Recap of Our 2017 Screenwriters Residency Program in Jamaica
What a week! After spending 5 days in the relaxing, inspiring atmosphere of Jamaica, our 2017 Screenwriters Residency Program has come to an end. The program consisted of 16 attendees who received one-on-one mentorship, group sessions and keynote speeches from the following ScreenCraft mentors:
- Eric Fineman, VP Production at Columbia Pictures (Sony Pictures)
- Steven de Souza, screenwriter of DIE HARD, THE RUNNING MAN and DIE HARD 2
- Peter Craig, WGA Award-winning screenwriter of THE TOWN, HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY and more
- Hannah Ozer, literary manager at Kaplan/Perrone
- Aaron Covington, screenwriter of CREED and the video game NBA 2K17
- Vanessa Ford, development executive at The Weinstein Company
Here's what the attendees have to say about the retreat:
"Wow! What an experience! Usually there’s one bad apple in the bunch, but not this time. Amazing how you can get to know people so well in such a short period of time. ScreenCraft ROCKS."
"I enjoyed the camaraderie and shared experience of peers; the approachability of the mentors; the atmosphere created by ScreenCraft, Jakes and Jamaica. When Steven said 'An inciting incident can happen before page one of a screenplay,' a ray of sunshine shone in the room, a glockenspiel glissando'd, as one, everyone reached for their books and noted."
"It was all great! The keynote speakers were very candid and honest. The mentors were all very helpful, and I felt comfortable being honest with them, and got great feedback. Everyone there (all participants -- writers, mentors, and our hosts) were AWESOME! And that's unusual -- to have such an amazing group of people, all there to participate and get to know one another."
"Now that I am off my red eye and back on terra firma, this is just a quick note to say how much I thoroughly enjoyed the Jamaica Residency and meeting both of you there."
"AMAZING location and even more beautiful souls I met at the ScreenCraft writers retreat. Thank you Justine for being a rockstar, especially for some of us who had issues with flights going through Florida due to Hurricane Irma."
"I have a better understanding of what goes on behind the scenes from studio exec Eric Fineman (who was very open and explained the whole process) -- and from Peter Craig, who presented a very real story of a working writer, both the good and the bad. It was all enlightening. And Steven de Souza had such interesting things to say too -- about F. Scott Fitzgerald's failed Hollywood career! Also loved Hannah's explanation of what her typical day is like as a literary manager, and how she services her clients. And my small group mtg. with Vanessa was incredible -- she's SO interesting (and a Treasure Beach native!)."
"The fact that we had meetings with mentors who have read our scripts blew me away. It was constructive, productive and very insightful."
Enjoy our video recap:
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