Screenwriting

I found that sometimes taking walk helps. I spend hours barely writing, then I step away from the computer for a walk or even for the nght and and boom! There's that solution I was lookong for or a workable idea for a scene. So I've weaned into cycling tasks so as not to get stuck on one.

Y'all don't be too impressed now - mending a broken foot means I have lots of time on my hands. All the time in the world when you're not supposed to walk if you can help it. I'm taking full advantage while I can!

Sorry to hear about your broken foot, Elle Bolan. I hope it heals fast!

Hi, Sandra. Congrats on finishing Act 1 of your script! And Elle and Maurice, congrats on your progress!

I completed the challenges. My goal for this week started out as submitting an animation pilot to an OWA but was substituted by creating a pitch deck for a drama feature. I accomplished that goal and was both surprised and excited with how the deck turned out.

Thanks, Dejaun Lillie. Congratulations on completing the challenges and reaching your goal!

Happy Friday to all!!

I managed to complete few scenes of my Act 3. Now I am left with very few. Then I'll start rewriting very soon.........

Big thanks for that Geoff Hall. Great to be a part of an inspiring atmosphere!

Happy NWC Dwayne Williams 2

Thanks so much, Sandra Isabel Correia! Happy NWC to you too. Let’s make this month count and keep the momentum strong!

Let’s go Dwayne Williams 2.

You go Dwayne!

Thanks everyone for the amazing input. I will take all of this great info and work through it. Appreciate all of you!

I suggest checking out Stage 32's Screenwriting Education and Blogs, Tom DeLong.

Screenwriting Education: www.stage32.com/education/search?term=Screenwriting

Screenwriting Blogs: www.stage32.com/blog/tags/screenwriting-25

Here's a blog for up-and-coming screenwriters: www.stage32.com/blog/the-questions-up-and-coming-screenwriters-need-to-a...

And check out CJ Walley's book "Turn & Burn: The Scriptwriter's Guide to Writing Better Screenplays Faster" (https://cjwalley.com/turn-burn-screenwriting-book/).

when using AI programs like ChatGPT, you need to keep in mind that you and everything you create are the product. they will mine you, your thoughts, and your data all the way to the limits programmatically possible. AI is fine for organization, but the more info you pump into it, the more it will be used to exploit you in lot of ways in the future. the lessons of the social media boom should not be forgotten. when it comes to tech companies, you are always the product.

A great tool, but you have to be creative to write out the stories though.

ChatGPT is excellent for lots of work but not writing scripts for you. And you cannot copyright a script made with AI. That may change in the future. For now it’s a no.

The reason why it’s not valuable for scriptwriting is because AI is not a human being. Therefore it is not a replacement for your own creativity and unique pov for writing. It doesn’t have your life experience or skills or memories. Or any life skills or memories.

It’s just data.

Whatever others have said or done that’s been input.

It’s not you and your special way of thinking or talking or writing.

The value for writers is it’s ready to assist you 24/7/365.

When you’re up at 2am it can act as an assistant creating outlines, organizing, bullet-pointing, summarizing…very quickly to save you time.

And get your mind settled so you can sleep!

It’s good for visualizing characters and world. (Midjourney).

It’s good for pitch deck images when you need a specific character or style like surreal or retro. (Canva + Midjourney)

It is also a quick fun way to get an idea of what your dialogue can sound like when you can’t find readers. Or the music you might want to use. (Elevenlabs and Suno)

Some thoughts for you Tom DeLong .

Hi, Sheri Barbera. Congratulations on joining the writers group! I'm rooting for you to reach your goal!

So happy that my script Katana Crocodile made it to quarterfinals, congrats to everyone!

Congratulations, Quarterfinalists!

Congratulations to everyone. My script “The Underground Consultant” made it to Quarterfinals!

Congratulations to everyone that hit quarterfinalist. No small achievement there. Solid work

Maurice Vaughan thanks buddy - same to you!! :)

You're welcome, Sebastian Tudores. Thanks. I'm almost finished with a draft of my feature script I'm working on for NWC.

I love your poetic vein Sebastian Tudores :)) Hapoy NWC and Autumn. It’s my favorite season of the year. I love your logline and I hope you be ready to pitch :)) One day, I want to write a CIA character, it’s one of my dreams :)) I am cheering for you. Happy weekend my friend.

love the picture and it does embrace change.

“Ready to pitch” is my mantra for November too! Wishing you every success Sebastian Tudores and enjoy the beautiful fall colors

Nice one, Mike Boas. This is a great take, such a distinctive and fresh inventive approach, but also grounded in a really practical storytelling technique. Appreciate the insight!

I can't believe I missed The Thing and Train to Busan Maurice Vaughan . You are welcome Dwayne Williams 2 . I was baffled by how the writer of All of us are dead included toxic masculinity and misogyny into the script. The difference in the zombies is always interesting. I felt like in WWZ they clenched their teeth a lot , whereas a lot of other films focused on it being a rage virus. Zombies have evolved from that slow moving idiot. OMG Scout's guide to a zombie apocalypse is hilarious , the zombies recall what they did as humans.

Not sure. Maybe that was intentional, to build a certain emotion or anger toward a character or system. The WWZ zombies definitely remind me a bit of the I Am Legend ones, too, fast, relentless, almost hive-like in behavior. That clenched-teeth detail is very thoughtful; I hadn’t noticed it before.

I haven’t seen Scout’s Guide yet, but I’m adding it to my watchlist this week for study. Sounds exciting in a fun way. Appreciate the insight, Marie Hatten.

Some have already listed my favorites. Outbreak, Dawn of the Dead, Shaun of the Dead (a classic British handling of the dead!) The Thing, Invasion of the Body Snatchers! Love all the different takes on apocalyptic movies! Thanks for making me think about the love of horror!

My pleasure Dwayne Williams 2 . The WWZ zombies are like the I am legend ones and the opening sequence is brilliant with that ant / insect plague formation. I like the teeth sound lol.

I've found myself overloaded with projects, Edward Ybarra. I try to keep it to two projects now. A feature script and short script.

Yeah, you can do script swaps with other writers here in the Screenwriting Lounge and the Writers' Room Lounge.

I am overwhelmed and lost between writing and working on my documentary, sometimes trying to avoid them both at the same time. Hah.

@Edward I used to feel overloaded, too many projects, & too little time. I’d grapple with the cause of my angst cos the continuity seemed overwhelming. Then I realised I’m hard wired as an artist, for thoughts to continuously flow, even at the back of my mind when socialising. There is always a surplus, instead of trying to juggle, I now merely pencil them in a notebook for another day.

Edward Ybarra, as an ex-manager used to tell me when I became overloaded: "It's a good problem to have." ;-) All the best, ---Brian

This really enourages me!

Destination Bear Valley.

Trevor and Heather Ferguson, were excited to spend a month with their Grandparents at the cabin in Bear Valley. little did they realize that their time at the cabin would become the biggest adventure of their lives!

Love this idea Mark Simmons! Are Trevor & Heather kids? What would the genere be?

Yes they are Teenagers, the genera would be faith based/family friendly. The brother and sister would partake, with friends, in a wilderness adventure that they stumble on in an old book at the local bookstore, they would find an underground cave system where the find challenges and treasure along with a few biblical items maybe a scroll or two.

I’m not sure this is off the cuff but it would be kind of like the goonies.

Love On The Weekend-

Overdue for the much anticipated get away with his girlfriend, Mark an overworked Consultant, arrives at the cabin to discover her gone. Mysterious events and danger lurk around every corner as every clue found leads to more questions. In a race against time, Mark must exhaust all resources in order to find his girlfriend before it's too late.

-The fireplace and candles suggest she was recently there

-he';ll find blood

-a strange voicemail

-in his quest, he'll encounter dangerous wildlife, high elevation, a suspicious woodsman

Theme: How far we'll go to protect those we love

Newlyweds have a self catering honeymoon in middle class America and on Halloween the happy wife eats supper alone, unaware the rental agent is a cannibal from the deep South.

You're welcome, Leonardo Ramirez 2.

Keep it short, because that will minimize the probability that there is any typo, or something else the reader dislikes.

You don't need spend time writing a query letter anymore. Those days are over. These guys broke the mold. Look what I found: noqueryletter.com. I have 2 scripts submitted.

Oh wow Anthony Catino - I'll check it out. Thanks!

Great advice Göran Johansson - thank you!

I watched Ammon's webinar yesterday, James Lagrimas. It's incredible! A must-watch! I'm looking forward to Ammon's next webinar!

I attended Ammon Lyle's webinar. Where can I find the Q&A on the Stage32 platform?

You can rewatch the webinar in your Library, MB Stevens. The Q&A is toward the end. Click the gear symbol in the top right-hand corner of Stage 32, then select “My Library” in the drop-down menu.

James Lagrimas this is great news - Ammon's webinars are a wealth of actionable insight. Time well invested. Look forward to this next one.

MB Stevens also, if you want to revisit the webinar lounge post, you can find it here: https://www.stage32.com/lounge/screenwriting/Understanding-Vertical-Stor...