August 10 – Sleeping with Other People

(registration deadline: Monday, August 3)

Meet on the 20th Century Fox studio lot for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the screenplay SLEEPING WITH OTHER PEOPLE.

Jason Sudeikis (SNL, Horrible Bosses) and Alison Brie (Community, Mad Men) are a monogamy-challenged couple attempting to maintain a platonic relationship while sleeping with other people in this award-winning romantic comedy from Will Ferrell’s Gloria Sanchez Productions and Sidney Kimmel Entertainment.

Written and directed by Leslye Headland (About Last Night).

Premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 24, 2015 and was runner-up for the narrative audience award at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival.

Also starring Natasha Lyonne (American Pie, Orange Is the New Black), Amanda Peet (The WB’s Jack & Jill), Adam Scott (Parks and Recreation), and Marc Blucas (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

Release date: September 11 (IFC Films).

Rated R. 92 minutes. 103 pages. Romantic Comedy.

PAMELA JAYE SMITH will provide in-depth analysis and lead our discussion. A mythologist and award-winning producer/director with over thirty years experience in features, TV, music videos, and more, Pamela is the author of five books, including The Power of the Dark Side: Creating Great Villains and Inner Drives: How to Write and Create Characters Using the Eight Classic Centers of Motivation. Her company, MYTHWORKS, offers consulting and coaching and, through her Pitch Proxy service, pitches writers’ projects at pitch festivals they cannot attend. Visit pamelajayesmith.com for more information.

June 8 – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

(registration deadline: Monday, June 1)

Meet on the 20th Century Fox studio lot for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the screenplay ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL.

First-time screenwriter JESSE ANDREWS adapted his debut YA novel, the resulting screenplay landing on the 2012 Black List. Premiering at this year’s Sundance Film Festival, the movie won both the Audience award (drama) and Grand Jury Prize (drama), drawing a five-minute standing ovation!

Fox Searchlight won worldwide rights over bids from Focus, CBS Films, Lionsgate, A24, Miramax, and The Weinstein Co. The film, which stands on its own in inventiveness, humor, and heart, is “destined not only to connect with young audiences in a big way, but also to endure as a touchstone for its generation,” according to Variety, while Indiwire calls it “a beautifully charming, captivating knock-out.”

Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (American Horror Story, Glee)

Starring Thomas Mann (It’s Kind of a Funny Story, Welcome to Me), Olivia Cooke (Ouija, Bates Motel), Nick Offerman (Parks and Recreation), Connie Britton (Nashville, Friday Night Lights), and Molly Shannon (Saturday Night Live)

Release date: June 12 (Fox Searchlight, Indian Paintbrush)

Rated PG-13. 104 minutes. 116 pages. Drama

DIANA LESMEZ will provide in-depth analysis and lead our discussion. Currently an independent writer, producer, and director for her company, The StoryMaker Entertainment, Diana’s screenwriting has placed her as a finalist in the Walt Disney Fellowship Program, Broad Humor Film Festival, and Slamdance Screenwriting Competition. Her vast background in the entertainment industry includes developing film projects for Atlantic Streamline (Igby Goes Down) and Patriot Pictures (Air Force One) and she has taught at the New York Film Academy and the Los Angeles Film School. Diana also offers pitching, producing, distribution, and marketing consulting services through her Bumptious Media Consulting banner.

January 12 – WHIPLASH

(registration deadline: Monday, January 5)

Meet on the 20th Century Fox studio lot for an in-depth analysis and discussion of the screenplay WHIPLASH

A promising young drummer enrolls at a cutthroat music conservatory where his dreams of greatness are mentored by an instructor who will stop at nothing to realize a student’s potential.

Writer/Director: Damien Chazelle (The Last Exorcism Part II)

Starring: Miles Teller, J.K. Simmons, Paul Reiser

Budget: $3.3 million (estimated)

Distributor: Sony Pictures Classics

Screenplay was included on the 2012 Black List of the best unproduced screenplays.

Premiered at Sundance Film Festival January 16, 2014, where it won the Grand Jury Prize and Audience Award. Has played at over 40 prestigious film festivals including Cannes, New York, and Toronto. Nominated for four Independent Spirit Awards.

Release (US): October 10, 2014 (limited)

Rated R. 106 minutes. 111 pages. Drama, Music

Story analyst BARBARA SCHIFFMAN will lead the discussion. For over 35 years, Barbara has read scripts for Miramax, Dreamworks, Mandalay, HBO, CAA, UTA, and more. The writing guide NOW WRITE! Screenwriting Exercises by Today’s Best Screenwriters and Teachers includes her chapter “Key Things to Know About Your Script Before You Write.” More recently, she evaluated candidates for NBCUniversal’s Emerging Writers Fellowship program. Barbara currently writes personal development e-courses for DailyOM.com and offers script coaching and “first look” feedback for screenwriters, as well as book coaching and editing for authors and self-publishers. Get info on Barbara’s services at her website, www.bschiffman.net.