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Free Linux Laptops for Artists |
Robin Rowe |
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A request from Robin Rowe...
Give us your old surplus Windows Me or Windows 2000 laptop
so we can install the latest Linux software and give it to an
artist who desperately needs it. |
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Many struggling Hollywood artists need a basic laptop to go online
to check email and access casting notices or job boards. It's
difficult to get by using a free computer at the library. If
you have an obsolete surplus Windows laptop please give it to
ScreenPlayLab so we can install the latest Linux software on
it and give it to an actor, writer or musician who desperately
needs it. Don't have an old laptop, yet want to help artists?
ScreenPlayLab accepts donations in increments of $25 to buy new
Wi-Fi PCM cards to install in old laptops. Contact me at Robin@ScreenPlayLab.com. |
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Happy Holidays from ScreenPlayLab! |
Robin Rowe |
Gabrielle Pantera |
A message from Robin and Gabrielle... |
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Our next planned event is a mixer sometime in January in
Beverly Hills.
You can read our articles every week at Hollywood
Today. Robin is the film editor and Gabrielle is the book
and DVD features editor. Robin also writes for the Motion
Picture Editors Guild Magazine and Linux
Journal. |
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The ScreenPlayLab Process
- We're an association of upbeat writers, actors, producers,
directors, executives, agents, managers, composers, and so on...not
just for writers.
- ScreenPlayLab hosts audience Q&A sessions with VIPs,
workshops, mixers and screenings.
- We send event announcements and good news to our email list
a few times a week. We cover our own events (typically free)
and many other interesting happenings in Hollywood (free and
non-free). Subscribe.
- Our speakers are some of the most exciting people in the
film and television industry. You have an opportunity to get
your question answered personally during our event Q&A. Speakers
often stay afterwards to chat. How to contact
a speaker.
- ScreenPlayLab is an open forum for the stimulating exchange
of ideas. Audience members sign a release
form.
- Our workshops are fantastic because our feedback
is upbeat and productive. We're a very positive and proactive
group of artists, not a clique of bitter critics.
- Actors who participate in our workshops have an opportunity
to showcase their talents. Dozens of actors have signed with
an agent as a result. Actor database.
- All of our events provide opportunities for networking. ScreenPlayLab
is an opportunity to practice being "good in the room".
- We started workshopping scripts with actors in front of live
audiences since 2005. Due to other demands on our time, we discontinued
readings in December 2008. Other groups that do readings are
on our Links page.
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Funny Is Money Again for 2007 Top 50 Box Office
Of the top 50 grossing movies of 2007, 22 are comedies, 14
are action, 10 are dramas, and 4 are horror. As a sub-genre,
5 are animated, 2 are musicals, 1 is a thriller and 1 is a Western.
As usual, comedies dominate the top 50.
Of the top 10 grossing movies of 2007,, 7 are action (Spider-Man
3, Transformers, Pirates 3, Harry Potter 5, Bourne 3, 300, I
am Legend) and 3 are comedies (Shrek 3, Ratatouille, The
Simpsons Movie). As usual, franchise action movies and comedies
dominated the top 10.
The Best Picture Academy Award winner No Country for Old
Men ranked #36 at the box office. Miramax's No Country
for Old Men did less box office than Norbit or Evan
Almighty and came in just ahead of Fred Claus.
Data source: Box Office Mojo |
Documentary Taping
We video tape most of our events in anticipation of some day
producing a documentary about ScreenPlayLab. We do not offer
tapes of our speakers' presentations (unless the speaker would
wish it). Video of screenplay workshops may be made available
to the screenwriters or the actors for their personal review
(with the consent of the writers). We'd like to put some short
clips up on the web (with permission of course), but so far haven't
found time. |
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Ones to watch...
Heather Ignacio
Pamela Holt
Serena Shen
Deanna Lynn Walsh
Diana Dezube
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Articles & Resources
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Industry News
Start Here
Writing Tips
Queries and Pitching
Producers
- AMPTP
The Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers
is the collective bargaining association of over 350 motion picture
and television producers for negotiating industry-wide contracts,
including AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, IBEW, Laborers Local 724; SAG,
Teamsters Local 399, and WGA.
- MPAA
Online database of film ratings. It costs about $2,500 to
get your film rated. Films that aren't rated have trouble getting
distribution because without a rating a movie is presumed to
be porn. Interestingly, unrated versions of a film may be much
more popular in video rentals...but only if there's a rated version.
- PGA
The Producers Guild of America is more than 3,500 working
motion picture, television and new media producers worldwide.
DGA
WGA
SAG
- SAG
Of 120,000 members, the average income from
acting is less than $5k (Bureau
of Labor) and fewer than 25% of SAG members in Hollywood
have agents (Hollywood Reporter)
- SAG Franchised Agents
Commisions
- SAG Indie
Workshops for producers on using SAG actors
- SAG Foundation
Seminars for actors
Agents
Managers
- Talent Managers Association
Unlike agents who are state licensed, bonded,
and may be franchised by unions, talent managers are unregulated
Casting Directors
Below the Line Crew
Extras
- Central
Casting
A way for actors to gain familiarity with working on the set.
Pay is about $50 for up to an eight-hour day. You call in the
morning to hear if they need your type.
Top Contests
There are thousands of screenwriting contests. Three really
matter. Win one of these and agents call you and doors open.
Note that the best contests offer something better than a cash
prize, which does nothing for your career.
Upcoming
Directories
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