the camera departments of national commercials and music videos, because her passion for writing story with light supersedes that of genre and form. sarahphillipscamera.com

Key Takeaways:

Learn about story Structure as a Cinematographer
Hear how to craft light and character together
Discuss working with directors, writers, actors and producers on building story structure

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