by Pat Boddy
No wonder our newsletter editor has encouraged me to write this article highlighting results of the ISA survey. Twelve of 15 respondents to our in-newsletter survey about ISA activities say “reading the newsletter” is something they’ll definitely do—making it our number one choice in a list of proposed activities. (Conversely, Dear Editor, in the bottom tier with only 4 “definitely”s is writing for the newsletter. Sorry.)
Five activities from a list of sixteen get double-digit votes of “definitely-will-do” from the membership:
• Having one or more members read/critique your script (11)
• A cast reading of a member’s script (10)
• Staged or filmed productions of the work of a few members (10) and
• Bringing in industry professionals (10).
Perhaps one respondent’s succinct comment sums up a key overall theme in the pages of these surveys: “There should be more writing.” But other themes emerge as well—the value of networking with other writers, learning from each other, and the more specific benefit of the colleague critiques. “I have so much to learn, each meeting is valuable. It motivates me to write, to try new approaches,” says one relatively new member.
The one downside in this survey is a lack of commitment—as in committee service. Only three say they’ll sign up for committees while seven say no. (We’ll assume the rest are “maybes”). And we’ve already reported on future newsletter contributors. Moving right along...
Overall ratings for ISA are high with four votes for an “excellent” rating of the ISA benefits and ten for “good.” But these numbers show room for improvement: “There are still areas the ISA can explore,” writes one wise member.
What are those areas? We have some wonderful suggestions—from a structured script development process to opportunities for Indie filmmakers—from website event promos to anything that would help us sell scripts. As ideas get fleshed out further and emerge, watch this space for news of expanded/evolving opportunities.
And we know of at least 12 of you who will. Definitely.