Screenwriting : Tips for Writing a Thanksgiving Script/Other Holiday Scripts by Maurice Vaughan

Maurice Vaughan

Tips for Writing a Thanksgiving Script/Other Holiday Scripts

I’ve seen Thanksgiving movies, but I’ve never read a Thanksgiving script. Has anyone here written a Thanksgiving script? If so, do you have any tips for writing one? Or tips for writing a script about any of the holidays?

I’ve written Christmas scripts. One tip is make the decorations a major part of your Christmas script (or any Holiday script) instead of them just being decorations.

Billy Kwack

Not here Maurice, I only know Thanksgiving, horror by Eli roth

Lee Shargel

There have been numerous films and Thanksgiving specials produced over the years. Most of the Thanksgiving stories were not an integral part of the story. The one that comes to my mind is the thanksgiving scene in the film CASTAWAY.

Lee Shargel

On second thought it may have been a Christmas scene. Not sure.

Maurice Vaughan

I like Thanksgiving, Billy Kwack! I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving 2!

Maurice Vaughan

Oh ok, Lee Shargel. So, more like stories set at Thanksgiving rather than stories about Thanksgiving.

Lee Shargel

I love Thanksgiving. It's my favorite holiday. I love to watch the parade.

Maurice Vaughan

I love Thanksgiving too, Lee Shargel! Mainly the time with family and friends and the food. I think I missed the parade last year. I plan on watching it this year.

Lee Shargel

When I was a kid growing up in the Bronx, I would always go to Macy's and watch the parade no matter the weather. Then go home for food and family. I think stories during thanksgiving are more entertaining than stories about the holiday. What are your thoughts?

Maurice Vaughan

It must be something to be at the parade in person, Lee Shargel! I think both can be entertaining. I like to write stories about the holidays/really lean into the holidays when I write a Holiday script.

Lee Shargel

The parade was really great to be there as a kid, I had so much fun seeing all the celebrities passing by on the floats. The giant balloons, It was a spectacle!

Billy Kwack

He's making a part 2, awesome

Maurice Vaughan

Here's the Thanksgiving 2 IMDb page, Billy Kwack (www.imdb.com/title/tt30268701/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1). I didn't find much online about the movie. I want to read the Thanksgiving script. I just have to find it.

Billy Kwack

Thanks Maurice, I never read a screenplay before, besides my own

Mista Martel

great question, I don't think I"ve seen one.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Billy Kwack. Reading scripts is a great way to get better at writing scripts.

Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Mista Martel. Hope you're doing great! What are you working on right now?

Göran Johansson

My new screenplay has the climax on Memorial Day. A member who lives in USA told me that it is popular with barbecue on that day. I answered "of course, the villain should be roasted", and then changed a few details to use his comment.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks for sharing, Göran Johansson. Creative. Using something associated with the holiday to punish the villain.

Mista Martel

Maurice Vaughan - on a sports based script

Maurice Vaughan

Happy New Year, Mista Martel! How's your script coming along?

Mista Martel

@Maurice - I'm mid way through

Maurice Vaughan

Congratulations on getting midway through, Mista Martel! What sport is your script about?

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