Screenwriting : Screenplay Title by Claude Gagne

Some successful movies have long titles, Claude Gagne, but I try to keep my titles short. One reason is it's easy for an audience to remember a short title. "WARNING: KEEP YOUR CATS AND DOGS INSIDE" sounds like a Horror/Comedy, but your script might be Horror/Comedy. You could use "MUGWUMP" as a title. It's short and interesting. Or "THE MUGWUMP."

Thanks Maurice Vaughan It's not a comedy. It seems horror is the hot topic these days. I'll try my hand on it. You never know maybe I'm the gruesome writer inside me. I think you're right. I'd like a take on others out there. I remember a movie I saw a ways back, I don't know if you ever saw it, 'Batteries not included." Three words. "THE MUGWUMP" seems like the likely choice but it lacks something. Not scary enough. I'll keep "Warning:... as a working title for now. Thanks for commenting.

You could use the name of the lake in your title. I agree that the "WARNING:" title makes it sound more like a comedy and if your focus is more straight horror the title should reflect it or at least be something chilling or thought provoking. "The Monster of Lake Temiskaming", "Beneath Lake Temiskaming", "The Mugwump of Lake Temiskaming", or if you want to really play up the missing pet angle "Lost: Dog" etc.

You're welcome, Claude Gagne. I like Nathan Smith's lake title idea.

You could make the title slightly ironic and call it DOG FOOD (i.e. the dog is the food) Just a thought.

Funny Craig... The titles are still long, Nathan. For now all this thing eats are cats and dogs, but this is only the beginning. I hope I don't make Temiskaming Shores another macabre town as in the Steven King's books. I hadn't checked my documents and it sat there with eight pages. So now that I have my first plot point down all I need now is to find out what this Mugwump is. I still don't know! Cheers all.

I think your title is spot on, love it!

Thanks, Sydney. You like my long one? I'll take 'Your' out. A little shorter. I did research today on my beast. I've become a ghastly person. I hear horror is hot. What do you think, Sydney?

I think a working title is important but the majority of titles change anyhow. Stranger Things was Montauk while being developed for instance.

Choose something that resonates with you. One thing I stick to is beats of three syllables.

You could probably keep it to "Keep Your Cats And Dogs Inside", the warning is implied in the message.

Claude Gagne Horror is very hot right now. I like the long one a lot !

Before I even begin to write the screenplay, I need a working title, the beginning, and the ending. I was going to title it, 'The Mugwump' as mentioned before, but "Batteries Not Included" came to mind, and then it struck me, 'WARNING: Keep Your Cats and Dogs Inside.' Every now and again, on our daily walk my wife will strangely look at me and say, "Are you with your Mugwump again?" And I'd reply what was on my mind. I'll drift off to a sticky point in the screenplay. "I need to go that way now. Scare the crap out of them." And she sort of looks the other way, pissed off I wasn't paying attention to her. Surprising how a bit of fresh air will get you thinking.

Thanks for all your suggestions. It may not even that title, but thanks Jessica, Sam, and Sydney for your comments. I really appreciate it.

Agree with Sam on this one!

Please keep us in the loop with your journey!