David E. Kelly executive on July 22nd

Our speaker this Sunday is David E. Kelley development executive Neely Swanson. If you're interested in writing for shows like BOSTON LEGAL this is your opportunity to ask how to do it. No surprise, this event is already close to being full. So, don't wait! FREE. Details below.

Thank you National Lampoon and Barry Layne...

National Lampoon development executive Barry Layne gave an awesome presentation last Sunday. Thank you Barry! National Lampoon is developing $3M comedy features and also a comedy television series. Barry was extremely generous to extend to writers in the room an opportunity to join their "baby writers" mentoring program. If you weren't there, you missed it.

Kudos to our three pitch clinic participants last Sunday...

* Joey D'Auria: THE GRAYS OF ROSWELL animated comedy TV series
* Sandra Milliner: Pitching herself as an actor-director
* Karen Knotts: BUT WE OPEN TONIGHT stage play

Participants in our ScreenplayLab pitch clinic test their pitches in front of a live audience. I moderate, and everyone gives suggestions. Our pitch participants not only discover ways to improve their pitches but help all of us understand the pitch process better. We schedule pitch clinics on the third Sunday of the month, instead of a reading.

David E. Kelley Executive Neely Swanson on July 22nd...

ScreenplayLab presents David E. Kelley Productions SVP Development Neely Swanson [IMDB]. Neely Swanson has worked on BOSTON LEGAL, THE PRACTICE, BOSTON PUBLIC and ALLY McBEAL. Neely got her start in entertainment as an assistant in Business Affairs at 20th Century Fox Television. She made the move to David E. Kelley Productions when her boss, Pamela Wisne, became its Executive Vice President. After rising to VP of Business Affairs, Neely made the transition to development where she targets writers for their shows and projects, both feature and television. Our ScreenplayLab workshop will be a reading by actors of 30 pages from the martial arts comedy feature BOOK OF Z by Robin Rowe. Raleigh Studios, 5300 Melrose Avenue, Hollywood, Sunday, July 22th, 2007, 3pm to 6pm. Networking at 2:30pm. Free with RSVP online at www.ScreenplayLab.com (not by email).

Janice Kennedy finalist in Moondance and River City...

Congratulations Janice! Comedy screenplay MARTIAL ARTISTE, co-written with Susan diRende, was named one of five finalists in the River City Write Off screenwriting competition. And, her one-woman drama about Mary Shelley, SHADOWS ROUND THE MOON, is one of six finalists in the stage play division of the Moondance International Film Festival.

Sharon Shipley advances to quarter-finals in PAGE Awards...

Congratulations Sharon! From 3,411 entries in the 2007 PAGE International Screenwriting Awards competition, Sharon Shipley's script has advanced to the quarter-finals.

Comedy Central Stage joins ScreenplayLab...

ScreenplayLab is possible thanks to the generosity of our host theaters. We couldn't offer free Hollywood events without their help. Thank you Comedy Central Stage! ScreenplayLab's first event in this 99-seat space will be with producer Jon Brown on Wednesday, August 15th.

The Comedy Central Stage is a cool theater space for comedians, actors and writers at all professional levels to develop ideas, while also giving them the chance to hone and polish their material in front of a live audience. Located in the heart of Hollywood, this alternative space allows Comedy Central to discover and nurture tomorrow’s stars, as well giving today’s stars a place to play. The goal? To be the next big thing on Comedy Central!

http://www.comedycentral.com/comedians/ccstage/

WGA Strike coming on October 31st?

Time to sell your script! Studios and networks are reportedly stockpiling enough scripts to last a year in anticipation of what many see as an inevitable and long WGA strike over DVD royalties. Some TV writers are being promoted to producer (management) where they're beyond the reach of unions. WGA recently succeeded in organizing four of the top Comedy Central TV series, but stumbled badly in it's efforts to organize reality TV. Last year's unsuccessful WGA strike against CW's AMERICA'S TOP MODEL cost those reality writers their jobs and scared away other reality writers. It didn't help that the IATSE Motion Picture Editors Guild, that covers editors and readers, considers reality writers their turf. Perhaps more chaos, SAG could strike when their contract expires on June 30th.

WHO'S YOUR CADDY screening on Saturday on July 21...

We've only got 50 passes for this and have given out most of them. MGM and Dimension Films present the hilarious, fish-out-of-water comedy about superstar rap mogul, C-Note (Big Boi), who runs into fierce opposition when he tries to join the super stuffy Carolina Pines Golf & Country Club. Starring Big Boi (ATL, Idlewild), Jeffrey Jones (Dead Wood, Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Susan Ward (Shallow Hal), Sherri Shepherd (Beauty Shop). Saturday, July 21, 7pm, Culver City. FREE. Follow this link for instructions:

http://screenplaylab.com/2007/rsvp.caddy.2007.html

ScreenplayLab Mixer on July 30th in Beverly Hills...

Time to network! Mingle with working screenwriters, actors and filmmakers. Need help on your next project? Need an agent? Need a mentor? Need a job? In Hollywood it all comes down to networking. If we sit at home we might as well be back in Kansas, right? You buy your own drinks and food (inexpensive). By ScreenplayLab special request, there will be margaritas! Sharky's Mexican Grill, 435 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills. Park in the city garage across the street by Crate & Barrel for $2. July 30, 6pm-9pm and maybe later. Please note in the RSVP if you have to come late. FREE with RSVP at www.screenplaylab.com (not by email).

What's ScreenplayLab?

We're a group of upbeat working artists. ScreenplayLab is more than 1,700 screenwriters, actors, and filmmakers. Our mission is to nurture artists on a studio or network track creating upbeat commercial films and television. Each week we have fabulous industry speakers, workshops, and networking. It costs nothing to join and our events are mostly free. To join send an email to info@screenplaylab.com with the subject 'subscribe'. To enter a script for evaluation and possibly be read by actors in our workshop series costs $39.

Love you guys!