Screenwriting : Networking by Mary Kay LaBrie

Welcome to the community Mary Kay!

Thank you.

Hello there Mary, we're looking forward to interacting with you too :-)

Thank you.

Welcome to the community and the Screenwriting Lounge, Mary Kay LaBrie. I think you're the first food writer I've met. :D You competed in the World Food Championships. Is that a show?

Great to meet you Mary Kay LaBrie and welcome to Stage 32!

Welcome to the community Mary!

Hi Mary Kay

Fantastic to have you here, Mary Kay. Tell us a little more about your writing!

I am still learning to navigate this site. I guess you can't respond on an individual comment. Good to meet you all. Maurice, In the past The World Food Championships was televised. The year I went, it was filmed but I don't think it aired anywhere. Chefs and home cooks compete in the same rounds. Most are sent by sponsors. So, you win another contest, and they ask you to represent them. I won Minnesota wild rice, I crashed and burned, but it was an experience. I did, however win a couple of grand prizes in other contests. I've sat for casting sessions for some of the TV contests. I was this close to getting cast for America's Best Home Cooks, but someone beat me out for the spot after three auditions. Richard, thanks for asking. I began screenwriting over 25 years ago. I had a few options and one rom-com was in development, but it fell apart on the producer's end. Many of you probably have been there. Ironically, it was a royals rom-com. It was pre-Hallmark, so nobody knew those would become a popular sub-genre. Basically, "The Prince and Me" was coming out and the producer felt they wouldn't want to do another similar movie. Hollywood stopped making rom coms for a while, so that's why I took a detour into food writing. I got bit by the writing bug again in late 2019 when I conceived a four-part comedy murder mystery movie series, "The Monongahela Mysteries." It's a bit like a Hallmark Movies and Mystery series, only with more action. I wrote during the pandemic (what else was there to do). I also have a few rom coms. I floated a few test balloons, spent last year polishing and rewriting (because we all know that great scripts aren't written, they are rewritten). Now I'm here to kickstart my marketing. I used to be good at queries and pitching, but I feel like I'm rusty and have new things to learn. I am happy that I found Stage 32. Everyone seems supportive and nice here.

Congratulations on winning Minnesota wild rice and winning a couple grand prizes, Mary Kay LaBrie!!! :D

You can respond to people individually by putting "@" before their names.

Glad you're here, Mary Kay...and here's wishing you all the VERY BEST!

Maurice Vaughan LOL. I didn't think of trying @. I guess I'm @old lol. I mentioned in my bio that I have a self-deprecating sense of humor.

:) Mary Kay LaBrie. "I am an introvert who grew up outside of Pittsburgh with sitcom parents." What are sitcom parents?

Maurice Vaughan parents who seem like they are TV parents. My parents were very silly. Like sitcom characters.

Makes sense, Mary Kay LaBrie. :) You said you feel like you're rusty at pitching. I recommend this webinar: www.stage32.com/webinars/Pitching-Tips-from-the-Pros-Your-Blueprint-to-a...

Maurice Vaughan thank you so much my new friend.

You're welcome, Mary Kay LaBrie.

Hello and welcome.

Welcome. I think you'll like the people here.

Welcome to Stage 32!