Event: Hollywood Gatekeepers - How Screenplays Are Discovered and Developed

How does a screeenplay get discovered?  How does a screenplay get developed?  Those questions and more were answered on April 9th, 2014 at this panel event for screenwriters, professional studio readers and industry professionals at the LA Film School in Hollywood.

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Here are the panelists:

Mindi White, studio reader 

Mindi has been a respected consultant and story analyst since 1996, reading for top production companies and agencies and for numerous private clients. Some of her credits include HBO Films, Miramax, DreamWorks, Creative Artists Agency, and United Talent Agency. She has taught story analysis at the The Learning Tree and at Los Angeles City College. She is the author of Getting Past Me: A Writer’s Guide to Production Company Readers. She has worked as a director of development for independent producers and produced the short film “The Priests.” Mindi has written two short films and four feature films.
Katherine Tomlinson, studio reader

Although her grandmother could never wrap her head around the idea that she writes book reports for a living, Katherine Tomlinson has been a freelance story analyst for the last two decades. She began her career as an intern for Lauren Shuler Donner and Richard Donner, then worked as Director of Development for action-meister Joel Silver. Her clients include Jerry Bruckheimer Films, Michael De Luca Productions, Village Roadshow Pictures, and Lionsgate Television, among others. In the past she has worked for two of James Cameron's ex-wives, several Oscar-winning and nominated screenwriters, and an Emmy winner. Her adaptation of the novel Killing Suki Flood is in pre-production with French director Louis-Pascal Couvelaire attached. She is the author of Avoiding Pasadena: A Screenwriter's Road Map to Selling a Script.

Berkeley Hunt, story analyst

Berkeley Hunt is a freelance writer and story analyst specializing in the horror, sci­fi and crime genres. Over the last sixteen years she has worked on such films as Looper, End Of Watch, The Reaping andOcean's 11. Left to her own devices, she reads books on history and geology and carries on a not­so­secret love affair with Belgian boy reporter Tintin. She is based in North Hollywood, California, home of the Academy Of Television Arts And Sciences and the infamous Circus Liquor Clown.

Meredith Weick, K/O Paper Products (THE MUMMY, NOW YOU SEE ME)

Meredith Wieck is an Illinois native who packed her car and drove out to LA after graduating with a degree in Political Science and Psychology from the University of Illinois in 2009. She started her career at MGM Studios, working on movies such as RED DAWN and HOT TUB TIME MACHINE. In 2011, Meredith joined Mary Parent's newly-formed production shingle Disruption Entertainment as an assistant working closely with the executives to build a very full development slate. She was then promoted to Creative Executive in Fall 2012 and was instrumental in bringing in the New York Times Bestselling YA Book Series "Tigers Curse" by Colleen Houck, which sold to Paramount. In Spring 2013, Meredith moved over to Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci's company in features, working most recently on THE MUMMY Reboot and the Sequel to NOW YOU SEE ME, which will both go into production later this year.

Matthew Porter, Penchant Entertainment 

Matthew Porter is a founding Partner of Penchant Entertainment and has been instrumental in securing financing for the company’s development and production slate. Matt currently works with Partner, Erin Eggers, in the development of Feature Film and Television projects for the company and oversees everyday operations. Matthew and Erin have worked together for over five years in development and production, first with Ozla Pictures and most recently with Morgan Creek Productions (DEAD RINGERS, MAJOR LEAGUE, TRUE ROMANCE). Coming from a long line of entrepreneurs, Matthew continues to forge his own path in the Entertainment Industry and has built an excellent reputation in the business since moving to Los Angeles in 2009. Matthew earned his B.A. in History and Film Production from Ohio State University in 2008.

Taylor Benzie, Manager at Kaplan/Perrone 

Taylor Benzie is a talent and literary manager at Kaplan/Perrone Entertainment, where he represents writers, directors and performers in film and television. Prior to Kaplan/Perrone, Taylor spent over three years at Mosaic where he worked with a diverse group of talent from young, up and coming comedians and writers to highly established award-winning actors and directors, including Will Ferrell, Andy Samberg, Jim Carrey and Will Forte.

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