Home > Company > Newsletter Archive > October 1, 2008
 |
|||||||||||
 |
|
|
|||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Final Draft, Inc. is bringing it's Take A Meeting event to New York (Nov 7-8). This event offers unprecedented industry access, more professionalism and more time to build relationships, present your project, and get your screenwriting career rolling. For $79 you will receive 15 minutes of dedicated face time to introduce yourself and present your ideas in a relaxed environment as well as receive invaluable advice from your executive about how to best improve your concept and further develop your project. Plus, our step-by-step registration process enables you to customize your search and select the executive who would be the most receptive to your work. Execs from The Weinstein Company, Plum Pictures, Abrams Artists Agency, Michael Mailer Films, Salty Pictures, Ghost Robot, Straight Up Films, and PMA Literary are confirmed, with new execs being added every day. Included with your Take A Meeting purchase, take advantage of FREE on-site workshops and seminars from writer favorites and the Digital Film Academy. Also available, Pitch Coaching and Career Coaching from industry consultants and working screenwriters. The Take A Meeting New York event will take place November 7-8, 2008 at the Microsoft Facility, 1290 Avenue of the Americas (the AXA building, between 51st/52nd Street), 6th floor. We look forward to seeing you there! To register for your meeting, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/products-and-services/take-a-meeting PLUS, ScriptShark’s Out of the Computer/Into the Industry* pre-event seminar will take place on Friday, November 7, prior to the Take A Meeting event. *This event is presented by ScriptShark on Friday November 7th and requires paid registration separate from the Take A Meeting event. For more info and to register, Visit: www.scriptshark.com/seminar_NY.cfm |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| The Big Break contest finalists have been selected! These diverse screenplays were among the many well-crafted entries sent in from all over the globe. Kudos to these top-10 writers for making the cut! 2008 FINALISTS (listed in alphabetical order): |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| The top-ten finalists will be scored by a panel of notable industry judges: | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| The top-three winners will be announced on October 23, 2008 at the Final Draft, Inc. Annual Event. Our heartfelt thanks go to all the entrants who made the 2008 Big Break Contest a success. We applaud you for your artistic endeavors and are honored to bring recognition to promising screenwriters across the globe. To read about past Big Break contest finalists, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/company/hall-of-fame |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
 On an average, out of 100 screenplays submitted to producers, 99 of them are dumped. Our ScriptXpert coverage service is there to help you become the 1 out of 100 that isn’t. We offer professional coverage that simulates the real-life entertainment industry submission process. Our industry readers focus on helping screenwriters improve their scripts before taking them to market. Each submission is given an authentic, detailed report just like the coverage reports producers receive from their readers.You’ve finally finished that script! Now hurry up and submit it for your chance to qualify for the latest ScriptXpert service promo. For a limited time, Final Draft, Inc. is offering a $75* discount off any phone consultation option to the first 25 writers who submit their scripts for Basic or Extended Coverage through its ScriptXpert service. Enter code SXPC8 when you place your ScriptXpert service order. *phone consultation starts at $75 for one half-hour To learn more about our service packages and offerings, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/scriptxpert |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Screenwriting is neither an easy nor a quick process. One person that may know these facts to be truer than most, is Jeff York. Having been "a student of film" his whole life, York set out to study the screenwriting craft: reading books by Robert McKee, William Goldman, and subscribing to Script magazine. Eight months of studying, reading, outlining, and drafting later, York submitted his story to ScriptXpert, a Final Draft, Inc. coverage service. It's called Incurable: A young man dying of cancer falls in love with a beautiful woman who turns out to be a vampire and who, through their romance, offers him (literally) a second lease on life (or un-death, as the case may be). When York got the coverage back on that first draft of his first spec, he recalls thinking, "Wow, they picked the exact right reader for [this script]: someone who is not only a great reader of stories, but who knows the horror genre inside and out and can make some incredibly specific and terrifically informed recommendations … Even though there were criticisms, his coverage was inspiring." Jazzed and valorized, York took the reader's coverage to heart, and set about revising Incurable. Then, York submitted it to the ScriptXpert service again, and requested the same reader. After two more cycles of revising and submitting, York opted for a telephone conference with the reader for a live consultation. "I felt we had a rapport already," York says of the conference. "I could tell he knew so much about movies." Incurable's evolution in quality derived not just from York's talent, nor from the reader's constructive criticism, but from an inter-relationship between the two. For the reader, "The important thing is that you have to review the script the writer wrote, not the one you think the writer should have written. You have to understand genre and the writer's intentions." In his most recent revision, York skillfully incorporated all of the reader’s feedback and was able to earn a recommend, with a few minor suggestions for improvement. York is currently working on his final draft, which will be forwarded to management companies interested in stories like Incurable. Jeff York’s journey with the ScriptXpert service is one success story, but Final Draft, Inc. anticipates working with more screenwriters like Jeff who have a passion for screenplays and a desire to have their scripts refined and submitted to producers. To learn more, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/scriptxpert |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| While paper subscriptions of Script magazine will remain available, for those looking to decrease their ecological footprint an option to purchase and receive a Script magazine subscription electronically will soon be made available. The new digital version will offer subscribers multiple advantages over print such as an easy-to-use search option, a zoom-in feature allowing readers to see pages in greater detail, quick access to the table of contents, and much more. Advertisers will benefit as well with an online presence as part of their print advertising package (additional fees may apply). More details to come … For a sneak peek of what Script magazine will look like in digital format, Visit: viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=wqtfrs |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| There are many benefits to registering your software with Final Draft, Inc. For starters, if a registered user’s computer crashes, loses an activation or the user loses his or her customer number, the user can call Final Draft, Inc., speak to a representative and have his or her problems easily resolved. Additionally, registered users are the first to learn about new products and are offered discounts on new software version releases. Registered customers also have the option to sign up for our newsletters, but no worries, registration is handled separately from our marketing and promotions. If you do not 'opt in' to receive our newsletter, you will not receive unwarranted e-mails in your inbox. Registration also guarantees the following: |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| How to register: First you will need your customer number. It can be found under the help menu within the Final Draft program. Simply click Help>Customer Support. The customer number is also located on the CD sleeve if you’ve purchased the boxed product, and on your e-mailed receipt for the downloaded version. You can register your software in the following ways: Online: www.finaldraft.com/register Fax: (For box purchases only) Fax in your registration card to: (818) 995-4422 Phone: Call (818) 789-6281 Mail: (For box purchases only) Mail your registration card to:  Final Draft, Inc.26707 W. Agoura Rd. Suite 205 Calabasas, CA 91302 |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Final Draft, Inc. is Headed to Austin October 13-16, 2008 Final Draft is the exclusive screenwriting software sponsor of the 2008 Austin Film Festival. We will be exhibiting software on the second floor of the famous Driskill Hotel with our partner the Writers Store during the Writer’s Conference held prior to the festival on Oct. 16-18. On Saturday the 18th, we will be hosting a presentation with Frame Forge and Gorilla Software where we will demonstrate to filmmakers how Final Draft software works seamlessly with other applications, allowing the filmmakers to take their script to the screen. Feel free to come by and ask your questions. We’d love to see you and tell you what’s new and what’s upcoming. While in Austin, Final Draft, Inc. representatives will be meeting with the Austin Film Society and the Texas Film Commission to see how we can work together to further support storytelling through film in the Austin area. The Final Draft, Inc. Annual Corporate Party to be held October 23, 2008 Every fall, Final Draft, Inc. hosts an annual industry event for our partners and close friends to gather. During this event we also announce the Big Break contest winners and present the Hall of Fame award. Past Hall of Fame recipients have included Oliver Stone (2007), Syd Field (2006), and Sydney Pollack (2005). This year’s Hall of Fame award will go to Stephen J. Cannell (21 Jump Street, The A-Team, WiseGuy, The Rockford Files, Hunter ...) The Final Draft, Inc. Annual Party allows us to celebrate the writer and say thank you to all of our partners and friends who have supported our efforts throughout the year. We join together to award the top-three Big Break contest winners and the Hall of Fame award recipient. The event showcases our mission to support emerging talent and recognize entertainment industry luminaries who foster the art of screenwriting and nurture and inspire the creative process. |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| The Global Voices Initiative The glitter and glam of Hollywood often distort the representation of a true passion for screenwriting. That is why Final Draft, Inc. is devoted to equipping aspiring screenwriters who may write in obscurity, but have an unrelenting spirit for the art of movie-making. Final Draft, Inc. maintains a mutually beneficent relationship with these organizations through the donation of software as well as morally supporting them in their academic endeavors. |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Festivals Final Draft, Inc. supports a variety of film festivals that offer education, access and awards for the screenwriter. This fall, Final Draft, Inc. has supported the following: |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Both our On the Scene gallery and Writers On the Verge web pages are updated regularly to reflect recent highlights. To view Writers On the Verge, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/writers-resources/writers-on-the-verge.php To view On the Scene, Visit: www.finaldraft.com/company/on-the-scene |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Final Draft, Inc. on the Web Keep up to speed on new features, upgrades, special offers, and events on your favorite social network. Visit the following sites to request an add, view demos and videos from Final Draft software users, and network with other writers: |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| Script magazine on the Web If you want to know what's coming in the next issue of Script, have a comment about the current issue, or simply want to network with other Script readers, you can join us on the Web. Visit the following sites and request an add right now: |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
 |
|||||||||||
|
|||||||||||
| The following are messages from our sponsors: 2009 Slamdance Film Festival Call for Entries The 15th Annual Slamdance Film Festival will be held January 15-23, 2009. The Slamdance Film Festival is dedicated to new filmmakers. We accept films in every genre, on any topic from every country around the world. Our mission is to bring attention to the most talented emerging filmmakers, showcasing their work in the media frenzy of festival week in Park City, Utah. The early postmark deadline is August 25th and final deadlines for all 2009 film submissions is October 10th. Slamdance 2009 films will be selected by the festival programmers. All film selections will be posted on our website during the second week of December. See you in Park City! For more information, Visit: www.slamdance.com/festival/submissions.html CineStory CineStory is a non-profit educational association dedicated to providing new screenwriters with opportunities to work with committed industry professionals on a personal basis in order to raise the level of their craft and the marketability of their projects. CineStory strives to encourage the highest levels of screenwriting by: Instilling the basic principles of cinematic storytelling; fostering the individual writer's authentic vision and independent voice; providing deserving writers with alternative access to the screen; creating and maintaining an active community of promising writers and supportive, discerning film professionals. We are a family of volunteers and devoted workers, all writers, many of whom have supported CineStory since it began in 1995. For more information on our programs, Visit: www.cinestory.org Robert McKee's Story Seminar - The Ultimate Screenwriting Course For almost 20 years, Robert McKee has been teaching his 3-day STORY SEMINAR to sold-out audiences around the world. From L.A. to N.Y. to London, Paris, Sydney, Barcelona, Tel Aviv, Singapore, Toronto, Rome and 12 other film capitals around the world, more than 50,000 students have taken the intense course. McKee's former students have won 28 Oscars® and over 150 Emmys®, and have written such film and TV hits as WALL*E, Iron Man, The Simpsons Movie, Ratatouille, Grey's Anatomy, I Am Legend, The Incredible Hulk, Enchanted, CSI, The Daily Show, and more. McKee brings his 3-day Story Seminar to L.A. & N.Y. this September and October, as well has his 3-day Genre Weekend seminar to N.Y. in October. Genre Weekend is made up of three one-day seminars -- Comedy Day, Thriller Day, and the brand new Love Story Day. For more information, or to register, Visit: www.McKeeStory.com Aaron Mendelsohn Script Consulting Don't "fade in" to your screenwriting career...smash cut to it! Go beyond script analysis, get expert career consultation from a working Hollywood screenwriter. Aaron graduated from UCLA with a degree in Screenwriting in 1988. He has been working as a professional screenwriter in Hollywood for over 13 years. He made his feature film debut by co-writing the Disney family film Air Bud, which went on to become one of the most successful independently financed films of all time and has, to date, sired five sequels. Aaron's consulting services include script development from concept to final draft, expert script, character and scene analysis, and career guidance and strategic planning. Consulting services take place via phone or, for Los Angeles residents, in person. Rates are competitive and availability is limited. Mention Final Draft and receive a 20% discount! For more information, Visit: www.aaronmendelsohn.com Vancouver Film School Writing for Film & Television In Vancouver Film School’s one-year Writing for Film & Television program, you will learn the screenwriter’s role in the film industry by writing, workshopping, and collaborating on a variety of storytelling forms, including feature screenplays, short film scripts, episodic TV scripts and pilots, sketch comedy, documentaries, and your own produced short film. Through our many productions during the year, you’ll also learn to write to deadlines, to work alone and as part of a writing team, and to rewrite effectively. To ensure you’re truly prepared to begin your screenwriting career, we teach you how to pitch and market your work. You’ll graduate armed with a portfolio of writing and the knowledge of how to get it made. To learn more, Visit: www.vfs.com/screenwriter sevenEcho As entertainment content on the Internet progresses, the need for a service and management platform for interactive entertainment arises. Brands and their agencies can now offer their audiences personalized story and music based entertainment experiences online. sevenEcho provides the leading profile based personalized entertainment platform to brands and the online advertising and entertainment industries. Together, with various creative entities, we are developing forms that enhance the relationship between marketers and their customers through their story and music based experiences. Two new forms of interactive entertainment are currently emerging. They are the IMI™ (the Interactive Musical Intersode) and the Personal Intersode™. sevenEcho strives to be at the fore of developments which influence audience interactivity in entertainment. For more information, Visit: www.sevenecho.com |
|||||||||||
| top of page | |||||||||||
© 2008 Final Draft, Inc. |
|||||||||||
FREE technical support through our online knowledge database