Volume 5, Number 2
February 10, 2005

1. 6TH ANNUAL BIG BREAK! SCREENWRITING CONTEST

The 6th annual Big Break! International Screenwriting Contest will be accepting submissions from February 15 to June 15, 2005. Big Break! is an annual, global screenwriting competition designed to promote emerging creative talent.The grand-prize winner is awarded $10,000 and meetings with industry professionals. Many past Big Break! winning scripts have been produced or optioned.

The top ten finalists will receive a copy of Final Draft scriptwriting software, a screenwriting course from Gotham Writers’ Workshop, one-year subscriptions to Fade In and scr(i)pt magazines and a gift certificate from The Writers Store.

"We are thrilled to create inroads into a challenging industry, and look forward to paving the way for the next generation of screenwriters."
-Liz Alani, Contest Director

For more information about the contest, go to: www.bigbreakcontest.com

2. 33 WAYS TO BREAK INTO HOLLYWOOD

Brought to you by ScriptForSale.com and Final Draft, Inc., 33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood, is a FREE program that will help you sell your script.  33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood includes the following how-to strategies:

• Get agents and producers to read your material
• Power network
• Get in through back doors
• Take charge of your career promotion
• Build your reputation with producers
• Seize the opportunities that others miss

33 Ways to Break Into Hollywood will boost your confidence, increase your opportunities and help you acquire the staying power necessary to make it in the film business.

Still stuck searching for ways to get your foot in the door? No need to be stuck any longer, go to:
www.scriptforsale.com/33ways/signup33.htm to receive your FREE program download.

3. WRITERS' RESOURCES

Directing Commercials Seminar and DVD

Breaking into the lucrative field of Commercial Directing can be a daunting task. Craig Worsham’s 2-day seminar teaches everything you need to know about creating fantastic commercials that will have advertisers begging for more. From your spec reel and preproduction to contracts and pitching, this will transform you from a complete novice to a well informed professional ready to tackle the market.

Worsham, an established commercial director, provides insightful commentary on several spec reels that will help you understand why a commercial fails or succeeds.

Seminar topics include: The process of getting in, your spec reel, creating spec spots, specializing, your concept, producing your spec spots, signing on with a production company, getting the boards, getting the job, the director’s treatment, gaining representation, breaking down 3 spots, and much, much more.

Commercials are just short films about a product, and directing them can be a wonderfully fulfilling career. If you have ever considered becoming a commercial director, this is the seminar that you cannot afford to miss.

Next Directing Commercials Seminar:
February 26 & 27
Universal Studios, Hollywood

*Also available on DVD with all the handouts included.

For more information call 310-356-6009 or go to: www.directingcommercials.com

Gotham Writers' Workshop

Learn How to Sell Your Screenplay:
Industry insider Laurie Scheer teaches techniques for finding success in selling your screenplay. This four-week, online seminar begins February 9th. To learn more visit: www.writingclasses.com

Acclaimed Online Screenwriting Workshops:
The professional screenwriters of New York's renowned Gotham Writers' Workshop offer comprehensive 10-week classes in basic and advanced screenwriting beginning February 15th. Registered Final Draft users save $50 off the full tuition of your first 10-week workshop. Mention promotion code FD50 when registering to receive the discount. To learn more visit:
www.writingclasses.com

Spec Script Marketplace™ PITCH SESSION – February 17th

"I tried every pitch session in town, and Spec Script Marketplace is simply the best. Thanks to them, I have one film scheduled to shoot August 14, and a second on August 28."
- Joel Eisenberg, Screenwriter

Screenwriters gathering in Los Angeles for the opening of the 2005 Pitch Festival on February 19th and 20th can now maximize their time in Hollywood by attending the Spec Script Marketplace Pitch Session on Thursday, February 17th.

Hollywood’s most intimate and respected pitch session offers screenwriters the opportunity to sell their scripts to producers and agents from leading companies seeking new material and writers. Spec Script Marketplace™ prides themselves on always offering new and different producers at each Pitch Session.

Spec Script Marketplace™ PITCH SESSION:
Thursday, February 17th, 6pm – 9:30pm at The Biz, 1223 Olympic Blvd. Santa Monica, CA
(Between 12th & 13th streets, free parking on and off the street)
Cost: $119.00

Since 1998 Spec Script Marketplace™ has been putting writers in touch with producers and agents with solid results. For more information or to register call 877-801-9477 or go to: www.hollywoodbythebay.com. Reservations may also be mailed, along with a check or money order to: Hollywood by the Bay, P.O. Box 733, Belmont, CA 94002.

Spec Script Marketplace is a division of Hollywood by the Bay™. All rights reserved.

The Spec Market

Profile your project for the largest audience of entertainment professionals in the world. Baseline StudioSystem's Spec Market posting directory provides an exciting new arena to list your screenplay, novel or story.

Entertainment professionals can browse, search and locate available content, giving you the best possible opportunity to get your script in the hands of the real decision-makers.

To register go to: www.scriptshark.com/specmarket/index.cfm

The #1 Pitch Event - 2005
11th Annual FROM CONCEPT TO SALE Conference & Pitchfest
February 19th & 20th at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, Hollywood, CA

• Class sessions with this year's Oscar®-nominated filmmakers as your instructors;
• Over 70 A-list companies, studios and agencies to pitch to/meet with - including HBO, New Line Cinema, Warner Bros, Paramount Pictures and more;
• Agency submissions (submit the first 30 pages of one script to each agent and manager, including William Morris, UTA, ICM, Leverage and Endeavor).

Fade In conferences are limited to 175 attendees. Call 800-646-3896 or go to: www.fadeinonline.com/Contests/concept_to_sale.htm

Writers University: The Right Course

Writers University offers the quickest and most effective way to success with courses that will get you on the right course, right away.

Writers University courses will interest and excite you as you tap into the creative minds of professional screenwriters, novelists and journalists. Equipped with the tools you need to be one step ahead of your competition, you will gain the professional insight needed to understand the business of writing and to build your confidence as a writer.

Get on the right course for your writing right now.  Go to: www.writersuniversity.com

4. ON THE ROAD

Come see demonstrations of Final Draft and Final Draft AV and have your questions answered by our representatives.

5. CUSTOMER SUPPORT

The current version of Final Draft 7 is 7.0.0.54
The current version of Final Draft AV2 is 2.0.5

Please log on to this web page for Final Draft 7 current version information:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

To determine which version of Final Draft 7 you have, go to Help/Customer Support. If you do not have the current version you should download and install the free update. To download the update, go to:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

Please note that you must have Final Draft 7 already installed to your hard drive to install the 7.0.0.54 update. The 7.0.0.54 update will not update Final Draft 6 or earlier.

The current version of Final Draft 6 is 6.0.6.0

To determine which version of Final Draft 6 you have, go to Help/Technical Support. If you do not have the current version you should download, then install, the free update. To download the update, go to:
www.finaldraft.com/support/downloads.php4

Please note that you must have Final Draft 6 already installed to your hard drive to install the 6.0.6.0 update. The 6.0.6.0 update will not update Final Draft 7, Final Draft 5 or earlier.

Tech Tip

What is the difference between Backup under the File Menu and AutoBackup?
Backup under the file menu allows you to manually save a backup with the date in the title name to another location, like a floppy disk or external drive, without affecting the location of the file on which you are working. Autobackup creates a backup automatically in the Final Draft Backup folder in My Documents (Windows) or Documents (Mac). This allows you to go back to a previously saved version if you need to get text that has been deleted from the current version of the script.

For more information on Final Draft features, refer to the Final Draft User Guide PDF document found in the Final Draft folder on your hard drive or visit our online Knowledge Base. To visit the Knowledge Base, go to:  www.finaldraft.com/support

6. CONTACT US

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