Lots have happened since I wrote that last post.

I continued to network. Here’s who did what:

I sent the script to Dane Cook via his MySpace page. He forwarded my message to his Manager at New Wave Entertainment, who sent it to his assistant, who sent a reply to me, asking for my script. I submitted it an never got a response, though I called and spoke to a few people over the course of 5 months. That company went out of the filmmaking business to focus on what they do best: promotion.

I also left messages on MySpace for Maggie Gyllenhaal, Larry the Cable Guy, and Jeff Foxworthy, none of whom responded.

Ernie Hudson never responded, though I am getting back in touch with my friend, his son, after a lo-o-o-o-ng time.

A person I work with has a brother who is the VP of Marketing at Miramax, and through him I was able to submit my script to the VP of Creative Development. I followed up with her for about 3 months and ultimately never found out if the script was read or anything. Busy woman.

A family friend was the VP of Marketing for New Line Cinemas, before they went away, and she submitted my script to the folks in development. It got coverage from a reader – who trashed it.

A co-worker of mine attended focus group testing in beverly hills, in the same building as David Goyer’s production company (Blade, Batman…) and while it wasn’t a fit (mine’s a comedy), he said I could send it in for a read. He likely skimmed it and then went on with life.

I had a similar “in” at Warner Bros., but don’t know if it was ever read. I got no response.

I pitched my script at the Philadelphia International Film Festival and won. It doesn’t come with a development deal or a sale, it jut means mine was the best pitch and I got to work on the foundation of my next screenplay with a hollywood development executive through Writer’s Bootcamp. At that pitch, I made an impression on JC Spink, one of the principles at BenderSpink (A History of Violence, American Pie…) Ultimately, he “passed” on the script because he had a similar project already in development. But he knows my name and knows we like the same stuff. By the way, BenderSpink’s website (www.benderspink.com) provides the forms you need and openly accepts submissions.

I’m also held in high regard with the Philadelphia Film Office (I made a lot of high level friends during the Festival).

So, it appears I’m a better networker than writer. I’ve been able to build a robust contact list and get my stuff read where few people have.

I haven’t worked on Area 50 in a year, and I have my foundation work for my next screenplay ready to go when I have the time and energy to have at it.

Defintely consider becoming a regular at TheArtfulWriter.com where a lot of professional screenwriters spend time talking to eachother and to newbies on the discussion board, The Artful Forum. TheArtfulWriter is made and managed by Craig Maizin (Scary Movies, Shrek, others) and Ted Elliot (Pirates of the Carribean, others).