|
(My) News |
||||
|
Updated: 07/01/2010 Not a lot to announce of late. The script book for the feature script of Stephen King's "one for the road" has been sent to the printers (25 copies), which will be used along with the electronic copy to promote the script. Code Name: Zeus appears to be dead in the water. With the producer only pursuing a comic project for Zeus, which seems to have kicked me out as I was taken onboard to write/punch up the animated series. Very disappointed in how I was treated on this considering the amount of work out into short stories for promotion, animated series scripts and other writing. A lot of work with no reward. Hopefully nothing of mine is ripped off. Trying to get to the premiere in New York for my short film (script) too good to be true on February 13th. Hopefully can scrap together the funds for this. Still waiting on Semi finals announcement for th BSSC 2009 contest. Fading numbers and Angels are both into round 3, so fingers crossed. Wrote a blog for the official Tom Cruise website, if selected could appear on this site as a guest writer. Subject what movie changed your life, I chose Jaws. Busy busy, but still waiting for scripts to get into gear and productions to finish. Too Good to be True still shooting in New York with approx. 4 days of shooting left to complete this short time. Rough Cut: Shooting complete and after a troubled production (with cast and crew) has moved to post production. Unplugged: Due to start July 19th in New Jersey. To shoot as spec commercial and 4 minute short film (no dialogue). Catch Nixon: AKA pumped. Rough cut complete and now moving towards end of post production in South Africa. GPS due to start end of July in California. Producer and Director of photography onboard. Code Name: Zeus is still all stream for comic con 2009. 7 Episode animated series scripts done with selection of short stories live on Face book. Live action series bible drafted with work starting on live action pilot script in motion. 15 page one for the road script complete and in for funding as I work in feature script based on the Stephen King short. Plans are - if the funding lands, use the short film to pitch for funding to make a feature. Which will require further option negotiations with King as presently only have none "one dollar baby" option for this piece for use in film festivals only. Entered a selection of competitions and bids for funding in 2009 (Filmbase) with my strongest scripts to date. Fingers crossed. Still no news on Angels and Devils..... Been busy catching up and finished a 20 page short (Thriller) written to spec for guy in Boston. Outside of that Fading Numbers finished first in short category at the Movie Deal Contest. Still waiting for films to get moving and been working pretty much flat out on Codename Zeus. - looking like the 7 episodes are at finishing stages (proof reading) and ready for pitching. Now onto following up with directors/producers to get an idea of start times. Did a mock up logo for Capture Comics which was a real fast job as I only had a few minutes during lunch and had an idea for a design. Mashes one up in Paint shop pro and the guys liked it and are going to use the design (although with better drawing/rendering than my sketch). To appear on the future releases with copies to be passed on an a reward/prizes. Keep an eye out for Fox Hunt and capture comics - really great comic art on display here. Amazingly comics are the one medium not effected by the internet as collectors/readers still prefer the "physical" art form rather than electronic versions of comics. Was recently contacted by Daniel Vest creator of Codename Zeus. An up and coming comic/animated series to come onboard as a co-writer for the animated series. Sent on a bio and selection of short screenplays. On the strength of that the guys gave me a shot at working in a Episode to see if I fitted. And to my joy they loved what I did, so looks like I'm onboard. So hopefully it works out and another credit in the making. Presently have one episode down (co-wrote with head writer) and onto the next chapter/episode - Episode 6. Great vision and passion on display here, so I have been encouraged to up my game and get stuck in and give it my best... More to come on this (hopefully). Working on an Irish short (thriller) and continued work on GPS. Eased off on entering competitions, as don't have the time at the moment. Finally purchased a Storm trooper costume (prop) for my short Galactic Therapy. Plan to practice with some simple Flicker shots before putting this into production. With some luck I might even get a load of a good HD camera and some crew volunteers along the way. Awaiting delivery at the moment - will post a "prat in a costume" picture when it arrives. During a late night conference call last night I realized I was working/finished work on a commercial for a film maker in Switzerland, a short for a director in south Africa, a short for a director/producer in LA, two shorts for directors in Ireland, a feature for myself + other odds and ends for commercials, shorts in USA. International. yes...Exhausting? Definitely.....Time for a break.... Working on a Short GPS which is really turning into a feature trapped in a short. Very complex and hard to nail it down. But keeping at it. Completed the UK feature (1st draft) and working on a Irish film that I won't comment on until (if it manages) goes into production. Finally: Sticking my neck out and using the money from some short sales to enter a few more contests. Working on: A feature for someone in the UK, a short for a guy in LA (going to be solid short - well more like a feature in a short, very layered story) and a treatment for a feature for some one in Mexico. So a thriller, action and drama all at the same time (not easy, but interesting). I'm going to push on and complete it as a six chapter feature.... Been working on three entries for Locker 13 contest. Well more of a unique approach to film making where the audience gets a opportunity to get involved from writing to acting.
Click on the image above to be taken to the official site. They plan to select six shorts from those submitted and announced by May 15th. Think each of their stories need a common theme or character to link them. So the only way I can see it working is that they 1) use one writer or 2) get a writer involved after selection to inject a common theme/character (not an easy task). So with that in mind I submitted mine with a common theme and character - Detective Tom Ryan. And as luck will have it, noticed a typo a few minutes ago and the deadline has passed (bugger!). KillerApp placed as semi finalist of write movies 17th competition. Blood Brothers selected as finalist in Wildsound feature contest. Blood Brothers (revised) also in the write movies 18th competition. Semi finalists announced after April 30th (I think). Presently working on two feature treatments. Maimed and one as yet I can't mention (adaptation). Also working on polishing short for "possible" competition entries in 2008. Birth control. Still no news. Shot and in post production. Speed Dial: Shot and at editing/post production. Cuckoo Conspiracy: Due to start principal photography at end of summer. Angels and Devils: Effects team booked (to be shot 100% digital sets against a green screen - ALA Sin City). Due to shoot in the summer. Still no news on others. Following my theme of "keep moving forward", I have partnered up to try and adapt and auto biography (can't name who as yet) into a screenplay. Will be a LOT of work and very high chance of failure. But never the less, one of those time that you would kick yourself if you don't try...More later on this (I hope). One the eve of competition results for KillerApp - but can feel it in my water that it will fail to place... Three months in and I have had more bad luck than I care to mention. Way to many family and personal tragedies that I could have dreamt. College let downs. Work let downs and now, numerous writing letdowns. Tis bad when your hobby is even causing you grief. Have decided to try and get something over the finish line in 2008. Either short or feature. Since starting to write and selling, custom writing and doctor work over the last five years of writing. Only one short has completed and this was only based on my original short. So rather than be competition and new work obsessed. 2008 is the year of getting some of these preproduction pieces complete. So no more concerned with prizes and fees. From now the work and goal is to put together a "visual Resume"... God the world of writing is hard. The harder you write, the better you get. The better you get the....more opportunities arise and slip through your fingers. Started the new year with some personal torture and entered KillerApp and blood brothers in two competition. Also wrote two 1 page shorts for Wildsound even. One placed in top 30. (but as far as it got - bummer). Wrote my real first treatment for Lone Rangers (after it was requested by Irish Pro company). I found my previous treatments boring and lacking. So I started one from the ground (after a lot of study on "how to write a good treatment"). Breaking the story in key scenes and inject dialogue where appropriate. The company that requested a treatment really like it and requested the complete screenplay. (but passed as it had been done before and are looking for something new...bummer) Also working on two treatments for two shorts (1st draft sent back). Two completely different stories and locations. So in all, been very busy. (so far one has been passed on...bummer). Watch the Standoff reading (Canada) and vote before December 19th 2007 (if you like). Watch take out here. Take out is complete. Sorry can't post any links to it as yet (until after 31st Oct, when submission to the festival it has entered into is finished). Birth Control still going through editing and general post production duties. More news as I have it. Take out has moved to production status and due to shoot weekend: 6-7th October 2007. Fingers crossed and more news as I get it. Made it to the finalist stage of the Wildsound one page screenplay contest. Didn't get a place in the expo 6 with Blood Brothers. So next batch of work (after present rewrites and write a scene contest), is to polish and fix the issues with Blood Brothers for 2008. Pushing this one hard of Lloyd as he is a War Veteran, who helped as well as stress this is a story that needs to be told.... Entered Marriage Counselor (comedy short) into Blue Cat short Competition. Always been well received and won in Script Nurse 2007: but option for production didn't arise. So figured another competition wouldn't do it any harm from exposure point of view - first round announced December 15th 2007. Entered another competition (has to be in by January 2008) whereby I need to write an adapted scene. Prize is scene will appear in movie (if it wins). So interesting idea and good writing exercise.... Presently flat out on rewrite (script doctor) "for hire" on The New Mob. Modern style thriller in similar vain to Scarface. Pretty exciting as my second hire on a feature and shows me how much I've learned in the last few years. A hell of a lot of work in a small amount of time and starting to get a little tired as a result. But may be a good exposure/experience. Even if like others it fails to get produced. Something gotta move some time..... Also working on rewrites for Take Out. Looking like it's moving forward and has to be shot/release by end of October 2007. Birth Control also on schedule to shoot 7th October 2007. Fell flat in AAA Summer contest (seems after professional edit my feature didn't get a consider this time around: so score less. I sent a mail to get an idea of where it dropped in points. But alas no reply. Perhaps a contest that will take a bit of thinking about before next entry). Have some ideas on revising Blood Brothers as want to keep moving forward with it for Lloyd (my military advisor on the script). As he is a War Veteran and told me it a story that need to be told...... Awaiting results of Expo 6 and Wildsound one page contests (end of month). The one page entry was "stand off" inspired by my youngest temper tantrum.... Tried my hand at a horror (short) by request for potential competition and they loved it so... Just sold Birth Control to Miguel de Oliveira in Portugal. Due to shoot September 2007. Working on several individual episodes for TV version of Operation Eagle. Even if opportunity doesn't become real, I'm going to push on and finish this. Concept is how peoples actions effect others to the backdrop of WWII. A lot of writing needed. Approx 40 pages x 10 episodes = 400 pages total. I'm 50 + pages in.... Been working on getting a short and feature ready for competition at the moment, + the usual spot of re-writing. Two comedies completed for these (see list below). Stuck Birth Control (WGA registered) up on Inktip, under short comedies. - Sold August New logline: Some fathers will do just about anything to protect their daughter from "the new boyfriend". I have Birth Control, best man, choices and angels and devils up there now. - The two comedies both sold as result. Basically only work at the moment is rewrite some Angels, choices, Damnation and REX. Still no news on Cuckoo Conspiracy..... (no change. Afraid to say this might been done, as had been delayed and no news for month of June: when it was supposed to finally shoot.)... Angels and Devils failed to secure funding.... So went back and polished it into a "final draft". Doubt this will ever get made now either. Too many delays and promises..... On the plus side, Choices and Damnation have been polished and tightened and are in for "potential" funding through competition in Ireland. Will know more in 4 weeks or so. I've hired a storyboard Artist (yes actually costing me money at this stage), just to make contact for future and get some experience of how to handle produce boards. Will post the finished boards next week (Choices). More concept drawings than boards as the boards would need to be made with the DOP/Director and layout camera angles and shots..... Update: Winner of Script Nurse 2007 "Mini-Movie" Screen Writing Contest with the The Marriage Counselor. Very cool and great timing (in helping build up my bio for other projects).
More here: http://scriptnurse.com/wcms/index.php Great prize of $900 of script aiding software/books etc (+ possible option). Update (June): Its either going to be a very good or very bad month. With a lot of potential good or bad news for stuff in production, competitions and Angels and Devils. Hopefully luck with fall on at least one of the projects/shorts. Half a dozen queries for Choices from inktip. No follow ups, so perhaps she needs a rewrite. Am going to make the short "Rex" with my kids as a summer (school holiday) project. Planning to write (done), storyboard, rough shoot with digi cam and models and then animate/edit in the Movies "movie maker" application. Just to make the experience fun for the kids and teach them some of the finer point of film making. One element that is holding it up is getting a T-Rex prop for the movies games/application. As it needs to be in the story to make it work...... REX T-rex Model (.dxf + .fbx + skins) Update: Conspiracy has finally been given the green light and will be shot in June. Finance and producers back on board. Hopefully it will start to build momentum again.... Contract received, awaiting news on schedule in June. Update: Still zero news on any thing shifting. Five shorts in pre production and going VERY SLOWLY. Conspiracy: Slipped a couple of weeks, which has changed into a month by the looks of it. Got an email last week to say waiting for something to fall into place. No updates. Speed Dial: Due to shoot end of the Summer - ready for September. Sales Pitch: Due to shoot end of the Summer - ready for September. Not so best man: Producer is creating a portfolio of work. So this has the potential to be made later in the year. Angels and Devils: In competition for funding. June 26th (Mexico) there may be news. Good or bad. If it wins one of the five spots it will start, if not....... Update: Conspiracy slipped by a couple of weeks. So May deadline is not going to happen. May been shooting some scenes May bank holiday weekend. Had to rewrite speed dial and tone down the language to a more suitable for festivals rating. No news of schedule as yet (or for Sales Pitch). The Not so best man may film this year. But maker is waiting on a new camera (October) so might not have any updates until end of the year. Angels and Devils still stuck in development hell. No updates just rumours and possibilities of budgets and potential actor leads. Nothing concrete. So first shorts stuck in pre production phase. Competition news 2007:
Added new information for shorts that are presently contracted to make or have interested parties attached. So far Angels and Devils, Speed Dial, Sales Pitch, Birth control and Marriage Counsellor have either been signed up or close to. Submitted: sales Pitch, 19th Hole, Birth Control, The not so best man, speed dial and The marriage counsellor to Dv3productions (see there comedy shorts here). They has shown interest in a couple (lower budget) pieces. Not money involved, but may get something made. They finally passed, deciding to use real jokes rather than screenplays. Getting the jokes from "My space" (groan). As a result the quality of their work has dropped. Visual productions still good quality, but stories and week as rice paper. Have written a number of short screenplays. The shorts are usually written as practice or on a subject matter that interested me. * = Interested parties attached. Entered a couple of competitions with a polished "Blood Brothers": Expo 6 and AAA. Also wrote a one page short "Stand off" comedy for one page screenplay competition. Finally wrote a seven page parody on Assassin's creed (video game) for another competition. Which looks like the producer will not get made - story of my life by the looks of it..... Still no news on Cuckoo Conspiracy. Giving it till end of July, if no word (as now) I'm moving on and leaving (yet another) one behind..... Angels and Devils failed to secure funding. Carlos working with company regarding filming against green screen (digital sets) ala 300 and Sin City style. May have some news at the end of the month...... Cuckoo Conspiracy due to start shooting sometime in June 2007...... News: Just sold the "not so best man" for very little money as always (the joy of the indy film makers). But judging the guys other work there are good odds it will end up well made (which is more important). Casting for "Cuckoo Conspiracy" starts at 10:00 am 25th March, in Manhattan. News: I won the itchy house contest. IHF "2
& 1/2 Week" short SCREENWRITING CONTEST judges vote 1st
place script as: More here Casting to start Sunday 25th of March in New York. Will post pictures as I get them (hopefully) of actors and props. News: Working on a short titled "Cuckoo Conspiracy". Which has to be a max 7 pages spy/thriller theme. Have written the first draft (in 11 pages) that now requires a tidy, polish and prune. I think it is a cool intro. But time will tell. During conception (while minding kids over the weekend). I started to draw up a scene which was comedy based and thus not suitable. But will make for a good comedy short of its own (WIP) called: Agents Secret: News: Decided to spend most of (writing) time knocking out a new draft of blood brothers. Everyone that have read it has liked it and with comments of a "story that should be told" etc. So the 3rd draft will (hopefully) be submitted to the 2007 Blue Cat competition by March 1st. Entered as of 27th February. First round results 1st July 2007. Also entered in The page international competition:: First rounds results June 30th 2007 This is an enhanced version of the Blue cat version with a couple of added scenes focusing on the men and woman lost, as well as those permanently damaged. Taking Blood Brothers to its 4th draft. This enhanced version was also printed and posted to "eyes of the world productions" who expressed an interest in reading after I replied to an advery on hollywood hit sales website (sent March 14th 2007). Dear Sean, Thanks for your recent submission to Eyes of the World Productions. We are happy to inform you that your query is aligned with our interests. The next step of the process is to read, sign and return the attached screenplay release form with your script to Eyes of the World Productions PO Box 777 Venice CA 90291 After we receive your script, we will notify you if it is material we would consider optioning. Thank you. Eyes of the World Productions Santa Monica, CA eyesoftheworldproductions@gmail.com Also entered Blood Brothers (4th draft) : enhanced version into the script pimp 2007 movie contest. Winners to be announced July 26th. Entering Choices, Damnation, moment of madness, .24, the marriage counsellor, the not so best man and what are we fighting for in a free "short" competition at script nurse: (entered eight shorts in total) Submitted my first "rough" draft update of Dust Devils (with positive response). News: Sales Pitch and Speed Dial as still on course to start in March. I did some taglines and synopsis) for the director this week. Will post which ones are picked. Samples (during lunch break writing) Speed Dial: Why you should absolutely always try to wait a few days before making that call! Never use a phone the day after the best night of your life. A wrong number, an answering machine, a priest and a hot date. What could possibly go wrong? If you bed a hot chick, never, ever, ever ring her back. What does a desperate man, a hot chick and a wrong number have in common? One good reason why you should always pay for sex. Why you should never, ever use voice mail. What would you do if the perfect woman failed to call you back? Synopsis Carlos had experienced the best sexual experience of his life. Hell the only sexual experience of his life. The problem? She wouldn't return his calls. Practically driven insane with anticipation and worry. He takes the only course he knows and leaves seventy messages on her machine. Unfortunately for Carlos he forgot one of the finer details, in checking the number before storing it on his phone. The result is, ahem, a little embarrassing. Sales Pitch: A car salesman goes just one step too far. Before you make the perfect pitch, check who the client is. The final sale of the day could be the final sale of his career. When you hook a big sales fish, check to see who is on the end of your line. A sale too far. A good reason why sales targets are not exactly the best idea in the world. Sometimes there is a reason when things go that little bit too easy. Synopsis John was having a good day. The last sale before lunch was set to make the day nigh on perfect. Two expensive cars in one incredibly easy sale. Unfortunately for John he made one mistake when his head was clouded with thoughts of sales targets and employee of the month. That mistake was not learning to read. Well, at least to read business cards before making that perfect sale. News: Speed Dial to start in March (Canada).
Dust Devils in gathering speed. Starting back work on (re) writing sections. Just signed a contract for two shorts: Speed Dial and Sales Pitch. These were part of a pack I wrote last summer for Mobi-Jokes (Olsen Brothers): Comedy "short" short. They showed interest in a couple but are presently busy doing a feature. More information on Shorts Page. Latest news on Dust Devils. Looks like this is progressing as I have been paid a few bob to book me for co-writing starting in January. The script is optioned and awaiting the original writers to submit a new draft (early Jan 2007). So could be interesting to get a writing credit (finally) on something that will get filmed. Waiting for the latest draft to arrive (early Jan 2007), to allow me to start brush up work. So a paid writer for the second time.......... Entered Blood Brothers into the AAA screenplay contest as he hasn't received one bad review thus far (bar the usual polishing tips). Next stage is 15th Feb 2007. So fingers crossed. Added "The not so best man" onto the www.inktip.com site as a short screenplay.
Who knows. Everyone that read this has liked it, so just trying to pitch it to some amateur filmmakers. Stuff "up in the air at the moment":
Hence lots of balls in the air, but as always; waiting... Check out short section. I was asked to partner with a film maker in USA to put together a comedy 30 second short for a Doritos competition. Did fur ball (based on a cut scene from Mr. Bo Jingles) and the Shopping list. Was only given two days to knock something out, so looks like I just missed out on getting this made and entered as the director is only going to do one (his own) as it has to be made and submitted in two weeks. Pity as I was very happy with Shopping list. But guess it was good practice to try and write a commercial. Was asked to write a logline best suited to "Dust Devils". So I wrote about half a dozen, but I wasn't happy, so finished on: "A criminal lawyer finds himself crossing over to a life of crime, in which he must recruit a brother so fresh out of prison he still showers with his back to the wall; together they enlist the worst collection of would be criminals, to pull off a drug run that could cost them their lives even if they succeed." Guess you could refer to them as my employers (although I haven't bee paid as yet) were very happy with this on. So all going in the right direction. Possible writing job on a screenplay called "Dust Devils". Chance of it being a paid gig (for a change) and may actually get filmed early 2007. Presently at early rewrite stage. Polishing dialogue and adding humour at the moment. Will keep updating on progress. This is going well. We are starting to develop the first 60 pages to see if we can improve and get a feel for the story/characters. This is still work in progress. Also worked on two very short SHORTS (see short screenplay page) for commercial competition for Doritos. Another contact made and possibly get something shot. Will know more in a week or so. (only had a day to conceive and write these - so missed the boat.) Utopia-1 failed to make it into the quarter finalist stage of Expo 5. Alas, more money and time wasted. Results were posted 26th September 2006. Some 2,400 features were entered. Starting to get a little fed up at this stage... Added Utopia-1 to list of "unproduced Scripts" @ www.simplyscripts.com see below: Here it can be discussed or reviewed. Will see how it goes and maybe add more.
Utopia-1 by
Sean Ryan
hosted by Simply Scripts I have been working on some comedy shorts at the moment ( see: Short Screenplays). Mostly in the hope of getting one or two made as I made a contact through scriptswap that was looking for very "short" shorts and so far is happy with the work. I had to fax a release for these shorts and The Lone Rangers. Altough the Irish setting may turn them off. Will post if any progress was made. I have entered Utopia-1 into competition at Expo 5. Will post up how it does (or not). It's an interesting competition that can lead to either a comic book or movie deal. Competitions to date: The Lone Rangers: Finalist in the 2006: The People's Movie Screenplay Contest. Angels and Devils: Fade In Quarterfinalist (2005) Utopia-1: in expo 5 2006. Decided to go back and revise Utopia-1, as despite it obvious issues: I still think is a killer concept. Been doing some research on various future weapons etc and came up with some ideas. The screenplay has also benefited from my additional knowledge in writing since I first wrote this. In all happy with the new draft, adding a further 16 pages: but not just padding. More action and gadgets, making the scenes more exciting as well as spelling out the creatures and where they came from. Also a new "cliffhanging" ending which shows the story will progress as suggested before. I have written seven full length screenplays to date (Hive and trail are at first draft stage only) and several short screenplays. My Writer Score Stamp on Script Swap (dragged down in rating due to review "hammering" of Utopia ????)
You can read/review some of the following listed here at: http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/ or read the first ten pages/random scene of each: link at bottom of each section. Altough like any of these communities, I would pay little attention to scores and reviews. Altough I do have two in the top fifty. Nut like any of these sites (zoetrope, triggerstreet), you need to avoid getting obsessed with top ten and top fifity ratings. You dream that it may make a difference and you might get "discovered", but that is all it is, a dream. Use the sites to get reviews and help or even try and make contacts. Only way to break in, is get a agent(bloody hard) or win some competitions and get noticed..... You can also read comments from reviewers and readers of the screenplays, by following the links in each section. Currently I'm working on making the Lone Rangers a little funnier and fleshing out some of the characters. Also WIP on Blood Trail (the hardest I've written yet), the Human Hive is on going and playing around with some fresh ideas for Utopia-1. Utopia-1: Sci-Fi/action (updated) The Lone Rangers: Comedy/drama The Human Hive: Thriller/Drama. Angel and Devils(short): Thriller Short Screenplays: Various (updated) Most of my screenplay work is connected (in some way). Here is a word doc showing what I mean. Shorts on the left of the page. Full length screenplays on the right. For more information please contact: seansshack@oceanfree.net
|
| |||
|
|
||||
|
|
||||
|
|
)