War is hell. Long wars are the worst and the only good thing about them is that they always end. Sometimes they look like they're over when they're not and sometimes the bad guys win and sometimes both sides destroy each other but it is a cosmic truth that wars always end.

And sometimes nobody cares.

But enough about AMPTA and the WGA...

The Harvard Square Scriptwriters had another great year.

We began the fall semester with a new meeting place - at The Boston Center for the Arts Calderwood Pavillion, 267 Tremont St, Boston. A stunning facility that does the city and the arts proud. Dara Marks came to town to speak to local scriptwriters about her book "Inside Story" reviewed by Loren Miller for Imagine Magazine - see their profile of her and read the review at http://www.imaginenews.com/ . She is a passionate, insightful and generous teacher.

As for HSSW members - so much has happened I'm sure to forget something and someone but here's what I remember at present: Richard Faymonville finished shooting his first feature film (based on his script) and 1) he's busily buried in post production and 2) now living in LA (likes the weather, hates the traffic, hopes the strike ends soon). "OutRighteous" (based on Phil Landa's script) has wrapped and is likewise in post - and Phil reports he just optioned ‘Cage' to Greathouse Productions. David Moriello's play ‘Just Say Love' had a successful run at the Boston Center for the Arts Black Box Theater (need I add one of the best venues for new and experimental theater on the east coast? Yes!!)

And David has plans for ‘08. His company Stagewright Films will produce 3 movies with/for Funny Boy Films which will include a movie based on ‘Just Say Love' - and "Fireflies" which will have a staged reading sponsored by The Firehouse Center for the Arts and the New Works Festival on January 25 (the play is based on a script he began with HSSW years ago - but that is, of course, another story)

"Fireflies" proves that old scripts never die - they just get rewritten and contrary to popular belief they often get rewritten for the better as is the case here - but don't take MY word for it - go see for yourself!

We ended the year with a surprise visit from David Bratton, back from LA with many tales to tell. He's getting his master's in scriptwriting and has been out walking the picket line with other WGA members - he shared some great insights into the workings of TV in LA and encouraged all of us, WGA members and non-members and wannabees alike to get out and support the strike.

We also ended ‘07 with a review of Lorre Fritchy's script "Millies" - read about it here http://www.masterpeaceproductions.com/millies.htm - and expect that'll be another production for ‘08!

And since the year in review is already mixed up with ‘08 I'll end by reporting that Andy Hall's short script with a working title "Johnny Baptist" was filmed the first Sunday in January (Peter Bohush (www.writerdirector.com) directing, Paul Falcone (www.paulfalcone.com) shooting, Sean O'Rourke (no website) Production Designer and actor and Loren Miller (www.neotrondesign.com) editing. The first of what we hope to be many more HSSW Film Group productions.

And on another note - from Peter Bohush - It's been a long wait, but I finally got the computing horsepower and the time to encode GEEZERS for the web. It still holds up after these years. Please watch it and pass on the link to others!

You'll find both a link to a youtube clip on Peter's website: www.writerdirector.com/geezers.htm and there's a link to the a flash animation version of the full short as well.

Yes, 2008 looks to be a good year -

~Ed