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Press BoxPress Releases: 2006 - 2005 - 2004HistoryChicago ScriptWorks began with an idea. Vera Brooks had taken a screenwriting class and was meeting with a writing group where they read each other’s work around a table and shared their thoughts and critiques. One day Vera wondered: What if there was a way to get our stories out there to a bigger audience to get feedback before submitting them to agents, contests, and producers?Vera researched a series called Fifth Night at the Nuyorican Poets Café in New York. They had produced over 200 readings of original screenplays, many of which went on to get production deals. Staged screenplay readings: an evening to celebrate the writer’s voice, arguably one of the most important and most overlooked in the film industry.Vera pitched the concept to the writing group and several members decided to join the event. Andrea Klunder was brought on to direct the reading, having just completed direction of Vera’s short film Four Young Trees. Anne Unger was enlisted to do media outreach and promote the event. With the help of her fellow screenwriters, Vera Brooks presented the very first Chicago ScriptWorks staged screenplay reading in March of 2003 to a sold-out and conclusively responsive audience.Testimonials"You can read a script countless times and never gain the perspective that you do from a staged reading. The opportunity you [CSW] offered to produce the script was invaluable."James Drummond, screenwriter"It was great to work with a company that takes so much pride in the work they produce."Christopher J. Berens, director“Chicago ScriptWorks has been a godsend for budding screenwriters in the city [of Chicago] and beyond. It is the perfect outlet for writers to see their words come to life in front of an audience.”Nealy D. Gihan, screenwriter"It [the CSW process] was such a positive experience for me and has really bolstered my confidence when it comes to writing. The reading has also opened doors... now I'm hearing of more of these 'friends of friends' contacts that are crucial to getting your foot in the door. I'm so impressed by Chicago ScriptWorks and your talent and professionalism.”Lauren B. Fischer, screenwriter -Winner 1st Annual IFP Onstage with Chicago ScriptWorks screenplay competition "A performance such as the one you [CSW] put on helps the writer learn where his script is strong or weak. It also gives the writer a chance to see how his script may perform in front of an actual audience."Colin & Sharla Costello, screenwriters - A Miami Tail, distributed by Lion's Gate“...seeing actors infuse life into black smudges on white pages is truly fantastic. I believe [CSW] mined every golden nugget from the rich vein that is THE KOI KEEPER. The hard work of the actors, producer and the director did indeed illuminate some rough spots in the work. We were truly blessed to have our talent discovered and improved. I will always be grateful. Of course, should the opportunity arise, I would jump at the chance to work with CSW again.”Richard F. Russell, screenwriter"Quite honestly, my experience with Chicago ScriptWorks was an experience beyond words. Their professionalism, incredible insight, and creative intuition not only enabled them to meet my high standards, but they also managed to surpass them."Reuben Ingram, screenwriterVolunteer CrewSean Dougherty Production ManagerSean Dougherty is a screenwriter who joined CSW in 2006. As the Production Manager, he is the first contact for actors involved in productions. Sean has also provided support as an usher and volunteer recruiter. Sean is a salesman with Grainger Industrial Supply. He has also started an endeavor to use those skills to reach out to film companies and invite them to experience our readings.Jeremy Harmon Script ReaderJeremy Harmon graduated from Indiana University with a B.A. in History, then moved to Chicago and took film classes at Columbia College, working in various roles on student films. As an aspiring screenwriter, Jeremy is inspired by the work of John Cassavetes, David Mamet, The Coen Brothers, Jim Jarmusch and Woody Allen, and by the novelists Don DeLillo, Cormac McCarthy, Rick Moody, and Jim Thompson. He was written one feature-length script and has begun work on a second.Sara Minton Casting Assistant & ScriptReaderSara Minton came to Chicago to pursue an acting career and has performed with numerous companies in the city and on tour. She is delighted to volunteer with CSW, with whom she has appeared in five readings (and counting)! As a volunteer, she enjoys learning more about film and the "behind the scenes" production process.Sherrill SchmidtScript Reader, Casting AssistantSherrill Schmidt, a seasoned script reader - reviewing and editing scripts since the turn of the century, joined CSW in 2005. Serving as Production Manager and Casting Assistant for CSW’s production of Bellham, she continues to explore the production side of the creative process, which she began at Theatre Memphis in 1996. This is a far cry from her chosen profession as an Engineering Manager, graduating from Michigan State University with a Packaging Engineering degree. Go figure.Lauren Taylor Casting AssistantLauren Taylor, orginally from Memphis, TN, made the journey to Chicago four years ago. She has appeared in four staged readings for CSW and various productions throughout Chicago. Though she will always pursue acting, she has enjoyed the behind-the-scenes opportunities she experiences with CSW and looks forward to many more.About UsChicago ScriptWorks TeamVera Brooks, Managing Director mailto:vbrooks@chicagoscriptworks.orgVera Brooks is the co-founder of CSW and founder of Roatan Film Production. Vera produced the first CSW staged reading in March 2003, and since has developed it into an ongoing series.Vera took two of her screenplays from the page to the screen in 2002: It Takes One to Know One, which received an Honorable Mention in the Chris Wetzel Independent Comedy Award competition, and Four Young Trees, a family drama that was accepted to the African American Women in Cinema 2005 Film Festival. Trees is the beginning of Vera's feature-length screenplay, Brother's Keeper, which made it to the second round of the 2005 Austin Film Festival screenplay competition. Recently, Vera wrote, directed, and produced her first play, A Changed Man, at the West Central SDA Church in Oak Park, IL. She also produced a reading of selected poems from R.D. Zaragoza's book Your Sign is Down: Six Feet Under, which shared the author's thoughts on gangs in today's society.  Vera has a  Certificate in Screenwriting from the UCLA Professional Program. Gregory Gerhard, co-Artistic Director mailto:gregory.gerhard@chicagoscriptworks.orgGregory Gerhard brings to CSW a wealth of experience from both the theater and film communities. With an MFA in Directing from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Gregory has spent the last 12 years directing for the likes of Shapeshifters Theatre, Camenae Ensemble, and Silk Road Theatre Project as well as serving as the Artistic Director of Firstborn Productions from 1995 to 2001. He has done extensive work with new play development with Chicago Dramatists, Raven Theatre, Women's Theatre Alliance, Stockyards Theatre Project along with, of course, a variety of screenplay readings for CSW.His film, Raincheck, placed 3rd in the 2004 Vidiocy Film Festival and A Giving of Thanks won 1st play in the 2006 Festival.                          Vaun Monroe, co-Artistic Director                                vmonroe@chicagoscriptworks.org            "Although I am a black writer/director, I take as my personal model the filmmakers and writers of the French New Wave--that is to say I teach film, write about film and culture and write and direct films."Monroe is currently an Assistant Professor in the Film and Video Department at Columbia College Chicago where he teaches Screenwriting and Directing. Monroe also won the James Pendleton Fellowship in Screenwriting.Vaun has written several feature length screenplays, directed many film shorts, a feature length film and several plays. He has produced and directed narrative films that have screened in film festivals both nationally and internationally.Monroe earned his BA in African American Drama at Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA and his MFA in Film and Media Arts from Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. Vaun has worked as a Licensed Psychiatric Technician and interned at two prominient and visionary production companies--Blackside Inc. in Boston and Scribe Video Center in Philadelphia.Monroe is particularly concerned with the humanistic portrayal of Blacks in America. He considers himself a modern day Griot (African American storyteller who passes the history of the village from one generation to the next) who utilizes the mediums of stage and film to narrate stories of the Black Community.HOME - EVENTS - WRITERS - GALLERY - CONTACT - ABOUT USChicagoScriptWorks.org ©2008 Chicago ScriptWorks left this here for fairness sake, but don't want it to display -->