Screenwriting : What's Your Favorite? by Maurice Vaughan

Pumpkin Pie and it ain't close... we've got a family recipe that only comes out for thanksgiving. I'll stab a mother fucker for a slice of that.

Whoa, whoa! Put down the knife, Scott Sawitz! It's for cutting pie, not stabbing! Haha That could be a Comedy scene. Do you have a favorite way to start a script?

Yummy, I like to go right into story, something very interesting

I'll take all, Maurice. Sweet post!

Wasting no time, Billy Kwack! And starting a script with something very interesting is a great way to pull a reader in!

Thanks, Evelyn Von Warnitz. Do you have a favorite way to begin a script?

I don't like to waste paper

I like to start my scripts with a fun set piece always. Recent ones have included a disco dance and a skateboarding scene! Also give me key lime pie or give me death!

I like coming up with fun set pieces for scripts, Pat Alexander! I don't know if I've done it at the start of a script. I'm gonna try it. Thanks for the idea!

I like to begin with regular appearing folks in regular settings having very unexpected conversations that set the stage for the story.

And while this isn’t about pie….sweet potato.

I like that, Lora-Ellen McKinney! "Having very unexpected conversations that set the stage for the story." Unexpected things can really pull in a reader (unexpected conversations, actions, and reactions). I like sweet potato pie too! My favorite is apple.

I like to start with something that will grab the reader's attention and make them curious or ask questions so they'll keep reading...and then have it tie in with the ending so it all comes full circle. I'm also a big fan of leaving a subtle breadcrumb trail throughout my stories, right from page one, that readers might or might not pick up on in the first read through, but become really obvious in the second read through.

I like pecan pie...but I make it with sliced almonds instead of pecans. :)

With the words "FADE IN". Lol Seriously though, in whatever way grabs the audience's attention best.

And I made my first pumpkin cheesecake pie last week as a test run for this week, so I'm going to go with that. Lol

I like tying the opening and the end together, Sallie Olson! Sometimes it's a line of dialogue, a character action, object, etc. And I like leaving breadcrumbs throughout stories! I just did it tonight in a script. Almond pie sounds delicious!

Haha Tony Ray. "Whatever way grabs the audience's attention best." Great answer! Congratulations on making your first pumpkin cheesecake pie! I've never heard of that pie, but it sounds delicious!

I don't have any preferences. although most of my stories begin with the fact that the hero is going somewhere about his business.

I would choose a raspberry apple pie and would like to try boysenberry pie. My favorite stories magically ease into the tone with a gentle narrative or make me laugh out loud.

I like a bit of everything for me. It simply depends on the story and where my motivation lies.

Blueberry pie is my favorite pie, and I like to start scripts off with a little tease of what the audience will see more of later. Something that intrigues them and piques their interest, making them want to see more.

Maurice Vaughan If you had a slice of my great-grandmother's pumpkin pie, you'd understand :-p

I like starting with a big action sequence that I can hum to a song... like "Fire" by Scooter

That's great, Arthur Charpentier. You show your hero being active.

This is my first time hearing about raspberry apple pie, boysenberry pie, and boysenberry, Rebecca James. I'd like to try them, especially a raspberry apple pie! A gentle narrative and a laugh out loud opening can hook a reader. I love when a script/movie/show opens with something that makes me laugh out loud. I write more Comedy than I used to, but I'm still getting the hang of it. People find different things funny, so a Comedy script might not be funny to some readers.

I like that, CJ Walley! Let the story and the writer's motivation determine the opening.

That's a great way to start a script, Brian Smith! And I see it in a lot of scripts/movies/shows. When I show the monster/villain at the start of a script, sometimes it's a full scene, and sometimes it's a tease.

Haha Scott Sawitz. Start with a big action sequence that I can hum to a song. I like that! I'll try it.

I love my pumpkin and apple pies!

Hey, Jason Boyer. Apple pie is my favorite. I like pumpkin pie, but I haven't had it in a while. What's your favorite way to open a script?

Maurice Vaughan Of course tasting one of those sweet pies to bring a nicely intro on paper. :) Love to have opening scenes to create a huge feeling for the story. Happy Thanksgiving to you! Always great to read you.

Happy Thanksgiving, Evelyn Von Warnitz and everyone who celebrates it!