March 2025
We made it thru February in Ohio! That always feels like an accomplishment doesn’t it? Hopefully the weather won’t derail our in person meetups from here on out.
Practice and creativity go together. Any kind of practice helps, whether you journal, read scripts, take notes while watching films, watch videos on YouTube, or take part in a film challenge ☺️ The point is to keep the wheels greased.
At our March meetup we will do a mock 48 hour challenge (just the writing part). If you’ve never done one this where you make a film in 48 hours. The first step is group thinking the script from the required elements (Genre, location, dialogue, prop, character) and developing it based on items and locations you have available.
A writer can practice these things alone by free writing from prompts, but it can be more fun to collaborate. Everyone brings their own type of creativity into the mix.
If enough people want to commit, we can also form a group for the next local 48 hour challenge.
The next meetup is Saturday March 15th at 12:30pm at the Oregon Library. Everyone is welcome!
Did you see our short film ? It released for Halloween on YouTube. Here is the link for Old West End, it surpassed 4K views last time I checked. Thank you for all of the support, share away!
Fall is here, and the quickly approaching holiday season is zooming into view. My head has been whirling around with distraction lately. A lot going on, too many tabs are open!
My current WIP is very much on my mind. I completed the first draft of my feature in October. Now is analysis time. I’ve been reading it and breaking it down to see where it needs work. I find it challenging to see the individual trees needing pruned out of my forest. Will I break it or make it worse by changing things in an attempt to make it better? Waiting for feedback while I dig around in my story to see what I think is wrong, is nerve wracking.
The Tree City Film Festival in Sylvania was a blast as always. The films were all entertaining and creative. I encourage everyone to participate in 48/50 hour challenges. Limitations spur creative choices that would never occur otherwise. Think of it as playing a favorite game. You have fun with friends (old and new) and create something together on a weekend.
The next meetup is November 16th 12:30pm at Freight House Coffee. We are open again for table reads if you have a short or 10 page segment of a script. We will also talk about the rewrite process, since I am going through it right now, it is fresh in my mind!
At the meetup we can choose a day or evening for a Holiday Meetup in December. I want your ideas for a social get together, maybe at a local taphouse where we can do appetizers and have a drink to celebrate as a group.
Happy Thanksgiving!
I’m thankful for each one of you who participates in our writer’s group. We share and grow together. It warms my heart to be able to gather and to help each other pursue our goals as storytellers, as writers, directors, producers and actors.
Thank you!
Virginia
No Excuse November
Get motivated and do something practical this month!
Start small. If you’re feeling overwhelmed at starting to write a feature, try writing a one-act play or a short film. Just start with a scene, a character(s) doing or saying something.
This month we are going to do something fun, and we need your help! The exciting part of screenwriting is seeing your words come to life. How about a low-pressure project to flex those writing muscles? If you are rusty it will help remind you how much you enjoy writing.
So far from October we have 2 member scripts we are going to produce in the large meeting room in November. (meetup is Saturday November 18th, 12:00pm Oregon Library) There is still time to create a simple 1-3 page scene for this exercise, and even if you don’t write something please come participate! We are inviting local actors to practice their skills and some experienced filmmakers will be helping to film our efforts.
Things to remember:
*Write something simple to shoot at the library (no stunts or action sequences)
*Bring any simple props or costume item needed for your script
*Print out a few copies of script for actors to read beforehand
(early scripts may be sent digitally so actors have more time to prepare)
If you have never been on a film set you will probably learn a few things just by coming. Obviously the library is not ideal for making a film, but this is a totally no pressure, fun practice session for everyone. If we get something good and shareable, fantastic! Completely voluntary, completely for fun and educational purposes.
That being said, magic happens when you are having fun and making connections. I have had some of my most creative moments in the midst of a 48 hour film challenge. So RSVP on the Facebook event, or send me an email (let me know if you are an actor) at glasscityscreenwriters@gmail.com to let us know you are joining us for the November Writer’s Jam!
See you soon,
Virginia
Hey writers, how is it going lately? To be honest, I haven’t gotten a lot of pages written due to illness earlier in October. We are all human and our health is so very important these days.
This group is for you! We are very open to ideas and suggestions to make our group work for everyone. Anyone who attends our meetings on a regular basis knows we work together to learn and help each other. If you have a suggestion or guest speaker to recommend, please email us at glasscityscreenwriters@gmail.com
It’s looking like a busy November! Here are some dates to keep in mind.
-November 5th (this Saturday) is the Tree City Film Festival 10th anniversary, $10 at the door.
-November 9th (Wednesday) at 10am Coffee Meetups are back! Levi & Lilacs Coffee Pub.
-November 17th is the FilmToledo Actors Workshop at the Main Library.
-November 19th (Saturday) 1:30pm Our Next GCSW meetup at the Oregon Library.
Old West End Film update:
While we had hoped to have a local screening in October, the post production time and digital work was increased due to the shorter time at one of our locations. The work is moving along and looking great! If you don’t already, follow the page on Facebook for more updates. The poster art is almost complete and we cannot wait to share it!
Keep writing, put it on your important to do list and try to check it off every week!
So here we are, it’s October, and it still feels like summer, with a dash of pumpkin spice.
Coming up this weekend we are having a meetup at The Flying Joe again, we can’t wait to see everyone! Check our Facebook page to rsvp for the event so we know how many to expect. If you do not do Facebook, just send us an email or message and we will get you the info.
Later this month is the writer’s festival aka Austin Film Festival in Austin Texas. Founder of Glass City Screenwriters Virginia Shine is going for the first time. She hopes to make meaningful connections and have fun while learning at the four day screenwriting conference. That is part of the reason the regular meetup is so early in the month this time.
We are officially in the spooky season and horror flicks are an everyday thing on television and at theaters. What are your favorite scary movies? Many of our writers enjoy the horror genre and of course our film The Choice is a good example of getting that short horror script on to the screen with team work and passion. If you haven’t seen it here is a link, it’s on YouTube now.https://youtu.be/wp9-jlKl44M
Those that follow member made film Whiskey Neat on social media know we won another award, this one was for Best Ohio Short at KinoDrome in Cleveland, Ohio. The festival was a full day of films from around the world, a ton of short, experimental and animated work.
In other local news Tree City Film Festival in Sylvania is October 16th. If you want to support a fun local 50 hour contest that some GCSW members participated in, join us by buying a ticket. They have drinks and food, it’s a fun evening of watching the challenge films and voting for your favorite! Here is a Link for tickets!
That’s all for now, thank you for supporting and participating! Tell us how we can make Toledo even better, and share what you are working on creatively!
You may have heard of a film competition called a 48 hour challenge. This is where you sign up with a group and together over a weekend (48 hours) you create a movie. Usually there are criteria that must be included in the film: A character name, a prop, a line of dialogue, and a location. A genre of film is also chosen by each team.
Sounds like a fun, creative, and sometimes crazy weekend, right? Well the Glass City Screenwriters will be participating in the Maumee Film Festival 48 hour weekend in February 2020. We welcome all our creative friends to either join our team, or form your own and join in the competition.
Check out the Maumee Film Festival website for information on signing up, there are even cash prizes! We don’t take it too seriously, it is supposed to be fun, and a five minute film can be something simple, created on a phone!
Get out there, have fun. Write, create, and share with others!
