Calendar

August - the heat continues. OBS meeting for August will bring you two of the hottest authors in the mystery and Sci-Fi world; Tananarive Due & Steve Barnes will be our special guests. They've just co-authored the Tennyson Hardwick series along with Blair Underwood who has taken the book to the 'Vook' - preparing for what we hope will be a great feature film. The topic will be "Adaptation: Adapting Your Book/Novel to Screenplay". This discussion will lead into the feature film market. What is high-concept? What is commercial? They'll discuss how to pitch, bankable/star power, and much more.

This meeting will also showcase OBS members that also have books; Tracy Grant, Rae Jones, Denician Angeleia, along with others. If you are an OBS member, in good standing you're invited to showcase your book.

Please email book title, your name, & prepare five line synopsis you might be asked to state in meeting - email to: contactus@obswriter.com. Only 5 lines! This must be received before August 2nd to be included. You will receive a confirmation to be included in the showcase.

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Roberta Munroe & Effie T. Brown are presenting August 25th for our new OBS ON Tour - Los Angeles which will be six (6) classes on Aug. 11^th & 12^th, 18^th & 19^th, and 25^th & 26^th that will cover Feature Film Workshop (High Concept).

Showcase

TBA

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Showcase

From Script to Screen – OBS Members Short Film Panel: Kim Allen, Emill Shavoz, Michael Wolfe, Rae Jones, Caryn Hayes, Hilliard Guess, Kathryn J. Taylor, Christy Lavalais, Zelie Dember-Slack…

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Coming to Atlanta and D.C. in October 2010.

TBA –

2^nd ANNUAL ACTOR’S PANEL: INVITED PANELISTS: Vanessa Williams, Kelly Perine, Brian White, Hill Harper, Lance Gross, Taraji P. Henson, Viola Davis, Kadeem Hardison, Ray J, Jill Marie Jones, Tia Mowry, Tamara Mowry, Malik Yoba, Sherri Shepard, Yvette Nicole Brown, Anthony Anderson, Idris Elba…

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Showcase

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

January 9, 2010 kicks off OBS for 2010! There’s lots of exciting things to cover that include information that will assist you in moving your writing career forward. We’re continuing with our writing tools education segment lead by Lisa Bolekaja. This year it’s “WRITING TO WIN IN 2010!” This career building tool is guaranteed to assist you in tightening up your scripts.

Special guest and former OBS President, Doreene Hamilton-Hudson, Executive Director of Cosby Writer’s Fellowship Program will be speaking to us on career paths/goal setting. Our focus will be on “Goals” – a review of ’09 and a look ahead to ’10. Gary Shusett, Director/founder of Sherwood College will also be stopping by with a few announcements of happenings for 2010. Writer’s Groups will be revealed with some in-house networking.

Thursday, January 21st; 7:00 pm - 10:00 pm @ Golden State Mutual Bldg.

Yes, Night at the Movies will feature WEBISODES! This event will be moderated by Michael Ajakwe, Jr. the creator of the hit web series "WHO" and the presenter of "The Web is the Way" workshop.

We'll be presenting six of the hottest webisodes on the Internet and all ten Web TV Creators will be in the house for an exciting Q&A.

You'll be treated to three episodes of:
“THE WORLD OF CORY AND SID” (comedy)
“THE PuNANNY DIARIES” (dramedy)
“WHO…” (comedy)
“ORLANDO’S JOINT” (animation)
“THE NEW 20S” (drama)
“HOW TO GET THE STRAIGHT GUY” (scripted reality/comedy)

Click here for more information and details

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Organization of Black Screenwriters

PAN AFRICAN FILM & ARTS FESTIVAL

With OBS President Jennifer Williams as special guest

Time: 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

Hello OBS. The Creator of Blood and Thunder has extended a special discount offer to OBS Members for Sunday 3PM Matinee performance!  You’ll also have the opportunity to be a part of the talkback after the performance with Terence Anthony and the cast of Blood & Thunder.  Instead of $15, OBS Members pay only $7 per person! 

To receive this discount you must RSVP to jwilliams@obswriter.com by Saturday, February 27^th @ 3PM! Your name will be placed on the list at the theater box office.  You must show your ID at the box office to receive the tickets at this price.

BLOOD AND THUNDER Moving Arts - Hyperion Station 1822 Hyperion Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90027 Through February 28, 2010 Click here for more info

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

OBS OSCAR NIGHT VIEWING PARTY

Friday, March 19th & Saturday, March 20th; Hollywood comes to you! Do you have a story inside of you that is just dying to be told? Have you ever wanted to write a screenplay, but you just didn't know where to start? Now is the time for you to get started! Register now ... Click here for more information

Loc:   University of Detroit - Mercy

UPDATE:
Due to circumstances beyond our control, OBS On Tour - Detroit has been canceled. We apologize for any inconvenience. We look forward to coming to Detroit and working with UDM for a full workshop in the near future. We'll continue to keep you posted on other OBS workshops near the area and across the country.

Thank you for your support of OBS, we continue to work hard to bring to its members and supporters the best information and Industry access as possible.
Keep Writing!

Best,
OBS On Tour Committee

THE LOS ANGELES WEB SERIES FESTIVAL (LAWEBFEST)
Friday March 26 * Saturday March 27 * Sunday March 28 Stage 52 Theater, 5299 W. Washington Bl., Los Angeles (between Hauser & Fairfax).
Sponsored by www.AjakweTV.com, Stage 52 Theater, and www.CreatingTheWeb.com. Visit www.lawebfest.com for information and updates.

We’ll have our Top 10 @ 10, Industry Insiders, and On the Grind presents "Writing to Win in 2010".  All will provide you with great information, plus we'll hear from members that have been making things happen. 

This month we'll be joined by WGAw - Kimberly Myers, Director of Diversity; Tamara Krinsky,  an actress, journalist, and new media producer; and Jayson Pope, Lead Organizer, WGAW Organizing & Jurisdiction Department - who will present a New Media panel discussion.

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Special Guest Victoria Wisdom –  VICTORIA WISDOM, partner, at literary agency Becsey Wisdom Kalajian for fifteen years. At BWK, Victoria represented the writers and directors of Oscar winning films as diverse as The Usual Suspects; The Red Violin; British Oscar winner Love And Death on Long Island;and Berlin Festival winner Italian for Beginners. BWK clients have included Oscar winners Crash; Million Dollar Baby; and nominee The Fugitive. Additionally, Victoria sold the hit CBS drama series Criminal Minds, now in its fifth season. Victoria also represented Oscar nominees Deepa Mehta (Fire, Water), Doug McGrath (Bullets Over Broadway), winners Ernest Thompson (On Golden Pond), Christopher McQuarrie (The Usual Suspects), directors Bryan Singer (X-Men), Lone Scherfig (An Education) and Alan Moyle (Pump Up the Volume). Additionally Victoria represented the screenwriters of such mainstream hits as Hellboy, G.I. Jane and Aliens vs. Predators. Prior to BWK, Victoria was an agent at ICM/International Creative Management. Victoria currently also teaches Screenwriting at UCLA. Victoria recently became a producer/manager setting up the thriller Labyrinths at Summit with Hilary Swank starring, the comedy Amateurs with Paramount Pictures, and the romantic comedy Taravella starring Amy Adams.

Wisdom will present a mini- Screenwriter Workshop & the “You Make the Pitch” segment.

Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

10am – 7:30pm Kenneth Hahn Park

OBS is proud to be a co-host of one of this year's film selections for the Los Angeles Film Festival - Downtown, June 17 - 27, 2010. 

Please join us for an evening of great film and music at the Ford Amphitheater on June 26th as we co-host the screening of THUNDER SOUL (click here for more info).

PLEASE NOTE SCREENING TIME IS 8:30 PM.

OBS will host the film “Thunder Soul” DIR: Mark Landsman | USA | 2009 CAST: James Brown  ABOUT: It's was Afros and pleated shirts, James Brown and Bootsy Collins. It was the '70s, and at an inner-city Houston high school history would be made. Charismatic band leader, Conrad "Prof" Johnson, would turn the school's mediocre jazz band into a legendary funk powerhouse. Now, 35 years later, his students prepare to pay tribute to the man who changed their lives--the 92-year old Prof. Some haven't played their horns in decades, still they dust off their instruments, determined to retake the stage to show Prof and the world that they've still got it. -- FESTIVALS: SXSW, AFI Dallas – DATE FILM WILL SCREEN TBA

OBS presents Virtual Writers Room Retreat co-hosted by Writers Guild Of America, West Facilitated by David Wyatt @The Guild 7000 S Third Str, Los Angeles, CA

click here for more information

It's the summer and Tuesday Night Live is back.  Please join us for the screening of the International Award Winning indie film, "RUNT"; as well as, dinner, drinks, meet the filmmaker, and party. 

We're in a new location this summer, Locals Sports Bar & Grill.  Enjoy dinner, appetizers and your favorite drink while enjoying a movie.  Then stay to network and party to the sounds of DJ TrayBoogie!

Tuesday, June 29th

(click here for information)

Special Guests will feature a TV Diversity Panel with CBS, NBC/Universal, Fox, & Warner Bros Program Directors/VP’s. Admission to the meeting is FREE for members, with a valid Membership card presented at the time of the meeting.  All visitors and guests pay only $20 at the door which is applied toward membership fee if you join at the end of the meeting.  (Cash or Money order only)

Time: 10:00 am - 12:30 pm

Loc:   Golden State Mutual Bldg.,

         1999 West Adams Blvd.,

         Los Angeles, CA 90018

Showcase @ Golden State Mutual Bldg, 1999 W. Adams, Los Angeles.

click here for more information