Saturday, April 26: FREE screenwriting conference: FROM YOUR BEAN TO THE SCREEN


Details
We've got an amazing line-up of speakers for our third annual screenwriting conference -- and you won't want to miss this one. If you're a writer -- you'll definitely want to attend to catch up on the latest trends (like AI) and to pick the brains of our line-up of screenwriters on how you can take your writing to the next level -- whether you're a beginner or a seasoned pro.
Producers, directors, and actors will also benefit, as we'll covering the best ways you can work with writers.
It'll all take place at the Carpenter Branch Library, in the heart of St. Louis' South Grand Entertainment District (3309 S. Grand), where there's plenty of free parking in the lot behind the library or on the street in front of it. This is on Saturday, April 26, 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM. The event itself is FREE!
NEW THIS YEAR: Have an idea for a movie or TV show? What if you were stuck in an elevator with Steven Spielberg? This is your big chance. Give our panelists your one-or-two sentence pitch, the one you would give to Spielberg in a few seconds, and they'll give you their reaction.
Our speakers:
-- Bart Baker, who recently landed a 2025 Writer's Guild Award nomination for Best Screenplay For A Movie For Television Or Streamer, for the 2024 Lifetime Network hit, "Terry McMillan Presents: Forever," starring Taye Diggs and Megan Good.
-- Tom Bellos, an active member of The Producer's Guild, has produced and written both documentaries and narrative scripts and worked with many of the top TV networks, including NBC, Fox, VH-1, E!, Discovery, and The History Channel.
-- Daniel Byington, who has produced multiple, short films, documentaries, and features, including the successful locally-made film, "Bad Grandmas," starring Pam Grier, Judge Reinhold, and Florence Henderson.
-- Steven Leggitt, who recently moved back to St. Louis from LA, has Masters of Fine Arts in Screenwriting from the American Film Institute (AFI) Conservatory in Los Angeles. For many years, he worked as a script reader, providing coverage for clients such as Bad Robot (JJ Abrams), New Line Cinema, Paramount, and Warner Bros.
-- Mary J. Schirmer is a former president of the St. Louis Writer's Guild; the Missouri Association of Playwrights; a current co-president of Screenplayers, a select group of international screenwriters (which before his death included Blake Snyder, author of "Save the Cat" screenwriting classic); and current board member of the Media Communications Association of St. Louis.
-- Jack Snyder is an award-winning screenwriter and director with films that have been distributed by 20th Century Fox, NBC Universal, Warner Brothers, and Sony. Several have show theatrically and aired on The Showtime Network, The Movie Channel, The Syfy Channel, and the Lifetime Movie Network. His most recent film is :"57 Seconds," a science fiction thriller in which he was a co-producer and story consultant. The film stars Morgan Freeman and Josh Hutcherson and was released theatrically and digitally in September 2023. Jack also wrote the novel adaptation of the screenplay.
Here are some the topics they'll be tackling:
-- Artificial Intelligence (AI): Friend or foe of the screenwriter.
-- Will tariffs affect writers (you might be surprised at the answer)?
-- What are today's hottest genres and trends that screenwriters need to know.
-- Best opportunities for new writers: Film? TV? Streaming? Shorts? Animation? Documentaries?
-- Have an idea for a TV show? How to write a pilot, compile a series bible, and pitch your dream project.
-- How to put together a pitch deck that sizzles.
-- What attracts and what turns off Hollywood script readers, and the worst mistakes that screenwriters make.
-- What you need to know about documentary and non-fiction writing.
-- Do you really need an agent or a manager?
-- Want to direct your own film? Or produce it? Some of our panelists have done both and will share what they've learned.
-- What do writers need to know about distribution?
-- Should you worry about others stealing your ideas?
-- Turning your novel into a screenplay; turning your screenplay into a novel.
-- The basic, but necessary, legal BS: Copyright, collaboration agreements, getting life rights, work for hire, option agreements, non-disclosure agreements.
These are just some of the topics to be addressed. You'll have substantial opportunity to get your own questions answered. We'll start with a panel discussion and break out into groups, based on your interests, whether it's movies, TV shows, docs/non-fiction, being a writer-director or a writer-producer, or just want to soak it all in.
TIME & DATE: April 26, 2025, 1:00 PM to 4:30 PM
LOCATION: Carpenter Branch, St. Louis Public Library, 3309 South Grand, St. Louis, MO, 63118
COST: FREE! (But donations are welcome and appreciated).

Saturday, April 26: FREE screenwriting conference: FROM YOUR BEAN TO THE SCREEN