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
Hey guys (and girls),
I see that many screenwriters struggle a lot with their loglines. Let me share with you a little guide made by Studiobinder. It helped me so much to understand what a logline is and what it should contain.
Here's the link to the page. I also suggest you download the free documen...
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Riveting true story seeking a collaboration with a produced screenwriter for a tv or feature film with the genre of true crime with a touch of romance. This story is based on my memoir "Scoundrels in Paradise" and HAD been optioned by 3 major studios and needs a breath of fresh air :)
I have a craft question. I have run into an issue with my WIP and I'm looking for some help. I've written about 2/3 of a family script, and I've tried to make it fairly low budget. It occurred to me today that I need to write a scene with a dance attended by 13-year-olds which suddenly derails my lo...
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Hi Steven, the short answer is no.
The long answer is somewhere in the vain of don't worry about it while you're writing, just tell your story and if it resonates with people then they'll want to take...
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Generally, in a situation like this, change it if there's an easy alternative that delivers the same or close the same production value and story dynamic. If it's fundamental then don't butcher your b...
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yeah, just write it and then it can be a conversation later when it goes to production. this idea of writing to a low budget can feel constricting to me, sometimes, so if that is the case for you, too, then just write it as you see it for now.
It has been mentioned to me in a couple of different readers' notes that they thought the tone of the storyline of my " Joe Plant" screenplay was conflicting. It has scenes of humor that have an all ages appeal and others where the content would be considered adult material. What are your thoughts o...
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Here is my two cents from my time teaching: TONE starts with LIGHT or DARK because it's based on LIGHT (but it's expressed as either comedy or tragedy). This ultimately is just a HINT at the ending, w...
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Tone - one more thing audiences don't care about.
If you're writing something for younger audiences it is good to include material that will entertain adults as well, but if there is a huge tonal shift into only content adults will find entertaining...
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Hi Hanna...
It's hard to help without having read the script... but in general: When in doubt, I study.
Find successful movies that have that kind duality tone and: A) see how they pulled it off B) us...
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great screenwriting begins with the first sentence, establishes everything from world building, tone, genre. Study peers, living or dead. Especially in the techy PDF era where writers got less than 2-...
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Hey Alex, this is Karen from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Your Stage to Screenwriting (since this link is not self-promotion), as it fits much better there. Let me know if you have any questions and all the best to you!
I missed the deadline for the Warner Bros writing program for new writers https://televisionworkshop.warnerbros.com/writers-workshop/. It's a long story but stupidly I messed up the deadline hour. The thing is, I loved the spec script that I wrote hahaha, so I'm trying to find out another writing co...
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Coverfly has a page for that. It includes contests, competitions and writing programs. https://writers.coverfly.com/competitions
@dan maxXx it was on my list too. ;)
@evelyne gauthier thank you!! I will check it out!
There is also the Nick Writing Program. The submission period is from July 1-August 1. All you need is an original pilot and a spec script of one of the approved shows that is listed on their site. Hope this helps! Good luck!
@tyler VanHolsbeck yep, just saw it yesterday but the spec I did is from a show that is not listed on Nick Writing Program. But thank you anyway! :)
Hey, guys.
Title speaks for itself - at what point do you consider killing off a character in your story, whether they are a supporting player or major protagonist/antagonist? Me, personally, I like to kill off characters if they have served their purpose and/or if their deaths will give the other pr...
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Sometimes it can feel a little too convenient if all the main characters survive relatively unscathed compared to everyone else around them. Killing off someone important/ most able to influence a sit...
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By the way, if you do that to add drama to your story, create a certain suspense, show the viewer that there is danger, and that you mean business, it would be preferable if the character you kill is...
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worked for Scream. At the time of the movie release, Drew Barrymore was a popular actress and her Scream character was killed in the first scene.
I agree with Ewan, but offer a slightly different opinion - the character doesn't have to die, but maybe a part of them has to. This could be as simple as someone they love dying or that they have to...
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At a story level, it's as simple as them having served their purpose and their death bringing about some sort of truth or resolution.
At a production level, it's something I'm wary of. Sequel potential...
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Help.
I reached out to a development exec at a production company on LinkedIn. I mentioned some work she had previously done and my own background, then said "The script that I'm currently pitching has a kick-ass female protagonist. Would love to tell you more."
She replied today saying please send...
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Sending solicitations via inmail boxes on LinkedIn can be tricky. It can be considered invasive and is often frowned upon. Apparently, you performed it in such a manner and with a formula that got you...
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Congratulations! What did your entertainment attorney advise you to do? Listen to that first and if you don't have that - ok, do the poor man's "mail it to yourself" print version first before sharing so you have the most minimal of protection. Good luck!
Thanks everyone for the great advice and words of encouragement. I have decided to send the script.
Getting people to read you work's not that hard even if they're industry insiders...getting them to buy it for a big $$$ a whole another ball game...
Way to hustle! You saved $ for a read request! Surprised this Dev Exec didnt ask you to sign a submission form first; generally when you solicit $ from the general public, it is wise for both parties to sign something before reading. Good Luck
Hey Writers!
Thought I'd start a reference thread for this since I deal with these issues weekly. This thread specifically only applies to meeting requests via Stage 32 from our pitch sessions and coverage services. This isn't universal email meeting advice, though some things might apply. If you hav...
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Nick Assunto thanks for sharing - I learned early always take help from anyone who offers. I meet lots of entitled folks when I do casting and all the actors seem to know who they are, sadly...
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WOW! Thank you.
Well, I loved my meeting with my one request, Alexia Melocchi. She LOVED the fact that I have so much material. We were pretty informal and actually joked a fair bit about divorce. I'm so grateful I'v...
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Nick Assunto I worked as an editor for many years (academic publishing - humanities), and I have come across authors like that. I also had many, who were grateful for the opportunity to improve their...
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A lot of these questions have started to come up again with the increase of meeting requests via Stage 32 pitch sessions and coverage. Bumping the thread so more newer members can see it!
Hello, my fellows!
We all know how hard it can be to create a logline for our work!
To describe a script or a short film with only 1 sentence is almost impossible to do just like that! I admit I haven't created a logline on only one sentence. But the good thing is we have plenty of time to practice!...
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When a young man recovers from a devastating disease, he searches for a story to give meaning to his suffering only to learn he must live out the ending he hopes to write.
After a near brush with death, a Viking broad sallies forth to conquer the world. :P
Inspired by two codirectors of a documentary he appeared in, a factory worker in modern-day Omaha, NE rekindles his own efforts to become a screenwriter...after a 22-year hiatus.
When a home-birthing, homeschooling archaeologist decides to take her family on a sailboat trip about the world to find "the amazing," but she may find it's been inside her all along.
When an aging documentarian's TV station shuts its doors, she is set adrift to find a new outlet for her creativity and discovers spec screenwriting fits her need to tell stories.
Since someone on S32 mentioned Virtual Pitchfest in my previous post, I went and researched it a bit. Figured it couldn't hurt to give it a shot, so I bought the VIP package that included a free query letter edit. I sent them the draft for my query letter and just got my response back. It reads like...
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I've been accepting pitches on VPF for about 3 years. I estimate that I have requested the first 10 pages of about 15 scripts. From there, I've sent out a release form and requested the full script on...
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Thank you for the bit of insight from the other side, Regina. Given other folks' responses, I'm beginning to think that maybe my query letter just didn't require significant edits. Perhaps, in this ca...
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Your pitch has to be short. Many of the professionals on VPF also take pitches on Stage 32. They offer more bang for the buck. But they have no one to help with your written pitch.
I've been taking queries on VPF for about 7 years - pretty much since they started. Ive requested probably 50 scripts over that time. I've liked about 5. I've developed/optioned 2. But hands down the...
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The SWN Screenplay Competition ( https://www.screenwritersnetwork.org/swn-screenplay-competition/ ) has some of the most respected judges in the industry. Enter your script and receive many of our submission benefits.
Our guest judge and this season's competition is named after Alec Sokolow, writer o...
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Hi SWN...as you have exposed yourself on an OPEN SITE... you make yourself open/vulnerable to open discussion. There are over 850,000 members here... competition readers here that may differ from your view. And may blast you/SWN, since you made a pubic address, just saying... - FADE OUT!
You should see how much they pay their readers...
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I love Studio Binder. Their teaching tools are of great value. Thanks for posting!
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James Welday, me too! They're great! I think they are partners with stage32 as well.
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I feel like being a copywriter has helped immensely with my loglines. I see a lot of writers not understanding that the logline has got to hook me immediately. It's that sentence you say to get your f...
Expand commentI feel like being a copywriter has helped immensely with my loglines. I see a lot of writers not understanding that the logline has got to hook me immediately. It's that sentence you say to get your friends to go see the movie with you. A lot of loglines I see writers write are vague or uninteresting. Make it strong.
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Evelyne Gauthier even better!! I didn't know that!