What exactly is a laughing horse? Well, these days it's a production company located in Seattle with a movie about to start pre-production called The Actor, which will be directed by Martin Sheen. The Actor is, as you've probably guessed, the true story of an actor, from New York.

It was written by Pulitzer Prize winning writer Jason Miller. With the early successes of their first optioned script, The Actor is just one of the projects Laughing Horse Films has on their agenda. "There' s more", says Cheryl Read, co-owner of Laughing Horse Films. "We have another project we plan to do called The Troublemakers".

Their choice to film in Seattle is an interesting one since most films in that area are now being shot in Vancouver, mostly to save money on production costs. However, Read says she feels she could use more support from the local film office and local SAG office in helping her stay in the Seattle area. But, with that said, she is still adamant that Laughing Horse Films will remain loyal to Seattle and give the crew and talent in the Seattle area a chance to work (she has a database of 800 crew and talent in the area to pull from).

Eventually, I ask Read about the budgets for these projects, and how is Laughing Horse Films raising the money for the scripts they are optioning and planning to film? "Product Placement," she responded, "It's one of the ways."

But, with their next film in the $2 - 4 million budget range it will take more than just product placement to get it going. That's when Read told me about the outstanding partners she is working with at Laughing Horse. First, there is her husband, Anthony McArthur who she says "deals mostly with the unions." Then there is Glen Walker with a background of 20 years of crew experience.

Finally, rounding out the team, is Bert Remsen, formerly of MGM Lorimar and involved in major casting in Los Angeles. In addition to Remsen's behind the scene successes, he has also been in front of the camara in over 50 films. They all just happened to come together while working on another film project and the rest is history.
Read has written five screenplays and nine plays herself, and with this experience she believes, from a producers standpoint, that most screenwriters verbalize too much of what is going on in their screenplays. "Make it more visual."

With this type of screenwriting in mind, Read and Laughing Horse Films have put together a screenwriting competition. "The winner will receive $500 and the script will be read by a professional reader with a possible option."

Laughing Horse Films prefers scripts that are character-driven drama and dark comedy. "We want things with real value and depth and good writing." Read says that usually she will know if she wants to finish reading the script within the first 20 pages. "You have to know what is going on, you need something to happen right away," she stresses.

Her final advice to screenwriters is to stay away from script brokers and anyone who says they will guarantee you money. She also told me that if a person is interested in producing their script it is important that they surround themselves with a good team. "Find people with distinct functions and let them do their job." Don't hesitate to attach a big-name talent either, it can get you that much needed money. "You can get an actor without going through an agent." Read' s final words, "It can be done if the script is good."