Mark Meinhardt's Lounge Discussions

Cassandra Slough Kudos to you for being so brave and to get all of that not only onto paper but in a compelling narrative that can even educate instead of just entertain. I'm sure your piece is in good hands.

Hey guys, I submitted my pilot, Club Paradise, based on my time working in a strip club. Set in the 90s it follows an ex-exotic dancer and grieving mother as she struggles to run the city's hottest strip club, with the expectation of owning it. But when the owner's inexperienced nephew takes possession, she must fight to maintain her reign and protect her staff while battling external forces and inner demons.

My hopes are for it to be a cinematic, rock n roll love letter to women, mothers, friendship and the 90s.

I submitted my feature STETSON tagline: it 's not just my hat it's the code I live by.

Its a neo-Western drama with tears.

I submitted my pilot for In the Shadows of November.

I submitted!!!!

My story is about a grungy preteen named Aiyana!!! She hasn’t started her period like all the other girls in her class and realizes she's pregnant!!! She decides she doesn't want it and tries to find a way to terminate the pregnancy in secret with the help of her old childhood buddies! They haven't hung out together in years but Aiyanna, Ovia, Hope, and Jinx start off from where they last ended to help their friend in need! Jinx works up this idea of sneaking into an abortion clinic. All they have to do is blend in and not Jinx it! This event welcomes the audience to American teenage daughter hell and it will be a menstruating, pimple bumpy, hormonal raging, fun time. It's a provocative Babysitters Club without all the babysitting. :D

That sounds busy, Mark. All the best. (My sympathy to your wife as she tries to release her book. :-) )

Hey Mark Meinhardt Great stuff! You are definitely going down the right track with that Christmas script. They are being snapped up now because networks like Lifetime, Hallmark and others want to produce them now for later this year. We work with an producer/director - Courtney Smith Jr. - who specializes in developing these types of films. If you ever want feedback, he is your man! Check him out on our Script Services page. You can also always reach out to me directly at j.mirch@stage32.com - I am happy to help!

This is great John! I think that considering the experiences shared here a skype call would be best. It seems text will always be open and limited to interpretation. Having a call will give margin or at least more chances to clear up any question right when it comes.

All the best with Starfall!

Hi Brian Walsh, I was taking pitches in hopes of finding a project I could sell. Finding market-viable projects and selling them moves my career ahead, and that's the ultimate hope.

Cool, was just wondering. And you know I'm always rooting for you Regina. You always have great insight and advice.

Well, I had other answers lately, it's so different from an exec to another.

I have signed up for two pitch sessions and entered the same script into two screenwriting contests. Based on the feedback that I'll be getting from these, I will have to decide whether to pursue this project as a movie script or a book. I'm prepared to do either but I will have to see positive comments on the script in order to persist with it as a film. Yes, I believe in it but do others? That's how important feedback is.

Nice to meetcha Mark. From the Ike era - you're still a young'un (I'm a war baby). I'm in OR so you'll have to have a beer by yourself.

Good Luck Mark!