Comedy writers and sketch actors on Sunday, April 1st

This Sunday our feature speakers are Find the Funny screenplay contest organizers Rosa and Bill Graham. Both screenwriters, Rosa and Bill will talk about the difference that founding a comedy screenwriting contest has made for writers, and their own careers and projects in development. Plus, we have new sketches from Gabrielle Pantera and other comedy writers for our reading workshop. We're going to have a blast! Don't miss it!

Sunday, April 1st, 2007, 3pm to 6pm
Mingle starting at 2:30
Free with RSVP!
RSVP online at www.ScreenplayLab.com

Raleigh Studios
Enter at Van Ness Gate
5300 Melrose Avenue (across from Paramount)
Hollywood, California
Free parking available on the street
Parking on the lot, if available, costs $5

3-4pm WORKSHOP: Fresh Pages Workshop Reading with Actors. Each week ScreenplayLab workshops up to thirty fresh pages from a new comedy or upbeat drama with actors in front of a live audience. This week, sketch comedy pieces from Gabrielle Pantera and writer-performers in the ACME Sketch Comedy Writers Lab. Come ready to laugh! Some of these sketches will be in the Sketch Comedy Writers Lab Showcase at ACME Comedy Theatre on April 5th, but many are different.

4:15-6pm SPEAKERS: Rosa and Bill Graham of the Find the Funny, a screenwriting contest dedicated to discovering, rewarding and promoting new comedy talent. Rosa and Bill will talk about how to how to create a winning screenplay, what projects they have in development, and how they promote the winners of the Find the Funny screenwriting contest.

About ScreenplayLab...

From an industry group of more than 1,400 members, every Sunday about 40 screenwriters, actors and filmmakers get together in a fun casual atmosphere for ScreenplayLab's workshop and featured speaker presentation. What's special about our group is we're artists advancing out careers on a studio or network track working in comedy and upbeat drama. It costs nothing to join and most of our events are free. More than two dozen actors and writers have signed with an agent as a result of being referred through ScreenplayLab.

Musical Improv class at ComedySportz starting April 30th

Four-week musical intensive taught by Artistic Director James Thomas Bailey. Learn rhyming, counterpoint, harmony, confidence in singing, musical scenework. You don't need to be a skilled singer to sign up. In fact if you're a little afraid of it, that's even better! Monday evenings from April 30th to May 21st. $275 ($250 in advance). (323) 871-1193.

Creating a Comedy Show DVD on Macintosh on April 7th

Alex Borstein, the voice of Lois Griffin on FAMILY GUY and her husband director Jackson Douglas discuss how they created her one-woman comedy show DVD, DROP DEAD GORGEOUS IN A DOWN TO EARTH BOMBSHELL SORT OF WAY, entirely on a Mac. Apple Store at 3rd Street Promenade, Santa Monica, April 7 at 7pm. Free.

ACME Sketch Comedy Writers Lab Showcase on April 5th

ScreenplayLab's Gabrielle Pantera and works of other comedy writers in a sketch showcase. One night only! Acme Comedy Theater (135 N. La Brea). Thursday, April 5th at 8PM. $5.

THE WEST WING Executive Producer John Wells at WGA on April 4th

An evening of tribute to the creator of E.R. and THIRD WATCH, and executive producer of THE WEST WING and CHINA BEACH, among other hit TV shows, who last month received the WGA Paddy Chayefsky Laurel Award, the highest award given to a television writer. An audience Q&A and champagne & cocktail reception. Writers Guild Theater, 135 S. Doheny Dr. (s. of Wilshire Blvd.), Beverly Hills, Wednesday, April 4, 7:30pm. $20.

Published, Produced or On Their Way at Borders on March 31st

The monthly comedy salon hosted by Romie Angelich. This month's guests include DARK AT THE ROOTS Sara Thyre, comedian/writer EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS Ali LeRoi and Graham Elwood. Borders Books, 1360 Westwood Blvd., Los Angeles. March 31 at 7:30pm. Free. 310.475.3444

Dan Decker at the Writers Store on March 31st

ANATOMY OF A SCREENPLAY author Dan Decker to discuss and deconstruct films from a writer’s perspective. This month's films are '300' and SHOOTER. Beat sheets on the movies are provided. Will open your eyes to the hidden structures in scripts. The Writers Store, 2040 Westwood Blvd., Saturday, March 31, 11am-1pm. Free.

WGA Animation Writers Caucus Schmooze on March 28th

Producer of the BET network adult animated series WARGOD, Dwayne McDuffie is guest speaker. He also writes the monthly FANTASTIC FOUR, AVENGERS CLASSIC and FIRESTORM comic books. A great opportunity for animation writers to network with their peers and meet industry professionals working in the genre. Hamburger Hamlet, 9201 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. March 28th at 7pm. Free.

Speaker Change for March 25th!

CHANGE OF PLANS!

The manager scheduled will not be appearing this Sunday due to circumstances beyond our control. We hope to reschedule him to speak next month.

If you've already RSVPed but won't be coming tomorrow please send me a note to let me know. The substitute main speaker will be me, Robin Rowe. As previously announced, I'm leading the workshop too.

Sunday, March 25th, 2007, 3pm to 6pm
Mingle starting at 2:30
Free with RSVP!
Go to www.ScreenplayLab.com to sign up

Robin Rowe speaking at ScreenplayLab March 25th...

4:15pm-5:30pm: Screenwriter Robin Rowe [IMDB] will reveal how he's done what sounds impossible, get a major studio to ask for a treatment from him as an unknown writer, sign with an agent before he'd finished writing his first feature screenplay, and then get that script read at major production companies by cold-calling execs (and with vital but limited assistance from his agent). How to nurture and motivate your agent. How to write screenplays that agents, studios and networks want to read.

Robin Rowe writes as a journalist for the Motion Picture Editors Guild Magazine and for High Definition magazine in the UK. He's an executive producer at the fledgling Comic Strip Network. He was a studio technologist at DreamWorks Animation and a technical director of news at a mid-market NBC-TV station.

Pitch and Story Clinic - Workshop with Robin Rowe

3pm-4pm: Bring in your pitch or story idea to practice pitching in front of a live audience. Robin will find something to like and give suggestions for improvement. Robin's approach of Teaser, Genre, Archetypes not Stereotypes, Hero, Inciting Incident, and Quest can help you develop your story ideas into cinematic pitches faster and better. Due to time constraints, not everyone will get to pitch. There will be writers, actors and filmmakers in the audience. If you volunteer to pitch it's your responsibility to have whatever safeguards you need (e.g., copyright or WGA registration) to feel comfortable discussing your ideas in public.

Raleigh Studios
Enter at Van Ness Gate
5300 Melrose Avenue (across from Paramount)
Hollywood, California
Free parking available on the street
Parking on the lot, if available, costs $5

CAA co-chair Rick Nicita at Women in Film on March 28th

CAA has been described as "an unstoppable juggernaut", a top Beverly Hills talent agency. Rick Nicita has been recognized as one of the most influential people in Hollywood by Premiere Magazine and Entertainment Weekly. He helped pioneer the strategy of actor-based properties and production companies. His clients include top actors such as Tom Cruise and top directors such as Garry Marshall. Wednesday, March 28, 2007, 6pm-8pm, at McCormick and Schmick’s, Two Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills. Parking is valet located under Two Rodeo (enter on Dayton Way). $20. RSVP: 310.657.5144. Limited seating.

Comic Book and Graphic Novel Writers Group on March 27th

Guest speaker is Michael Lent, author of the Marvel comic, PREY: ORIGIN OF THE SPECIES. He also wrote BREAKFAST WITH SHARKS: A SCREENWRITERS GUIDE. Graphic artists welcome. Led by Jim Shea who's adapting a screenplay to comics as a route to film production. Meets 4th Tuesday of the month. Free, but you buy your own dinner or desert. March 27th at 7pm at Paty's Restaurant, 10001 Riverside Dr. (west of Pass Ave.), Toluca Lake, CA, 818-761-0041.

ACME Comedy Theatre free class March 27th

Are you funny? Do you want to be? You don't have to dread getting the studio note of "more funny". You can learn to be more funny at ACME Comedy Theatre, one of the top comedy venues in Hollywood. ACME is known for it's upbeat and kind teaching style. ScreenplayLab's Gabrielle Pantera is having a blast in their Sketch Writing course. That course is open to both writers and writer-performers. Their stand-up and improv courses are for writer-performers. Take a free class on Tuesday, March 27th at 5:30pm. 10-week courses cost $325-$475. In the mood to watch live comedy? Most shows at ACME cost $12. Beautiful 99-seat theater. ACME Comedy Theatre, 135 N La Brea Ave., Los Angeles, CA, 323-525-0202. www.acmecomedy.com

Chad Kultgen book signing March 20th

Hi. My friend Chad Kultgen gave a fascinating presentation at ScreenplayLab in August about his experiences as a new screenwriter selling network shows to VH-1 and FX and selling his first novel. His book is now out!

Chad Kultgen presents and will be signing his novel AVERAGE AMERICAN MALE. Published by Harper Perennial, Chad's book currently ranks #559 in Amazon top sellers. Hear Chad speak on March 20th at 7pm at Book Soup, 8818 Sunset Blvd., W. Hollywood. 310.659.3110. Free. Limited free parking in the small lot behind the store via Nellas St.

Josh Kilmer-Purcell of the New York Times says, "It’s so primal, so dangerous, it might be the most ingenious book I’ve ever read." A review at Amazon.com says, "Giving us unabashed insight into the mind of an everyday male's thoughts, the narrator focuses on sex as much as you do, I do, and we all do - but isn't afraid to lay it out for us all to witness. I identified with it, was moved by it, and was refreshed by its candor. I'm curious to read the (upcoming) Average American Female. Brilliant."

AVERAGE AMERICAN MALE
ISBN: 0061231673
Price: $13.95
Paperback: 256 pages

Harper Collins
http://www.booksoup.com/author-events.asp

Unfortunately, I'll miss this event because I'll be flying back from a meeting at DreamWorks Animation in Redwood City. If you make it to Book Soup please drop me a note to let me know what I missed.

Cartoon Overlord opening Sunday at ACME

My friend Joseph Limbaugh is the lead in the 'Cartoon Overlord', a new comedy improv show at ACME Comedy Theatre opening for a 2-month run this Sunday, March 18th. You don't want to miss this premiere!

'Cartoon Overlord' has a stellar cast of actor-comedians who've appeared on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', 'Curb your Enthusiasm', 'That '70s Show', 'Scrubs' and many other shows and movies. Live on stage at the beautiful 99-seat ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. Sunday, March 18th, 8pm. Tickets $12. Or, $10 if you bring your own cartoon artwork beforehand. Box office (323) 525-0202.

For more info see my blog at Comic Strip Network, the Cartoon Overlord or ACME Comedy Theatre websites:

http://comicstripnetwork.blogspot.com
http://www.CartoonOverlord.com
http://www.acmecomedy.com

Producer Karen Spiegel speaking Sunday, March 18th

We're excited to have producer Karen Spiegel speaking next Sunday. She's best known for 'Absolute Power' starring Clint Eastwood and 'The Initiation of Sarah'. Don't miss!

Producer Karen Spiegel on producing. Karen produced 'The Initiation of Sarah' and 'Hello Sister, Goodbye Life' for ABC Family. She produced 'Absolute Power' starring Clint Eastwood. Karen will describe her experiences and thoughts on producing, then we'll open the dialog to questions from the audience. Also, fresh pages workshop reading with actors. At the First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, conference room, 9025 Cynthia Street (south of Sunset on Doheny), West Hollywood. Free with RSVP.

Iran and America Make Music

My neighbor Rich Linnell, the promoter for The Doors, has a special event coming up. Don't miss hearing Doors drummer John Densmore with Persian musician Reza Derakshani. On March 9th in Orange County. On March 10th in Los Angeles. $25-$65.

Iran and America Make Music (and Dance) on March 9th and 10th...

"IRAN AND AMERICA MAKE MUSIC" MELDING EAST-WEST SOUNDS WITH LEGENDARY ROCK-JAZZ & PERSIAN PERFORMERS.

http://www.levantinecenter.org/pages/iran_america.html

Legendary drummer and founding member of the Doors, John Densmore has co-created a new sound that fuses the exotic music of Iran with western instrumentation, performing with master musician Reza Derakshani (vocals, tar, setar, kamancheh and ney). Haunting and spiritual, driving and hypnotic, they are premiering their music in Southern California on March 9 and 10, with "Iran and America Make Music" shows at the OC Pavilion and the Wilshire Ebell Theatre.

The line-up includes the Brazilian-trained Armenian/Italian world percussionist Cristina Berio and Cuban bass player Carlitos Del Puerto, with American Dennis Hamm on keyboards. "We've got a global village going here," says Densmore, who created the world jazz ensemble Tribal Jazz. He also cofounded the group The Reluctant Gurus, which will open the Los Angeles concert featuring Jordanian oud master/percussionist Hani Naser and vocalist Donna Delory, who regularly tours with Madonna.

"This is a beautiful hybrid between two countries that are turning more and more bellicose," says Densmore. "We're not politicians, but I wanted Americans to see the face and hear the sounds of the Iranian people...The Iranian leadership recently banned western music, and here we are making music that combines classic Persian sounds with jazz, folk and rock."

Dancing in public has been banned in Iran since the mullahs took over the student-led revolution in 1979, which is one reason why the March 9 and 10 "Iran and America Make Music" concerts will open with contemporary and mystical Persian dance from the Ney Nava Dance Theatre. The artistic director and choreographer of Ney Nava, Shida Pegahi, has been an outspoken advocate for artistic freedom since she arrived in Los Angeles in the 1980s. The master of ceremonies is Peter Shahriari, the stand-up comedian who stars in The Sultans of Satire comedy series; with degrees in political science and law from UCLA, Shahriari is perfectly suited to host the shows with his unique brand of humor, sending up the stereotypes Americans hold about Iran—and those Iranians may harbor about Americans.

"Iran and America" is coproduced by Levantine Cultural Center, Los Angeles' pan-cultural center for contemporary arts of the Middle East, and produced by veteran Doors promoter Richard Linnell. It is cosponsored in Los Angeles by Namak Magazine and in Orange County by OCPC Magazine.

"Iran and America Make Music: The Reza Derakshani-John Densmore Group," Fri., March 9, 8 pm, OC Pavilion, 801 N. Main St. Santa Ana 92701; Sat., March 10, Wilshire Ebell Theatre, 7:30 pm, 4401 W. 8th St., Los Angeles 90005. Tix $25-$65, available online at ticketweb.com, or call 866.468.3399, or online at levantinecenter.org or call 310.559.5544.

Behind the Scenes of '300'

My friend Chris Watts (http://bake.org) is presenting. Don't miss it!

Behind the Scenes of '300' on March 8th at 7pm...

Join director/cowriter Zack Snyder, visual effects supervisor Chris Watts, and director of photography Larry Fong at the Apple Store for a behind-the-scenes look at the making of 300, a ferocious retelling of the ancient Battle of Thermopylae. Learn how the Mac, Final Cut Pro, and Shake helped bring Frank Miller’s acclaimed graphic novel to life by combining live action with virtual backgrounds. March 8, 7pm. At the Apple Store, 1248 Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica. 310-576-1011. Free.

Good in a Room workshops

Free event hosted today by ScreenplayLab speaker Stephanie Palmer, a trainer and former MGM exec. Also, info on pitch workshop and finding representation classes she has coming up.

Good in a Room: "A primer on meeting structure" on March 3rd...

Learn more about how to get in the room and what to do when you get there. With extended Q & A. March 3, from 2-4pm. At 10845 Lindbrook Drive, Suite 200, Los Angeles (near UCLA). Free. 310.481.3987

Good in a Room: "The Pitch, a Weekend Workshop" on March 17-18...

A weekend intensive to build your capabilities and confidence communicating your ideas quickly and effectively in high stakes, high-pressure situations. Special Guest and Co-Leader: Producer Peggy Rajski (Bee Season, Home for the Holidays, Little Man Tate, The Grifters). March 17 from 9:30-5:00pm. March 18 from 9:30-1:30pm. Culver City. Limited to eight people. $750.

www.goodinaroom.com/thepitch.html

starting March 26th, Good in a Room: "Finding Representation: Class Series" A three-evening series about how to meet, impress, and get signed by agents and managers. March 26, April 2 and April 9 from 7:00-9:30pm. Westwood. Limited to ten people. $450.

Cheers,

Robin

Last call to see Lew Hunter on Sunday

You don't want to miss this one!

Lew Hunter at ScreenplayLab on March 4th...

'Screenwriting 434' author Lew Hunter on screenwriting. Despite living in a small town in Nebraska, Lew is Chairman Emeritus of the screenwriting department at UCLA. Steven Spielberg has described Lew as "the best screenwriting teacher going". Lew will describe his background and thoughts on screenwriting, then we'll open the dialog to questions from the audience. But first, an actors workshop reading of 25 pages from the new comedy musical screenplay 'Fire Bear'. Think Smokey the Bear meets 'West Side Story'.

NEW LOCATION THIS WEEK. At The First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, 9025 Cynthia Street (south of Sunset on Doheny), West Hollywood. March 4th, 3pm to 6pm. Mingle starting at 2:30. Free. RSVP at http://screenplaylab.com to get on the guest list.

By the way, Lew Hunter will be at the reading too. Thanks, Lew!

One thing that really sets apart ScreenplayLab is the openness and friendliness of all the people involved. Very different from what many expect in Hollywood. And, we're hands-on. The questions for the speaker are asked by members of the audience, not some moderator. The speakers give their time, the theaters give their space, actors give their time for the workshop reading, and the audience brings a lot by asking good questions to the speaker and making good suggestions for elevating pages read in the workshop.

ScreenplayLab can be exhausting for me, because we run it without funding and on top of all our other work. But, I don't get too tired because it's a joy to get together with such great people. The audience is a key ingredient in what ScreenplayLab accomplishes. I appreciate the kindness and generosity everyone has shown me. It makes ScreenplayLab possible.

Thank you!

Robin