C.J Fischer's Lounge Discussions

I don’t think you should ever stop looking for something else to learn. Some of the things you did learn in your latest script will not be in older scripts of yours of course, but that does not mean everything in your older scripts were bad either. Look for the positive in what you’ve done while also striving to keep advancing your learning. Otherwise you are likely to just discourage yourself.

I look at both script and other writing much the same. One moment I'm as brilliant as the creme of the crop. The next, I'm thinking to myself 'wtf is this drek?' 'Was I high?'. I'm never satisfied and I rewrite a lot which is where I find the most satisfaction. I'll think I'm done and the next day, I'm back at it again. It drives me crazy sometimes, but I wouldn't stop for nothing. I love it, too.

Owen, you have no idea how great that is to read. I got a notion for a comedy, but then I thought I must be insane. I've never written comedy except for the occasional off-the-cuff remark that sounded like a good idea at the time. Maybe I should take a swing and see what happens.

I've only finished my first script, but I suspect at some stage you need to be happy with your screenplay as it is, and move on to another -- so you can hone your skill on a new script. Be satisfied with the result, but not complacent with your craft, perhaps?

When I had a sit-down with MADONNA, I asked her what is the secret to your success. Madonna said: "STAYING HUNGRY."

I believe it could be a Theremin?

You have good ears, but almost right - it's a musical saw, the acoustic version of the theremin :) (I know because I'm the one who played it... This is me http://youtu.be/lPvTTc7jAVQ :)

I've only ever used Final Draft but I might check out Fade In based on this thread. FD is very easy to use and works quickly.

I was using Final Draft up until a few days ago. For some reason it kept freezing and giving me non responsive errors taking up to 20 seconds to do a single letter. UGH. Switched over to Celtx as a quick fix. Yes they moved to an online model but it's still free if you only want to use the screenwriting feature. What I don't like is that you have to save as a PDF everytime to see the page number and I also don't like the fact that you have to pay $5 for the app if you want the reader on your phone.

I've been using Final Draft for about 6 years now and only had a few snags along the way. Mainly with the newest update. Like Stacy above me... I also had the freezing and closing down, which became frustrating. But after a while, it stopped doing that. Although I feel like it just heard me, so I need to go back up EVERYTHING...

I like Celtx. And it's free.

Celtx is great I like the different project templates like Storyborading and Comic

I'm not sure I can call myself a writer if I'm not striving to be better.

I'm never satisfied. It's why I like to go back over some early spec scripts I have, when I have time, and rework them to improve what I can. Having an experienced mentor who is sometimes tough on me and never seems satisfied either, has pushed me to demand better of myself as well.

Lisa Clemens, the method you're describing sounds good. You should go over your script a few times and improve it. Your mentor should tell or give you advice how to improve it but if you constantly keep changing your script, it will become something else, a new script. At one point in all this re-writing process, your script is ready. Once you sign any form of SALE contract, the director or someone in that category should give you a few pointers to make it final. I don't think there are any PERFECT SCRIPTS on the market, there never were. Re-writing something over and over easily tuns into OVERKILL. I always read my scripts over and over, I don't have a mentor but when I read a part of the script, visualize it, and if it looks okay, that's it, no more changes. Again, I could be wrong about all of this but that's how it is for me.

No I don't obsess and go over it again and again. To be more clear, I have taken some of my early scripts from when I first started, looked them over (and usually thought- wow what was I thinking! I have come a long way haha!) and make it better. I think I'm picky and self critical of my spec scripts because they are my own ideas and written on my own time. Writing for others, I'm more likely to be less self critical or second guess myself! I do take notes from my mentor since I do a lot of writing with and for him. And on the ones I have been paid to write, I always welcome notes that help improve the script but that doesn't mean I bend immediately to what the director or producer sees as a possible improvement. For instance I have a script that takes place in the early 60s and a suggestion involved adding "hippy" dialog. Once I proved that Hippy speak in the early 60s was not appropriate, we moved on. Another time I was writing a fight scene and a suggestion made would have made the audience feel cheated out of some action and gone straight to the resolution. So I explained how I felt and once it was discussed, I came up with an even better idea than I had originally which made both of us happy!

Who is you favorite screenwriter?

Final deadline is April 29, Sylvia. We got this!

Just entered my script- good luck all!

Here's the information, Lisa. https://www.stage32.com/happy-writers/contests/3

I may have to do this one.

Lisa, if you look at the link there are tabs under the title "The Stage 32 Happy Writers Annual Feature Contest" near the middle/top. The tabs are: Contest Info; Rules; Judges; and Prizes. I don't know what "prize package" you are referring to, but all prizes are clearly listed and described under the "Prizes" tab. I'm not going to list them all for you when they are clearly available... Please take a look. :)