From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting
I'm wondering what some of your favorites are. I noticed in the OWAs that I haven't seen most of the shows they are inspired by. I guess I need to watch a lot more tv, lol. I thought I already watch too much! I really loved the writing on Black Sails. From beginning to end it had strong character de...
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Good evening community.
When I write characters, I tend to give them sketchy.back stories and pasts and I often write characters who smoke, drink and do drugs. is there any other writer who incorporates these behaviors in their characters?
best,
Bram
Hi Abram, UVOTV, is that free?
Billy Kwack yes it is. You can Google the platform and search for TONES
TONES | UVOtv https://uvotv.com/movie/tones--10200/play...
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Hi Abram, I just watched Tones, it's pretty good. Are you working on anything now?
A character's behaviour should reveal something about them that drives your story forward. Abram, you could incorporate the following to inject variety into your screenplays:'
1. make your characters c...
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I find that starting with traits and backstories can be a case of the tail wagging the dog.
Stories have themes and really well developed stories have characters who provide a different take on that ce...
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In a recent review, the reviewer stated, “…transitions like “Fade in/Fade out” are generally discouraged in modern screenwriting.”
This got me to asking myself, should these transitions be removed out and left to directorial discretions? My current thinking now is to leave them out.
Would love to kno...
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Ilanna Mandel I don not.
good to know
I hear so many conflicting views on whether you should use transitions if you're writing the script, I respect that they're up to the director primarily. I'm now of the mind that I'll use FADE IN/FADE...
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Mike's spot on. Don't overthink it.
If you go on the likes of Reddit and Facebook, you'll see people saying you should never use a single transition - that it looks amateurish, that it makes you look l...
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Attention writers, We have some OWAs ready for your script! This diverse collection features urgent requests from top-tier producers, showrunners, and production companies for everything from pre-teen micro-dramas to heartwarming Christmas features.
This is your first major opportunity of 2026 to get...
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how can i submit it for free
Hello Stage32, I am preparing for a Pitch Deck/Pitch Bible Review +30 minute talk with an executive. Does anyone have an outline/template of a Pitch Deck or Pitch Bible so that I can prepare my materials? Any information provided would be greatly appreciated. Thank you!
I've created one on Canva. They have plenty of templates. You can make a slideshow of it and/or a video. The pay-to-play Pro version is often offered for a 30-day free trial, but it's not necessary to create a slideshor or video. Good luck
Lindsey M Grant thank you!
Jon Hersh is an independent literary manager working with writer and writer/director clients in film and TV. Jon created Night Drive Management (previously Housefire Management) in 2017 with the intent of finding bold voices with incendiary material. Since then, his clients have gone on to develop f...
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Hi, Jon Hersh. I hope you're having a great week! Thanks for having this AMA! What's one way to get noticed by reps?
Hi Jon, is it better to write low budget than high budget?
F.W.D.I.E.B LOL
Thanks for doing this, Jon. This really means a lot to many of us. My question is-- if you're a new screenwriter- what kind of scripts should you have in your portfolio? Is there anything in particula...
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Hi Jon, thanks for doing this AMA .What qualities in a new writer’s voice make you feel they’re worth taking a risk on, even without credits?
I'd be ever so grateful for your feedback on the following Logline for a feature screenplay I'm developing.
Logline: In 1985, a daring ad executive bets his career on a groundbreaking campaign for Sony's compact disc player featuring four superstars, including Stevie Wonder—none is under contract. A...
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I'd watch this, Scott Westover! I think your logline is too long. It's 61 words. Long loglines can make producers, directors, etc. pass on a project.
What about this: After betting his career on a grou...
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I'd love to see this one! Here's my shot at it: To get the funds to save his daughter's eyesight, an ad exec gambles on a one-in-a-million chance at getting four superstars to appear in an ad campaign for Sony's groundbreaking compact disc player.
Characters and stories that inspire, encourage, generate laughs--and hope. That's my vision for the creative work I do as an author and screenwriter. We live in a world that seems so divided, yet we humans are hard-wired to seek companionship and community. I love it when my creative work gets peopl...
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I love when my creative work gets people talking and connecting too, Michele Baker. I think writers can do both. Write to entertain and write to change/help people and things....
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That is what I want to do.
The fact that your voice is both affirming and unafraid is a powerful combination. The stories we tell need that exact balance of heart and courage. Wishing you great success.
Hey everyone! I wanted to congratulate our fellow community members who had scripts requested through Stage 32 pitch sessions over the last 2 weeks. We are thrilled for the opportunities for the following writers to have their scripts requested by various producers,
87 North, Mission Control, Crossov...
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WOW! That's A LOT of requests!!! Congratulations, everyone! I hope the requests turn into sales and more!
I have an idea- a fun experiment we can do together! Let's Start with this picture and an inciting incident. After that, each person builds on the comment before them until we have a full story arc. Are you game to play? Let's GO! Got this free image from Stockcake.com.
Inciting Incedent 1st Person...
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I'll start us off: Holiday Break has begun for the Havel family, and every morning for a week now, a snowman has been peering into their window and the most delicious hot chocolate ever awaits them at...
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Happy to say I completed the pitching draft of my final screenplay (The Linebreakers) of the year. For the last 18 months I have dedicated one to two hours every night to screenwriting, including writing, editing, pitching, maintaining a website, entering contests, attending festivals, and networkin...
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Congratulations Patrick, sounds like you have your discipline down. Ideas can come from anywhere, for me it can be an extreme extrapolation from a personal event, from another unrelated event or from...
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Great stuff! My ideas are random. For my current manuscript, for example, I had an image of a little boy, alone, a suitcase by his side. Then I sat down, thought about the picture in my mind, and set to spinning a yarn.
Kevin La-Rose thank you! I find it very motivating when I key onto a specific project or character like you have and focus energy towards it like a laser. I'll look forward to seeing how it turns out...
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@Alex Hunter that is a great approach! And in my opinion the world can use more yarn spinning.
Patrick Koepke always! The world needs stories and people to write them.
Joining this whole write club adventure. The assignment was what thought-provoking question would I ask a Manager? Hmmm. I have come to find that my favorite meetings are the ones where I feel like I am having a meeting of the minds, where I can relax, share my crazy ideas, and come away with even b...
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Hey, Maria Restivo Glassner. Glad you joined November Write Club! I had a manager for two years (2009 and 2010). Anthony was a great manager. He taught me things about the industry, gave me guidance,...
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@ Maurice, What would an ideal manager be like now?
I think an ideal manager would be like Anthony, Maria Restivo Glassner. And he was supportive.
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Here's my recommendations for good writing. A lot of these shows go under the radar because they are a little too heavy for the average viewer:
Patriot
Outer Range
Deadloch
Swarm
Fleabag
Homecoming
Undone
Second Patriot 100% and Black Sails is awesome. Would add some more gems in: Banshee, Loudermilk, Lodge 49, Devs, Zero Zero Zero and The Deuce