Writing Musical Films

Event Date: Saturday, February 08, 2014|| Speakers: Alison Taylor, Dianne Houston & David Raiklen || Check-in: 12:30 pm ||

Have you ever wanted to write an integrated musical? Join us for this in-depth discussion of breaking down the integrated musical format. What makes the singing part of the dialogue and sometimes part of the plot? Learn how to write a believable screenplay that has space for musical numbers that do not advance the plot, but is inserted almost in addition to the plot.
 

 **The deadline has passed and REGISTRATION is now CLOSED for this event. Please view our calendar for upcoming events.

 
Check-in begins at 12:30 pm. Event starts at 1:00 pm. 

No Refunds. No Credits.

ALISON TAYLOR, Television writer and producer for CLARISSA EXPLAINS IT ALL, ROC, MARRIED WITH CHILDREN, SISTER/SISTER, HANGING WITH MR. COOPER, and LIZZIE MCGUIRE. She is the screenwriter of The DISNEY CHANNEL movie THE CHEETAH GIRLS, the hit television movie that began the hugely successful run of musical movies from The Disney Channel. You’re welcome, America. She is also the screenwriter of THE CHEETAH GIRLS 2: WHEN IN SPAIN, and is the creator and Executive Producer of the Nickelodeon show JUST JORDAN. She counts it an honor to have worked with the legendary entertainment icon, Barbie, as the author of her latest movie, Barbie in the Pink Shoes. Alison lives and works in her hometown of Pasadena, California.

DIANNE HOUSTON is an Academy Award nominated writer and director. Born and raised in Washington DC, Houston left home at age 16 to work in experimental theatre in New York City. Her early work, as both actress and as director was with such theatre greats as Liz Swados, Joseph Papp, Joe Chaikin, La Mama, Woody King, and Ntozake Shange. It was this diverse background that laid the foundation for her immersion into film and television. Dianne Houston is known for her unique skills as a storyteller, and as a builder of memorable characters. Houston transformed a forgotten Harlem Renaissance short story into an Academy Award nominated short film, Tuesday Morning Ride, which she both wrote and directed. She has written/produced on staffs of prime time series of City of Angels , and The Education of Max Brewster. She has developed film and television projects for Showtime, NBC; HBO; ABC; CBS; FOX; A&E; TRIBECA FILMS; PARTICIPANT FILMS; UNIVERSAL, SONY, PARAMOUNT, and HARPO Productions. In addition to her Oscar nomination, Houston was also nominated for an NAACP Image Award for writing “Take The Lead”, and received a Humanitas certificate for “You Must Remember This”. Houston’s prime time directing credits include: City of Angels, NYPD Blue, Presidio Med, Soul Food, Strong Medicine, and Crossing Jordan. In 2005, Houston took a forced break from the directing world to deal with a discovery of and treatment for breast cancer. During this seven year “hiatus”, she wrote the popular film, Take the Lead ; developed the Universal film project “Missy” based on the tumultuous inner life of superstar Missy Elliott; wrote “The Knights of the South Bronx” for A&E; sold her post-slavery teleplay, “A Band of Angels” to Hallmark Hall Of Fame; and sold her TV pilot script “Baltimore” to NBC. Now seven years completely healed, Dianne Houston is at long last making her first feature film, Harriet, starring Viola Davis. She and her partner of nineteen years have two young children and live in Los Angeles.

DAVID RAIKLEN is a producer/composer/songwriter/host/crowdfunder.

David began studying keyboard and composing at age 5.He studied composition at USC and Cal Arts. Among his mentors are Oscar winner John Williams and Pulitzer Prize winner Mel Powel. He’s scored hundreds of films, television shows, video games, musicals and live events, winning multiple awards including a American Music Center Grant, three Telly Awards and the Park City Audience Choice Award and Gold Medal.

David is also host of SciFi Soundtrack, appearing on the Hugo winning Star Ship Sofa series. He’s a frequent lecture at colleges including UCLA, USC, Emperor’s College, and CalArts.

He is currently scoring a documentary on the Laker’s 33 game winning streak, featuring Jerry Buss, Kobe Bryant and Phil Jackson. He’s also serving as a producer on the sensational new science fiction series Space Command, setting a funding record for a scripted non-sequel on Kickstarter plus composing the epic score. He is also producing and composing for Blood Kiss, a tale of Golden Age Hollywood with vampires, featuring Neil Gaiman’s acting debut. David was recently interviewed on Entertainment Weekly and ABC News about his work.

Join us on the Second Saturday every month at:

**Same Location – new name…

Creative Studios

5723 Auckland Ave.

North Hollywood, CA 91601

http://www.facebook.com/pages/TDJ-Studios/165670330135933

As this is a professional event, we ask that you please arrive prior to the event start time.

Meeting Timeframe: 1:00 pm to approximately 3:00 pm

Free Parking!

Please remember to bring a picture ID and your SWN Membership Card!

Any questions, email us at [email protected].