"Da Vibe" -> Thursday ->7-3-08 An alphabet soup of this and that, of bits and pieces. To mitigate the choppy whirl, take time to relax. Meditate. Clear the mind. (In a heartbeat.) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Note: Aubrey M. Horton has doctored scripts for five screenwriters who've won national competitions. In 1999, a screenwriter (who has had several scripts doctored by Horton) wrote a project which won a Golden Globe nomination. In "Creative Screenwriting" magazine -- Jim Shea rated Horton as a "highly recommended" script doctor, i.e., in the top 8 nationally. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Zap-Gram -> 5-26-08 -> 1) A few months back, a workshop alum from the ‘90s contacted us with an update on his writing career. Here’s an edited version of the good news: “I write for and am a story editor for a [. . .] sitcom [. . .] that currently airs on TBN (Trinity Broadcasting Network) [. . .]. Three episodes I wrote will air for this Season 3 and Final Season [. . .]. One just aired this past weekend. In Season 2, one episode I wrote aired. [. . .] Currently, I'm writing for a [. . .] series [. . .] that'll air on TBN's Smile of a Child children's channel. I've also filmed a pilot to my reality TV [. . .] show and hopefully will get that picked up this year. That is my passion right now.” Oh, wow. A big congrats. If anyone deserves having their pilot picked up, it’s such a talented writer with a strong sense of social responsibility. (True to yourself.) 2) And speaking of a few months back, around that same time we'd also heard from a doctored screenwriter-producer who'd sent us a heads-up in regards to his new feature that’s set to roll camera. He wrote: “Hard to believe, but the first round of casting for my horror script [. . .] was held yesterday in NY.” Talk about connecting with project after project. Let’s hope the deals continue to fall into place. (Indie wildcatter.) 3) Being honored for one’s body of work is always a grabber. So when our 4-time 8-week workshopper (known for her great feedback in class) . . . was duly acclaimed for her indie filmmaking as a writer-director-producer-actor in Dallas back in February, of course this news got our attention. Now, um, having one of her productions airing repeatedly on the Black Entertainment Television network was a telling coup, also. Plus, that insightful newspaper profile covering her career, which included a personal photo (such a smile) and had that moving publicity shot of her family documentary, was inspiring. We suspect the accolades will continue. (And such a cool nickname, too.) 4) Yes, we’ll cop a plea. We should’ve reported this months ago. Mea culpa. Indeed, back during the holidays at the end of last year, we were lucky enough to view an amazing short by one of our wonderfully talented writer-producers. She really has the goods. And when such a talent can bring an offbeat musical story to life with compelling vigor, we are compelled to applaud with a standing ovation. Knockout stuff. Viral. (Warmest regards.) 5) A workshop participant (known for her encyclopedic knowledge of film and open-to-change talent) notified us that she was: “. . . completing [a] romantic fantasy script for contest submissions. Ten production companies have read [the script I developed in your workshop]. Diablo Cody heard of it via the Austin Film Festival. She requested a copy to read when she was touring last year. [. . .] Also, a former CBS cameraman in Europe was interested in acquiring it. [. . .] I’m rewriting it as a play similar to “Greater Tuna” if you recall that Austin play. I did several scenes with a local actors’ workshop this year. It was well received.” Hey, that’s a stageplay we would really like to see. Compelling stuff. Always a pleasure. (A piano player.) 6) So -- what’s up with our super talented alum/phenom who signed with CAA and then quickly inked two studio deals at the amazing age of 24? Well, a few months back he wrote us that: “. . . Things here are well. Getting started back up on the DreamWorks gig, and will probably get commenced on another draft of the spy comedy for Universal. So, things will certainly be busy in the coming weeks. Also had time to put some real thought into a spec idea we've had for a while. Hope to get that going soon, as well.” Yes, with the writers’ strike fading in the rearview mirror, things do appear to be getting back to business as usually. (“Rare” is, indeed, the optimal word.) 7) Earlier this year we heard from one of our multitalented alums (’96) . . . a warmhearted Texan with quite a diverse resume as an artist/actor/writer. He wrote us that he’d: “. . . been cast for a supporting role in an independent feature-length film [. . .] and they're flying me to Denver [. . .].” Impressive. And then when we checked back with him after the movie had wrapped – he did, in fact, confirm that the Colorado shoot had been a truly enjoyable experience. Whoa. And between his movie work, TV commercials, book illustrations, and trying to find a publisher for his novel . . . this is one hell-of-a-busy Texan. (A true original.) 8) A number of years ago, we couldn’t help but notice that a certain workshop participant would attend class wearing a beret. Well, that fashion statement was, in fact, a telling clue as to his future as a filmmaker . . . because this “auteur” writer-producer has recently rolled camera on his newest project, a well-cast indie in Austin. And from the local buzz, we predict that such a handcrafted film will garner some well-deserved attention via the fest circuit. (Summer treats.) 9) Now we’re talkin’. A repeat workshopper premiered his script-winning short in Bastrop. Wait, Bastrop? Yes, Bastrop, Texas. For those in the know, there is this “in” group of filmmakers who are nesting in this small Tejas town (which is only a stone’s throw east of Austin). And, as we understand it, this savvy creative group is hoping to carve out a production niche as “the” film-friendliest place to shoot your short film. Oh, did we also mention that the producer on this project was another one of our alums (i.e., she was a well-published author way before she began pursuing screenwriting). (A-town networking.) 10) And since we’re referencing Bastrop, yet another workshop participant landed a production gig with a feature film that will be directed (and also was penned) by that famous Hollywood director-screenwriter who -- way back in the ‘90’s -- fenced in his getaway spread (ranch) in Bastrop . . . way before the little town was even on anyone else’s radar. Anyway, it seems as though our alum (who’s a talented writer with an MFA) is diversifying her skill set. (A fun movie title.) 11) A postcard from the spacetime continuum. Here’s a big congratulatory shout-out to an old friend who has a huge blockbuster coming out on July 2nd. With one of the hottest superstars in the lead role, it doesn’t get any better than this (for an A-list screenwriter). Can’t wait to see this movie. For anyone who’s a fan of the superhero genre, this will be a must-see event. (And now you’re a producer.) Pour on the butter, turn down the lights, and roll the credits. That’s a wrap. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ News items stay on this page for a short life cycle -> then are moved to "archive ('02-'07)." If you'd like to read the 1999/2000/2001 info, go to -> "archive ('99-'01)." Check out the "cat" for developing insight. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ (c) < 1999 - 2008 > "Da Vibe" is entertainment. No forecast of true events is intended.