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My POV
Brian A. Wilson
REVIEW: The 2002 Screenwriting Expo, Nov. 16-17, 2002
By all accounts, the 2002 Screenwriting Expo, sponsored by Creative Screenwriting magazine, was a rousing success.
Hundreds of screenwriters from near and far poured into the Los Angeles Convention Center to visit a modest trade show (only about 20 vendors, but all drawing a great deal of interest), attend seminars, take their shot in a pitch fest (at $25 a pitch) and compete in the Creative Screenwriting Open. Quite a good value for $20 admission fee (and $10 for LA city parking, but don't get me started!).
My favorite part was the CS Open, a competition where writers were given a brief scenario, then had 90 minutes to write a scene, long-hand. Upwards of 800 people participated. I'm proud to report that I made the top 10, the last cut before three finalists were chosen. Those three scenes were performed for the closing-night audience and a winner picked by the audience.
While I would have preferred to win (who wouldn't, really?), I still feel good about getting as far as I did. Also, it was a blast to write under those competitive conditions. Let's just say, procrastination wasn't a problem!
By all accounts, the other events went smoothly and were well received. Most people with whom I spoke had only one regret: They weren't able to attend more seminars. Most of the speakers had some ware or service to peddle, but they did deliver good information as well. And for writers seeking services or goods, it was certainly a convenient way to survey the landscape.
A-list writers like Frank Darabont and David O. Russell added a nice touch to the proceedings.
There were a couple of flies in the ointment. Initial lines to buy $2 seminar tickets and $25 pitch session tickets were gruesome. One writer nearing the front of the pitch sign-up line at 11:30 a.m. said he'd been there since 6 a.m. Ouch. And some of the seminars proved to be so popular, writers were left in the hallways, or seminars had to move rooms.
Those logistical problem aside, everything seemed to go well. Hats off to the Expo organizers for a job well done. By all means, check out the event in 2003.
(Read more about this year's event at http://www.screenwritingexpo.com/ )
Keep writing
BW
LA
transtexan@hotmail.com
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