KUDOS

Subj: 1998 finalist update
Date: 03/31/2000
From: John Holton


Hi Michael,

Just a short line to keep you up to date re: media coverage.

Wednesday of this week I was a guest on a one hour phone-in talk show broadcast from CBC Halifax. The show, "Maritime Noon" covers all of Atlantic Canada. The topic was "What have you done that you've always wanted to do?" Staff at the local CBC station here in Charlottetown had suggested that I would be a good choice for a guest. Oh well, at least I'm a bit of a celebrity around here..."big splash in a little pond!"

I was interviewed first and callers then had the opportunity to give their own experiences or comment on mine. The result was that the Empire Screenplay contest was well "plugged".

Thanks again for your help.

I'm checking the website daily hoping to advance further in the 1999 contest.

John (Holton)
1998 Finalist
1999 Entrant
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(e-mail) Date: 00-02-29 20:33:15 EST


The information on screenwriting and character that I have accessed from your web site have been extremely helpful. I currently work with a professional Acting Workshop, where we have used some of this material as a resource for our work.

Thank you,

Anne Randolph
1999 Quarterfinalist
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1/11/00 (e-mail)

Dear Michael Farrand,

Thanks for your e-mail of January 6. I was pleased to hear that (producer) wants to see THE HIGHWAYMAN, and have drafted a query letter, following your guidelines. (The one-liner and "brief tag" were a real challenge, and took awhile: do you think they work?)

I was impressed with your website--this was the first time I'd visited it--and appreciate the effort you're making in facilitating the marketing of screenplays that do well in your competition.

Happy New Year,
Kathryn Paulsen
1998 Finalist
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1/7/00 (e-mail)

. . . Love your compendium of advice . . .

David Myers
1999 Quarterfinalist
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1/6/00 (e-mail)

. . . I also wanted to tell you how much I appreciate your web site. I have visited almost every site out there on the subject of screenplays and have found a great deal of them to be a waste of time. Yours is filled with excellent, practical advice on how to either write or improve your screenplay. I have received more concise and useful tips from your web site than from most of the books I have read. Thank you very much. I look forward to hearing from you.

Gary Raad
1999 Quarterfinalist
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12/14/99 (e-mail)

Michael:

Thanks for the follow-up regarding the synopsis and query letter. I am attaching the revised documents.

Regarding media attention, this is what has happened so far:

1. A half page newspaper article in the Journal-Pioneer of Summerside, P.E.I. In the article the Empire Screenplay contest was mentioned several times and some of the article quoted from your news release.

2. A taped 20 minute radio interview for CBC Radio, FM 96.1 in Charlottetown, P.E.I. Normally, these interviews run 6-7 minutes. The interview went so well that the host of the show has chosen to run it in the holiday period when he can devote a half hour time slot (less weather, etc.) to the subject. Again, the Empire Screenplay contest was well plugged in the interview.

Thanks for my "15 minutes of fame".

John Holton
1998 Canadian Finalist
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12/6/99 (e-mail)

Dear Mr. Farrand:

Thanks for the latest update.

Please go ahead and publicize my screenplay, VIRTUAL COP, in any way that you see fit. So far all of my experiences with Empire have been positive and I have no reason to doubt you will do what's best for all concerned. I also understand the potential pitfalls of putting things out on the Internet but, at this point, feel it is well worth the risk.

The one sentence blurb you currently have for VIRTUAL COP is fine.

Per your suggestion, I'll work on a two-page synopsis and query letter and email them to you as soon as possible.

As always, thank you for all the efforts and hard work you have put in on behalf of all the finalists in your contest. I'll be sure to spread the good word about Empire. It's well deserved.

Best Regards,
Dave Kunz
1998 Finalist
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e-mail 11/12/99

Mike,

. . . I appreciated the judges comments... they are honest, and seem pretty much dead-on. Same with the critique of the script. I'd definitely like to get the feedback on the rest of it. While I have learned a lot about screenwriting since I wrote WEAK, I'd like to think it could be rewritten and become a good writing sample . . .

I'd also like to thank you and let you know that as of tomorrow, I'll be signed to a management contract with Smith Entertainment. This is thanks to your contest, and I really appreciate the exposure I got from it. I didn't want to say anything until the contracts were signed, and it'll be a few days before I get everything finalized, but I've made a big step forward thanks largely to the Empire Screenplay Contest.

Thank You (I can't say it enough!)

Jeff Michael
1998 Finalist
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11/22/99 (e-mail)

Mike

Just thought you'd be interested to know that we've recently signed Thom Fox and Jeff Michael as new clients of Smith Entertainment, off the back of a number of quality scripts that we were first introduced to through our association with the Empire Screenwriting Contest. We are also continuing to work closely with John Brumm on one of his scripts and, should that develop as we hope, will look to sign him on as well. This reflects extremely well on the high standard of entries across the board in your contest.

What news on next year's contest?

Sincerely

Tom (Williams of Smith Entertainment)
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12/1/99 (e-mail)

Dear Michael,

Thanks again for the feedback. The whole experience has been great. I was very impressed with the handling of this contest and found the level of constructive response extremely helpful . . .

I will be in L.A. this weekend Dec. 3rd thru Dec. 4th, meeting with a literary agent and a production company. Let me know if you're available to say hi.

Barbara Grecki
1998 Finalist
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12/3/99 (e-mail)

Michael,

Wow!

. . .

Thank you very much for your work on this thing. I never expected such personalized contact when I entered your contest. I need a few hours to digest your suggestions, then I'll be ready to roll.

I just returned from doing a 20 minute radio interview on the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). I've had a lot of local interest generated from your news release, so thank you for that.

John Holton
1998 Canadian Finalist
_________________________________

September 10, 1999 (e-mail)

...Just wanted to let you know how much your "updates" are appreciated. You are one of the only contest coordinators that keeps us informed and it really is thoughtful of you.

Arla Bowers
1998 Finalist
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September 8, 1999 (e-mail)

Hi Michael,

Thanks to guys like you and (the) Empire Productions contest, there remains chances for writers worldwide to make it in such a lucrative and volatile industry.

Michael C. McPherson
1998 Canadian Semifinalist
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September 2, 1999 (e-mail)

Dear Michael:

Thank you for taking the time to respond to all my whining. I suppose my drama only indicates a need to write another script.

I'm going to think about entering your contest because the prize money is serious. When we are asked to do something other than write the script we complain. Do you see what I mean? It is a different art form and we are doing it because we are being asked to do it. This makes an artist tend to groan.

I read other people's stuff and I know what you are up against. There is a lot of junk out there and the two pages, I suppose, ferrets it out. Just keep in mind, there a lot of really great ones that are tricky to spot unless you get the whole picture.

It is really a credit to your outfit to respond so quickly and thoroughly to my "wine list". Cabernet anyone?

Best of Luck
Thomas Storey
1999 Entrant
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August 13, 1999 (e-mail)

Michael,

You're the best! Much thanks for the update. I am very excited and hopeful. This position gives me some leverage for spurring agent interest and Steven Baldwin's Mint Production Company is also seriously considering ("Being Loved by You") with two other projects.

Luck be a Lady.

Much thanks, Empire's handling of this whole experience has been great!

Barbara Grecki
"Being Loved by You"
1998 Finalist

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September 17, 1998

Hello Mike!

Wow! What a couple of months! Winning the Empire Screenplay Contest seems to have set off a firestorm of activity around my script. Since winning Empire, "An Average Joe" has become one of the 9 finalists in the Walt Disney Fellowship Competition and has moved to semi-finalist status in the Maui Screenwriting Competition. It? been a whirlwind ride.

I’m extremely excited about the staged reading of "An Average Joe" on Wednesday, October 14th at 7:00PM. It will be rewarding to hear the script performed aloud by actors . . .

I want to thank you again for your generosity, and I look forward to finally meeting you in person. I want you to know that the Empire Screenplay Contest has truly been a tremendous blessing.

Sincerely,

John North
1997 Winner
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10/30/98

Dear Mike,

Thanks for the update on the contest. Good to hear from you.

Here’s the saga of "Tosca’s Kiss" since we last spoke. (An L.A. production company that served as a 1997 judge) in concert with Lawrence Mattis of Circle of Confusion in New York, shopped the script around all summer and had it passed on by some very illustrious production companies.

Sherry Joniff from Planet Girl Pictures is still interested in optioning it . . . both these producers, you’ll notice, came from last year’s contest, so a very big thank you, Mike for all this activity.

In the meantime, here’s an entry for this year. Thanks for the five dollar credit!

I will let you know if and when someone makes an honest woman of "Tosca".

Hope all is well with you.

Sincerely,

Sue Rauch
1997 Finalist
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June 2, 1998

Dear Mike Farin (sic),

As instructed by you, I sent my screenplay, "Runaway" to (an L.A. production company) . . .

Getting read by any production company or any agency is a great opportunity and I do appreciate you and your contest for providing this one for me. Matching tastes is no easy task.

Sincerely,

Fred Leadbeter
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April 30, 1998 (e-mail)

Dear Michael,

Thanks for the good news. We've got so many different scripts in the pipeline that I can't keep up to which one is doing what anymore. Our first script, "Disorganized" (which got knocked out in the quarterfinals), is the one that got us our agent and is slated to be shopped around sometime in May. "Hollywood Mirage" was quite a shocker to us, because we sent it out before we were really comfortable with it. It's been rewritten several times since the contest . . .

Thanx again for all your help and I will absolutely keep you abreast of anything that happens. I must say, after entering many contest, yours seems to be one of the most efficient . . .

Sincerely, Ralph Stein

P.S. . . . Your contest is a pleasure. Keep up the good work.
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April 1, 1998 (e-mail)

Dear Michael,

I am thrilled to have made it to this point in what I am sure must be tough competition.

As always, I enjoy sharing the little coups I achieve with you - since our great phone chat December 1996 - I know you can appreciate the efforts and payoffs!

A short film I wrote this spring is headed to Sundance - and Skywalker Sound is the company underwriting sound re-mix FOR FREE! The guys who scooped those Oscars last week for "Titanic" for Sound Design? A friend of a friend got me in touch with them, and they are doing it because they think it is OSCAR material!! AH! I need a cold compress!

Funny thing - in 1996, I was unemployed, afer being fired from 2 jobs in one year - for running my mouth!

Other news - I am writing Intel's 30th Anniversary Film - a half million dollar 30 minute film. I promise - no "bunny" suits!

I am excited about making it this far into the Empire Competition Process. As always, thanks for your good wishes, and I hope our paths may cross one day.

Best regards, Kimber O'Neill

BACK HOME

". . . thank you for all the efforts and hard work you have put in on behalf of all the finalists in your contest. I’ll be sure to spread the good word about Empire. It’s well deserved."
Dave Kunz, previous finalist

"Thanks again for the feedback. The whole experience has been great. I was very impressed with the handling of this contest and found the level of constructive response extremely helpful."
Barbara Grecki, previous finalist