Tag Archive for FiLMLaB’s Script to Screen Competition

We Made a Hat!

When I got the call back in May that my script had won the FiLMLaB competition, I was ecstatic. FiLMLaB offers what I consider the most rewarding prize possible; the opportunity to put one’s work in front of an audience. The film that will be shown next month in Portland though, isn’t the film I…

Meet the Talent

by Ruth Witteried It was with great excitement I received my Call Sheet from Ampersand Productions Assistant Director, Anthony Forsyth last week, sent to all cast and crew involved in the FiLMLaB shoot . As an Executive Producer, I would undoubtedly be one of the least useful people on the set, but I was going to try my…

A Lesson In Production

by Ruth Witteried Last week, Conference Chair and executive producer Stefan Feuerherdt and I “took a meeting” with director Chris Alley and his assistant director, Anthony Forsyth. We met at Palio’s over coffee and pie to discuss pre-production and story elements. Our winning writer, Barbara Thomas, many states away, was unable to join us as…

Pre-Production Begins on “Inspiration”

 By Ruth Witteried FiLMLaB has begun pre-production on Barbara Thomas’s winning short, INSPIRATION. Director Christopher Alley is working out the final script details with the writer and executive producers; scouting locations for the shoot, casting the roles and lining up a professional crew. To give you a sense of scope, let’s take a look at…

What Matters Most in a Short Script

Find out what matters most in a short script with Erik Bork I recently judged five short scripts for the Willamette Writers Conference’s FiLMLaB contest. It took me back to my own challenges in writing a compelling short script years ago in film school.  And I was reminded of the specific elements that some say tend…

FiLMLaB: And the Winner Is……

By Ruth Witteried It is a beautiful May Monday, following a stunning weekend where many of us salmon bellied Portlanders stepped away from our writing to get outside and soak up some free vitamin D. Whether you found yourself fishing on the Columbia, biking along the Willamette or tending your garden . . . .…

Belated FiLMLaB Opportunities

by Ruth Witteried Sometimes opportunity comes knocking exactly when you expect it; other times it just shows up, unexpectedly late, waiting for you to open the door. Such is the case with FiLMLaB. Last week we received an email from a Northwest production company that features short film in many of its projects. They had…

Off to the Judges!

by Ruth Witteried Last week four short scripts were forwarded to our celebrity judges for evaluation in the final round of FiLMLaB’s Script-to-Screen competition. In two short weeks we will have a winner and pre-production will begin. What will that look like? Pre-production is everything that has to take place before the cameras begin rolling:…

FiLMLaB Script-to-Screen Announces Finalists

by Stefan Feuerhardt Four scripts have advanced to the final round of this year’s Script-to-Screen Competition. Congratulations and good luck to these finalists (in no particular order):   “Crow and Squirrel,” by Matt Merenda. Drama: A group of strangers in a coffee shop rediscovers an ancient power when the lights go out.     “Stand…

FiLMLaB Semi-Finalists Announced!

by Ruth Witteried Happy Monday, Happy April and Happy Day to our FiLMLaB Script-to-Screen Semi-Finalists! Willamette Writers are thrilled to announce the advancement of the following writers and their winning scripts to the Semi-Final round of judging: Dinner with Netanyahu, written by, Stacy Jo Coffey Inspiration, written by, Barbara Thomas Java Rush, written by, Jennifer Kaczmarek…