Anthony's Blog tag:blog.buffalostate.edu,2009:/tvfilm/campaj31//31 2009-07-19T02:57:11Z Anthony Campanella will be spending his summer in Los Angeles on the Disney Studios lot. He will be one of three interns at Gunn Films, a production company headed by Andrew Gunn, who was most recently the producer for Disney's Race to Witch Mountain. At Gunn Films, Anthony will be reading scripts, writing coverage, gaining experience in pitching ideas to executives, and will have a chance to sit in on some development meetings for films that are currently in the works. To learn more about the Television and Film Arts program visit our website Movable Type 3.21 Time is Flying tag:blog.buffalostate.edu,2009:/tvfilm/campaj31//31.580 2009-07-17T21:56:35Z 2009-07-19T02:57:11Z Why is is that when things are going well, time just seems to speed along? Summer needs to slow down!... Anthony http://blog.buffalostate.edu/tvfilm/campaj31/ Why is is that when things are going well, time just seems to speed along? Summer needs to slow down!

]]> Why is is that when things are going well, time just seems to speed along? Summer needs to slow down!


Everything out here in LA has been going great. The internship is going well, the weather has been awesome, and I've been keeping busy hanging out with friends that I've made. A few weeks ago I finally got a chance to meet with some of the other interns, so that was pretty cool. I was supposed to go home for the July 4th weekend for a wedding, but certain circumstances prevented that from happening. What would a summer away from home be like without getting into a car accident? Luckily, Jordan and I were okay, though his car wasn't. The car accident basically prevented me from getting to the airport on time, and no other flights were available home that day, unless I wanted to pay about $600. Big no. So I stayed, had a nice weekend, and got a sinus infection as an additional holiday present. Horray. However, it has run its course so I'm all healthy again.

As mentioned, things at Gunn Films have been going well. I have been constantly reading a bunch of scripts so I'm still kept pretty busy. I also read another book, to determine whether or not it would make a good film adaptation. There was a script that I read my first week here that has been in development. Though I can't talk about the script, I can mention that after taking it to the Disney execs, there were some changes that had to be made. A few weeks ago, I was asked to come up with some ideas for the main character - basically, he needed to have a sequence where he had fun of some sort. Last week, I was given the treatment, or outline of the new script, and one of my ideas appeared to be in there! That was kind of neat. I was also asked to comment on everything that I thought worked, and needed to be changed. Sometimes it can be a little nerve-wracking when asked for your opinions, but it's nice that even though I'm an intern - my opinions matter. Heather told me that most of my comments were things that she had commented on, or agreed with. Cool. Also, yesterday I was asked to read another script that is currently in development and to write down 15 directors potential directors for the film.

I can't believe in one month I go home! It's amazing how quickly this experience has been flying by. From back at the beginning of the year, seeking out internship opportunities in NYC, writing over 300 letters to production companies and executives in Los Angeles (well...it was actually closer to 400), to having 12 meetings here in March, to finally landing internship offers and making my way here for the summer - it's quickly coming to an end. But that ending only marks the beginning of a new chapter...with only one semester left, I intend on moving back here in January!

]]> Three Weeks in the land of Disney tag:blog.buffalostate.edu,2009:/tvfilm/campaj31//31.573 2009-06-22T22:48:56Z 2009-06-24T05:55:06Z I can't believe three weeks have passed. Time is flying! Anyway, things have been going very well. I am kept pretty busy with reading scripts and various other activities. Though I cannot mention specifics on scripts because of confidentiality (I... Anthony http://blog.buffalostate.edu/tvfilm/campaj31/ I can't believe three weeks have passed. Time is flying! Anyway, things have been going very well. I am kept pretty busy with reading scripts and various other activities. Though I cannot mention specifics on scripts because of confidentiality (I had to sign my life away...just kidding. But I did have to sign a confidentiality form), I can say that I have read some very good scripts that Gunn Films is currently in the process of developing. My opinions matter, and I am given tasks, such as reading a script and listing 10 actors and actresses who I think would be good for the lead roles, or coming up with additional ideas for a script.

]]> I can't believe three weeks have passed. Time is flying! Anyway, things have been going very well. I am kept pretty busy with reading scripts and various other activities. Though I cannot mention specifics on scripts because of confidentiality (I had to sign my life away...just kidding. But I did have to sign a confidentiality form), I can say that I have read some very good scripts that Gunn Films is currently in the process of developing. What is really cool is that my opinions matter - I am given tasks, such as reading a script and listing 10 actors and actresses who I think would be good for the lead roles, or coming up with additional ideas for a script.

Last weekend, Heather (Andrew Gunn's assistant) went to a Pitch Fest, where a bunch of writers pitched her scripts that they have written, or are currently working on. We sent out some emails to those who had the best ideas - let's just say, among the few that were really good, there were some that were really bad or absurd (When I see the sheer amount of bad ideas that are out there, it gives me hope for my own work). Like the other scripts that they receive, me and the other intern will be reading them, then passing them along to Heather if we think they are good enough, along with detailed coverage.

Also, last week I showed Heather and Blaise, one of the writers, my short film "A Grim Touch" that I spent all last semester working on. They had expressed interest in watching it, so I was curious to see what they would think. To my relief, they enjoyed it. Later, when I showed it Lloyd, one of the other writers, he was laughing at almost all the jokes. Comedy is a challenge for me to write, so I was glad that professional screenwriters enjoyed my film. When I asked him if he had any criticisms, he said that the opening scene, even though it was funny, wasn't really needed. Also, it seemed like there was a killing epidemic at Buffalo State College, but he understood that's not how it was supposed to look. (The story is about a Grim Reaper - it will be posted on the TFA site or Buff State Youtube page in the near future). Aside from that, he told me it was well done and that I succeeded in making it funny. When he learned that I am a fan of Lost, he told me he is friendly with Damon Lindelof, who is one of the showrunners of Lost. I may have a chance of meeting him or Carlton Cuse this summer! (Both him and Damon are the two head writers of the show.) He also offered to read one of my full length scripts and give me notes at some point this summer, so I'm looking forward to that.

Aside from interning, things have been pretty busy out here. At home I work at a movie theatre, and I was able to transfer to a location up here. When I'm not working or interning, I've been working on my own scripts (touching them up or starting new ideas), enjoying the sun (now that June Gloom has passed), hanging out with my fellow TFA buddies, meeting new friends, and exercising. P90X to be exact (Yeah, the same workout that Cy is doing, as well as Dan and Scott). Perhaps we'll all be ripped when we come home in August. Well, maybe not ripped, haha. But in very good shape. Oh yeah, I'm seeing movies whenever I can as well. That's kind of important, seeing as though that's the industry I'm making my way into. If you haven't seen Up or The Hangover yet, GO SEE THEM.

]]> First Week at Gunn Films tag:blog.buffalostate.edu,2009:/tvfilm/campaj31//31.564 2009-06-08T06:35:52Z 2009-06-24T05:55:06Z Anthony http://blog.buffalostate.edu/tvfilm/campaj31/ Well, my first week interning at Gunn Films went pretty. I intern on Monday, Thursday, and Friday - I am one of two interns, since one of them quit before he started. I am the only intern whenever I go in. It has both its advantage and disadvantage. It's great because all of the attention is focused on me, rather than on multiple interns, but I don't get to meet as many people. Still....I am on the Disney lot, so there is a lot of opportunity there. And everyone at the office is very nice.

Gunn Films used to oversee a writing program, so there are several writers whose offices are located in the wing. Things are never dull when they are around!

On the first day, Heather (she is Andrew Gunn's assistant, and runs the internship program) asked me if I have ever read "Save the Cat." She was happy to hear that I had already read it for my script writing class, which I have taken twice. Shortly afterwards, one of the writers came in to introduce himself. After I told I wanted to be a writer, he said he would be right back, so he could show me his secret weapon. This secret weapon also happened to be.....Save the Cat!

Anyway, for the first week, I was given a few projects. Recently, Gunn Films is now able to explore other genres...they still have to go to Disney first, but if Disney does not want to do their film, they can go elsewhere. I just finished reading "The Last Posse" which is a novel about a jailbreak. Basically, I had to write a summary about it, and write whether or not I thought it would make a good film, and what changes would have to be made.

I have been also reading scripts, some of which they have already read and are trying to develop. I also read some really....well....bad scripts. Heather said that while the coverage that I wrote wasn't perfect, it was pretty good and better than some of the interns' in the past.

I briefly got to meet Chris Hemsworth. Well......it consisted of "Hey" "How's it going". He played Kirk's dad in the new Star Trek and will be Thor in the upcoming movie of the same name. He basically met with Andrew so that Andrew could get to know him to see if he would be interested in casting him in a action movie sometime in the future.

There were other things that happened the first week that I know I'm forgetting...things were never dull. I look forward to seeing how the rest of this summer plays out and I'm very happy with my placement.

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