Geno Scala Discusses His Journey as The Script Mentor...
Geno Scala
Exec. Director of Academy Awards; "The Script Mentor"; "Ghostwriter to the Stars"; Creator of "The 20 Day Screenplay";
...Continuing to Provide Crucial Support to Aspiring Screenwriters.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE JANUARY 25, 2024
Article by Lisa Pellegrene (Twitter/Instagram @lisapellegrene) Contact 424-383-4877 to request interview with Geno Scala or email [email protected]
(HUNTSVILLE, AL) - Geno Scala had his first opportunity working in entertainment on the set of the movie Beaches in 1988, when director Garry Marshall hired him as a bodyguard. He is now an accomplished producer and screenwriter, often hired by A-list talent as the writer for an extensive list of productions. In addition to his work as THE SCRIPT MENTOR,?he assists many in learning the craft of screenwriting, as well as being engaged as the writer to bring a client’s project from conception to completion, to include marketing the screenplays to his extensive industry network. His conceptualized screenplays and the screenplays on which he has provided guidance have gone on to win screenplay competitions and are consistently optioned and produced.
Mr. Scala also wrote three screenwriting instructional books and has produced over 90 individual screenwriting videos called Five Minutes or More with The Script Mentor. He is the producer of the weekly newsletter titled, Debunking Screenwriting Myths, with well over 100 editions. Scala’s scripts have been produced and shown on the big screen, as well as on several streaming services.?
Geno Scala operates the production company Shark-Man Eating Productions, named as a homage to JAWS, “the movie that started this crazy ride for me,” states Scala.
“JAWS...the movie that started this crazy ride for me!”
During the early days of his career, he created a docu-reality TV show titled, Just Like Elvis. Scala discussed being fascinated by the world of Elvis Tribute Artists.
“I knew quite a few of them, including the best in the world in my opinion, Dean Z. I was friends with him and his family back in California when Dean was only ten years old. He was doing great Elvis shows even then. My singing partner and I sang with Dean quite often until his career took off, when he had his own show in Branson, Missouri and Las Vegas, Nevada."
The world of Elvis tribute artists is probably over a million world-wide.
“When I held auditions for "Just Like Elvis,” states Scala, “we ended up selecting eight or ten of the most unique artists, who had incredible backstories to tell. These men (and an occasional woman too) came from all walks of life and led very normal lives- but performed as Elvis Tribute Artists because they all "Just Like Elvis.”?
During the years when Geno Scala served his community as a police officer, he recalls receiving “regular compliments" from the upper brass about the details on his police reports. Scala’s impeccable and articulate police report writing eventually led to securing the position as an Executive Director of the 72nd Academy Awards.
“At the time, I was the facilities manager of the newly opened Staples Arena (now Crypto Arena), and I was there from sun-up to well past midnight, seven days a week, from September 1999 through the end of Y2K and into 2000. I was asked by the Assistant Chief of LAPD to attend a meeting with him. It turned out it was a lunch meeting, catered by Wolfgang Puck and Spagos restaurant. I truly had no idea what I was doing there or why I was invited, until they asked who was going to take the minutes for the meeting. It was at that moment that the Assistant Chief volunteered my services!” Scala continued, “I had been to a thousand meetings, and never took minutes, at all, not even once, until that point. Days later, the Chief requested my notes from the meeting, and he was so impressed with the details as to “who said what to whom and so forth,” that he made up his mind to include me as one of the four Executive Directors of the 72nd Academy Awards. I was going to be responsible for hiring, training, scheduling, and paying everyone."
"It was not only the culmination of a life-long dream for me, but- to this day- it was also the most challenging job that I had ever done. It was an incredible experience.”?
Scala’s first screenplay was Junior Simple - a family comedy. Junior Simple was a mix of a Southern TV character named Junior Sample.
Scala recalls...
“I created him to be a “simpleton” - he wasn’t the sharpest tool in the shed. I wrote this screenplay in 2009, and I still love that character! When I finished the screenplay, I actually cried as I showed it to my family. I then handed it out to anyone and everyone who had even the slightest bit of interest in reading it. I knew I had a lot to learn, and it was at that point I recognized that I was a newbie, yet this represented the commencement of my journey to perfect the craft.”?
Geno Scala discussed what it takes for someone just getting started.
“A new screenwriter NEEDS to get a solid foundation in learning the craft. An aspiring screenwriter will be writing SPEC screenplays when starting out - everyone does. It takes on average, seven or eight scripts to really know what you're doing- but only AFTER you learn and then implement the correct knowledge! How you learn is up to you, but I would STRONGLY recommend learning from someone who has accomplished the things you hope to one day. This is why after many years of accumulating the knowledge, and having success, I offer my services to truly help people to learn the craft of screenwriting. Others of course can hire us to write the entire screenplay for them, or as co-writers.? I've been paid to write for some of the biggest names in the industry, and I have won several top-tier screenwriting competitions, earning over $25,000 in winnings. I've been able to write screenplays for a (comfortable) living for 15 years now, and if this is the life you want to have, reach out and we'll get started right away.”?
Through The Script Mentor?Scala provides some invaluable insight, fundamental support to help aspiring screenwriters to learn the craft, as well as “all hands-on deck” levels of support. Geno Scala discussed how many screenwriters today haven’t learned the most basic foundation of screenwriting, stating...
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“Think of this analogy, in very simple terms, “If you don’t know how to use a hammer and nail, how are you going to build a house?” It is the same when it comes to screenwriting.
Continuing...
“Finding a sample screenplay online and copying the format is the exact wrong thing to do. You can learn from us at The Script Mentor if you choose and you will walk away with knowledge that is vetted, tried and true. We do have a series of videos that will teach much of the basics, or you can hire one of our writers to bring your idea to fruition. We not only write it, but we also market it,?place it into competitions and even share it with our A-list contacts. To me, the work isn't done until every rock has been turned in trying to option or sell the project once the screenplay is complete. I have a team of six professional writers to accommodate our clients.”
Concluding...
“We can handle a lot, but it is a first-come, first-serve business, and sometimes there is a waiting list. We almost always have a promised deadline, and rarely do we miss them. That's very important to me. We'll work with our clients as much as possible and we'll work with them on payments, if necessary. I never like money - or lack thereof - being the sole reason a project couldn't get done, but we ARE a business.”?
Geno Scala, through his company The Script Mentor was the first to do two things; offer FREE first ten-page reviews on scripts, as well as to provide lifetime membership to their service for one small fee.
Scala concludes...
“This means that any screenplay, every screenplay submitted to us, AND as many times as they deem necessary, there is true support and assistance. Our goal at The Script Mentor is to TEACH spec screenwriting and get each writer to the point that they don't NEED help anymore. Our early clients now use us to review scripts and to obtain help in marketing them by using my personal Rolodex of A-list connections,” states Scala. “I had strong writing skills most of my life, and I discovered rather quickly what works and what doesn't work in screenwriting. Once I eliminated the garbage information circulating around the internet, I kept only the good information, then added a side portion of my own creations, tips and shortcuts, and produced The Script Mentor Program, as well as The 20-Day Screenplay Video Series."?
Geno Scala’s company The Script Mentor will also assist with book-to-script adaptations. Scala’s typical adaptations stem from very inspirational people and their life's story.
“I have the story of Pamela Millican (Making Broken Beautiful) who suffered terrible abuse as a child. She was abandoned at 15 and took up a sport (wave skiing) to go on to become the first woman's champion- of several different continents! She also earned her HS diploma, her Bachelors, her Masters, her MBA, her Ph.D. AND a Juris Doctorate. Not enough? She was recently chosen as Life Coach of the Year.
Other inspirational people include Sally Barnard, who also had a difficult childhood.
"Sally experienced a unique phenomenon in her life that led to an amazing discovery of secretive talents and skills.”?
Scala concludes,
“I love my work, and I love helping others to accomplish what they aspire to accomplish in this industry."
Reach out to Geno Scala at The Script Mentor to get started.
Writers Bio: Lisa Pellegrene; Direct: 424-383-4877.
Twitter and Instagram:@lisapellegrene
Author: “Be Epic, Choose Love”; “A Glimpse into the Sunshine”
Publicity, PR Mgmt./Press Agent; TV / FILM - Producer, Actress, Director, Casting
Co-Founder and COO at DiningTek
9 个月Well written to describe a creative man of integrity, grit and perseverance who has helped (and is helping) so many who stive to be "just like him" in the entertainment world. Very interesting article (and we all know Geno Scala would not tout his own horn). Thank you.