*Do you get a lot of international submissions?
*How do you manage to give written feedback to all the submissions?
*What genres are accepted?
Scene Unseen Movie Reviews with Chris and Jimmy is an irreverent
alternative to the typical movie review template. Chris actually sees
the film and reviews its cinematic merits...while Jimmy does NOT see
the film, basing his review on the poster, trailer, rumors, back
story, and personal opinions. What ensues is a hilarious, sometimes
explicit, rant on movies both past and present.
www.sceneunseenpodcast.com
*Who are the readers?
*What kind of advice for independent writers who don't have an agent would you give?
*When you are reading a competition script, are you looking for story or style or both?
Filmmaking in the Bay Area & Beyond. Thomas Koch interviews Gordy Hoffman, founder of the Bluecat Screenplay Competition, about the contest. www.bayareafilmmakers.com
*Your background, How did it all come about?
*What exactly is the BlueCat Screenplay Competition?
*For beginning screenwriters, what tips do you have?
The Filmmaking Central is Independent Filmmaker David Basulto's blog and podcast. Filmmaking topics discussed by a 15 year
veteran. filmcast.typepad.com/filmmaking_central
Episode 10: Gordy Hoffman - Writer, Director, Producer and Founder of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition
*What other skills should a writer have to be successful in the industry?
*Where can producers find good writers?
*How important is it to be in Hollywood for creating a successful career?
The Film Producer's Podcast is for new and professional producers alike. It is produced by Matthew Morreale (Yoga Maya Films). The show is focused on hearing from professionals who have attained long-term success (or from those who are working toward long-term success) to help us learn more about how films are developed, financed, sold and distributed, while making a profit. www.yogamayafilms.com/podcast
*Why do screenplay competitions matter?
*What would you say to someone who is skeptical about entering a screenplay competition?
*What makes a great a screenplay?
Award-winning author, ex-TV scribe and current Podshow creative exec, Mark Yoshimoto Nemcoff, discusses ways to help writers get published, produced and promoted in today's ever-changing media landscape. markyoshimotonemcoff.com/wordsushi/
Bluestocking LA Blog Interview
Abra Deering Norton is a writer and graduate of UCLA's MFA program in screenwriting. She writes spec screenplays and teleplays (Top 20 Slamdance Finalist) and blogs about all things "bluestocking" at "Bluestocking LA - Life & Times of a Writer and New Mom in Los Angeles" where she writes about her TV and movie viewing habits, screenwriting tips & insights (pithy or not), and her life & times as a scribe and new mom in Los Angeles juggling it all... and she tries to do all this with the least amount of "snark" as possible. Her blog has been featured on Salon.com, and IMDB.com's "Hit List" and "Indie Hit List" several times. bluestockingla.blogspot.com
February 2008
BlueCat's Featured Article on MovieMaker Magazine's Website!
BlueCat Screenwriting Competition Gives Writers Red Carpet Treatment
by Andrew Gnerre
In an industry that can often feel impersonal and intimidating, the BlueCat Screenwriting Competition is a beacon of humanism. This contest, started in 1998 by Love Liza and A Coat of Snow scribe Gordy Hoffman, places emphasis in all the right places.
For starters, the contest is dedicated to discovering untapped talent. All of BlueCat's winners are first-time screenwriting contest victors, and this is no coincidence. "Our mission is to find and support the undiscovered writer," remarks Hoffman. "We don't need to reward the writer who has sold and produced their work, as they don't need our help in bringing their work to the attention of the industry. They already have it!"
Secondly, and most impressive, BlueCat provides each entrant with a detailed analysis of his or her script. The feedback comes from the talented group of readers personally selected by Hoffman. "I strive every year to hire the best readers," comments Hoffman, "rejecting way more applicants than we hire. We do not have 80 companies reading our material. We have one person who has one team of hand-picked readers, and this keeps us authentic. Writers can feel confident their script has been read when they enter BlueCat."
So with a staff dedicated to finding new talent and a guarantee that your script will be read and thoroughly scrutinized, BlueCat seems like a no-brainer for up-and-coming screenwriters. The $10,000 grand prize might serve as some incentive as well.
Take Hoffman's advice, though, and be confident in your script before you send it out. "Don't send your script to us if you don't think it's ready! Some writers enter BlueCat to get our written analysis, but I encourage everyone to write until they need to get a different perspective than their own. Readers want to care about what they're reading. The best way to write something people care about is to care about it yourself."
BlueCat's regular submission deadline is March 3, 2008, with a $50 entry fee; the late deadline is April 1, with a $60 entry fee.
Sony Pictures Entertainment picked up North American rights to Danny Leiner's comedy Balls Out: The Gary Houseman Story (aka Gary The Tennis Coach) in an eight-figure deal that closed late on Sunday night [Feb 11]. The screenplay, written by Andy Stock and Rick Stempson, won the 2005 BlueCat Screenplay Competition.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group's (SPWAG) Scott Shooman brokered the agreement with UTA acting on behalf of the producers. It is understood Sony is planning a summer 2008 release.
Seann William Scott stars as a despondent former tennis pro who finds work as a school janitor and ends up coaching the tennis team. Randy Quaid also stars.
GreeneStreet Films financed and produced with ONC Entertainment and Identity Films. Michael Nathanson, John Penotti and Scott served as producers, while Leiner, Graham Larson, Matthew Rowland, Fisher Stevens, Peter Morgan, and Tim Williams served as executive producers. Icon International is selling remaining territories at EFM through its deal with GreeneStreet Films International.
"It's no coincidence that we were attracted to Sony after the way they handled Superbad last year," Penotti said. "I'm personally thrilled for Danny, who has been a friend of mine for years and I've always appreciated his unique worldview."
Congratulations once again to Andy and Rick!
January 2008
BlueCat Finalist Triumphs in Sundance and the Berlin Film Festival!
Lance Hammer's film BALLAST had its International Premiere in competition last weekend at the Berlin Film Festival, alongside THERE WILL BE BLOOD by Paul Thomas Anderson and BE KIND REWIND by Michel Gondry, among others. He wrote, directed, produced and edited the movie!
A 2004 BlueCat Finalist for THE IMPERFECT CELL, Lance is coming off winning Best Director at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival. His film also won for Best Cinematography.
Congratulations, Lance! You richly deserve the attention you're receiving. We're very proud.
September 2007
2005 Winner Sells Second Script
2005 BlueCat winners Andy Stock and Rick Stempson have done it again.
The first comedy Will Ferrell and Adam McKay's Gary Sanchez Productions is producing under their deal with Paramount Vantage is none other than another screenplay written by writers discovered by BlueCat in 2005.
Fresh off his Emmy win on Sunday night, Jeremy Piven will star in THE GOODS: THE DON READY STORY, directed by Neal Brennan. Production
will begin in December in Los Angeles.
The script centers on a used-car liquidator hired to save a struggling dealership during a Fourth of July weekend sale.
The pair's first project, GARY THE TENNIS COACH, the 2005 BlueCat winner, recently was produced by GreeneStreet Films and stars Seann William Scott. Release is scheduled for early 2008.
Congratulations go out to Andy and Rick!
P.S. Have you seen the Ferrell / McKay short, THE LANDLORD?
2007 Winner Interview
(l-r) 2007 Finalist Chad Holley, 2007 Winner Ana Lily Amirpour, 2007 Finalist Doyle Esch, 2005 Finalist Ryan David Jahn, 2004 Finalist Kathy Garcia.
Ana Lily Armirpour interviewed by BlueCat Founder Gordy Hoffman.
Lily talks of her life before screenwriting and how she came to the story of the award-winning screenplay, THE STONES. 2007 BlueCat Screenplay Competition Winner
2007 Winner workshops her script with BlueCat Alumni
Our 2007 Winner, Ana Lily Amirpour, has been busy workshopping her screenplay, THE STONES, over at the BlueCat offices. We all got together to give her notes on her beautiful screenplay as we support her in her goal of shooting the movie next summer!
Stay tuned for more news about this wonderfully talented artist.
WE LOVE OUR WRITERS!
August 2007
BlueCat's Screenplay Live Video on YouTube
SCREENPLAY LIVE returned for a third year to the High Falls Film Festival with a staged reading of BEARD'S CREEK by Maureen Tilyou, a finalist of the 2006 BlueCat Screenplay Competition.
2006 Winner Young Kim and 2007 Winner Ana Lily Amirpour
Young Kim with 2007 BlueCat Winner Ana Lily Amirpour
The Coalition of Asian Pacifics In Entertainment Group and the Fox Entertainment Group recently hosted a staged reading of 2006 BlueCat Winner Young Kim's HYUNG'S OVERTURE at famed Culver Studios, home of GONE WITH THE WIND. Young Kim directed the fantastic reading, which found the audience alternately laughing hysterically and deeply moved by his uncompromising tale.
BlueCat was out in full force with 2007 Winner Ana Lily Amirpour, along with 2007 Finalists Doyle Esch and Chad Holley, in attendance.
2007 Winner Announced
We are very thrilled to announce the winner of the 2007 BlueCat Screenplay Competition:
THE STONES by Ana Lily Amirpour
2007 Finalists:
Every time I go to Staten Island something bad happens by Irin Evers
Howard & Minet by Doyle Esch & Daniel Wilson
Kid Show by Chad Holley
Loved Ones by Vicki Speegle
June 2007
2008 BlueCat Screenwriting Lab
Now accepting pitches, Short scripts and Feature Screenplays for the BlueCat Screenwriting Lab. $18,000 in cash awards and three writers will be flown to Los Angeles for one week of intense development in the home of the motion picture industry, all expenses paid. In addition, each Fellow will receive $1000. More Details
February 2007
New Screenwriting article release!
You're an Idiot: Making Value from Reaction to your Screenwriting
If you're like me, if someone doesn't like something about my screenplay, my very first reaction is always the same. You're not as
smart as me. If you knew what I knew, you would understand what I wrote. And you don't understand what I wrote, because you don't know
as much as I do. About everything, in general. In short, life. You know, people. Planet Earth. If you really don't understand what
I'm doing in my script, my first feeling is I don't respect you. I have contempt for you. I feel attacked personally, and with my
feelings hurt, I want to denigrate your position, and while I won't call you an idiot, basically the foundation of my exchange with
you in the wake of you reading my script is you are, in fact, some kind of idiot. (read full article)
2006 Winner, Young Kim, shares experience on BlueCat
What BlueCat Screenplay Contest has meant to me
About twelve months ago, I was facing a similar decision that many of you are facing now. Should I enter my screenplay into
the Bluecat Screenplay Contest? (read full article)
New Screenwriting article release!
The Rogue Knight of Cinema: Why Screenplay Contests Matter
Screenplay contests are changing cinema. Coming from a person who runs one, your first reaction to this statement
is most likely, "The only reason you're saying that is you want me to enter yours." Or more frankly, "You just
want my money." Well, coming from one who runs one, I'll say you're right. Sorta. I want you to enter any
contest. If you are an unknown, amateur writer, one who's had a taste of success, or even the millionaire living in
hills of Silver Lake, your entry to a screenplay competition stirs a monster. (read full article)
*Directing and casting his debut feature, A COAT OF SNOW *The story of LOVE LIZA *What have you learned since winning the Waldo Screenwriting Award at Sundance?
Los Angeles actor/writer, Tim Coyne, goes behind the scenes in the city of dreams. Interviews, profiles and storytelling.
www.thehollywoodpodcast.com
New Screenwriting Article released!
You are the Box Office Smash: The Personal Screenplay
by Gordy Hoffman
Right this very second, in the heart of every struggling, undiscovered screenwriter, in the dark, hidden corner deep within, there is a voice, a clear whisper, saying one
thing: You’re never gonna figure this out. And this is not referring to the story with its gaping hole, the finale missing a payoff, the hit and miss humor, the flat title.
I’m talking about freedom. The freedom to work as a screenwriter. Compensation for a home for family and a life. The resources to wake up and ply your craft and pay
the freight, without obstacle. The chance to see your writing made into pictures, to work with the industry’s best, to fulfill this goal of professional screenwriter. Hollywood
success. (read full article)
Movie Title Contest TOP FIVE Winners Announced!
We received over 500 submissions and the following are the Top Five. Each will be awarded $250
for their creativity in naming their screenplay. Thanks to all who voted!
GOOD REASONS TO FREEZE TO DEATH by Scott Honea
BLACK PEOPLE DON'T LIVE IN TRAILER PARKS by Andrea Fletcher
THE PLANE CRASH PORTION OF YOUR AMAZON ADVENTUREby Anita Justice Skibski
SUMMER OF KUNG FU LOVE by Cat Bistransin
WATERCOLOR HUSTLER by Andrew Hannibal
*How many drafts do you usually write?
*Has moving to LA helped your career?
*What is the origin of the BlueCat name?
*What sets the BlueCat competition apart from other screenwriting contests?
*How has the BlueCat competition helped past winners? WATCH NOW!
BlueCat Interview with Aussie Filmmakers Phil Jeng Kane and Edwin James Lynch on the
Filmmaking Podcast
*How does Bluecat select readers?
*Has the nature of the screenplay changed over the years?
*Are there many international entries?
*How was the transition from screenwriter to writer/director?
*What sorts of screenplays have won?
*What type of critique do entrants get?
*Whether a film’s potential budget affects a screenplay’s chances of winning
*How you can insert back story elegantly?
*How to write great loglines LISTEN NOW!
Movie Title Contest Top Twenty Announced!
We are pleased to announce the Top Twenty screenplay titles entered in BlueCat during our Movie
Title Contest. Over 500 submissions were received!
Everyone is invited to vote for your favorite between January 15th and January 31st. Top Five, as
voted by the public, will be announced on February 1st and awarded $250!
Naming Your Baby: How to Find a Great Title to your Screenplay
How exactly does one work on the title of their screenplay? I recently came up with such a wonderful idea for a movie, one of those miraculous moments, like finding money on the sidewalk. I told somebody, and they said, "Great. What's the title?" Suddenly, and rather horrifyingly, my beauty of an idea is crippled. Instant orphaned bastard! You wanna strangle the person. You feel insulted. What's the title!? Why would you even ask that, like, right after I told you this incredible gem? (read full article)
BlueCat Announces Movie Title Contest!
After years of discovering incredible movie titles throughout the thousands of submissions we've received,
BlueCat has decided to have some holiday fun with your wonderfully named screenplays...
Every screenplay entered in the BlueCat Screenplay Competition in
the month of December is automatically entered in our Movie Title Contest.
The TOP 20 screenplay titles submitted will be posted on our website on January 2nd, and the public
will vote for their favorites.
The TOP FIVE, as voted by the public, will receive $250! And, of course, everyone remains eligible to
win BlueCat.
So if you've got a super title to your script, December's a great time to enter BlueCat. Do you have an
awesome title? Why not? How is your title serving your script?
Abigail Spencer, star of Lifetime's ANGELA'S EYES, to read at Screenplay Live at the 2006 High Falls
Film Festival.
SCREENPLAY LIVE returns for a third year at the
High Falls Film Festival
with a staged reading of BEARD'S CREEK by Maureen Tilyou, a finalist of the 2006 BlueCat Screenplay Competition.
Abigail Spencer, star of Lifetime's new original series,
ANGELA'S EYES, will be reading the lead role.
A former cast member of ALL MY CHILDREN, Abby also stars in A COAT OF SNOW, written and directed by Gordy
Hoffman. Screens Friday at High Falls.
The annual reading series, held as a part of the High Falls program, brings a highly acclaimed screenplay
to Rochester, casting local actors through RochesterTalent.com.
Film made its East Coast Premiere at the festival, held at the
Tribeca Cinemas in Lower Manhattan. The festival exclusively
programs U.S. movies with a budget of less than 1.5 million dollars.
A COAT OF SNOW will screen next at the home of the inventor of motion picture film, George Eastman,
in Rochester, New York on November 10th at 9:45 pm, as an official entry of the
High Falls Film Festival.
THE MAN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR by Andy Pagana and Justin Thomas was named the Winner in the 2006 AUSTIN FILM
FESTIVAL HEART OF FILM SCREENPLAY COMPETITION, where Andy Pagana and Justin Thomas traveled to Texas to represent.
Gordy Hoffman's A COAT OF SNOW New York City screening - Thurs, Oct 26th!
A COAT OF SNOW, the directorial debut of Gordy
Hoffman, Sundance award-winning writer of LOVE LIZA,
which starred Philip Seymour Hoffman and Kathy Bates, will be making its East Coast Premiere at the
Tribeca Cinemas on October 26th at 10:30 p.m. as an Official
Selection of the 2006 Vision Fest.
A COAT OF SNOW world premiered at the Locarno International Film Festival, the only US feature to do so. It
made its North American Premiere at the Silver Lake Film Festival in Los Angeles, and recently screened at the Milan
Film Festival, as well the Chinese Mann Theatres in Hollywood.
This is not a giant theatre---please buy your tickets in advance. There are quite a number of people in New York
impatient to see A COAT OF SNOW, and there's not a lot of seats.
View the complete schedule for the festival.
GARY THE TENNIS COACH panel at Austin Film Festival
Andy Stock and Rick Stempson, 2005 BlueCat winners, appeared Sunday, October 22nd at the Austin Film Festival
on the GARY THE TENNIS COACH panel, along with the GreeneStreet Films team, to discuss the development of GARY
from screenplay to production.
Joining Andy and Rick were Annie Marter, Director of Development at GreeneStreet, producer John Penotti,
and executive producer Tim Williams.
***2006 winner, HYUNG'S OVERTURE, recently won the
CAPE Foundation New Writers Award and
was one of five screenplays selected by the 2006 Korean Film Council
Filmmakers Development Lab. For the first part of the lab, writer Young Kim Il spent a week in Hawaii alongside
his paired mentor, Chul Shin, a top Korean producer. For the
second part of the lab, Young Kim Il travels to the prestigious Pusan
International Film Festival in Korea to pitch his project to the film industry. To read more about Young Kim Il
and his progress, please visit his blog.
***2005 winner, GARY THE TENNIS COACH, will begin production with
Greenestreet Films and O.N.C. Entertainment on October 23rd in
Austin, Texas, starring Seann William Scott and directed by
Danny Leiner.
Peter Morgan, executive producer, took interest and started
shopping the script shortly after the screenplay was selected winner. The writers, Rick Stempson and Andy Stock,
will be on the set throughout the shoot.
***2004 winner,THE MAN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, was just named the Winner in the
2006 Austin Film Festival Heart of Film Screenplay Competition,
where Andy Pagana and Justin Thomas traveled to Texas to represent. THE MAN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR is a
story of a man, his wife and mother-in-law in pursuit of a suspected kidnapper on the Eisenhower highways of the
1950's, brilliantly recalling the Hitchcock classic, Rear Window, at 90 miles an hour.
2006 BlueCat Finalist premiere's short film
2006 BlueCat Finalist, Myra Sito Velasquez, writer of DIANA, recently premiered her short film, THE LOVERS,
at the 12th Annual Palm Springs International Festival of Short Films and Film Market 2006. She went on to
screen at the prestigious 29th Mill Valley Film Festival.
THE LOVERS is the tale of a Chinese American
woman and Japanese man whose passion for each other forces them to confront the legacies of their families in
Nanking at the time of the Japanese invasion in 1937.
THE LOVERS is being developed as a feature film, entitled THE NANKING TRIPTYCH, with a New York City
production company. Myra is the author of an action comedy, KUNG FU GRANNY, and one of the founding members of 3D,
an artists group committed to truthful, innovative work in film, video and other media.
2006 Semi Finalist concludes festival run
Stephen Garvey and Travis Davis, writers of our 2006 Semi-Finalist, THE TEN TIMER, have just completed a run
of 27 film festivals with their short comedy BOY-NEXT-DOOR, starring Richard Moll, which recently launched on iTunes.
BOY-NEXT-DOOR premiered at HBO's Comedy Arts Festival, having won awards at WorldFest, Hollywood Shorts,
and Big Bear Lake International Film Festival. Visit iTunes and download
BOY-NEXT-DOOR.
September 2006
2006 Screenplay Live at High Falls Film Festival in Rochester, NY
BEARDS CREEK by Maureen Tilyou has been selected for BlueCat's 2006 Screenplay Live
at the High Falls Film Festival in New York.
Screenplay Live is an annual staged reading produced by BlueCat and sponsored by Rochester Talent and the
Rochester Film Office.
Screenplay Live will be held Thursday, November 9th, 2006 at the Curtis Theatre in Rochester,
New York at 7:30 pm. Ticket information TBA.
August 2006
2006 Winner Young Kim Interviewed
Young Kim interviewed by 2005 BlueCat Finalist and Screenplay Live recipient, Ryan David Jahn.
Read about Young Kim's journey from writing the screenplay to winning BlueCat.
Kim named winner of BlueCat Screenplay Competition
Young Kim has been named winner of the 2006 BlueCat Screenplay Competition. Kim will be awarded $10,000 for his
screenplay "Hyung's Overture," which was selected from nearly 1,800 submissions.
Production on the 2005 BlueCat Winner, "Gary the Tennis Coach," written by Andy Stock and Rick Stempson,
is skedded to start shooting this fall. Danny Leiner will direct the pic starring Seann William Scott.
HYUNG'S OVERTURE by Young Kim
Awarded $10,000 cash prize
The oldest son of a Korean immigrant family leaves Harvard to manage a Bronx convenience store in order for his
younger brother to fulfill his destiny as a world-class violinist.
July 2006
2005 BlueCat winning screenplay sold to Greenestreet Films
Andy Stock and Rick Stempson, who won BlueCat in July 2005, penned the script. Directing is Danny Leiner (Dude, Where’s My Car?). The movie is scheduled to begin filming in October.
Since the start of BlueCat, there has been a persistent outcry from our entrants for a formal acknowledgment of
the best screenplays received, apart from our Finalists. With an enormous leap in entries received this
year (1782), coupled with a greater proportion of wonderful screenwriting, we have decided to begin officially
naming Semi-finalists. Full list of loglines
June 2006
Andy Pagana Makes Another Appearance!
ANDY PAGANA, 2004 BlueCat Screenplay Competition winner was named a Top 20 semi finalist in FX network's $50,000 Comedy Competition, with over three thousand submissions!
The contest called for submissions of homemade videos - a five-minute comedy bit, either a sitcom short or a stand-up routine.
In addition to winning the 2004 BlueCat Screenplay Competition, Andy was named a 2005 Nicholls Fellowship semi finalist, and a 2003 and 2005 Project Greenlight Top 50 Director semi finalist.
Winner is awarded $10,000 cash prize, finalists $1500 each. Every screenwriter receives written script analysis.
One finalist receives a staged reading at the High Falls Film Festival in NY. Top screenplays sent to literary
agencies and production companies.
BlueCat mentioned in CREATIVE SCREENWRITING Magazine!
For the second year in a row, BlueCat was profiled in The Contest Beat, a monthly feature of Creative Screenwriting Magazine. Written by Peter Clines, the column offers in-depth profiles of two contests per issue. For screenwriters looking for a closer look at screenplay competitions, this monthly feature is an invaluable read.
Read Gordy's Screenwriting Advice articles, a new addition to the BlueCat website!
Discovering the Great Movie Idea for Your Next Screenplay
Screenwriting Tips from a Screenplay Contest Judge
How to Start a Screenplay: Treatment or Free Fall?
Writing the Classic Movie Ending (How to Finish your Screenplay!)
Rewriting your Screenplay: The Road to your Audience
Join the BlueCat Screenplay Competition on MySpace
Read Gordy's blog and post comments. Stay current on BlueCat announcements and releases.
Network with other screenwriters and film industry professionals.
Read Gordy's Screenwriting Advice article, featured on the Moviebytes website.
After cracking hundreds of screenplays sent into the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, the same problems
in the execution of the story and script continue to emerge. Here is a general overview of these persistent issues.
Kelsey Simons, 2004 BlueCat Finalist, has had her screenplay, IN THE
LIVES OF BROTHERS, optioned by Eric Cubitt, a producer based in New
York. Eric first heard the script when it was read at the High Falls Film Festival as a part of Screenplay Live. Each year, one BlueCat finalist is eligible to have their script read, and through this exposure, Kelsey's script is on the road to production. Congratulations, Kelsey!
Kelsey at Screenplay Live
2005 Screenplay Live
SCREENPLAY LIVE returned for its second year to the High Falls Film
Festival in Rochester, NY, with a live reading of 2005 BlueCat
Finalist, THE BREAK-IN by Ryan David Jahn.
2005 Winners Andy Stock and Rick Stempson Interviewed
The writing team that won the 2005 BlueCat Screenplay Competition
speak. They discuss the idea for their script, GARY THE TENNIS COACH, and their experience of signing with the United Talent Agency.
Read Interview
November 2005
2005 Bluecat Winner signed with UTA
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is proud to announce the signing of our 2005 Winners, Andrew Stock and Ryan Stempson, by the United Talent Agency. Their literary agents at UTA are Barbara Dreyfus, Charlie Ferraro, Tracey Jacobs and Jeremy Zimmer, whose client roster includes Charlie Kaufman, M. Night Shyamalan, Scott Rosenberg, Charles Stone, Harrison Ford and Johnny Depp.
October 2005
Screenplay Live! at the 2005 High Falls Film Festival
THE BREAK IN by Ryan David Jahn has been chosen as this year's Screenplay Live! reading at High Falls Film Festival in NY. To continue the support of women in film, Anastasia Cervasosky, an MFA graduate of RIT, will direct.
2002 BlueCat Winner places as a finalist in the 2005 Nicholl Fellowship
Colleen Cooper De Maio, won the 2002 BlueCat Screenplay Competition for her script, THE CADDY. Her more recent script, PIRATES OF LESSER PROVIDENCE, has been named a top ten finalist in the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting and a semi-finalist in Slamdance Writing Competition. She has also won first place in the San Diego Film Festival for her other script, THE DEVIL AND HARRY HOUDINI.
July 2005
The BlueCat Screenplay Competition is proud to announce the 2005 Winner!
2005 Winner:
GARY THE TENNIS COACH by Andrew Stock and Rick Stempson
Thanks to all who submitted. We received 1034 scripts this year and look forward to sending the feedback
February 2005
Launch of New Website!
We are pleased to announce the unveiling of our new logo and website created by Bodhi Oser, an accomplished Los Angeles graphic designer.
We encourage you to take a look around our new home on the web. Please feel free to provide us with feedback on your experience.
We hope you'll enjoy the new look!
BlueCat Profile and Review in CREATIVE SCREENWRITING Magazine!
We are extremely flattered to be featured in the current issue of CREATIVE SCREENWRITING. Written by Patricia B. Smith, the piece recommends BlueCat to screenwriters considering writing competitions as a way to further their development.
"BlueCat offers a large cash prize for a relatively small entry fee, always a sign of earnest intentions."
There's also a picture of the BlueCat Staff with a serious case of bedhead.
March 1st is quickly approaching, the deadline for the 2005 BlueCat Screenplay Competition. Top cash prize is $5000 and EVERY screenwriter receives written feedback on their script.
Women entrants who are named BlueCat finalists receive live staged readings of their winning works at the High Falls Film Festival in New York. (see below)
BlueCat Honors Women Finalists at High Falls Film Festival
In November, Bluecat partnered with the High Falls Film Festival for the first edition of "Screenplay Live!"
IN THE LIVES OF BROTHERS by Kelsey Simons and GEORGIE by Kathy Garcia received staged readings at this exciting film festival, whose mission of celebrating women in film fit well with BlueCat's continuing support of the undiscovered screenwriter. Local actors were cast in the readings, with BlueCat providing all hotel and travel expenses for both screenwriters.
The High Falls Film Festival has asked us to make this an annual program. We look forward to extending this wonderful experience to all women who place as finalists in our competition.
THE MAN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR, our 2004 BlueCat Winner, has been well received by dozens of production and management companies.
Andy Pagana, one of the writers of the top script, worked intimately with us to get the script directly into the hands of production companies such as A Band Apart, Anonymous Content, Gold Circle Films, Castle Rock, and A Guy Walks Into a Bar.
A two-time Project Greenlight finalist, Andy is determined to direct the winning script, and we are assisting him in getting this awesome screenplay into the hands of talent.
THE MAN IN THE REARVIEW MIRROR recently placed in the top 100 of the 2004 Nicholl Fellowships. Our 2003 BlueCat Winner, ESCHER by Jon Goldman, placed in the TOP TEN!
For a second straight year, Gordy Hoffman, the founder of BlueCat, led two classes at the Screenwriting Expo held in Los Angeles, coming back in 2004 as an illustrious "Star Speaker."
He promptly put the entire room to sleep with his crazy ideas about screenwriting and digital filmmaking.
Episode 6: BlueCat Screenplay Competition
Episode 5: 2008 Interview with Gordy Hoffman
Episode 10: Gordy Hoffman - Writer, Director, Producer and Founder of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition
Word Sushi Podcast Interview
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions Group's (SPWAG) Scott Shooman brokered the agreement with UTA acting on behalf of the producers. It is understood Sony is planning a summer 2008 release.
Lance Hammer's film BALLAST had its International Premiere in competition last weekend at the Berlin Film Festival, alongside THERE WILL BE BLOOD by Paul Thomas Anderson and BE KIND REWIND by Michel Gondry, among others. He wrote, directed, produced and edited the movie!
Interview with Tim Coyne
Interview with writer/director Jaz Garewal (ON THE CUTTING ROOM FLOOR)
on 
*Has moving to LA helped your career?
