Wisconsin Screenwriters Forum

Meetings are currently held in Madison, Wisconsin, the first Wednesday of every month from 7pm-9pm. Prospective members are invited to attend one meeting at no cost. WSF also offers support to members who would like to meet regularly in other areas of the country.

Next Meeting – Wednesday, February 1st

Time: 7pm-9pm

Location: If you are not a member, please email president@wiscreenwritersforum.org to find out the location of the meeting. We welcome non-members to come and check us out. Meetings are always held on the UW campus.

Meeting topic: Screenwriting Style

For our discussion, we’ll define screenwriting style as “using words to convey a movie (image and sound, action and emotion) to the reader.” We’ll look at some common advice that’s out there — not all of it consistent. We’ll look at some professional script pages to see some examples of the range of possibilities. And we’ll discuss our own experiences as we struggled to make our own scripts good reads.

Moderators: Ted Babcock

Meeting Assignment/Exercise: TBD

Pre-Meeting: We’re alternating the pre-meeting location each month. February’s will be at the Kollege Klub on Lake Street. Join any members who attend for conversation and a meal before the regular meeting.

Contact: Ken Miyamoto

president@wiscreenwritersforum.org

Interested in Starting a WSF Branch in Your Locale?

Members in other areas of the country are encouraged to form their own Chapters and Meetings. Send an email to memberservices@wiscreenwritersforum.org if you would like information on how to connect with other writers in your locale.

SPECIAL EVENTS:

Next WSF Retreat is coming April of 2012! Stay tuned for dates and additional details.

Yes, for the last couple of years we’ve offered WSF members the chance to gather together in a rustic and relaxing setting where you can get away from the daily grind of life, lock yourself in a room and write with no distractions, hang out with your friends and peers watching movies (in one of the lodges’ stadium seating screening rooms) and talking about the art and craft of screenwriting, etc.

Our retreats have been very successful from those standpoints and beyond. They’ve inspired. They’ve allowed members to break free from their every day lives and have a weekend for themselves. And all at a low price in these tough economic times.

And here, for Fall of 2011, the WSF is about to offer you even more.

So, without further ago, I officially announce the 2011 Fall WSF Retreat. Details below…

When: TBD

Many will notice that we have an extra day option here. Normally our retreats go from an evening check-in on Friday to a noon checkout on Sunday for $125. We’ve had requests from attendees regarding the want for an extra day.

Well, I’m proud to announce that the WSF is finally offering that option… WITH NO EXTRA COST. Yes, members have the option of checking in Thursday evening (October 13th) and staying until noon on Sunday (October 16th). And this option won’t cost you an extra dime (see pricing below). We’ve secured a free night for all three lodges and we give that to you in these tough economic times. Our original price for just two nights was cheap enough. Now you have an option for a third with no extra charge.

Imagine the writing you could do, the peace of mind you could attain, and the fun you could have.

Note: If you can’t take a Friday off, no worries. The option of staying Friday through Sunday is still there and we understand a majority may do just that. But please, take note, if you can get that extra day off and check in on Thursday, you won’t regret it. Especially at this low cost and the benefits you have during your stay.

Where: We will be staying in the same lodges we’ve rented the last couple years (one location may change… stay tuned). They are amazing. They are within a stone’s throw of each other. You can view them by CLICKING HERE. The lodges are located in the Wisconsin Dells/Lake Delton area. Which means you are close to great shopping, great tourism sites, movie theaters, restaurants, etc.

Details: Each participant is given their own room within the rustic comforts of three luxury lodges. Spend the weekend with your writing peers. Discuss and debate the craft and business of screenwriting. Relax and get to know each other. Talk cinema. But most importantly, have a weekend to get away from it all. No distractions. Enjoy your own space to read, write, and relax. Go for a hike. Go shopping. Whether you’re feeling the need to get away and shut yourself into your room to write or wanting to connect with peers and discuss your common passion for screenwriting and film (or a mixture of the two), this retreat is the perfect opportunity for you to do just that.

We’ll also have a couple casual meetings to discuss screenwriting and the main lodge has a home theater with stadium seating, projection screen with DVD player, and surround sound so we can enjoy movie screenings. Past retreats have had members watching movies into the wee hours of the night and morning;)

Meals: Included will be Friday evening pizza, Saturday lunch, and breakfast items for each morning. Soda, water, and some snacks will be provided as well. Any beer or wine will be strictly on a BYOB basis. Unless you want to bring enough to share;) Drink maturely and responsibly.

Cost: Here’s the shocker. Just $125 per person! This gets you up to three nights (Thursday through Sunday) stay with your own room in a rustic lodge and surrounding, and with all the benefits mentioned above. There is also an amazing pool and hot tub in the lobby building across the street. See above link for pictures. If you are opting for the Friday through Sunday option, the price stays the same. But again, take advantage of having to only spend $125 for a Thursday through Sunday stay if you can. Where else can you nab a getaway vacation for that little cost? Treat yourself to a Friday off of work and a four day getaway for $125. You deserve it!

Tentative Deadline: TBD

PLEASE DO NOT PAY UNTIL WE’VE CONFIRMED THAT YOU’RE ON THE LIST. We only have 16 spots open so this is a strictly first come, first serve basis. So the faster you reply (starting now), the more likely you’ll get on the list. You can email me at president@wiscreenwritersforum.org to get on that list.

Note: If you and a fellow member (friend, writing partner, etc.) would like to share the same room, we do have some rooms that have two beds. We are willing to offer you both a major discount because this also allows an extra member to join the retreat if our list fills up. Contact me for details.

Payment: You can pay be credit card, debit card, or Paypal by visiting the meeting section of the WSF website. But again, do NOT pay until you’ve been told that you’ve made it on the list. Once confirmed, you need to pay BEFORE September 21st.

So there you have it. All the details! Respond quickly. Take advantage of the Thursday through Sunday option if possible, for just $125.

Payment: We prefer that everyone pays using their debit or credit card using the below Paypal link. If you do not have a Paypal account, just click on the choice they give you to pay using a debit or credit card. If you prefer to pay by check or money order, please contact Rebecca.

Enjoy the below pictures to the lodges that we will be staying at…

Loose Moose Lodge…