Joseph Laramore: .

You're welcome. Same to you.

i wish i could wake up at 6 and write everyday! But the weather is not doing good to me.

I wish I could wake up every day!

I don't get to write everyday around this holiday season, but my mind works on story outlining, plot and character details etc. But isn't that all part of writing, especially as I'm still in first draft stage. Usually though, mornings, around 8-noon are great for me. I'm luckily and happily retired at least from full-time work.

Thank you both for your feedback! Alle - I see what you mean by what you said. This is the fifth draft in the way that I keep changing the copy (not starting from scratch). I'm going to let this sit in my head for a bit and see what I come up with keeping both of you guys's advice in mind. Thanks again!

Hey Andres, I guess the question I'd ask myself would be, "What about this introduction will hook someone into the world I'm creating?" Right now, we got panicked moms taken away by some type of secret police. We don't get a sense of the characters, since they really don't say much. Mostly we get, "What's going on?", "We gotta go!" The police simply state their business. I'd suggest spending time on your characters, their dialog, to give us someone to invest in. Refine these people, so that when meet them on page one, we're interested and want the best for them. The police are militant, but right now serve only to give us exposition on the state of the world. Work on these characters too, Melissa's dialog, so that's she's not just stating things, but has an actual personality. Discover a way to hook us into this world. More has to happen. Either with the story or the characters. Do some exploration. Refine this world, the tension within it, so that when I finish the first page I have to continue on this journey.

Wow! I am so grateful for all of you wonderful people taking time out of your day to help a guy out. I need to take this weekend and really focus on this so I can do the best I can. Thanks again!

Outlines are Great. But they don't help you Discover story, they help you organize story. Plot holes are important to find in Revision. But if you make Drafting the screenplay to much about questioning every choice you are taking the Fun out of the thing.

Great question. Personally, I rely on my makeshift outline to fix those wrinkles before I start writing. But if I were in your situation, I would work on it ASAP. I'm a perfectionist when it comes to my writing. If I tried to push forward, knowing the flow of the story isn't right, it would eat at me and distract me. Remember, the smallest detail on page 20 could affect page 85 (or whatever page in the other two acts). Idk you but I'm sure that if you're on stage 32 that you've got the creative gusto to overcome any obstacle. Best of luck!

Hi Tin Le. A great question. As Lyse Beck says its up to your style. I personally find that when the creative urge takes me I do a brain dump and do not worry about editing as it would impede the flow of ideas. As you know once you have written something you should do at least twenty rewrites of that polishing it up over a period of weeks, if not months, so that it really shines! So my advice is do not edit it or even question yourself if what you are writing here as the first draft is of comparable quality to what you have read by successful authors. After each rewrite, by the way, let your mind do something completely unrelated to that project i.e. distance yourself for a day or two at least so that when you come back to your writing you can approach it freshly. I hope all this does not make it sound its hard work - its not because you are creating something that the world has not read before and if that is not fun what is!

Music always works for me!

yes, sound works for my writing. Without lyrics, so my head-mages don't get flooded by someone else's story stream.

I go the playlist route. When I start, it's generally short. Music that sets the mood of the beginning. As I continue, I find new songs to add, and arranging them to fit the mood of certain scenes. By the end, I've got a lengthy list!

Alle – after thinking carefully, I have to say that I (as the writer), do indeed have the full movie in view as I write/rewrite the script. When wearing my producer’s or director’s hat; that view morphs to something else – similar or not to the original view. I’ve written scripts that others have produced and it amazes me when I see the end product. Sometimes they’re better, sometimes, not so much. I teach that filmmaking is a team sport. Every player is necessary and important. My original question relates to defining a script in such a way so as every member of the team understands what it is and isn’t.

Doug, the way you put the definition is excellent. Are you trying to make your version smaller?

Kimberly, not necessarily smaller – just more concise - something that a newly minted Producer, Director or Filmmaker can write on the palm of their hand to reference when they’re out there on their first shoot. Oh, Alle, I think I forgot to answer your question about how long I’ve actively participated in the film industry. My first experience dates back to 1967/8 as a flunky on True Grit. I’ve been in and out of the film/TV industry as everything from a basic Gofer to Line Producer. I started shooting on a clock-work 16mm Bolex on Ski Free and Steamboat Winter Carnival. I’ve spent many a long night at the KEM table (they wouldn’t let me play on the Movieola.) I’ve worked in writer’s rooms on TV sit-coms. And during all that time, I maintained a well paying business career that now allows me the economic privilege of dedicating myself to working with various young Film Industry wannabes. Hopefully that satisfies your question. If not…oh well.

is that "...he must be (beat) the devil at her own game..."?

Thanks. You're right.

After the Afterlife Logline Title: After the Afterlife Genre: Comedy A failed actor returns from a near death experience with a key to the glorious Afterlife. He builds a billion dollar company touring the Afterlife, but discovers that he must beat the devil at her own game to save his family from hell. Contact: James Feliciano