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Jana Williams
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  • Canada
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Primarily for humorists, but anyone is welcome to share tips & traps, what works and what doesn't, or to ask for advice or suggestions.
August 20, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
Writing screenplays is one of the easiest jobs you’ll ever do; and one of the HARDEST. It’s easy, because you get fired up by this fantastic idea that you know will be killer on the screen, and that enthusiasm makes you just jump right in and start…
July 16, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
The overall verdict was that I was a smart writer and the script had real promise but no heart. What does that mean? First of all, congratulations are in order. #1 - You finished a script. #2 - You risked submitting it to a ‘cold read’. Wow, that’s…
June 15, 2009
Jana Williams added a discussion to the group Authors
It's harder than you think..... I know I've done it. Of course at Wordsmythe.ca I specialize in helping anyone get their movie ideas out of their heads and onto the page. So, if you're thinking of making the jump to film - ASK ME ANYTHING. I really…
June 1, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
Adaptations are to screenplays as unicycles are to bicycling. The vehicles have similar characteristics, but it also takes a rare set of skills to master the unicycle with any panache. Ditto, adaptations. A couple of great adaptations you should REA…
May 30, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
Write what you know is probably the oldest piece of advice there is for aspiring writers. But just because it's old doesn't mean it's BAD... or necessarily good, either. It depends on what you think it means! Here's my take on it. Writing what you…
May 14, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
One of the first things I tell all my students is to BE CAREFUL about who you let affect your writing. Not all advice is created equal. As for the guys on your chat group, I guess they're the only people in the world who never saw, 'Amadeus, Brave H…
May 1, 2009
Jana Williams added 2 videos
April 28, 2009
A group for speakers (not necessarily LGB or T themselves) who address topics of sexual orientation, gender identity or intersex within their work
April 25, 2009
Jana Williams added a discussion to the group Textually Speaking—Bloggers
Hello ALL I've just set up my Wordsmythe.ca blog page of twice monthly advice to beginning screenwriters (www.wordsmythescreenwritingtips.blogspot.com/) but how do I get the word out that it's there? With practical experience in the film industry a…
April 24, 2009
Do you use Webinars? Do you have an online learning portal for your customers to tap into your resources? Want to learn more?
April 24, 2009
A group for speakers who host their own seminars and workshops. Use this group to share best practice, tips and ideas to make money from Seminars and Workshops. Welcome"
April 24, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
That desire to create something different is going to serve you well in the writing process; hang on tight to that. But first, let’s consider a couple of questions. WHO IS YOUR INTENDED AUDIENCE for this film? Are you thinking yours would be an ‘ar…
April 19, 2009
Jana Williams updated their profile
April 11, 2009
Jana Williams added a blog post
And it’s no wonder; we see the end result of screenplays all the time on TV, at the movie theater and when we rent a DVD, but very few people have actually READ a screenplay. And frankly that is where every aspiring screenwriter should begin; by rea…
April 11, 2009
Jana Williams updated their profile photo
March 4, 2009

Profile Information

I am a:
Speaker
I speak about:
Creativity, Entertainment, Media, Vision and Purpose, Writing
Other Topics I Speak About (not listed above)
How to write SCREENPLAYS....
My Bio:
JANA LEIGH WILLIAMS

Created her Wordsmythe.ca Screenwriting Seminars specifically for first-time writers who wanted a clear and easy-to-follow seminar on how to write a movie screenplay.

A published novelist, and sometime playwright, Jana's background includes stills photography, high-speed motion picture photography for the U.S. navy Aircorps and more recently - work as a ‘post’ coordinator for feature films and VFX .

In February, Jana’s feature script, FEELS SO NEAR was listed in the top 20 screenplays at the Phoenix Intern’l Film Festival for 2009.

Jana brings a wide knowledge of both story telling and the film business to her writing and teaching experience. Her series of independent screenwriting seminars - Wordsmythe: Screenwriting Essentials can be booked through her website OR are available on DVD through her site as well.

In addition, Jana is also available for private tutoring and screenplay critique and commentary through her website Wordsmythe.ca
What I do best:
I love writing... and speaking to audiences about how to begin the writing process and turn their own story idea into a movie script for a feature film.

I can do a one hour seminar - a 3HOUR seminar or FULL DAY seminar and it's suitable for anyone from 15 years old to 105.
I charge a fee of:
$501-$1500
Some notes on how I charge for my services:
It will vary depending on the mandate of the group to which I'm speaking. If your aim is to make money I have a set fee; if you represent a non-profit group or public agency like a library or school - LET'S TALK.

Jana Williams's Blog

Jana Williams

I don't know how many screenplays I've started; but can't ever get to the words 'The End.' Help!

Writing screenplays is one of the easiest jobs you’ll ever do; and one of the HARDEST. It’s easy, because you get fired up by this fantastic idea that you know will be killer on the screen, and that enthusiasm makes you just jump right in and start typing.

And it’s hard because you run out of that ‘start up’ energy often long before you get to those famous words - The End. That ‘sticking point’ is the exact spot where real writers show their mettle. But they don’t survive on pure grit alone; re… Continue

Posted on July 16, 2009 at 2:49am —

Jana Williams

Recently I participated in a 'COLD READING' night and then had my script critiqued by a guest panel of judges....

The overall verdict was that I was a smart writer and the script had real promise but no heart. What does that mean? First of all, congratulations are in order. #1 - You finished a script. #2 - You risked submitting it to a ‘cold read’. Wow, that’s fabulous.

For those unfamiliar with the term, a COLD READING is a gathering where a group of actors meet, are handed a script and within about 30 minutes start acting it out. Often it’s just the opening act of a feature script that’s read. And it’s o… Continue

Posted on June 15, 2009 at 2:09pm —

Jana Williams

Are ADAPTATIONS easier to write than regular screenplays? I just found a great book in a bargain bin....

Adaptations are to screenplays as unicycles are to bicycling. The vehicles have similar characteristics, but it also takes a rare set of skills to master the unicycle with any panache. Ditto, adaptations. A couple of great adaptations you should READ and then watch is WIT, (Emma Thompson writer) and The HOURS (Michael Cunningham).

Here’s some quick pros & cons. PRO: You don’t have to make up the story - it’s ALL there. CON: In fact, that’s the rub with adaptations, especially from novels. T… Continue

Posted on May 30, 2009 at 8:29am —

Jana Williams

Older writers are always telling beginners to WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW.... What does that mean, really?

Write what you know is probably the oldest piece of advice there is for aspiring writers. But just because it's old doesn't mean it's BAD... or necessarily good, either. It depends on what you think it means! Here's my take on it.

Writing what you know doesn't mean that if you janitor at night to pay the bills while you learn the craft of writing that you only ever get to write movies about janitors. What I do believe 'writing what you know' refers to is emotional honesty.

Screenplays are driv… Continue

Posted on May 14, 2009 at 5:05pm —

Jana Williams

I really want to write a HISTORICAL DRAMA, but the guys on my internet chat group say it will never sell!

One of the first things I tell all my students is to BE CAREFUL about who you let affect your writing. Not all advice is created equal. As for the guys on your chat group, I guess they're the only people in the world who never saw, 'Amadeus, Brave Heart, Gladiator or Shakespeare in Love'. All historical dramas might I point out and ALL major, major cinema hits.

That said, the writers of these screenplays did beat the odds though, or the prejudice, if you will. Producers are the people who find… Continue

Posted on May 1, 2009 at 3:22pm —

Comment Wall (3 comments)

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At 5:11am on April 12, 2009, Christine Burns MBE said…
Dear Jana, thank you for your friend request, which I have happily accepted. The Podcasts are easy to find at http://podcast.plain-sense.co.uk and share the brand name "Just Plain Sense" with a Blog (http://christineburns.blogspot.com/) and an experimental YouTube channel http://www.youtube.com/plainsense
At 6:41pm on April 11, 2009, Barrie Brett said…
Hi
Thankx - I would love to visit Vancouver and meet you.
Perhaps, I'll have the opportunity.
Let's stay in touch...
barrie brett
At 4:09pm on April 11, 2009, Helen Gallagher said…
Hello Jana,
Thanks for stopping by my site. Now that I understand what you do, I've just referred a potential client to you. He may at least purchase that DVD you have on screenwriting.

And I'm happy to have a Vancouver friend.

Helen
releaseyourwriting.com
 
 

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