One of Bellingham Film’s primary goals is to help our community develop professional filmmaking skills in a collaborative learning environment. So what’s the best way to engage and inform Whatcom’s aspiring, amateur, and experienced filmmakers? Let them work together on a film, of course!
We’re proud to announce Script to Screen, a half-year venture where you can participate in the development, pre-production, production, and post-production of a professionally produced short film. This unique program allows you, the aspiring filmmaker, to collaborate with experienced mentors and unlock the entire continuum of filmmaking, from origination to completion. Novice or artisan, all skill levels are welcome and encouraged to be part of Script to Screen. Want to learn how to take a premise and form it into a screenplay? We’ll show you. Interested in lighting and shooting a scene? Happy to have you on the team. Bellingham Film’s carefully selected mentors will teach you all aspects of filmmaking in a hands-on production environment. All that we ask in return is a willingness to collaborate, an open mind to learn, a commitment to participate until the end, and a small $10 donation to help fund the program.
As a community project, everyone living within Whatcom and Skagit counties are welcome to participate. Sorry, Snohomish. We’re limiting it to these areas in order to help promote filmmaking in Bellingham Film’s backyard. There will be plenty of roles and opportunities available to those who are interested, so we encourage you to reach out today. 
What Are We Looking for in Pitch Packets?
Pitches will be accepted between August 1st and September 10th, 2017. They are submitted electronically via our submissions page. Please submit the pitch packet in either Word or PDF format. We’re looking for pitches that are no more than three pages in length. We’re serious about the page count here, we’re expecting a lot of submissions and simply will not accept anything that goes over our parameters, even if it’s just pictures. No exceptions. Please include:
Can I Submit a Script I’ve Already Written?
Nope. We’re looking for pitches that can be developed into outlines and then into scripts. It’s an important part of the Script to Screen process that writers engage and embrace this model. Our Development Mentors and the Script to Screen Committee want to help you develop professional writing skills, and completed screenplays are far enough along in the process that the writer will not benefit from our approach. What If I’ve Never Written a Screenplay Before? Great! Glad to have you on the team. Our Development Mentors will be glad to teach you the basics of formatting and screenwriting. What If I’ve Never Worked on a Professional Film Set? Sign up! That’s why we created Script to Screen. We’re going to help you develop professional filmmaking skills so that you’re prepared for real-world opportunities. We’ll do our best to pair you with the team you’re most interested in. Here’s a link with a fairly complete listing and description of different jobs on set. It should give you some idea as to who does what and how you can be involved. Some roles, like the film loader, probably won’t exist on this production (since we’re shooting digitally), but feel free to reach out with any questions you may have about specific tasks. What Kind of a Commitment Am I Making? Key members should expect at least a six month commitment with rigid deadlines and meetings throughout. Key crew are expected on set for all days of production. If you cannot offer this level of commitment, we recommend applying for one of the many supporting roles. These positions do not carry the same level of responsibility as key crew, but are absolutely necessary for production. Why the $10 fee? Bellingham Film is doing its best to find outside support for this program, including gear donations from local production companies. However, we are asking members to make a small contribution to help finance this project. This money will be used for feeding the crew and covering all the costs of production, including post. No one is getting paid for this, all are volunteers—including Mentors and Committee. We’re only asking for a small donation so that it’s accessible to everyone, but if you’d like to give more, we encourage it. If I Pay $10 to Submit a Pitch Do I Have to Donate $10 to Participate in One of the Phases? Yes. The $10 pitch fee is independent of the participation fee. Again, these donations are one of our only avenues for funding the program. What Happens if Script to Screen Raises More Money Than the Cost of Production? The money will be used to enter the completed Script to Screen film into festivals, help fund future Script to Screen events, and be used to finance future Bellingham Film collaborative learning experiences. Can Writers Also Direct? Writers are welcome to interview for the role of director, but are not guaranteed the position. One of the skills we’re trying to promote is collaboration, especially between writer and director. Still have questions? Click here to email us! |
Script to Screen’s Preliminary Schedule
Script to Screen takes place in four overlapping phases: Development, Pre-Production, Production, and Post. Phase One: Development – Where an Idea Becomes a Screenplay August 1st: The Script to Screen submission window opens. August 8th: We’ll be hosting a Q&A session at the Bellingham Film Mixer to discuss the Script to Screen program, including details about the four-phase approach. September 10th: Deadline to submit pitch packets. Any submission that comes in after 8 p.m. on September 10th will not be considered for this year’s Script to Screen. September 17th: The Script to Screen Committee will announce ten submissions based on the aforementioned criteria to perform face-to-face pitches. All submissions will receive feedback from the Committee. September 24th: Entrants will give face-to-face pitches for the Script to Screen Committee. All pitches will receive feedback from the Committee. Five pitches will be selected to move forward and develop outlines. Development Mentors will meet with writers at least once each before outlines are submitted to the Script to Screen Committee. October 8th: Outlines are due. Anything received after 8 p.m. will not be considered. October 15th: Three outlines will be selected by the Script to Screen Committee for further development. Writers will begin writing screenplays that are no more than twelve pages in length. Phase Two: Pre-Production – Where Screenplays Become a Lot of Paperwork October 15th: Producer interviews begin. If you’re interested in being considered for this role, please email us. October 25th: Writers will present their first drafts at the Bellingham Script Studio. Scripts will be workshopped by the group and feedback will be given. October 29th: Three producers will be hired. Each will breakdown a script, create a loose shooting schedule, and develop a basic budget. Producers will meet with the Pre-Production Mentors to learn these skills. November 5th: Second drafts are due to the Development Mentors by 8 p.m. Writers will meet with the Development Mentors at least once before they are submitted to the Script to Screen Committee. November 12th: Final drafts are submitted to the Script to Screen Committee, along with their budgets, schedules, and breakdowns. Scripts and pre-production materials will be evaluated using the aforementioned criteria: Story, Producibility, and Commercial Viability. November 19th: The Script to Screen Committee will select a script to move into production. All screenplays will receive feedback from the Committee. November 28th: The writer will present their final draft at the Bellingham Script Studio for one last workshop session. Producers will begin location scouting, scheduling actor auditions, and interviewing for key crew roles, such as cinematographer, sound designer, editor, production designer, and art director. If you are interested in holding one of these positions, please contact us. For a fairly comprehensive breakdown of roles, click this link. Producers will also look for sponsorship partners within the community to help support the Script to Screen program. December 3rd: Director interviews with the Script to Screen Committee will take place. All applicants will receive feedback. A director will be selected by the end of the day. If you are interested in applying for this role, please email us. December 9th and 10th: Producers, the director, and the writer will hold auditions for actors. December 11th to December 17th: Producers and key crew begin interviews for additional crew, including gaffer, grips, sound mixer, assistant director, and other roles. Producers will lock down the shooting schedule and locations. Again, for a fairly complete description of positions, please follow this link. Writer will continue to revise the screenplay based on meetings with the director, Development Mentors, and pre-production changes. The director will meet with the Production Mentors, writer, producers, and talent to discuss their vision. December 17th to January 3rd: Vacation. January 3rd to February 1st: Pre-production continues, dates to-be-determined. Director schedules rehearsals with talent. One rehearsal must be supervised with the Production Mentors. Director and cinematographer develop storyboards and shot list. Director continues to work with talent. Producers create call sheet. Equipment orientation, including safety rules, for production crew. Producers will schedule camera tests with cinematographer, gaffer, and grip. Writer finalizes all revisions. Phase Three: Production – Where Paperwork Starts to Look a Lot More Like a Movie First half of February: Mandatory safety meeting for all crew members. Shoot the film. Four consecutive dates to-be-determined. Phase Four: Post-Production – Where Everything Gets Fixed Second half of February: Synch and log footage, develop an assembly cut, and begin the editing process. Screen rough cut for Script to Screen Committee. Feedback will be given. March and Beyond: Producers, director, and sound designer schedule any ADR with talent. Begin Foley work. Editor begins color correcting. Screen final cut for the Script to Screen Committee. Feedback will be given. Screen final film for the Script to Screen team. Premiere the film for the Bellingham community, including a Q&A with key members. | ||||||||||||||||
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Who Owns the Final Product?
This may be a sore spot for some people, but the script and film will be the property of Bellingham Film. Our primary goal here is to create a sustainable collaborative learning experience in a professional setting; the film is a byproduct of that process. Any revenue generated by the work will go directly back into the Script to Screen program and will be used for future Bellingham Film programs. Bellingham Film is not supported by tuition or outside grants, so all revenue becomes a critical part in realizing future Script to Screens and other learning initiatives. |
Here’s what we will do:
Writers will maintain underlying rights of the idea, characters, concept, or other written work created during the Script to Screen program for purposes of future works. If you want to adapt this story into a feature, not only will you be able to, but we’re glad to help you in the process. We’re also going to work with producers and directors to help distribute the film via screenings and festival submissions so that you can get as much exposure from this project as possible. We want you to get your name and work out there, but the process needs to be collaborative. Key members will be able to use clips as part of their reel, but are not permitted to distribute the film without written permission from Bellingham Film. |
About Bellingham Film
Bellingham Film was founded in 2012 by Avielle Heath. The goal was simple: create a series of resources that can help connect filmmakers throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties. Since its inception, Bellingham Film has successfully launched workshops, festivals, and other organized events to support, enable, and showcase Washington filmmakers.
Bellingham Film was founded in 2012 by Avielle Heath. The goal was simple: create a series of resources that can help connect filmmakers throughout Whatcom and Skagit counties. Since its inception, Bellingham Film has successfully launched workshops, festivals, and other organized events to support, enable, and showcase Washington filmmakers.
