RomCom Script Competition

MEDIA RELEASE COURTESY OF: 2010 ROMCOM SCRIPT COMPETITION

The Australian Writers’ Guild and Inscription have joined forces to present the 2010 RomCom Script Competition, allowing an Australian writer to work with two of the world’s leading romantic comedy gurus, Michael Hauge and Steven Kaplan.

You just need to step inside a cinema foyer to know that romantic comedy is one of the most popular genres at the box office worldwide. However in the Australian screen industry it’s an area that has been under-represented of late.

The AWG and Inscription have gotten together to provide a screenwriter with a promising Australian film or television project the opportunity of a lifetime.

One lucky screenwriter will participate in a two and a half day Master class with Kaplan and Hauge and will then have a number of one on one sessions with the pair to fine tune their film or television romantic comedy script.

The total prize is worth $8,800 however the value of the opportunity is literally priceless and the AWG expect this to be one of their most popular initiatives yet.

Michael Hauge is a script consultant, screenwriter, author and lecturer who works with filmmakers on their screenplays, film projects and development skills. He has coached writers and consulted on projects for Warner Bros., Paramount, Disney, Columbia, New Line, Joel Silver Productions, CBS, Lifetime, Morgan Freeman, Robert Downey Jr., Kirsten Dunst, Julia Roberts and Val Kilmer. Michael has presented seminars and lectures to more than 35,000 participants through the US, Canada and Europe.

Steven Kaplan has been the industry’s most respected and sought-after expert on comedy for more than 15 years. The artists Steven has taught, directed or produced have gone on to win a number of awards including ten Emmys, one Oscar, two WGA Awards and the American Comedy Award. Steve Kaplan created the HBO Workspace, the HBO New Writers Program and was co-founder and Artistic Director of Manhattan Punch Line Theatre. He has also served as a consultant to such companies as DreamWorks, Disney, Aardman Animation, HBO among others.

Aspiring Cameron Crowes and Nora Ephrons wishing to enter the 2010 RomCom Script Competition should go to www.awg.com.au for more details.

The Australian Writers’ Guild has over 2,600 members and is the peak professional body for Australia’s film, television, theatre, radio and new media writers.

Inscription’s goal is to enable Australian scriptwriters, from all different sectors of the community to have their talents recognised and celebrated, their voices heard and their stories told, to stimulate a nation and perhaps, a world.

Entries open Monday 15 February and close 5pm Friday 5 March 2010.