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First Posted on February 2, 1999

(Updates below)

Michal Baranik - Rising Star

After winning 4th place in the 1st New Century Writer Awards^®, and receiving agency representation with Lisa Lindo Lieblein at ACME Talent & Literary, Michal traveled from his home in Prague to Los Angeles on several occasions to meet with development executives at Village Roadshow Entertainment and other production companies.

Jon Berg (formerly of Village Roadshow) who first showed great interest in Baranik's winning script, is now producing for Universal, and gives high praise for this young writer's talent.

Baranik's first meetings resulted in an unpaid assignment to write two screenplay treatments, one based on a book and the other on a magazine article.

NCWA STAFF NOTE: It's always best when a writer gets paid, but when large Hollywood production companies ask very new writers to take their first assignment unpaid, we sometimes encourage writers to do this. Consider it a form of apprenticeship, and feel honored when production development people like your speculative work enough to ask you to write something new just for them. A well written assignment by a cooperative and likeable "new face" in Hollywood will open doors to paid assignments later on. The old adage: "Honey draws more flies than vinegar" is an applicable philosophy in these cases. NEVER be snooty but don't be taken advantage of either. Use your common sense when working your foot into any of Hollywood's doors.

September 16, 1999 update

Baranik was recently hired to write the screenplay adaptation of a novel as optioned by an executive with the Hollywood Reporter. He received this assignment based on the strength of his 4th place winning script, BENEATH THE FLOWER GARDEN from the New Century Writer Awards^® 1998 competition.

Michal was a finalist in the 1999 Scriptapalooza^® screenwriting contest with BLACK & BLUE.

June 20, 2000 update

In the spring of 2000, Baranik was hired yet again -- this time to write an original screenplay for a group of European producers for a film budgeted at 100 million dollars. The story and the subject are confidential at this time, but Baranik will receive $40,000 up front and $200,000 when the film goes into production.

Not bad for starting out in 1998 with a $100 winner's check from New Century for his 4th place script just two year ago!