Screenwriting

As I recall the script for ALIEN is very short and did not describe the alien, just said things like "the alien reaches out." But I think you want to get to 90 pages for a feature. You can space out the language. Check out the script for HARD TIMES by Walter Hill. Admittedly he was directing it himself and could keep description to a minimum, and did not have to describe the hero Cheney (who was played by Charles Bronson in the excellent film), but it's a good example of minimal wording with lots of white space. I think Hill worked on ALIEN as well.

A 61-page script might be considered a feature, Srabon Ghosh. I watched a feature film the other week that was like 71 minutes without the end credits, and I've heard about other short feature films getting made.

I suggest checking with the contests to make sure they consider a 61-page script a feature.

Hi, Alyazin Alriyami. Welcome to the community. I’m a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. I wanted to let you know that I moved your post from the TV Series Pitch Document Writing Lounge to the Screenwriting Lounge. The TV Series Pitch Document Writing Lounge isn't active anymore. Let me know if you have any questions.

Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32's November Community Open House was Tuesday. It'll help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry pros. The recording is up now. It's free to watch. Your parents or guardians can sign up for you here: www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-ho...

Since you’re a minor, make sure your parents or guardians are aware of your account and have access to it. Also, be especially careful about privately connecting with anyone on the platform.

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 not sure if you’ll get a chance to pitch as a 16-year-old, but your location doesn’t matter. I suggest keep learning about screenwriting and the industry and build a portfolio of great scripts.

Here’s a blog for up-and-coming screenwriters: www.stage32.com/blog/the-questions-up-and-coming-screenwriters-need-to-a...

Stage 32 has other screenwriting resources:

Screenwriting Lounge: www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting

Screenwriting Blogs: www.stage32.com/blog/tags/screenwriting-25

Screenwriting Education: www.stage32.com/education/search?term=Screenwriting

Script Services: www.stage32.com/scriptservices

The Writers’ Room: www.stage32.com/writers-room (your parents or guardians can sign up for your first month of membership free here www.stage32.com/writers-room/plans-vip)

Hi Maurice Vaughan ,thanks for your reply I really appreciate that and will try doing what you suggested, thanks again!

You're welcome, Alyazin Alriyami. Great. Hope those resources help! And I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. If you ever have any questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know. We have badges on our pictures. Or you could email support@stage32.com.

Writing commercial scripts (15 sec, 30 sec, etc.) can help writers get better at writing the first page, Elle Bolan. There's not a lot of time in a commercial script, so you have to grab the reader's attention right away. It gets writers in the habit of grabbing the reader's attention right away (the first word or sentence/sentences).

I've found starting a feature script with the protagonist or monster/antagonist doing something that's important to the story grabs the reader's attention.

Yep, that's the same method. 15 to 30 seconds flexes that exact same muscle.

It's a good skill to have.

I tend to drop in media res as often as possible. Right to a pivotal moment before page 1 ends. Maurice Vaughan

That's a great idea, Elle Bolan. I mainly do it in commercial scripts and short scripts. I also like to set up a mystery (like showing an object) on page one. I used to overuse flashforward scenes on page one in my scripts.

Hi, Shayla Booth. Welcome to the community. Stage 32 has a blog that'll help you navigate the platform and connect with creatives and industry professionals all over the world. www.stage32.com/blog/how-to-successfully-navigate-the-stage-32-platform-...

Stage 32's November Community Open House was Tuesday. It'll help you navigate Stage 32 and connect with creatives and industry pros. The recording is up now. It's free to watch. www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-s-november-community-open-ho...

I suggest adding a detailed bio to your profile. It'll help you build relationships/network on here. You could add things to your bio like why you became a screenwriter, your accomplishments, your goals, and what movies and shows you like. You can edit your bio by clicking the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner of Stage 32, then selecting “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu, then clicking the red button underneath your location and choosing "Edit Profile."

I suggest adding your last name. It’s Stage 32’s policy that members have a proper first and last name or a pen name on their accounts. A lot of Stage 32 members are reluctant to accept network requests from profiles that don’t have proper names, and they’ll report the accounts as spam, which will cause the accounts to get removed.

Static Screams sounds intriguing! You could post your script on your profile. Producers search profiles for projects. That and networking are how I sold four short scripts to a producer. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and select “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to “Loglines” and click “Add/edit loglines” to the right of “Loglines.” You can also post your script on your profile this way: www.stage32.com/loglines (near the top where it says “Add a Logline”)

Hey, Maurice Vaughan Thankyou so much for the advice, I will add to my profile :) Appreciate the help.

You're welcome, Shayla Booth. Reach out to the Success Team at success@stage32.com. Geoff and his team can help you connect with producers, executives, and more.

And Stage 32 is the Global Screenwriting Contest Hub (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/contests).

In a book you could spend fifty or a hundred pages setting up your world and charm your reader into it slowly, like slipping into a warm bath. In a screenplay its probably fifteen pages max of As-Is and even then, you should already have a major hook/inciting incident/trigger.

I think I should go into writing books rather than Screenplays because I prefer the creative freedom to roam and create a world to the T with no restriction of word count.

If its not too much I posted the first Screenplay I wrote on my profile, its a quick read and I'd love to hear criticism on it

With screenwriting, you need to second-guess the supporting story the visualization provides.

Take Lord of the Rings. The visualization had to be done before a word could be written.

So I am not totally sold on the fortunes of selling scripts. Selling film rights to a book feels to have more gravitas.

Njabulo Shabangu If you ever need help publishing a story and getting the ISBN to protect your work, let me know, that is what we do.

I learned screenwriting by creating no-budget movies. For me the standard script format is intuitive. My advice to those who have problems with the format is to contact your local group of no-budget filmmakers. Help them to film. When you are forced to read, and understand what must be in the film, you will find it easier to understand why the standard format looks the way it does.

thank's maurice ;)

You're welcome, Fares Mohamed. I'm a Stage 32 Lounge Moderator. If you ever have any questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know. We have badges on our pictures. Or you could email support@stage32.com.

And it's Stage 32’s policy that members have a proper first and last name or a pen name on their accounts. A lot of Stage 32 members are reluctant to accept network requests from profiles that don’t have proper names, and they’ll report the accounts as spam, which will cause the accounts to get removed.

thank you very much for your message and for your help.

No worries on my end regarding my name: my name is Fares, so everything is in order. Thanks as well for the information about connection requests and the risk of being reported as spam — I’ll be careful.

Have a great day, and I look forward to connecting on Stage 32!

You're welcome, Fares Mohamed. I suggest adding your last name. Have a great day too! I hope you find success on here!

I am in Sweden, also part of Europe. I translated my latest script into American English. Then I wrote to about 100 production companies which appeared to accept submission from us who have no agent. Almost all the companies I wrote to were based in USA. But still the only answer which appeared encouraging was from Australia.

Hi, Julie Lamont. I look for a writing partner who has the same vision for the project and someone who'll be professional and respectful.

You could make a collaboration post on the Job Board (www.stage32.com/find-jobs).

When I look for a writing partner, I look for someone who differs from me. Preferably opposite gender and very different age. Different social background. Unfortunately that maximizes the risk for disagreement. At the same time, collaboration for me means that one person tells "this is what I have in my story right now so tell me all you want to add". And when the first person receives suggestions from the second person, the first person decides which suggestions to use.

I use all three of these in scripts, Ehsan Rahimpour, especially suspense. I don't think I've used all three in one scene. I might try it.

Congratulations on the request, Suzy Miller! I suggest emailing writerhelp@stage32.com.