Screenwriters Unite at The Blank Page Screenwriters Group in Marietta, Georgia

As part of a mandate to improve the relationships of filmmakers in Georgia, Blank Stage Productions (located at the Artisan Resource Center in Marietta, Georgia) created The Blank Page Screenwriters Group as a bi-weekly meet up for screenwriters to come together, read scripts, critique scripts, and get scripts produced into films, both shorts and features. The Blank Page is the brainchild or Brent Brooks (owner and operator of Blank Stage Productions) whose prior experience in film production is extensive. He taught improvisational acting techniques at a private school before creating The Blank Stage as a way to help actors improve their acting abilities and skills. This gave way to several Improv Troops before he produced and directed his first feature film "Art of Suicide" (he produced and directed several shorts prior to this). Due to the volatile atmosphere of independent filmmaking in Georgia, he decided to start The Blank Page as a means for like minded screenwriters to come together and create films and cinema that's honest.

The Blank Page meets every two weeks on Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m. Depending upon the agenda for each night, the meetings can go from 2 to 3 hours long. The size of the group can range between 5 to 20 people on any given week (which is okay since the facility can hold upwards of 50 people) and the evening will usually go as follows. Mr. Brooks will introduce the agenda of the evening going over whose screenplays will be read that night (this can range from 1-3 depending on whether they are features or shorts). Mr. Brooks will also go over websites and additional ways for screenwriters to promote themselves and their films.

At the beginning of each script reading the screenwriter will introduce their screenplay and give a one-page breakdown of the screenplay for all those present (a one-pager is required of all screenplays before they can be read within the group). Then the writer will assign parts to be read aloud by the other group members. Once the reading is complete everyone is given an opportunity to comment and critique the screenplay giving the writer notes on how to improve the story so that s/he can move on to the next step (which is selling or producing the screenplay). Some of the writers return with the updated draft to be re-read again (this time by individual group members who give a more in-depth analysis) or the group will bring in actors to actually perform the screenplay in front of the whole group.

It would be simple to say that this is all that The Blank Page does, but from this group has arisen several films produced from the screenplays read through the group. Screenwriter and director Byron Conrad Erwin's "Lure" was one of the first to be produced followed by Kelly Silverman's screenplay "The Tedious Existence of Terrell B. Howell" (which was directed by her husband David Silverman), and Mr. Brooks own short film "No Experience Necessary," to name a few. The Blank Page is now head fast in producing many screenplays that come from the group meetings. My own screenplay "The Man in the Lake" (a Friday the 13th fan film) was also produced through Southlan-Films earlier this year. Not only have screenplays been produced but The Blank Stage Shorts Film Festival was also created to showcase many of the films and filmmakers, so the group has had a profound effect on the Georgia film industry.

As The Blank Page heads into 2011, it is a mandate of the group to continue helping screenwriters have a creative outlet from which their screenplays can be professionally and creatively critiqued by peers and hopefully be produced. The Blank Page is also starting a screenwriter critique and analysis service for those who are unable to come out to the meeting on a regular basis. These screenplays are then given to valuable members of the group to breakdown and then give notes for the screenwriter (please check with Mr. Brooks for more information on this as this is constantly changing as the group defines what is the best way to help all the screenwriters in the group). A sister group, Under Budget, was also created (on alternate Tuesday nights also at 7:00 p.m.) in order to help the screenwriters create production plans and proposals in order to get financing for their screenplays to be produced.

Although there is no official fee to join The Blank Page, a donation is welcomed and there are no requirements that writers be present at every meeting (although it is a requirement that writers who want their screenplays presented be present at several meetings before they can submit their screenplay). In order to have a screenplay submitted it must be approved by Mr. Brooks. Once it's approved, it will be put in the rotation in regards to which screenplays are next on the list.

Blank Stage Productions
Artisan Resource Center
585 Cobb Parkway South
Marietta, GA 30060