(May 27-June 1, 2008)
The Tenth Annual Screenwriting Conference in Santa Fe (SCSFe) will be held at The Lodge from May 27 to June 1, 2008. The conference will be divided into two major strands. “The Screenwriting Symposium” will include classroom instruction from world-class screenwriters, over thirty 90-minute symposia; mentor panel discussion, live readings of “Actors Choice Award” winners, and 18-hour Academy Labs for advanced screenwriters (limited to ten participants). “The Hollywood Connection” will include two Producer panel discussions, symposia to aid in marketing, and private pitches to 15 Hollywood producers. There will be social events for students to mingle with Hollywood writers and producers. Wednesday May 28, 2008, will be a breakout day entitled “Karl Iglesias Day” which will focus on “Writing for Emotional Impact.” Non-participants in the conference will be able to attend this six-hour class without attending the conference proper.
In a brief telephone interview on April 28, 2008, I spoke to SCSFe founder and executive director Larry N Stouffer who mentioned that he avoided celebrities and agents at the SCSFe and focused on bringing in writers and producers. He stated that the conference “is such an intense learning experience that the participants must stay focused. If people want to watch celebrities, they should watch Entertainment Tonight.” Larry is also very careful when inviting agents. (Only one agent will be presenting at this year’s conference.) He informed me that there are 4,000 professional screenwriters in the country and fewer than 50% have agents. He argues “an agent is not going to do anything for you. An agent will usually tell a client that ‘I’ll follow up if you get someone interested.’ That’s why we focus on bringing in Hollywood producers.”
The SCSFe focuses on preparing writers who wish to work on feature motion pictures and long-form television (mini-series and cable movies). While Stouffer finds educating students to write for television “intriguing,” he notes that one has to live in Los Angeles or New York to write for television and that eliminates the vast majority of conference participants.
Larry Stouffer is proud of “bringing Hollywood to Santa Fe” and educating conference goers in “the art and craft of saleable screen plays” while having participants “learn so much in an almost spiritual experience.” Among a host of individual testimonials, the most impressive one to me is that 25-30% of each group’s attendees in a given year decide to return to later conferences. Equally impressive is that these returning participants are from all over the country and not just Santa Fe. Larry N Stouffer concluded our interview with a tag line for the ages: “At the SCSFe, chances are you’ll meet someone who’ll change your life.”
For complete information about registration and conference fees, call toll-free (866) 424-1501 or visit www.scsfe.com.
