Mike Norman: It tech and screenwriter in Stafford, Virginia.

Hi guys.. Can anyone suggest the best website builders that might have the right template to raise money for a documentary film? I want it to be simple -- but have places for links for related stories; an archive for interviews and a place to put a button for donations.. Anyone have any good ideas?

What are the potential issues for writing a sequel to an existing movie franchise? I have an idea for a story that would play well as a sequel to an existing movie franchise. The last sequel in the franchise was released in 2005. The original movie was based on a graphic novel. Is it okay to write it but give credit to the original book author with a ""Based on..." credit on the cover page?

Finally trying to get back to writing after months off. Starting with a new short that I'll be uploading soon. Logline: Struggling between resentment and forgiveness, a teen is faced with the decision of meeting his birth-father for the first time not knowing he has already met him.

After shelving my script for a few months to "walk away" for a bit, I have finally decided to give it another go and am preparing for a rewrite. I wrote the first draft before coming up with the logline, which presented some issue and showed misdirection in my story....Now I want to come up with a logline before tackling the rewrite....This has always been a weakness of mine... Logline: "An orphaned teen must overcome his lifelong fear of abandonment and disapproving parents for the love of a girl he knows may not be around long." Some say that is too vague.....so there is this option: "An orphaned teen must overcome his lifelong fear of abandonment and disapproving parents for the love of a terminally ill girl." Or..... "An untrusting orphaned teen struggles to overcome his lifelong fear of abandonment to fight for the love of his life - knowing she may not be around for long."

Is it necessary to introduce the protagonist in the first scene? I have an opening scene that I like to set the tone of the story with one of the main characters, however I do not actually introduce the protagonist until a few pages/scenes later. Acceptable?

After reviewing various coverages of my first feature and giving it a lot of thought I now have a more solid direction that I want to go with the story. But before I start to rewrite it I want to nail down a solid logline to help keep me on track with the direction. Overview of the story is: A teen girl with a severe heart conditions is suffering from depression and feels she has little to live for. She meets and forms a bond with an obscure loner who is also of a different race. They fall in love and must overcome her parents objections to their relationship and when she starts to feel like there is something more to live for her heart condition worsens threatening her life. This is what I came up with real quick and it needs tweaking. An ailing teen depressed and feeling helpless falls for an obscure loner changing her outlook on life but must overcome racial barriers to be together and her failing heart that threatens her life.

Exhausted and needing a break from my feature script I decided to try and tackle a short. I've never written a short, so don't know if there are actually page requirements for what constitutes a good short. This one is 10 pages long and based on an actual personal event. Would be a good little project since it's one location and minimal characters if anyone is interested. It's posted on my page. Title: "Waiting" An unlucky in love waiter sees his childhood crush for the first time in years at his table and must overcome his insecurities to tell her how he still feels or let her walk away forever.

So I just finished my first major rewrite of my script based on some coverage that I had received. A lot of the critiques I have received are by those that don't write dramas. I would love for someone that has experience in dramas to give it a once-over if anyone is willing. I'm looking for any advice pertaining to dramas specifically rather than general feedback.

Hello, Only been a member of the site a few weeks. Film has always been something I have loved and admired. I first had the idea of writing a screenplay 16 years ago when I purchased my first screenwriting book. After a couple of failed attempts I gave up. Focused on other hobbies, classic car restoration and my art (https://www.facebook.com/MikeNormanPortraits). Twelve years after my last attempt I still have this desire to write. This time around, older and wiser, I am more determined to make a go of it. I just recently finished my first draft of a new screenplay and am looking forward to taking advantage of what this site has to offer and making new connections.

Hey Mike! Thanks for the add! --Doug www.fourstarfeedback.com Twitter: @DougDavidson71

So after finishing the first draft of my recent screenplay it occurred to me that I also need a polished logline. Like most the initial attempt was too long and I finally have it scaled down. I would love some feedback and constructive criticism for other wordsmiths. Logline: A coming of age story of two vastly different people that discover their mutual need for each other. She helps him conquer his past, and he helps her feel alive when she doesn't have long to live.

Hey Mike, I'm the CTO and lead developer at Stage 32. Please let me know if you have any questions or feedback about the site. I'd love to hear your comments! To get started with Stage 32 and understand all the features and resources the site has to offer, please check out the Getting Started section and our FAQ.

Hi Mike. I'm RB, Founder and CEO of Stage 32. As a screenwriter, producer, actor and filmmaker, I know first-hand the challenges all creatives face finding work, landing representation, launching projects, securing funding and simply making the connections that will make a difference in their careers. That's why I created Stage 32. Since our launch in September of 2011, the community has grown to 325,000+ members representing every country on the planet making Stage 32 the social network uniquely populated with the most creative people on Earth.

This is a network for you, built by you. Like most things in life, the more you participate, the greater the rewards. We ask all new members to pay it forward by inviting 5 fellow creatives to the network and by spreading the word of Stage 32 through other social media sites such as Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. The more creatives, the stronger the network. The stronger the network, the more opportunities.

Thanks for joining the movement and for being a part of this most talented and inspiring community. I very much look forward to your contributions.

Thanks, and have a creative day!

RB

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