Writers and Producers Together
SOLD OUT!
Praxis is delighted to announce
Writers and Producers Together
A unique opportunity for writers and producers in Vancouver to get to know each other.
For the first time ever in Vancouver, representatives from over 20 local production companies will present what they are looking for in writers. Following their presentations, audience members will have the opportunity to connect with these production companies.
Event title: "Writers and Producers Together"
Time: 6:00 p.m., Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Place: Djavad Mowafaghian World Art Centre, 3rd floor, 149 West Hastings Street.
Tickets: Admission is $10 cash only at the door.
To reserve a seat, reply to this email or write to praxis@sfu.ca to confirm that you will be attending. Those who have reserved seats must arrive by 5:45 p.m. in order to guarantee their spot. If there are any remaining seats at 6:00 p.m., they will be sold to the rush line.
Event description:
Film and television writers of all types (produced and unproduced) are welcome to participate.
Each production company will be represented by one person on stage who will spend a few minutes telling the audience what the company is looking for in writers.
After the producers have spoken, there will be a manila envelope with the name of each speaker and/or company. The writers will decide which companies may be interested in their work and put their synopses in the relevant envelope. The synopses can include feature films, MOWs, TV series, dramatic shorts, and web series and other formats.
After you've heard the producers, we encourage you to put an asterisk next to the project(s) that you want to bring to the attention of the producer.
There will be a reception to follow.
What to bring:
Please bring up to up to 20 copies of the one-sheet described below.
Click here for a sample one-sheet.
Although we attach a sample, please note that you are welcome to format your one-sheet as you wish as long as it includes:
- Your contact information
- Your bio
- A brief list of your preferred formats and genres
- Whether or not you are a member of WGC/WGA
- Log-lines of your projects, noting whether they have been produced and the format and genre, along with synopses (optional)
It all has to fit onto two sides of one sheet of 8.5" x 11 paper.
List of confirmed production companies to date:
Ameland Films Inc.
Arcana Studio
Blake Corbet Productions Inc.
Etch media
Foundation Features
Front Street Pictures
Gang of 2 Productions Ltd.
Joker Films Inc.
Lark Productions
Mad Samurai Productions Inc.
Mala Media Inc.
Massey Productions Ltd.
Movie Plus Inc.
No Equal Entertainment
Odyssey Media Inc.
Omni Film Productions Ldt.
Opiate Pictures Inc.
Principia Productions
Really Real Films Inc.
Red Letter Films Ltd.
RedBear Entertainment Inc.
Reel One Pictures
Screen Siren Pictures Inc.
Sheep Noir Films Inc.
Story Lab Productions
The Escape Factory, Inc.
Thunderbird Films
Triton Media Co.
True West Films
Worldwide Bag Media Inc.
TRUCK STOP receives Polish & Packaging funding from Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund
We are delighted to announce that former Praxis Fellow Bonnie Fairweather has received polish and packaging financing from Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund for her screenplay, Truck Stop.
Please read on for Astral's announcement:
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Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund Supports 29 Script Development Projects September 26, 2011
Toronto, September 26, 2011- Astral's Harold Greenberg Fund's English-Language Program (Fund) is pleased to announce its latest round of funding for 29 new and ongoing projects through its Script Development Program.
Chosen from 135 applications, the most recent selection includes five projects at the Polish and Packaging phase including All the Wrong Reasons, Anthem of a Teenage Prophet, The Book of Negroes, The Flying Troutmans and Truck Stop. From first time feature film writer/director Gia Milani is All the Wrong Reasons, which recentlywon a top award for the script at Slamdance. Gia is co-producing alongside Tony Whalen, and Phyllis Laing is the executive producer. The film is about the choices made in the aftermath of a severe traumatic stress. Anthem of a Teenage Prophet is a project that the Fund has supported in various stages of development. It is based on the novel by Joanne Proulx. The Book of Negroes is based on the award-winning novel by Lawrence Hill. The film will be written and directed by Clement Virgo. The Flying Troutmans is also an adaptation which was co-written by the author Miriam Toews, alongside Semi Chellas. Also supported at the Polish and Packaging phase was Truck Stop, to bedirected by Laurie Lynd. It is the story of a teenage truck stop prostitute who is sent to foster care in a small, Northern Ontario town, turning her foster family and classmates upside down.
"It a very exciting time for us as some of these projects, which we've been involved with throughout development, near production," says John Galway, the Fund's English-Language Program President. "This support will be instrumental in helping these projects secure cast and crew, scout locations and in helping them to create a final, polished version of the script."
For more information, visit:
OLD STOCK goes into production
We are delighted to announce that former Praxis Fellow Dane Clark has received production financing from CFC Features for his screenplay, OLD STOCK. Principal photography is anticipated to commence in late 2011. We congratulate Dane on his wonderful work!
Please read on for CFC's announcement:
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CFC Features | OLD STOCK Selected To Go Into Production
CFC is pleased to announce the selection of OLD STOCK for production financing by CFC Features, marking the 18th feature film to be realized with the support and participation of CFC.
The project's key creative team is made up of four CFC alumni from Film Program: writer Dane Clark ('08), director James Genn ('03), and producers Geordie Sabbagh ('08) and Cher Hawrysh ('05)
Principal photography is anticipated to commence later this year in the Greater Toronto Area.
OLD STOCK is the story of STOCK BURTON (19) who became a legend when he was involved in a car accident the town of Red Potato has never forgotten. Unable to deal with the consequences of the crash, Stock chose to retire, by dropping out of life and joining his recently separated grandfather, HAROLD, at the Golden Seasons senior's home. After two years of crokinole playing, pipe smoking and blissful denial of his problems, Stock is forced to return to reality. Outside the safety of Golden Seasons, Stock's past quickly catches up with him and he knows he must finally face Dahlia, the person who suffered most of all. With the help of PATTI, a cute girl with a quick temper and a criminal record, Stock learns to look life in the eye, accept its imperfections, and re-open his heart for a chance to move on.
Dane Clark first work-shopped OLD STOCK through the Cineplex Entertainment Film Program's 2008 writer's lab, with the goal of applying to CFC Features. That goal has now been met with the film having been developed and to be produced through the program. In addition to development support from CFC Features, the script was selected as one of the winners of the 2009 Praxis screenwriting competition.
MORE INFO: http://cfccreates.com/what_we_do/cfc_film/feature_film_project/projects_in_production.php
Winners announced: Praxis 2011 Screenplay Competition
We are delighted to announce the winners of Praxis' 2011 Screenplay Competition!
This year’s eight finalists will join us in Vancouver in November 2011 for our week-long Fall Workshop. During the Workshop, each writer will be matched with an experienced screenwriting advisor for intensive one-on-one mentoring sessions.
Thanks to everyone who applied to our competition this year!
The finalists are:
John G. Burke, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: MASTERPIECE
At the end of World War 2, a Canadian soldier tasked with returning looted art to Holland finds a unknown Vermeer masterpiece. His investigation leads him to a respected citizen of Amsterdam who is either a Nazi collaborator or the most courageous fraud in history.
John Glenn Burke was born in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia in 1960. An artist and writer, he began writing short stories and plays in high school. John began working in the film industry in Calgary in 1993 and currently works in feature films in Vancouver.
Kevin Doree, Calgary, AB
Screenplay: HIDING IN PLAINVIEW
A troubled ex-cop and his estranged wife, living in a small town under Witness Protection, are pursued by his recently-released-from-prison former partner.
Kevin Doree is a screenwriter and actor based in Calgary, Alberta. He has written a number of feature-length screenplays, teleplays and short screenplays, and has appeared in film and television in lead, supporting and background roles. His training includes workshops with Jason Long ("Walk All Over Me") and Gordy Hoffman ("Love Liza").
Jonathon Dunning, Burnaby, B.C.
Screenplay: JANESSA AND THE KNIGHT
A seven year old boy uses his imagination to transform himself into a noble knight as he escapes from his foster home and sets out on an epic adventure in search of his parents.
Jonathon Dunning is graduate of the Victoria Motion Picture School and has directed short films that have been screened at the Victoria Youth Film Festival and the Victoria Independent Film Festival. He currently resides in Vancouver where he writes and directs short films and works as a videographer producing wedding and corporate videos.
Andre Harden, Caronport, SK
Screenplay: NUMB
A young couple in financial crisis, and a pair of hitchhikers in search of a new life, learn of a large cache of stolen gold hidden in the winter wilderness, and risk their lives in an attempt to find it.
Andre is an award winning screenwriter who has worked as a playwright, director, lyricist, producer, editor and consultant. Recent projects include: NUMB (Hope of Glory Pictures, 2011), RUN RUN FAST AS YOU CAN (Forty Below Films, 2007, 2010), and LAST CONCESSION (Annunciation Pictures 2010). In addition to telling his own stories, he loves to collaborate with other artists.
Jesse Heffring, Montreal, QC
Screenplay: STUNT CLUB
Julian, a grade twelve student living in poverty, escapes the reality of his fractured home-life by joining a group of stunt-junkies pushing their limits in an elaborate, international, competitive, street-stunt website.
Jesse is a writer/director who works and lives in Montreal, Quebec. His award winning underground films have played in festivals all over the world. Jesse continues to develop screenplays, produce theatre and documentaries.
Jessica Marsh, Halifax, N.S.
Screenplay: HOUSE OF MATCHES
Thrown out by her own father, Zoe, a rebellious teenage mom with two kids, needs her own troubled sister to believe in her and fight for her before she can win the soccer scholarship that will change both their lives.
Jessica Marsh wrote the screenplay for the 2010 CBC Short Film Face Off award-winning short film ‘Wake’, directed and produced by Jeremy Webb. She lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia where she writes screenplays and short stories and plays soccer. House of Matches is her first feature script.
Geoff Redknap, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: HEAVEN’S DOOR
A broken-down lawman must protect his small town from the return of the notorious murderer who nearly destroyed it many years ago.
Geoff has worked as a performer, puppeteer and special make-up effects artist on shows like The X-Files, I, Robot and Watchmen. He attended the National Screen Institute's Features First Program with his script Heaven's Door and just finished his latest short film Last Christmas, funded by Bravo!FACT and the CFC screenplay prize.
Norman Wexler, Vancouver, B.C.
Screenplay: THE GOLDEN HOUR
The interwoven and ultimately tragic stories of two extraordinary brothers – one a photojournalist who went missing during the Vietnam War and the other a loner who has walked around the world. Inspired by actual events.
Norman Wexler was educated at McGill, the University of British Columbia and Osgoode Hall Law School. His first screenplay, The Living Room Hour, was a Praxis selection during the early years of the competition, was subsequently optioned multiple times and received development funding from Telefilm and B.C. Film. He practices law in Vancouver.