Screenwriting : Script Posters by Maurice Vaughan

Your adventure screenplays, Juan DnDink?

Brilliant!

Maurice, I'm with you when it comes to making my own movie posters...and the way I see it, creating these posters is as fun as writing the scripts themselves.

Thanks for the post...and all the VERY BEST to you!

That sounds exciting, Juan DnDink. Where do you and other people act out the adventure stories?

You're welcome, Jim Boston. Yeah, making script posters is as fun as writing scripts. Best to you.

I make my own posters too. Actually I usually make are for all of the projects we do, so making art for the screenplay and/or pitch deck also.

It's actually really fun and satisfying creating film art.

I have had posters made as well.

Thank you sooooo much! I could not figure out which software to use for this to save my life!

I like those posters.

That looks like it's going to be a funny movie, Geno Scala.

AJ you can actually use any image manipulation software. I've used everything from Photoshop to Gimp which is also free.

I agree - script poster are great to get an idea cross in a single glance - but I would not do one unless it looks super professional because you only get one chance to make a first impression and a mediocre poster can imprint the idea on the reader its going to be a bad read. As Colette said - posters can be a visual logline and leave a memorable impression - so make it a great one.

I'd like to discuss posters, please give me a line here kwame.agyapong1@gmail.com

Right there with you, Maurice. I do the same thing.

Totally agree. Checking out the site now

Hi All...I distract myself by making concept art for my screenplays and novels. Here is my latest.

I just use Adobe, but yes, most places you can upload a logline and/or script have a space for an image.

Certainly eye catching, which has to be good.

I just created a new one yesterday.

Using GIMP and a free stock photo.

Creating this kind o art is also beneficiral for creating a nice pitch deck.

You're right, Vital Butinar. I use my script posters in my pitch decks.

Maurice Vaughan it's also great when you create art because you get down a design that helps you create the pitch deck that goes along with it.

Personally I think it's crucial because I would really like the person who is looking at the pitch deck and then reading the screenplay to really have the visual in their mind.

But I am talking from a perspective of a director & writer, where my gole is to create the film and not only sell the screenplay.

It seems like nowadays, in order to get any sort of edge for your script, you'll need to include a poster. While it's more work in the beginning, I think it'll lead to a better end result than just trying to shop the script itself around. Fellow Stage32 member R. G. Karkovsky recently made me a great poster for my short script Ever & Kingsley.

No reps ever asked me for a poster, or lookbook, pitchdeck, proof of concept...nothing. All they cared about are words on paper- the concept and writer's voice.

Posters are handy, and can reveal the tone of your work, but it can also be a bad idea if it doesn't reflect your work and the professionalism of your script. If it's not asked for, I don't use it. If someone asks for a Treatment, I might slip a version of a poster in. I avoid any Stock Footage, unless I manipulate it in Photoshop to create something that truly reflects my story. The whole point is originality. This example is from a free stock image site. I manipulated the original photograph for a transformative effect. I turned it into gold to reflect the protagonist's purity and worth. I have since used my own image from a film shoot for pitching purposes, but it was a great starting point to gather my visual processes.

D stick them on Stage 32, not sure about when pitching. They might give a very particular feeling, and if you’re not a pro, could Color the reader’s perception.It’s a bit like a video for a pop song, some may like it some may not. but I’m sure your scripts are strong enough to stand alone. They should conjure up all the images you need.

Juan DnDink - to answer your proposed questions, "Could a No-Name pull this off...." I think YES, in the right circumstances and the right intention behind the work. If used sparingly in just the right places that will immerse the reader deeper into the story/moment you can go against the grain as long as the rest of the script is in perfect format - then they will know you did for the effect and even applaud the effort if it worked. You can please everyone, but the people that get it are the ones you want to work with. At least that's my take, I've done things like that before in 90% of time it payed off in my situation. its a balancing act to stay with inthe industry standards yet take enough risks at the same time to stand out.

Hi, Geno. This isn't a debate about including a poster in a submission and/or pitch (to a contest, agent, etc.). The original purpose for this post was to say that a script poster can attract people to your script if you put the poster on sites like Stage 32.

Juan DnDink Beck & Woods sold Quiet Place idea before they started writing the script. i think Michael Bay's production company bought the pitch.

This doesn't have anything to do with posters, Geno, but you have a very impressive resume! I have Amazon Prime, so I'll look up your movies.

As ever, here's the Script Revolution Poster Wall for some additional inspiration.

Plus one of mine that led to an Emmy award winning global blockbuster #1 producer reading my material, giving me an assignment, and later becoming a producing partner - all off the back of reading some of my blogs.

Do what you need to do to compete and don't let the cynicism of others hold you back.

For what it's worth, Sean Baker (Red Rocket, Tangerine, Starlet, The Florida Project) did a webinar on Get It Made this week and spoke about pitching to Ron Howard. He described how Ron's eyes lit up the second he stopped talking and started playing a proof of concept.

While established pros have the benefit of doubt in their favour, nobody is exempt. Reading an entire script just to establish the basics is terribly inefficient and listening to someone try to explain it often not much better.

I keep hearing that all you need is a good script from people who can't prove that strategy is working for them. Meanwhile, everyone who's making waves seems to be out marketing their peers to get ahead.

I've written about this in detail in this blog post; [Mind The Gap; Why a Script and a Logline May No Longer Be Enough] (https://www.scriptrevolution.com/blog/mind-the-gap-why-a-script-and-a-lo...)

As ever, I'd rather have more tools than I need in my toolbox rather than refuse to invest in some and find I desperately need them at the last minute.

I'll probably watch "Assassins" today, Geno Scala. Six projects is a lot. Sorry you're still owed money by that producer.

"Do what you need to do to compete and don't let the cynicism of others hold you back." Exactly, CJ Walley. Thanks for sharing about the webinar with Sean.

I've used Fiverr, Colette "ByFilms" Byfield. I had two posters made. Each poster was for a feature script.

Are your posters available to see, Colette "ByFilms" Byfield?

Maurice - This is a great post. I agree that front covers draw readers like mannequins create foot flow in retail. I make all my own front covers, and I can honestly say that the process actually helps me with my script's theme. When pitching to someone online, I sometimes open the front cover on another device as a visual prompt for thoughts.

LOL. I recall one of my first ever pitches. I was caught looking back and forth at my device, and the line producer stopped me and said, "you shouldn't be reading notes in a pitch; you should know your script and all the beats by heart." When I explained that it's not notes but a front cover I had just created, he asked to see it. Though I would never recommend sending, attaching or including your front cover in your pitch, I shared the front cover with him on screen. To my surprise, he was able to tell me more about the theme and tone of my own script, and he got me interested in it. Lol. Crazy as it sounds, he even asked to see the script, but admittedly, at the time, I was worse than an amateur writer in those days, and the formatting alone was enough to cause anyone to become infuriated. But he was an absolute professional and recommended three specific online writing courses and told me to contact him no earlier than a year later, once I had the fundamentals down. That script used to be called Bad Luck LuLu, but now it's called Kat 'n' Mouse. See below.

CJ - I'm definitely gonna have to join Script Revolution. You have shared analysis and solutions to problems with remarkable insight in the last few days. What's the damage? Lol. I already know it's gonna be worth it.

Thanks Naithan. Glad you feel that's the case. Script Revolution is free to join and it would be great to have you in the community.

Geno Scala your front cover looks cool. I'm glad you shed light on when and when not to include your front cover in pitches -NEVER!- LOL. I wish someone had told me this in my earlier days. I've probably burned many bridges back then, coming across as a major league AMATEUR.

Thanks for sharing that story, Naithan Hilaire. "...and I can honestly say that the process actually helps me with my script's theme." I never thought about script posters that way.

Great blogs, CJ and Geno. Thanks for sharing. If I had them (and blogs/resources on Stage 32, etc.) when I started screenwriting...

"often imitated but never duplicated eh CJ?"

It's the beard they can never keep up with.

You guys can have different opinions, but let's not turn this post into a heated attack on each other. Let's use this post (and platform) to help, encourage, and support each other.

"I don't want to read your script. I don't have time. What I really want is a 1 to 2-page treatment and a cool poster." - Shane Stanley

Congrats to Chuck Hustmyre and Ken Lemm, Geno Scala. Cold calls and emails do work sometimes. There are a lot of avenues to screenwriting success.

Dan MaxXx I have been asked for pitch decks countless times. Currently it seems to be step 1 for most people.

@Colette, that's what I love about you. Even in the face of what seems impossible and with time against you, you're still up for the challenge. That's how you gotta be.

Dustin - I was just saying the same thing to CJ on another post a few days back. I don't think theirs too many on Stage 32 with Shane Stanley's experience/success. So the guy clearly knows something we don't.

I actually hoped to sit down with the guy, but I've come to accept that CJ is selfish and purposely timed his new scripts -booking the Emmy Winner for the foreseeable future- just to spite me. Despite not knowing I ever existed before a few days ago. Lol.

CJ - I only want 10 minutes with the guy. I promise to give him back, honest. Lol.

Geno - Buddy, who rubbed you up the wrong way? I don't know the history, but something needs to get off the old chest, or you'll burst, my friend. Remember, we're all associates here. We all desire the same outcome. Let's be supportive, and yes, we should be able to have opposite opinions and criticise one another, but it should always be constructive. My Pops always said, "If you cannot take a lesson away from someone's criticism, then you can assume it was an attack." On a more positive note, I rated "Banking on Betty". Great concept. Is there a script for this?

LMAO Naithan! If Shane and I are ever in London together, we'll have to grab a beer with you.

As mentioned elsewhere, Shane and I once got a funding offer on the back of a two-page synopsis I wrote the same morning.

That's how it goes sometimes. There's more than one way to skin a cat and it's wise to take any dogmatic views with pinch of salt.

Christiane - I couldn't agree more. For me, it usually goes; Deck, Script, Pitch, for a feature script AND Deck script, Pitch, Show Bible, for a Pilot.

Curious. Is this the same for you?

We should debate in a new post- different approaches/techniques to successfully break into the industry. Networking is the only thing that truly works for me. I literally turn up everywhere and anywhere, including a Nike commercial set. I jumped the wall and pretended to be a PA -wore my own Motorola xt420 walkie talkie, headset and fanny pack with stationary in it, remember those. I managed to get details for the Key PA, AD and left with the numbers of a cinematographer and sound engineer I still communicate with today. Nothing ever came from it, but that's the extremes I'm prepared to go to.

Oh no, now I'm thinking the post should be, "THE MOST EXTREME THING YOU'VE DONE TO BREAK INTO THE INDUSTRY."

CJ - Defo up for it. I'm actually in New Jersey, early July, LA late July and me and the family should have fully relocated to Florida by Jan 2023. So make it quick. Lol.

Collette - Big Facts

I don't think any legitimate producer would give a rat's rectum if the screenwriter has or doesn't have a poster. So I think people should do whatever floats their boat.

Great unique selling point (USP).

I'm really enjoying this conversation and learnt a lot of cool tips and advice. Maybe Stage 32 will update their Pitch Submission from a 2 page PDF to a Pitch Deck PDF if available. I'm also signing up to Script Revolution tomorrow.

Neat.

Being able to submit a pitch deck on Stage 32 would be great, Simon Hartwell.

I watched that webinar by Shane Stanley, Colette "ByFilms" Byfield. It's one of the best ones I've watched on Stage 32.

@NaithanHilaire, I'll have to find the right video on Film Courage, but Shane seems so open, he even gave out his email address. With a caveat, I will not read your script but, I might send it to someone if I think there's a fit...

I might have missed it in this feed, but has anyone mentioned having multiple scripts in their portfolio of work? A buyer might not be in the market for your screenplay, even with all the bells and whistles of an audiovisual pitch, but if they like you, and see you might have talent, they often ask, "What else do you have?" Recent experience with a Producer has verified this, and I offered something else too. Don't sit on one script or treatment or pilot, be ready to show them you are serious about screenwriting and are more than a one trick pony.

So who here actually sold a spec script with a poster, lookbook, whatever- and sold the whole package of material for $50,000 U.S. dollars or more?

Let's not gatekeep what constitutes a valid screenwriting career, guys.

Dustin - Thanks for looking out. I actually watched the footage you're referring to. However, I was actually pulling CJ's leg. I already talked with Shane strictly on a professional level. Still, he informed me that he's somewhat tied up with CJ for the foreseeable. Hence, my banter with CJ further up in the conversation. I never submitted any scripts, but I gathered I'm still younger than CJ, and Shane will eventually get bored of the guy. So I'll patiently wait for my execution, and before you know it. CJ will be nothing but a figment of Shane's imagination. Lol.

FYI for anyone deprived of a funny bone from birth. I actually like CJ. He's a cool dude.

Genuinely laughed out loud at that, Naithan! Sincerely hope we get to have a beer or two one day and will be telling Shane all about the love and banter in this thread.

how much did it cost you, Wally?

Fantastic, Wally. That really looks the part. I've used Fivver in the past but nothing as good as that. Are you happy to pass on the name of the graphic artist?

Great advice about having multiple scripts in your portfolio, Goran Zivanovic.

The poster is designed nicely, Wally.

I had this poster made on Fiverr.

I also had this poster made on Fiverr.

Seriously good.

I think this whole thread has been an amazing argument for the power of graphics in selling a concept. There's a good reason books have covers.

Yes Wally. From the six million concepts you have this one -- besides a few others -- has potential!! Now you need a killer logline!

@CJ Walley Agree. A graphic is also really helpful in getting across tone. You can get an immediate sense of whether it is a Hallmark movie, a noir, art house, or B-movie thriller.

That's the challenge I'm faced with now. I'm searching for guyman20 and looking at graphic design posters but the first question I have to answer is - What do I want.

Noting, Colette "ByFilms" Byfiel, what makes a logline cinematic comment -

' I agree. Posters are visual “loglines” and instantly leave a memorable impression! '