A Screenwriter's Guide to the Galaxy

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You may have noticed the links positioned quite nicely in the sidebar to your left. These links lead you, the hopeful screenwriter or filmmaker, to some great blogs and forums on screenwriting, filmmaking and procrastination networking with other filmmakers/screenwriters.

We here at CWMM present you with:

A Screenwriter's Guide to the Galaxy:
Navigating the Links on the Lefthand Sidebar

THE WRITERS

Carolyn Haywood
Regular poster on the American Zoetrope Vertiual Studios hosted by Francis Ford Coppola. Her website includes samples from her award-winning screenplays, which could be a helpful resource. It has been to us!

Christopher Lockhard
No-longer updated blog by executive story editor and creative consultant, that answers e-mail questions about screenwriting. He also hosts the website twoadverbs.com, which focuses on giving advice to screenwriters.

Jane Espenson
Former writer for Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and has written episodes for Angel, Firefly, Gilmore Girls, Ellen, The O.C., and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (among others). Her website focuses on the ins and outs of writing spec scripts for televison...and what she ate for lunch.

Jeremy Slater
Amazingly hilarious blog featuring a writer navigating through agents, spec writing and trips to industry studios. Link to an even funnier blog: How To Write Screenplays. Badly.

John August
Blog from the writer of such films as Big Fish, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Charlie's Angels, and Go. Answers questions from readers on every aspect of screenwriting.

Lorelei Armstrong
Award-winning screenwriter and novelist who gives no-nonsense advice about screenwriting, and how to navigate through The Business.

Ted Rossio and Terry Elliot
The Grandaddy of all screenwriting blogs, and written by the geniuses who brought us Aladdin, The Legend of Zorro and the POTC Triology, Wordplay takes you to an entirely new level in understanding screenwriting and improving upon your craft. The site features 60 columns on screenwriting, a forum and essays from industry professionals. Highly recommended for all screenwriters.

The Unknown Screenwriter
In-depth blog second only to Wordplay, which gives writers the opportunity to study screenwriting without having to pay tens of thousands of dollars at USC having to go to film school.

WHO'S OUT THERE?

American Zoetrope
A "Virtual Studio" founded by Francis Ford Coppola. It operates on a peer-review system, allowing users to upload their screenplays, stories, music, pictures and more, and receive feedback from fellow users, with the occasional industry professional dropping in on the main boards to offer advice and feedback. Has four "buildings": Writing, Arts and Design, Music and Sound, and Other (Acting and Directing). The Screenwriting buildings is active, with several private offices hosted from a range of individuals, some industry profressionals.

Cinnematical
Cinnematical gives information on recent sales and upcoming movies, as well as reviews of recently released films. Check here often to see whether or not you should spend 4 months writing that spec script...

KarmaCritic
Website/blogsite created by frustrated "On The Lot" community members. Open to filmmakers, screenwriters, and anyone else involved in making a professional or semi-professional film. Also has a screenplay competion, SUBLIM, which opened on 07/07/07. How's that for good luck?

The Artful Writer
No-holds barred blog hosted by Craig Mazin (Scary Movie 3) and Ted Elliot (Pirates of the Carribean Trilogy). It features an active forum, which hosts the informative "Ask a Pro" question and answer sesssion. (Previous professionals included Ted Elliot, John Turman, Craig Mazin, Tim Talbott and others). Good resource for those wanting information about screenwriting from an industry pro's perspective.

Query Letters We Love
Started by the late Manager Guy, this website pokes fun at some odd query letters the host has received over the years. Interesting read, and may give you an idea what not to put in your query letters...

The Movie Blog
"The Official Home of Correct Movie Opinons". Enough said.

TriggerStreet
Large-scale site in the vein of Zoetrope, which focuses on peer-reviews as a means to improve filmmaking and screenwriting as a whole. It has a message board, blogging section and will soon add Plays, Short Stories and Books to its lineup.

LEARN HOW TO...

Michael Hauge's Screenplay Mastery
Site by writer Michael Hauge, with articles on screenplay structure, pitching and telling a story. Great for those who need a better grasp of screenplay structure.

Proper Screenplay Format
How to properly format a screenplay from the Academy of Arts and Sciences' Nicholl Fellowship Program. PLEASE READ THIS NOW.

FESTIVALS

American Black Film Festival

Deadline has passed for submit to the festival, but the festival itself will be held in October. Geared toward films focusing on African American and/or urban independent films.

The Sundance Institute
Institute created by the spectacular Robert Redford,which focuses on independent film. It has several contests and programs aimed at the indepedent filmmaker, cummilating in The Sundance Festival, held every January, in Utah.

Tribeca Film Festival
Annual Film Festival held in September, Tropfest@Tribeca holds an annual short film competion. This year's theme: "Slice".

Telluride Film Festival
Held August 31-September 3 in Telluride, Colorado, this festival accepts only the best shorts and films to be showcased during the it's run. The deadline for this year has passed, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't still be working!

Human Rights Watch International Fim Festival
"Each year, the festival's programming committee screens more than 500 films and videos to create a program that represents a range of countries and issues. Once a film is nominated for a place in the program, staff of the relevant division of Human Rights Watch also view the work to confirm its accuracy in the portrayal of human rights concerns. Though the festival rules out films that contain unacceptable inaccuracies of fact, we do not bar any films on the basis of a particular point of view." Check it out.

Los Angeles Film Festival
Presented by The Lost Angeles Times, this festival offers some of the best of independent film, accepting films from high school students as well.

SouthXSouthwest
Has several components but the Film Festival is probably what you're looking for. Located in Austin, this highly respected festival has several competions geared toward the up and coming filmmaker.

Ohio Independent Film Festival
Held in November in Cleveland, Ohio, this film festival, run exclusively by women(!), also has a screenplay competion.

This list is subject to change--and probably will, as we navigate the web finding the Best of the Best.

Good luck!