Screenwriting

From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting

Mike Clarke
From Novels to Screenplays: Shifting the Lens & Keeping Audiences Hooked

Hey everyone!

I’ve spent seven years immersed in novel writing, but recently, I’ve found myself drawn to the world of screenwriting. It’s thrilling—and a bit intimidating—to realize how differently stories unfold on the page versus on the screen. As I make this transition, I’d love to tap into the St...

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Laurie Woodward

Some great advice I got from a seasoned professional when I was revising my adaptation of my novel, Artania, was that film is visual medium. Thus I tried to make sure to focus on those symbolic visual...

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Drongo Bum

SCREEN writing. If an audience can't see it, don't write it.

Mike Clarke

Good points. It is a fun exercise to visualize the scenes of a movie or TV series. However, the showing part is the most challenging. You have to turn the scenes from a book inside-out or outside-in a...

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Mike Childress

Mike Clarke The funny thing about screenwriting is it's like, 'Write visuals...but don't be verbose in action lines...' 'Describe what's going on...without being too descriptive...' It's harder to exp...

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Patrick "PK" Koepke

I recently made the jump from novels to screenplays too, Mike Clarke . My favorite thing about it is that I can write a rough draft of a 120 page screenplay in 6-8 weeks, where a novel takes me closer...

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Kathryn Robinson
Bios

Hi all. I'm a newbie writer and struggling to find examples of screenwriter bios. I need to write one and hate talking about myself. Is anyone willing to share theirs or any they've found online please? I think the inspiration will help me. Thanks in advance,

Lisa Lee

Talking about ourselves can feel so foreign sometimes. Mine aren't perfect, but you're welcome to give them a read. I have one on Stage 32 and a different one on my website: https://writelisawrite.com...

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Jim Boston

Kathryn, you're more than welcome to take a look at my Stage 32 profile...and I've got one on IMDB (third person) and one at https://jimthescreenwriter.wordpress.com (first person).

Glad you're here on...

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Ewan Dunbar

Here and IMDb are great places to look. Have a look at a few so you can figure out things you like, things you don't and if there are any cliches to avoid. Also get a quick first draft out so you've g...

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Maurice Vaughan
Coffee & Content: Finding the Heart of Your Story

Stage 32’s founder and CEO, Richard “RB” Botto, shares two videos in today’s blog.

In the first video, Erin Foster shares how her own experience converting to Judaism led to the inspiration for her new Netflix romantic comedy series, Nobody Wants This.

In the second video, RB breaks down why female-...

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Mike Clarke
In medias res, when and how much?

I just watched a movie, not naming names, that used "in media res" or flashback from an opening high drama scene to the backstory. In the opening scene, before the flashback, the protagonists are killed, or drugged and dragged off to be killed. Then it flips back to the backstory of how they met, et...

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Maurice Vaughan

"It is almost like it was a last minute decision to boost the opening scene." I did that before, Mike Clarke. The flashback felt out of place. I haven't done it since....

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Dan MaxXx

This is more of a film narrative poor execution than a script plot page problem. Boxer Mike Tyson famously said, "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the mouth."

Mike Clarke

Dan MaxXx, I'm genuinely curious. I love Mike's quote. It would be especially impactful if Mike was the one throwing the punch. Please help me understand how it fits the narrative poor execution scenario.

Mike Clarke

Jason C. Bounds, I have run into it lately too. I think it depends on the story. It may work to plant a hook. However one would need to leave the conclusion open, imho.

Mike Boas

This is a valid form of storytelling that is effective when used well. Fight Club comes to mind.

The popularity of this technique in recent years comes from the need to get audiences hooked early so t...

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Tucker Teague
As you work on your screenplay, what music have you been listening too?

Lately my "writing music" has included, but not limited, to the following albums:

Lour Reed, American Poet

The Jesus and Mary Chain, Psychocandy

Rimsky-Korsakov, Scheherazade

Blonde Redhead, Sit Down for Dinner

Warpaint, Radiate Like This

Igor Stravinsky, Bernstein Conducts Stravinsky

Göran Johansson

None. I am almost tone deaf. And since I learned screenwriting by directing and editing, I am definitely used to silence around me when I use my computer.

Mike Clarke

As an ADD brain, I am easily distracted, so after trying alt rock, orchestra, techno, trance, I am settling on ambient, electronica, meditative music and Tibetan bowls. I can dissappear for hours into...

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Tucker Teague

Mike Clarke I find music often engages my mind too much to write. It depends on the music and if I'm already super familiar with it or not. Often ambient music is the best. I found this channel to be...

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Mike Clarke

Tucker Teague, Thanks for the link. I'll check it out. I have an Amazon playlist, that I use. https://music.amazon.ca/user-playlists/021e2c9c48df4836b786f80ba84cb8fdc......

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Travis Seppala
What management stats is best?

I'm gearing up to once again begin my hunt for a new manager. But what should I be looking for?

Do I want a company with a bunch of reps, or just a few (or even single-person companies)?

Do I want a rep with a bunch of clients, or just a few?

Do I want someone with writers similar to me (in terms of ge...

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Travis Seppala

Dan MaxXx to date, I've gone through 6 managers and 1 agent. Each didn't work for slightly different reasons, but the thing that most of them had in common was not having contacts in my genre(s) and s...

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Travis Seppala

Anna Marton Henry Thanks for the insights. I can see the positives and negatives of each thing, hence the questions. So I appreciate your experienced answers.

Travis Seppala

I find it interesting that Michael Elliott and CJ Walley seem to have opposite answers, but for seemingly the same reason....

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Travis Seppala

Maurice Vaughan I've had a bunch of reps so far. Sadly, none have worked out for very long (the longest being just shy of 2 years but the strike happened during that time, so really less. They've all...

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Anna Marton Henry

Travis Seppala You’re welcome! I think CJ Walley and Michael Elliot are saying kind of what I was saying - that if the company reps other creatives, they need to have managers (at least one) dedicated...

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Pat Alexander
Semifinalists Announced: 5th Annual Feature Drama Contest

Congratulations to all the Semifinalists in this year's Feature Drama Contest! Let's show them our support and if you placed, tell us more about your script!

See the semifinalists here:

https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/5th-Annual-Feature-Drama-......

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Rosemary Zibart

I must admit the timing for making it to semifinals is good. I was pretty damn discouraged!!!

Sacha Fortin

Congratulations to all. I’m excited to be among the Semifinalists!

Sandra Isabel Correia

Congratulations to all of the semi finalists for Drama contest! It’s an amazing achievement and a new victory:)) step by step dreams come true!

Christopher Chance
A senior moment.

I have just joined the Writers Room and submitted my 1st screenplay, but stupidly submitted the wrong edition. How do I correct my mistake? Help please.

Maurice Vaughan

Welcome to the Writers' Room, Christopher Chance. Email writersroom@stage32.com.

Horror feature - First 53 pages to 105 - Feedback

Title: Kokorech

Format: Feature

Page Length: 53 to 105 (completed)

Genres: Horror-Mystery-Thriller-Action-Supernatural

Logline or Summary: "When Frank encounters a cursed book that uncovers the town's dark past, he must stop Satan’s plan to rule the world to protect his family."

Feedback Concerns: G...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Caglar Akdag. If you ever have questions about Stage 32, let me or another Lounge Moderator know (we have badges on our pictures). Or email support@stage32.com....

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Caglar Akdag

"When Frank Hamilton, a vintage book dealer struggling with the sinister visions, encounters a cursed book that uncovers the town's dark past, he must team up with an extraordinary nun and protect his family while stopping Satan's plan to rule the world."

Maurice Vaughan

I would take out the name, Caglar Akdag. And I forgot to say this in my other comment. Avoid using “must” in loglines. “Must” usually means the protagonist is forced to do whatever they need to do in...

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Caglar Akdag

Great, I'll definitely use this. Thanks Stage32.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Caglar Akdag.

Mike Childress
"Showcase Script" and The One Ring

Greetings Tribe,

Re: the captioned term I THINK I first saw it referenced in Trottier's book... The "Showcase Script" (The One to Rule Them All!), i.e. your (current) ideation baby that you dote on like a parent with an offspring bias/favorite child. It's the Bentley in your fleet of screenplays, and...

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Mike Childress

Maurice Vaughan The third one is the script I previously mentioned would serve well as a GN. Funny enough that's the one out of the first three I don't want to makeover! Slight revisions, yes. Minor o...

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CJ Walley

I love every script I've ever written "the way it is", because that's why I fucking wrote it.

I've got this script called For Your Dreams. It's the second script I wrote and it always seems to make eve...

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Mike Childress

CJ Walley The only real change I was making for the Nicholl was the genre, i.e. drama and not hard sci-fi, fantasy, or horror, but I admit it is kind of taking me longer to write it than with anything...

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CJ Walley

Genre's a pretty big freaking thing to change, dude.

Mike Childress

CJ Walley Tis indeed! BUT I had planned on breaking out of my comfort zone genres anyhow. It's a crime drama, with action o' plenty (right up my creative alley), so I don't see myself writing a contai...

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Alinser Hoyos
Sharing your script?

Dear fellow writers;

How do you feel about sharing your screenplays via email with people you don't know? Is this a common practice? My work is copywritten and protected but not through the WGA. Any advice?

Göran Johansson

I gladly share with anybody because I am not afraid that somebody will steal.

Alinser Hoyos

Thanks again, everyone! Your input is very valuable. The matter has in a way gone nowhere. The person has stopped soliciting since I said I would not pay a dime. In the mean time, I will continue look...

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Alinser Hoyos

Just in case anyone is interested, the script I was going to share with this person is called “In Pieces” - a compelling fictional drama that is vivid, honest, and poignant. This story deals with the...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Alinser Hoyos. The biggest tip I always give writers is network/build relationships (on Stage 32, on other platforms, and in person). It could lead to script requests, meeting requests...

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Preston Poulter

I share my stuff quite freely, but I've turned most of it into comic books by this point.

Maurice Vaughan
Script Idea/Scene Idea Exercise – ROOFTOP BAR

See if you can come up with a script idea or scene idea from this picture. You’re welcome to share what you come up with in the comments or keep it to yourself and use it for a project.

Philip David Lee

Hey, I just came up with another one. A bunch of pompous movie execs are having an elites' only party on a roof talking about how they aren't going to change anything about how they do business. They...

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Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, how about, someone put an unknown drug into the pool, making everyone that was in the pool thinking they can fly. Some are jumping off the roof, the ones that wasn't in the pool are trying to save the others unfortunate

Michael Dzurak

An alien invasion starts as people party on the roof.

Title - "The 7 Hour War: A Half-Life Story"

Regular people find themselves hopeless in an all-encompassing terror… until they learn about a hero who...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Billy Kwack. That'd be messed up. I can see that scene working in a Crime, Action, or Thriller movie.

Maurice Vaughan

I like it, Michael Dzurak. I thought about INDEPENDENCE DAY and CLOVERFIELD when I made this post. And where's the HALF-LIFE movie, Hollywood???

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