When: Wed., January 4, 2012

Where: Selby Sarasota Library

Time: 6:15 p.m.

About Jasmine:

Born in England, Jasmine Cresswell now spends her time in Sarasota, Florida. Jasmine has been writing since 1975 and has published over 50 novels, with 9 million copies of her books in print. Her most recent book is Payback, published in 2007.

Jasmine served for two years as the editor of the Romance Writer’s Report. She also served as president of Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers, and is a founder and former president of Novelists, Inc. She received the Colorado Authors’ League Award for Best Paperback Novel of the Year and the Romance Writers of America Golden Rose Award. Her books also have received numerous Romantic Times certificates of excellence.

Experienced as a public speaker, Jasmine has conducted college seminars and addressed many writers’ conferences. Interviews and profiles have appeared in newspapers throughout the country, and Jasmine considers herself a veteran of talk shows and news broadcasts.

Married to Malcolm Candlish, whom she met while she was working for the British Embassy in Rio de Janeiro, Jasmine and her husband have lived all over the world. She has a Bachelor’s Degree with a double major in history and philosophy from Melbourne University, a second degree in history from Macquarie University, as well as a Masters Degree in history and archival administration from Case Western Reserve University in Ohio.

Don’t miss this exciting event!!

 

“TV ME!” Pitch/Concept Contest for New Television Content with Expanded Grand Prize – Deadline Approaches:  Only 44 days left!

Sarasota, FL – November 17, 2011 – The Sarasota County Film & Entertainment Office (SCFEO) will be closing the call for entries for the 2012 TV ME! Contest – the nationwide innovative writers’ competition seeking fresh, creative content ideas for television programming – in a mere 44 days from today.  Entries may be submitted now through December 31, 2011. Submission instructions and prize information are available online at www.TVMEcontest.com.

“Last year’s inaugural TV ME! Contest surpassed all of our expectations,” says Jeanne Corcoran, director of the SCFEO, which is a division of the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County.  “Our goal was to receive 100 entries from across an estimated 10 states to infuse the competition with a broad cross-section of creativity and content.  We were excited and delighted to receive more than 250 entries from a total of 28 states.” 

Contest prizes for the first place winner in each of three specific categories include trophies, cash awards and gifts from sponsors, and the SCFEO will submit those first-place winning concepts electronically to executives and decision-makers in the television industry for consideration.   One grand prize winner is chosen for the best entry across all categories, who receives all of the prizes won by the three category first place winners, plus the grand prize of  an escorted trip to Los Angeles California  to “pitch” in person to a select group of industry professionals.  In addition, the 2012 contest has now added another new and exciting dimension:  The Grand Prize Winner will attend the InkTip Pitch & Networking Summit III March 30-31, 2012, in Los Angeles, California, where he, she or they will have the opportunity to personally meet with and pitch an average of 30 different studio, production, agency and representation companies in a single day.  All of these winners are invited to be present at a press conference announcing their achievements followed by an awards luncheon.

The grand prize winner of the 2011 TV ME! Contest was Austin McKinley of Sarasota, Florida.  McKinley was escorted to one-on-one meetings in Los Angeles to pitch and promote his concepts and talent, and met with executives from SYFY Channel, ABC Television, USA Networks, CBS, Disney, Sony Pictures Television, and other notable industry executives.

“The trip was fantastic,” says McKinley.  “I was floored by how many meetings we eventually got, and the quality of the people.  It was really a best-case scenario.  I look forward to sending everyone we met there a link to my short film as soon as it’s ready!”

Unlike ordinary competitions that require submission of full-length screenplays for movies, scripts for television, or manuscripts for novels — which can range from 90 pages to 350 pages — the TV ME! Contest requires only five-to-15-page pitches of a concept for television programming.

“It’s a variation on the idea of a fast and forceful ‘elevator pitch’ where you give the strongest and most concise summary possible,” says Corcoran.  “This contest seeks condensed knock-their-socks-off impact. Powerful brevity is key.” 

“The TV ME! contest is the only one of its kind I’ve ever heard of, which is why the minute I heard about it, I wanted to win!” said McKinley.  “The entry format lends itself to entering several ideas, and the price point is low enough it’s affordable to do so.”

TV ME! 2012 promises to be an equally dynamic experience for creative contestants who believe they have the next new, bold, bright or off-beat idea for television, Corcoran says.  This opens up a world of opportunity to great ideas without the necessity of voluminous scripts. 

Individuals and creative teams can compete for awards and prizes in three different categories: 

•        scripted series (from comedy to drama, animated to children’s programs, science fiction to hybrids and other genres of recurring and/or series television);
•        unscripted/partially scripted (reality programs, game shows, demonstration/training programs such as cooking, crafts, skills, documentary, interview and expose programs, etc.);  and
•        one-offs (single standalone programs such as a mini-series , a movie-of-the-week, an award or sporting event, a special televised gala, benefit, tribute,  fundraiser, concert, staged performance, etc.).

To enter or obtain more details, visit  http://www.TVMEcontest.com or send email to request information:  TVme@filmsarasota.com .

Date: Wed. October 5, 2011

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Location:  Selby Library Sarasota

(The meeting will be held either in the downstairs Auditorium or the upstairs conference room. Check when you arrive.)

TOPIC:  Pat Gray will speak about some of the things that were said at the Mystery Florida conference.
Much of it will relate to aspects of story structure that are not commonly taught at workshops.
 
NOTA BENE: Attendees should bring what is often a neglected treasure, one of the greatest and most significant inventions in the history of civilization: a pencil (a pen will also do). I shall bring one of the other truly great inventions–paper. Honestly, where would world civilization be without those two things? A good thought for the day, eh?

PAT GRAY

SPECIAL REMINDER:  This is the final chance to submit your short story entry for our contest. Winners will be announced at the Christmas Party. Good luck to all.

Meeting Date: Wednesday September 7th

Location: Sarasota Selby Library (Upstairs)

Time: 6:15 p.m.

The speaker for September is Janet Albright. She has agreed to discuss “The Connection and Difference between Fiction and Memoir.”  This session should help with the short story contest writers.

Let’s have a good turnout for Janet. This will be a terrific discussion. See you all there.

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Location: Selby Library

Upstairs Conference Room

The speaker for August is Diane Robertson.  Ms Robertson writes her stories, edits, and ghostwrites for private clients, speaks to writers groups and guilds, and teaches creative writing classes and one day workshops. This month she will present a workshop on the differences between a memoir and an autobiography. It should be helpful for those members who wish to enter the short story contest. Contest entries are to be a fictional memoir based on a true happening. A “You are there” concept where the writer is on scene during a remarkable event such as the crowning of royalty, a celebrity wedding, an inauguration, or even 9/11. Any event that captures your imagination.

A word from our esteemed President Emeritus, Pat Gray…

Turning a story/novel into a screenplay

When: Wednesday, July 6, 2011

Where: Sarasota Selby Library Upstairs Conf. Room

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Prior to moving to Sarasota, Jeanne was head of the Nevada Film Commission and has worked extensively with the film industry for many years. She is very well respected (and well connected) in the industry. If you have not previously heard Jeanne speak, (or even if you have) do not pass up this splendid opportunity. It is sure to be a fun and informative evening.

When: Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Where: Sarasota Selby Library (Upstairs Conf. Rm.)

Time: 6:15 p.m.

Chris Angermann

Editor-in-Chief at New Chapter Publisher

Writer, editor, publisher with experience in journalism; story editing of novels, plays, memoirs and history books; publishing and self-publishing; professional theater directing of new American plays; and screen writing.

Specialties

Manuscript analysis, story streamlining, self-publishing, medical journalism, features writing.

http://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisangermann

http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Chapter-Publisher/133085080036576?sk=info

He will be talking about the publishing industry overall, trends in the business, and how writing that is intended for an ebook might be different from writing intended for a traditional–paper–book.

We look forward to having Chris as our special guest. Don’t miss it!