I Love To Talk About Screenwriting

I recently had the pleasure of being interviewed by Joe Compton for his excellent web series "Go Indie Now." Most of the interviews that I do center on my experiences as an indie film producer, but my heart is truly in screenwriting. If that's your thing too, check it out at the link below - my part starts at minute 53. Our discussion includes things like why I chose to actually STUDY screenwriting at the New School; my pre-writing process (yeah, that's a thing, at least for me!);  and my first one act play, which was produced by Love Creek in the immediate aftermath of 9/11.

Updated Script Consulting Web Site

In addition to writing my own screenplays, I have an active consulting business in which I critique and/or re-write other people's scripts. I also adapt short stories and novels into screenplays. My client base ranges from New York City to western Canada, Sweden, and Paris - and I look forward to expanding it further.

Check out my web site, and click "contact me" for more information.

Mara Lesemann Script Consultant

Screenplay Consulting Plus Re-Writes & Adaptations

As we continue to roll out my new feature DETOURS (with upcoming screenings at The Strand Theater in Lakewood NJ and the Golden Door International Film Festival in Jersey City in September), I look forward to working with both new and returning screenplay clients.

My services include feedback on how to improve your existing script, re-writing it if it's time for a fresh eye, and turning your short story or novel into a screenplay. Check out my web site at the link below for more information (including pricing) as well as feedback on my work.

Mara Lesemann: Screenwriter & Script Consultant

Panelist on "Women in Film" at the Sunscreen Film Fest, Saturday April 30

I'm delighted to join the "Women in Film" panel on Saturday April 30 at 1:15 PM at the 11th annual Sunscreen Film Festival in Saint Petersburg, Florida! It takes place just hours before the world premiere of my new feature, DETOURS, at the festival - that's at 6 PM Saturday evening.

As a screenwriter and a producer, I'm well aware of the numbers -



Women had just 1/3 of the speaking roles in Hollywood movies in 2015.
Women were the protagonist in 22% of those movies, and the antagonist in 18% of them.

Women directed just 7% of the 250 top-grossing Hollywood movies  in 2014, and 15% of all movies. And wrote just 11% of the top 250 movies.

But movies with a female protagonist have done exceptionally well recently - think Star Wars - The Force Awakens or Mad Max Fury Road if you like action movies. And Pitch Perfect 2 or Room if you're looking for comedy or drama.

To quote Variety:  "Female driven movies make money, so why aren't move of them being made?"

I think there would be a lot more female driven movies if there were more women making the movies. I'm doing what I can to move us in the right direction. And I look forward to talking about it on the 30th!