Kerry Morgan: Screenwriter and filmmaker in Austin, Texas.

Martina Cook
Treatment?

Is anyone here writing a treatment before starting their spec screenplay? And by that I mean those 20-30 pages with all elements of each scenes that some people say do more damage to creativity than anything else. I've never done one but thinking to try one to see if I can spot quickly where I'm goi...

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Deanna Foster

For specs, I have a rough outline and a 2-3 page synopsis. If your script is feeling a bit emotionally bankrupt and plot driven, I'd go back to the script and read each scene; and ask - what is my cha...

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Kerry Morgan

I kind of work a bit backwards, Martina. Normally, my treatment comes after I have a few drafts under my belt. I think scenes can be moved around during my rewrites and I want the treatment to represent the final draft instead of the early drafts.

Beth Fox Heisinger

Yeah, as said before, everyone has their own methodology, whatever works best for you. ;) But all these things we do — beat sheets, outlines, synopsis, notes, research, sketches, some writers have dev...

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Gabrielle Forsythe
Finding Screenwriting Books

I’m looking for books about writing a tv show so far I’ve read ones about making a movie script. Are they all the same?

Kerry Morgan

Crafty TV Writing

TV Writer's Workbook (bit dated, but still informative)

Michael Bruce Adams

Hi Gabrielle, Writing the TV Drama Series by Pamela Douglas and The TV Showrunner’s Roadmap by Neil Landau are ones I have found value in... but keep in mind, any book out there presupposes that you h...

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Roman BRuni

tv is a different species from cinema... cause the comercial breaks demands story to be interesting enough to get back to watch.

there are a list of 'gizmos' to open and close scenes, to prepare punch...

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Kerry Morgan

I'm arriving late to the party, but that's okay. I'm planning on developing a new rom/com idea. Annndd here we go! :)

Devares Roberts

Am late but here, guys I really need support

Kerry Morgan

Hi Fred, thanks for the connect.

Julia Dibbern
New

Hiya community,

I am new and trying to find my way around here.

After several novels and non-fic books I am way into my first screenplay. I like the new and shiny toy very much, but I don't seriously believe that this one will have a chance to be bought. I still love it, and who knows? You have to sta...

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Shawn Speake

... and the front cover....

Shawn Speake

The 21 Hero Goal Sequences for a current project, MAD MOUNTAIN MASSACRE. I'm a big fans of cards on the board. I'm also a big fan of watching all movies with captions and time on. To be cont.

Julia Dibbern

Looks like a great book, Shawn Speake! Thank you. (I'll buy and and simply don't tell you if it doesn't work for me :-P )

I also love Lisa Cron's Wired For Story, but this one seems to be even more of...

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Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"
Are you in a screenwriter's group? What are you getting out of it?

Uncle Phil is a member of a couple of online screenwriting groups. This has led to me striking up a few friendships with other writers. some of the writers have provided me with proofreading and occasional feedback. One of the group leaders also provided me with a lead that led to a recent script re...

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Doug Nelson

Years past - I was a member of a professional, vetted screenwriter's group and there was value to that _ i would do that again. I think that what makes a group run smoothly is having members of similar skill level.

Kerry Morgan

Yes, I'm part of a writers group in Austin. It's a great group! I think the most important thing is the feedback. It's a small group, but their feedback has been spot on and has helped me clean up a lot of my writing.

Robert Campopiano

I belong to a writers group and it's been a big help. I've learned a lot and met some great people. We all learn from each other and we have a wide range of skillsets that complement each other.

Kerry Morgan

Hey Jon! Thanks for the connect!

Kerry Morgan

Hi Javi, thanks for the connect!

Theresa Drew
Late main character intro

I'm writing a script and don't plan on introducing my main character until after page 10. The beginning focuses on the antagonist. Is that ok? Or will it seem like my antagonist is really my main character? And will the switch later throw everything off?

Doug Nelson

Watch the old Colombo two hour series (Peter was a hoot to work with). The first half hour, we saw the Perp commit his crime. The Lieutenant often didn't show up until the second half hour; and you know, it worked.

C Harris Lynn

Did he say "yoots?"

Doug Nelson

A.S. - is elucidation legal in all 50 states?

Raymond J. Negron
Whose Writing from Am/PM

Hey Lovebugs of creative tribes people. Hope you are all great! WRITING! WRITING! WRITING! Just here keeping us all accountable. Me as well. Whose writing? WHose not? What do you do when you don't write? What do you do just before the writing to do the writing? All is welcome! Write the amount of ti...

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Raymond J. Negron

Hey all, hope you are all writing! Yes,Doug you are referring to the one page, right!

Doug Nelson

Raymond, correct.

Kriss Sprules

I'm always writing in one respect or another. Currently on vacation in Scandinavia gathering ideas, then home to finish up a script for a webseries I'm staffed on as well as to start writing my own, t...

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Kerry Morgan

Thanks for the connect, Christof!

Christof Davis

Likewise Kerry - hope everything is going well for you, what are you currently working on?

Kerry Morgan

Hi Christof, I'm a bit slow on the response - working on rewrites on a novel and developing a new script idea (vague, I know, usually don't like to expand on scripts in the newborn state). How about you, what's keeping you busy?

Kerry Morgan

Hi Ataollah! Great to meet you - thanks for the connect! It's always nice to connect with local filmmakers. Keep in touch!

Ataollah Etemadi

Hi Kerry, good to meet you too. I run a meetup group of about a thousand people interested in movie making so if you need people let me know and I'll post a message on there for you.

Kerry Morgan

Hi Isaiah! Thanks for the connect! It's nice to meet you :)

Phillip E. Hardy, "The Real Deal"
Are you a rule breaker, risk taker or formula driven?

You're working on your next script. Let's say its a zombie story. Are you going for a good solid formula, hitting all the beats in the right places. Or are you breaking rules and taking risks? And this applies to every genre. Though I like to think of myself as very creative, I tend to stick to line...

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Craig D Griffiths

@Eric many rules (from my POV) just state the obvious, like needing an inciting incident in the first few pages. Stating we need something to get a story started is obvious not a rule. That you should...

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C Harris Lynn

I'll be the first to admit I'm out of my depth. Writing rules are one thing, but formatting, pitching, and some of the other stuff I thought I knew (at least in general)... at this point, I am so thor...

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C Harris Lynn

I know, it was like a book! I spent half an hour editing it, but still wound-up with that. I started not to even post it. :D

Kerry Morgan

Hi Jan! Nice to meet you - thanks for the connect!

Kerry Morgan

Hi Matty, thanks for the networking connect. Let me know when you arrive in Austin and maybe we can get some film locals to connect. Hope the move goes well!

Matty Mason

Thanks, Kerry! Sounds like a plan! Be well. :)

Kerry Morgan
Guilty pleasure and craft books

My favorite guilty pleasure read on the film industry is The Devil's Guide to Hollywood by Joe Eszterhas. I think his experience in the industry, the players and discussing screenwriting will either make a person run screaming out of Hollywood or make you dig your heels in deeper and just do it. It'...

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Margie Walker

Thanks for the connection, Kerry. Looking forward to a facetoface!

Emily Mary Bianca Turrini
Heya

My name is Emily, I am new to STAGE32. I do acting along with other things. I have a number of theatre shows under my belt and have started venturing into film. Film is the discipline I am looking to build on as I have set myself some high goals.

Kerry Morgan

Welcome, Emily! And best of luck!

Emily Mary Bianca Turrini

Thanks Kerry

Vikki Flawith

H Emily!

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