Hi All, do you think we should capitalize sights and sound in a script that's being submitted into competitions? Someone once said to me that it can be distracting. Thx!
Screenwriting
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
Liked by Wendy Weising and 5 others
TOMORROW – Ask Me Anything (AMA) with Jonathan Jordan!
Jonathan Jordan will be having a 24-hour AMA in the Authoring & Playwriting Lounge tomorrow, focused on “What is a Ghostwriter?”
Jonathan is an award-winning screenwriter, book coach, ghostwriter, playwright, and Stage 32 Thought Leader. He’ll be answering questions like:
What types of content can b...
Expand postLiked by Hakim Kisakye and one other
Vertical Script?
What is a vertical Script, p[lease? I guess I better not apply, if I don't even know what a "Vertical Script Writer" is!
I think vertical scripts are used to make YouTube Shorts videos and TikTok videos, Jed Power.
Christopher Phillips
- 2 hours ago
Jed Power Vertical screenwriting makes reading easier on the page. It's the process of breaking up large paragraphs of description and making short, snappy sentences with whitespace between the senten...
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Screenwriting Lab: Write Your 1 Hour Pilot for A Major Streamer in 10 Weeks!
Disney+, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Max, Apple TV, Paramount+...
Do you want to write for them?
Their audiences want amazing new shows every day. But the bar is set high. That's where Stage 32 comes in.
Whether you want to sell a show or be staffed on a series, the first step is writing a great one-hour pi...
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Sydney Summers
- 21 hours ago
I hope everyone had a lovely first lab session and has a great one-on-one this weekend.
Russell Bruce Hoffman
- 20 hours ago
Hi Sydney, yes I was looking for the recording if it is available
Sydney Summers
- 2 hours ago
Hey Russell the recording is available in your my library! Email edu@stage32.com if any issues accessing!
Sydney Summers
- 2 hours ago
Hey Jed! Happy to help, email me at edu@stage32.com and I'll send over some stuff!
Liked by Maurice Vaughan
Stage 32 Screenwriting Lab: Write a Drama TV Pilot in 8 Weeks !
Stage 32 is excited to welcome Spencer back!
In this lab, Spencer will be working directly with you in a virtual class setting and also during one-on-one sessions with the goal of helping you write a fantastic, market-ready pilot. To do so, Spencer will guide you through picking a concept, creating...
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Adapt a screenplay to longform as an exercise: The benefits...and pleasures
Been offline on a writing slog-bender. Sharing this in case it resonates or appeals to you good folks here.
Off a chat with Jake Wagner (via Stage 32!) late last year, I was prompted to write a novella version of the series pilot for a project -- THE COMMONSTATE -- currently in development (link bel...
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Christopher Phillips
- 19 hours ago
Andy Byrne Great advice and congrats on moving to being in development.
Maurice Vaughan
- 19 hours ago
I like that idea, Andy Byrne. Thanks for sharing it. "The Commonstate" sounds intriguing. Congratulations on being in development! Can't wait to see it!
Wendy Weising
- 5 hours ago
Great idea! Thanks.
Multi-Hyphenate Creatives: You Can Do It All - But Should You?
“You know all the tools in your toolbox, but that doesn’t mean you have to use all of them to get the job done. Be smart in your execution and you will not only create beautiful work, but you will also create relationships and a lifelong career you are proud of.” —Annisa Belonogoff
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Daniel Husbands
- 6 hours ago
Thanks Maurice Vaughan This sounds like a great read.
You're welcome, Daniel Husbands. It's a must-read.
Liked by Maurice Vaughan and one other
Website advice for screenplays
Hi friends! I’m looking to put my three screenplays and their supplemental materials on a website for people to see. Can you recommend a good free website service for this? Thanks! Carl
You are more than welcome to come join Script Revolution, Carl.
Welcome to the community, Carl Creighton. You could post your loglines, synopses, scripts, and posters/promo pictures on your Stage 32 profile. Some people post links to their pitch material in the sy...
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Daniel Husbands
- 6 hours ago
I agree with Maurice Vaughan Your Stage32 profile is a great free way to have your screenplays seen. You can also use a free website builder and have additional information on their as well....
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Scary scripts
Odd question, but have you ever read a script that scared you a little bit or, at the very least, freaked you out a little? And if so, what made you a little freaked out about it?
Travis Seppala
- 3 days ago
Sadly, no.
Michael Wormald
- 2 days ago
I've written several that freaked me out, but never in a good way.
Ewan Dunbar
- 2 days ago
Vice was one of the most terrifying scripts because of howm uch of it happened!
Paul Rivers
- 23 hours ago
Every script I've written that I've found my Character's voice and the wonderful moments when I can write through thier VOICE freaks me out!
It is the best creativity and sometimes the most difficult...
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Christopher Phillips
- 18 hours ago
No. Books neither. It’s hard to be “scared” purely with writing. Horror movies rely on a lot of psychology using jump scares, ambient music, sound effects and other techniques to open up the central n...
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Fellowship Programs?
Hey, anyone have any suggestions for good screenwriting fellowships to apply to?
Christopher Phillips
- 19 hours ago
Dewayne Edwards TV or Film?
Some places to start:
https://www.wgfoundation.org/fellowship-writing-programs-for-screenwriters-masterlist
Some more and probably a few repeats:
https://lauridonahue.com/resou...
Expand commentLiked by Maurice Vaughan
It's Monday! Here's my writing music for today. What's yours? (Sorry, they tell me I have to ask for feedback from everyone in order to keep posting in this lounge....but I just like being a D.J.)
I just love Bob Seger, so I'm naming today Bob Seger Day.
I vaguely remember writing a synopsis/treatment to a screenplay called "Hollywood Nights" one time when I was on here (a few years back), and I was a little crazy from recently having a big temporal lobe seizure.
It's starting to kind of come...
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Niki Galiano
- 22 hours ago
Ah, yes...now I remember. There's nothing like good music to help you remember the fun times...and let go of the rest.
Liked by Bill Albert and 18 others
Female Driven Screenplay Contest -- who submitted?
Let us know if you submitted and tell us more about your scripts!
Cassandra Slough
- 6 days ago
I’m finally able to comment! Had some troubles with my account but it’s all cleared away and working!
I submitted my screenplay THE DEEP DARK. This screenplay is certainly a little piece of me and a da...
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Daniel Goudreau
- 6 days ago
Cassandra Slough Kudos to you for being so brave and to get all of that not only onto paper but in a compelling narrative that can even educate instead of just entertain. I'm sure your piece is in goo...
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Rachel Gassi
- 1 day ago
Hey guys, I submitted my pilot, Club Paradise, based on my time working in a strip club. Set in the 90s it follows an ex-exotic dancer and grieving mother as she struggles to run the city's hottest st...
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Paul Rivers
- 24 hours ago
I submitted my feature STETSON tagline: it 's not just my hat it's the code I live by.
Its a neo-Western drama with tears.
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Christine Capone If people like your story, they'll never mention formatting.
Top scripts from recent contests still use caps, bold, italics, underlines and various other tools and techniques to get th...
Expand commentChristine Capone If people like your story, they'll never mention formatting.
Top scripts from recent contests still use caps, bold, italics, underlines and various other tools and techniques to get their point across.
Just be economical about it on the page and it will read better.
Bloat. Many more don't.
All that nonsense is the first stop for uninspired writers. Instead of writing a well-turned phrase, bold or underline a word.
For what it's worth, I can summarize a few salient points made by Dave Trottier in his excellent book "Dr. Format Tells All," capitalizing sounds is optional and should be reserved for conveying a par...
Expand commentFor what it's worth, I can summarize a few salient points made by Dave Trottier in his excellent book "Dr. Format Tells All," capitalizing sounds is optional and should be reserved for conveying a particular impact (a gunshot: BLAMM! to convey the excitement of the action, and things like that). Otherwise, "normal" sounds need not be capitalized ("They hear the car door slam from out in the driveway."). That is, capitalizing sounds is not an industry requirement. In fact, even movie titles, song titles, book or magazine names, etc., should be in quotes, not all caps (except for "LIFE" magazine, a name which is always all caps as part of its name brand). As for other kinds of emphasis, he adheres to a simple rule-of-thumb: underline only (never italics and never boldface), but, as C.J. wisely advices for all of these "helpers," use very, very sparingly. Cleaner is better.
Opinions vary.
BOOM!!!