The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, February 08, 2006, Image 10
Author gives tips for turning your book into a screenplay
Her advice: 'Face the Fears and Take the Risks
Kelly Haratnis
CHICAGO TRIBUNE
Even though we are noi
movie moguls, reader Caryr
Amster as^ked us how tc
turn a book (such as hei
“The Pied Piper of South
Shore, Toys and Tragedy ir
Chicago”) into a film.
And so we turned tc
Sara Caldwell, co-authoi
of “So You Want to Be
a Screenwriter: How tc
Face the Fears and Take
the Risks,” who offered
these tips over the phone
from Los Angeles for all us
would-be Woody Allens.
Turn it into a script.
“Collaborate with a
screenwriter who is
experienced . . . write a
script and submit it as a
screenplay,” said Caldwell,
a freelance producer
and 'writer for Amphion
. Productions.
Tempting as it is to pen
a love story about two gay
cowboys on a mountain,
Caldwell said to avoid
what’s hot in Hollywood.
“The idea is not to write for
the trends . . . write because
you’re passionate about the
subject,” she explained.
Once you have your
future blockbuster, Caldwell
suggested starting with
the Hollywood Creative
Directory (Hcdonline.com),
which includes a resource
guide, job board, e-mail lists
and entertainment industry
directories.
You’ve got the names;
now ink the deal — by
sending out a query letter.
“These days it’s all done by
e-mail,” Caldwell said. But
“don’t send attachments.”
And don’t forget the
log line: “one sentence
that describes a movie (or
project).” Like all future
Oscar winners, you’ll need to
include a detailed paragraph
about the project, as well
as noting your writing
experience, published books
or any relevant awards.
If you don’t get any bites,
don’t shred the manuscript.
Instead, Caldwell
recommended:
— Screenwriting festivals.
“They are good to get
recognition,” giving you
access to “judges who work
in the industry.”
— Contests. Why not try
the 2006 Illinois/Chicago
Screenwriting Competition,
accepting submissions
through April 17? For
rules, see (www.illinoisbiz.
biz/dceo/Bureaus/Film/
ScreenwritingContest/).
— Networking.
“Screenwriting groups (are a
great way) to meet someone
who might have contacts
and experience.”
— Agents.' “Many
(studios) won’t accept scripts
without an agent.” She
added: “There are agents in
other parts of the country
(aside from Los Angeles).
It’s better to have an agent
in L.A. who has more day
to-day contact and who
knows people.”
— Even with your
BlackBerry-toting, Armani
suit-wearing power agent,
Caldwell said that no one
can market you as well as,
well, you. So get out there
and wow the movie-going
public, and . . . make sure to
thank us during your Oscar
acceptance speech.
PLHV • COnTinueD PR0fT19
University in Chicago, he
began acting, professionally
and continued to do so for
10 years. He then decided
to take up directing and is
now a third-year M.F.A.
directing student at USC.
He teaches two courses
at the university, but his
primary purpose is to
direct plays. “Buried Child”
will be his last play at the
Longstreet Theatre.
His father, Walter, is a
professor of English at the
University of Ohio. He has
a Ph.D. in English and has
been acting on and off since
he was 35.
He has acted in such
plays as “Cat on a Hot Tin
Roof,” “Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern are Dead”
and “The Odd Couple.”
He is also an author, having
written seven books with
two more on the way.
After this production,
Walter plans to retire from
theater. Stephen’s career,
however, is just beginning.
He works extensively with
the Shakespeare Theatre of
New Jersey and is interested
in getting into the drama
scene in New York, but
neither of these are his
ultimate goal.
“I want to teach,” Stephen
said. “I want to educate and
inspire other people.”
“Buried Child” will
premiere at the Longstreet
Theatre on Feb. 17 and run
through Feb. 26, with most
shows starting at 8 p.m.
The play runs around two
hours and 45 minutes, and
the cost of admission is $10
for students and $14 for the
general public..
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockfeatures @gwm. sc. edu
hello • connnuED PRom g
“I would buy a pool full of
Jello and take my friends
on a whirlwind trip to
Europe.”
WHAT WOULD YOU DO FOR A
KLONDIKE BAR?
....- -•••
“I would throw Jaren into a
pool full of pufferfish.”
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR
SPRING BREAK?
“Hot tub extravaganza in
Jeffersonville, Indiana. I
hope it’s as wild as last
year’s.”
WHAT’S YOUR FAVORITE
QUOTE?
“ ‘The most wasted of all
days is one without laughter.’
— e. e. cummings”
WHAT DO YOU WANT
EVERYONE WHO IS READING
THIS TO KNOW ABOUT YOU?
“It was my birthday
yesterday. For those
of you not on the gift
registry, you can contact
me via Facebook.”
— Jaren Hayes
mi • conTinueD PRom 9
have applied henna tattoos
in the past.
Henna kits can be found
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beauty salons, bookstore
cafes, head shops, tattoo
parlors, art festivals and
trade shows. According
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essential ingredients to mix
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Another type of ink
called “black henna” can
be found on the market.
However, a public
service announcement
on Earthhenna.com says
“black henna is nothing
more than natural henna
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to it.” The announcement
goes on to say that black
henna “should not be
used on the skin” and that
9
it can cause open sores,
blistering, life lasting scars,
and possible lifelong health
problems if applied to the
skin.
Henna kits come with
either henna powder or
with ready-made paste. If
you buy a kit that comes
with powder you must mix
it with water, strong tea
or lemon juice, and then
oil in most cases. Then
sugar can be added to get
a more muddy consistency.
The mixture must then sit
at room temperature for
at least 24 hours. Once
applied to the body with a
plastic cone or paintbrush,
the paste can be covered
with medical tape, plastic
or tissue, which is worn
overnight to produce a
more vibrant reddish
brown color.
The henna tattoo will
last anywhere from a week
to over a month depending
on the quality of the paste.
Comments on this story? E-mail
gamecockfeatures@gwm.sc. edu
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to remove medians on Blossom Street to add turning
lanes into the Village and Coliseum Parking Lots.
3. Secured funding for the purchase of two new shuttles to
transport students on campus.
4. Placed security cameras in the Blossom Street Garage, which
is characteristically dark, and has one of the campus’s highest
crime rates.
the environment by
campus, sponsoring
encouraging the university to establish
a campus bike rented program.
6. Created the Congressional Advisory Board as an avenue for
students to address their concerns to members of Congress,
such as student loans, expensive textbook prices, etc.
7. Implemented the first-ever Carolina Convoy trip to take
students to an away football game.
8. Co-Sponsored a bus trip that transported 106 students to
Biloxi during their Fall Break to assist with Katrina Relief efforts.
9. Improved communication with the students through a new
Blackboard site, Student Government Television, publications,
and an Open Door policy giving student full access to the officers.
10. Lobbied for the elimination of the 16 Hr. credit limit and the
implementation of a grade forgiveness program, to give students
a second chance to improve course grades.
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