Jerry Robbins: Screenwriter.

Hi, I'm in post-production on a short film that will be submitted to festivals, and I'm in early pre-production for an animated feature.

Hi Cyrus Sales, Id be glad to connect.

Did I stick that question in the wrong place? Happens all the time! What is a story strategist?

Usually when a writer gets half way through and hits the invisible wall it's because you didn't plot your story. You didn't create a conflict that could sustain itself through the middle act. Can this script be completed. Most likely, yes. How? You need to sit down and think about your protagonist and opponent. What does your protagonist want? What does your Opponent want? Not all the conflict will be Pro v. Opp. The other characters around the protagonist are in conflict with him/her as well. Sustain your conflict through the story, and in the third act the final battle/conflict happens. It's not just a fight for the sake of fighting. It's a battle over who is right, a battle of values, and a battle of beliefs. Get some paper and pen and go figure it out!!

For me plotting is crucial.

Aaron, as a writer who admits that I don't love the outline process and being married to it, I have found my own ways to answer what happens once you are heavily in progress with your script and going "wait, how do I do the rest?" There are some methods to the madness that help my spark and writing isn't jus the act of writing, but stimulating and surrounding yourself with the materials that help you complete the act of it - i.e. research, going on walks and listening to a playlist that feels like the essence of your film, books, blogs, podcasts, etc. There are more ways to "write" and move forward, even if it is not just the act of writing. Would be happy to do a session to crack this with you if you interested!

Hi, Jerry Robbins. Hope you're enjoying the start of summer! What a resume! Congratulations on all your accomplishments! I've been thinking about turning some of my scripts into audio dramas. I'll probably start with a short script to test it out.

Thanks, Maurice. It will take some tweaking if you want to turn a screenplay into an audio drama... it's a different ballgame - especially if you have any action sequences. When the time comes - should you decide to try it, I can send you some of the audio scripts I wrote so you can get a feel for it.

You're welcome, Jerry Robbins. That'll be great! Thanks. I appreciate it.

Which raises the question: Is AI friend or foe?

I guess it depends on who wields it and to what end.

Marc Serhan From what I researched when I got my screenplay copyrighted, we don't have to, but lightly adding a watermark could be beneficial. If it's copyrighted it's already protected. I had my treatment and screenplay copyrighted. I still wonder about his myself though.

Title, written by, contact info. That's it.

Hi Vikki, I've written two with a composer who created the songs. You can see them in my loglines - JIMMY AND THE STAR ANGEL and SHOWGHOSTS.

Thank you Maurice Vaughan .

You're welcome, Vikki Harris.

Thank you, girlfriend. Another one of life's mysteries solved. :)

My scripts, if produced, are ones that could work on either platform. They have enough spectacle and high-concept premises to pull people into a movie theater to enjoy and I can see them being very streamable too. They are fun popcorn flicks for the most part. But I'd be remiss to say that I wouldn't love for my movies to be big screen worthy.

Hey Sille Larsen what a brilliant question that gets to the heart of modern screenwriting strategy! The truth is, the lines between streaming and theatrical have blurred significantly, but there are still some important considerations that can influence your writing approach.

The Reality Check:

Most scripts today will likely find their eventual home on streaming platforms, even if they have theatrical releases. However, the distinction still matters for how you position and structure your material.

Streaming Considerations:

- Character-driven narratives often perform better in the "lean-in" viewing environment

- Binge-ability factors if you're considering limited series adaptation potential

- Diverse voices and niche audiences find more opportunities in streaming

- Mid-budget range ($5-50M) often works better for streaming economics

Theatrical Mindset:

- High-concept, event-worthy material that creates "must-see" urgency

- Visual spectacle and communal viewing experiences

- Genre pieces (horror, comedy, action) that benefit from audience reactions (excitement, laughs, scares)

- Franchise potential remains more valuable for theatrical

The Smart Strategy:

Write the best possible version of your story first, then consider how to position it strategically. Many successful writers develop projects with "streaming backbone, theatrical upside" - meaning they work perfectly for streaming but have enough scale and concept strength for potential theatrical release.

Structure Impact:

Honestly, good storytelling principles remain the same regardless of platform. Strong character arcs, compelling conflicts, and satisfying resolutions work everywhere.

The bigger question might be: Are you writing what the market wants, or what you're passionate about? Often the best approach is writing authentically while staying aware of current market trends.

A good saying is to "arrive late and leave early" in a scene. I recently re-watched Get Shorty and found it very strange in several scenes when the conversation has ended, but we're watching the characters file out of a room in silence and close the door behind them before cutting to the next scene.

"Arrive late and leave early" is great advice, Ewan Dunbar. I used to arrive early and leave late. Haha I don't write my characters leaving rooms, closing doors, etc. unless it's important to the story.

Thanks for the perfect reason to watch Get Shorty again, Ewan. I've always enjoyed that movie.

I think it often gets a little overlooked but Bridget Jones Diary is a rare example of an extraordinarily well done book to film adaptation.

I'll go back 90 years and say CAPTAIN BLOOD for starters. For the period in which it was made (when Hollywood would adapt a book by keeping the title and changing everything between the covers), it was faithful to the novel. It was heavily condensed (still, clocking in at 2 hrs is a long movie for 1935), but what is there is in the book. More recent I would say Peter Jackson's LOTR trilogy.

Its interesting when the adaptation is actually better than the book. The way Layer Cake was adapted made it really engaging and there are moments in the movie Hunt for Red October that build suspense far better than the book.

Hello dear!es This is normal.and there are three versions of a script. The original you wrote, the script you film with changes on the fly between the script consultant and the director. Then is the final one you edit.

You are right Jerry Robbins and I hope one day you can produce. Will help you a lot in your filmmaking journey:))

Hi my beautiful friend Pat Savage. Thanks for reaching out. Yes, now I know and for me I am editing the final one after shooting :)) Now I understand the process:)) Big hug for youuuu