Aspiring writers will be flying in from all over the country Saturday, May 2, to attend the only free and public screenwriting conference in the country: DePaul’s School of Cinema and Interactive Media 3rd annual Page One Entertainment Writers Conference at its Loop campus.
Fifteen of the hottest feature and television writers – along with agents, producers and development executives – “will give aspiring Midwest writers lessons, tips and advice on breaking into the industry,” says Kristyn Jo Benedyk, chair of DePaul’s screenwriting program, who started the program.
Special guests from the film side are Bruce Joel Rubin (“Ghost,” “Jacob’s Ladder”) and the team of David Webb Peoples and Janet Peoples (“Blade Runner,” “Unforgiven,” and the “12 Monkeys” feature and TV series).
The television side offers Emmy-winning Linwood Boomer (“Malcolm in the Middle”), and panels dedicated to the inner workings of a TV writer’s room and how to write for both film and television.
Agents, executives and producers also will advise on what they look for when choosing a script or a client.
The day also includes a panel about ways to break into the business, including a success story from a recent DePaul alum who went from attending a Page One Conference to selling a screenplay to New Line Cinema.
The Conference started in 2012 when a date was saved for us to bring in a visiting artist a screenwriter to speak at the school, say Benedyk. “I reached out to a handful of a handful of writers with the hope that one person would say yes. Instead, they all did.
“I realized there are so many writers out there who are not only willing to offer their advice to future storytellers, but who are excited to do so. That is how Page One was born.
At 14 E. Jackson Blvd., 11:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. no tickets or reservations required.
Program overview:
11:30-12:10 WRITING FOR BOTH FILM & TELEVISION, Trey Callaway, Randi BarnesCraig Titley
12:30-1:10 BREAKING INTO THE BUSINESS, Kate Powers, Alex Beh
1:30-2:10 THE PEOPLE WHO BUY AND GREENLIGHT YOUR SCRIPTS, Rob Wolken Erin Rodman, John Oakes
2:30-3:30 HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITING ICONS, David Webb Peoples, Janet Peoples
4:00-4:40 INSIDE THE WRITER’S ROOM, Linwood Boomer, David Rosenthal, Sneha Koorse
5:00-5:40 STUDENT SUCCESS STORY, Josh Golden
6:00-7:00 A CONVERSATION WITH OSCAR WINNER, Bruce Joel Rubin
Click here for the full schedule and speaker bios.
