ScreenplayLab
ScreenPlayLab is more than 3,600 upbeat film and television profesionals helping each other succeed. Subscribe to free newsletter of good news and events in the industry.
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Upcoming Events

ScreenPlayLab Industry Mixer in Beverly Hills
Monday, July 13th, 2009, 6:30pm to 9:30pm
FREE! Click here to RSVP

Robin Rowe

Gabrielle Pantera
Come join the fun at ScreenPlayLab's monthly industry mixer. Last month's mixer had 90 guests.
It's been called the most fun, positive and engaging of all the Hollywood industry networking events. Mingle with industry players in all aspects of the business...writers, actors, producers, managers, composers, more. ScreenPlayLab is the most helpful group in Hollywood. Meet us at the secret backroom at Sharky's Mexican Grill. Inexpensive Mexican food. $3 margaritas!

Sharky's Mexican Grill The Backroom
435 N. Beverly Dr. and Santa Monica, Beverly Hills
PARKING: Park across the street in the city garage for $3 after 6pmSmoking is not permitted at any ScreenPlayLab event

The ScreenPlayLab Process

  • ScreenPlayLab is an open forum for the stimulating exchange of ideas. Audience members sign a release form.
  • We're an association of upbeat writers, actors, producers, directors, executives, agents, managers, composers, and so on...not just for writers.
  • ScreenPlayLab hosts audience Q&A sessions with VIPs, workshops, mixers and screenings.
  • We send event announcements and good news to our email list a few times a week. We cover our own events (typically free) and many other interesting happenings in Hollywood (free and non-free). Subscribe.
  • Our speakers are some of the most exciting people in the film and television industry. You have an opportunity to get your question answered personally during our event Q&A. Speakers often stay afterwards to chat. How to contact a speaker.
  • Our workshops are fantastic because our feedback is upbeat and productive. We're a very positive and proactive group of artists, not a clique of bitter critics.
  • All of our events provide opportunities for networking. ScreenPlayLab is an opportunity to practice being "good in the room".
  • We started workshopping scripts with actors in front of live audiences since 2005. Due to other demands on our time, we discontinued readings in December 2008. Other groups that do readings are on our Links page.

Funny Is Money Again for 2007 Top 50 Box Office

Of the top 50 grossing movies of 2007, 22 are comedies, 14 are action, 10 are dramas, and 4 are horror. As a sub-genre, 5 are animated, 2 are musicals, 1 is a thriller and 1 is a Western. As usual, comedies dominate the top 50.

Of the top 10 grossing movies of 2007,, 7 are action (Spider-Man 3, Transformers, Pirates 3, Harry Potter 5, Bourne 3, 300, I am Legend) and 3 are comedies (Shrek 3, Ratatouille, The Simpsons Movie). As usual, franchise action movies and comedies dominated the top 10.

The Best Picture Academy Award winner No Country for Old Men ranked #36 at the box office. Miramax's No Country for Old Men did less box office than Norbit or Evan Almighty and came in just ahead of Fred Claus.

Data source: Box Office Mojo

Documentary Taping

We video tape most of our events in anticipation of some day producing a documentary about ScreenPlayLab. We do not offer tapes of our speakers' presentations (unless the speaker would wish it). Video of screenplay workshops may be made available to the screenwriters or the actors for their personal review (with the consent of the writers). We'd like to put some short clips up on the web (with permission of course), but so far haven't found time.


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Writing Tips

Queries and Pitching

Producers

  • AMPTP
    The Alliance of Motion Picture & Television Producers is the collective bargaining association of over 350 motion picture and television producers for negotiating industry-wide contracts, including AFM, AFTRA, DGA, IATSE, IBEW, Laborers Local 724; SAG, Teamsters Local 399, and WGA.
  • MPAA
    Online database of film ratings. It costs about $2,500 to get your film rated. Films that aren't rated have trouble getting distribution because without a rating a movie is presumed to be porn. Interestingly, unrated versions of a film may be much more popular in video rentals...but only if there's a rated version.
  • PGA
    The Producers Guild of America is more than 3,500 working motion picture, television and new media producers worldwide.

DGA

WGA

SAG

  • SAG
    Of 120,000 members, the average income from acting is less than $5k (Bureau of Labor) and fewer than 25% of SAG members in Hollywood have agents (Hollywood Reporter)
  • SAG Franchised Agents
    Commisions
  • SAG Indie
    Workshops for producers on using SAG actors
  • SAG Foundation
    Seminars for actors

Agents

Managers

  • Talent Managers Association
    Unlike agents who are state licensed, bonded, and may be franchised by unions, talent managers are unregulated

Casting Directors

Below the Line Crew

Extras

  • Central Casting
    A way for actors to gain familiarity with working on the set. Pay is about $50 for up to an eight-hour day. You call in the morning to hear if they need your type.

Top Contests

There are thousands of screenwriting contests. Three really matter. Win one of these and agents call you and doors open. Note that the best contests offer something better than a cash prize, which does nothing for your career.

Upcoming

Directories


Questions to info@ScreenPlayLab.com
Created May 11, 2005. Updated June 20, 2009