Questions & Advice 2

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...

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?

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

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...

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...

Legal Limitations: Using Names of Pro Athletes

feeds@yuku.com (glenbo55) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 13:47:01 GMT

I want to possibly use in my script baseball trading cards. I also would want to use them as props. Do I have to get permission to use the names of pro athletes alive or dead? In the movie "Mask" they did but this newbie has no clue what legal waters I'll be traversing. I can't seem to get a clear picture on what is public domain, copyright infringement, etc.

Also, can anyone recommend a good book for improving dialogue writing? Specifically, ways to...

The three act structure

feeds@yuku.com (Goodguy1111) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:17:35 GMT

Great article on the three act structure. I have often thought of it as a tool, as you say!

Happy Birthday...

Genre question

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 13:17:12 GMT

Okay, you screenwriters that have been in the biz a long time probably have formed an opinion by now about genres and which ones sell the best (or worst). Let's assume that various screenwriters of equal credibility, talent, experience, and reputation are competing to sell his or her script. Let's also assume that each one specializes in writing genre-specific scripts: action, thrillers, comedies, rom-coms, dramatic love stories, horror, fantasy, etc. Which script (or which genre)...

Character Personality Type

feeds@yuku.com (rayb) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 10:25:54 GMT

Hi All,

Has anyone every tried using the Myers-Briggs personality type indicators to help develop characters?

I'm thinking about using this tool with my next project and was wondering if anyone has had any success with this, or run into any trouble using such an approach.

Thanks!
-RayB

Action Reversals.

feeds@yuku.com (Racicot) — Mon, 22 Jun 2009 09:14:07 GMT

Hey Bill,

In your opinion, is it possible to have too many reversals -- like your Casino Royale and The Road Warrior action set pieces?

What would you cap it off at?

thanks.

Movie guru help needed

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 19:49:26 GMT

Okay, I'm wanting to research some movies that deal with an antagonist that literally wreaks havoc on the main character(s) on various levels. I mean, they just keep turning up the heat. Some examples of the type of story approach I mean are Pacific Heights, Guilty As Sin (with Don Johnson), and Unlawful Entry. The stories are quite different, obviously, but the antagonists seem to really infiltrate the protagonists' lives on different levels and in really bad ways. What other...

help me out

feeds@yuku.com (davidcrass) — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 00:09:33 GMT

I just finished the first draft of a short 12 page script. Its my first one and I need to know how much I screwed up and what I need to fix. I don't know how to attach it, but my email is dystopicexistence@gmail.com.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Writing Thrillers audio course question

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Tue, 19 May 2009 18:02:14 GMT

Bill (et al),

I finished the first CD and am at least halfway through the second CD. I really like your distinction between action movies and thrillers and think that was a brilliant way to start. We sometimes hear reference made to "supernatural thrillers." I understand that there are principles that apply *generally* to thrillers. Are there any specific principles that apply to specific subgenres, such as supernatural thrillers, that are unique to that particular...

Bill's Take on Falling Down?

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:59:10 GMT

Bill - a couple of days ago in one of your daily tips, you made reference to the movie Falling Down. I was hoping you could comment further on this story and help explain why it really does not work. This is perhaps a good opportunity to learn what works by studying what doesn't work. If it is not inappropriate, would you mind sharing how you would have written the story (or at least explain how it could have been written better or ways to improve the story)? I personally think the...

Final Draft 8

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Thu, 07 May 2009 14:21:40 GMT

So, does anyone have an opinion yet on the version 8 upgrade? Love it? Hate it? Better version? A waste of money? Or is Movie Magic really the only way to go?

The protagonist from...hell?

feeds@yuku.com (sirjeff) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:14:57 GMT

The protagonist is often referred to as "the hero" and many authors of writing books, whether intentionally or not, insinuate that the protagonist is the good guy and that the antagonist is the bad guy that opposes the hero (Luke Skywalker vs. Darth Vader, etc.). I'm not sure I go along with the whole good guy protagonist vs. the bad guy antagonist as an absolute. Sometimes, yes. Obviously, if the main character is the good guy, fine, and many stories play out this way....

Question on script deals

feeds@yuku.com (SamT) — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 22:23:31 GMT

I have been a reader of this forum for over five months now but I have never posted any questions. Also, I was lucky to get my hands on a copy of Mr. Martell's Action Screenwriting book. I do not work in the movie industry but please consider me an amateur movie maker in training. I try to follow the latest news on upcoming movies so I have a couple of questions.

1) Where is the best web site to go to find out the latest Hollywood script deals? I have seen a few news bits on...

Judy, would you be interested ..

feeds@yuku.com (mailgururaj) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 09:34:21 GMT

Judy, would be interested in reading a comedy that I have outlined. it is about the three of us, you me and Late.Gracie. I'm not in the mood of screenwriting these days but If you're interested I will write a 2-5 page synopsis. I don't care about plagarizm. what I do want you to know is as it si comedy, you may find some of it offending. so would you be interested?

regards,
GD