Best Writer Award Austin Film Fest

Barbara J. Ross holds her Best Writer trophy and certificate at Austin Under the Stars Film Festival

Winning the Best Writer Award at the Austin Film Festival Under The Stars was a wonderful surprise. My husband, Mike and I were happy to represent Bash Productions and the beautiful actress, Marietta Melrose at this event in their place as they travel the world. This Festival took place at the Lone Star in The Domain at Austin Texas right along with the big one, The Austin Film Festival.


This was the third film festival #whatnext was accepted into and I think you can tell by the look on my face that I was taken by surprise. I'm not used to staying up so late, but this was the last award of the night. The short also won the People's award at this event and we could not be prouder to receive this award on behalf of Bash Productions. Now I have an idea of what the Emmy's and the Oscars might feel like. The motivation is out of this world.

Blog card reading Voiceovers, with a photo of screenwriter Barbara Ross on a dark blue background

Voiceovers

By Barbara Ross • September 17, 2026
Voiceover isn't cheating, but captioning the frame is. Goodfellas and Sunset Boulevard show the difference, and one test tells you which one you wrote.
Blog card reading Writing the Sex Scene, with a photo of screenwriter Barbara Ross on a dark blue ba

Writing the Sex Scene

By Barbara Ross • September 16, 2026
The good sex scenes are negotiations. Write the decision, not the choreography, and remember the agent and the line producer read the pages too.
Blog card reading What the Deal Memo Locks In, with a photo of screenwriter Barbara Ross on a dark b

What the Deal Memo Locks In

By Barbara Ross • September 15, 2026
The deal memo takes an afternoon and the lawyers argue from it for a year. Credit, rewrite steps, bonus triggers, reversion: know your three before the call.
Blog card reading Know Who You're Pitching, with a photo of screenwriter Barbara Ross on a dark blue

Know Who You're Pitching

By Barbara Ross • September 14, 2026
Lenders don't buy scripts. Fifteen minutes of research tells you whether the name on your desk is equity or debt, and whether your pitch has any chance.
Catalina Film Festival poster: an illustrated woman in a red gown beside the Best Actor nominees

Catalina Film Festival

By Barbara Ross • October 3, 2023
At B Story Media, I go to film festivals to meet writers, producers and industry insiders. Catalina Film Festival is my favorite, and here's why.
Barbara J. Ross and a friend in a red dress laughing by the ocean

Network Like a Star

May 22, 2023
Networking is hard for an introvert, but it's part of a writer's life. Here's how I prepare for writers' events, break the ice and follow up afterward.
A woman in an Elizabethan gown and ruff collar stands in a stone alley in A Discovery of Witches

Eliciting Desire

April 26, 2023
Lighting, framing, editing and color grading shape a scene's mood and subtext. Here's why I think screenwriters should write with the camera in mind.
#WHATNEXT poster for Austin Under the Stars 2021, comedy, directed by Stanislava Ivy

#WHATNEXT at Austin

By Barbara Ross • October 7, 2021
#WHATNEXT, starring Marietta Melrose, was invited to screen at Austin Film Festival Under the Stars. I rewrote the script for this comedy short.
#WHATNEXT poster starring Marietta Melrose, written by Barbara J. Ross, directed by Stanislava Ivy

#WHATNEXT at La Femme

By Barbara Ross • October 7, 2021
I'm so happy for Marietta Melrose: #WHATNEXT was invited to screen at the LA Femme International Film Festival at Regal Cinemas in downtown LA.