Episode Eighty-One: Writing with Todd Berger
We wrap up our month of writing with writer Todd Berger. Todd has been a working writer in Los Angeles for ten years. He talks about everything from writing original scripts to pitching ideas to executives and working through multi-hour note sessions with producers. Writer Aydrea Walden joins the discussion as well.
Todd Berger- Writer/Director
Todd is an experienced writer/director who has been making films since he was a teenager. He received a film degree from The University of Texas at Austin where he wrote and directed the nationally syndicated television show The Campus Loop. He recently wrote and directed the the feature film The Scenesters, which played over 30 film festivals and took home Most Interesting Film from The Slamdance Film Festival, Best Screenplay from The Phoenix Film Festival, and Best Director from The Edmonton International Film Festival. His feature-length documentary Don’t Eat The Baby: Adventures at post-Katrina Mardi Gras was chosen as the closing night film of the 2007 New Orleans Film Festival. He works as a screenwriter and actor in Los Angeles, with scripts currently in development at DreamWorks Animation, Sony Pictures, Jim Henson Productions, and The Disney Channel. In 2006, his script Chasing Christmas was turned into an ABC Family original movie starring Tom Arnold. On screen, Todd has appeared in many recent commercials as well as an episode of the NBC comedy Parks and Recreation.
The Scenesters Movie
Todd’s Website
Aydrea Walden- Writer
Aydrea has written for The Seattle Times, the Now Write! Screenwriting book series, The Second City Los Angeles, iO West, Hawaii Film Partners, NBC/Universal, Highlander Films, Nickelodeon, and Disney. She also runs the satirical blog, The Oreo Experience–My Life and Times as a Super White Black Person. For more information about Aydrea or to contact her please visit her website at www.theoreoexperience.com
Jenna Edwards- Producer, Film Method Co-Host
For more information about Jenna Edwards please visit the About page. To contact Jenna you can email her at info@film-method.com
Lynda Lopez- Producer
Lynda Lopez started her career in film as a Production Designer working on student films with friends from art school where she was a Graphic Design major. She then went on to assist some very talented Production Designers on studio films while still working in various capacities on short films and indie films. Due to her fascination for all aspects of filmmaking, she has become more involved with the Production side of things working as a Director’s Assistant and Producer.
Lynda is currently working on a charity project for All Hands Volunteers, a non-profit organization that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world. For more information about Lynda’s project to help this organization please visit www.hands.org
Episode Eighty: Writing with Connie Siu
Connie Siu started out in the gaming world, but eventually found herself in development at one of the major studios. Her love of story and developing stories is what led her to development and it was there she gained insight into what writers and aspiring writers need to do to get noticed by the studios.
Connie Siu- Development Executive
Connie Siu is a business development and strategic planning professional with particular strengths in multi-media and feature film industries. She has experience and in-depth knowledge of story development, distribution and strategic partnerships.
Throughout Connie’s career, she has pursued her passion for film and she has an in-depth knowledge of both the business and creative aspects of the industry. She began her career in the game industry working for such companies such as Sega and Namco. There she cultivated numerous computer skills, mastering real-time 3-D animation and becoming the lead effects animator on Paramount Pictures’ Virtuosity starring Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe.
After graduate school, Connie was chosen as a manager candidate for Artist Management Group where she analyzed scripts for marketability, demographics, character, etc. for clients such as Robin Williams and Samuel L. Jackson. After which, she went onto POP.com as Manager of Business Development for the on-line entertainment unit of DreamWorks SKG and Imagine Entertainment. Following POP.com, Connie was recruited by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) as Senior Strategic Relations Manager focusing on the animation and special effects market.
Connie holds an MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, and graduated cum laude from San Francisco State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts. Connie also attended UCLA’s prestigious Producer’s Summer Program where she began developing content for film and television.
Connie currently works at DreamWorks Animation in Artistic Development. She is the former Chairman and the co-founder of the San Francisco Chapter of Siggraph and the former Vice-Chairman of the U.S. Sports Film Festival Board of Directors. Connie also severed as Executive Director of the Pre-Visualization Society and on the Los Angeles Kellogg Alumni Board.
Aydrea Walden- Writer
Aydrea has written for The Seattle Times, the Now Write! Screenwriting book series, The Second City Los Angeles, iO West, Hawaii Film Partners, NBC/Universal, Highlander Films, Nickelodeon, and Disney. She also runs the satirical blog, The Oreo Experience–My Life and Times as a Super White Black Person. For more information about Aydrea or to contact her please visit her website at www.theoreoexperience.com
Jenna Edwards- Producer, Film Method Co-Host
For more information about Jenna Edwards please visit the About page. To contact Jenna you can email her at info@film-method.com
Lynda Lopez- Producer
Lynda Lopez started her career in film as a Production Designer working on student films with friends from art school where she was a Graphic Design major. She then went on to assist some very talented Production Designers on studio films while still working in various capacities on short films and indie films. Due to her fascination for all aspects of filmmaking, she has become more involved with the Production side of things working as a Director’s Assistant and Producer.
Lynda is currently working on a charity project for All Hands Volunteers, a non-profit organization that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world. For more information about Lynda’s project to help this organization please visit www.hands.org
Episode Seventy-Nine: Writing with Barri Evins
Our month on writing continues with producer and screenwriting teacher Barri Evins. Barri approaches writing from the producers standpoint: what stories work and what will ultimately sell. Barri discusses having that “big idea” and gives 7 helpful pointers on pitching your idea. Writer Aydrea Walden joins us for the month as well!
Barri Evins- Producer/Screenwriting Teacher
Barri Evins is a successful film producer and a sought after screenwriting teacher. As a producer, she has sold pitches and specs to Warner Bros., Universal, Fox, Nickelodeon, New Line and HBO. Barri created BIG IDEAS to give new screenwriters what it takes to achieve their dreams by teaching them techniques she uses with highly paid professionals on big league projects. The Big Ideas Screenwriting Seminar teaches writers to create ideas that ignite industry interest and gives writers revolutionary tools for completing a successful screenplay faster than ever before. The seminar also includes Barri’s mentorship for a year. Learn about upcoming seminars, bringing the Big Ideas Seminar to your hometown or get a free thumbs up or down on your next idea at www.bigbigideas.com. Find tips and updates at BIG IDEAS for Screenwriters on Facebook. A BIG IDEAS books is in the works.
Barri’s Website-www.bigbigideas.com
Big Ideas for Screenwriters Facebook Page
Aydrea Walden- Writer
Aydrea has written for The Seattle Times, the Now Write! Screenwriting book series, The Second City Los Angeles, iO West, Hawaii Film Partners, NBC/Universal, Highlander Films, Nickelodeon, and Disney. She also runs the satirical blog, The Oreo Experience–My Life and Times as a Super White Black Person. For more information about Aydrea or to contact her please visit her website at www.theoreoexperience.com
Jenna Edwards- Producer, Film Method Co-Host
For more information about Jenna Edwards please visit the About page. To contact Jenna you can email her at info@film-method.com
Lynda Lopez- Producer
Lynda Lopez started her career in film as a Production Designer working on student films with friends from art school where she was a Graphic Design major. She then went on to assist some very talented Production Designers on studio films while still working in various capacities on short films and indie films. Due to her fascination for all aspects of filmmaking, she has become more involved with the Production side of things working as a Director’s Assistant and Producer.
Lynda is currently working on a charity project for All Hands Volunteers, a non-profit organization that provides hands-on assistance to survivors of natural disasters around the world. For more information about Lynda’s project to help this organization please visit www.hands.org
Episode Seventy-Eight: Writing with Julie Gray
Behind every great film is a great script and behind every great script is a great writer or team of writers. The month of July is dedicated to the topic of writing as it is a crucial part of the filmmaking process. Writer and script consultant Julie Gray and writer Aydrea Walden join us to discuss the importance of writing good characters.
Julie Gray- Writer
A regular contributor to the Huffington Post, Julie directs the Just Effing Entertain Me Screenwriting Competition and The Golden Age of Television Competition. Julie consults privately with a variety of writers all over the world and has taught at the Oxford Student Union at Oxford University, The West England University in Bristol, Wilmington University in Delaware and San Francisco University in Quito, Ecuador.
Julie teaches screenwriting classes at Warner Bros., The Great American Pitchfest, The Creative Screenwriting Expo and the Williamette Writer’s Conference in Portland, Oregon.
A volunteer at the Afghan Women’s Writing Project, Julie is co-founder of Stories Without Borders, a non-profit organization committed to fostering the creative voices of students and women through the medium of film. A resident of Los Angeles, California, Julie’s book, Just Effing Entertain Me will be available as an audio and E-book in August, 2011.
Julie’s Website- www.justeffing.com
Aydrea Walden- Writer
Aydrea has written for The Seattle Times, the Now Write! Screenwriting book series, The Second City Los Angeles, iO West, Hawaii Film Partners, NBC/Universal, Highlander Films, Nickelodeon, and Disney. She also runs the satirical blog, The Oreo Experience–My Life and Times as a Super White Black Person. For more information about Aydrea or to contact her please visit her website at www.theoreoexperience.com
