Free Beverly Hills Mixer on August 10th

This week is the Producers Guild party, Hollywod Pitchfest, ITVFest, Shakespeare in the park, and more. The next ScreenPlayLab mixer is August 10th. See below for details on these and many more Hollywood industry events.

I had a blast at TCA this week, the twice-yearly event where networks promote their upcoming shows to television critics. "Everyday citizens have changed the course of history," says Matt Damon. "What can you do?" Matt Damon was talking about The People Speak, his new series with the History channel about citizens who've made political change through protest.

MTV The Buried Life is reality TV about four college boys who set out to fulfill their list of big goals at a young age and to also help strangers achieve their dreams. Joan Rivers says, "Nouveau rich is so dumb they will tell you how they made it," for her TV Land series How'd You Get So Rich? Michael Eisner showed off his Nick at Nite series Glenn Martin DDS, a sort of Happy Days meets the Simpsons roadtrip in 3d claymation.

Lucy Lawless confirmed she gets naked in the 300-inspired Starz TV series Spartacus. Dave Tennant and Russell T Davies talked about leaving BBC Doctor Who at the top, to be taken up by showrunner Steven Moffat of Coupling.

I'm reading submissions for my comedy writers group. Like the creativity game where one person says the first sentence of a story and the next person makes up the next line, some ScreenPlayLab writers are writing sample pages 3 and 4 based on the first two pages of a script I wrote. Those who can match my style I want to include in a group where each person writes just a few pages on the same screenplay. Interesting way to crank out pilots fast. I'm also looking at writers for others. So far, I'm seeing more drama than comedy from my would-be comedy writers. Harder than it looks?

ScreenPlayLab Comedy Writers Group...

By invitation only. For comedy writers interested in being part of a collaborative writers group to write spec pilots. I write the step outline and the first scene. Each writer writes one scene. To be considered write a 2-page sample that continues from the first two pages of a pilot I wrote. In other words, you write pages 3 and 4 having only the first two pages of the script as your guide. Email me for a copy of the sample script if interested. In your email state whether you're local, what city you're based in. Free.

Zicree Supermentors on August 2nd...

Career tune-up for actors, writers, directors, producers. Sunday, August 2nd, 6:30pm–9:30pm, Paty's Restaurant, 10001 Riverside Drive, Toluca Lake, CA. $30. Also, six-week teleconference class starts August 4. $599.

www.zicree.com

Shakespeare in the Park from June 26th to August 30th...

The Independent Shakespeare Company presents the Tempest and Henry V. Barnesdall Park, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, CA. Free.

www.independentshakepeare.com

ITVFest July 30th to August 6th...

The 4th annual Independent Television Festival presents innovative independent pilots and webseries screenings, and panels on Writing, Casting, Representation, Pitching, International Formats, Multi Platform Buzzwords, Development for TV, Web TV Success Stories, Development for the Web. Opening Night Gala on Thursday, July 30th, in the courtyard of The Sunset Strip, 8000 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA. Red carpet arrivals at 7pm. Mingling until 11pm. Bar sponsored by Stella Artois, Hypnotic, Pama, Icelandic and Monster. Hors d'oeuvres sponsored by Sansai Japanese Grill and Trader Joe's. Music by Athena Reich, Jessie Payo and The MakePeace Brothers. Must RSVP at itvfestgala.eventbrite.com by Tuesday, July 28th, 2009. $20. ITVFest which will be held at Laemmle's Sunset 5 from July 31-August 6th. Most events and screenings are $10.

itvfest.org

New York International Independent Film and Video Festival on July 30th-August 6th...

NYIIFVF presents every genre including, World Cinema, Science-Fiction, Horror, Action/Adventure, Animation, War, Psychological Thriller, Crime, Drama, Comedy, Family, Experimental, Dance Theatre, Romance, as well as a compelling slate of high-quality documentaries. The following 27 countries and territories will be represented: USA, France, Spain, India, Japan, Italy, Israel, Germany, Argentina, Bulgaria, Finland, Belgium, Sweden, UK, Netherlands, Denmark, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Ghana, Switzerland, Faroe Island, Montenegro, Belarus, Greece, Puerto Rico and Canada. Film market and networking party at the Cabana Club, 1439 Ivar Ave. at Sunset, on Thursday, July 30th from 6pm-10pm. Opening night will also include a special presentation for NYIIFVF award recipients. Festival screenings at the Regency Fairfax Cinema, 7907 Beverly Blvd at Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA, from July 31st-August 6th, 2009.

www.nyfilmvideo.com

13th Annual Hollywood Pitch Festival on Aug. 1st-2nd...

Presented by Fade In Magazine, 200+ producers, directors, agents and managers, executives and casting directors on one roof. Previous years' festivals script sales: Born To Shop to Fox, The Meddlers to Warner Bros., and If Only to ABC, which recently aired. Intercontinental Hotel. 310-441-5151. $425

http://www.hollywoodpitchfestival.com/

Organization of Black Screenwriters Animation Panel on Aug. 1st...

OBS presents inside knowledge on how to work in animation; the current climate of animation, the differences in 3D, television, and feature film, and how to bring your animated ideas to life. Farcor Studios The Proud Family EP Ralph Farquhar, DreamWorks Animation Kung Fu Panda Production Engineer Kwesi Davis, The Proud Family Writer David Wyatt, Boondocks Writer Jason Van Veen, VO Actor AfroSamurai Greg Eagles, Teapot Animator Daveed Kolodny-Nagy, Da Jammies Animator-Director Tyree Dillihay, and X-Men Animator-Director Jim Simon. Golden State Mutual Life Insurance Bldg, Main Conference Room, 1999 West Adams Blvd., Los Angeles. FREE Parking behind building on Hobart Avenue off Adams Blvd. Sat., August 1, 2009. $20 (cash only). RSVP 310.844.8755

www.obswriter.com

Producers Guild of America Annual Recruiting Party on Aug. 5th...

The Producers Guild invites prospective members for drinks, hors d'oeuvres, and networking with PGA Board Members. Prospective members have credits in film, TV, documentary, reality or web and newmedia, at all levels of the producing team. PGA Open to TV, Film, and New Media producing team including: Executive Producers, Producers, Co-Producers, Associate Producers, Production Managers, Supervisors, Coordinators, Segment, Field, Story and Show Producers, Post Producers, Supervisors and Coordinators, VFX Producers and Coordinators. Wednesday, August 5, 2009 at 7pm. Above Beverly Hills Rooftop Lounge, Thompson Beverly Hills Hotel, 9360 Wilshire Blvd., Beverly Hills, CA. RSVP to pgamixer@yahoo.com.

www.producersguild.org

USC Directors Party August 6th...

USC Summer Directing Intensive works-in-progress screening, party and panel of industry pros. USC School of Cinematic Arts 900 W. 34th St. Room SDA 112. Party in courtyard from 6:15. Screening/Industry panel 7-10pm. August 6, 2009.

http://cinema.usc.edu/about/events/

ScreenPlayLab Beverly Hills Mixer on August 10th...

ScreenPlayLab presents a FREE INDUSTRY MIXER with writers, actors, producers, directors and others in the film and television industry. It's an upbeat casual group helping each other succeed. Typically 50 to 100 people. You're encouraged to introduce yourself, say what sort of help you'd like and ask how you can help. If you're shy, let me know and I'll get you started by introducing you around. Great people, organic Mexican food (inexpensive) and $3 margaritas. Free street parking or park under Crate & Barrel for $3. Sharky's Mexican Grill, in the back room, 435 N. Beverly Dr., Beverly Hills. Monday, August 10th, 6:30pm-9:30pm. FREE event. RSVP online:

www.screenplaylab.com

Downtown Film Festival Los Angeles on August 12th-22nd...

Volunteer coordinator Grace Alpert seeking film festival volunteers. Named by L.A. Downtown News the Best Event in 2008. Dozens of film screenings and related activities over 11 days. Festival volunteers for theater ushering, event hospitality, event planning & production, street team marketing, and much more. Tell Grace your skills to match you to a specific area. Festival highlights: Sustainable L.A. green program on August 20, Music Film Series at the Grammy Museum, Digital.Art.LA art videos and installations, tribute to Paul Newman, Jackson 5 in Africa. Volunteers must attend orientation on Saturday, July 25, 1-2pm or Thursday, July 30, 6-7pm. At the Downtown Film Festival L.A. office, Engine Co. No. 28 Building, 2nd Floor, 644 S. Figueroa between 7th & Wishire, Los Angeles, CA. Adjacent to the MTA 7th/Metro Station.

www.dffla.com

Write On! Breaking Through Writers Block on Aug. 15th...

Writer Debra Eckerling offers strategies for brainstorming, project management,and staying on track when you really don't want to. Bring paper, pen, and your favorite excuses for procrastinating. Aug 15, 2009, 1:30-3:30pm. The Learning Garden, Venice High School, 13000 Venice Blvd., Los Angeles, CA. $25.

http://www.storylink.com/event/WriteOnWritersBlock
http://writeononline.com/

UCLA Writers Faire on August 30th...

Moe than 60 writers and screenwriters present 24 sessions. UCLA, Young Hall courtyard, 11am-3pm. Free. Parking in lot 2 costs $10.

http://uclaextensionedu/writersfaire

WESTDOC Documentary and Reality Conference Sept. 14-16th...

The WESTDOC CONFERENCE is a new conference dedicated to the Non-Fiction and Reality broadcast industry, an event designed by producers for producers. Three days of panels, seminars and a Pitchfest. Speakers include senior executives from TLC, Discovery, ABC, Animal Planet, National Geographic Network, E! Entertainment, History Channel, ITVS, MTV, Spike TV, Tru TV. Doubletree Suites Hotel, Santa Monica, CA. September 14th-16th, 2009. $650. Register now for $450 with code PL200. $200 discount code good for next two weeks.

www.TheWestdoc.com

Artivist Film Festival on October 8th to 11th...

The 6th Annual Artivist Film Festival. Artivist Awards to honor the winning films of the annual Artivist Film Festival and the work of outstanding advocate celebrities. Egyptian Theater, Hollywood.

http://artivists.org

AFM on Nov. 4th-11th...

The American Film Market hosts over 400 production companies, screens over 500 motion pictures, and previews 100 world premieres and thousands of new projects. In cooperation with AFI Fest Oct. 31st to Nov. 3rd. Network with 8,000 industry professionals. Seminars from 100+ industry leaders. Free seminars. Industry access $250-$795.

http://www.ifta-online.org

Emerging Producer Non-fiction TV Competition deadline Nov. 15th...

CableU is taking submissions for their non-fiction TV pitch session at NATPE 2010 in Las Vegas. Last year's winner sold his show to the History channel.

www.cableu.tv/emergingproducers

Love you guys!