From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting
Hey everyone,
I'm structuring a show that follows two characters across different stages of their lives together and apart (in the present, in their early 20s and as teens). The past intersects with the present to reveal the full story of their lives together. I'm looking for examples of shows that...
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How many times is it deemed acceptable to delete & rewrite scenes?
After some feedback, it's weirdly made me paranoid & I can't get scenes or even dialogue onto the page for a concept I had such a clear vision for.
Sharing my work is very new to me so maybe I'm being over sensitive and this is the w...
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Start off by thinking about who is giving you feedback. Unless it's a professional paid for service or your film's director, if it was me, I don't really care what you think of the story. Everyone is a critic, but so few are working professionals. Stay positive!
Bill Albert thanks for your insights. I may well do the same. if I can ever get writing the script again
This is why feedback is an inefficient and painful way to build craft skills and find your artistic voice. It will just send you in circles until you're exhausted. It makes far more sense to study the...
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Screenplays are living documents. They never stop changing.
How many passes just to get script in shape for a read request?
Steve's on my Linkedin, I had to post this. :)
this letter never gets old! love it…
I saw this when he posted it. So encouraging!!!
Having just saw Alien in a theater last week it has held up wonderfully. Bad luck for American International.
Never give up! This made my day!
Bill Albert That "scene" still gives me the shakes.
That's fantastic news for the WGC, Pat Alexander! Congratulations to all of the WGC members who are on Stage 32!
I tried to word that so it would make sense. Instead of a planned face time pitch, if you go with a written pitch, is there no live meeting and the professional will simply email a response or is there still a meeting?
M LaVoie Pure. Unadulterated. Truth. I love it.
For STAGE32 staff...
PLEASE take note...
I suggest the following HYBRID Pitch option for all of us writers with no Hollywood type connections. (99% of us)
Offer a 3-Stage pitch process.
Step 1:. Submit 2-...
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^^^ Win-win for everyone. More $ for Execs
The world's second oldest profession - slavery. The world's oldest profession - Hollywood Exec. When lawyers joke, it always goes something like this "How many Hollywood Execs does it take to ruin the motion picture industry? Answer: ALL OF THEM."
Total agreement, it would be better to do it face-to-face. I had written notes, and the notes were great, really great, I appreciated them very much. But there was something the reader missed that rea...
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Hey friends, today is the Regular Deadline for the 2nd Annual Palm Springs Women in Film & Television Stage 32 Short Script Competition. So now is the time to get your short scripts in for the chance to have your script made into a short with a budget of $10,000!
https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers...
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Thanks for letting us know
I'm polishing mine up. I plan to submit.
Best of luck to you Anita!
This is more a thought than an actionable item.
We see someone get a shock from an outlet as a child. Perhaps we are scared of that room, or of holding a fork. Because the shock happened in a particular room and the person stuck a fork in the socket.
But that is an understanding based purely on obser...
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Excellent advice, Craig D Griffiths! The note under the note/the note behind the note. Karen "Kay" Ross talks about that a lot (www.stage32.com/KRoss). Great minds think alike....
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Hey everyone! I wanted to congratulate our fellow community members who had scripts requested through Stage 32 pitch sessions last week. We are thrilled for the opportunities for the following writers to have their scripts requested by STX, Bluewater Lane Productions, Won Way Media, LINK Entertainme...
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Congratulations to everyone who got a script request and meeting request!
How can I sell my screenplay? Paying for coverage, consultation, and contests doesn’t seem to work. Any thoughts?
Hi, Mahyar Rasi. My best advice is to network/build relationships on Stage 32. Here are blogs about networking: www.stage32.com/blog/tags/networking-41...
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Find a producer with great connections that can help you get your project packaged with great talent and/or a great director. And then you can shop the project and pray that a buyer likes the script,...
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scriptrevolution.com is a start. Then you have to start trying to build some connections. How? That is different for everyone.
Hey All:
I recently purchased a "Feature Script Premium Development Notes From an Executive (2 Pages)" with Clayton Conroy and had a super positive experience. For me, it wasn't all about the kind kudos he gave (although those were encouraging) but the notes that will definitely make "Haven of Dante"...
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Glad the notes were so helpful, Leonardo Ramirez! Thanks for the recommendation. I'm definitely gonna keep Clayton Conroy on my radar.
Super helpful, Maurice Vaughan. The man can read right through the script to its heart. By far, one of my fav coverage people if not THE fav.
Laura Ackermann will be having a 24-hour AMA in the Filmmaking/Directing Lounge tomorrow, focused on “When Should Filmmakers Pursue Publicists & PR Opportunities?”
Laura is the CEO/Founder of Advantage PR, Publicist, & Branding Expert (Charisma Carpenter, Anna Lamb, Rushi Kota). She’ll be answering...
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I remembered that I was a Quarter Finalist in the Santa Barbara International Screenplay Awards back in 2022. To be completely honest, I don't even know if anybody takes those awards seriously or not. Just thought I'd toss it out in case anybody sees some prestige behind them.
I got some of those and they don't mean anything to me, personally. However, it does mean you took the time to write an entire professional script in correct formatting and a level of structure that w...
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Westworld comes to mind.
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Even though it only lasted two seasons Jericho had that structure.
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You might also check out how they executed the first 3 seasons of LOST which dealt a lot with multiple time lines and backstories. A lot of flashbacks and flashforwards were used to give us perspectiv...
Expand commentYou might also check out how they executed the first 3 seasons of LOST which dealt a lot with multiple time lines and backstories. A lot of flashbacks and flashforwards were used to give us perspectives on characters set in the series present.
If you're looking for more thoughts on how to execute it, hit me up at success@stage32.com and I will be happy to give more insights.
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Hi B Lmb, while it may not strictly fit your parameters (or maybe it does in some ways), the German series DARK is worth a look.
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Thank you for such helpful suggestions! I'm especially interested in finding shows that use memories intersecting with the present in inventive or surprising ways - moving away from your typical flash...
Expand commentThank you for such helpful suggestions! I'm especially interested in finding shows that use memories intersecting with the present in inventive or surprising ways - moving away from your typical flashback or flashforward-heavy techniques. I've seen LOST and DARK - the latter is probably more structurally interesting, though the time-travel element is, of course, an entirely different genre - might be one to revisit. I haven't seen WESTWORLD or JERICHO, so I will check out both pilots to see what techniques they use. Thank you :)