Current as of November 2003
April 25, 1997 Initial Meeting. Four writers – Pat Boddy, Bill Coleman, Sean Gannon, and Shirley Long – met for lunch at the Drake Diner to discuss a potential screenwriter’s group. They discussed appropriate membership for the group, needs the group might fill for screenwriters in Iowa, and how the organization might help meet those needs. The four decided to approach a few other writers with the idea and planned a second meeting for the following week. The seeds for the Iowa SCREENWRITERS Alliance were sown.
May 1, 1997 Organization. A second meeting at the Drake Diner focused on organizational issues such as a mission statement, dues, kick off event, newsletter and temporary officers – Bill Coleman-President, Sean Gannon-Vice President, Pat Boddy-Secretary, Dave DeBord-Treasurer, and Shirley Long-Membership Director and IMPA Liaison.
May 12, 1997 ISA Birth. At a third meeting at the Drake Diner, the temporary officers changed the group name to the Iowa SCRIPTWRITERS Alliance to include playwrights. By-laws were proposed, a brochure reviewed, fees were established and membership checks were written. A press release was prepared.
May 12, 1997 Press Release. Information on the Iowa Scriptwriters Alliance was compiled into a news release sent to media outlets around the state. The release noted “The acting five-member board of charter members (Boddy, Coleman, DeBord, Gannon, and Long) voted the ISA into existence in their first formal meeting on May 12, 1997.”
September 30, 1997 Membership Kick-off Event. More than 25 people attended our inaugural event where ISA was introduced to potential members. The Board explained the purpose of the group and encouraged participation. A number of participants joined immediately. As an additional incentive to attend the event, there was a presentation of a rough cut of the first ten minutes of The Yoofo Club, by new ISA members James Serpento and Kim Busbee, followed by discussion. At Drake University.
November 2, 1997 Script Reading. Actors from Drake and the Drama Workshop read Full Court Press, a screenplay by Bill Coleman and discussion of the script followed the reading. At the Drama Workshop Board Room at 510 Third in Des Moines.
October-December 1997 The Premier issue of the quarterly ISA newsletter, “Three Brads and a Passion," was published. Articles included: So…What is the ISA, Anyway about who we were, We Know People about our ties to some other groups, It Can Be Done an interview with the Yoofo Club filmmakers, Cut Through the Crap about getting your script read in Hollywood, a review of the Inge Theatre Festival, a few words from Ron Peterson about story structure, and lists of Playwriting and Screenwriting contests.
December 2, 1997 One-Act Play Readings. Actors and volunteers read two short one-act plays by Dave DeBord, I’ve Never Done the Tango and Never Make Love to a Lactating Woman, and two related monologues by Cynthia Mercati, How Rae and April Ended Up. Group discussions followed. At the Harmon Fine Arts Center, Drake University.