Screenwriting

Thanks for the advice, Tammy Hunt! I'm better at pitching features and shorts. Pitching TV is still tricky for me, but your tips will definitely help. I'm saving your advice. Thanks again!

I love that show!!

As a sci-fi fiend I avoided this thread like the plague, but I just finished episode nine of season two. This season has been a tad too slow for me, generally, but episode nine is VERY good. Never been a huge Steve Zahn fan, but dude absolutely slays his role in the series. To avoid spoilers (I would rather commit seppuku) that is all I will state for now!

Hey, Mike Childress. I like the slowness of the show (and other shows and movies). That's where I connect with the characters, and connecting with the characters makes the action scenes more impactful in my opinion.

Maurice Vaughan I can do the slow burn, I mean I tend to like/gravitate towards espionage fodder, and CI (counterintelligence) is known as "the slow game"! Also Rebecca Ferguson is...wooooooo!

Obviously I would rather commit seppuku than drop spoilers, but episode ten is actually better than nine!

David had a very unique way of coming up with ideas. And for a sure a unique voice.

Mike Childress, at the end of the day, there are luxuries that others can take advantage of. The Gauntlet is expensive. To do the job right is expensive. To take that opportunity means a cost many feel that cannot afford to risk. That's fair enough, but it doesn't make the service any less effective, fair, and valuable.

Screenwriting is such an insanely cheap form of the arts to get into. I see people grumbling all the time. It's crazy. I used to have to spent nearly $1,000 a year just to have the Adobe suite I needed to work when I was in marketing and design, and that's before the $2,000 iMac, $100 Pantone swatches, etc...

CJ Walley Film School at USC: "One million dollars!" Forty screenwriting competition entry fees: One BILLION dollars. Final Draft 13: $200.

Yeah man, everything you just said I agree with. I graduated from Adv Dip Pro Screenwriting recently and one of my specials was TV Drama. Teaser+Five Acts+Tag. Yep, that's the way to go :)

Lukas Strautins Nice!

Congratulations on graduating, Lukas Strautins!

Maurice Vaughan I think in 2025 it's hard to ideate new screen tech. As a sci-fi writer I try to imagine what extra-terrestrial worlds with sentient beings might look like, and then I plummet down the rabbit hole of ideation like carbon v silicon-based organisms, different gravity, etc. Sounds like it would be a good contest, i.e. "Most original, imagined tech". Tech in sci-fi tends to be pretty similar, even in the abberant examples like Farscape or Lexx...

That sounds like a great method for coming up with new tech, Mike Childress! I think it's easy to ideate new screen tech in 2025. One way is to look at the concept and brainstorm ideas based off it. I'd submit to that contest!

I was blown away by 'The Creator' with its outside-the-box tech driven vehicles (whether land or air) and never before seen gear. High production value helps!

I've been meaning to watch The Creator, Marina Albert. I want to even more now! I'm interested in seeing how the tech and gear are used. I don't know what the story is about, but that's how I like watching a lot of movies.

Ah, The Creator, good movie

I have ideas, but how do I post them here with producers?

It'd be better if you had scripts instead of just ideas, Youku Youhan. Some producers are fine with hearing ideas, but a lot of them want writers to have completed scripts when they pitch.

You can post your scripts on your profile once you've written them. Producers search profiles on here for projects. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner and select “Edit profile” in the drop-down menu. Scroll down to “Loglines” and click “Add/edit loglines” to the right of “Loglines.” You can also post your scripts on your profile this way (near the top where it says “Add a Logline”): www.stage32.com/loglines

You can also pitch your scripts to executives, managers, etc. through Stage 32's Pitch Sessions (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/pitch-sessions). The Pitch Sessions are mainly to get feedback on pitches, but members have gotten managers, signed shopping agreements, etc. through the sessions (www.stage32.com/scriptservices/success-stories).

Hi, Johan! I'm also a novelist and new to screenwriting. I think the writing process is unique to every individual, some people like to plot, some people like to dive right in, and others (like me) like to do a bit of both. I find that plotting helps but when I'm actually writing I often come up with even better developments than anticipated. I'd say try to find your own flow and see what kind of magic happens :)

Hello, the problem is how do I promote?

Hi Youku.

To be a screenwriter. You start by studying the craft. Screenplays have a particular style and format, totally different from writing a book.

Step 1 - Get 3 books on screenwriting. I suggest - "The Screenwriters Bible", "Save the Cat", and "How NOT to write a screenplay". You should also read a few screenplays.

Step 2 - Next get yourself a couple of notepads and pens, and Screenwriting software. I use WritersDuet and Final Draft. There are others. The important thing is to use what you feel comfortable with and can save the finished product as a PDF.

Step 3 - On the pads of paper outline your story, make sure it has interesting characters, a full rich story, conflict within the story, character growth, and a darn good ending.

Step 4 - Write the screenplay using your screenwriting software. There may be long sleepless nights, or days of confusion and writers block.

Step 5 - Have people read and critique. Whether you pay for professional script readers, enter contests, or friends who will tell you the truth.

Getting from your head, to the page, to the screenplay can be a daunting task, which can take months. Getting good enough to actually get a movie made, can take years or even decades. But if that's what you really want to do...Good luck.

Thank you all so much! This has been such an education for me and the majority has come from being a Stage32 member!:)

I'll add to the chorus...First person for sure.

I think it really depends on the subject matter. if it's a story about reeeeally dark taboo things that will put you in a bad light, then perhaps 3rd person and give the twist at the end that it's based on your story. you don't want an exec to be biased before they even hear the story.

Thank you for your comments. I was able to pitch last night and tried in 3rd person to keep from becoming too emotional. Everyone was very kind and I'm grateful. Feeling down last night and something unexpected happened. I received an email TWO FATES is a Semifinalist at SanFrancisco Independent Film Festival and TWO FATES was one of the Semifinalists that scored highest with the readers! What?? Wowwww!!! Brilliant timing :)

Double congratulations, Lori Lee Peters!

I'm glad you're safe, Anna Marton Henry! Sorry to hear your friends and colleagues lost their homes and the historical places were lost. I hope you and everyone stays safe!

I knew of the loss of the Will Rogers estate, but I didn't even know there was a Zane Grey estate. I would have loved to visit. We're mourning the loss of too many historical structures.

Francisco - Susan Lucci did eventually win on her 19th nomination. Do you have 19 OWA "nominations" yet?

Yes, Richard Buzzell, well over 19 OWA noms... and like Susan Lucci, until I "eventually win", I'll keep writing, stay pretty, and hold my head up high.

AWESOME NEWS, FRANCISCO!!! Sounds like a game changer! Best of luck in changing the game!

19 Noms??? “That’s Sick!!!” (as the Cool Kids Say.)

That's you Bill. You're one of the cool kids.

Thank you.

Congrats E!

Proves E is a pro. In her presentation she used the poster as inciting incident. Created a "what is happening"-moment 10% into the journey.

Thank you, Wal Friman.

Logline: Two honeymooners are scouted by the CIA for an operation to spy on a dangerous weapon dealer.