The subject was to have been ”TV War Coverage: Pros and Cons,” but it quickly became something else. There were five people gathered to hear what we had to say-as part of an adult education deal at the Latin School of Chicago. We brought with us something to lighten the evening: real descriptions of likely new series for TV`s fall schedules.
We read one of them.
This is for a series called ”Angel City”: ”Mickey Finn is a Brooklyn cop with a big attitude and a warped sense of humor. He`s in for the shock of his life when he hangs out his shingle as a private eye, not in Brooklyn, but in Los Angeles. In this unwilling move to the laid-back City of Angels, Finn must deal with the new surroundings: Loretta, a bombshell actress; a landlord who runs a tattoo parlor; and a pot-bellied pig.”
The class was stunned and in no time we were suggesting that they collaborate on their own scripts.
We don`t know if any took us seriously. But many others take such advice to heart and many of them will be attending ”Screenwriting in the `90s,” a two-day seminar for and featuring writers, producers and directors.
Sponsored by Northwestern University and G/R Advertising, the seminars take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Annie May Swift Hall, 1905 Sheridan Rd. on the Northwestern campus in Evanston. The cost-$199 in advance by calling 312-642-8851 or $220 at the door-may seem steep until you consider the many, many thousands of dollars that scripts can fetch.
The seminar features a solid array of experts: Craig Lucas, in town directing the film version of ”Prelude to a Kiss”; Bob Cochran, a writer for ”L.A. Law” and a co-producer of ”Sons and Daughters”; Sharon Morrill, an executive with King`s Road Entertainment and formerly with Orion Pictures; agents Karin Pine and Laura Sutton; Steve Peterman, a writer/producer for
”Murphy Brown”; and others.
It may be true that almost everyone who`s ever been told they ”write great letters” or ”tell great stories” harbors the dream of becoming a screenwriter. Given the large number of dopes currently in that field, a new crop of writers with some new ideas would be a welcome thing.
