Screenwriting

Glad it's working well now, Eric Sollars. I heard people say they had issues with FD 13, but I haven't heard anyone say it lately. I guess they were having issues because FD 13 was brand new.

E Langley FD12 was a bit wonky. I had issues with the tool ribbon and with the template changing of its own accord. FD13 has not exhibited these traits...yet. The entire Final Draft program feels like something out of the first decade of this century. Old coding, I suspect. With Microsoft and Apple deploying major upgrades to their respective operating systems over the last 20 years, old code creaks and moans like a staircase in an old house leading to the dark and damp cellar...danger lurks.

There's always a yellow pad and pen or typewriter, Robert Franklin Godwin III.

E Langley Funny you should mention the yellow pad. Here is a spec poster/book cover I did for one of my screenplays.

Creative spec poster/book cover, Robert Franklin Godwin III!

Here is the link to the entry options and guidelines: https://filmfreeway.com/worldfest

You're welcome, Patrick Koepke. Good to talk to you again too. You might need to contact FilmFreeway or Houston International Film Festival.

Sounds good. Thank you Maurice Vaughan for being steadfast and constant help here in the lounge. It is much appreciated!

You're welcome, Patrick Koepke.

Hi there! Hope you had a great weekend too! I deal with writer’s block by trying a few different strategies. Sometimes I take a break and do something completely different to clear my mind. Other times, I set a timer and write whatever comes to mind for a short period, even if it’s just free writing. I also find that changing my environment or going for a walk can spark new ideas

I think Nathan has a point. I think you're making the mistake of thinking too much in black and white; what I would do is "stick with my "unique" and "original" script" AND tweak it so that a bigger audience gets it -- all without losing the essence of your sctipt. If this somehow doesn't work (after you tried) , then stick to what you have.

Someone had to be thinking the same thing with the Holdovers script, dumb this down to be commercial. What a mistake. Leave your script alone. It's already perfectly you. Watch Rick Beato's interview with Tori Amos. She exudes regret that the Music Producers demanded she change to be what they wanted and never had success until she went ahead doing exactly what she wanted. She went back to piano bar because she would not do it their way so in the end she did it her way. It only takes one Producer who gets it, as is.

Personally mine are this way too and I haven't met an insider yet who gets my scripts but I'm not changing them into something I hate.

Don’t you hate when somebody who clearly couldn’t care less says “good luck” lol.

Nobody knows what works until it does. Then they do it to death until everyone hates it. There really isn’t anything “safe”

The Hollywood translation for “this is great but it’s tough to sell/too niche” means I don’t want to put in the energy to package this because I have bills to pay. But if it does sell I don’t wanna be the asshole in their success story that said they passed if it does sell. So I’m just gonna say it’s tough to sell.

as stated up top, find producers with your common interests and who are excited about the project. Because it takes a lot of work

Cameron Tendaji and of course an impossible amount of luck

Turn your best idea into a comic book.

Terrific action lines, E Langley! "When the locusts descend to grab a slice" is my favorite part. Love it! Thanks for sharing another example.

Also think about the way you can use changes in writing style to deliver the impact of what you're describing. For example, if you were to write about a dark room that is weathered and generally creepy, over describing it may take the impact out of it, whereas simply stating it as "cold, dark, forgotten" gives you an instant vibe of what it will feel like to the audience.

Thanks for commenting, Ewan Dunbar. Great point! And "cold, dark, forgotten" doesn't take up much space at all.

I was taught to always set the scene with a sentence or two if the location is different from the previous scene.

Thanks for jumping into the discussion, Norman Welthagen. I do the same thing. Set the scene with a description when the location changes. And I just thought about something else. I've read scripts where writers start scenes with dialogue (no location description or action lines). I used to do it too, but I start a scene with a location description or action line(s) now to let readers know who's in the scene and what's going on at the start of the scene.

Michael Dzurak Awesome Workout Regiment, Mike! Wanna create hit screenplays? Only write during an 86% Pure Dark Chocolate HIGH. A REAL screenwriter has a keyboard covered in gross, melted chocolate. MMMMMMMMM...... gross, melted......

Pretty much what I did when I got more and more rejections for my novel Plastic Love. Even made a sort of game for it, coming up with rejection amount milestones (think I got to 150). After a while of course I decided to stop since my mental health took a bit of a hit. At some point I'll get back to it :)

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh I totally understand your plight. I guess I’m one of the lucky few. As a professional actor for 25 years (retired), the rejections outnumbered the actual jobs. I did fairly well, considering it was my part time job away from my career. My agent at the time instilled some great advice during my down times— She said, go to the audition, read your scene, leave, and…… FORGET ABOUT IT. She was SO RIGHT!!! I’ve now applied the same logic to screenwriting. Expect rejection,

read email, leave. Hope this helps. Be well.

Deborah Jennings Thanks, Deb. I've actually won a few times. Not big money, but it was something-- $630 and most recently, $200 a few months ago. : )

Thank you Bill Brock and that's excellent advice. I did get two full manuscript requests that sadly fell through (but also taught me that the real anxiety begins when an agent actually wants to read your story lol made all the initial querying much less nerve-wracking and form rejections especially lost their sting [though the form rejection I got following a full request still stung lol]). So far though I'm doing pretty well with screenwriting even though I'm learning as I go so with any luck good news will come :D

Welcome back to Stage 32, William! It’s amazing that you’ve been writing for 10 years—that kind of dedication speaks volumes about your passion for storytelling. I love how your connection to Christopher Reeve’s Superman inspired your creative journey; it’s always special when a story sparks that kind of magic.

As for your questions, refining loglines is always a great starting point. A strong logline not only grabs attention but also helps you clarify your story’s core message, which is super helpful when pitching to agents or festivals. If you’re open to collaboration, a writing partner can bring fresh perspectives and push your creativity in unexpected ways, but trust your instincts on whether it feels right for you.

The community here is a goldmine for feedback, so don’t hesitate to share your loglines or ideas. You’re in a great place to grow, and I’m excited to see where your journey takes you!

You're welcome, William Monette.

Thank you so Laquan. Yes, Superman was a big inspiration for me. I have always enjoyed fantasy and the possibilities of what could be. Loglines have always been tough for me, and my lest favorite to write, but I understand its essential part of drawing someone into your story. I'm always open to collaboration, and I feel its a great way to introduce new perspectives to a story. I would of course have to see if it's a great fit. Thanks so much for the feedback. This community inspires me to keep pushes on, and I'm grateful for everyone here, and wish the best for everyone's journey.

Played with Time Keepers.

A Beyonce fan girl, struggling to balance school- and home challenges, is hired by unidentified men to save time travelers from forces attempting to cause mass deaths.

Thank you so much for the suggestion Wal. I appreciate you taking the time to read my logline

Congratulations on winning the New Voices in Animation Contest, Chris & Melinda! Interesting title! Congratulations to everyone who placed in the contest!