Ted Jackson's Lounge Discussions

"Liquid inspiration" hahaha... we think we have about 50 inside our closet door right now

We have them here too, we call them 'coasters'. They're not as cool looking though.

Oh Wow... they look great... so instead of cocktail napkins... there's beer coasters... yes we have them here... mostly in English Pubs. Great idea to post them in your closet. I'm doing Aaron Sorkin's MasterClass at the moment... and when he was a bartender on Broadway... when the show started... he had nothing to do... so he wrote his ideas on cocktail napkins and then when he got home that night... he'd type them out. Great minds think alike. :-))

So sorry Ted... we kinda got off topic. LOL

It's okay you were just conversating

I'm out of Michigan but I'm living here in Texas

so many movies running through my head every day

Welcome to S32, Ted! What's new today?

creating a kids movie to where they can feel good about themselves

Welcome Ted! We have some great resources for Screenwriters here at Stage 32. Make sure you check out the webinars and classes, found in the Education section on the menu bar. Best of luck to you :)

thanks for the warm welcome

Welcome Ted!

Will do, thanks!

Hiiiii ma'am...!

Hello Kathryn, if you're ever in need of a composer for your amazing sounding screenplays, I'd love to be considered. My portfolio can be found at: www.djhcomposer.co.uk

Thx djh, it feels like I'm a long way from that today, but you never know.

Hi Kathryn I'm new to stage 32 but our team of 54 talented stars helped create an inspired and touching drama with real consequence, called CRUDE , a short Eco - thriller. So if you or others reading this have like us a penchant for doing a partnership across the pond it would be great to chat further. Kind regards Peter See : www.redrugproductions.com .... Or our short shown recently at the BAFTA theatre in London www.crudethemovie.co.uk

Hi Sharri, Thanks! If you have any questions please write!

Hi Anita! Thank you! This group is great! Richard has really been a great help!

Thank you! Phew, this has been a Great Experience! Richard is a great help!

thanks I hope to hear from you soon

Hey Lydia! Good luck with everything! If you ever need professional music for your projects, let me know!

I get that. You're watching a film and expect it to go one way and doesn't. You then think, hey if it went in this direction it would have been better or more interesting or even move into another genre.

I have notebooks filled with ideas. I kept them not too far so that I can take a look. An idea, is not a product you hear that a lot and it's true. If you have an idea for a statue it's not the finished sculpture. Remember that, and try to find the best container for your ideas...

Boomer's lucky. Most people don't know anyone in the industry. When I wrote my first script as a challenge from my wife, I had little knowledge of the craft of screenwriting. I've worked with Playbooks as an actor and that's close as you get. I gleamed what I could from the Internet. When I finished the first rough draft I consulted with an older veteran actor. He asked some questions about my script that added some great scenes for motivation of my characters but some of his advice was counter productive. I padded my script with useless information and scenes. He really new about theater not screenwriting. Here's a scream. I always got high marks for story and concept in contest, low marks like 7's for formatting and structure. Re-did my plastic template I used and corrected all the margins. It's close to perfect without the software. Just got back my evaluation from PAGE for my comedy. Used the old bad template on it. Got a 10 in formatting and structure and 6's and 7's for story and concept. They really like my dialogue which is rare for a rough draft. I never got a 10 in anything. Go figure. I'm getting long winded because you're me three years ago. Start with the story you have the most passion for. Write an outline for it. I always know my end and how I'd like to introduce my characters. The middle is the bitch for me. I wrote my third screenplay backwards. I then knew what scene I needed to flow into the scene I just wrote. Good luck and have fun with it. Since most writers don't make money or much money, you might as well enjoy yourself. It's a hobby till someone pays you.

In my view, all scripts are essentially stories so you have to be a storyteller....to your family, kids, friends, people in the supermarket queue...anyone who will listen. if you can engage them, that is a good start. Personally I believe in the process of collaboration. It usually helps enhance your ideas and often suggests new material. I love working with other people and sharing the creative process most of the time.

Through this site I've seen a number of screenwriters in my general area. A monthly support group meeting for coffee or whatever to discuss our problems with scripts from loglines to needed scenes would be a good idea.