I'm proud to announce that our film Guiltless is now an award winning film. Thank you Cine Cuauhtemoc Pan American Film Festival! I would also like to thank the amazing cast and crew (fellow Stage32 members) for their extraordinary work!
I'm proud to announce that our film Guiltless is now an award winning film. Thank you Cine Cuauhtemoc Pan American Film Festival! I would also like to thank the amazing cast and crew (fellow Stage32 members) for their extraordinary work!
Hi, my name is Eric and I wanted to know about pitching screenplay ideas. Is it possible to just to have an idea to pitch to a producer/movie studio and then write the screenplay/have the screenplay be written by someone else? Would pitching ideas only be acknowledged if I have written screenplays b...
Expand postHi, my name is Eric and I wanted to know about pitching screenplay ideas. Is it possible to just to have an idea to pitch to a producer/movie studio and then write the screenplay/have the screenplay be written by someone else? Would pitching ideas only be acknowledged if I have written screenplays before and had them produced? Who would be the best person to pitch my ideas to and are their sites that have contests where people can pitch movie ideas? I know there are many questions to answer but I have always wondered whether it was that easy to pitch my movie ideas or if it is harder than it looks.
No. No one is really going to buy a pitch and hire someone else to write it. they might as well just come up with their own ideas for free. and since you can't copyright an idea, you'd just be opening yourself up to them taking it. why would they really need you?
Thanks for the advice.
Eric: I've pitched several ideas that producers liked, where I didn't have a script yet. What I did have was a good title, compelling idea, logline and a synopsis with a complete story told in 2 pages...
Expand commentEric: I've pitched several ideas that producers liked, where I didn't have a script yet. What I did have was a good title, compelling idea, logline and a synopsis with a complete story told in 2 pages. That being said, I also quickly wrote the scripts while the interest was high. I would never come up with an idea and have someone else write it. Therefore, if you can work quickly and with a solid level of precision, you may have a fighting chance.
Eric, Take the advice given and run with it. Write the script, logline, and all the other materials you need to gain interest once you pitch it. Only few can get away pitcghing a concept with no witeen material behind it, and we are not those people.
Directors and producers often come up with ideas and hire screenwriters to turn them into scripts, but not the other way around. Established screenwriters, like Phillip or John August, might have better luck.
I am a writer from Springfield, Illinois with a recently completed paranormal comedy titled The Ghost Who Came to Dinner. I just started the difficult task of trying to sell it. I'm also in the planning stages of a short film about a pair of internet killers. This one is a really dark comedy.
I hope it works out for you. Good luck.
Dark comedy is a tough sell (I speak from experience). Please keep us up to date on your progress and I hope it all goes well.
I'm not trying to sell the dark comedy. I'm shooting it myself.
Sorry, misunderstood.
Welcome Marc!
I'll start things off-- "This is going straight to the pool room!" - The Castle This is an interesting list: http://www.imdb.com/list/ls008807135/
From the same film - "How's the serenity?"
What do you feel are the biggest industry standard formatting "no-no's" of screenwriting?
Directing your screenplay, by writing camera directions is the biggest "no, no". Another one and I'm guilty, is writing what a character is thinking, since in screenplays we only write what we see. Th...
Expand commentDirecting your screenplay, by writing camera directions is the biggest "no, no". Another one and I'm guilty, is writing what a character is thinking, since in screenplays we only write what we see. This has been the hardest thing for me , so it's always on the back of my head when I write. Any suggestions???
Jorge - I think that's it: Remember to only write what is seen. Try to put what the characters are thinking into their actions.
I'm with Bill on the feces thing. OTN writing is a big no-no, as well - can't tell you how many times I've tried to get through a script that actually had some story merit, but because the dialogue was so on the nose it kept throwing me out.
Thanks, Becca, for the advice Great post by the way. Keep them coming.
I'm not sure if a lot of these are "formatting no-no's" or story structuring "do and don'ts" we're discussing here. Either way it's a good discussion. Jorge, I agree, writing what a character is think...
Expand commentI'm not sure if a lot of these are "formatting no-no's" or story structuring "do and don'ts" we're discussing here. Either way it's a good discussion. Jorge, I agree, writing what a character is thinking, or describing something that the camera cannot see, is the biggest screenwriting failure. Oh, and also, "plenty of white space" somewhere along the lines of 50/50 or 60/40. Like someone said 'big blocks' of anything can be stressful on the eyes and the brain. The reader is already associating a negative feeling with the page before he even reads it.
Greetings and Salutations, I just had a truly encouraging consult with an exec - positive feedback and clear notes for further polishing my script. I highly recommend the service. One hour on Skype talking to an industry pro so helps in separating out the important flaws from the trivial points. I w...
Expand postGreetings and Salutations, I just had a truly encouraging consult with an exec - positive feedback and clear notes for further polishing my script. I highly recommend the service. One hour on Skype talking to an industry pro so helps in separating out the important flaws from the trivial points. I wanted to share this to say thank you to Joey T for setting up the consult and to encourage anyone who's thinking of maybe laying their money down; it's worth the investment. Now I'm off to hunt the producer who wants my script - they're out there, somewhere.
Matthew hit the nail on the head! It is an INVESTMENT in your business. I view it the same way. Glad to see others enjoying the coverage!
So cool to hear Matthew! I'm very happy to hear that. I'm sending mine in this Thursday to Joey, and cannot wait! "Encouraging" is feeling we search for.
Joey - Thank you so much for that wonderful compliment. It's easy to gravitate to kindness when you start looking at people and finding what it is that you have in common, rather than noticing what's different. You're title of: President - Happy Writers couldn't be more sincere!
I am sure I can speak for Stephen and Matthew when I say thank you and if it was not for your tireless efforts Joey we would not be as determined as we are to succeed. I know I would be in the dark, n...
Expand commentI am sure I can speak for Stephen and Matthew when I say thank you and if it was not for your tireless efforts Joey we would not be as determined as we are to succeed. I know I would be in the dark, not knowing how I am progressing. My wife has not met you yet Joey but she thanks you for all you have done.
See, now I'm blushing. Thanks Joey - and thanks from my wife as well.
WIthout going into too much detail, what happens when you thin of a concept for a movie, and then--bam--a major studio comes out with a movie that's amazingly too close for comfort to your idea? How do you feel? How do you deal with it? Any thoughts? I had this happen to me on more than one occasion...
Expand postWIthout going into too much detail, what happens when you thin of a concept for a movie, and then--bam--a major studio comes out with a movie that's amazingly too close for comfort to your idea? How do you feel? How do you deal with it? Any thoughts? I had this happen to me on more than one occasion and it kind of makes me feel like, well, giving up. How does getting beaten to the punch make ya'll feel? I feel kind of hopeless.
This kind of thing has happened to me many times. Everything from an idea of what to put in an empty retail store to oatmeal in Styrofoam cups. Look at it this way - you have a creative mind that know...
Expand commentThis kind of thing has happened to me many times. Everything from an idea of what to put in an empty retail store to oatmeal in Styrofoam cups. Look at it this way - you have a creative mind that knows what other people want or like. It confirms that your idea wasn't out in left field, that someone else thought enough of it to take a chance. That's a good thing, although don't you wish you had gotten there first? Recently happened to me with script I'm working on right now, but doesn't stop me from finishing it. It means I'm in the right ball park and someone might want to play ball. Take it as a compliment and keep going.
That has recently happened to me. Stick to it. If you really think your characters or story is worth writing, continue writing it. If you are really concerned about it being very close, you can either...
Expand commentThat has recently happened to me. Stick to it. If you really think your characters or story is worth writing, continue writing it. If you are really concerned about it being very close, you can either shelf it, keep it as it is, or re-write the things that may make it less like the film that has been released. But don't let it get you down. Original thought is very rarely that, and it is one thing that can keep people from writing.
Oh, yeah it's happened to me more than once. It's called "THE SPECTER OF SIMILAR IDEAS." Check out my article on my blog about his harsh reality: https://scriptcat.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/the-specter...
Expand commentOh, yeah it's happened to me more than once. It's called "THE SPECTER OF SIMILAR IDEAS." Check out my article on my blog about his harsh reality: https://scriptcat.wordpress.com/2012/04/06/the-specter-of-similar-ideas/
Don't take it personally. In fact - use it as motivation. A sort of psychic pat on the back. If you keep coming up with ideas that Hollywood is making - then you're on the right track and thinking com...
Expand commentDon't take it personally. In fact - use it as motivation. A sort of psychic pat on the back. If you keep coming up with ideas that Hollywood is making - then you're on the right track and thinking commercially. Just get more sleep and come up with the ideas a bit quicker. The business has a habit of finding things in the ozone all at the same time - so you end up with 3 movies about farmers suffering through floods or 3 with kids transferring into the Dad's bodies. Usually the first one before the camera gets made - and the rest fade away. But don't give up. It's been said that there are only a half a dozen original plots - and everything else is the original spin you put on something. Different seasoning. West Side Story is Romeo & Juliet set to music and a gang background. That sort of thing. I had a teacher in film school who claimed that a very famous scene from a very famous movie was ripped off from one of his scripts. He wasn't mad about it - he said he was flattered - and it told him that he was on the right track. If they were stealing from him - he was doing it right. That would NOT apply to getting a whole screenplay ripped off - but you get the gist.
The good news is: you are writing what they are making. The better news is: you now know what their version is, so that you can rewrite yours to be unique. Have you ever noticed that there are 2 movie...
Expand commentThe good news is: you are writing what they are making. The better news is: you now know what their version is, so that you can rewrite yours to be unique. Have you ever noticed that there are 2 movies made about volcanoes, 2 movies made about cut talking bugs, 2 movies made about outbreaks, 2 movies made about.... Your script could be the second one. Actually, there was only 1 movie made about outbreaks because CRISIS IN THE HOT ZONE (the first sale with that story) lost its star and crashed and burned and the 2 version OUTBREAK was the only one they made. Yours could be the one that makes it to the screen, too!
Does anyone have any good experience going thru the casting process for one of their projects? I'd really love to chat with anyone who could help guide me in the right direction when it comes to finding the right talent for my project. I'm basically starting out with ZERO understanding so I may have...
Expand postDoes anyone have any good experience going thru the casting process for one of their projects? I'd really love to chat with anyone who could help guide me in the right direction when it comes to finding the right talent for my project. I'm basically starting out with ZERO understanding so I may have quite a few questions for you. Thanks in advance! Best, Dylan
Hi Dylan, Casting can be really challenging. Unfortunately a lot of people cast on looks and nothing else, they see someone attractive and bam! they have the role. Of course this can turn out well or...
Expand commentHi Dylan, Casting can be really challenging. Unfortunately a lot of people cast on looks and nothing else, they see someone attractive and bam! they have the role. Of course this can turn out well or just go completely south. When I was a student I did this, and it didn't go well, so I learnt over the past few years what I had to do to really see if someone is right for the role. I can't tell you how important having some sort of casting session / audition with a reading or some sort of exercise to test an actors ability is. This may sound obvious but so many times because of either time or money constraints, casting is rushed to get production going. Try to avoid this, really spend time on this phase. Know your characters in the film, think about what they might sound like or perhaps mannerisms. Then give this to the actors going for the role, then they have something to go on for the audition and you can truly see if that person is right for the role. However this phase is also about being open to suggestion, after all its an actors job to give a unique performance. Try to be open in certain areas of the character, as an audition may give new life to a character! The only other thing I would say is try to have a small team, even just two of you to cast for the film. Having someone to bounce thoughts off of is really helpful and stops you from making immediate and perhaps foolish decisions. Just remember, if its your project, then its up to you how you do things, turn the idea of an audition on its head and put the actor out of their comfort zone if necessary, to test how adaptable they can be. Have fun with it, but obviously don't make it a Battle Royale experience for them. :) I have a reasonable amount of experience casting for drama and advertising so if you have any other questions I'd be happy to answer.
Hey Dylan, I've cast a couple of tiny, indie productions and I have a couple of pieces of advice that have served me well. See if they work for you. 1. Cast the hard workers: the best actor is not alw...
Expand commentHey Dylan, I've cast a couple of tiny, indie productions and I have a couple of pieces of advice that have served me well. See if they work for you. 1. Cast the hard workers: the best actor is not always the best choice for the role, especially if you're on a budget and don't have time to be jerked around. The best choice is the person who shows up on time for the audition, has read the excerpt and prepared a reading. They listen to your direction and try their best to give you whatever you ask for. The best actress I ever cast was a former working model - she really struggled to learn her lines. But she was on set early every call, gave me everything I asked for and listened constantly for tips and direction. The worst actor I ever cast I ended up never putting on screen because he jerked me around so much that I couldn't even get clear commitments whether he'd be on set or not. And he was by far the most talented member of that cast. 2. Unless the role requires it, don't get set on any details: say you have a cop in your script and in your mind he's always been a fat, mid-forties white guy. Auditions come around and you can't get anyone even close - ask yourself does the character have to be that way? Could a younger man do the role? A woman? Someone of a different ethnicity? Honestly, more than half the roles I've ever cast didn't really need any specific characteristics from the actor. In one indie production I cast we got five times as many women show for auditions as men. After some tweaking of the script we switched the genders of three or four cast members and were off to the races. Well, that's my two cents. Hope it helps.
I could probably help you out if need be, I wish there was a secret to good casting but its just looking for that one that feels like you don't need to look at anyone else... you'll know it when you see it.
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Awesome. where can i check it out?
Fantastic, Luis! Congratulations!
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Congratulations Luis!
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The team lead by RB is extraordinary and lets not forget the members. Without their passion for their craft we wouldn't need a platform like this. Stage32 embodies what storytelling is all about!
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Oh and I almost forgot Tad, you asked if I could write about my journey. A few months ago I did a guest blog for Stage32. You can read it here: https://www.stage32.com/blog/Don-t-Tell-Them-Show-Them...
Expand commentOh and I almost forgot Tad, you asked if I could write about my journey. A few months ago I did a guest blog for Stage32. You can read it here: https://www.stage32.com/blog/Don-t-Tell-Them-Show-Them