Shake It Off / Austin Film Festival

Well, crap.

Perhaps I should only post positive developments in my writing career in an attempt to present myself as an extremely successful writer, but anyone who dedicates themselves to any creative form knows that being an artist involves receiving a whole lot of rejection.

The latest for me comes from the Austin Film Festival (AFF) Screenwriting Contest, where I submitted my feature script, QUEEN TO BE. Last year the same script made it to the Second Round of the contest, meaning it was considered to be amongst the top 10% of entries. Earlier this year, I did a massive rewrite on the project and resubmitted, imaging myself taking that home that typewriter trophy that AFF gives to the winner in each category at their festival in October.

Thursday I received the rejection letter (On a side note, I LOVE that AFF personally notifies each entrant prior to them publishing results on their site), notifying me that QUEEN TO BE hadn’t advanced in this year’s contest. After violently tossing the letter around and getting a little teary-eyed, I’ve since blown it off. Instead, I turned my focus onto the opportunities that I currently have in my lap and what I need to do next.

If you haven’t read Stephen King’s ON WRITING, I can’t recommend it enough. In it, he explains how he would hang each rejection letter he received on a nail near his desk. Before he “made it,” his nail would no longer hold the volume of letters he received, and he had to replace it with a spike. I think his persistence paid off.

Writing isn’t about making money, getting famous, getting dates, getting laid or making friends. In the end, it’s about enriching the lives of those who will read your work, and enriching your own life, as well. – Stephen King

SFFS / Hearst Grant Update

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been locked up in my office finishing up the materials I needed to submit as a finalist in the San Francisco Film Society / Hearst Screenwriting Grant. I had to put together a treatment for HOME SWEET HOME, the script at which I initially applied with, as well as submit a minimum of 10 pages of the script itself and 10 or more pages of  a writing sample taken from previous work. Saturday was the deadline. I’m extremely happy with my efforts. No matter what happens, I busted my butt and gave it my best go.

This week I get to catch up on everything that was neglected over the past couple of weeks (plants, sleep, house, freelance work, wife).

2012 SFFS / Hearst Screenwriting Grant Finalist

Last week I received the news that I am a finalist in the San Francisco Film Society‘s 2012 Hearst Screenwriting Grant. On Friday, the sent out the official press release.

The San Francisco Film Society today announced the nine finalists for the fourth annual SFFS/Hearst Screenwriting Grant. The grant of $15,000 will be awarded to a mid-career screenwriter who has been a practicing writer for at least five years and who has previously written a minimum of one feature screenplay. The grant is open to writers residing in the United States whose project expresses both a unique personal perspective and an artistic approach to the subject. Priority is given to writers whose previous short or feature screenplays have been produced as an independent film. The finalists were selected from submissions received in response to a nationwide call for entries. The winner will be announced in mid-September.

I can’t tell you how stoked I am for this opportunity. I have to submit additional materials by August 11, so if you’re looking for me over the next few weeks, I’ll be camped out in the office.

BREAKFAST AT GERARDO’S Quarterfinalist at Blue Cat

Over the weekend, I got the news that my personal favorite of the scripts that I’ve written, BREAKFAST AT GERARDO’S, made the first cut at Blue Cat’s 2012 Short Screenplay Competition. There were a total of 435 submissions and 20% were selected to stay alive as Quarterfinalists. Semifinalists will be announced on July 22nd.

If you remember, BREAKFAST AT GERARDO’S is the project that I’m currently in the midst of producing. I’m really excited for this one.

BREAKFAST AT GERARDO’S Submitted to Blue Cat

Decided last second to submit my short script, BREAKFAST AT GERARDO’S, to go Blue Cat’s Short Screenplay Contest. If you remember, this is the script I will be producing this year. Step numero uno for me is to get the story as strong as I can, so I’ve been working hard on rewriting this guy.

I’ve been blessed to receive some strong feedback by fellow writers and I feel really good about this submission. Hopefully Blue Cat feels the same.

My Submission to the Just Effing Halloween Short Scene Contest

After being completely unprepared for the barrage of kids climbing our front porch and feigning for candy last Halloween, my wife and I stocked up this year. Bags and bags. The kids must have decided to take the year off, because we’re left a Mt. Shasta of Twix and Milky Ways. How was your Halloweeny?

On a Halloween-related note, Julie Gray ran a single-scene contest last week. I have a soft spot in my heart for her contests. They’re really where I turned when I first got into screenwriting and she’s been nothing but supportive of me from the beginning. This contest required a single page scene, with a beginning, middle and end, which featured the phrases/words “harvest moon,” “pumpkin” and “jewels,” each of which was to be used within dialogue.

She’ll be announcing the three finalists later today. Below is my submission. I am appreciative of any feedback, whether you’re a fan of the work or consider it trash. Please let me know your thoughts.

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Thankful Friday 9/2

This week I’m thankful for…

+ The opportunity to make my own short film. I’ve been up early and not hitting the sack until midnight every night because of Sly Sylvester, but despite the amount of work involved, it’s been a blast.
+ We had our friend Melissa over for dinner one night this week. She’s going to be helping us with production. It’s awesome to have such supportive people in my life.
+ Received notification from the Austin Film Festival that Queen To Be made it to the second round of their Screenwriting Competition. Despite it not making it as a semifinalist, I’m still ecstatic. There were about 5800 submissions and only 10% made it to the second round.
+ Received Miasco‘s new “I’m Not Lost” tee. The design is inspired by the quote, “Not all those who wander are lost,” which I believe is J.R.R. Tolkien.

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Austin Film Festival Second Round & Semifinalists Announced

My latest feature script, Queen To Be, has officially been axed out of the 2011 screenwriting contest season. I got word this morning from the Austin Film Festival Screenwriting Competition that Queen To Be made it to the second round, but failed to make the semifinalist cut. Congratulations to those still in the running. Once I’m finished with Sly Sylvester, I’ll dive back into rewriting Queen To Be. I believe in that script and am looking forward to strengthening it further.

Speaking of Sly Sylvester, I’m happy to share that our website is now up! You can keep up with ups and downs, as well as begin to get to know the cast and crew (the cast will be announced shortly). Find the website, here.

- til next time – Kim

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2011 Nicholl Notification

Saturday morning I started the day the same way I always do. I snatched up my phone to check my email.

Nicholl notification!

To summarize:

Queen To Be did not make it as one of the 351 scripts chosen as Quarterfinalists. For your script to make it to the next round, it has to receive positive scores from three separate readers.

* Out of the 6,730 scripts entered, 2,900 scripts received an initial positive read score and garnered a second read.
* Out of the 2,900 scripts who received a second read, over 850 scripts received a second positive read score and thus moved on to receive a third read.
* Queen To Be received two positive read scores.

Therefore, while Queen To Be didn’t make it passed round one, it did receive two out of three positive reads. Last year the script I entered didn’t receive one positive read, so while not making the cut still blows, it feels good to know that two people connected with the story.

- til next time – Kim

Busy Week Ahead

Monday’s here and it’s time to get back at it.

There were some difficult stories to digest over the weekend. The incidence in Norway makes me sick to my stomach and I was really sad to hear about the passing of Amy Winehouse. I hope that she’s finally at peace.

In my little world, the weekend was a positive one. We successfully replaced the belt on the dryer, played some hoop, ate an abnormal amount of goat cheese, bought a rug for the living room, picked weeds, planted some succulents, patched a few bare spots in the lawn, went to lunch and watched the somehow Golden Globe nominated film, The Tourist.

I have a busy, but exciting week ahead.

Tonight: Attending the San Francisco Film Society’s Film Arts Forum, “How Soon Is Now?”

Tuesday: Squealing like a little girl while watching The Foreign Exchange perform at The New Parish in Oakland.

Wednesday: Attending the San Francisco Film Society’s “What’s in a Movie?” introductory class.

Thursday: Finally getting a mother-freaking win in our local basketball rec league.

Friday: Putting the final touches on my submission to the Industry Insider Screenwriting Contest.

It’s going to be a sweet week!

- til next time – Kim