Screenwriting

From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting

Liked by Tania Ocasio and one other

Rehaan Riyasdeen
Film Idea

I was just thinking and this idea popped into my head and I was just wondering what your thoughts on it were. So the story would center around a university student who is waiting for his girlfriend in their meeting spot, he keeps on waiting but she never shows up. This leads to him searching for her...

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Petra Jurasova

Definitely great idea for thriller movie. :)

Rehaan Riyasdeen

Thank You :))

David Taylor

Put in the as-is - him his GF, happy - they talk about 'faithfulness. Then he's waiting. If you made it that this was all a deliberate elaborate test by his rich GF - the masked kidnapper boss - to se...

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Petra Jurasova

I believe if you have any idea right now ( which you have) you can write amazing script. :) You are most welcome :))

Rehaan Riyasdeen

David Taylor, Thank you so much for the feedback. I am really grateful and I will definitely take it into consideration

Liked by Robin Gregory and one other

Michael Thorn
Good idea or not?

I know how long it takes for words on the page to finally appear on the screen, if they ever do, so I intend making Arigni 1 available as a novel early in 2026, with Arigni 2 coming late 2026 or early 2027.

But I'm not sure. Is this a good idea or not?

CJ Walley

It all depends on your goals. I have published all my feature specs as books. That's been great for all my friends who want to read them. It also means my story is out there, rather than locked away o...

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Michael Thorn

@CJ Walley I'd like to have it available but what gives me pause is what if a producer or exec becomes half way interested in helping to sell a series pitch but then says "I see you published it as a...

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CJ Walley

I cant see them caring that much about poor sales on a novel that's not with a publisher or been marketed hard.

I've spoken with producers who have been presented with "best sellers" that have less than a dozen or so reviews, and I think that looks worse.

David Taylor

I went off publishing my books - it takes too long - and am now adapting them into features/TV series. I have eleven but had my publisher go bust and with it went my Contract for eight of the books. I've fallen in love with TV pilots too.

Chidera Emmanuel
Screenwriter

Am actually working on 9 hour's movie it was really hard about pain struggle and sorrow am happy to find it

Liked by CJ Walley and 2 others

Doug Nelson
Has anyone used AI as a screenwriting assistant/helper?

It dawned on me - after about 40 years as a professional screenwriter (Last sale in the late '80s), that maybe I'll give it another shot. My Agent is on my case so I thought I'd give it a try. I have one strong story wandering around in the cobwebs for a year or so. I don't know how much time I have...

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Fuad Shawn

It’s truly inspiring to see you returning to screenwriting after such an incredible journey. Your decades of experience are a treasure that AI can only enhance, not replace. If you’ve carried a strong...

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CJ Walley

It's very good as an assistant. Think of it as a robot that can perform and summarise a week's worth of Google research in less than a minute.

The likes of ChatGPT are configured to be painfully pander...

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Dan Martin Roesch
**the ultimate lesson-learned session**

We Need a Plan B — Writing/Screenwriting There is a part of my creative life that existed long before IMDb rankings, agencies, or character breakdowns — a quiet current beneath everything else, a second heartbeat that kept going even when the camera wasn’t rolling. That part is writing. For me, writ...

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Liked by Beridze Kakha and 20 others

Leonardo Ramirez 2
How Your Life Shapes Your Stories

The stories we tell are often pieces of ourselves. My own experiences—struggles, joys, lessons—slip into my characters, their choices, and even the worlds I create.

I write science fiction and fantasy, but at the core, it’s about conquering the dark night of the soul and replacing it with hope.

So her...

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Marie Hatten

Maurice Vaughan you are certainly good at giving help.

Marie Hatten

It's moving but also quite sad Leonardo Ramirez 2

Doug Nelson

I like to write family drama and family humor and as I read my own scripts - I'm in every one of them, some more than others.

Holly Fouche

Well, takes breath to put it simply, I scatter parts of myself into different characters and plots(oftentimes unintentionally). Whether it's through parts of my life or personality, to quote an old teaser of FNAF Sister Location, "There's a little bit of me in every body."

Aleksandar Lahtov

This year i had very, very bad experience at work, facing almost quiting from job. That's why I have decided to put this unpleasant experience of mine in a script where i can identify with all the characters.

Liked by Priya Mistry and 8 others

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh
November Write Club epilogue

This November has been fruitful indeed. I finished BoFS's first draft (and a superficial edit) just a bit more than halfway through the month, when all I meant to do was get it halfway done lol. I've also been planning the heck out of its remaining sequels, SiR and CC and Encore, so next year I'll f...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thanks Elle Bolan, indeed it will be, but I'm ready for it. Got so much I both can and want to do, so hopefully it all gets my time and attention~...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. "Indeed the obstacles are many, but I believe that if you have a gift, you have to share it with the world." You're right! Epic space sagas are hard sells, but y...

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thanks Maurice Vaughan, hopefully soon I'll get that fateful "yes" from a manager/producer who'll let me cook (that's the most important part honestly lol, since it's a series and I've routinely gone...

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Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Banafsheh Esmailzadeh. Learning how to make a pitch deck can be helpful. I learned using Canva or Canva Pro (I can't remember which)....

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Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Nice Maurice Vaughan, I’ll look into it. I still have to learn what a pitch deck even consists of ^^; so much to study~

Liked by Shiva Shekari and 13 others

Libby Wright
Wave Your Wand

Happy Monday! I have a hypothetical I was thinking about this morning, and thought I'd open it up to the group: If you could "wave your wand" and pitch a script/project to an ideal person who would it be? Why? Would you feel prepared, or would you be riding the struggle bus the whole way there? BONU...

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Marie Hatten

Maurice Vaughan love the idea.

Maurice Vaughan

Thanks, Marie Hatten. I'm looking forward to watching your movie!

Marie Hatten

Thanks Maurice Vaughan , means a lot and so am I.

Maurice Vaughan

You're welcome, Marie Hatten.

Doug Nelson

I don't know anything about contemporary pitch practices. I've been on both sides of the table (writer & producer) during the past half century but none recently. The only advice I offer is to relax,...

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Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 10 others

Cynna Ael
November Write Club-- End results.

So it's December 1st and I'm coming out of the hibernation station to give my update. I literally finished writing a Christmas movie that I started not even a week or so ago. I also finished my action thriller. So, two scripts- both between 90-120 minutes long each. Plus, I managed to work on my fir...

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Cynna Ael

Maurice Vaughan Let me tell you, I've been using the "Break the Story with AI" and it's helped me to really focus on the storyline more and it's streamlined my writing because it's helping me from goi...

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Cynna Ael

Leonardo Ramirez 2 I'm with you on the voices being so much different in tone. It's like one of my stories has Pedro Pascal as the male voice and it's amazing how different it sounds from the story wi...

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Leonardo Ramirez 2

Yeah that's when the character really takes on a life of its own Cynna Ael. It's fun to watch.

Priya Mistry

Congratulations Cynna Ael on finishing your script. NWC is really helpful to achieve your targets. It helped me as well. Although I got sick in the middle of the month, was not in a condition to write...

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Liked by Saparuddin Santa

Marie Hatten
Nwc

Whilst NWC was not quite as productive as it could have been I did get into the habit of engaging with this extraordinary community daily, I wrote the logline, character bios etc for my current feature rewrite, I read the two previous drafts and wrote reverse outlines. I have a better understanding...

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Liked by Shiva Shekari and 27 others

Maurice Vaughan
Everything I Did for Stage 32’s November Write Club

Everything I Did for Stage 32’s November Write Club

– I did three drafts of my Horror Action feature script I’m rewriting called Vampire-Proof.

– Rewrote my Horror Action feature script Kill the Monster.

– I turned my Crime Thriller short script into a Sci-Fi Thriller short script and made new pitch...

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Maurice Vaughan

Hey, Patrick Koepke. Thanks! What's something you got done for November Write Club/last month?

Maurice Vaughan

Thank you, Aleisha Brooks! What's one of your accomplishments this year?

Maurice Vaughan

I appreciate it, Marie Hatten! Thanks! Hope you accomplish even more this month!

Marie Hatten

Absolutely will Maurice Vaughan .

Maria Restivo Glassner

Maurice Vaughan I rewrote my one-sheet and finished my first draft of Act I for my animation class! I am really proud of how I'm progressing over time. It's like every time I take a class or work on a...

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Liked by Shiva Shekari and one other

James Lagrimas
How to Punch up the Comedy in Your Feature Film Script. Webinar with Jonathan Tessero

You’ve finished your script (congrats!) or you’re stuck on a pivotal scene (never fear!). You love spending time with your characters, rooting for their wins and mourning their losses. You’re happy with how they deliver exposition and are proud of how subtext and desire drives every word they say. E...

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