Sluglines, Short Slugs, Time Lapse

feeds@yuku.com (BrianBurke) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:54:34 GMT

All of what I learned about scene heading aka sluglines has been on the web, much from pro writers, readers, etc. Recently, I had an email convo with a production person who brought up the importance of the slug and how it relates to the production crew, i.e. the lighting crew needs to know whether to bring DAY or NIGHT equipment.

Although well explained, this new bit of info has brought me into doubt. I have difficulties with large areas, such as inside a...

Is there a best month or season to try to sell a script?

feeds@yuku.com (steffanralphdelpiano) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 12:03:18 GMT

I know you say that send out your queries to producers so that they get there in the middle of the week...I've done that in the past and you're right.

What about this: I'm just finishing up my newest sciript's final draft. Should I send it out in the middle of Thanksgiving and the holidays--like I want to--should I wait until after the holidays...after January 1st?

It's an action flick. Does genre matter in these matters?

-Steffan

Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood

feeds@yuku.com (jetski) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:47:20 GMT

My book "Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood," will be available on barnesandnoble.com or amazon.com or borders.com.
I have also just finished writing the screenplay version. I would like to have it produced.

Logline: Father John knows what millions have sought to find out; father John knows, THE DAY OF JESUS CHRIST'S RETURN!

Synopsis: Father John a renegade priest, enabled by sister Mary kate, embarks on a mission to warn the world of...

Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood

feeds@yuku.com (jetski) — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 13:09:53 GMT

I have authored a book; "Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood." It is now printed, and will be on the market soon. amazon.com or barnesand noble.com or borders.com.

I have just finished the screenplay script. I would like to option it or have it produced. 10-28-2009.
My script can be read at "scriptbuddy.com." author is Jesus Villalobos.
contact info: 951-736-1015
jv712@msn.com.

Logline: Father...

2010 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

feeds@yuku.com (bluecatscreenwriting) — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 10:08:54 GMT

2010 BlueCat Screenplay Competition CALL FOR ENTRIES    Since 1998, we have built a large community of writers passionately committed to writing original, unforgettable work. 

When does the outlining start?

feeds@yuku.com (Angus Carr) — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 12:30:44 GMT

How much research and brainstorming does everyone here do before your outlining begins?

Bridge Int'l Screenplay Competition - $10 ENTRY FEES!

feeds@yuku.com (bridgescreenplay) — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:15:10 GMT

BRIDGE INTERNATIONAL SCREENPLAY COMPETITION FALL 2009
Creating opportunities for writers on a global scale!

Accepting screenplays from Oct 9 - Nov 19, 2009.

Back by popular demand is the 2nd Annual Bridge International Screenplay Competition. We are currently accepting screenplays and teleplays from around the world. Don't miss this priceless opportunity to have your work in front of over 8,500 industry professionals. Submitting...

Writing samples requested! How much? How little?

feeds@yuku.com (skycaptain) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 12:41:07 GMT

Here's my story:
My dear sister recently got married. At the rehearsal dinner, my new uncle (long story-my aunt remarried at the ripe old age of 70) leans over to me and says, "did you know my daughter is the First Assistant to George Lucas?"
After pushing out what was left of my gin and tonic through my nose, I had to press for details.
Turns out she's been in the film biz for quite a few years but has worked her way up into the hierarchy of Lucas-world....

Tips on getting back into writing again

feeds@yuku.com (kjenkins07) — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 23:08:01 GMT

I wrote a screenplay earlier this summer (a thriller), which was my first feature-length screenplay. All was going well and I was writing at least 5 pages every day until I finished that script. Well, now I am having a problem. I haven't written in almost 3 months (work has taken up a lot of time, haven't figured out how to work my writing schedule around it) and I've become lazy because of the time off from producing material. Lately, I have been trying to get some ideas down...

copyrights question

feeds@yuku.com (mailgururaj) — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 01:41:12 GMT

Bill,

I have a script, the same one that I pitched to Judy sometime ago and she was fine with it. the "how I killed my grandmother" story, I'm thinking sometime in future I might make a script out of it.

Do I get to use your website name in my script? do I have your permission?

kindly answer me,
regards,
Gururaj

The Informant- A Bad Case of VO?

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo) — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:30:32 GMT

I did what Bill does on a Friday night and went to see "The Informant" at a prime viewing time. I wanted to observe audience responses and the demographics. It was a pretty full house and the age group was more of the middle age set than 25 and younger. Not much LOL, more in the muffled giggle category. Even though I enjoyed it I was hoping for more. Maybe my sleep apnea caused me to doze off but was there a character arc? Maybe that was the whole point, the dude was a...

Movie Win / Lose Money Website?

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo) — Sat, 19 Sep 2009 14:59:00 GMT

Anybody know of a sight that I can look up to see if a movie was profitable? I've only seen sites with gross box office figures. Also, what percentage or contractual arrangement are screenwriters getting these days for residuals?

Thanks in Advance,

Glenbo

I'm on a boat M-Fer...

feeds@yuku.com (JoeG) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 12:38:18 GMT

Bill,

Why didn't you ever try and leverage your success into a directing gig?

As for the boat incident--

Why didn't you pick up the phone and call the producer and say something along the lines of:

"Mr. X, I'm calling to see how much I should budget for the new boat scene that Director Y wants..."

Now, maybe the director owns a boat, or can get one. Maybe the producer owns a boat, etc. Maybe the producer thinks it's...

Bills latest Script Secret and "District 9"

feeds@yuku.com (olafreinhardweyer) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:42:58 GMT

In between reading Bill's latest article "Writing over 40" I am intrigued what he (or any other readers) might think of the African Movie "District 9".
I liked that movie a lot. While watching, I had at no moment any clue how the story might move forward, full of unexpected turns and therefore very entertaining. Looking back at District 9 it does not at all seem so different from any ordinary action or sci-fi-action yarn. So what made the experience so different?...

American Masters "Trumbo"

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo) — Wed, 02 Sep 2009 18:15:25 GMT

PBS just aired an incredible 90 minute program on blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo. The eloquence of his letters read by a cadre of renowned actors has profoundly moved me to urge everyone to watch.

Go to the PBS website for additional info. The DVD is $28 and I can't wait to get my copy. Also, Tarentino video with Travis Smiley that aired August 24th may also be of interest to you.

Cliches Sell?

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:06:15 GMT

As a newbie I wonder how much "truth" of our story must be sacrificed at times for marketing a script.

The mantra in quality screenwriting appears to be that a good story must avoid cliches. So why does it seem that cliches are so omnipresent? For example, how many cop movies don't have the protagonist law officer battling alcoholism? I know it's a real issue but if every cop had a severe drinking problem they should hold AA meetings in the station, or...

I need to vent

feeds@yuku.com (Goodguy111) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 13:31:03 GMT

I recently had a play produced. In this short, two character play, the one actor never bothered to learn his lines. He would paraphrase everything and add interjections (lot's of "y' know's"). (Sometimes the jokes would come out... sometimes they wouldn't. Sometimes the other actor would get her cue... sometimes she wouldn't.) As this was a comedy, succinct dialogue and rhythm were of great importance. The one actor was also making some...

Personality Issues - or bad lazy me? :-)

feeds@yuku.com (olafreinhardweyer) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 03:16:00 GMT

Hi everybody,

well, this is rather personal. I have been writing since i was 13 years old, perhaps i wrote before i actually new the signs. Writing is a way of thinking. It was with 25 years after having learned a paper pusher job, that i finally decided i would actually become a screenwriter. A few years later i got lucky and with my pitched story was invited to visit one of the greatest film schools here in Germany. We had classes and a 1st-draft-feature project to be completed...

Formatting TV Only Images

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 15:19:56 GMT

How do I format spoof TV commercials and news reporting in a spec script? Like the movie "Robocop" I don't want the image to divulge its origin, no view from inside a room or even the frame of a TV set until after the scene is established. I want to use these video images as a transition into the next scene. Does that mean I should place scene headings afterwards? I've looked through screenwriting books and scripts such as "Robocop" but the examples I...

Hello, and where am I?

feeds@yuku.com (HankStoneman) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 14:00:36 GMT

Just joined. I thought I would ask my newbie questions in the cafe even if some of them are screenwriting related. How old is too old to try and break into screenwriting? What are people's thought on Screenwriting MFA degrees? Anyone have advice on UCLA's program versus USC's?

Script Secrets

Sluglines, Short Slugs, Time Lapse

Is there a best month or season to try to sell a script?

Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood

Three Days of Darkness and the Coming Flood

2010 BlueCat Screenplay Competition

When does the outlining start?

Bridge Int'l Screenplay Competition - $10 ENTRY FEES!

Writing samples requested! How much? How little?

Tips on getting back into writing again

copyrights question

The Informant- A Bad Case of VO?

Movie Win / Lose Money Website?

I'm on a boat M-Fer...

Bills latest Script Secret and "District 9"

American Masters "Trumbo"

Cliches Sell?

I need to vent

Personality Issues - or bad lazy me? :-)

Formatting TV Only Images

Hello, and where am I?