Hi, folks. First, an introduction.
I've been writing scripts for several years, and earlier this year had my biggest success yet: Final Draft Big Break Feature Grand Prize winner. Top script out of several thousand. Woo-hoo!
The Final Draft folks were terrific. Among the generous prizes, they flew me from Baltimore to L.A., where I met several top managers and producers.
Has that led to a sale? Or representation? Not yet. Although I've gotten some folks to read my work who might not have done so otherwise.
And so I continue to beat my head against the Hollywood sign until one of them breaks.
Second, about gurus. Two in particular have helped me succeed at least in the realm of contests:
1) Michael Hauge. He gave me a context for the second part of Act 2: "Higher Stakes and Complications." Hauge's books are excellent, and I recommend you Google his analysis of the inner and outer conflicts in SHREK.
2) Richard Walter. Former chairman of screenwriting at UCLA. Also excellent books. Good podcast, too. Hammers hard on story and brevity. I recall him saying that when you print a script, think of each drop of ink as your own blood. Don't squander any.
An observation of my own, that ties in with Hauge's "complications": sometimes it helps to add a new character right after the midpoint. The FBI guys in DIE HARD. Timon and Pumba in THE LION KING. Pussy Galore in GOLDFINGER.
I will be at the Austin Screenwriting Conference at the end of the month. If you are going, my advice, based on last year's conference, is to bring earplugs and don't try to talk if you're on a bus full of people going to or from a networking event. I almost went deaf and blew out my voice such that I could barely pitch in the pitching contest.
That said, I do recommend getting the Producers Badge that lets you attend those networking events. There were movers and shakers aplenty. And it was fun.
Cheers to all,
David
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Hi David, congrats on Final Draft! That's incredible! Have you checked out the career consultations from Stage 32 Script Services? I've used them a few times with Spencer Robinson, have gotten great advice help figuring out next steps for my writing.
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Congratulations on winning Final Draft Big Break, David Page!!! That's a big contest! Thanks for the tip about adding a new character right after the midpoint.
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Emily, thanks for your kind words and your suggestion. Indeed, I have used Stage 32 services, mostly pitches. When I get feedback I agree with, I tweak the script -- I'd be an idiot not to. Evaluations are inconsistent, which reminds me that we are dealing with art and opinions. (Some wanted CODA to win, some wanted POWER OF THE DOG.) Have you read "The War of Art"? It has helped me continue the struggle until luck happens.
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David Page I have! I also struggle with note-receiving at times. I definitely think that when you get a consensus that it's easier to follow and agree with the note. But I think when you're getting notes that are all over the place I try to think what it is they're struggling with, you know the "note behind the note" because something I'm trying to get across isn't working. I only ignore when it's one naysayer, and especially if that one person doesn't work in comedy typically (because that's my genre and it's HYPER subjective)
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This ^^^^
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Congratulations, David! That is huge. And thanks for the knowledge!
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Hi David Page - congratulations on your recent success!
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David Page welcome, and congratulations!!