Finally got to the end of the first act first draft of this horror feature I'm working on. It's really rough, and will require a lot of rewriting, but that's what a first draft is for, I reckon. Gonna take a few days and let it marinate a bit before diving back in and starting Act II.
So, what are y'all working on?
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Nice! just submitted a new draft of a spec script (and so of course in that phase where I should start on the next script while waiting for notes but can't help just wanting to fix everything I already know is wrong in the first script haha)
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Reconfiguring my logline. Working on my TV show bible/treatment, the episodes of my first season (the structure of it) and looking into scripwriting software, preferably free. I also had an idea marinating in my mind for a short film. It's a skeleton idea, but it would revolve around a young woman, a therapist and an existential crisis.
Personally, working from home part-time and slowly coming back to a full-time schedule, but I still have my welfare funds. It's just a matter of taking it day by day and seeing what happens.
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Emily J I've been there! It's not easy to keep hands off while waiting for those notes!
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@marcelnaultjr. Yeah, I'm doing something similar, having to mix my writing with a full-time job and other non-writing related tasks. And trying not to dip into my savings any more than I already have.
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For script writing software Marcel Nault Jr. have you looked at https://www.trelby.org/ ? It's free.
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J. Franklin Evans Easier said than done considering the current economic umbrella. I'm just grateful to have my job still and being able to work on that and my job in an almost full-time capacity.
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Terri Morgan I've decided to use Celtx for my current project seeing as it's free as well, but I'll check out Trelby. Thanks for the tip!
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Ten episode TV series. Kicking my myself. Now that I am staring at 10 hours of screen time.
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Pat yourself on the back, that's a major accomplishment. Just don't let it marinate too long. :-) Myself, right now, I'm working on a few projects, but I have a tv show I'm currently working on with ten one hour episodes.
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First acts are a bit of a paradox: they're the easiest because you're introducing the story you're excited to tell and the hardest because you want to nail those first few pages to set up everything else you have in mind. But good job and keep going!
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I've actually had a good week. Wrote 19 pages of an episode for a series I'm trying to pitch.
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I am in the the very early stages of my 1rst logline and trying to decide feature or web series. In a dilemma right now. lol. It's all good!
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Hey Jeffrey and all. Greets to you. I am writing a dark fantasy script in between my full time job. I have reached the mid-point now. How I wish “Final draft” could incorporate “Grammarly” in it. I always have to convert to pdf from fdx then convert to word. Any tips, I will appreciate.
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Congratulations on getting to the end of the first act, J. Franklin Evans! I'm finishing up a pitch deck job, working on a writing job, and pitching projects. Best to everyone on your projects and congratulations on the progress! :D
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I am rewriting a screenplay that was optioned a long time ago. It is based on a true story about a con man who gets conned into paying for his own hit.
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Good for you, Jeffrey! I'm currently writing a cosmic horror.
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J. Franklin Evans Hi Jeffrey, the best way to do this is to edit as you go along; then your first draft isn’t really your first draft. You’ve already gone beyond that stage.
Iron out the creases in the flow and pacing, as well as edit any chunky dialogue. Then, when you come to share it, you have already fixed the problems that you knew were there. Why wait for feedback on the problems you already know are in the script? That’s just a waste of time.
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@geoffhall - that approach doesn't work for me. In the first draft stage I just have to write the thing. I'll worry about rewriting it afterwards. If I try to edit it as I go I'll never get done with it, I know from experience. Though if it works for you, that's great!
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Put "@" in front of a person's name, Anthony Murphy.
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Maurice Vaughan Cool! Thank you.
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Marcel Nault Jr. https://industrialscripts.com/existential-film/#h-what-is-existentialism
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You're welcome, Anthony Murphy.
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That’s fantastic! I am currently working on a horror script myself.
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Anthony Murphy Thank you for the link. I'll read that when I get the chance. It might help us circumscribe our own respective themes, make them more concise.
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J. Franklin Evans What I find works for me is I write the first draft in word or a similar software, then, once I'm done, I slowly manually reformat the script into final draft and it gets me to pay attention to any spelling mistakes and it gives you a good chance to change things you don't think are working. It's like going through it again except you actually have to be thorough so you're not skimming over stuff.
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I am about to start my second screenplay.
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Monday meeting with director/producer on rewrites...before that, weekend at the summerhouse, mowing, gardening stuff...
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J. Franklin Evans I think it comes with confidence. Early on in my writing I would never have done that, but I learned to do the groundwork before I start and I know where the story is going, then for me it’s easier to edit as I go.
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Thomas Moore that seems like an unnecessary addition to the process. If you have FD, go straight into it and then you don’t need the reformat stage.
And would you please add a profile pic to your Bio. It helps us all to form relationships with people we can actually see. Thanks. Geoff Hall Stage32 Moderator.
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Just about to add a picture. It really helps me to go over my script fully and check for mistakes. It might not be necessary but I prefer that to just going over the first draft by reading it alone.
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J. Franklin Evans I do the same: broad strokes first to get the structure down, because the structure will shift, and go in later to refine details. Currently, I’m working on a supernatural thriller.