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Industry Insight with Alex Ross

Industry Insight with Alex Ross

industry-insights

Learn how Hollywood and the film industry works from a writer’s perspective from WriteMovies’ CEO, Alex Ross.

Find out what really goes on behind the scenes so you can circumnavigate all the politics and  development people, to not only get your script sold, but made.Knowing what you’re doing is vital in this industry, and this is something the well-established writers know, take advantage of and practice daily.

This article seeks to contribute to the current debate about the decision-making process within the Hollywood studios and the marketing-driven quest to micromanage the creative process in order to manufacture more consistently profitable films. Alex outlines the process to which scripts are subjected in order to determine their suitability for production and how this impacts the quality of the scripts. There are compelling questions about whether the current business model hinders relevant, definitive cultural narratives and how this affects both the quality and profitability of contemporary films. In addition to considering the existing literature dealing with the topic, this article also draws on fifteen years of experience Alex has earned in Hollywood as a screenwriter, agent and producer.

Download your free copy of Creative decision making within the contemporary Hollywood studios by Alex Ross HERE.

 

Exclusive to WriteMovies – To syndicate this content for your own publication, contact ian (at) writemovies dot-com.

© WriteMovies 2017

The Confidential Studio Manual

The Confidential Studio Manual

The Confidential Studio Manual manual “How can you sell to Hollywood if you don’t know what they are looking for? This is a MUST READ for all writers at whatever stage of their careers. Considering the thousands of books on writing out there, do yourself a favor and read this one if you are serious about getting real attention in Hollywood. Every page that you read puts you light years ahead of the competition and closer to a sale. A remarkable insight into the secret world of studio readers and development people.” -Peter Saphier Former Universal Pictures VP and producer (Jaws, The Deer Hunter, Scarface) Order your Studio Manual here It’s simple, just fill in the submission form, make the PayPal payment and the e-book will be sent to you within 4 working days.


About The Manual Get the upper hand on the entertainment industry by knowing precisely how the people who read your scripts have been trained to evaluate them via our Confidential Studio Manual. Featuring the methods and formats of the Hollywood script-reading process, the Confidential Studio Manual is essential reading for any writer who wants to know what happens to a script once it’s sent off and anyone who’d like to have an insider’s perspective on film and television development. The manual explains the criteria used to decide which scripts get made from assessing the structure and genre to the dialogue and plot. Including examples of coverage written on genuine scripts, some failed and some successful, as well as a glossary of terms commonly used by studio readers, it enables screenplay writers to know exactly who their first audience is and how they can get their script noticed. A Brief Look Inside confidentialClick here for a snippet of the insight you’ll get. Remember, there’s much more to know and the only way to find out is to get your copy today! Purchase it as an ebook and save on shipping! Read more… Testimonials testimonialHow can you sell to Hollywood if you don’t know what they are looking for? This is a MUST READ for all writers at whatever stage of their careers.” Peter Saphier, former Universal Pictures VP Read more…

Writers Mentoring

Writers Mentoring

Industry feedback

Gain some quality and professional feedback, whether your writing a script or pitching an idea to producers. It is impossible to nail a script without professional feedback and it is difficult to pitch to a group of producers if you don’t know enough about the industry.

(more…)

WMC 36 Winners Announced!Resultate des WMC36 Wettbewerbes

WMC 36 Winners Announced!Resultate des WMC36 Wettbewerbes

WMC36_Winners_00000

WriteMovies 36th Writing Contest results

WriteMovies 36th Writing Contest results We received nearly 1000 screenplays, books, plays, short stories and articles from the following countries: USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, France, Belgium, India, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, Italy, Greece, Nigeria, Georgia, Mexico, Japan, South Africa and The Cameroon. The overall standard was very high, hence the large number of writers we found to be eligible for the final rounds. We decided against many competent works for a variety of reasons. Some were not suited for the cinematic medium. Others were conceptually flawed, in that they either delivered last year’s movie or an idea that was just not feasible. There is nothing sadder than a brilliantly executed “bad idea”, (well, unless it’s a badly executed good idea). But in all honesty, the shelves of most Hollywood pros are lined with these. We hope that those who did not make will stay in touch with us. We have enjoyed our myriad of email exchanges and are working hard at making this site more relevant to your careers. Don’t forget that many of our writers got their careers going by using our consulting service: CLICK HERE With thanks and best wishes to you all, YOUR WRITEMOVIES TEAM Winners: 1st Place – Ben Gibson, “LAST CALL” 2nd Place – Nick Amatuzio, “BLOOD RUNS DEEP” 3rd Place – Raymond A. Just, “THE CRIMSON CONFESSION”     Honorable Mention C.K. Steefel, “MOM OF THE YEAR” Brian Anthony & Bill Walker, “ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1” Gudrun Paul, “BAR JEDER VERNUFT. DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE” Jeffrey Russel & Lynda Lemberg, “GRACE”

Quarter-Finalists: Semi-Finalists: Finalists:
Adams, Nick – SPACED OUT  Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP  Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP
Alarid, John Cruz – SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL  Amoroso, Jayson L – NATHAN RILEY, THE BOY NEXT DOOR   Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL
Alarid, John Cruz – MIRACLE MAN  Anthony, Brian/Walker, Bill – ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1  Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS
Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP  Avishai, Micael – THE LAND OF CHICKENS  DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN
Amoroso, Jayson L – NATHAN RILEY, THE BOY NEXT DOOR  Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL  Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT
Anthony, Brian/Walker, Bill – ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1  Boon, Plissken  – OVERLORD  Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY
Avishai, Micael – THE LAND OF CHICKENS  Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS  Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES
Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL  Case, G.R.  – 30 DAYS: VENGEANCE IS DUE  Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL
Boon, Plissken  – OVERLORD  Chang, Brandon Michael – MUTE  Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW
Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS  Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT  Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER
Case, G.R.  – 30 DAYS: VENGEANCE IS DUE Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY  Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS
Chang, Brandon Michael – MUTE  Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL  James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE
DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN COSTNER CAME TO DINNER Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW  Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA
Durbet, Laurie – VAMPIRES, THE CRAZY KILLERS Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER  Kirby, Tom – BABYLON
Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS  Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION
Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY  James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE  Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE
Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES Jarrett, Catherine – OUT OF SOMEWHERE  McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE
Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION  Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE
Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA  Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES
Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE  Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME
Habern, Daniel – JUGGERNAUT McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE  Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW
Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS Melkus, Timothy Charles – THE ROSE GODDESS  Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE Parke, Graham – BLIND SPOT   Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Jarrett, Catherine – OUT OF SOMEWHERE Parker, Phil – THE THIRD BOMB  Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE   Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Kirby, Tom – BABYLON Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NICHTS ALS ROMANTIK   Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NESCAFÉ
Lagha, Hicham – RELATIVITÉ Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES
Longacre, Ian – GREY MATTERS Pedrozzi, Nicola – LOVEBAND
Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME
McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW
Meador, Jana – ROAD TO EARL  Ryback, Jeff – THE SNAKEMAN
Melkus, Timothy Charles – THE ROSE GODDESS  Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Nemeth, Rob – HARDLINERS  Steblecki, Alana – THE WITCH DOCTOR
Pallotta, Michael – REVEREND EZRA TOMBSTONE  Suraci, Philip – NOT YOUR PARENT’S PARADE
Parke, Graham – BLIND SPOT  Vance, Christopher – VIRTUAL LIFE
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE  Weinstock, Alex – THE COUNTDOWN – PILOT/SECOND EYELIDS
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NICHTS ALS ROMANTIK  Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NESCAFÉ  Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Pavlidou, Parthena – WHY ARE YOU DESTROYING MY LIFE?  Wood, Sharen – SIGNS, SONGS & OPTIMISM
Parker, Phil – THE THIRD BOMB  DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN
Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES  Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES
Pedrozzi, Nicola – LOVEBAND  Kirby, Tom – BABYLON
Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME  Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW  Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
Ryback, Jeff – THE SNAKEMAN
Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Seliski, Lawrence – CROSSING THE LINE
Steblecki, Alana – THE WITCH DOCTOR
Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Suraci, Philip – NOT YOUR PARENT’S PARADE
Sutliff, Jamie – ANTIDOTE MAN
Tenenbaum, David – THE FAMILY NAME
Vance, Christopher – VIRTUAL LIFE
Weinstock, Alex – THE COUNTDOWN – PILOT/SECOND EYELIDS
Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Whelan, Jeyn – SMILE (PART ONE)
Whelan, Jeyn – SMILE (PART TWO)
Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Wood, Sharen – SIGNS, SONGS & OPTIMISM
Yaroch, Eddie – A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS

 

WMC36_Winners_00000

Resultate des WMC36 Wettbewerbes

Seit 1999 hilft WriteMovies Autoren, ihr Ziel zu erreichen. Resultate des 36. Wettbewerb: Lektorats- und Beratungsservice für Autoren, Produzenten und Fernsehsender. Jetzt Neu! Lassen Sie Ihr Skript von Alex Ross, der Andrew Niccol, den Drehbuchautoren des Oskar-nominierten Films ‘The Truman Show’, entdeckte, beraten. Optimieren Sie den Erfolg ihres Projektes durch die kompetente Beratung durch unsere Hollywood-Experten: Ob Konzept, Exposé, Treatment, Drehbuch oder Roman, wir bieten Produzenten nicht nur eine schnelle und kompetente Entscheidungshilfe, sondern haben auch die nötige Expertise Konzepte und Drehbücher so anzupassen, dass sie den Ansprüchen des deutschen und internationalen Marktes gerecht werden. Wie gewohnt, bieten wir unseren Lektoratsservice natürlich weiterhin auch Autoren an: Sie plotten, planen, schreiben und durchlaufen sämtliche Phasen von Euphorie über Skepsis bis hin zur absoluten Verzweiflung? Damit sind Sie nicht allein. Irgendwann braucht jeder Autor professionelle Kritik, die einen erweiterten Blickwinkel auf das Werk ermöglicht. Sie brauchen jemanden, der deutlich macht, was stark an Ihrer Arbeit ist, aber auch was überdacht werden sollte. Diese professionelle Hilfe möchten wir Ihnen für Ihre Drehbücher aber auch für Romane, Kurzgeschichten und Theaterstücke anbieten. Winners: 1st Place – Ben Gibson, “LAST CALL” 2nd Place – Nick Amatuzio, “BLOOD RUNS DEEP” 3rd Place – Raymond A. Just, “THE CRIMSON CONFESSION”     Honorable Mention C.K. Steefel, “MOM OF THE YEAR” Brian Anthony & Bill Walker, “ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1” Gudrun Paul, “BAR JEDER VERNUFT. DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE” Jeffrey Russel & Lynda Lemberg, “GRACE”

Quarter-Finalists: Semi-Finalists: Finalists:
Adams, Nick – SPACED OUT  Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP  Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP
Alarid, John Cruz – SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL  Amoroso, Jayson L – NATHAN RILEY, THE BOY NEXT DOOR   Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL
Alarid, John Cruz – MIRACLE MAN  Anthony, Brian/Walker, Bill – ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1  Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS
Amatuzio, Nick – BLOOD RUNS DEEP  Avishai, Micael – THE LAND OF CHICKENS  DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN
Amoroso, Jayson L – NATHAN RILEY, THE BOY NEXT DOOR  Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL  Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT
Anthony, Brian/Walker, Bill – ABE LINCOLN: PUBLIC ENEMY NO. 1  Boon, Plissken  – OVERLORD  Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY
Avishai, Micael – THE LAND OF CHICKENS  Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS  Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES
Blackmon, William – THE HORSEMAN OF ZABUL  Case, G.R.  – 30 DAYS: VENGEANCE IS DUE  Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL
Boon, Plissken  – OVERLORD  Chang, Brandon Michael – MUTE  Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW
Buzzell, Stephanie N – HIGH CLASS  Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT  Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER
Case, G.R.  – 30 DAYS: VENGEANCE IS DUE Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY  Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS
Chang, Brandon Michael – MUTE  Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL  James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE
DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN COSTNER CAME TO DINNER Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW  Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA
Durbet, Laurie – VAMPIRES, THE CRAZY KILLERS Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER  Kirby, Tom – BABYLON
Engelbrecht, Domenica – DIE GOLDENE STADT Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS  Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION
Fridkin, Howard – THE DEVIL’S LARCENY  James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE  Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE
Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES Jarrett, Catherine – OUT OF SOMEWHERE  McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE
Gibson, Ben – LAST CALL Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION  Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE
Gill, Doris B – YESTERDAY, TODAY & TOMORROW Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA  Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES
Goroncy, Jean-Philippe – DIE KATZE ELEFANT AUF MEINER SCHULTER Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE  Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME
Habern, Daniel – JUGGERNAUT McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE  Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW
Hahn, R.W. – CRASH BACKWARDS Melkus, Timothy Charles – THE ROSE GODDESS  Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
James, Eugene A – LION’S SHARE Parke, Graham – BLIND SPOT   Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Jarrett, Catherine – OUT OF SOMEWHERE Parker, Phil – THE THIRD BOMB  Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Just, Raymond A – THE CRIMSON CONFESSION Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE   Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Kirby, Tom – BABYLON Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NICHTS ALS ROMANTIK   Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Klein, David – THE GIRLS OF SHARIA Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NESCAFÉ
Lagha, Hicham – RELATIVITÉ Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES
Longacre, Ian – GREY MATTERS Pedrozzi, Nicola – LOVEBAND
Lourenço, Christophe – MY SPACE LOVE Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME
McGee, Michael – MICHELANGELO MACHINE Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW
Meador, Jana – ROAD TO EARL  Ryback, Jeff – THE SNAKEMAN
Melkus, Timothy Charles – THE ROSE GODDESS  Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Nemeth, Rob – HARDLINERS  Steblecki, Alana – THE WITCH DOCTOR
Pallotta, Michael – REVEREND EZRA TOMBSTONE  Suraci, Philip – NOT YOUR PARENT’S PARADE
Parke, Graham – BLIND SPOT  Vance, Christopher – VIRTUAL LIFE
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – DIE FRAUEN VOM CAFÉ BLUE  Weinstock, Alex – THE COUNTDOWN – PILOT/SECOND EYELIDS
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NICHTS ALS ROMANTIK  Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Paul, Dr. Gudrun – NESCAFÉ  Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Pavlidou, Parthena – WHY ARE YOU DESTROYING MY LIFE?  Wood, Sharen – SIGNS, SONGS & OPTIMISM
Parker, Phil – THE THIRD BOMB  DeVoe, Bill – IT HAPPENED THE NIGHT KEVIN
Pearson, Clint – SHINE YOUR EYES  Gamble, Patrick J/Gamble, Patrick K – CHIPPIES
Pedrozzi, Nicola – LOVEBAND  Kirby, Tom – BABYLON
Rau, Micha – DIE GALERIE DER TRÄUME  Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
Redpath, Alan P – SHADOW OF A SHADOW  Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Russel, Jeffrey Allen/Lemberg, Lynda – GRACE
Ryback, Jeff – THE SNAKEMAN
Schwartz, Andrew L – THE CHIEF OF NATIONS
Seliski, Lawrence – CROSSING THE LINE
Steblecki, Alana – THE WITCH DOCTOR
Steefel, C.K. – MOM OF THE YEAR
Suraci, Philip – NOT YOUR PARENT’S PARADE
Sutliff, Jamie – ANTIDOTE MAN
Tenenbaum, David – THE FAMILY NAME
Vance, Christopher – VIRTUAL LIFE
Weinstock, Alex – THE COUNTDOWN – PILOT/SECOND EYELIDS
Weissman, Rom – A MAN’S GOTTA DO
Whelan, Jeyn – SMILE (PART ONE)
Whelan, Jeyn – SMILE (PART TWO)
Wolff, Paul S. – REISE IN DIE VERGEBUNG
Wood, Sharen – SIGNS, SONGS & OPTIMISM
Yaroch, Eddie – A GHOST STORY OF CHRISTMAS

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