Firefly Games at 2010-02-01 11:45:45:

I'm Patrick Sweeney. I live in Northern California, where I'm a newspaper copy editor and page designer by day (actually, by evening). I've finished two feature specs and a slew of shorts, and had one produced, a short horror film called Invocation. Working on my third feature spec now, experimenting the the Walter Hill Alien slash Wall*e format Scott has written about. No reps or sales yet. I also have a screenwriting blog, I Blame Ninjas.

Patrick

Screenwriter Chic at 2010-02-01 11:59:33:

Hello all!

I'm Marti Young, currently living in Nashville, TN. I've always written and was recently published after winning a contest at Vanderbilt University. I'm a mom with a tribe of children. I got sick and tired of seeing the same crap on the silver screen offering no story line, really, just a lot of pyrotechnics and excitement. I missed stories of old..where there was a plot and you couldn't figure out "who dun it" before the second act!So, I decided to start screenwriting.
So far so good. I'm currently being mentored by William M. Akers (author of Your Screenplay SUCKS! 100 ways to make it better) and have taken classes. I'm involved in several groups and keep learning more and more every day. I seem to be doing well..I've had a producer request one of my scripts.

Anyhow, I'm on here to make friends and to help out in any arena I have actually learned something. If I haven't, I tend to keep my mouth shut!

Best to all!

~ScreenwriterChic

Darren at 2010-02-01 12:16:08:

Hi!

I'm Darren McLeod, from British Columbia, Canada.

I'm currently finishing off my law degree at the moment, and trying to fit in time to screenwrite while studying! I write comedies.

Lately, I've been working with a friend who is an independent filmmaker. We're developing a two location feature-length screenplay that we can hopefully finance and produce ourselves.

Chris Hansen at 2010-02-01 12:33:03:

I introduced myself the last time, but I'll do it again (hope that's okay, Scott):

I've only been reading GITS for a couple of months and find it much more insightful than most writing blogs.

I'm Chris Hansen, a writer in Texas. I'm not actually FROM Texas, but I have been here for five years and currently run the film and digital media program at Baylor University.

I've written one indie feature and written-and-directed a couple as well. As far as genres - I like writing a variety of things, but I definitely have a very indie mindset in general. My first feature, The Proper Care & Feeding of American Messiah, was a mock doc comedy about a guy who thinks he's a "local, regional messiah," and my second feature, Endings, is a drama about three people who meet on the day that they're all dealing with their impending deaths...

And my blog is called Making Movies in Flyover Country and can be read at http://christopherhansen.blogspot.com

Bianca at 2010-02-01 12:45:48:

Hi everyone!

I'm Bianca and I'm an actor and screenwriter in Toronto. I've been reading GITS for a few months now and have bookmarked several blog posts that I always go back to if I need inspiration or if I'm stuck in a writing rut.

Right now I'm working on a script and a few web shorts. I usually write about it on my blog at http://biancafiloteo.com My goal for this year is to write something then film it (with the actors from my scene study & improv classes) and to just get our work out there.

Paul Worthington at 2010-02-01 12:47:19:

Hi Scott and everyone else --
I'm Paul Worthington.
I am a technology reporter and analyst.
Despite that, I live near Yosemite, not near any city.
After 22 years in non-fiction< I am working on screenplays.
My main work in progress started as a 12-hour serial I was filming myself. Filming was fun but impractical, so I am now working on it as a graphic novel instead.

The Film Connoisseur at 2010-02-01 13:02:20:

Hi my name is Francisco Gonzalez, I live in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Im an independent film director/writer.

I dont work for hollywood, never written a script for them...I work on my own. I write/produce and direct my own feature films and then I release them in my local theater here in Puerto Rico. Nothing professional, but we are getting there.

Im currenly working on my third feature as I type! Im writing a drama/comedy/tragedy with a dose of realism. I like my films to be infused with social criticism, I like for my films to talk about things I live and see in society.

My first two features were zombie movies, and they were a hit in my community, I have filled small venues on various ocassions! Its such a gratifying experience. My latest feature was premiered at my local art house theater, and that day was a personal success, a grand day in deed.

Im always striving to make better films, this new one Im working on, I think will be a masterpiece...a masterpiece to pay the rent. :)

Long live indy/guerilla filmmaking!

Oh, I also review films my blog is this one in case anyone is interested:

http://filmconnoisseur.blogspot.com/

Jack at 2010-02-01 13:44:48:

Hey Scott, all,

My name's Jack Loftus. I'm a marketer/writer living near Boston. Formerly a full-time journalist, although now I just do some contributing work to a gadget blog called Gizmodo (as far as professional writing goes anyway).

I started writing screenplays as a hobby oh so many years ago in college, but only recently has it become somewhat serious, thanks, in part, to a writing partner with a finished screenplay and a number of timely Hwood connections (family, friends, otherwise). We're currently in editing and rewrites now, shopping it later.

I'm published in a few places, but sadly no screenplays yet. Working on it. Mostly comedy, although a "dramedy" in the vein of Sideways snuck in there recently. Web shorts are another avenue being explored at the moment, because I'm hip like that. We'll see what happens.

Anyway, really enjoy the blog. It's one of the writing/script-related ones I read daily.

Ashley at 2010-02-01 14:19:43:

Hello, my name is Ashley Scott Meyers.

I live in Los Angeles. I've sold a few spec scripts over the years. I run a blog at SellingYourScreenplay.com.

Lately I've been writing a lot of comedy scripts with my writing partner.

I like films in all sorts of different genres from main stream comedy to independent drams. Two films I recently saw and liked are Precious and District 9.

scriptnotes at 2010-02-01 14:58:24:

Brian Walton here. I'm a screenwriter, living in Burbank. I've been involved for a while with OP on the web (www.webserials.com). Scott was gracious enough to run an interview with me about it a few weeks back.

I have my own blog: www.brianjwalton.wordpress.com

And please post your own blogs. I love finding new ones to read!

Alissa at 2010-02-01 15:18:44:

Well, I can't turn down a free virtual drink!

Alissa Grosso
New Jersey (at present)

I'm a to-be-published YA author.

When it comes to screenplays my preferred genre is comedies. That said, I've yet to complete a script I'm satisfied with.

If I make any money, I'll pay off some debts and try to improve my pathetic living situation.

My occasional writing blog is here:
http://alissagrosso.com

Peter Dwight at 2010-02-01 17:17:10:

Peter Dwight, 2 year Angelino. And i've been bit by the hollywood/writing bug for a year now.

So far, 2 early draft scripts, and plenty of wacky ideas waiting to get their appearance on paper. Soon to be put on the GITS Club to get a strong man-handling.

@Paul. Went to school in Fresno so I'm familiar with Central California which was home for several years. I'm sure that will definitely come out in some of my future/current work.

But also grew up in Taiwan, and love Asian cinema, I would love to one day do cross-cultural entertainment work. But first I'm looking to get a strong base in writing.

Thanks to GITS, I get constant inspiration and knowledge which keeps me excited about the art. Thanks scott and everyone!

Just_Hiltz at 2010-02-01 17:42:43:

Can I have a Coffee Nudge instead of a Margarita?
My name is Steve Huerta and my usual handle is JustHiltz.
My journey started when I was 5 years old and was in "Rebel Without a Cause". I got paid $75 a day and got to meet James Dean, Natalie Wood, and Nicholas Ray. The only existing remnants of my interaction with Dean is me going through the door with the nurse in the police station scene at the beginning. I got to keep one of the monkeys but lost it over the years.
I started writing when I was about 12.Mostly short stories and a novel after Viet Nam.I went to San Francisco State and was accepted into the Core Film program. I made 3 of my own films in Super8 and a documentary in 16mm. But I didn't graduate because I just could not finish a script!!! I don't think I was ready at that time and it was way too personal. I've got a lot of distance now to it and have been really thinking and using the tools I've learned over the years to make that film come alive.
The last 15 years I've been working by day in IT, but now, unemployed, I've been using the tools I get from sites like GITS and the Rouge Wave. It is totally a different game now.
I've been following Scott's site about a year now and I follow it daily.
I'm trying to get 3 different screenplays together before I make the move toward rep.I'm trying to stretch and explore comedy(THE toughest)as well as thrillers/action and drama. I've started a blog lately: http://justamoviewriter.blogspot.com/
I always look forward to our interaction as a community. Film is Alive and Very Well!

Scott at 2010-02-01 21:16:21:

@Joshua James: Hope your leg feels better.

@Alistair: Snail's pace is better than doing nothing.

@Firefly Games: Patrick, is your moniker an homage to the late, lamented Joss Whedon Fox TV series? Huge fan. I'll add your blog to my blogroll.

@Screenwriter Chic: You should email me as one of favorite writing students lives in Nashville. Perhaps she and you could do some sort of writer's group.

@Darren: Another one of my writing students kept writing through law school - and landed a gig on another late, lamented TV series Pushing Daisies. Of course, then there's another former lawyer turned writer David E. Kelley.

@Chris: I'll add your blog to my blogroll, too.

@Bianca: And your blog as well.

More responses to come!

Scott at 2010-02-01 21:23:41:

@Paul Worthington: Yosemite? In one of my previous 'incarnations' (music), I played for a winter season at the Ahwahnee Hotel and up at Badger Pass. What a beautiful place to live - and write!

@Jermball: Right back at you.

@The Film Connoisseur: Amazing how popular zombie culture is.

@Jack: The other day when the iPad was being announced by Jobs, the kids in my screenwriting class at UNC were live-blogging it through Gizmodo. Which is to say you must be hip!

@Ashley: Imagine that pitch. "It's Precious... meets District 9."

@scriptnotes: Brian, thanks again for the Q&A. What's up with your next web serial project?

@Alissa: I read something recently about the surprising growth in the YA publishing area.

@Patrick O'Riley: 3rd generation Angelino? You should be granted landmark status by the city! Your blog goes onto my blogroll.

More to come.

Scott at 2010-02-01 21:25:55:

@Peter Dwight: Given the growth in Asian cinema, I would think your interest there could be something you can capitalize on.

@Just Hiltz: Steve, enjoy the Coffee Nudge (I didn't even know what that was until I researched it for your virtual drink).

Ah, see you did enjoy it. Great.

Embee at 2010-02-01 22:04:53:

Hi, I'm Margaret, living in the frozen tundra that is North Dakota. I'm just about a third of the way through my MFA in creative and professional writing. My thesis is a screenplay which I recently described to someone as Field of Dreams meets the Coen Brothers.

I've written a slew of short stage plays, a bunch of short stories, dabbled in poety (which I'm not very good at despite someone selecting one of my poems as the winner of a literary contest...they clearly didn't know what they were talking about), and I'm currently finishing up the first draft of book two of a romance novel trilogy. I'm also learning grantwriting at present by writing a grant proposal.

It may appear that because my writing is all over the map that I can't decide what I want to write, but I prefer to think of it as being a jack of all writing trades. I like it all and refuse to do just one thing.

Next up? Hubby and I are going to collaborate on a full length musical stage play. It's gonna be awesome. If only we can find the time, speaking if which, I read GITS when I have time and I write my blog at http://musingsofawould-bewriter.blogspot.com/ when I can squeeze it in.

Nice to meet everyone!

Scott at 2010-02-01 23:38:58:

@Embee: I believe this is a first - a GITS reader from North Dakota. Well, a big "Uff da" to you, Embee, as my father, a colonel in the USAF, was stationed at Minot AFB from 1964-1967... which meant I was stationed there, too. I have many memories of ND (the people were great, the weather... not so much) and so let me crack open a virtual Grain Belt beer in your honor!

Question: Where are you getting your MFA?

radiantabyss at 2010-02-02 08:25:52:

Hola!
Paul, London - England (Yes, it's raining right now...)
I work in libraries but am trying to switch to something i can use my creative side in. It's like pulling teeth.

One dream since I was five; to write.
One bad novel I thought I could get done with no experience of the world. (That'll teach me.)
One script I'm hopefully approaching the end of the line with.

Other than that, I've got bunch of ideas I'm trying to learn to execute. I don't drink margheritas or coffee so anyone who wants mine can help themselves. ;)
Love the blog.

Embee at 2010-02-02 08:52:49:

Scott - I live about 25 miles from Minot AFB in one of the many tiny towns of ND. We've only been in ND for 5 years...I grew up in Oregon. Don't ask how we ended up in ND from Oregon, it's a long and perilous story which, coincidentally, is the basis for my screenplay!

I'm getting my MFA from Western Conn. State Univ...it's a low residency program and so far I'm really impressed and enjoying it.

davidmelkevik at 2010-02-02 12:50:39:

Hi! Long time reader but first time poster.

I'm David from Cardiff, Wales and during the day I pose as a mild, mannered administrator but at night I am a screenwriter.

Over the years I've tried my hand at writing for TV and radio but I'm now focusing purely on films and sold my first script last year.

www.davidmelkevik.co.uk

Scott at 2010-02-02 18:28:11:

@radiantabyss: Paul, I confess I have a long-time affection for libraries. Some of my fondest memories of Yale are me plunked in my favorite spot in the library, overlooking the Quad. I guess it sounds rather pathetic that this should be one of best memories - but I guess it proves I have the soul of a writer! I hope your library inspires your creativity.

@davidmelkevik: Congrats on your first sale, David. I hope many more follow.

H is for hOWIE at 2010-02-09 23:22:54:

Hi! My name is Howie Kremer. I moved out to L.A. about five months ago. I'm an aspiring writer. Specifically for TV, however, one day I think features will be fun. I came from Chicago where I performed improv and sketch comedy for over four years. I play out here at iO and am currently in the UCB program. I've recently written a six episode webseries and shot it as well. It's currently being cut... and I'm VERY excited about that.
I love the St. Louis Cardinals. I love cereal and candy - specifically PEZ.
If I ever sell a script or a TV show - the first thing I'll buy (after paying back debt) is probably going to be Cardinals Tickets - like good ones or maybe a trip to Israel.

I love your blog. Thanks so much... nice to meet you all!