BEA2012

Whether it's a Hollywood movie, a start-up website, a network sitcom, or a feature news story, the skill to craft and deliver a story pitch is vital in today's ultra-fast media world. This panel, consisting of Hollywood insiders and working media academics, will discuss the tactics, techniques, and time limits of creating and delivering the perfect story pitch.
Moderator: Micheal McAlexander, Frostburg State University
Panelists: Geoff Silverman, Rain Management Group
Matthew Horwitz, Artist International
Carole Kirschner, author, Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV or Digital Entertainment
Eric Edson, California State University, Northridge

This session honors the winners of the Faculty and Student Festival of Media Arts Scriptwriting Competitions. Selected works of this year’s award recipients will be exhibited.
Faculty Competition Chair: Micheal McAlexander, Frostburg State University
Student Competition Chair: Fred Jones, Southeast Missouri State University

Faculty Scriptwriting Competition
Short Subject (15-35 pages)
Award of Excellence:      Kevin J. Reynolds, James Madison University; Our Lady of Holyoke

Award of Excellence:      Kyle W. Bergersen, University of Oklahoma; Welcome To My World of Compromise

Award of Excellence:      Fred Jones, Southeast Missouri State University; All the Trees of the Field Will Clap Their Hands

Feature (90-120 pages)
Best of Competition:      Rich Swingley, Matthew Mullins, Dan Finnen & Bruce Snyder, Ball State University; Nerdvana

Student Scriptwriting Competition
Short Subject (15 - 35 pages)
1st Place:              Stephen Mucci, Florida State University; Intensive Care

2nd Place:             Daphna Shull, Florida State University; Shabbat Shalom, Qi-Shi Da

3rd Place:              Joseph Hoerst, Xavier University; Help Wanted

Feature (90 – 120 pages)
1st Place:              Roger W. Standridge, California State University, Northridge; Samurai Arena

2nd Place:             Nancy Hendrickson, California State University, Northridge; Our House

3rd Place:              Thomas Clayton, University of North Carolina at Greensboro; The Passion of the Heretic

Honorable Mentions:
Dillon Swingle, University of North Texas; Hold On

Nathan Sorensen, University of Georgia; Club Trouble

Original TV Series Pilot (hour or 1/2 hour long)
1st Place:              Nicholas Luce, Missouri State University; Mystic Dick

2nd Place:             Marena Domingo-Young, San Jose State University; Help Wanted

3rd Place:              Travis Northup, San Francisco State University; The Directors

TV Spec Category (hour or 1/2 hour long)
1st Place:              Greg Hawkins Jr., Missouri State University; The Walking Dead - On the Road Again

2nd Place:             Timothy Klassa, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh ; Family Guy - – Griffintervention

3rd Place:              Tony Bushner, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh; 30 Rock - March Madness

Honorable Mentions:
Trevor Reid Forbis, California State University, Northridge; Modern Family  - CarniFall

Summer Brooks, Missouri State University; Parenthood - Future Presidents

Many wonderful stories and scripts go unproduced because the author or originator has not or can not make a convincing oral summary (or "pitch") of its value, appeal, and marketability to a producer or agent. In this annual panel, we encourage student winners of the Writing Division's Scriptwriting Competition and others to "pitch" their story to industry professionals, who will evaluate the "pitch" and their script's merit in the current marketplace. Moderator: Micheal McAlexander, Frostburg State University
Panelists: Carole Kirschner, author, Hollywood Game Plan: How to Land a Job in Film, TV or Digital Entertainment
Geoff Silverman, Rain Management Group
Matthew Horwitz, Artist International