Deanna Harvey: In Georgetown, Kentucky.

Hi Im Jim. FILM ACTOR. Very Reclusive and focused. Glad to be here. Headed to the gym

Terry! How are you? I want to believe you are great. I'm a creative producer as you will learn if you go through my page. There are different works of mine yet to be produced. You will see some if you visit my page. I'm actually working on one at the moment , trying to raise funds for. I believe we can actually do things together. Do visit my page and let me have your thoughts back.

Doug Nelson, I would like to talk to you about being a 'Staff Writer'. Also, about your 'Studio Sitcom' knowledge.

You can start with me.I'm in need of something that I believe you can offer: just a short which wouldn't last three minutes about a project I'm intending to start seeking fund for. Let me hear from you.

Hi, David. Thanks for the link from Down Under. All the best for your next projects.

Welcome to the community, Andrew!

Thanks so much for the support everyone.

Hello Chris. Good to meet you.

Welcome Chris! :)

Good to connect David.

Welcome to our "little" family David!!!!

Hi David. Fellow midwesterner here!

I had no intention of working in films, but when I was asked to interview Andy Cheng for a magazine, we became friends and about four years later he asked if I'd ever written a screenplay. I have always loved watching movies and so I had played around with turning some fiction I had written into scripts but I had not done it seriously. He gave me a script to re-write and liked what I did with it enough to tell me that he would love to have me as his writing partner. So far we have one film together, written for Johnny Martin (DELIRIUM) and Johnny has since hired me to write others that have yet to go into production. Andy and I are working on another that he will direct himself and already has a BAFTA winning actor signed on and partial funding before we've even finished the screenplay!

None. I enjoy the technical aspects of filmmaking. The only saving grace for some films is the extra material like "The making of...".

It is hard for me to pick just one film that got me interested. If I had to limit it down I could possible do one movie, one series, and one person. Charlie Chaplin would be my person. The movie series would be Halloween. Then the one movie might be Pulp Fiction. Three complete different time frames and genres. Now I would have to say who I am most inspired by is Jordan Peele. I love horror movies and he is creating a whole different perspective in that genre and I would love to help pave that road.

You can’t force an idea to take root. It has to come naturally. Usually the idea or the character comes out of nowhere. When I have a creative idea I try and forget it. If I can’t and it knaws at me or the characters dialogue presents itself I know it’s a story.

Something else to keep in mind. Make sure you're constantly feeding the machine that is your mind. If you don't put anything in, you won't get anything out.

Thank you guys for the input. I do agree with with the thoughts shared here. I think it came across as if I had nothing in the burner, and was trying to grasp an idea. But, It was more like I have a bunch of ideas but prioritizing which inspired me enough to pen next, and not simply grab at one of the ideas bouncing around in my head you know. I don't want to just write ideas because I have them, I want to choose the one that speaks to me most and ignites that excitement to develop and build. Needless to say I decided on one, and I'm itching to get it out. I've started and the words are flowing. I really appreciate this community. I'm new to the industry, and while passionate about my craft, I learn a lot from you guys, and I'll be great because you guys choose to impart your knowledge. Appreciate you always taking the time to give thoughts, advice, and guidelines.

Bill C:

I'm sure I told you that I'm a big fan of Goldman's script for The Great Waldo Pepper. I bought one of his books to be able to review that screenplay. Wonderful screenplay and magnificent film.

In terms of white space, I am very lean. Bug blocks of text wear my eyes out and lead to me skimming. In terms on content, I write densely. Multi faceted storylines and arcs. I don't know how else to make the story interesting without that.

I tend to be "novelesque." I just feel more comfortable writing in full sentences, a la the George Lucas/Gloria Katz/Willard Huyck team responsible for "American Graffiti."

Katya Stiletti thank you for the link. Michael's quite amazing. Watched for some hours.

Doug Nelson … too... perhaps!!

Formatting and structure are fairly straight forward. The one thing you truly have to be wary of is story telling because that's the more individual aspect of the process. You can use parentheticals, that's fine. You can use contractions, but keep in mind the story you're trying to tell. Is it taking place at a time when people would be using contractions? How are people in the story you're telling supposed to speak? And, of course, Dan is right. Reading an ass ton of scripts just to see how they're written, the format, the structure, whatever, is good. You don't want a nonlinear script like a Tarantino on your first time out, nor do you really want to take story writing advice from Aaron Sorkin, or Stephen King, or anyone else, because you're not those people. That process of story telling works for them. That doesn't by any means mean it will work for you. Baby steps. Get down the format, the structure, and then find your own stories.

Talk to people. If you want to write a character with a certain accent or from a certain place, talk to someone from that place. Make your character sound like them.

I have a strange mind. As a writer with autism, I have a hard time sometimes with language and people in general. So, I try to watch films, read dialogue and actually watch people to see how they speak. I try to emulate it. Not always successfully, but lord love me, I try.

...Have fun writing the dialog!

Welcome! You're not far from me, I'm in Georgetown, KY. I'm a writer and in the process of directing my first short. Would love to talk more with you!

Nice to meet you Deanna! Sure lets chat sometime.

Wendy Jones , Is a wonderful feeling for sure. The weight has been lifted lol.

Brian Mills , I'm thinking somewhere in between. My script will rely more on top notch acting as opposed to fancy sets. It's a detective type thriller.

Glad you shared, Michael! Hope to see you more active.

nice!

Do what works. Period. You're job is to move the story along in an informative and entertaining way. You're trying to get from Point A to Point B so that it all makes sense, not only along the way but at the end. If that means using "we see" or bolding or a different font color for a section of the script that is core to its plot, then use it. Read screenplays from pros. They know a helluva lot more about good writing than screenwriting gurus who've never sold a single script.

Saw a video on YouTube a way back by two award winning writers (I forgot who they were) They were giving a free seminar in LA. One of the participants asked why they didn’t charge. They said there was so much bad info out there by writers who never got optioned or produced and didn’t have a clue they wanted to give back with some free real info. Was a great seminar - opened my eyes to some things. Basically they said as trottier did - do what works as long as its visual. (I.e. instead of a POV heading - you can get your point across with “John sees” in the action line.)

Dan G., I respectfully disagree. If they knew more than the pro, then they'd be making their primary income as a screenwriter, not a "guru". I mean, don't you find it...strange...that people who have NEVER sold a single screenplay (and not for lack of trying, either) are getting paid to instruct others on how to sell a screenplay?

I read a new screenwriting book. Seems to re-enthuse me.

I'm going through a similar phase right now. Something that is helping me focus on my career again keeping it at the forefront of my mind everyday. Thinking about it. Dreaming about it. These things get me excited and make me want to sit down and actually write. What kind of writing you do, doesn't matter. Maybe it's a char background. Maybe it's just jotting down notes as they come to you about a new story. Writing a random scene. Anything to get your mind refocused is a good thing.

Watch some brilliant movies that make you want to get up and create. They don't have to be in the same genre as you want to write, just as long as they're creative and motivate you. That always works for me.

Thank you all so much!!! Love the love!

Awesome job!

Congratulations!Congratulations!

Nice!

Congrats Jody. You are sooooo good!

Update: Due to the three earthquakes in Mexico, the festival is canceled. Such a terrible situation for the festival organizers and the people of Mexico. And of course we are bummed, I don't know when or if we will ever have two scripts selected for the same festival again. We were so looking forward to attending, hopefully next year!

To add insult to injury, Aeromexico totally screwed us, wouldn't even give us a credit on our tickets. Apparently natural disasters are not exempt from their ridiculous fees. :-(