FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 2, 2016 – NEW LOCATION
2016-09-03 00:00 UTC
Friday Night Social ~ September 2, 2016 ~ NEW LOCATION

Event Date: Friday, September 2, 2016 || Starts at 6:30 pm || Co-sponsoring with Jennifer Grisanti
Friday Night Social is a networking group that meets the first Friday of every month. It started as a way for TV and feature writers to meet one another and has evolved into so much more. This is a great way to “Network”. Plan on meeting people from different areas and levels in the entertainment industry.

IMPORTANT:

Please REGISTER before 10:00 pm on Thursday, September 1, 2016.

This month’s Friday Night Social is being held at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge area. Please join Jennifer Grisanti and SWN at this location for this month’s Friday Night Social “Networking” event.

Your Beverly Hills Restaurant Experience Awaits ~ It’s no secret ~ LA is a foodie’s best friend. Local. Sustainable. Farm-to-fabulous. So it’s more than noteworthy that BLVD 16 restaurant has made a name for itself by hitting all the high notes and then some. That means whether you’re dropping by for dinner or grabbing a tasty small bite after a long flight, prepare to be wowed.
It starts with the freshest ingredients (think organic honeycomb, zucchini flowers and torpedo onions) that Chef Grace Gonzalez interprets with a balance of artful simplicity and genuine LA sizzle, to create a truly memorable experience. And if you’re interested in cocktailing in an inspired setting, here’s our pro tip: enjoy the company of friends or make new ones in our sleekly styled bar where crafty libations infused with fresh juices, house made syrups and top-shelf spirits fuel a delightfully deliciou ~ s experience.

Join us at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge:

Below: Photos from previous events:

Event starts at 6:30 pm – Ends at 9:30 pm

LOCATION:
The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge

10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone # 310.475.8711
Toll-free: (800) 472-8556
Palomar Hotel

DIRECTIONS:
Directions from the south and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

From the airport, take W. Century Way east for 1.8 miles.
Merge slightly right onto I-405 North. Go 9.3 miles.
Exit onto Wilshire Blvd. Go 1.1 miles.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

Directions from the north and the San Diego Freeway.

From I-405 South / San Diego Freeway, take the Wilshire Blvd. exit. Go 0.2 miles.
Turn right at Wilshire Blvd. Go 1 mile.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

PARKING:
Valet parking is $16.00.

Admission:
FREE to attend. Pay for your own food, cocktails & parking.
**Check in with us at the entrance to receive your name tags for networking.
**Happy hour food prices will be provided for our Networking Group!

Happy Networking!

LONDON FILM FESTIVAL – SEPTEMBER 1st through September 4th, 2016
2016-09-05 00:00
Jen Grisanti
Story / Career Consultant

LA based Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant, Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.
Grisanti has taught classes for the TV Writers Summit (in LA, London and Israel), The TV Writers Studio (in Australia), Story Expo, The Big Island Film Festival, Chicago Screenwriters Network, Scriptwriters Network , Screenwriting Expo, the Great American Pitchfest, the Writers Store, the Northwestern Screenwriter’s Guild in Seattle, and the Alameda’s Writer’s Group. In addition, she has served on panels for the WGA, iTVFest, UFVA, PGA and The Writer’s Bootcamp, telling her story to inspire others.
Jen Grisanti is appearing at the following sessions:

Adding Fiction to your Truth
Learn how to add fiction to your truth in the key parts of your story. You will learn how to identify your own life themes and in doing so, you will find out what it is you want to say to the world in the stories that you tell.

Finding Your Voice: Telling it YOUR way so that your work is remembered
Your voice is what sets you apart from the masses. You, your life experience, your stories are unique… Learn how to leverage YOUR uniqueness.

What Makes the Audience Return To A Series? Mastering the Internal Story
When we feel your story, it makes us want to come back. In this class, learn the techniques that will make them want more. When you do this well, you create longevity for your series.

Writing The TV Pilot That Sells: LondonSWF Festival Week One Day Workshop (Sept 1st)
Jen Grisanti has developed a story system that has led 40 of her clients to sell their pilots. Five of them went to series. In this outstanding one day masterclass, Jen will share with you her system of story that has proven so successful.

Writing The TV Pilot That Sells: LondonSWF Festival Week One Day Workshop (Sept 1st)
Jen Grisanti has developed a story system that has led 40 of her clients to sell their pilots. Five of them went to series. In this outstanding one day masterclass, Jen will share with you her system of story that has proven so successful.

FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL – FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7TH AT 6:30 P.M. AT PALOMAR HOTEL BLVD 16 RESTAURANT, WESTWOOD
2016-10-08 00:00
Friday Night Social ~ October 7, 2016 ~ NEW LOCATION

Event Date: Friday, October 7, 2016 || Starts at 6:30 pm || Co-sponsoring with Jennifer Grisanti
Friday Night Social is a networking group that meets the first Friday of every month. It started as a way for TV and feature writers to meet one another and has evolved into so much more. This is a great way to “Network”. Plan on meeting people from different areas and levels in the entertainment industry.

IMPORTANT:

Please REGISTER before 10:00 pm on Thursday, October 6, 2016.

This month’s Friday Night Social is being held at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge area. Please join Jennifer Grisanti and SWN at this location for this month’s Friday Night Social “Networking” event.
Your Beverly Hills Restaurant Experience Awaits ~ It’s no secret ~ LA is a foodie’s best friend. Local. Sustainable. Farm-to-fabulous. So it’s more than noteworthy that BLVD 16 restaurant has made a name for itself by hitting all the high notes and then some. That means whether you’re dropping by for dinner or grabbing a tasty small bite after a long flight, prepare to be wowed.
It starts with the freshest ingredients (think organic honeycomb, zucchini flowers and torpedo onions) that Chef Grace Gonzalez interprets with a balance of artful simplicity and genuine LA sizzle, to create a truly memorable experience. And if you’re interested in cocktailing in an inspired setting, here’s our pro tip: enjoy the company of friends or make new ones in our sleekly styled bar where crafty libations infused with fresh juices, house made syrups and top-shelf spirits fuel a delightfully deliciou ~ s experience.
Join us at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge:

Below: Photos from previous events:

Event starts at 6:30 pm – Ends at 9:30 pm

LOCATION:
The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge

10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone # 310.475.8711
Toll-free: (800) 472-8556
Palomar Hotel

DIRECTIONS:
Directions from the south and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

From the airport, take W. Century Way east for 1.8 miles.
Merge slightly right onto I-405 North. Go 9.3 miles.
Exit onto Wilshire Blvd. Go 1.1 miles.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

Directions from the north and the San Diego Freeway.

From I-405 South / San Diego Freeway, take the Wilshire Blvd. exit. Go 0.2 miles.
Turn right at Wilshire Blvd. Go 1 mile.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

PARKING:
Valet parking is $16.00. (WE are working on – $5 valet parking with validation at the bar)

Admission:
FREE to attend. Pay for your own food, cocktails & parking.
**Check in with us at the entrance to receive your name tags for networking.
**Happy hour food prices will be provided for our Networking Group!

Happy Networking!

SPEAKING AT iTV Fest – October 5-9, 2016
2016-10-10 00:00
ITVFest OCTOBER 5-9, 2016

Panelists & Speakers at ITVFest 2016

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Executives
Speakers
Content Creators

View Panel & Seminar schedules and descriptions

GRETA McANANY
Filmmaker and Entrepreneur
Greta McAnany is an award-winning filmmaker and entrepreneur. A proud graduate of the University of Southern California, she began her career in film by starting a production company and producing the feature film Bite Size. It released on TV, digital platforms, including Netflix, and was also featured on Katie Couric’s “Obesity Awareness” special on ABC.
After experiencing first-hand the gender bias that female filmmakers in Hollywood face, Greta co-founded X-Factor Films, a ‘Netflix’ for millennial female content that doubles as a space for fans and creators to engage.

Read more

HUNTER KINSELLA
Co-Founder, Frame Media Group
Hunter Kinsella is the Co-Founder of Frame Media Group, a digital media company focused on monetizing a variety of content-based web properties through programatic and real time bidding ad technology. Previously, Kinsella was in Brand Coverage focusing on Digital Packaging at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Kinsella interfaced with colleagues across the agency in an effort to connect clients with digital media partners and advertisers to create original entertainment content, which is then was strategically distributed across various platforms in innovative ways that maximized its monetization tail.

Read more

JACOB KRUEGER
Writer, Founder of Jacob Krueger Studio
Over his years in the entertainment industry, Jacob Krueger has worked with thousands of writers, from Academy and Tony Award Winners, to beginning writers picking up the pen for the first time.
The founder of Jacob Krueger Studio in New York City, Jacob is an award winning screenwriter, playwright, producer and director.
Jacob’s first produced movie, The Matthew Shepard Story (2002) won him the Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Award and a Gemini Nomination for Best Screenplay.

Read more

JEN GRISANTI
Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.

Read more

JERMAINE JOHNSON
Manager, 3 Arts Entertainment
Jermaine Johnson is a manager and producer at the Beverly Hills-based 3 Arts Entertainment. Originally from New Jersey, he graduated Rutgers with a BA in Marketing before transitioning into entertainment.
Jermaine represents a wide variety of clients, including writers, directors, journalists, and comedians. He helps manage the career of Aaron Covington (co-writer of CREED), Rell Battle (premiere comic and actor), Jessie Nickson-Lopez (story editor on STRANGER THINGS), Attica Locke (producer on EMPIRE and national bestselling author), Rembert Browne (writer for New York Magazine), Cord Jefferson (story editor on MASTER OF NONE and prominent freelance reporter), and more.

Read more

AASIM SAIED
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Akyumen Technologies Corp
Aasim Saied is the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Akyumen Technologies Corp and is an established entrepreneur with experience and a history of high tech concept design and building fast-moving, innovative companies.
He has engineered powerful new mobile device technologies and software applications and has recruited a global team of developers, industry specialists and partners for a successful launch of his Companies including AkyumenTV, a global entertainment live and on-demand television, movie, music and gaming subscription platform available on the Akyumen projection phones and tablet.

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AMY RICHARDS
Author, Executive Producer
Amy Richards is the executive producer of the WOMAN series on VICELAND. She is also a consulting producer on MAKERS and the HBO documentary Gloria Steinem: In Her Own Words. Amy has authored and edited several award winning books, including Opting In: Having a Child Without Losing Yourself, Manifesta and Grassroots. As the president of Soapbox, Inc. and founder of Soapbox Foundation Amy organizes dozens of events each year and hosts Feminist Camp.
Amy has appeared in most major media outlets — from Fox’s O’Reilly to The Oprah Winfrey Show to Charlie Rose — covering everything from plastic surgery and shopping in New York City to abortion politics and sexual harassment.

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ANDREA CASILLAS
Attorney, Masur Griffitts
Andrea advises technology and media startups on corporate matters, including formation and venture financing, as well as on intellectual property matters including portfolio management and protection.
Prior to Masur Griffitts, Andrea was the Director of Linux Defenders for Open Invention Network where she helped create alternatives to traditional patent strategy and open source software protection. She became a thought leader and highly sought after advocate in the field, speaking at numerous Open Source Conferences globally, including but not limited to LinuxCon and Grace Hopper.

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ANNE MULHALL
Casting Director, LDI Casting
Casting director Anne Mulhall has established a home base for LDI Casting in Rhode Island. Less than one hour from Boston, she seems to be filling the gap between New York and Boston.
LDI has been casting both principal and background performers for feature films, independent films, television, corporate video, and commercials for the past twelve years.

BOBBY FARRELLY
Producer, Writer, Director
Recognized worldwide for their distinct comedic sensibility, Bobby Farrelly and his brother Peter have garnered notable and global commercial success with their heartfelt and raucously funny films. Bobby made his directorial debut in 1994 with the film Dumb & Dumber. A commercial success, Dumb & Dumber went on to gross over $246 million worldwide and launched Jim Carrey’s career.
Building off the overwhelming response to the film, Bobby and his brother Peter continued to define comedy with the Golden Globe Nominated There’s Something About Mary starring Ben Stiller, Matt Dillon and Cameron Diaz. Their catalogue of additional hits includes Kingpin; Me, Myself & Irene; Shallow Hal; Stuck On You; Fever Pitch; The Heartbreak Kid; and Hall Pass.

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BRETT BUTLER
Comedian, Actress
She’s a comedian, an actress, a NY Times bestselling author and producer, and Brett Butler has her very own Akyumen Original Series in development with KF Media Group for AkyumenTV! The two time Golden Globe nominated actress and People’s Choice Award winner wrapped 112 episodes of the ABC favorite Grace Under Fire in 1998.
Brett went on to a recurring role on the CBS soap The Young and the Restless, and most recently FX’s Anger Management with Charlie Sheen. She has made appearances in recent years on FX’s Archer, HBO’s The Leftovers, and this season you’ll see her in a “mystery role” on ABC’s How to Get Away with Murder.

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CAISSIE St. ONGE
Writer, Producer
Caissie St.Onge is a television writer and producer who has worked on The Late Show with David Letterman, The Rosie O’Donnell Show, and Best Week Ever. She is currently a Co-Executive Producer of Bravo’s Watch What Happens Live!
She has also written comedy for the late great Joan Rivers and for Bette Midler’s most recent concert tour, and in her spare time, she tries to write Young Adult novels.

CECILIA MEJIA
Interim Director of Development, Scenarios USA
Cecilia has worked in development and has written grants for several nonprofit organizations, including NGOs affiliated with the UN. During her undergraduate studies at SUNY Buffalo she worked with community youth organizations and served as a mentor.
Following college Cecilia worked in a law firm that specialized in nonprofit law, where she was inspired to pursue a Master’s degree in Public Administration and Affairs. Shortly after, she followed up her studies at the Columbia Business School Developing Leaders Program for Nonprofit Professionals.

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CINDY CAPONERA
Actress, Writer
Cindy Caponera, a native Chicagoan, has built an impressive career as an actress and writer. She started at the Second City Theater in Chicago where she performed in the National Touring Company, The E.T.C. and Main Stage. As well as many other local plays including, the critically acclaimed performances in Eugene O’Neil’s Before Breakfast/Hughie at the Royal George Theater, and Maria Irene Fornes’ Mud at the Chicago Actors’ Project.
Her first solo show, Against the Grain, debuted in Chicago to rave reviews. Followed by the critically acclaimed The Debutante Ball which played in Chicago, New York, Los Angeles, HBO Comedy Festival in Aspen, and was produced for Oxygen Network’s Life Out Loud series. Cookies and Booze, her third solo show, has been seen at the HBO Workshop Stage and the Comedy Central Stage in Los Angeles.

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DANA KUZNETZKOFF
Film and Television Producer
Dana K is the founder of Fourth Agreement, a versatile film & TV production company whose mission is to create unique films that inspire and entertain. She has led diverse projects such as HBO’s pilot episode BOARDWALK EMPIRE and was the co-producer of NBC’s SMASH.
Dana is currently working with Doug Liman and Julina Tatlock, as one of the producers of the first scripted virtual reality series, INVISIBLE for Conde Nast Entertainment and she recently completed, THE NEW YORKER PRESENTS an episodic show for Amazon Studios visualizing the iconic magazine’s unique stories.

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DAVID SIGURANI
Vice President of Original Series Development at Super Deluxe
David Sigurani is the Vice President of Original Series Development at Super Deluxe, a new digital studio under Turner that develops, produces and distributes series from unique voices that tell bold, edgy stories. Previously he headed creative at Televisa USA, mining the vast format library and setting up various network series.
There he oversaw Devious Maids on Lifetime and Chasing Life on ABC Family. He hails from development stints at South Shore (Lionsgate+Televisa), Cutler Productions (Nashville, If I Stay) and Prospect Park (Wilfred, Royal Pains).

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DAVID WEDGE
Writer, Author, Journalist
Dave Wedge is an author and writer based in Boston. A Boston College graduate, he was an investigative reporter at the Boston Herald for 14 years and has also written for VICE, Esquire, Newsweek, and DigBoston. His first book, “Boston Strong: A City’s Triumph Over Tragedy,” about the 2013 Boston Marathon attacks, was used for the new film Patriots Day, starring Mark Wahlberg, J.K. Simmons, Jon Goodman and Michelle Monaghan and directed by Pete Berg.
Dave and his “Boston Strong” co-author Casey Sherman are currently writing “Challenge,” the story of ALS hero and Ice Bucket Challenge creator Pete Frates. A film based on that story is in development through their new company Whydah Productions.

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DEBRA CHANDLER
CEO and Co-Founder of Kickfannie Media Group
Deb Chandler is the CEO and Co-Founder of KF Media Group and Strategic Partner with Akyumen Technologies and Akyumen TV. As head of the newly formed media group Deb’s responsible for independent programming coming to the Akyumen TV and Radio Network. I believe, “These are exciting times. We are witness to a new global entertainment paradigm, Akyumen Technology’s projection devices, paired with the Akyumen TV and Radio Network is allowing us to untether television…cut the cord. Untethered television is now, and here to stay. As the “new kids” on the block, our excitement is off the charts, when it comes to opening doors for independent creators!

DENNIS WILLIAMS
VP, Corporate Social Responsibility
Dennis Williams is vice president, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), for Home Box Office, Inc., responsible for the company’s philanthropic and pro-social initiatives. He was named to this position in January 2013. Williams played an integral role in the creation of the CSR group, and has since worked with his team to develop and define HBO’s corporate and social responsibility mission.
Under his leadership, the group has expanded and realigned corporate giving efforts with philanthropic partners, including non-profit organizations; enhanced HBO’s presence within the communities in which the company does business; and connected the company’s philanthropy to the themes reflected in the network’s programming.

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ERICA ARVOLD
Producer/Casting Director, arvold.
Producer/casting director/educator Erica Arvold most recently cast the indie feature Permanent has recently served as location casting director for Jeff Nichols’ feature film Loving, the AMC series Turn: Washington’s Spies and two seasons of Netflix’s House of Cards.
Erica produced and cast the indie film Josephine, served as associate producer and casting director on Coming Through the Rye, helped cast feature films Ithaca and Kicked by Grace, National Geographic’s Killing Kennedy, and her production company is currently producing the independent feature film Chesapeake. She was nominated for CSA’s prestigious Artios Award for the location casting of Steven Spielberg’s Lincoln in 2013 and for the casting of independent feature Big Stone Gap in 2016.

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GLORIA DANIEL
Associate Director, Scenarios USA
Gloria came to Scenarios USA as an intern through the Development office. Then she was hired as the Youth Coordinator for Scenarios USA 2012 Youth Conference. Now Gloria joins the staff as the office manager. After 14 years of coordinating live television and 16 years of volunteer work at various organizations there was a natural shift from coordinating live TV to coordinating an active office and diverse staff.

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GRETA McANANY
Filmmaker and Entrepreneur
Greta McAnany is an award-winning filmmaker and entrepreneur. A proud graduate of the University of Southern California, she began her career in film by starting a production company and producing the feature film Bite Size. It released on TV, digital platforms, including Netflix, and was also featured on Katie Couric’s “Obesity Awareness” special on ABC.
After experiencing first-hand the gender bias that female filmmakers in Hollywood face, Greta co-founded X-Factor Films, a ‘Netflix’ for millennial female content that doubles as a space for fans and creators to engage.

Read more

HUNTER KINSELLA
Co-Founder, Frame Media Group
Hunter Kinsella is the Co-Founder of Frame Media Group, a digital media company focused on monetizing a variety of content-based web properties through programatic and real time bidding ad technology. Previously, Kinsella was in Brand Coverage focusing on Digital Packaging at Creative Artists Agency (CAA).
Kinsella interfaced with colleagues across the agency in an effort to connect clients with digital media partners and advertisers to create original entertainment content, which is then was strategically distributed across various platforms in innovative ways that maximized its monetization tail.

Read more

JACOB KRUEGER
Writer, Founder of Jacob Krueger Studio
Over his years in the entertainment industry, Jacob Krueger has worked with thousands of writers, from Academy and Tony Award Winners, to beginning writers picking up the pen for the first time.
The founder of Jacob Krueger Studio in New York City, Jacob is an award winning screenwriter, playwright, producer and director.
Jacob’s first produced movie, The Matthew Shepard Story (2002) won him the Writers Guild of America Paul Selvin Award and a Gemini Nomination for Best Screenplay.

Read more

JEN GRISANTI
Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.

Read more

JERMAINE JOHNSON
Manager, 3 Arts Entertainment
Jermaine Johnson is a manager and producer at the Beverly Hills-based 3 Arts Entertainment. Originally from New Jersey, he graduated Rutgers with a BA in Marketing before transitioning into entertainment.
Jermaine represents a wide variety of clients, including writers, directors, journalists, and comedians. He helps manage the career of Aaron Covington (co-writer of CREED), Rell Battle (premiere comic and actor), Jessie Nickson-Lopez (story editor on STRANGER THINGS), Attica Locke (producer on EMPIRE and national bestselling author), Rembert Browne (writer for New York Magazine), Cord Jefferson (story editor on MASTER OF NONE and prominent freelance reporter), and more.

Read more

JEROME PERZIGIAN
Showrunner, Writer, Producer
With more than 25 years of Hollywood experience, Jerome Perzigian has been a showrunner, writer, and producer on some of the most successful half-hour series in history, including “The Jeffersons,” “The Golden Girls,” “Frasier,” “The Nanny,” and “Married…with Children.”
He has worked with, for, and alongside some of the biggest, most successful names in the the medium, in virtually every half-hour genre: smart shows, silly shows, black shows, white shows, kid shows, sports shows, sketch shows, and a couple that defy rational explication.

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JESSE ALBERT
Producer, Agent
Jesse Albert is a former Sr. Agent at ICM where he focused on digital and branded entertainment strategy and engagements for world leading clients and brands His efforts crossed all divisions, including digital, publishing, video games, venture capital, music, and others.
Prior to ICM, Albert led US digital entertainment for 19 Entertainment, creator of American Idol where he helped establish the first American Idol/iTunes relationship.

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JESSE COWELL
Founder, Jeskid Productions
Writer/exec producer/director Drawn by Pain, Status Kill, Shades of Gray; Webby Award Winner Jesse has written/directed/produced an average of 3 films for every year of his life. He first made his mark working in online video by creating the hit series, Drawn by Pain, Shades of Gray (not the S&M film) and Status Kill.
Called a “legend” by the massively popular Rooster Teeth Productions, Jesse was one of a handful of Vloggers creating content before YouTube opened its doors. He launched his first comedy feature film online in 2004 and has been actively producing content ever since.

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JESSICA HINDS
Screenwriter, Playwright and Lyricist
Jessica Hinds is a screenwriter, playwright and lyricist from Contra Costa County California. Her recent screenwriting work includes “Tip of the Horn” currently in development with MediaWorld Productions, and the award winning short “Stranger at Home.”
Jessica has been a finalist in over a dozen major competitions and festivals including the prestigious O’Neill Conference (2008, 2009, 2010, 2012) and the 2009 Heidman Award. She received her MFA in Dramatic Writing from the New School for Drama.

JIM LOUDERBACK
Venture Partner at Social Starts, Editorial Director of Vidcon
Jim Louderback is among the most respected figures in digital media with a 20-year history of leadership at the intersection of publishing and technology. Currently, Jim is a Venture Partner at seed investment firm Social Starts, Editorial Director of Vidcon and consults with a variety of top tech and media companies on strategy, tactics and implementation.
Throughout his career, Jim has earned a reputation as a visionary who excels at leading startups, growth businesses and turnarounds. His most well-known role was that of CEO of Revision3, where he helped drive a 20x increase in viewers and a 12x increase in revenue beginning in 2007. In 2012, Jim sold the company to Discovery Communications where he remained as General Manager, transforming the group into Discovery Digital Networks.

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JOEL SURNOW
Executive Producer, Showrunner
Joel Surnow is best known as the co-creator/executive producer of the tv show, 24. He has received Emmys for Best Drama and Best Dramatic Writing, a Golden Globe for Best Drama, a Producer of the year award from the PGA, a Best Writer of the Year award from the Hollywood Caucus and the Wired Rave award in 2003, as one of the”people changing your mind.”
He began his career as head writer on first season of Miami Vice. From there, he was the showrunner of “The Equalizer.” In the mid-nineties, he adapted the movie, La Femme Nikita, which became a hit series for USA Network. Along the way, Joel provided writing and producing services for such highly-viewed and distinguished shows such as Wiseguy, Nowhere Man, Bay City Blues and The Commish.

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JOHN RHODES
Co-Creator, ScreenCraft
John is an independent film producer with experience on many sides of the industry. He worked for Open Road Films’ acquisition team, acquiring and releasing such films as ‘The Grey’ starring Liam Neeson and ‘End of Watch’ starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
Previously he worked as a creative executive at Media Talent Group for clients including Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman.

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JOSH BUTLER
Director
Joshua Butler graduated Summa Cum Laude from USC Film School having written and directed the award-winning short Will Work for Food (1995). Joshua then directed 11 episodes of the hit CW show The Vampire Diaries (2009).
In the fall of 2015, Joshua is directing the new CBS series Limitless (2015) for Bradley Cooper, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, as well as The Magicians (2015) for Michael London and John McNamara.

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JOSH McGUIRE
Lit Manager, Partner at Underground
From small town Sparta, NJ, Josh Turner McGuire got his start in the business as an intern at Underground after a brief stint in independent film. Having arrived in Hollywood with no connections or famous relatives, he has risen from intern to literary manager, producer and partner at Underground. McGuire graduated from Florida State University with degrees in Political Science and Economics.

KARIN PARTIN
Screenwriter, Television Writer, Producer & Cinematographer
A Screenwriter, Television Writer, Producer & Cinematographer, Karin Partin Wells studied photography and anthropology at Ball State University, worked with Matthew Barney Studio in New York, attended film school at New York University Tisch School of the Arts and is local 600 eligible for her camera work on feature films.
Karin writes about the stuff that everyone has to go through but no one talks about. Her feature and teleplay screenwriting has been a finalist at Sundance, Scriptapalooza, Screencraft and Austin Film Festival, and she was nominated to the prestigious Sundance Television Lab in 2015.

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KELLY EDWARDS
Vice President of Talent Development, HBO
In June 2013 Kelly Edwards joined HBO as their VP of Talent Development and Programming, overseeing all diversity programs above and below the line for series, films, Cinemax and miniseries.
Prior to HBO, Edwards was a key corporate diversity executive at Comcast/NBCUniversal for over five years where she introduced diverse creative talent to NBC, USA, Syfy, Bravo, and Telemundo.

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KHARA CAMPBELL
Producer, AOL Studios
Khara is a director and producer of online content at AOL for brands like Makers.com, TechCrunch, and The Huffington Post. Most notable work includes an ensemble music video with Missy Elliott, Janelle Monae, Zendaya, and more, which was tweeted out by First Lady Michelle Obama for her #62MillionGirls campaign and MAKERS.com – a site illuminating the stories of groundbreaking women.
For The Huffington Post, she recently shot a segment for the Paralympic-qualifying Angel City Games – where she interviewed Scout Bassett and Rudy Garcia-Tolson, both of whom will compete in the 2016 Paralympic games in Rio.

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KIRSTY BELL
Director & MD of Goldfinch Entertainment
Kirsty is a successful film producer and a tax specialist who has spent much of her career at top-ten accountancy firms. This combined expertise has seen her focus on the structuring of film companies and their finance raises since 1996 – a period in which she has raised over £150m for the industry.
After setting up and successfully running her own business consultancy business, she joined as a Partner leading entertainment accountants Nyman Libson Paul in 2013 as Head of Film & Media.

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KRIS MEYER
Producer, Owner at BlackEagle
Kris Meyer is the owner of BlackEagle, an Entertainment and Media company, and is an Emmy nominated and award winning producer who has worked for the past 19 years with the comedic duo The Farrelly Brothers under their production banner, Conundrum Entertainment.
He has worked as a creative executive, production consultant and producer on such blockbuster hits as “There’s Something About Mary,” “Me, Myself & Irene,” “Shallow Hal,” “Fever Pitch”, “Hall Pass”, “The Three Stooges” and “Dumb & Dumber To”.

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KRISTYN CADDEL
Journalist
Kristyn Caddell joins AkyumenTV and KF Media Group as their offical ITVFestival Host, reporting all of the happenings at this year’s festival. She will nab on the spot interviews with the film makers throughout the week, cover Akyumen panel discussions, conduct celebrity interviews, and Host the ITVFest Red Carpet Gala exclusively for the new AkyumenTV Network.
Kristyn is an award-winning journalist, host and commentator with more than 10 years of experience in print, online and television reporting. Her stories have been featured on local and national news outlets.

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LAUREN FRANCESCA
Actress, Social Media Influencer
With over 1 billion views online, Lauren Francesca has been described by Streaming Media as “a YouTube superstar.” Lauren’s videos have been featured on 20/20, Tosh.0, The O’Reilly Factor, FOX News, TruTV’s Funniest Moments, Comedy Central, and more. Entertainment Weekly said Lauren’s “Lady Gaga Telephone Parody,” was the “funniest Internet phenomenon of the moment.” As an actress, Lauren landed a role on the hit FX show Louie, and she was featured in one of Netflix’s top comedies, Bad Parents.

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LAUREN TRACY
Co-Founder of X-Factor Films
As a college student, Lauren built an organization to bring financial awards to female filmmakers – collaborators included Kathryn Bigelow, NYU and Avid. After speaking at her graduation alongside Zerox CEO Ursula Burns, Lauren spent the next two years editing feature films in Los Angeles.
With her idea for X-Factor Films, she was a 2013 Dogfish Accelerator finalist (the world’s first entertainment business incubator), and accepted to Boston’s leading incubator Venture Development Center in 2014.

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LESLIE DURSO
Chef and TV Personality
A vegan chef and healthy living educator, after establishing herself as a private chef for the NYC and Hollywood elite, Leslie emerged as a public persona, hosting cooking segments on television and healthy living content online.
Determined to inspire beneficial life-long eating habits for everyone, she has appeared on The Food Network, The Discovery Channel, The Doctors, The Hallmark Channel, Everyday Health and Mother Nature Network and written for MindBodyGreen, VegNews, CNN.com, Redbook, Glamour, Maxim, and dozens more, evangelizing the benefits of a mindful lifestyle, delivered with her trademark blend of sunshiney sophistication and girl next door relatability.

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LOREN WEEKS
Production Designer
Former architect for 13 years. Changed to production in 1994. Started as a production assistant. Began designing in 2002 on NBC show “Third Watch”- Have designed both TV and film. Films include “Interview” directed by Steve Buscemi and “Blind Date” directed by Stanley Tucci. Both films are remakes of films by the dutch filmmaker Theo Van Gogh.
In television I have designed “Gossip Girl”, “Franklin and Bash”, “State of Affairs” , “Daredevil”, “Jessica Jones” (Peabody award), and the recently released (as in Sept 30 2016) “Luke Cage”. I just wrapped “Iron Fist” the 4th character in the Marvel/Netflix series and am currently working on “The Defenders” which brings all 4 characters together to defend NYC.

MARK MALKOFF
Comedian and Filmmaker
Mark Malkoff is a comedian and filmmaker. He has been featured on the “Today Show”, “Good Morning America”, CNN, Fox News, MSNBC, NPR, and “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno”.
Mark starred in a popular video in which he visited and consumed purchases at all 171 Starbucks locations in Manhattan in less than 24 hours. Mark also achieved worldwide media attention for his video series in which he lived and slept in an IKEA store in Paramus, New Jersey for an entire week which ended up winning the 2009 PR Week Campaign of the Year.

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MARLA WHITE
Development Executive/Producer/Pitch & Story Coach
Marla White is a television development executive with experience producing prime time series and award nominated television movies in multiple genres. The head of television for Emmy Award winning writer & producer Peter Tolan’s Fedora Entertainment for the past seven years, Marla was involved in numerous comedy and drama pitches being sold to networks and cable outlets. She’s worked hands-on with writers through the pilot process and has been involved with the WGN hit show “Outsiders”, the Fox drama “Rake” and “Gaffigan” for TV Land.
Prior to that, she sold the television movie “Kings of South Beach” to A & E for legendary television producers Sonny Grosso & Larry Jacobson, and was involved in the development and production of several television movies for ABC, CBS, USA and HBO.

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MARX PYLE
Creator
Marx Pyle is an award winning writer, director, and producer, a graduate of Vancouver Film School and also holds degrees in psychology and computer science. He is the author of the book Television on the Wild Wild Web: And How to Blaze Your Own Trail and has worked on dozens of films and various reality TV shows over the years.

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MAXINE LAPIDUSS
Co-Founder and CEO of Storyverse Studios
Maxine Lapiduss is an American comedian-singer, television comedy writer, director, producer, entrepreneur, and branding strategist. She is the co-founder and CEO of Storyverse Studios, an entertainment company founded in Los Angeles in 2014. Storyverse develops and produces story-driven, properties within a multi-platform universe of entertainment.
Before co-founding Storyverse Studios with partner, Hillary Carlip, Lapiduss wrote and produced many notable comedy series including Dharma & Greg, Ellen, Roseanne, Home Improvement and more.

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MICHAEL DAUGHERTY
Author
In 2008, the US government teamed with a private enterprise to attack and take a file without authorization from an American small business. They used that information in order to expand and grow a government agency. Michael Daugherty, a small business owner who created LabMD, a cancer detection center in Atlanta, became a victim of this Government/Cybersecurity Private Enterprise.
That company, in association with a prestigious American university, conducted an invasion of business files and then used their findings to motivate the US Government to ride the wave of new cyber security protections and legislation.

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MICHAEL ROSENBERG
Executive Producer, President, Rosey TV
Michael Rosenberg opened his Rosey TV production shingle in April 2015 after seven years overseeing US television for global studio Entertainment One. Under his tenure at eOne his credits included HBO’s hit series Hung, AMC’s Hell on Wheels, Discovery’s first-ever scripted mini-series Klondike, DirecTV/HBO Canada’sCall Me Fitz, Rogue for DirecTV’s Audience Network and MTV’s racy drama Skins based on the hit UK series of the same name.
Prior to his stint at eOne, Rosenberg served as Head of Television at Blueprint Entertainment where he produced Testees for FX.

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MICHELLE JOHNSON
Director of Production Legal
Michelle Johnson is currently the Director of Production Legal handling business and legal affairs matters related to the development, distribution and production of Embassy Row’s bi-coastal television and digital/new media production company where she negotiates and drafts numerous agreements across a wide variety of genres including industry-acclaimed and popular shows such as Garbage Time with Katie Nolan, Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, Cutthroat Kitchen, Men In Blazers, Talking Dead and Watch What Happens Live.
Prior to joining Embassy Row, Michelle has worked at networks such as ABC and MTV where she worked on Good Morning America, The View, The Chew, New Year’s Rockin’ Eve with the late Dick Clark and My Sweet 16.

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MIKE ROTMAN
Writer, Producer, Director
Mike Rotman is an Emmy nominated television comedy writer, producer, director, and pioneer in new media content and live streaming. Rotman has written, produced, and directed hundreds of hours of television throughout his career including Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher (Primetime Emmy nominee), The Simple Life (Fox), Strip Poker (USA Network), South Park (Comedy Central), Nanny 911 (Fox), and most recently “My Crazy Ex” (writer / producer).
As a TV veteran and new media pioneer, Mike is a popular guest speaker, panelist, and consultant. Wanting to do something more creative than reality TV (and get his soul back), Rotman took a hiatus from television in 2010 and built one of the first ever multi-camera HD live internet network and live streaming company on the web in his own garage. Thus, Streamin’ Garage was born.

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NEIL LANDAU
Author “TV Outside the Box”
Neil’s credits include the cult comedy Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead starring Christina Applegate; Melrose Place, The Magnificent Seven, Doogie Howser, M.D., The Secret World of Alex Mack, Twice in a Lifetime, MTV’s Undressed, The Young & the Restless, Monarch Cove, and one-hour drama pilots for CBS, ABC, ABC Family, Warner Bros., Disney, Lifetime, and Freemantle.

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PHILIP CHUNG
Founding Partner, YOMYOMF
Philip oversees the creative content for YOMYOMF, director Justin Lin’s (STAR TREK BEYOND, FAST & FURIOUS franchise) digital company, and has worked in various capacities in film, TV, theater and digital. He started his career as a writer on the TV series LOIS & CLARK: THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN and was the co-founder/co-Artistic Director of Lodestone Theatre Ensemble, an Asian American theater company, for ten years.
Chung most recently wrote/produced HELP, Google’s first live-action 360 degree VR project directed by Lin, and co-wrote/produced HOLLYWOOD ADVENTURES, a Chinese feature which opened in China at #1 in 2015. He is currently overseeing projects for Warner Brothers, Comcast/NBCUniversal, IMDb, Disney Channel, ABC and others.

PRIYANKA PRUTHI
Senior Producer at United Nations
Priyanka Pruthi is a storyteller and strategist with a decade of experience in creating video content from pitch to publication.
At UNICEF, her work involves the creative development and production of original video content that aims to generate, mobilize and maintain public interest in children’s rights. Priyanka oversees all aspects of the production process and works on video strategy across platforms.

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RANDY ZISK
Executive Producer, Showrunner
Randy Zisk is a producer and director, known for Bones (2015), Monk (2002), Gideon’s Crossing (2000) and Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman (1993).

RICHARD “RB” BOTTO
Founder and CEO, Stage 32
Richard “RB” Botto is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32, the world’s largest online platform for connecting and educating film creatives. Called “LinkedIn meets Lynda for film creatives” by Forbes, Stage 32 boasts a member base of over 500,000 and works with over 500 industry executives across the globe.
RB is also a working actor, producer and screenwriter. As a producer, his films have played at dozens of festivals including Sundance. His latest screenplay, THE END GAME was purchased and is in development at Covert Media.

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RICK TRACY
Co-Founder of X-Factor Films
A branding expert and film buff, Rick was the Corporate Art Director at Bolt Beranek and Newman for 10 years before starting his own firm Cambridge Design Group (CDG). For over 20 years his firm has been developing brands for new technology companies that have gone on to be acquired by Kodak, Konica Minolta, Covidien and Oxford Instruments.
Two brands were acquired for over $55 million each. Other CDG clients include Intel, Dell, Cisco, Microsoft, ARM and Princeton University – From 2008- 2011 Rick and Lauren ran an organization that provided funding and awards for talented female filmmakers. He is now responsible for all design and branding strategy at X-Factor Films, and over the top content provider and distributor focused on content made by women.

ROB BARNETT
Founder/Content Partner, Rob Barnett Media
Rob Barnett creates innovative, original media with the best communicators & entertainers in pop culture. He’s a creative management executive from MTV, VH1, CBS & an entrepreneur who founded My Damn Channel, the online studio & network where he was CEO, 2006-2016. Rob Barnett Media launched in 2016 to deliver talent, development & audience to networks, producers & brands.
The company offers strategic content partnerships & customized solutions to drive loyal audiences & repeatable revenues: www.RobBarnettMedia.com

ROY LIEBRECHT
Legal at Akyumen Technologies Corp
Roy J. Liebrecht is a Los Angeles based entertainment attorney and business and legal affairs executive who specializes in all aspects of the entertainment industry. Working with private clients as well as being an in-house attorney for one of the most recognized brands in the world, Roy has been involved in everything from profile brand licensing, to day to day production work as head production attorney for television programs, to negotiating with the largest cable/satellite/telco providers in the world.

SAL TASSONE
Producer
Sal has produced commercials for some of the most important directors of our time.
For the next 20 years he produced over 500 commercials and won numerous accolades-Clios, Palme de Or. He has produced for major clients such as McDonald, BMW, Mercedes, Ford, Toyota, Apple, Wendy’s, Got Milk to name a few. The natural progression was to transition into films. He produced an independent feature film that won Best picture at the New York and Chicago Film Festivals. To this day it has a strong cult following.

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SCOTT C. SMITH
Visual Effects, Digital Artist
Scott has always been at the forefront of digital imaging and technology, starting from the early 90’s. After launching start-ups in the computer imaging world, he entered the film industry. In 1999 Scott was hired into Lucasfilm Entertainment with the visual effects division, Industrial Light and Magic. His first film was Pearl Harbor (Michael Bay) where he developed and deployed the latest technology for their video engineering group.
Scott shares an Academy Award with his ILM visual effects team for their work on Pirates of the Caribbean 2, Dead’s Man Chest (2006 – GoreVerbinski).

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SIB LAW
Regional Head of Quality, The Gap Partnership
Sib Law brings nearly twenty years of negotiation expertise, having consulted at all levels of commercial negotiation in virtual every industry sector. Few can boast his breadth and depth of knowledge and practical application on the subject of negotiation.
He began his career as a member of the San Francisco – United Nations 50th Commemoration Committee (SF being the birthplace of the United Nations). In his role, he negotiated with the White House, U.S. State Department, Secret Service, Permanent Representatives to the United Nations, as well as numerous suppliers of services and goods related to the events.

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STEVE MOLTON
Screenwriter, Author, Producer
Stephen Molton is a Pulitzer Prize nominated author, screenwriter, producer, professor, artist, and former television executive with a passion for writing and teaching.
Harper Collins published Stephen’s first novel, Brave Talk in 1987. His most recent book, Brothers in Arms: The Kennedys, the Castros and the Politics of Murder (co-authored with Gus Russo), was published in 2008 by Bloomsbury USA which nominated it for the Pulitzer Prize. He has written movies and mini-series for Showtime, New Line Cinema, Paramount Pictures and Viacom Networks, and produced two documentary features.

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TAMARA TUNIE
Actor, Producer, Director and Philanthropist
Enthralling, charismatic and passionate are just a few of the words that characterize the type of performances Tamara Tunie is known for delivering. Her memorable television roles include her portrayal of Medical Examiner Melinda Warner on the NBC drama Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and “mean Alberta Green” in the Fox hit series 24 Season One, as well as attorney Jessica Griffin on the CBS daytime drama As the World Turns, for which she received two NAACP Image Award nominations and two Soap Opera Digest award nominations.

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TANYA BERSHADSKY
Founder, Casting Influence
Tanya is an Emmy-nominated new media producer, writer, and talent advocate. A pioneer in the web video space, Tanya has worked with YouTube talent since before the term “YouTuber” existed. She has developed YouTube celebrities and helped transform traditional media figures into multi-platform digital icons– recently as producer and digital talent booker of veteran broadcaster Larry King’s first foray into digital, Larry King Now.
She has also booked talent on YouTube Nation – A Dreamworks/Youtube partnership, Dance Showdown on Madonna’s YouTube Channel DanceOn, many projects for Ron Howard and Brian Grazer’s studio New Form Digital, and cast hosts for Disney, Legendary Pictures, and Nerdist, to name a few.

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TERRY OWEN
Partner & Co-Founder AkyumenTV
Terry Owen is a successful creator, visionary and results oriented Senior Executive and a founding member and partner of three technology companies over his continuing distinguished career, serving as Chief Sales, Marketing, Media and Operations Officer. Terry joined Akyumen Technologies Corp (Akyumen) to lead AkyumenTV.
Akyumen’s answer to the growing demand for a true global content distribution aggregator network that offers consumers a true one-stop shop for wireless communication and increased human interaction such as audio, visual, physical and imagination methods.

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THOM WOODLEY
Creative Director, Electus LLC
Thom Woodley is a web video pioneer, writer and filmmaker.
In 2006, Thom helped usher in the online video revolution with the launch of the first full-length sitcom made for the web, the semi-hipster comedy The Burg (called one of the Best Ideas of the Year by the New York Times). He also created, wrote and produced The All-For-Nots (a co-production with Michael Eisner), All’s Faire, and Greg & Donny, which won a deal at IFC through the New York Television Festival.
Among his credits are the most recent James Bond 007 mobile game, the creation of the highly popular Episode Interactive storytelling platform, and the Dos Equis Most Interesting Man in the World commercials. Currently Thom serves as Creative Director for Electus LLC, where he oversees development of native and branded shows and content for CollegeHumor (the #1 comedy YouTube channel), Dorkly.com, and other projects for both web and television.

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TINA CESA WARD
Chair, International Academy of Web Television
Tina Cesa Ward started her career as a writer and director on several short films, most notably her multi-award winning short film In Their Absence that was named one of the best short films of the decade by Festival de cortos MíraLes. In 2008, Tina jumped into the web world and for three seasons Tina was the Executive Producer/Writer/Director of hit independent scripted drama, Anyone But Me.
Anyone But Me has reached nearly 50 million views and has brought home nearly every industry award, highlighted by Tina (along with Susan Miller) winning the first ever Writers Guild of America Award for Original New Media.

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TOMMY UPSHAW
Cinematographer
Tommy “Maddox”-Upshaw has been working in the film industry for close to 19 years. As a teenager he was a Production Assistant in New York City and the Boston area taking whichever opportunities came his way. Maddox’s opportunities came in the form of music videos which lead him to become a Union Grip/Electric for a span of 6 years before becoming a professional Motion Picture Cameraman, during which he earned a Masters of Fine Arts degree at the American Film Institute.
Upon completing his Masters and beginning his career as a Cinematographer, there was only one focus in filmmaking, to become one of Hollywoods premier Cameramen.

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VINCA JARRETT
Entertainment Lawyer, President of FilmPro Finance
Vinca L. Jarrett, Esq. is an entertainment lawyer and president of FilmPro Finance, a financial consulting service for investors and producers for funding one-off films and building film slates.
She is currently writing the non-fiction work SHOW ME THE F#©K!NG MONEY (SMTFM): HOW TO INVEST, RAISE AND RECOUP MONEY IN THE FILM INDUSTRY, and launched TV web series of the same name in 2014 in which Vinca interviews A-list financiers, distributors, bankers, investors, casting agents, and producers from around the world. The show can be seen with new episodes airing every Wednesday at www.showmethefkingmoney.tv.

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ZEKE THOMAS
Senior Creative Producer, Ego 360
Zeke Thomas is a Senior Creative Producer at Ego 360, filmmaker, and on-camera talent with over a decade of experience in the entertainment and advertising industries. You may recognize him from ad campaigns for Fortune 500 companies, sketches on Conan, and viral videos that top over 100 MM views across Youtube and Facebook.
At Ego 360 he specializes in immersive storytelling in 360 environments including narrative, branded, and docu-series genres.

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FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL – FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.- NEW LOCATION
2016-11-05 00:00
Friday Night Social ~ November 4, 2016 ~ NEW LOCATION

Event Date: Friday, November 4, 2016 || Starts at 6:30 pm || Co-sponsoring with Jennifer Grisanti
Friday Night Social is a networking group that meets the first Friday of every month. It started as a way for TV and feature writers to meet one another and has evolved into so much more. This is a great way to “Network”. Plan on meeting people from different areas and levels in the entertainment industry.

IMPORTANT:

Please REGISTER before 10:00 pm on Thursday, November 3, 2016.

This month’s Friday Night Social is being held at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge area. Please join Jennifer Grisanti and SWN at this location for this month’s Friday Night Social “Networking” event.

Your Beverly Hills Restaurant Experience Awaits ~ It’s no secret ~ LA is a foodie’s best friend. Local. Sustainable. Farm-to-fabulous. So it’s more than noteworthy that BLVD 16 restaurant has made a name for itself by hitting all the high notes and then some. That means whether you’re dropping by for dinner or grabbing a tasty small bite after a long flight, prepare to be wowed.
It starts with the freshest ingredients (think organic honeycomb, zucchini flowers and torpedo onions) that Chef Grace Gonzalez interprets with a balance of artful simplicity and genuine LA sizzle, to create a truly memorable experience. And if you’re interested in cocktailing in an inspired setting, here’s our pro tip: enjoy the company of friends or make new ones in our sleekly styled bar where crafty libations infused with fresh juices, house made syrups and top-shelf spirits fuel a delightfully deliciou ~ s experience.
Join us at The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge:

Below: Photos from previous events:

Event starts at 6:30 pm – Ends at 9:30 pm

LOCATION:
The Palomar Hotel’s BLVD 16 Restaurant and Lounge

10740 Wilshire Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone # 310.475.8711
Toll-free: (800) 472-8556
Palomar Hotel

DIRECTIONS:
Directions from the south and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

From the airport, take W. Century Way east for 1.8 miles.
Merge slightly right onto I-405 North. Go 9.3 miles.
Exit onto Wilshire Blvd. Go 1.1 miles.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

Directions from the north and the San Diego Freeway.

From I-405 South / San Diego Freeway, take the Wilshire Blvd. exit. Go 0.2 miles.
Turn right at Wilshire Blvd. Go 1 mile.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

PARKING:
Valet parking is $5.00 – with validation at the bar

Admission:
FREE to attend. Pay for your own food, cocktails & parking.
**Check in with us at the entrance to receive your name tags for networking.
**Happy hour food prices will be provided for our Networking Group!

Happy Networking!

ISA EVENT – TV WEEKEND JANUARY 14 – 15, 2017
2017-01-15 00:00
TV Weekend: Presented by the ISA
Seminar – West Hollywood Brought to you by International Screenwriters’ Association

Regular Registration ends: 01/13/2017
Class Begins: 01/14/2017 Ends: 01/15/2017
Class Time: 9:30 am – (PDT)

FEE: $199 Register For Class

Home Deadlines Instructors Dev. Program Schedule & Bios FAQs Location/Contact Comments (0)

Join us for this ISA Masters Series Seminar where you’ll learn the tools to develop a TV Pilot from concept to pitch, so you can land that studio deal or get staffed on a show. Every writer’s dream is to create longevity in this industry. Let the ISA and our esteemed guests help you! This ISA Masters Series Seminar is sponsored by Nickelodeon.

We kick off the weekend with top TV consultant, Jen Grisanti, who will teach you how to write a TV pilot that sells. Having spent years as a Current Programming Executive, Grisanti knows not only what it takes from a business perspective, but she offers a hands-on, immediately supportive approach to educating writers on what it takes to sell material in this town. After Jen, we will present career consultant and industry expert, Lee Jessup, who will share with you everything you need to know about becoming a working television writer. Lee’s clients continually move from novice, out-of-work screenwriters, to working and career-focused writers who are actually getting paid to do what they love! Both of our guest consultants are offering their expertise for what normally would take most clients weeks, if not months, to learn. Take advantage of their time and insights all in one day! (If you scroll down, you can read all about our fabulous guest consultants.)

On Sunday, veteran consultant and writing expert, Corey Mandell will help you improve your skills to pitch yourself and your ideas, an absolutely essential skill for anyone serious about launching or building a TV writing career. As a TV writer, you are not only attempting to sell a piece of writing, but it’s your responsibility to allow the industry to know who you are on a personal and professional level. Learning how to pitch yourself is just as essential as pitching your project. We will follow Corey’s class with a producer’s panel that will break down and discuss the essentials of presenting your story to the industry, producers, and executives so you know exactly what top producers are looking for in a pitch. Then we will wrap up the day with an interactive pitch event where 10 lucky writers in attendance will get the chance to practice their pitch in front of a panel of industry pros, all of which will give you direct feedback and support.

The skills you’ll learn over this 2-day event will help you turn your good TV script into a great script, and get you ready to pitch and sell at the highest level. This is a highly competitive industry, so let us help you elevate your craft and your career. You can’t afford to miss this!

Open to all storytellers – screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, filmmakers, producers, agents, actors, development executives and more are welcome to attend.

THE CRAFT COURSE
All registrants for TV Weekend will receive The Craft Course ($59 value) for FREE!*

Presented as an online version of the live Master Class hosted by Max Timm in Los Angeles, this course was inspired by his popular writing podcast, The Craft, and will offer you exclusive podcast episodes only online class writers will receive.
Receive immediate access to all lessons, lectures, and audio, and the material provided within this full development screenwriting course will help you build your script, one step at a time. This course allows you to work at your own pace and finish a script in less than 12 weeks!
With the amount of material that is covered in this course, you will not find a more inexpensive course on screenwriting that offers as much as Master the 1st Draft. The International Screenwriters’ Association takes pride in offering services to writers without breaking the bank. Take advantage of what is offered here and we promise you will come away with a stronger draft of your script had you tried to go this route alone.
So jump in and get ready to write!
*Valid only for Craft Course-Online Only, or as a discount from other Craft Courses. A discount code will be emailed to you upon completion of your payment for TV Weekend.

FRIDAY NIGHT SOCIAL – APRIL 7TH at PALOMAR HOTEL at 6:30 p.m.
2017-04-08 00:00
Friday Night Social ~ April 7, 2017 ~ NEW LOCATION: Double Take Restaurant and Lounge

Event Date: Friday, April 7, 2017 || Starts at 6:30 pm || Co-sponsoring with Jennifer Grisanti
Friday Night Social is a networking group that meets the first Friday of every month. It started as a way for TV and feature writers to meet one another and has evolved into so much more. This is a great way to “Network”. Plan on meeting people from different areas and levels in the entertainment industry.

IMPORTANT:

Please REGISTER before 10:00 pm on Thursday, April 6, 2017

This month’s Friday Night Social is being held at The Palomar Hotel’s Double Take Restaurant and Lounge area. Please join Jennifer Grisanti and SWN at this location for this month’s Friday Night Social “Networking” event.
Double Take is all about the energy of the west Los Angeles modern bar scene that effortlessly compliments an avant-garde approach to classic comfort cuisine. With an edgy aesthetic that pays homage to the local independent filmmakers who took part in making Los Angeles what it is today.
Double Take, A New Beverly Hills Restaurant – Situated in the midst of Wilshire Blvd, between Beverly Hills and UCLA, Double Take at Hotel Palomar Beverly Hills is a dining hotspot inspired by a Hollywood backlot. Chef Bryan Podgorski’s serves up unfussy, market-inspired snacks, salads and entrées that shine with Southern California ingredients. Grab coffee and house-baked pastries on your way out in the morning or linger over breakfast while working in the lounge. After work, let Sarah Mengoni’s updated takes on classic cocktails mellow you into evening.
Join us at The Palomar Hotel’s Double Take Restaurant and Lounge:

Below: Photos from previous events:

Event starts at 6:30 pm – Ends at 9:30 pm

LOCATION:
The Palomar Hotel’s Double Take Restaurant and Lounge

10740 Wilshire Blvd #101, Los Angeles, CA 90024

Phone # 310.475.8711
Toll-free: (800) 472-8556
Palomar Hotel

DIRECTIONS:
Directions from the south and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).

From the airport, take W. Century Way east for 1.8 miles.
Merge slightly right onto I-405 North. Go 9.3 miles.
Exit onto Wilshire Blvd. Go 1.1 miles.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

Directions from the north and the San Diego Freeway.

From I-405 South / San Diego Freeway, take the Wilshire Blvd. exit. Go 0.2 miles.
Turn right at Wilshire Blvd. Go 1 mile.
Kimpton Hotel Palomar Los Angeles Beverly Hills is located at 10740 Wilshire Boulevard at Selby Avenue.

PARKING:
Valet parking is $10.00 – with validation at the bar.

Admission:
FREE to attend. Pay for your own food, cocktails & parking.
**Check in with us at the entrance to receive your name tags for networking.

Happy Networking!

CREATING A TV PILOT THAT GOES OUTSIDE THE BOX WEBINAR – APRIL 13, 2017
2017-04-13 00:00
Creating a TV Pilot That Goes Outside the Box

At a Glance

During this webinar, you will learn the story tools that it takes to write a pilot that sells.
Jen will illustrate through the discussion of current shows how to create compelling season arcs that will emotionally connect with your audience.
Discover how to write a pilot that will get your recognized.

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Please note: Each registration comes with access to the recorded version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation.
ABOUT THE WEBINAR
Want to know how to write a pilot that sells? In this course, Jen Grisanti will go over how to create compelling concepts with strong series arcs that go outside the box. When the series arc is linked to the wound, you set up an emotional reason for your audience to return.
Shows that reveal the arc of the wound throughout the first season are shows that connect with the audience. You do this by understanding the wound that happens off camera. You connect this wound to the series trigger and dilemma. The series trigger and dilemma should split open this wound. This creates a negative narrative and flaw that causes the central character to get in her/his own way of success. The pilot arc should be one step toward healing the wound.
The success of a series all comes down to the set up of the structure and character in the pilot episode. When we understand why the character wants what they want, you create anticipation for the season as well as the episode.
Jen believes that the key to strong story all comes down to character, structure and conflict. She will go over shows that are outside the box conceptually and have very compelling series arcs.
She will cover shows including – MARCELLA/Netflix, RIVER/Netflix, HAPPY VALLEY/Netflix and FLEABAG/Amazon.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

How do set up a strong season arc.
How to create a compelling character with a personal dilemma.
How to link your series arc and your pilot arc.
How to create anticipation through the arc of the wound.
How to resolve the pilot pursuit and set up the series.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Writers who are writing TV pilots.
Writers who want to understand more about how to take their story to a deeper place.
Writers who want to know how to better connect with their audience on an emotional level.
Writers who have great ideas but don’t know how to execute them.
Writers that want to sell their pilots.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
All you need is a computer or iOS device, and an internet connection. You’ll be able to view the presentation and listen to the audio over computer speakers; however, you’ll enjoy much better audio quality if you use a telephone. See below for complete system requirements.
To test your connection before the live webinar, visit this web page.
BONUS: With purchase of this webinar, you will receive $79.99 off of a yearly subscription to the Screenwriting Tutorials website, which has specialized tutorials from experts that explore screenwriting topics covered nowhere else on the web!

Product Details

Return policy: This item is not eligible for return.

Meet the Author: Jen Grisanti

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ra…
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TV WEEKEND CHICAGO: MAY 5-7, 2017 ISA- FROM CONCEPT TO STUDIO DEAL
2017-05-08 00:00
May
05
TV Weekend Chicago: From Concept to Studio Deal!
by International Screenwriters’ Association
$224 – $374
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TV Weekend Chicago: From Concept to Studio Deal!
Fri, May 5, 2017, 3:00 PM – Sun, May 7, 2017, 6:00 PM CDT
$224 – $374
Event Information
Description
TV Weekend- CHICAGO: From Concept to Studio Deal!
EARLY Registration ends: APRIL 10th – $299 for 3 day pass
REGULAR Registration: April 11th – May 1st – $350 for 3 day pass
After our successful event in Los Angeles, we’re bringing the team to the midwest for another great TV weekend.
There’s never been a better time to write for TV. Some are saying we’ve moved past the Golden Age of Television right into the Platinum Age. That’s how big it’s gotten, but how do you break in? How do you get your start? What tools do you need to prepare yourself to compete?
Join us for this ISA Masters Series Seminar where you’ll learn the tools to develop a TV Pilot from concept to pitch, so you can land that studio deal or get staffed on a show. Every writer’s dream is to create longevity in this industry. Let the ISA and our esteemed guests help you!
Each paid registrant receives THE CRAFT COURSE (value $69) and a subscription to MovieMaker Magazine for FREE!
To kick off the ISA’s TV Weekend Chicago, we are presenting a lecture breaking down NBC’s TIMELESS and Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS by the ISA’s Director of Community Outreach and co-head of the ISA Development Program, Max Timm. Having launched The Craft Course in Screenwriting, and with over a decade of experience in working one-on-one with writers of all genres and formats, Max will share his insights, lessons, and breakdown of the most essential element of any TV series, the recurring moment.
Saturday we continue with top TV consultant, Jen Grisanti, who will teach you how to write a TV pilot that sells. Having spent years as a Current Programming Executive, Grisanti knows not only what it takes from a business perspective, but she offers a hands-on, immediately supportive approach to educating writers on what it takes to sell material to a network. After Jen, we will present career consultant and industry expert, Lee Jessup, who will share with you everything you need to know about becoming a working television writer. Lee’s clients continually move from novice, out-of-work screenwriters, to working and career-focused writers who are actually getting paid to do what they love! Both of our guest consultants are offering their expertise for what normally would take most clients weeks, if not months, to learn. Take advantage of their time and insights all in one day! (If you scroll down, you can read all about our fabulous guest consultants.)
On Sunday, veteran consultant and writing expert, Corey Mandell will help you improve your skills to pitch yourself and your ideas, an absolutely essential skill for anyone serious about launching or building a TV writing career. As a TV writer, you are not only attempting to sell a piece of writing, but it’s your responsibility to allow the industry to know who you are on a personal and professional level. Learning how to pitch yourself is just as essential as pitching your project. We will follow Corey’s class with an industry panel that will focus on how to make the most of your screenwriting career, intentions, and creative pursuits no matter where in the country you live. Then we will wrap up the day with an interactive pitch event where 10 lucky writers in attendance will get the chance to practice their pitch in front of a panel of industry pros, all of which will give you direct feedback and support.
The skills you’ll learn over this 3-day event will help you turn your good TV script into a great script, and get you ready to pitch and sell at the highest level. This is a highly competitive industry, so let us help you elevate your craft and your career. You can’t afford to miss this!
Open to all storytellers – screenwriters, TV writers, novelists, filmmakers, producers, agents, actors, development executives and more are welcome to attend.

CLASS SCHEDULE SUMMARY
Friday, May 5th – 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
3:00 pm – 6:00 pm – NBC’s TIMELESS and Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS:
Breaking Down Story Through The Recurring Moment with Max Timm
Saturday, May 6th – 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
9:00 am – 1:15 pm – WRITING A PILOT THAT SELLS with Jen Grisanti
1:15 pm – 2:30 pm – Lunch
2:30 pm – 5:30 pm – YOUR TELEVISION WRITING CAREER with Lee Jessup
Sunday, May 7th – 9:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m.
9:00 am – 12:15 pm – PITCHING PILOTS THAT SELL with Corey Mandell
12:15 pm – 1:30 pm – Lunch
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm – Industry Panel
3:15 pm – 5:15 pm – Pitching Event, Moderated by Corey Mandell

BREAKDOWN OF EVENTS and SPEAKERS
NBC’s TIMELESS and Netflix’s STRANGER THINGS:
Breaking Down Story Through The Recurring Moment with Max Timm
Friday: 3:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Audiences will tune in to watch a pilot episode due to the basic conceptual make-up of a particular show, its tone, and possibly a leading actor, but they continue watching the series if and when the well-crafted characters are entertaining, emotionally developed, and intertwined with a unique sequence of recurring and repeated action. What does all of that really mean? What kind of ride will you put your audience on, and more importantly, how do you develop a show that will continually entertain the audience week in and week out? Using examples from the hit NBC drama Timeless, and Netflix’s cult-favorite, Stranger Things, Max will break down the storylines for each show in order to prove how important it is to develop your own show’s recurring moment before ever writing a page of the script.
MAX TIMM
The Director of Community Outreach with the International Screenwriters’ Association, and with over a decade of experience in developing material and writers’ careers, Max Timm’s focus with the ISA is to build a creative community and bring ISA writers closer to ISA Industry Professionals. Having attended Holy Cross College at Notre Dame and then transferring to Columbia College Chicago to study screenwriting and producing, Max is a Midwesterner and Chicagoan at heart who prides himself on supporting creative people in as many ways possible. Recently he helped build a development program with the ISA, submitting writers’ projects on their behalf and helping them launch their careers – eight writers received options and representation in 2015-16 because of Max’s assistance and support. His Personal Coaching Service develops working writers and their material much like a studio executive would, and his online classes, titled The Craft Course in Screenwriting, offer writers outside the Los Angeles area to take part in professional full development.
A development consultant, manager, and screenwriting instructor, Max is a screenwriter and author himself. His debut novel, a young adult fantasy adventure titled The WishKeeper, about a teenage fairy with broken wings, won the young adult category of the 2015 Los Angeles Book Festival and released nationwide in the Summer of 2016. Max has also served as a part-time instructor at UCLA, will be a mentor in 2017 with the acclaimed Rocaberti Castle Writers Retreat, and travels nationally and internationally speaking at a multitude of industry events such as the Sundance Film Festival, Nashville Writers Conference, and even educating art program teachers through the LA Unified School District.
WRITING THE TV PILOT THAT SELLS:
Telling the Inside Story Through Structure and Emotion with Jen Grisanti
Saturday: 9:00 am – 1:15 pm
The key to becoming a working writer or creating longevity as a working writer is writing a TV pilot script that they can’t ignore. The pilot script is one of the hardest to write. In this 4-hour Master Series class Jen Grisanti will take you through her story system that has led 44 of her clients to sell their pilots, five of which went to series. Part of her system includes story structure, writing memorable characters and character dynamics, creating a strong internal story and she will do a workshop element on adding fiction to your truth. She plans to discuss the following shows – FLEABAG (Amazon), WESTWORLD (HBO) and NIGHT MANAGER (AMC) and recommends that the participants watch the pilots for these shows.
JEN GRISANTI
Mentored by Aaron Spelling, one of the greatest executives and most prolific producers in the business, Jen learned early on how to develop a story and make a script the best it could be before it hit the air. She worked with the executive producers, showrunners and staff of over 15 primetime shows such as: Medium, Numbers, NCIS, Girlfriends, Charmed, Seventh Heaven, Melrose Place, 90210 and many more. She has helped to launch countless writing careers over the last twenty-five years. As a nine-year Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a 12-year former studio executive and a panelist for the WGA and DGA, she also helped other creative talents see the business through the eyes of an executive. Jen’s system for telling and selling story has also led to SEVENTY-FIVE OF HER WRITERS GETTING STAFFED.
YOUR TELEVSION WRITING CAREER
with Lee Jessup
Saturday: 2:30 pm – 5:30 pm
In this 3-hour Master Series class Lee will share with you everything you need to know about becoming a working television writer. This session will explore the current television landscape, the realities and requirements for landing the agent or manager who will become instrumental for connecting you with the television industry, the various paths available for staffing on a show or selling your pilot, the contests, fellowships and programs available to writers seeking to stand out in the television space, and much more.
LEE JESSUP
Lee is a career coach for professional and emerging screenwriters, with an exclusive focus on the screenwriter’s ongoing professional development. Her clients include working screenwriters who have sold screenplays and pilots to major studios and booked writing assignments, staffed television writers, best-selling authors, television writing programs and feature fellowships participants, contest winners, as well as emerging screenwriters just starting on their screenwriting journey. In her role as career coach, Lee serves as a sort of industry guidance counselor, adviser, drill Sargent, cheerleader, confidant and strategic partner. Lee’s knowledge and expertise in the space have been utilized by such entities as the WGA, NBC International, and FilmCourage, to name a few, as well as screenwriting conferences and film festivals across the United States and around the world. Her previous book, Getting It Write: An Insider’s Guide To A Screenwriting Career is a bestseller, and her next book Breaking In: Tales From the Screenwriting Trenches is due out from Focal Press in late 2016/early 2017. Additionally, she has been the interview subject of countless podcasts and screenwriting-centric websites. With her husband, two children, a dog, two cats, and hippie parents living upstairs, Lee currently resides in Los Angeles, where she continues to shepherd, champion and challenge her stable of talented, ambitious and dedicated writers.
PITCHING PILOTS THAT SELL
with Corey Mandell
Sunday: 9:00 am – 12:15 pm
The ability to pitch yourself and your ideas is an absolutely essential skill for anyone serious about launching or building a TV writing career. In addition to knowing what is required to sell an original idea in the current marketplace, writers need to know how to effectively market themselves in the room in order to land a staff writing job. In this 3-hour Master Series Class, Corey teaches the specific pitching skills and techniques that have helped his students and clients sell pitches to all of the major broadcast, cable and streaming buyers.
COREY MANDELL
Corey is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Walt Disney Pictures and more.
His Professional Screenwriting and Television Writing Workshops offer an alternative to the same old tired rules and formulas found in most screenwriting classes, books and seminars. In the past three years, 87 graduates of his classes have sold original pilots. Others have been staffed on such shows as Community, The Fosters, Jane The Vigrin, Bones, Justificed, BoJack Horseman, The Mentalist, Marvel’s Agents of the Shield, Up All Night, Rosewood, The Leftovers, Treme and more.
INDUSTRY PANEL DISCUSSION – Navigating the Screenwriting Business and Breaking into Hollywood from Chicago
moderated by ISA’s Max Timm
Sunday: 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm
Join the ISA as we host a panel of distinguished industry guests who will focus on how to make the most of your screenwriting career, intentions, and creative pursuits no matter where in the country you live. With a focus on the Chicago creative community, the ISA will bring you an educational, empowering, and inspiring panel that will get you excited to pursue your writing dreams, with a practical and realistic approach.
ANGIE GAFFNEY
Angie Gaffney is a Midwest-based producer and entrepreneur who serves as the President of Black Apple Media and Co-Founder of Stage 18 Chicago.
CRAIG J. HARRIS
A veteran TV Producer with numerous credits and hundreds of hours of produced programming, including CNN’s Chicagoland and A&E’s The First 48, Craig J. Harris is also an award winning Writer, whose work has been recognized with five Emmys and a Telly Award.
More panelists TBD soon.
PITCHING EVENT and COMPETITION
moderated by Corey Mandell
Sunday: 3:15 pm – 5:15 pm
Ten lucky writers registered for TV Weekend will get the chance to pitch our Producer’s Panel. The panel will provide notes and give advice on their pitch. The top two pitches will receive a FREE ISA Development Program Evaluation valued at $199!
To apply to pitch you must be registered for TV Weekend. Once you are confirmed you’ll receive an email notification with the information needed to submit to pitch. All pitches will be considered, 10 will be chosen to pitch on stage. Please come prepared to pitch or listen and learn, and be sure to have fun!
HOTEL LODGING & TRANSPORTATION
We do not have any arrangement with local hotels but here is a list you can check out to secure your stay:

Silversmith Hotel
The Alise Chicago
The Congress Plaza Hotel

Travel to and from the event is up to you. There is a train station location nearby. Please refer to the Chicago Transit Authority for details.
THE CRAFT COURSE

All registrants for TV Weekend will receive The Craft Course ($69 value) for FREE!*
Presented as an online version of the live Master Class hosted by Max Timm in Los Angeles, this course was inspired by his popular writing podcast, The Craft, and will offer you exclusive podcast episodes only online class writers will receive.
Receive immediate access to all lessons, lectures, and audio, and the material provided within this full development screenwriting course will help you build your script, one step at a time. This course allows you to work at your own pace and finish a script in less than 12 weeks!
With the amount of material that is covered in this course, you will not find a more inexpensive course on screenwriting that offers as much as The Craft Course. The International Screenwriters’ Association takes pride in offering services to writers without breaking the bank. Take advantage of what is offered here and we promise you will come away with a stronger draft of your script had you tried to go this route alone.
So jump in and get ready to write!
*Valid only for Craft Course-Online Only, or as a discount from other Craft Courses. A discount code will be emailed to you upon completion of your payment for TV Weekend.
DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM EVALUATION

For a limited time, you can add an ISA Development Program Evaluaton ($199 value) for only $150 with your TV Weekend registration.
The ISA Development Program can now be accessed through application! This specialized program was created to develop and support emerging screenwriters who have yet to secure an agent or manager, while helping writers better navigate this highly competitive business to find a path to break through. Our mission is to ultimately help you get represented and sell your work.

After applying and regardless of acceptance into the program, your material will receive a full evaluation with up to five pages of notes. Your project will be rated and considered for inclusion in the ISA’s Development Program and, if accepted, will immediately enable you and your project to be submitted to ISA approved agents, managers, production companies, producers and more.
EIGHT writers in the program have signed with an agency or had their work optioned in the past TEN months. You can find out more about the ISA Development Program below, or by visiting www.networkisa.org.

2017 STORYWISE TV SPEC & PILOT TELESEMINAR – BEGINS MARCH 7, 2017
2017-05-17 00:00
This is a 10-week program designed to help you write a high quality TV pilot AND spec script. In 10-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, you will gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a very valuable resource. You all will have the opportunity to learn from one another via networking, exchanging scripts and possibly starting your own writer groups.
I’ve seen the success from this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this 10-week course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Forty-One of my writers have sold pilots… and 5 of them have gone to series.
Each class will consist of a half-hour of instruction (you will receive these videos before each class to watch at your leisure.) Each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the 4 writers participating at Level #3 and I will choose one writer from Level 2 or Level 4 each week to participate. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your own notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, five people that sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as give you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have an opportunity to sign up for this.
LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec and TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $375.00

Rate for writers who have taken this before – $225.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and/or TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $900.00

Level 2 w/ TV Spec Consult
Regular Rate – $875.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $775.00

Level 2 w/ TV Pilot and Spec Consult
Regular Rate – $1,600.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $1,275.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV spec and/or TV pilot script. This includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
For the first time, I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can either write one TV pilot during the 10 weeks or you can write 2 TV pilots during the 10 weeks.
There are only 4 SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit 10 pages of a script. I will select 4 submissions out of everyone that submits and announce these slots in February. The rate for Level 3 is $3,000.00.
The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is February 13, 2017.
LEVEL 4
Level 4 is SOLD OUT.

ASSIGNMENTS
The Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.
Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. No direct feedback is provided; however, this is where you can use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts weekly and get feedback.
GUEST SPEAKERS

WEEK 1
Brandon Sonnier and Brandon Margolis (THE BLACKLIST)
WEEK 2
Rick Muirragui (SUITS)
WEEK 3
Dee Harris Lawrence (ZOO, CHICAGO PD, ZERO HOUR, 10-8)
WEEK 4
Dan O’Shannon (MODERN FAMILY, FRASIER, CHEERS, etc.)
WEEK 5
Lee Jessup – Career Consultant For Writers (Comedy or Drama pitches)
WEEK 6
Chitra Sampath (GOOD BEHAVIOR, SECRETS & LIES, SLEEPY HOLLOW, SOUTHLAND)
WEEK 7
Brian Anthony (THE NIGHT SHIFT, CONSTANTINE, IRONSIDE, ARMY WIVES)
WEEK 8
Ali LeRoi (SURVIVOR’S REMORSE, ARE WE THERE YET? EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS)
WEEK 9
Michael Narducci(THE ORIGINALS, VAMPIRE DIARIES, MEDIUM)
WEEK 10
John K Bucher – Author and Award Winning Writer/Director
Link to John’s article – 5 Story Techniques From Better Call Saul

SCHEDULE
Week 1 – Tuesday March 7, 2017
We will go over the notes for the concepts of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Week 2, Tuesday March 14, 2017
We will go over the notes for the outline of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Week 3, Tuesday March 21, 2017
We will go over the notes for the first draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 4, Tuesday, March 28, 2017
We will go over the notes for the second draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 5, Tuesday, April 4, 2017
We will go over the notes for the third draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 6, Tuesday, April 11, 2017
We will go over the notes for the concepts for the pilot scripts for Level #3.

EASTER BREAK THE WEEK OF 4/16/17

WEEK 7, Tuesday April 25, 2017
We will go over the notes for the outlines for the pilot scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 8, Tuesday May 2, 2017
We will go over the notes for the first draft or first half of the first draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 9, Tuesday May 9, 2017
We will go over the notes for the second draft or full-first draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.
WEEK 10, Tuesday May 16, 2017
We will go over the notes for the third draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.

CHANGE YOUR STORY, CHANGE YOUR LIFE SCREENWRITING AND YOGA RETREAT IN NICARAGUA – MAY 22 – MAY 28, 2017
2017-05-28 00:00
Change Your Story, Change Your Life

Alta is teaming up with Screencraft to bring you an intensive screenwriting and yoga retreat in Nicaragua! Join fellow writers and yoga enthusiasts for a 6-day intimate experience that delves into the craft of screenwriting and creative writing. Increase clarity, focus and inspiration to support your creative potential through optional daily yoga and meditation sessions.
Jen Grisanti—former studio executive, acclaimed story consultant, and writing instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge—leads us through an exceptional writing workshop. In the morning, instructional classes on valuable story tools and a system of story hones your unique voice as a writer along with the voices of your characters. Afternoons include writing workshops, excursions and free writing time. Whether you’re looking for creative inspiration or seeking completion of your novel, TV pilot or feature screenplay, this retreat will take your writing to the next level!
Jake Paul White, yoga instructor and design expert, leads us through twice daily optional yoga sessions and meditations. All yoga experience levels are welcome! The practice of yoga opens your body and mind to deeper learning, providing you with opportunities to unlock your full creative potential and achieve personal growth. Jake also leads additional discussions on topics including branding yourself and breaking into creative industries.
Life comes in many shades, both positive and negative. Writing explores life in both its light and dark experiences, together forming the hero’s journey. This is the journey you are about to embrace—identifying your voice and message and writing from a place of emotional truth. You will go through a system of story that has led many of Jen’s clients to sell their stories and become working writers in Hollywood and beyond. There is so much to learn from story tools in fiction that you can apply to your life and your own personal narrative. Writing is healing. When you do the emotional work, your story evolves.
This pristine jungle paradise on the Emerald Coast is the perfect place to reconnect with nature and break away from typical distractions that hinder your growth. Sources for inspiration include surfing, kayaking, horseback riding and jungle trekking. This retreat is a unique opportunity to gain a fresh perspective and get to know other inspiring, talented writers. You will leave feeling revived, with the tools necessary to access your full potential as a creator and achieve success in your writing career.

Submit your feature film or TV pilot screenplay for a chance to win an ALL-EXPENSES-PAID trip to Nicaragua!

Learn More

Instructors

Jen Grisanti
Writing instructor, story consultant and author
jengrisanti.com

Jen is an international speaker, acclaimed story/career consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., writing instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success. In 2008, Jen launched a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Jen has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have been staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series. She has taught classes, led workshops and served on panels at some of the world’s most prestigious screenwriting conferences. Jen will be available for one-on-one story consultations at an additional cost.
Follow Jen on Instagram: @jengrisanti

Jake Paul White
Yoga instructor and designer
jpwyoga.com

Jake is a UK based yoga instructor and designer who has been studying the art of movement for over 10 years. With over 1000 hours of trainings in yoga, Budokon yoga and Acroyoga under his belt, his motivation to share, teach and give is completely clear. Jake builds his classes on two principles: balance and creativity. He believes that balance and unification between the mind and body are key components to any class, while creativity allows for the freedom of self-expression. Jake is also highly trained in alignment and adjustments to make any student—from beginners to experts—feel safe and comfortable. His classes aim to inspire and challenge you, allowing you to become more self-aware, as well as more powerful. From the physical pose to the non-physical mind, this is where the journey lies. Jake has taught at retreats and yoga festivals around the world, in addition to teaching regular classes at London’s popular Another_Space Studio. When not on his mat, Jake does branding and design work for some of the most influential yogis and yoga brands—including Alta Retreats!
Follow Jake on Instagram: @jake_paul_white

“Jen Grisanti gave me the tools to mine my own experiences and translate them into any genre. She has a rare expertise in crafting story with both emotional depth and efficient structure… And what’s more, she’s an ace at teaching others how to do it.”
– Gina Montreal, Co-Executive Producer at NCIS

THE ROCABERTI CASTLE WRITERS RETREAT IN SPAIN – JULY 9-14, 2017
2017-07-15 00:00
The Rocaberti Castle Writers Retreat

July 9th-14th, 2017
Rocaberti Castle, Figueres
(75 miles from Barcelona, Spain)

Making the impossible happen

Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve already published your book and are wondering about how to turn it into a screenplay?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writer’s retreat at the enchanting 14th century Rocaberti Castle, halfway between Barcelona and the French border, we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

The first Rocaberti Retreat, held in March 2016, completely transcended all expectations: out of the eleven writers who attended, one had her script optioned before the end of the retreat (with the deal being brokered on the shuttle back to Barcelona!), two are currently in the midst of negotiations for their script or book to be optioned and deals are in the works for several others … the impossible did happen, and it happened at Rocaberti!
Attendees called the retreat, “A magical, miraculous event” and “Inspirational; transformative”.
Here’s what Georgia Clark, winner of the first Rocaberti Scholarship, said about her Rocaberti experience:
“I was honored to be awarded the scholarship for the inaugural Rocaberti Writers Retreat. My mentor was simply fabulous: experienced, generous, warm, funny and insightful. We made great headway on helping turn my new adult fiction THE REGULARS into a feature film. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, and all in Spain!

Click here for photos from the first retreat

Your Summer 2017 Rocaberti Retreat mentors include Jen Grisanti, former Studio Executive and VP of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount and now a highly sought-after Story and Career Consultant; Max Timm, award-winning novelist and screenwriting instructor, whose work with the International Screenwriters’ Association in connecting writers with industry professionals has resulted in seven writers receiving options and representation in the last year alone; Debra Landwehr Engle, best-selling author with over 25 years’ experience helping writers secure agents and land publishing deals, and novelist and screenwriter Claire Elizabeth Terry, whose original screenplay, 4 Roses, is being filmed this year.
We’ve joined forces because we want to help show you how to bring your “literary twins”—your book and screenplay—to life! Not only how to finish writing them (an art in itself, as anyone who has an unfinished manuscript or screenplay lying around their home will tell you!) but also how to have them successfully published … and made into a movie!
You’ll be part of a small and exclusive group of a maximum of 16 writers at the retreat.
Through focused, practical presentations in the mornings, afternoon mentoring sessions, evening social events—and with a mentor/writer ratio of approximately 1:4—you’ll learn how to tell your story on the page and on the screen, and be one step closer to seeing your dream come to life!

About

Write. Engage. Experience.

Sound enticing? We’re inviting writers of fiction, non-fiction, and for the screen to come join us for what promises to be a memorable (and productive!) experience. Enrollment is limited to just 16 guests to ensure small class size and maximum access to our mentors.
Picture yourself staying at a 14th century castle (how’s that for inspiration?). Participating in stimulating workshops. Enjoying a glass of wine with a produced screenwriter, film producer or published author. Sharing your work with others for constructive feedback. Just taking the time to breathe—and to write, away from the demands of your daily routine. Imagine the conversations that might unfold daily around the breakfast table or on a walk into the village.
Whether you’ve written a book, are working on a screenplay—or are just thinking about it!—wherever you are in the process, we’re here to help you move forward and show you that dreams can become reality!
This retreat is for you if…

You’re working on a book/screenplay combination or have an idea for one.
You have a book and want to turn it into a screenplay or vice-versa—or sell it directly to Hollywood.
You’re unsure how to get your book/screenplay in front of agents and producers.
You’re serious about completing your project and making your dream come true!

The retreat includes…

Expert Tuition
Small group mentoring sessions
All meals and drinks (including alcoholic beverages and snacks)
Five nights’ lodging
Round-trip transportation between Barcelona and Rocaberti Castle
Exclusive access

Reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Program

Sunday, July 9th
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
Thursday Evening and Friday

The retreat commences the evening of Sunday, July 9th, with welcome cocktails, dinner and then, with a glass of fine Rioja in hand, a group discussion about writing around the fireplace in the castle’s historical salon.

Please reserve my spot at the retreat

Your accommodation

When you go on a retreat to focus on your writing, you want a place which both inspires you and strengthens your commitment to your craft. (And if it happens to make you feel like royalty, while doing so? All the better!)
Which is why we chose the spectacular Rocaberti Castle, just one hour from Barcelona, Spain.
Situated in a traditional Catalan village, this four-story medieval castle offers breathtaking views of the surrounding countryside and hills. Its spiral staircase, stone-carved archways, enclosed courtyard, antique writing desks and hidden window seats all conspire to transport you to a long-forgotten time of inspiration, simplicity and yes, fun!
Each bedroom in the castle is completely unique and we strongly urge you to reserve your place on the retreat early, so that you can book the room of your choice.

Room 2

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Room 10

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Room 1

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Room 13

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All rooms have ensuite bathrooms with either a tub and/or shower, except for two, where the bathroom, although private, is accessed through a separate entrance. When you reserve your spot on the retreat and indicate your preferred room, we’ll contact you to fill you in on the unique details of each room.

Please reserve my place now

Your Rocaberti Retreat Mentors

Please note: our Mentors’ section is in the process of being updated: more mentors to be announced soon!

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.

Menotti (pen name of Roberto Marchionni) works in Rome, has lived in Germany but was born in Italy a long time ago.
He studied Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy, Semiotics in Berlin, Germany and Filmmaking in New York (NYU).
As an award-winning comic book artist, Roberto has worked for Italian and international magazines, such as Frigidaire, Comic Art, Il Manifesto, Cyborg, Mondo Naif and Blue. He also co-created the graphic novel Europa, published by Black Velvet.
As a screenwriter, he’s written several successful TV series, from Un posto al sole to Incantesimo, L’onore e il rispetto, La squadra and 7 Vite.
Besides other short and feature films, Roberto co-wrote Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot (‘They Call Me Jeeg Robot’), the first Italian superhero film, nominated for best screenplay and winner of seven statuettes at the David di Donatello Awards 2016.

Debra Landwehr Engle, our literary expert, has been successfully mentoring writers for the last 20 years and has helped both fiction and nonfiction authors complete their manuscripts, secure agents and land publishing deals.
She is the author of the best-selling The Only Little Prayer You Need: The Shortest Route to a Life of Joy, Abundance and Peace of Mind, which was published by Hampton Roads in October 2014. Thanks to the help of retreat founder and organizer, Claire Elizabeth Terry, her book features a foreword by the Dalai Lama and an endorsement by Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu.
She is also the author of Grace from the Garden: Changing the World One Garden at a Time and the upcoming Let Your Spirit Guides Speak, which will be released in September 2016 by Hampton Roads.
Debra has worked in publishing her entire career, beginning as a newspaper copywriter and Better Homes and Gardens book editor, then starting her own freelance business (much to her father’s chagrin!) just as she was going through a divorce.
Committed to making a living on her own, she went on to build a thriving business, writing hundreds of articles for such national publications as Better Homes and Gardens, Country Home, Country Gardens and other lifestyle magazines. She also has served as project manager on publications for Fortune 500 companies, sharpening her skills in crafting a story for any audience.
These days, Debra combines her love of writing and publishing with her lifelong interest in spirituality. Twelve years ago, she co-founded Tending Your Inner Garden®, a women’s program of personal and spiritual growth, and began teaching classes in A Course in Miracles.
Debra and her husband Bob live in Madison County, Iowa, the location that inspired the literary and film phenomenon, The Bridges of Madison County.

Claire Elizabeth Terry is your Rocaberti Castle Retreat host and moderator and is a British screenwriter, travel writer and novelist.
After graduating, she worked for several years in British theatre, where she fought for, and won, the right to become the first female stage-hand at the Royal National Theatre, London.
Short-listed for the Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize, Claire has also written for the Rough Guides travel series.
In 2008, Claire conceived, compiled and edited The Art of Living: a Practical Guide to Being Alive, published by Kairós Publishers in both English and Spanish, the profits from which are donated to Green Cross International, the environmental organization founded by Mikhail Gorbachev.
The book includes contributions from Michael Douglas, Desmond Tutu, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Mario Vargas Llosa, Richard Branson, Mikhail Gorbachev and several members of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations.
Claire is also the founder and president of the website and not-for-profit of the same name, The Art of Living Guide. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, the former Director General of UNESCO, sits on the Honorary Board.
She is the screenwriter and co-producer of the upcoming film 4 ROSES, about four friends from all over the world, whose lives are transformed when a rose is secretly drawn for each of the women.
George Parra, the Executive Producer of Silver Linings Playbook, Nebraska, The Descendants and Sideways, is attached to direct.
Claire’s novel of the movie, I Draw Roses was published in 2013.

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

The retreat is from $4,995 / 4,395€ / £3,495 per person, including sales tax, 5 nights’ accommodation at Rocaberti Castle, all meals and drinks (including alcoholic beverages and snacks), all tuition and round-trip transportation between Barcelona airport and the castle.

Official Sponsor

The International Screenwriters’ Association

THURSDAY AUGUST 3, 2017 – FUTURE OF STORY PANEL w/ MWP & Stage 32
2017-08-04 00:00
Stage 32 & Michael Wiese Productions Present: The Future of Story – Los Angeles

On Thursday, August 3rd in LA, Stage 32 and Michael Wiese Productions are thrilled to bring you an intimate and educational evening with some of the industry’s top writers, coaches and teachers working today.
Join Jen Grisanti, Steve Kaplan, Christopher Vogler, Alvaro Rodriguez and Richard Botto for a timely panel on the craft and business of screenwriting in 2017 . Our esteemed panelists will be covering a wide range of topics including the current state of the industry, what’s hot in television and features, where most writers struggle with their craft and much more. We’ll also be taking questions from the audience and may even critique a pitch or two!
But we did say this would be an intimate evening as well. So, after the panel, join us for an extended cocktail hour and networking event sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the official vodka of Stage 32. Meet your fellow scribes and get up and close with not only the panelists, but a dozen more Michael Wiese authors!

Stage 32 & Michael Wiese Productions Present: The Future of Story – Los Angeles
Date: Thursday, August 3, 2017
Time: 7:00pm – 10:00pm (doors open at 6:30pm)
Location: WeWork La Brea Terrace, 925 N La Brea Ave, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90038 (map)
Parking: Parking available on 2 levels of the WeWork parking garage for $15, and FREE parking is available at the Target and Sprouts parking structure down the block

Drinks: provided by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the official vodka of Stage 32

Light Snacks: provided by WeWork

Michael Wiese Productions books will be sold at a 40% discount exclusively at this event. Buy a book and get it signed by your favorite MWP Author.

RSVP: here

Space is limited, so please reserve your place early before all spots sell out!

Reserve your spot now!

About The Evening
Panel Discussion: Screenwriting & the Marketplace: 2017

7:00pm – 8:30pm
Our esteemed group of panelists will be discussing the state of the screenwriting industry today, writing trends they are seeing and offer tips & advice for screenwriters to navigate the business. We will be discussing the craft, including trends we are seeing in film and TV scripts right now including successful case studies. We will also be discussing the barriers of entry for both first time screenwriters as well as those established writers trying to navigate today’s ever shifting landscape. We’ll discuss the bending and meshing of genre and how Netflix and Amazon have not only influenced the marketplace, but the craft as well. You will receive tips on how to navigate the new paradigm of studio, cable and streaming and what that means for your career. Best of all, you’ll be able to ask questions during our extended Q&A session.
This is sure to be the most informative panel you’ll attend this year. Please remember to book early!

Networking Mixer / Meet the Authors!
8:30pm – 10:00pm
After the panel, we’ll let our hair down a bit with a relaxed networking mixer. You’ll not only be able to mingle with your fellow scribes and make new connections and friends, but you’ll be able to meet and speak with the panelists and more than two dozen additional Michael Wiese authors. This is an incredible opportunity to mingle, learn and build meaningful relationships. Oh, and the entire hour and a half is sponsored by Tito’s Handmade Vodka, the official vodka of Stage 32!
Other MWP Authors in Attendance
25 additional MWP authors with expertise in Scriptwriting, TV, Film, and Production will be on hand to network and meet with you. You will be able to meet and exchange business cards with top professionals in the business.

Reserve Your Spot Now!

Like this blog post? Please share it on social media (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, email etc) by using social media buttons at the top of the blog. Or post to your personal blog and anywhere else you feel appropriate. Thank you.
As always, we welcome thoughts and remarks on ANY of the content above in the Comments section below…

THE SCRIPT LAB SCREENWRITING SUMMIT – AUGUST 26-27, 2017
2017-08-28 00:00
*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

2 Days, 30 Speakers, Free Online
The Script Lab is launching its first ever Screenwriting Virtual Summit – a FREE weekend of lectures and interviews with Oscar-winning filmmakers and Emmy-winning TV writers! And best of all, it’s FREE to register for two days of access to this amazing content.

Plus, we’re excited to highlight Jen Grisanti, with an in-depth interview available to all registrants!

Register Free

Speakers include…

Scott Neustadter is an acclaimed screenwriter and producer of (500) Days of Summer, The Fault In Our Stars, The Spectacular Now, Paper Towns, and X-Men: The New Mutants.

Literary manager and producer Jewerl Ross is the founder and owner of Silent R Management. He has worked at APA, ICM, Marathon Management and Paradigm. Some of his clients include Barry Jenkins, Matt Aldrich, David H. Steinberg, and Brad Buecker.

Cathryn Humphris is a producer and WGA Award-winning writer known for her work on Mad Men, Elementary, NCIS: New Orleans, Under The Dome, and Supernatural.

Writing team Amanda Silver & Rick Jaffa have been responsible for some of the most successful reinvigorations of iconic franchises. Their credits include Jurassic World, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, Rise of the Planet of the Apes, and Disney’s live action Mulan.

Check Out All 30 Speakers

Thanks to our official sponsor:

Check out our non-profit partners:

Registration is FREE! Join us for this incredible event – all from the comfort of your living room. All you need is a computer and internet connection – and a curiosity to learn from some of Hollywood’s leading producers, executives, managers and award-winning screenwriters!

Webinar with The Writers Store on September 14 at 1:00 p.m. – Staying True to The Core Concept of Your Series
2017-09-15 00:00
Staying True to the Core Concept of Your Series

At a Glance

During this webinar, you will learn tools to set up your concept and your season arcs.
Discover how creating strong external and internal questions will bring your audience back.
Jen will illustrate the significance of staying true to your core concept.

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Please note: Each registration comes with access to the recorded version of the program and the materials for one year. You do not have to attend the live event to get a recording of the presentation.
ABOUT THE WEBINAR
Have you struggled with figuring out how to build the concept of your show through creating a strong season arc? In this course, Jen Grisanti will go over how to set up a strong season arc that will best illustrate the concept of your show. Then, she will explain how staying true to this core concept connects you with your audience.
The core concept often has an external and an internal component. The external gives you a sense of the world. The internal has to do with the dynamics of the people that infiltrate that world.
When you create strong questions that have to do with the external and the internal world, you create anticipation. When the audience feels the anticipation, you give them a reason to return.
By understanding why your character wants what they want for the episode and the season, you bring us into the emotional component of your story and give us a glimpse into the intention of your concept.
Jen will cover old shows and new shows including – HOMELAND, THE GOOD WIFE, HAPPY VALLEY, SILICON VALLEY and TRANSPARENT.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN:

How to have your season arc best reflect what your concept is.
How to create powerful questions.
How to set up the WHY the character wants WHAT they want.
How to stay true to the core concept that you set up.
How to build compelling season arcs.

WHO SHOULD ATTEND?

Writers who are writing TV pilots.
Writers who want to understand more about how to take their story to a deeper place.
Writers who want to know how to better connect with their audience on an emotional level.
Writers who have great ideas but don’t know how to execute them.
Writers that want to sell their pilots.

WHAT EQUIPMENT DO I NEED?
All you need is a computer or iOS device, and an internet connection. You’ll be able to view the presentation and listen to the audio over computer speakers; however, you’ll enjoy much better audio quality if you use a telephone. See below for complete system requirements.
To test your connection before the live webinar, visit this web page.
BONUS: With purchase of this webinar, you will receive $79.99 off of a yearly subscription to the Screenwriting Tutorials website, which has specialized tutorials from experts that explore screenwriting topics covered nowhere else on the web!

Product Details

Return policy: This item is not eligible for return.

Meet the Author: Jen Grisanti

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ra…

Webinar on 9/21 w/ EIACE – Power Up Webinar – Comedy, TV writing, Representation, Writing Action Lines & Cinematic Storytelling
2017-09-22 00:00
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eiACE Power-Up Webinar – Sept. 21 – 4PM PT

Home | Events | eiACE Power-Up Webinar – Sept. 21 – 4PM PT

The third installment in the Power-Up Webinar Series features Dan Calvisi, Jen Grisanti,
Lee Jessup and David Misch. These industry-leading educators will provide instruction
through 20-minute segments, live at the Relativity School Studio in LA.

Sign Up Now

Dan Calvisi – Write Great Description Paragraphs – Learn From The Masters!
A lot is written about the art of dialogue, but what about the equal challenge
of writing great description/action? Citing examples from modern masters like
Christopher Nolan, Vince Gilligan, Shonda Rhimes and Quentin Tarantino,
Dan Calvisi will explore the mechanics, formatting and execution of this crucial
element of the screenplay. Dan will also lead the class in writing the introduction of a famous movie
character, to be compared to the actual text from the original screenplay.

Jen Grisanti – Writing A TV Pilot That Sells: Setting Up The Series And Season One
Through The Arc Of The Wound
In this talk, Jen Grisanti will go over how to set up the series and season one arc by
creating a strong arc of the wound for the central character. It is when the personal
dilemma links to the professional pursuit and the pilot arc is one step toward healing
the wound that we root for the outcome and emotionally connect to the story. Jen
will discuss the season arcs for FLEABAG (Amazon), RIVER (Netflix) and HAPPY VALLEY (Netflix).

Lee Jessup – Representation Rundown
This will cover everything you ever wanted to know about agents and managers,
including how to get the right representation, what to expect from your agent vs.
what your can expect from your manager, how much you should pay them, what
they will expect from you, and what you can do to motivate them.

David Misch – How “How Comedy Works” Works
My seminar “How Comedy Works” makes a unique guarantee in the world of
screenwriting seminars: it gives you absolutely no help with screenwriting. HCW,
as we in the office like to call it (Note: There is no office), is about comedy as an
art form; what it is, what it means and how it works. Why take time with that instead
of figuring out why your 2nd act sucks?, I hear no one asking. Because learning how comedy works will
help you do it better. Anyway, that’s my story and I’m sticking to it. This talk will show how looking at
comedy not screenwriting can help your screenwriting; how contemporary comedy goes back to ancient
Greece (and yes, I’m looking at you, fart and vomit jokes); and the precision, skill and ingenuity that
comedy requires. Most of all, this talk explains why everyone who says examination kills comedy is
not only wrong but should be killed, and shows how comedy principles translate into actual laughter.
So, y’know, forget that stuff about no help.

New product: “Telling And Selling Your TV Pilot”
2017-10-25 00:00
TELLING AND SELLING YOUR TV PILOT
Looking to write a TV pilot that sells? Looking to find tools that will lead you to this outcome? “Telling And Selling Your TV Pilot” is just for you.
This ultimate video training series contains a story system and story tools that will guide you on how to write a TV pilot that sells. Think of this video series as your treasure chest of information.
This video series, “Telling And Selling Your TV Pilot” has been compiled for many years and is finally available!
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A WORD FROM THE STORY CONSULTANT
“I love watching strong TV series that make me FEEL. I love developing story tools from these shows that guide the writer. I LOVE celebrating the success of the writers that I work with. I want to share my love and passion for story with the world. That’s what this video series is about. This video series will help the writer to understand how to write a pilot that sells.”
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TELLING THE INTERNAL STORY
You can also purchase my video training series, “Telling The Internal Story”.
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Storywise 10-Week TV Spec & Pilot Teleseminar 2018 – Begins Tuesday, March 6th 7:00 pm PST ONLINE
2018-05-15 00:00
Classes begin on Tuesday March 6th at 7:00 pm ONLINE and go through May 15, 2018
This is a 10-week program designed to help you write a high quality TV pilot AND spec script. In 10-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, you will gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a very valuable resource. You all will have the opportunity to learn from one another via networking, exchanging scripts and possibly starting your own writer groups.
I’ve seen the success from this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this 10-week course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Fifty-Two of my writers have sold pilots… and 6 of them have gone to series.
Each class will consist of a half-hour of instruction (you will receive these videos before each class to watch at your leisure.) Each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the 4 writers participating at Level #3 and I will choose one writer from Level 2 or Level 4 each week to participate. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your own notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, five people that sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as give you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have an opportunity to sign up for this.
LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec and TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $375.00
SPECIAL OFFER – $225.00 (LIMITED TIME OFFER)

Rate for writers who have taken this before – $225.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and/or TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $900.00

Level 2 w/ TV Spec Consult
Regular Rate – $875.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $775.00

Level 2 w/ TV Pilot and Spec Consult
Regular Rate – $1,600.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $1,275.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV spec and/or TV pilot script. This includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.

For the first time, I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can either write one TV pilot during the 10 weeks or you can write 2 TV pilots during the 10 weeks.

There are only 4 SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit 10 pages of a script. The submission deadline is 1/31/18. I will select 4 submissions out of everyone that submits and announce these slots in February. The rate for Level 3 is $3,000.00.

The DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSIONS is January 31, 2018 at 3:00 p.m. PST.

LEVEL 4
At Level 4, you will receive written/verbal notes back every week on your scripts. This includes an in person or online meeting every week either alongside the teleseminar or as you prefer. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch two times to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
There are only 4 slots available at this level.

ASSIGNMENTS
The Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.

Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. No direct feedback is provided; however, this is where you can use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts weekly and get feedback.

SCHEDULE
Week 1 – Tuesday March 6, 2018
We will go over the notes for the concepts of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Dan O’Shannon, Executive Producer (SUPERIOR DONUTS, THE ODD COUPLE, MODERN FAMILY…)

Week 2, Tuesday March 13, 2018
We will go over the notes for the outline of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Matt Nix, Executive Producer (THE GIFTED, BEN 10, APB, COMPLICATIONS, BURN NOTICE…)

Week 3, Tuesday March 20, 2018
We will go over the notes for the first draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speakers – Brian C. Singleton & Jim Brandon, Co-Executive Producers (DR. KEN, ANGEL FROM HELL, BIG TIME IN HOLLYWOOD FL., THE MCCARTHYS)
WEEK 4, Tuesday, March 27, 2018
We will go over the notes for the second draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Michael Narducci, Executive Producer (THE ORIGINALS, VAMPIRE DIARIES, MEDIUM…)

*EASTER BREAK THE WEEK OF 4/1/18

WEEK 5, Tuesday, April 10, 2018
We will go over the notes for the third draft of the spec scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Mike Scully, Co-Executive Producer (THE SIMPSONS, THE CARMICHAEL SHOW, PARKS & RECREATION..)

WEEK 6, Tuesday, April 17, 2018
We will go over the notes for the concepts for the pilot scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Liz Benjamin, Co-Executive Producer (UNREAL, BLOOD & OIL, THE BLACKLIST, BONES…)

WEEK 7, Tuesday April 24, 2018
We will go over the notes for the outlines for the pilot scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speakers – TJ Brady and Rasheed Newson, Co-Excecutive Producers (ANIMAL KINGDOM, SHOOTER, NARCOS…)

WEEK 8, Tuesday May 1, 2018
We will go over the notes for the first draft or first half of the first draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Justin W. Lo, Supervising Producer (THE BLOOD TYPE, NO TOMORROW, MISTRESSES, PARENTHOOD…)

WEEK 9, Tuesday May 8, 2018
We will go over the notes for the second draft or full-first draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Wendy Calhoun, Co- EP (EMPIRE, NASHVILLE, JUSTIFIED, REVENGE…)

WEEK 10, Tuesday May 15, 2018
We will go over the notes for the third draft of the TV pilot scripts for Level #3.
Guest Speaker – Jackie De Crinis, President Jackie De Crinis Productions, former senior level Development executive at USA

HAWAII TV & FILM WRITING SEMINAR – MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND 5/26/18
2018-05-27 00:00
THE WAIKOLOA COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION AND THE FAIRMONT ORCHID HOTEL CO-PRESENT THEIR VISITING ARTIST FILM WORKSHOP
What: Screenplay Writing for Television and Film
Where: The Fairmont Orchid Hotel, Kohala Coast, Big Island of Hawaii
When: Saturday, May 26 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm
Who: Jennifer Grisanti is one of the leading consultants, mentors, coaches, and instructors in the field of screenplay writing and development for television and film. She has a story system that has led 52 of her clients to sell their pilots. Six of them went to series. Jen was a studio executive for 12 years at Spelling Television Inc. and CBS/Paramount. She staffed over 15 primetime shows in her career. Aaron Spelling was her mentor. She is also the writing instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a blogger for The Huffington Post, the author of three books—her latest is Change Your Story: Change Your Life: A Path to Your Success–, and an international speaker who has participated in writing conferences, retreats, seminars, film festivals, and writing expos around the world.In this day long workshop, Jen will share the techniques, insights, and dynamics of her Story System, an approach that has led so many writers to success in the television and film arenas. Discussions will center on the elements of strong and compelling story structure and development, writing a script that sells, writing a TV pilot script or screenplay that can’t be ignored, writing memorable characters and character dynamics, adding truth to your fiction, mastering the set up of your story through structure, setting up a season one arc, and Jen will offer plenty of time for career advice, insights into how and what Hollywood is looking for these days and how it works, and general Q&A from participants.
Why: This workshop is a must for those looking to develop their craft and skill in professional areas of screenplay writing for
television and film, those looking to “polish” their skills in these areas, or for those looking to better understand the craft of writing for film and television and how these skill sets relate to the overall production process.
How: Email John Mason at johnmasonkona@gmail.com for more information, questions, or to register. Give him a call at 808-464-4379. Check out also the web site of the Hawaii Island Film Office at www.hawaiiislandfilm.com. There is a small registration fee which will include light refreshments.

Rocaberti Writers Retreat – July 6-11, 2018
2018-07-12 00:00
The Rocaberti Writers Retreat

APPLY HERE

July 6th-11th, 2018
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France

Making the impossible happen

Have you ever dreamed of writing a novel and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve already published your book and are wondering about how to turn it into a screenplay?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 14th century Marouatte Castle in the Dordogne, Southwestern France we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!

The first Rocaberti Retreat, held in March 2016, completely transcended all expectations: out of the eleven writers who attended, one had her script optioned before the end of the retreat, two are currently in the midst of negotiations for their script or book to be optioned and deals are in the works for several others … the impossible did happen, and it happened at Rocaberti!
Here’s what Georgia Clark, winner of the first Rocaberti Scholarship, said about her Rocaberti experience:
“I was honored to be awarded the scholarship for the inaugural Rocaberti Writers Retreat. My mentor was simply fabulous: experienced, generous, warm, funny and insightful. We made great headway on helping turn my new adult fiction THE REGULARS into a feature film. A once-in-a-lifetime experience, and all in Spain!”
And the second Rocaberti Retreat surpassed even the first (there’s even a reality TV show in the works, involving one of the special guests)!
Attendees called the retreat, “A magical, miraculous event”, “The experience of a lifetime”, “The best decision I’ve ever made” and “Life-changing.”
But let the writers speak for themselves!

“The Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat was a smashing success. The accommodations in a medieval castle near the Mediterranean sea in Spain, meals by a chef, Tai Chi and meditation, a visit from royalty, intrigue and after-parties all created lasting memories. The teaching blew away my expectations. We had experts in agency representation, production, story structure, screenwriting, pitching, book and memoir writing, book proposals, and career advice. A combination of lectures and individual mentoring sharpened my knowledge of the craft of writing and how this industry works. Thanks to Claire and her colleagues it’s a trip I will cherish forever.”
–Betty Sullivan (October 2016)

Click here for photos & more testimonials from previous retreats

Your July 2018 Rocaberti Retreat mentors include million-dollar screenwriter Diane Drake (WHAT WOMEN WANT with Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt and ONLY YOU with Robert Downey Jr. and Marisa Tomei); Jen Grisanti, former Studio Executive and VP of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount and now a highly-sought after Story and Career Consultant; award-winning Italian screenwriter, Roberto Marchionni (‘Menotti’), nominated for an Italian Oscar for THEY CALL ME JEEG and film financing and international distribution expert Scott Collette, who is now an in-demand writer and story consultant, with six projects in development.
We’ve joined forces because we want to help show you how to bring your “literary twins”—your book and screenplay—to life! Not only how to finish writing them (an art in itself, as anyone who has an unfinished manuscript or screenplay lying around their home will tell you!) but also how to have them successfully published … and made into a movie!
You’ll be part of a small and exclusive group of a maximum of no more than 16 writers at the retreat.
Through focused, practical presentations in the mornings, afternoon mentoring sessions, evening social events—and with a mentor/writer ratio of approximately 1:4—you’ll learn how to tell your story on the page and on the screen, and be one step closer to seeing your dream come to life!

About

Write. Engage. Experience.

Sound enticing? We’re inviting writers of fiction, non-fiction, and for the screen to come join us for what promises to be a memorable (and productive!) experience. Enrollment is limited to just 16 guests to ensure small class size and maximum access to our mentors.
Picture yourself staying at a 14th century castle (how’s that for inspiration?). Participating in stimulating workshops. Enjoying a glass of wine with a screenwriter who has written the second highest-grossing romantic comedy of all time or a former Paramount Studio Exec. Sharing your work with others for constructive feedback. Just taking the time to breathe—and to write, away from the demands of your daily routine. Imagine the conversations that might unfold daily around the breakfast table or on a walk round the castle grounds.
Whether you’ve written a book, are working on a screenplay—or are just thinking about it!—wherever you are in the process, we’re here to help you move forward and show you that dreams can become reality!
This retreat is for you if…

You’re working on a book/screenplay combination or have an idea for one.
You have a book and want to turn it into a screenplay or vice-versa—or sell it directly to Hollywood.
You’re unsure how to get your book/screenplay in front of agents and producers.
You’re serious about completing your project and making your dream come true!

The retreat includes…

Expert Tuition
Small group mentoring sessions
All meals and drinks
Five nights’ lodging
Round-trip transportation between Angoulême train station and the castle
Exclusive access

Reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Program

Friday, July 6th
Saturday, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday
Tuesday evening and Wednesday

The retreat commences the evening of Friday, July 6th, with welcome cocktails, dinner and then, with a glass of fine wine in hand, a group discussion about writing in the castle’s historical salon.

Please reserve my spot at the retreat

Your accommodation

When you go on a retreat to focus on your writing, you want a place which both inspires you and strengthens your commitment to your craft. (And if it happens to make you feel like royalty, while doing so? All the better!)
Which is why we chose the spectacular Marouatte Castle, in the heart of Southwestern France.
Each room is exquisitely decorated and each writer will have their own private room.

Your Rocaberti Retreat Mentors

Diane Drake is an accomplished professional screenwriter, writing instructor, story consultant, speaker, and author. Prior to becoming a screenwriter, Diane served as Vice President of Creative Affairs for Academy Award-winning director/producer Sydney Pollack. Her first produced original script, ONLY YOU, starring Robert Downey, Jr. and Marisa Tomei, sold for one million dollars, while her second produced script, WHAT WOMEN WANT, starring Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt, is the second highest grossing romantic comedy of all time. In addition, both films have recently been remade in China featuring major Chinese stars.
Diane is a member of the Writer’s Guild of America and has been an instructor/speaker/panelist for the Austin Film Festival, UCLA Extension Writer’s Program, Scriptwriter’s Network, Story Development Group, University Club, and Writer’s Store. She has also served as a judge for the Austin Film Festival, UCLA Extension Contest, and The Humanitas Prize. She recently released her debut book, Get Your Story Straight: A Step-By-Step Guide To Screenwriting By A Million Dollar Screenwriter, (Reel Life Publishing, May 2016).

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.

Menotti (the pen name of Roberto Marchionni) works in Rome, has lived in Germany but was born in Italy a long time ago.
He studied Fine Arts in Bologna, Italy, Semiotics in Berlin, Germany and Filmmaking in New York (NYU).
As an award-winning comic book artist, Menotti has worked for Italian and international magazines, such as Frigidaire, Comic Art, Il Manifesto, Cyborg, Mondo Naif and Blue. He also co-created the graphic novel Europa, published by Black Velvet.
As a screenwriter, he’s written several successful TV series, from Un posto al sole to Incantesimo, L’onore e il rispetto, La squadra and 7 Vite.
Besides other short and feature films, Menotti co-wrote Lo chiamavano Jeeg Robot (‘They Call Me Jeeg Robot’), the first Italian superhero film, nominated for best screenplay and winner of seven statuettes at the David di Donatello Awards 2016.

Scott Collette is a writer and story consultant with a background in pre-sales film financing and international distribution.
Collette started his career working for legendary producer Mark Damon at Foresight Unlimited, where he worked his way up to Executive Director, Sales and Distribution and was responsible for the international sales of Foresight’s titles in multiple territories in East Europe and Asia.
In addition to sales, Collette negotiated the majority of Foresight’s international licensing agreements and helped facilitate all production finance closings. These titles include Peter Berg’s Lone Survivor, Rob Reiner’s And So It Goes, 2 Guns, The Ledge, Flypaper, Universal Soldier: Day of Reckoning, and Rob Cohen’s upcoming Category 5.
In 2013, Collette was invited to speak at the Interservice/Industry Training, Simulation, and Education Conference (I/ITSEC) to share his experience and knowledge of film distribution with the U.S. Department of Defense, aiming to educate the Department as to how private industries go about conducting business in fragile and emerging marketplaces around the globe.
Having never surrendered his passion for writing, Collette shifted gears with his career after writing multiple projects on spec and was hired by Hydra Entertainment as writer in 2015 to help a creative team develop a big budget, special effects-heavy feature (the details of which are currently under wraps).
Collette is currently in development on multiple television and feature projects, while also writing a novel.

Claire Elizabeth Terry is your Rocaberti Retreat host and moderator and is a British screenwriter, travel writer and novelist.
After graduating, she worked for several years in British theatre, where she fought for, and won, the right to become the first female stage-hand at the Royal National Theatre, London.
Short-listed for the Shiva Naipaul Memorial Prize, Claire has also written for the Rough Guides travel series.
In 2008, Claire conceived, compiled and edited The Art of Living: a Practical Guide to Being Alive, published by Kairós Publishers in both English and Spanish, the profits from which are donated to Green Cross International, the environmental organization founded by Mikhail Gorbachev.
The book includes contributions from Michael Douglas, Desmond Tutu, Jean Shinoda Bolen, Mario Vargas Llosa, Richard Branson, Mikhail Gorbachev and several members of the United Nations’ Alliance of Civilizations.
Claire is also the founder and president of the website and not-for-profit of the same name, The Art of Living Guide. Federico Mayor Zaragoza, the former Director General of UNESCO, sits on the Honorary Board.
She is the screenwriter and executive producer of the upcoming film ROSES, about four friends from all over the world, whose lives are transformed when a rose is secretly drawn for each of the women.
The film is being produced by Golan Ramraz and Adam Sherer of Boom Picture Company and Alejandro Miranda of Versus Entertainment. George Parra, the Executive Producer of Silver Linings Playbook, Nebraska, The Descendants and Sideways, is attached to direct.
Claire’s novel of the movie, I Draw Roses was published in 2013.

Special Guests

Jason Chan is a spiritual master and healer whose energy and teachings have transformed and enlightened the lives of hundreds of his close students, as well as touching the lives of thousands more spiritual seekers who have attended his courses, retreats, workshops and demonstrations in the UK, Ireland, Europe, USA and Thailand.
He is also the author of The Radiant Warrior (Hay House 2009), Infinite Abundance (2012 and winner of the Next Generation Indie Book Awards 2013) and Infinite Awakening (2015).
Jason was voted Most Inspirational Individual in 2008 by readers of Kindred Spirit magazine. In their 21st Anniversary Awards, Kindred Spirit said: “Jason has quietly, with dignity and integrity, worked tirelessly to help others find inner peace and balance”. For over thirty years, Jason has dedicated his life to passing on the benefit of his “Infinite Arts” program, including vitality, natural health, inner strength and removing blockages to allow creativity to flow naturally.
As Jason says: “Looking at life from the highest possible view, we can see that there is a definite order in all that happens in nature and the universe. We form part of nature and it follows we’re affected by the same patterns, cycles, flow, change and movement of the natural laws. And it is from these ancient sources of wisdom, that creativity also flows naturally and abundantly.”
Jason will be leading morning meditation and offering optional afternoon workshops on Infinite Tai Chi and Chi Kung (energy work), creating the perfect environment in which we can gently still our minds and experience the true creativity which arises when we do so.

As one of the music industry’s most influential figures, Miles Copeland has a career in the business that stretches back more than 40 years.
In London, during the 1970s, he represented Wishbone Ash, Joan Armatrading and all sides of progressive rock until he jumped ship, landed in the turbulent ocean of punk, and worked with the Sex Pistols, the Clash, Blondie, along with many other seminal bands.
In 1978, Miles became the manager for his brother Stewart’s band, The Police, who became one of the biggest bands of the 1980s. The success of The Police and the novel methods used to break them brought Miles to found I.R.S. Records.
During the next few years, the company had hits with REM, The Buzzcocks, The English Beat, The Cramps, Fine Young Cannibals, Wall of Voodoo, Timbuk 3 and a Number One album with the all-girl group, The Go-Gos.
He continued to manage Sting (solo) through seven blockbuster albums, along with The Bangles and Squeeze. Eventually, he introduced Sting to Algerian Raï singer, Cheb Mami. Their collaboration bloomed with “Desert Rose” whose worldwide success was attributed to Miles’ innovative corporate deal with Jaguar.
Miles can rightfully claim to having been responsible for the sale of over $1.5 billion of recorded music sales and over $500 million in ticket sales.
Miles also successfully ran his own film production company, IRS Media, producing over 35 movies, including Billy Bob Thornton’s directorial debut, One False Move.
Currently, he owns and operates CIA – Copeland International Arts, which is comprised of a record company, music publishing, merchandise and performing arts properties.
Additionally, Miles also co-hosts a yearly song writing retreat with ASCAP at his castle in France, the lastest song written being the Number One hit, “Somethin’ Bad” sung by Miranda Lambert and Carrie Underwood.

Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

The retreat is $3,499 per person, including 5 nights’ accommodation at Château Marouatte, all meals and drinks, all tuition and round-trip transportation between Angoulême train station and the castle.

Official Sponsor

The International Screenwriters’ Association

Sponsors

2019 Storywise 10-Week TV Teleseminar – SPECIAL OFFERS
2019-03-06 00:00
STORYWISE 10-week TV WRITING TELESEMINAR AND TRAINING SERIES
Classes begin on Tuesday March 5th at 7:00 pm ONLINE and go through May 14, 2019
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 10-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called, “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Moving Forward.”
This is a 10-week program designed to help you write a high-quality TV pilot AND spec script. In 10-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a very valuable resource. You all will have a chance to learn from one another via networking, to exchange scripts and possibly starting your own writer groups.
I’ve seen the success from this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this 10-week course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Fifty-Two of my writers have sold pilots… and 6 of them have gone to series.
The story instruction is pre-recorded. You will receive this before the course begins in March.
In March, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the 4 writers participating at Level #3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your own notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will give five people the opportunity to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as give you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have an opportunity to sign up for this.

I currently have a SPECIAL OFFER going for the month of January for levels 1, 2, and 4.
Here is the LINK for the 4 FREE Training Videos.
LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $397.00
SPECIAL OFFER – $297.00 (LIMITED TIME OFFER)

Rate for writers who have taken this before – $227.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all 10 classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and/or TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00
Special Rate – $947.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $927.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV spec or TV pilot script. This includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
For the first time, I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can either write one TV pilot during the 10 weeks or, you can write two TV pilots during the ten weeks. There will also be an option to do it for five weeks instead of ten weeks. This will be offered to the finalists.
There are only FOUR SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. This could change depending on the strength of the submissions. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit ten pages of a script. The submission deadline is 1/31/19. I will select four submissions out of all of the submissions and announce these slots in February. The rate for Level 3 is $3,000.00.
ACCEPTING SUBMISSIONS FOR LEVEL 3 STARTING JANUARY 1 – 31, 2019. I will announce in mid-February. Please email your 10 page submissions to me at jen@jengrisanti.com

LEVEL 4
At Level 4, you will receive written/verbal notes back every week on your scripts. This includes 5 Coaching Consults either alongside the teleseminar or as you prefer. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch two times to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
There are only 4 slots available at this level.
Regular Rate – $3,647.00
Special Rate – $3,347.00

ASSIGNMENTS
Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.

Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. No direct feedback is provided for Level 1. Level 2 gets feedback during the pilot consult. I do highly recommend that you use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts so that you can receive weekly feedback.

GUEST SPEAKERS
MICHAEL NARDUCCI (The Crossing, The Originals, Vampire Diaries…)
GRETA HEINEMANN (NCIS: New Orleans)
PAUL RUEHL (sold 15 pilots)
DAN O’SHANNON (Superior Donuts, Odd Couple, Modern Family…)
MONICA BREEN (Midnight Texas, Marvel’s Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., Revolution…)
TED HUMPHREY (Wisdom of the Crowd, Incorporated, The Good Wife…)
WES NICKERSON (House of Lies, Entourage)
MATT NIX (The Gifted, Burn Notice, APB…)
HENRY ALONSO MYERS (The Magicians, Covert Affairs, The Carrie Diaries…)
MARK GOFFMAN (Bull, Limitless, Sleepy Hollow…)
WENDY WEST (Proven Innocence, Marvel’s Inhuman, Taken)
NIKKI TOSCANO (24:LEGACY, State of Affairs, Shades of Blue)

FINAL DRAFT PODCAST INTERVIEW – REFOCUSING YOUR ENERGY FOR NEXT SEASON’S SCREENWRITING CONTESTS AND FELLOWSHIPS
2019-06-30 00:00
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Fri, 14 December 2018
Write On with Jen Grisanti: Refocusing Your Energy for Next Season’s Screenwriting Contests and Fellowships

Screenwriting consultant and former studio executive Jen Grisanti discusses crafting stories that resonate, finding your voice as a writer and building a network of professional relationships.
With experience as a story consultant, TV staffer, and mentor in the CBS Diversity program, Jen Grisanti is dedicated to helping writers make it as working film & TV professionals through the Jen Grisanti Consultancy.
Learn more about her new 10-week STORYWISE TV Writing Tele-seminar and training series HERE.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Write On Podcast on iTunes!

Direct download: GrisantiIntroOutro_1.m4a
Category:screenwriting — posted at: 10:30am PST

STORYWISE TV SEMINAR ON THE EAST COAST
2019-09-23 00:00
HOW TO WRITE A TV PILOT THAT SELLS w/Jen Grisanti
Hosted by Nicole Couloute
Sunday, September 22, 2019 from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

Description
Are you an aspiring TV writer, director, actor, or exec? Learn how to break into the industry and better your TV pilot writing skills. NBC executive, Jen Grisanti, will explain how to write a compelling pilot and the process to start a career in the television industry. Nicole Couloute hosts this event.

Registration begins promptly at 9 am and ends at 9:50 am. You must present your ID at check-in, so make sure to bring appropriate documentation.

Please note that space is limited, so be sure to purchase your ticket sooner rather than later.

Send a request to the Nicole Couloute TV Writing Events Facebook group after the purchase of a ticket. This action will allow you to stay up to date on the event and keep in touch with other attendees.

The workshop has three sections:

Jen will give a seminar – “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells
There will be a pitch panel
There will be a networking session to collaborate with other attendees.

Plan to stay beyond 2 pm if you can, but it is not required. To pitch, you must have purchased a pitching ticket. Please contact Nicole to get a pitching ticket. Due to the limited time of the pitching session, there will only be a handful of pitches. Pitching ticket includes all benefits of general admission. General admission attendees can listen to other’s pitches and learn for their future pitches.

Space is limited, so be sure to get your ticket early.
If you or your company is interested in sponsoring this event, please contact Nicole at ncouloute1@gmail.com.
Address of the event will be given to all ticket holders by the end of July. The event will be within 30 minutes of Bradley Airport.

Why Jen?
Writing the TV pilot is one of the most challenging scripts to write and to write well. Jen has helped in the development of thousands of scripts over the past 20 years. She was a Studio Executive at two significant studios for 12 years. She is currently a Writing Instructor at NBC and has been a Story/Career Consultant for ten years.

5 QUESTIONS TO ASK WHEN WRITING YOUR TV PILOT

Does my series trigger incident push my central character into a powerful enough dilemma to set up season one?
Is there a personal component that sets up the personal dilemma of my central character?
Does my central character actively make a choice in the pilot trigger and dilemma that leads to a pursuit?
Is my pilot goal clear?
How do I set up the series?

Trigger & Dilemma
With your series trigger and dilemma, you want to think about something that happens to your central character
that knocks their life out of balance. At this point in the story, your central character is often reactive versus active.
The dilemma should make us feel empathy for your character.
Personal Component
With the personal component, you are setting up the personal dilemma of your central character that leads to the
professional pursuit. This sets up the void. The pursuit is one step towards filling this void. With the personal part,
you want to think about the arc of the wound. The best pilots have a childhood wound that the series trigger and
dilemma splits open. The personal component in your story is the emotional part of your story.
Central Character
With the pilot arc, your central character goes from being reactive to active. With the setup of the series arc, they react to what happens to them. Then, they make an active choice that leads to the structure of the pilot arc. In the pilot arc, we should be clear about what your central character wants and why they want it by the end of Act One.
Pilot Goal
If the pilot goal is not clear, the story doesn’t work. In each act, the central character should take action, hit an obstacle, and the stakes should escalate to the pilot goal. If the goal is not clear, you cannot link these points. We should feel what your character wants and what is in the way for every scene.
Series Set-Up
After the resolution of the pilot arc, you need to set up the series. When I see this done well, it bookends what happened in the series trigger and dilemma setup and helps to build the next level of the concept. The point of this is to make your audience so enthralled that they can’t wait to see what happens next.

Mastering a story by utilizing the right tools is what will lead you to a sale.

You will learn about these techniques in this class.

Jen Grisanti’s Bio:

International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 900 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows, and 60 have sold pilots, five that that went to series. Also, she is an instructor for NBC’s Writers on the Verge.
Grisanti has taught classes for the “Change Your Story, Change Your Life” Writing/Yoga Retreat with Alta Retreats in Nicaragua, Rocaberti Writing Retreat in Spain, the Toronto Screenwriting Conference, TV Writers Summit (in LA, London and Israel), The TV Writers Studio (in Australia), Story Expo, The Big Island Film Festival, Chicago Screenwriters Network, Scriptwriters Network , Screenwriting Expo, the Great American Pitchfest, the Writers Store, the Northwestern Screenwriter’s Guild in Seattle, and the Alameda’s Writer’s Group. Also, she has served on panels for the WGA, iTVFest, UFVA, PGA, and The Writer’s Bootcamp, telling her story to inspire others.

SCREENWRITER GATHERING on November 1st at Cantina Frida in Beverly Hills from 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm
2019-11-02 00:00
In place of Friday Night Social in November (our location was not available), Lee Jessup and I are going to have a casual gathering for screenwriters on Friday, November 1st at Cantina Frida at 252 N Beverly Dr. in Beverly Hills at 5:30 pm – 8:30 pm. Come out and make some new relationships. All are welcome. #screenwriting #connecting #relationships#story #amwriting

PODCAST INTERVIEW – HOW TO TELL YOUR INTERNAL STORY
2019-12-31 00:00
BPS 021: How to Tell Your Internal Story with Jen Grisanti
By Alex Ferrari | August 1, 2018

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How to Tell Your Internal Story with Jen Grisanti
Today on the show we have Hollywood Story/Career Consultant and former Studio Executive Jen Grisanti. Grisanti is also a Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former studio executive, a blogger for The Huffington Post and author of Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and her recent book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life.
Over twenty years ago, Jen Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years. She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.

In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her years of experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers.
Since launching her consulting firm, Jen Grisanti worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her guidance, over ninety of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows, fifty-three have sold pilots, and six of those pilots have gone to series.
Enjoy my conversation with Jen Grisanti.
Right-click here to download the MP3 (Transcription below)
Download on iTunes Direct
Watch on IFH YouTube Channel

LINKS AND RESOURCES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

Jen Grisanti – Official Site
Jen Grisanti – Facebook
Jen Grisanti – Twitter
Jen Grisanti – YouTube

2020 STORYWISE SIX-WEEK TV PILOT TELESEMINAR AND DIGITAL COURSE
2020-03-25 00:00
STORYWISE 6-Week TV WRITING TELESEMINAR AND TRAINING SERIES
My Eleventh Annual Storywise Teleseminar starts on Tuesday, February 18, 2020, and goes through March 24, 2020. This seminar is a live and interactive event that includes story instruction, pitching, and an opportunity to get feedback from working TV writers.
Want to know 5 Steps it takes to set up a series with your TV pilot? The prelude to the Storywise Teleseminar is my story instruction modules (all new) that are in a digital course.

#screenwriting#writing #amwriting #storytips #story #tvwriting

ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

Classes begin on Tuesday, February 18th at 7:00 pm PST ONLINE and go through March 24, 2020
Want to learn all of the things that I teach in Writers on the Verge at NBC? Check out my Storywise 6-Week Teleseminar that includes an eight-module story instruction training series called, “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: Creating The Series.” In this digital product, I will go into all aspects of how you set up a successful TV series. This digital product is new. There will be all-new breakdowns. I will launch it in November or December of 2019.
This teleseminar and digital product is a 6-week program designed to help you write a high-quality TV pilot 6-weeks, I will teach you how to learn to write at a level that will help lead your script to a sale, get staffed on a show, place in a writing competition or get into one of the various writing programs. This course is everything that I teach in Writers on the Verge and more.
Last year we had over 100 writer participants from all over the world. You will not only learn all of the story tools that you need to succeed, but you will also gain the opportunity to be in a private community of writers. This community is a precious resource. You all will have a chance to learn from one another via networking, to exchange scripts and possibly starting your writer groups.
I’ve seen the success of this course first-hand. Many of the writers who have taken this course have gone on to sell pilots, get staffed on TV shows and get into several of the prestigious writing programs. Sixty-Two pilots sold from the writers that I’ve worked with and six of them went to series.
I will pre-record the story instruction. The story instruction will launch in January. The digital course is titled “How To Write A TV Pilot That Sells: 5 Steps To Creating the Series.”
In February, each call is approximately 2 – 2 ½ hours in length. On each call, we will go over the notes for the four writers participating at Level 3. You will have an opportunity to read their scripts and make your notes each week. You will also get to share your notes with those writers directly. This process is what we do in Writers on the Verge. It is a way to prepare you for being in the Writers’ Room. Then, I will allow five people to sign up each week will get an opportunity to pitch to a guest speaker. We all learn from hearing others pitch. This part of the program was designed to help you learn from the pitching style of others as well as allow you the opportunity to pitch yourself. It’s an invaluable tool. Every level will have a chance to sign up for this.
You will be able to purchase spots once I launch the digital product in November or December of 2019.

LEVEL 1
At Level 1, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. You will also get to turn in a 1-2 page pitch document on your TV spec or TV pilot script. You will receive written feedback. You have up to a year after the course is finished to turn this in.
Regular rate – $397.00

The rate for writers who have taken this before – $197.00

LEVEL 2
At Level 2, you get to participate in all six classes. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community. This level also includes a one-on-one consult for your TV spec and or your TV Pilot script.
Level 2 w/ TV Pilot Consult
Regular Rate – $1,050.00

For Alumni of my Storywise Teleseminar – $827.00

LEVEL 3
At Level 3, you will receive feedback every week on your TV pilot script or TV spec script. This level includes written and verbal feedback. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
I am going to offer you the option of not writing a TV spec. You can use the full six weeks to write your TV pilot.
There are only FOUR SLOTS for this level: two for drama and two for comedy. This breakdown could change depending on the strength of the submissions. If you are interested in applying, you will need to submit ten pages of a script. The submission deadline is 1/31/20. I will select four submissions out of all of the entries and announce these slots at the beginning of February. The rate for Level 3 is $2,500.00.
With Level 3, you will also receive a one on one consult after the Storywise Teleseminar.
Here are the four writers that I selected for Level 3:
Chryss Terry/Drama
Suzanne Griffin/Drama
Richard Snyder/Comedy
Bri Morris/Comedy

LEVEL 4
At Level 4, you will receive written/verbal notes back every week on your scripts. This level includes 5 Coaching Consults either alongside the teleseminar or as you prefer. You will receive a recording of the classes. You will have an opportunity to sign up to pitch two times to my weekly guest speakers. You get to be part of a private Facebook community.
There are only four slots available at this level.
Regular Rate – $3,647.00
Special Rate – $3,347.00

ASSIGNMENTS
Level #3 writing assignments will be due the Saturday before each class. Everyone at each level will receive a copy of the assignments turned in by the Level #3 writers so that they may follow along as well as provide notes directly to the Level#3 writer.

Levels #1 and #2, you will do the assignments on your own. Level 1 does not receive any direct feedback. Level 2 gets feedback during the pilot consult. I do highly recommend that all levels use the Facebook community of writers to exchange scripts so that you can receive weekly feedback.

GUEST SPEAKERS
They will listen to 5 pitches per work. All participants are eligible to pitch. I will announce the guest speaker at the end of each class. For the first one, I will send out an email a week before class begins. You will have a limited time from the time that I announce them to sign up. Level 3 does get priority.

WEEK 1 – GUEST SPEAKER – FEBRUARY 18TH
MICHAEL NARDUCCI – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(OVERALL DEAL at ABC, THE CROSSING, THE ORIGINALS, THE VAMPIRE DIARIES, MEDIUM, THE 4400)

WEEK 2 – GUEST SPEAKER – FEBRUARY 25th
CARLA KETTNER – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(THE BLACKLIST, ZOO, THE MOB DOCTOR, BONES, VANISHED, STRONG MEDICINE, KILLER INSTINCT)

WEEK 3 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 3RD
AARON RAHSAAN THOMAS – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(S.W.A.T., SLEEPY HOLLOW, SOUTHLAND, CSI:NY, NUMBERS, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS)

WEEK 4 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 10TH
MATT NIX – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(OVERALL AT FOX, THE GIFTED, APB, BONES, COMPLICATIONS, THE COMEDIANS, BURN NOTICE, THE GOOD GUYS)

WEEK 5 – GUEST SPEAKER – MARCH 17th
DAN O’SHANNON – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(MODERN FAMILY, SUPERIOR DONUTS, THE ODD COUPLE, BETTER OFF TED, BACK TO YOU, JERICHO, THRESHOLD, FRASIER, KING OF QUEENS)

WEEK 6 – GUEST SPEAKER
DAVID HUDGINS – EXECUTIVE PRODUCER
(GAME OF SILENCE, PARENTHOOD, FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, PAST LIFE, EVERWOOD)

QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR CENTRAL CHARACTER AS IT APPLIES TO ACTS
2020-06-30 00:00

Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat In France – July 3 – July 8, 2020
2020-07-10 00:00
Early July 2020
July 3rd-8th, 2020
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France
Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 14th century Marouatte Castle in the Dordogne, Southwestern France, we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!
Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Mentors

Jen Grisanti
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.
Jen currently has 2 spots left for the early July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Jen

Joan Lane
Joan Lane is a film and theatre producer and has worked in arts management and production for over 30 years. Trained as a Speech and Language Therapist, with a background as a music scholar, she has also worked as a vocal consultant.
Her company, Wild Thyme Productions, has toured six innovative productions of Shakespeare’s plays in the UK and Germany and mounted world premiere showcases and readings of new plays and musicals in London. She is a member of Musical Theatre Network UK, concerned with the writing of new musicals, and also of The British Shakespeare Association.
Primarily engaged as a Consultant by the BBC, Joan’s skills were used for the recording, filming and Royal Opera House performance of THE LITTLE PRINCE. She was a director for BBC Radio Two and BBC Television’s New Talent UK-wide search for the Voice of Musical Theatre, involved with background music for the film THE ACTORS, coordinated the participation of singing Angels for Stephen Fry’s directorial film debut, BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS and worked on the BBC’s Promenade Concert/Opera, THE WATER DIVINER’S TALE.
As well as touring with her own company, Joan has worked on several plays at the Royal National Theatre and toured plays with ATG and Pleasance Theatre. She recommends scripts to Russian translator colleagues and two plays were produced in Russia recently.
Her varied work in music, theatre, film and television exposed Joan to scripts and screenplays and she is known for having developed the film, THE KING’S SPEECH, directed by Tom Hooper, starring Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush and Helena Bonham Carter, and adapted from the stage play by its author David Seidler.
More recently, she has developed a screenplay from a radio play and has been commissioned to write a screenplay based on a true story. Currently, four TV series on which Joan has worked with first-time writers are under consideration and three films are expected to go into production in 2018.

Stan Zimmerman
Stan Zimmerman’s long career covers multiple mediums (TV, film and theatre) and he’s won many LA directing awards, including one from BroadwayWorld.com. In addition, he’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Episodic writing for his work on the classic TV series, THE GOLDEN GIRLS and ROSEANNE.
Stan’s also written and produced on GILMORE GIRLS and co-created the Lifetime sitcom, RITA ROCKS. He was Director/Writer/EP/Creator on the Emmy-nominated web series, SECS & EXECS, on Tellofilms. In film, he wrote both BRADY BUNCH movies.
He has been busy lately writing, directing and producing theatre in Los Angeles. Some of Stan’s critically-acclaimed productions include: the LatinX The Diary of Anne Frank, Heartbreak Help, Pledge, Warm Cheese, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas and Gemini. He also directed two of the plays he wrote with Christian McLaughlin: Yes Virginia, Knife to the Heart and Meet & Greet.
Stan has appeared on Broadway with Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and was the Host/Showrunner on Sean Hayes’ Bravo reality show, SITUATION: COMEDY. Stan also teaches audition technique classes in LA and NYC. He has a BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.
Stan currently has 2 spots left for the early July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Stan

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS
EXPERT TUITION
ALL MEALS AND DRINKS
FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING
ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
PROGRAM
Please reserve my place, and the mentor my choice, now

Rocaberti Writers’ Retreat in France – July 10th – 15th, 2020
2020-07-16 00:00
Late July 2020
July 10th-15th, 2020
Marouatte Castle,
The Dordogne,
France
Have you dreamed of writing a screenplay and seeing it come to life on the silver screen?
Or maybe you’ve published a book and are wondering about how to turn it into a film script?
Seems impossible, right?
Well, the answer, is, NO! Nothing is impossible, and on this one-of-a-kind writers’ retreat, at the beautiful 14th century Marouatte Castle in the Dordogne, Southwestern France, we’ll show you just how your words, your vision—let’s face it, your baby—can make it all the way to the big screen!
Please reserve my place, and the mentor of my choice, now

Mentors

Jen Grisanti
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, former 12-year studio executive, including VP of Current Programming at CBS/Paramount, blogger for The Huffington Post and author of the books, Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story and TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells and her new book, Change Your Story, Change Your Life: A Path To Your Success.
Grisanti started her career in 1992 as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years, and she quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was promoted to Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400 and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches and focus their careers. Since launching the consulting firm, Grisanti has worked with over 800 writers specializing in television, features and novels. Due to her expertise and mentorship, seventy-five of her writers have staffed on television shows and forty have sold pilots, five that that went to series.
Jen currently has 2 spots left for the late July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with Jen

Richard Botto
Richard “RB” Botto is the Founder and CEO of Stage 32, the official film education & networking platform of AFM and the Marche du Film at Cannes Film Festival. Stage32.com is the world’s largest online platform connecting and educating film, TV & digital creatives and executives worldwide. Since 2011, Stage 32 has emerged as an online community of over 500,000 creatives with over 1,000 hours of online education taught by over 500 industry executives.
RB is also a working actor, producer and screenwriter. As a producer, his films have played at dozens of festivals including the Sundance award winning feature, Another Happy Day, written & directed by Sam Levinson (starring Kate Bosworth, Demi Moore, Ellen Barkin), the documentary Crutch, the feature What Lies Ahead (starring Rumer Willis and Emma Dumon) releasing in 2019 and the upcoming Rain- Beau’s End (starring Ed Asner, Sean Young and Kate Arrington). As a writer, his latest screenplay, The End Game, is currently set up at Covert Media. As an actor, his latest film On the Corner of Ego and Desire premiered at the 2018 Raindance Film Festvial.
Botto is a best-selling author with his book Crowdsourcing For Filmmakers, published by Routledge Press under the American Film Market Presents banner. The book can be found at the Routledge Press booth by AFM badge registration and on Amazon, where it has over 50 5-star reviews.
A sought-after speaker and mentor, RB has been a keynote speaker and panelist at such festivals and conferences as Cannes, AFM, Tribeca, Sundance, Raindance, SXSW, Portugal FEST and Winston Baker. He has also taught at institutions such as Harvard and Columbia University on the subjects of filmmaking, producing, film finance, screenwriting, social media, crowdfunding, crowdsourcing, entrepreneurship and business.
RB currently has 3 spots left for the late July 2020 retreat.
Reserve my spot with RB

Stan Zimmerman
Stan Zimmerman’s long career covers multiple mediums (TV, film and theatre) and he’s won many LA directing awards, including one from BroadwayWorld.com. In addition, he’s been nominated for two WGA Awards for Best Comedy Episodic writing for his work on the classic TV series, THE GOLDEN GIRLS and ROSEANNE.
Stan’s also written and produced on GILMORE GIRLS and co-created the Lifetime sitcom, RITA ROCKS. He was Director/Writer/EP/Creator on the Emmy-nominated web series, SECS & EXECS, on Tellofilms. In film, he wrote both BRADY BUNCH movies.
He has been busy lately writing, directing and producing theatre in Los Angeles. Some of Stan’s critically-acclaimed productions include: the LatinX The Diary of Anne Frank, Heartbreak Help, Pledge, Warm Cheese, Entertaining Mr. Sloane, BLINK & You Might Miss Me, Spike Heels, A Tuna Christmas and Gemini. He also directed two of the plays he wrote with Christian McLaughlin: Yes Virginia, Knife to the Heart and Meet & Greet.
Stan has appeared on Broadway with Nureyev & the Joffrey Ballet at the Mark Hellinger Theatre and was the Host/Showrunner on Sean Hayes’ Bravo reality show, SITUATION: COMEDY. Stan also teaches audition technique classes in LA and NYC. He has a BFA-Drama NYU/Circle-in-the-Square.

The Retreat includes…

SMALL GROUP MENTORING SESSIONS
EXPERT TUITION
ALL MEALS AND DRINKS
FIVE NIGHTS’ LODGING
ROUND-TRIP TRANSPORTATION BETWEEN THE AIRPORT/LOCAL TRAIN STATION AND THE CASTLE
EXCLUSIVE ACCESS
PROGRAM
Please reserve my place, and the mentor my choice, now

FICTIONALIZING YOUR TRUTH IN YOUR WRITING – ONLINE CLASS ON 9/26/20
2020-09-29 00:00
FICTIONALIZING YOUR TRUTH IN YOUR WRITING
When you come from a place of emotional truth in your writing and add fiction to it in your story, you connect with your audience. I will go through how to take inventory of your history and identify your universal life moments by looking at your dilemmas, your failures, and your successes. After taking the time to mine your creative well, you will find your gold.
FINDING YOUR VOICE
This presentation goes into TV and film. By understanding how to find and utilize your voice, you will learn what it takes to set you apart from the masses. By defining what makes your story unique, you will learn how to draw from this emotional truth leading you to your desired outcome.
SCRIPT WRITING | THE FEATURE SCRIPT
Learn some of the secrets to telling strong stories from the studio executive perspective. In this presentation, I will go over the seven components that will make your feature script sell.
If you are interested in taking you writing to the next level you will NOT want to miss this. RSVP today!
**This event is being supported in part by Arizona Commission on the Arts which receives support from the State of Arizona and the National Endowment for the Arts

About Jen Grisanti:
International speaker Jen Grisanti is an acclaimed Story/Career Consultant at Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc. Grisanti is also a Writing Instructor for Writers on the Verge at NBC, a former 12-year studio executive, and author of Story Line: Finding Gold In Your Life Story, TV Writing Tool Kit: How To Write a Script That Sells, and, Change Your Story, Change Your Life.
Over twenty years ago, Grisanti started her career as an assistant to Aaron Spelling, who served as her mentor for 12 years. She quickly climbed the ranks and eventually ran Current Programs at Spelling Television Inc., covering all of Spelling’s shows including Beverly Hills, 90210, Melrose Place and Charmed. In 2004, Grisanti was Vice President of Current Programs at CBS/Paramount, where she covered numerous shows, including Medium, Numbers, NCIS, 4400, and Girlfriends.
In January 2008, Grisanti launched Jen Grisanti Consultancy, Inc., a highly successful consulting firm dedicated to helping talented writers break into the industry. Drawing on her years of experience as a studio executive where she gave daily notes to executive producers/showrunners, Grisanti personally guides writers to shape their material, hone their pitches, and focus their careers. Since launching her consulting firm, Grisanti worked with over 1000 writers specializing in television, features, and novels. Due to her guidance, over one hundred of her clients have staffed as writers on television shows, seventy-one have sold pilots, and six of those pilots have gone to series.

SIGN UP HERE – $39.00
