Act One

B.O. Mojo

Box Office Mojo is another great resource useful for both producers and commercially-minded screenwriters.  It offers plentiful information on theatrical ticket sales organized by title, date released, genre, and more.

Novel Resource for Screenwriters

Here’s a helpful list of the 100 most influential novels of all times. As you move forward in your screenwriting career, make sure your mental stores are well-stocked with the greatest literature of all time.

Support Future Alumni Successes by Donating Today!

By Act One Executive Director Terence Berry

March 24, 2010

Applications for the Summer 2010 Writing and Producing & Entertainment Executive Programs are coming in, and we are seeing more alumni successes than ever.

Did you know that  if every person in our community gave a monthly pledge of just $10, we could ensure scholarships and ongoing alumni support for our incomparable programs? Please consider a monthly or a one-time pledge today!

Act One is currently seeking donations for:

• Scholarships
• Computers
• Supplies
• Classroom/ Event Space
• Catering and Retreats

Give online today by clicking here:

You can set up a one-time donation or schedule an automatic monthly withdraw. No amount is too great or too small- please prayerfully consider donating today, and join me in congratulating the following alumni in their recent successes:

• Karl Alsens’s (WP ‘08) film, Hybrid Man was officially selected to this year’s Going Green Film Festival.
• Gillian Fritzsche (EP ’07, WP ’08 SAT), is a Producer/Line Producer on the comedy called The Rock ‘n’ Roll Dreams of Duncan Christopheer.
• Jim Brandon’s (Jan WP ’10) web series Dorm Life received three Streamy Nominations. Jim is nominated as part of the Best Ensemble and Best Writing in a Comedic Web Series, and Dorm Life also received a Best Directing nomination.
• Andrea Nasfell’s (WP ’99) feature screenplay Christmas with a Capital C is currently shooting in Seward, Alaska. The movie stars Ted McGinley and Daniel Baldwin, and is directed by Helmut Schleppi
• Congrats to Kevin Willson (WP ’01), Nathan Scoggins (WP ’05), Jimmy Duke (WP ’01), and Ian Eyre (WP ’01) whose Doritos commercial “Casket” aired in front of over 100 million viewers during the Superbowl on Sunday.
• Jaap Van Heusden’s (WP LA 03) first feature film Win/Win will premier at the International Filmfestival Rotterdam (the 4th festival after Cannes, Berlin and Venice).
• Mollie Bickley (WP DC ’04) is now the showrunners’ assistant on ABC’s new drama Scoundrels.
• Kara Lee Burk (WP Sat ’06-’07) who was recently hired as a staff writer on Romantically Challenged, a mid-season replacement sitcom on ABC.
• Christina Lee Storm (WP ’03) co-produced To Save a Life, a feature film that Goldwyn Films picked up for theatrical distribution beginning January 22, 2010.

Help us to support future alumni successes by donating today!

From the Board Chair

By Act One Board Chair Charles Slocum

February 23, 2010

As you saw in the entry from Gary, he is leaving us and returning to duties at Bethel University.

Gary has become a beloved part of our Act One community in his time with us.  He, leading the staff, has reconfigured our curriculum into more robust 14-month programs, has increased the portion of our income that comes from tuition, has re-launched our website and our internal IT infrastructure, and has increased personal contributions in a tough economic environment.   Gary will be dearly missed.

I am happy to report that our programs remain in the capable hands of Vicki Peterson.  Vicki, of course, is an Act One alum, and has a long history with us, including supervision of our programs for the past year.  Her knowledge of our curriculum in both programs and our core values equips Vicki to hold us to our high standards.

In addition, Terence Berry has agreed to serve as our interim Executive Director.   Most of you know Terence as an alum and as the producer of the film That Evening Sun. Terence came to Act One with a financial background.  The combination of that background with a thorough knowledge of Act One’s values and ideals, as exhibited by his professional work, makes Terence the ideal candidate for this position.  With Terence, Vicki, Genevieve, Melissa and Jack on staff, and many of you as volunteers, we expect to carry on without missing a beat.

As for the Board, I am excited to return to the Board Chair position, allowing Barbara Nicolosi Harrington to become our Chair Emeritus and to take a regular Board position.  This will provide Barbara the time to pursue her writing career and other endeavors.  I look forward to an exciting program year and planning for Act One’s continued pursuit of the highest levels of artistry in storytelling, professionalism in our work, depth of the meaning in the stories we tell, and of prayer and personal holiness in our individual and community lives.

In community and in Him,

Charles Slocum

Leadership Transition at Act One

By Act One Executive Director Gary David Stratton, PhD

February 22, 2010

It is with a heavy heart that I announce that I am leaving my position as Act One’s Executive Director and will be refocusing on my ongoing duties at Bethel University, The Association for Biblical Higher Education, and Compassion International.

Act One hired a career educator in hopes that I could help us reach our full potential as a learning community. With the excellent work of Jack, Vicki, Terence, Genevieve, Melissa, Andrea, Monica, Rose, Chuck, Ana Maria,TJ, Rosario, RD, and countless volunteers, we have been able to accomplish many of our ambitious goals in educational best practices, community-building, donor relations, and marketing/recruiting strategies

While I have tremendously enjoyed my time at Act One, it is clear to me that I have accomplished as much as I can at this time. I am therefore refocusing on the roles where I can best pursue my primary calling to spiritual awakening, culture making, and higher education.

As you know, God directed Sue and I back to Los Angeles using Chris Tomlin’s song “God of the City” to spark a very specific vision of a coming “outpouring of the Holy Spirit” upon Hollywood and greater Los Angeles.  Clearly Act One was the first step in our obedience to that heavenly vision.  However, the scope of that vision was much broader than Act One. So while it has been an honor to be part of the Act One community and we will continue to serve in the future, our task now is to find the next “wineskin” to help channel the new wine of His Spirit.

What does that actually mean? In the short run, I will be refocusing on my responsibilities at Bethel, ABHE, and Compassion. In the long run, we are already in discussions with a number of other universities and organizations both in LA and beyond.

We still feel a deep sense of calling to LA, and with Ashley in Hollywood, Josh in college in Santa Barbara, and Micaiah accepted to the LA High School for the Arts in the fall, we are doubly committed to staying in LA if we can.  We would covet your prayers for us and for Act One in this transition.

Our 15 months with Act One have been some of the most rewarding of our life.  We have learned more about Hollywood, and running a nonprofit organization than we ever thought possible and made more friends than we could have ever imagined.  Lord willing, our sojourn together in LA has only just begun.

Greater things are yet to come, greater things are still to be done in this city.

Grace and great mercy,

Gary & Sue

2009 Wrap-Up

By Act One Executive Director Gary David Stratton, PhD

December 27, 2009

“It’s like everyone tells a story about themselves inside their own head. Always. All the time. We build ourselves out of that story. That story makes you what you are.”

-Patrick Rothfus, The Name of the Wind

It is hard to believe that my first year at Act One is coming to an end. What a year it has been.  Despite a severe recession and a 50% drop in our Foundation giving, Act One finished the year in the black due to our greatest year ever in personal donations.  Your gift helped keep Act One on the front lines of advancing the kingdom of God in Hollywood.

I recently reread Patrick Rothfus’ marvelous book, The Name of the Wind, and was reminded again of the power of story.   Stories form the worldviews that literally chart the behavior of individuals and societies.  Act One remains founded in the belief that whoever tells the most compelling stories shapes the world.

All over the industry–on network television shows, studio lots, independent films, and web series–Act One alumni are helping shape the stories that shape our lives. There simply isn’t enough space to mention more than a handful of the remarkable accomplishments of our alumni this year, but here are a few highlights.

Television was one venue where Act One alumni shone.

• 2009 saw at least six alumni writing for current TV shows: Melissa Glenn & Jessica Reider on Leverage (TNT), Ben Lobato, The Unit (CBS) and Justified (FX), Kara Lee Burk, Romantically Challenged (ABC), Chris Easterly, Unnatural History (CN), and Kevin Chesley, The Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV).
• Kurt Schemper won our first Emmy award for his work as a producer on Intervention (A&E). Emmy magazine did a beautiful piece on Act One due to Kurt’s success.
• Melissa d’Arabian became our first “celebrity” as host of Ten Minute Dinners on the Food Network. It was exciting to pick up the November issue of First For Women magazine and see her bright countenance on the cover.

Feature film also saw some wonderful breakthroughs as well.

• The Blind Side, produced by Alcon Entertainment, where several alumni play key roles, was the surprise hit of 2009, grossing $165M and counting.
• Least of These, written and directed by Nate Scoggins was released on Starz.
• The Stoning of Soraya M, produced by Mpower Pictures under the leadership of many numerous Act One alumni and faculty, won the Audience Award at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival, as well as the Critics Choice Award from the Broadcast Film Critics Association.
• That Evening Sun, written and directed by Scott Teems and produced by Terence Berry won the prestigious SXSW Film Festival and has already garnered two Indy Spirit nominations.
• To Save a Life, co-produced by alum Christina Lee Storm, was picked up by Samuel Goldwyn for national theatrical release in January.
• The Ultimate Gift, written by Cheryl McKay (2007), was released in theaters in 2007, but its television premier in early December (Hallmark) produced a surge in sales (30,000 copies per week). The Ultimate Gift II is now in development.

Much more important than any visible accomplishments, the faithful witness and professional excellence demonstrated by Act One alumni across the entertainment industry shapes not only the content, but the very lives of their fellow artists.  Many must keep a low profile, especially Executive Program alumni called into network, production company or studio leadership.  These faithful saints are fighting the good fight every day as they slowly work their way forward in a challenging industry.

Your gifts and prayers make all this possible.  You are helping to write the story of Act One that is helping shape the world.  I could never thank you enough.

Have a very Happy New Year!!!!