The Celtx Blog

Sixth Borough Screenwriting Competition - $11,000 Grand Prize!

Attention writers!

Are you working on a script that you'd love to see made into a 1 to 2 million dollar feature in the next year?  Then you should definitely take a look into the new Sixth Borough Screenwriting Competition.

Founder Roger Crandell got in touch recently to let us know us about the competition and ask if we could help get the word out.  So, without further ado, here's some of what you might like to know:

- The Grand Prize: $1,000 in cash, and a $10,000+ offer for your script to be made into a 1 to 2 million dollar feature film.

- Screenplays will be given fair, thoughtful consideration by one of Sixth Borough's experienced script readers, and every writer receives a written analysis of his or her script. They've posted a sample script analysis to give you an idea of what you can expect to receive.

- The entry fee is $50 per screenplay (enter 'celtx' in the promo box and SAVE $10), and there is no limit to the number of screenplays you may submit.  

- Screenplays can be submitted in PDF or .celtx format

Full details, rules and guidelines, and a FAQ are available on the competition website.

Go check it out!

Laurie & the gang at Celtx HQ

Celtx point release, version 2.5.1!

This release addresses a few bugs found since the release of 2.5.

It's now available from our site.

BUGS ADDRESSED IN 2.5.1 

1. Windows crashes when canceling add image dialog. If you cancel the add image dialog when adding an image using the media sidebar or a catalog form Celtx crashes. (Windows only)

2. Using Print Preview disables all subtabs. Once you have select print preview the subtabs are no longer responsive. You have to close and re-open the application to fix this problem. (Windows and Linux)

3. Windows registry not updated correctly for NEW Celtx installations. The windows installer doesn't correctly register the celtxs protocol for new installs. This would prevent first time Celtx user from installing addons and open projects from the studio. (Windows only)

Please update to Celtx 2.5.1 to address the issues outlined above.

Cheers,

Steve Pick
celtx.com

Announcing Celtx v.2.5! - Now Available for free download.

Just released Celtx v2.5! 

Download it free at http://celtx.com/download.html

Here's what's new in Celtx v2.5:

Revision Mode

Provides writers with the ability to lock scenes when editing a script that is in production. The feature supports the Hollywood standard A and B scene nesting, an innovative numeric mode, plus the ability to create your own unique nesting style template. A 'Fix' feature can be used to manually change any scene nesting. The Revisions mode also enables edits to be colour coded to help keep track of changes made between revisions or by different writers. (View Revision Mode Feature Tour)

Text Lock

Enables a writer to lock a script from further text editing, while allowing others to continue working on the project. Useful for protecting a script while it is being marked up and broken down for production. The script can be locked and unlocked as many times as needed. (View Celtx Wiki Text Lock Tips)

Sketch Tool

Now you can add your own drawings to a project. The Sketch tool can be used to draw a sketch or setup which can also be added to your storyboard. The Sketch tool includes pre-loaded icons for camera, lights and people that can be tagged with text, and tools for drawing lines, arrows, shapes and adding text.  Plus, professional art packs of additional images (eg. girl, boy, crowd, car, furniture/fixtures, etc.) can be purchased from the Celtx web site.  (View Sketch Tool Feature Tour)

Typset/PDF

Newly relabeled, Typeset/PDF now allows you to set single, double, or triple spacing after scenes enabling you to better manage script lengths.

Celtx Studio Chat

For our Studio users we've just upgraded your Celtx Studio subscription with a new instant messaging feature, so now you can have live text conversations with Studio members, and with other project collaborators.  The new Chat feature in Celtx will synchronize with your Studio and organize itself according to your list of shared projects.  A status indicator will let you know when others are online or offline.

We hope you'll find Chat gives you a better way to communicate on shared projects. You can access it right now by signing into your Studio in the Celtx (v2.5) software and selecting the Chat icon. (View Celtx Wiki Chat Tips)

THANKS to all our users for making Celtx the #1 choice for media pre-production!

The Celtx Development Team
Sheila, Steve, Laurie, Tony, Greg, Chad & Mark

2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Award Winners Announced

Winners of the 2009 Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) Awards were announced last week in Melbourne, AUS and Celtx is proud to have been a part of this prestigious event that honours the talents of film, TV and multimedia creators in the student, professional and educational production sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

This year the Celtx sponsored Award for Best Instructional / Training Resource went to DIY DOCO, A Screen Australia Digital Learning program in association with Roar Film Pty Ltd. DIY DOCO is an interactive broadband website that encourages users to explore all facets of the documentary process. The site contains video clips, text, sound and activities that users can interact with, edit and create.

The Celtx Team also extends special Congratulations to winner of the Teacher's Award - Stephen Taggart, Head of Film Studies at the Anglican Church Grammar School, Queensland, and to Student / Director, Alex Moir of the International Film School Sydney for winning Best Tertiary Short Film (Short Fiction) for 'Daniel' (written and pre-produced in Celtx!) All three winners will receive a Celtx Studio for a year.

For more event details and to find out who else received the ATOM nod of approval, check out the media release below...

Cheers to All,

Sheila & The C-Team

2009 ATOM WINNERS

STUDENT
Best Primary Video Production

Miss Lil's Magic Eggy Rock
Year 7 Film Club 2008
St. Michael's Catholic School, Palm Island & Strong and Smart Inc.
Qld

Best Middle School Video Production

Mercury Vapour
Zoe Barnes, Sam McManus, Rachel Clough, Sean O'Keeffe
Lithgow High School
NSW

Best Middle School Multimedia Production

Contrast
Sarah Lang
St Catherine's School
Vic

Best Secondary Animation

Spud Lovin
Mei-Lynn Wilkinson
Narrabundah College
ACT

Best Senior Multimedia Production

I
Ahmad Halimi
Indooroopilly SHS
Qld


Best Secondary Documentary

MB's Story
Alex Case
Wesley College
Vic

Best Secondary Fiction

Wax Wings
Grace Louey
Wesley College
Vic

Best Secondary Music Video

By My Side
Brandon Lee
Queensland Academies of Creative Industries
Qld

Best Tertiary Animation

El Visitante
Maisie Cohen
University of Technology, Sydney
NSW

Best Tertiary Documentary

The Rise of Leatherman
Kim Munro
Victorian College of the Arts
Vic

Best Tertiary Short Film (Experimental)

Perspective
Sarah Burke
Deakin University, School of Communication and Creative Arts
Vic

Best Tertiary Short Film (Short Fiction)

Daniel
Alex Moir
International Film School Sydney
NSW
EDUCATIONAL
Best Indigenous Resource

12 Canoes
Wanted Digital & Molly Reynolds
NSW

Best Instructional / Training Resource

DIY Doco
Roar Film Pty Ltd and Screen Australia
Tas

Best Educational Multimodal Production

Exploring Civics & Citizenship through a visit to the National Capital Canberra
Ryebuck Media for DEEWR
Vic

Best Multimedia Learning Resource

DIY Doco
Roar Film Pty Ltd and Screen Australia
Tas

Best Primary Education Resource

Exploring Civics & Citizenship through a visit to the National Capital Canberra
Ryebuck Media for DEEWR
Vic

Best Secondary Education Resource

Exploring Civics & Citizenship through a visit to the National Capital Canberra
Ryebuck Media for DEEWR
Vic

GENERAL
Best Animation

Figaro Pho - EP 18 Fear of Poo
Vishus Productions
Director: Luke Jurevicius
Animator: Andrew Kunzel
SA

Best Children’s Television Production

Snake Tales
Ann Darrouzet
Westside Film & Television Pty Ltd
Vic

Best Documentary General

My Asian Heart
David Bradbury & Carmelo Musca
NSW

Best Documentary Human Story

Bastardy
Amiel Courtin-Wilson, Jack Charles & Philippa Campey
Vic

Best Documentary Science, Technology & the Environment

Lizard Kings
Gisela Kaufmann & Carsten Orlt
Kaufmann Productions P/L
NSW

Best Documentary Social & Political Issues

The 10 Conditions of Love
Jeff Daniels
Arcimedia & Common Room Productions
Vic

Best Documentary Short Form

My Uncle Bluey
Written & Directed by Britt Arthur
Produced by James Grandison
Vic

Best Experimental

Necessary Games
Closer Productions and Restless Dance Theatre
SA

Best Multimedia

European Voyages to the Australian Continent
National Museum of Australia and Roar Film
ACT

Best Music Video

Black Culture
John Power
AIM Centre, RMIT
Vic

Best Interactive / Video Game

Figaro Pho
Katalyst Interactive and Vishus Productions
SA

Best Multimodal Production

Dharma Wants You
ABC / Hoodlum
Qld

Best Short Fiction

The Bully
Shane McNeil
Smoking Gun Productions
SA

TEACHER'S AWARD
Stephen Taggart
Anglican Church Grammar School
Qld

MEDIA RELEASE

2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Award Winners Announced
The winners of the 2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards were announced last Friday, 23 October at a ‘big screen extravaganza’ held in the Plaza Ballroom of Melbourne’s Regent Theatre. The announcement of the outstanding list of winners was greeted with much enthusiasm by attendees and highlighted the glowing future of Australian screen.

"We were thrilled, as always, with the calibre and content featured by this year's productions, both of the winners and the worthy finalists," commented Simon Wilmot, ATOM Awards Executive Officer.

"This program stands alone in this industry as the only one which judges, recognizes and then celebrates student works and those of industry professionals at the same time, something of which we at ATOM are very proud. The importance of the education and professional media industries working together to ensure that the bar is constantly being raised and our industry is continuing to grow and flourish cannot be underestimated and this program works hard to further this drive," he added.

The annual ATOM Awards program - now in its 27th year - recognises excellence in over thirty categories of Film, Television, Animation and Multimedia (including video games) and celebrates the very best of Australian and New Zealand production.

The competition was open this year to anyone who had produced a short film, documentary, animation, electronic game, educational resource, television program or innovative new media work in the past twelve months.

The 2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards program was presented by ATOM and EnhanceTV.

The 2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards program was sponsored by Madman, Qantm College, Monash University, Deakin University, Encore Magazine, Celtx and Quest Collins Street Central and Multimedia Victoria and is supported by Metro Magazine, Screen Education, Open Channel, Qpix, MetroScreen, Wide Angle and Netagi, Screening Sponsor Big Mouth Marketing Communications and Screening Partners Federation Square, Melbourne, and the International Film School Sydney.

The 2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards were funded by Screen Australia, South Australian Film Corporation, Screen NSW (formerly the New South Wales Film and Television Office) and Film Victoria.
For more information about the 2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards please visit www.atomawards.org

The call for entries for the 2010 ATOM Awards will open in the coming weeks, so stay tuned to the website for more information.
-ends-

Write Like A Pro - Bill Grundfest Writers Workshop

Here's something of interest for aspiring writers...

Write Like A Pro is a high-energy learn-by-doing writers workshop taught by Bill Grundfest, writer-producer of "Mad About You", Golden Globe winner and 3 time Emmy nominee. Bill was in touch recently to tell us about the workshop and to offer Celtx users a $100 discount on upcoming dates.

Bill says he's designed this workshop to be suitable for tv/film/webisode writers of all levels -- so beginners won't feel "lost" and pros won't feel "held back."  Bill will teach specific techniques for developing stories ideas into outlines and then into scripts.  He'll also share how to implement techniques he and others have successfully used to become working professional writers.

Upcoming workshop dates are:

Los Angeles, CA -- Nov. 14 & 15 and Phoenix, AZ -- March 6 & 7, 2010

Visit workshopforwriters.com to learn more.  If you plan on attending, make sure to type CELTX in the promo code box on the "check out" page to receive your $100 discount.

Cheers!

Celtx HQ

The Movie People

Just wanted to send a big SHOUT OUT to a talented young group of writers, filmmakers (not to mention hardcore Celtx forum members) who recently started up a new blog called 'The Movie People'.

Updated regularly by contributors from around the world (ie. Ireland, United States, United Kingdom, Rwanda, Canada,etc.), the site offers candid opinion and information columns about '...everything from filmmaking tips and tricks, film reviews and recommendations, and random articles we may find on the internet.' So head on over and be informed and entertained... And don't forget to add The Movie People to your bookmarks!

All the best, Ladies & Gents!

From your pals at Celtx HQ

20th Annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival

Hi everyone!

This week we wanted to take a few minutes to let you know about a film festival quite literally near and dear to our hearts.  Coming up this October - in our very own backyard - is the 20th Annual St. John's International Women's Film Festival.

Following the mantra made by women, for everyone, the Women's Film Festival features screenings of approximately 80 works by women directors, producers and writers. It also features a workshop/seminar series, industry forum, galas, receptions and other networking events.

If you're lucky enough to find yourself in beautiful St. John's, Newfoundland this fall then be sure to count yourself among the thousands attending this fabulous event.

Cheers

Celtx HQ

Winners Announced for Reallusion War & Peace Machinima Filmmaking Competition

Earlier this year Celtx partnered with Reallusion in their 2009 Reallusion War & Peace Machinima Filmmaking Competition. Over 60 videos created by filmmakers of all skill levels from around the world entered this event which ran from April 1 - June 30/09. All participants were required to use iClone and CrazyTalk to create a movie that relayed a story in the theme of War or Peace. The results are nothing short of 'amazing' and provide a taste of the incredible talents that are emerging within the creative digital moviemaking realm of Machinima.

Go here to view all winning videos and awards, then head to the Screening Room to experience the videos created by all War & Peace participants.

And a very special 'hats off' to the winners listed below who will receive a Celtx Studio as part of their prize package. Congratulations Everybody!

xo - The Gang at Celtx HQ

Celtx Studio Winners:

Bart Mancuso
'Heros of the War' - Best War & Peace Picture

Gabe Achanzar / Anima Technica - 'The Expedition' - Best Costume Design

Igor Tkachenko / ITAK studio - 'Reinforce' - Best Director

Celtx Studios also go to 5 lucky winners whose names were drawn for The Thread Story Game.

Brian Richardson
Heather Stevenson
Gizmo
Raven2angle
Peter Martin

Props to All! We look forward to seeing more of work next year!!

2009 EnhanceTV ATOM Awards - see the latest talent

Celtx is pleased to be a partner of the 2009 Australian Teachers of Media (ATOM) Awards which honour the talents of film, TV and multimedia creators in the student, professional and educational production sectors. So if you're in the neighborhood of Melbourne on October 23 /09, drop on by and get inspired!

Greenwriter.org aims to recast screenwriting industry (and save some trees).

Writers take note - greenwriter.org is out to change the way Hollywood studios and producers buy your screenplays.

The new site provides a free venue for you to professionally showcase your screenplays online, and it features an intuitive indexing program to help guide production companies to your work.

Actors, directors, agents, and independent investors wlll also have access to your written works, can contact you directly, and make a deal independent of the site. 

greenwriter.org founder Daniel Riser says he sees it as an opportunity to help fellow screenwriters: "In an age when the Internet-at-large gives many things away for free, there's no reason a writer should have to pay to get his screenplay into the hands of a buyer”.

greenwriter.org opened its doors to screenwriters in July and has scheduled its global launch for later this month. Check them out at http://greenwriter.org.

Celtx HQ

PS - take note of their laudable goal:  Screenwriters in America print 180 million sheets of paper a year. In six months, we hope to cut that in half.