The 10th anniversary of Authors Anonymous, a feature film written by local radio host and author David Congalton, will be celebrated with a special screening at the Bay Theatre in Morro Bay on Monday, September 30.
The event is co-sponsored by theatre owner Cameron Wilson and the Central Coast Writers’ Conference (scheduled Saturday, October 5 at Cuesta College).
Congalton will introduce the movie and participate in an audience Q&A afterwards. He will be joined by Scott Robertson of Arroyo Grande, who was an associate producer on the rom-com/mockumentary, which was directed by Ellie Kanner and produced by Kanner and Hal Schwartz.
The film, rated PG-13, stars Kaley Cuoco, Chris Klein, Jonathan Banks, Teri Polo, Dylan Walsh, Tricia Helfer, Jonathan Bennett, and the late Dennis Farina in one of his final roles.
Shot on location throughout the San Fernando Valley and West Hollywood in August 2012, Authors Anonymous is about a small critique group of unpublished writers who meet weekly to share their work and support one another in their dreams of publication.
That collegial, all-for-one atmosphere is soon tested when Cuoco’s character quickly scores an agent, a book deal, and a movie deal, leaving the others to stew in jealousy and envy.
Congalton, who served as director of the Cuesta writers’ conference from 1993 to 2005, used that experience to shape his screenplay, originally entitled Scribble.
“The message of the movie is pretty straight forward,” Congalton says. “There are no shortcuts to publication. You have to do the work. Desire is not enough. Believe me, I’ve encountered all the characters in this script at one time or another.”
Doors open at 5:30 p.m. on September 30 at the Bay Theatre. Tickets are $10 and are available at the door.
The Central Coast Writers’ Conference, currently directed by Brian Schwartz, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in October.
Editor’s Note: SLO Review publisher Charlotte Alexander was an associate producer of Authors Anonymous. This article has been updated to reflect the correct the proper producing credits on the film.