Screenwriting

I am going to try writing with AI to finish taking written pilots to pitchable condition. In other words areas of writing (scientific), AI has massively moved my productivity forward. So hoping the same will happen with screenwriting.

That's a great attitude to have about rejection, Priya Mistry! Check out the pitching resources in my comment on this post: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-and-Filmmaking-Strategies-...

Hi, Lloyd Faul. Why not do it yourself or with a writing partner instead of AI?

And I suggest adding a profile picture of yourself. People will feel more comfortable networking and collaborating with you if they know what you look like. And if you have a picture, your profile will show up when someone searches for you. You can upload a picture by clicking the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and selecting “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu, then clicking the red button underneath your location and choosing "Update profile picture."

I'm putting together my deck for TETHERED this week. And heading into my next project head first. No slowing down. No stopping. Keep it moving.

Deciding between SHIFT and PERPETUAL MOTION is going to be the hard part.

Thanks Maurice, I'll try

Luis García, Yes. It's time to wake up. The Matrix isn't a fairy tale...

Vaccines are a forbidden topic

....

Luis García im currently developing a short script about a transgendered woman who must grapple with reappearing as her male identity after she learns that hormone treatment will no longer be covered by her insurance. it’s titled TRANSitioned.

I write about unsolved problems, like the Doomsday Clock, health reform, police violence, etc. that are not morally "taboo" but psychologically "taboo" from human denial and tribal silos causing those subjects to be avoided & remain unsolved. So my characters try to deal with them, often blended with dark humor to try to break through denial.

There are quite a few paid pitching services available on this platform.

What I usually do is turn my entire screenplay or story into a pitch first, and then share it with the people around me—my friends, family members, or even cinema-loving folks in my circle. If I notice that they’re genuinely engaged, asking for the next line after hearing just a few, or showing excitement, that’s when I take it as a sign that my writing is moving in the right direction.

Hey, Ryan Wilford! Hope your week’s going smoothly too! Congratulations on getting close to finishing your 3rd pass!

"How do you know when your script is truly "pitch-ready"?" It's a gut feeling for me, and feedback helps.

Stage 32's Pitch Sessions can help you improve your pitch. The written Pitch Sessions helped me. And the main purpose of the Pitch Sessions is to get feedback to improve your pitch, but sometimes the executives, managers, etc. will request scripts, sign writers, etc. (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/success-stories).

Stage 32 has two written pitch examples (one for a movie and the other for a show). Stage 32 also has a verbal feature pitch beat sheet and a verbal TV pitch beat sheet. You can get them by emailing success@stage32.com.

Here's three Lounge posts with pitch advice:

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitch-Advice

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Pitching-44

www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Why-Pitching-Matters-And-How-to-Mak...

The Pitch Practice in the Writers’ Room is the best pitching resource in my opinion. Pitch Practice is every Thursday night at 5:30 P.M. PST/8:30 P.M. EST. You can sit in and listen to members practice their projects and give them feedback. You can pitch your project too, but you have to sign up. The hosts, Noel Thompson and John Mezes, take names during Pitch Practice for people to pitch the following week. You have to sit in and listen at the practice one or two times before you can pitch. You can sign up for your first month of the Writers’ Room free here: www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip

The Pitch Tank in the Writers’ Room is an incredible pitching resource too. The Pitch Tank is where you pitch your script to an executive and get feedback. The Pitch Tank is once a month.

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Create a 2 Page Pitch For Your Feature Film" (www.stage32.com/education/products/how-to-create-a-2-page-pitch-for-your...).

Stage 32 has a free webinar called "How to Write a 2 Page Pitch for Your Television Series" (www.stage32.com/education/products/free-stage-32-webinar-how-to-write-at...).

Stage 32 also has a free pitch webinar: www.stage32.com/education/products/pitching-tips-from-the-pros-your-blue...

"What are your preferred pitching approaches?" I prefer to pitch with email query letters (mainly to producers). And something I do to pitch my scripts is post pages in Stage 32's Your Stage Lounge, on Twitter/X, and on Instagram, like First Page Friday, Third Page Thursday, and Sneak Peek Sunday. I post loglines and script posters with the pages. And sometimes I post short pitches (like two-word pitches and three-word pitches) on social media.

"What's the best way to find and pitch to filmmakers (directors) who are looking for their next project?" Network/build relationships on Stage 32, on other platforms, and in person. Stage 32 has free in-person Meetups (www.stage32.com/meetups). If you don't see a Meetup in your area, keep an eye on that page for new Meetups. And you're welcome to start your own Meetup.

Congratulations on your script making the Finals and getting offered a Literary Purchase Agreement, GJ Harvey!

Hi, Michael McDermott. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know I moved your post from the Acting Lounge to the Screenwriting Lounge since it fits better here. Let me know if you have any questions.

I've been getting script ideas by combining movies.

You're welcome, Ryan Wilford. Rewriting as I go helps me come up with ideas. Scene ideas, dialogue, twists, tech for my characters, etc.

John Fife Thanks for the congrats on the final pass, John!

That's really interesting—I've never heard of the "Save the Cat" storyboard program for inputting and arranging beats. It sounds like a powerful way to visually structure the pacing before you commit to the script.

It’s fascinating how, as writers, our processes are so different, and how we find such unique tools that work for our personal way of seeing a story. Thanks so much for sharing your method and taking the time! Good luck on your journey!

You're welcome Ryan. Great program and has helped me a lot with my writing. There is a great book out there called "Save the Cat, The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need" By Blake Snyder. Short book but really lays out a template how a screenplay should be structured and organized so it flows the Hollywood way,

I get all my beats in there first. It's known as pre-writing and usually comes in the form of what's known as a scriptment.

Pace is a very tonal thing and subject to voice. There's not really a right or wrong.

I love this, thanks for sharing your process! I'm still learning how to pace my beats. CJ Walley

This is great, Tony—your character work is strong, and that shows. The “main story spine” you’re talking about is honestly where a lot of writers hit the wall, even with fully built worlds. Something that’s helped me is stepping back and identifying the one central question the whole story is trying to answer. Once that’s clear, everything else starts clicking into place.

You’ve clearly got the world and the characters—now it’s just about finding the thread that ties them all together. Keep going. You’ve got something special here.

— Christine

You're welcome, Tony Sterago. Ok, great.

@Tony definitely try to stay married haha! Happy spouse happy house.

absolutely

Tony Sterago maybe a major conflict that affects all of them could possibly tie the characters together.

Thanks to everyone who answered my question. I just created a Word fact sheet with the help of AI about characters and stories new to me. Let me know if you want me to share. I tossed in a few that we all know too.

As a previous development exec, I spent years training myself to watch as many on-air shows as possible, and now it’s such a habit that I can’t break the routine even if I try. Part of the job was making sure I always knew what was already out there, what audiences were responding to or rejecting, and, maybe most importantly, having my own thoughts on why something worked or didn’t work. That awareness often helped me position our projects for buyers, spot shifts in audience trends, and keep an eye on rising writers, directors, and actors who might be perfect for something we were developing.

I also make myself watch across genres, even when something isn’t naturally my taste. Prestige dramas, procedurals, sitcoms, YA, limited series, absurd comedies, genre pieces, thrillers, international projects, animation, anime, even unscripted, I try to study all of it. And even when I don’t like something, or I’m not the obvious audience for it, I still look for what does work and why it resonates for so many people. That mindset has ended up being one of the most valuable parts of my toolkit.

Because of that, I’ve collected a long list of favorites over the years. Some of the shows I think are exceptionally well written include: Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Band of Brothers, The OA, Orphan Black, Arcane: League of Legends, Attack on Titan, Dark, Battlestar Galactica (2000s remake), The Haunting of Hill House, Halt and Catch Fire, Lost, Money Heist, Silo, From, Watchmen, Hannibal, Dark Matter, For All Mankind, Never Have I Ever, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Outer Banks, Malcolm in the Middle, and Boy Meets World.

That's a great question, and Black Sails is a perfect example of stellar writing. It's impossible to watch everything, but studying a few shows for their specific strengths is incredibly valuable.

Shirley Collier Cat is my favorite but every character is pretty perfect in RedDwarf

Ashley Renee Smith that's a nice list! I agree watching and learning is always worth the time. I also watch some reality shows. I can't bring myself to watch some of them though lol...

Hey! I just finished reading your script, and first of all I want to say this: you clearly understand the fundamentals of screenwriting. The formatting, pacing, scene descriptions, and transitions show that you’ve already got a solid grasp of the craft — especially considering this is your first screenplay.

That alone is something to be proud of.

As for the story itself, I’ll be honest in a friendly way: this isn’t the type of genre or tone I usually write, so I’m seeing it from an outside perspective. Because of that, I found it a bit hard to understand exactly what emotional tone or thematic direction you’re aiming for in the long run.

Right now, the family dynamic feels warm and wholesome, but the characters’ personalities aren’t fully defined yet — they feel a bit neutral, like they're waiting to show who they really are. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, especially in an early draft; it just means there’s a lot of room to deepen them and make their voices more distinct.

But again, the foundation is definitely there. You have structure, atmosphere, clear action, and you build tension effectively — that moment where everything goes quiet after the bang works really well. I genuinely think you’re off to a strong start, especially for a first script.

If you ever want to exchange loglines, concepts, or even pages later on, I’d be happy to. No pressure at all — just good writer-to-writer conversation. : )

Thanks everyone for the lovely comments, I did end up posting the full pilot screenplay. It has a few mistakes in it, but those will be improved :)

You're welcome, Shay Booth.

Shay Booth it's a nice script

Shay Booth You have more confidence than you give yourself credit for since you were brave enough to put yourself out there with this post. that took guts. You are doing a fine job!

where can the contest page be located?

Here's the link, Abram Christian: www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/Stage-32-%20-Pathfinder-Film-and-...

Thank you

You're welcome, Abram Christian.

Gotta love those anonymous sources Pat Alexander. It adds to that belief that repeating a lie over and over makes it a truth.

This is a great thread Leonardo Ramirez 2 I write sci-fi/fantasy, and for something completely different recently completed a psychological thriller. I always look for the light and the joy that can come from surviving difficult experiences. I'm sure there's a part of me in every character I write, but they are mostly composites of people I know, have met, even briefly, and character traits I admire, or despise. My observations of how people behave and relate to each other in different environments also feeds in to building a rounded character.

My thriller, Darke Manor, was a different experience as it was inspired by my own life, growing up with a narcissistic mother who groomed me from childhood to do exactly what she wanted. After her death early last year, writing the script was cathartic as it helped me process what had happened to me and to think about how to move forward to become the writer I've always wanted to be!

Lew Hunter told me to, “write what you know.” Including bits of me and my family histories creates nuances that make each character intriguing, unique, and relatable.

Thanks so much Ingrid Wren. It's funny because there have been times where I'll post something and it just gets buried (I'm sure that happens to everyone) so when I posted this, I honestly thought very few people would read it so I'm honored you stopped by. I absolutely love how you said "I always look for the light and the joy that can come from surviving difficult circumstances" - I SO resonate with that because I feel it's my "calling" to raise hope through story. I'm so sorry that you had to deal with a narcissistic mother - for some reason, I've had a ton of narcissistic persons show up in my life at one point or another. As odd as it is to say, it's actually helped me to grow in being able to resist the arrogant mindset with thicker skin. Thank you so much Ingrid.

You're so right Nancy Wilkinson - and interesting how much we learn from our family dynamics. Some make us stronger through growth while others we learn "what not to be". I'm grateful you stopped by to share.

Looking forward to this lab beginning this weekend!