"THE INSIDE PITCH"

I WROTE A 120 PAGE SCRIPT BUT CAN'T WRITE A LOGLINE

2012-01-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

I recently updated my article on logline construction called "I Wrote a 120 Page Script but Can't Write a Logline." Along with additional information and analysis of eight loglines, I've also added 300 loglines (from produced screenplays) to use for study or as examples and templates. The article is in PDF form and free to read or download HERE. For the first time, I've enabled the "comments"

SCREENWRITING CONTESTS

2011-11-14T09:59:00.001-08:00

It seems like a new screenwriting contest is born every day. Many make promises or allusions to opening Hollywood doors and exposing winning scripts to green-lighters. And new screenwriters shell out entry fees hoping a win will be their golden ticket inside. Unfortunately, most screenwriting contests do not have the clout or visibility level to help a writer achieve that objective.

GOTHAM INDEPENDENT FILM AWARDS

2011-10-20T23:26:00.000-07:00

My documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS is one of 29 films (both fiction & non-fiction) in the running for the "Audience Award" category at the Gotham Independent Film Awards sponsored by the IFP and Film Genius. You can vote for MVP HERE. 1) You need to register your name, e-mail and password. (Quick & easy process.)2) Then vote for FIVE films by clicking on "vote" next to the thumbnails.

MVP PREMIERES ON SEPTEMBER 8 AT 9PM ET/PT

2011-09-03T06:52:00.000-07:00

My documentary finally airs on OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network this coming Thursday September 8th at 9PM ET/PT.The film revolves around the "Freddy Awards," a live television event in eastern PA that celebrates high school musical theater. In the vein of "Spellbound," the doc follows three teen theater troupes and their creative journeys to, what some consider, the Tony Awards for high school

OPRAH'S AN MVP

2011-06-21T12:01:00.000-07:00

The Oprah Winfrey Network's Documentary Club premiered in May with BECOMING CHAZ, the story of Sonny and Cher's daughter (Chastity) transitioning into a man.OWN airs one of the club's feature-length documentaries a month.My doc MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS airs this fall (TBA).Here's a SNEAK PEAK at some of the Documentary Club's films.Find OWN on your TV channel line-up here.Follow MOST VALUABLE

AT LEAST HE'S TRYING...

2011-05-10T18:54:00.000-07:00

The arrival of query letters is a daily occurence. Hundreds a month. They most often arrive through e-mail, but the USPS still delivers a healthy amount too.Today I received one with a Triboro NY postmark - which encompasses Brooklyn, Queens and Staten Island. I grew up in SINY, so it caught my eye.When I flipped over the small envelope, there was a protruding piece of film strip. The end of

THE ED LIMATO MEMORIAL SERVICE

2011-01-14T22:52:00.000-08:00

Legendary talent agent Ed Limato, who died July 3, 2010, was celebrated Tuesday night, January 11, 2011 at the Paramount Theater on the lot of Paramount Studios. 500+ guests attended. Producers like Jerry Bruckheimer and Joel Silver, studio heads like Jeff Robonov, agency gurus like Ari Emanuel and Bryan Lourd, movie stars galore and many of his co-workers from throughout the years came to pay

IF YOU'RE SURFING THE NET...

2010-12-28T06:19:00.000-08:00

Check out the "Roundtable" series produced by The Hollywood Reporter. The series features writers, directors, actors and more in group interview settings. Some of Hollywood's most talented and influential filmmakers & performers discuss provocative topics with candor and humor. The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has spent years producing in-depth interviews with TV artists,

OWN Documentary Club

2010-11-10T19:35:00.000-08:00

My documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS has been acquired by Oprah Winfrey for her new cable channel, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network. OWN will premiere on January 1, 2011 in 75+ million homes.MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS joins a line-up of cinematic documentaries comprising the network’s upcoming documentary film club, similar to Oprah’s book club, set to begin spring 2011.OWN has partnered with ro*co

MVP in San Francisco & Chicago

2010-09-23T08:11:00.000-07:00

My documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS will make its film festival world premiere at the Mill Valley Film Festival in California. It screens on October 10th and October 15th. TICKET INFO.We'll also be participating in the Chicago International Children's Film Festival on October 23rd. TICKET INFO.And come see us at the St. Louis International Film Festival in November. (Dates TBA.)Critics have

WHAT'S NEXT FOR MVP?

2010-08-26T10:23:00.001-07:00

My documentary had a successful two-week run in New York City (at the IFC Center) and in Los Angeles (at the ArcLight Hollywood). It was a lot of fun and a great experience to share the indie doc with audiences on both coasts.Thanks to everyone who came out to support the film and performing arts education. Special thanks to the staff and volunteers at the International Documentary Association.In

DOCUWEEKS

2010-07-16T17:09:00.001-07:00

My documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS, directed by Matthew D. Kallis, will make its world premiere at the International Documentary Association's DocuWeeks™.MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS demonstrates performing arts education in action, as it follows three high school theater troupes and their creative journeys to the "Freddy Awards" - the Tony Awards for high school musical theater.The 2010 edition of

REMEMBERING ED LIMATO

2010-07-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

Iconic Hollywood talent agent Ed Limato, who spent more than four decades guiding the careers of superstars such as Mel Gibson, Richard Gere, Denzel Washington and Steve Martin, died Saturday July 3rd at his Beverly Hills, CA home surrounded by friends and family. He was a few days shy of 74.While the laity imagines a Hollywood talent agent as something they've seen on “Entourage,” Ed Limato had

BUCK SLIP #4

2010-05-10T12:24:00.000-07:00

The LA TIMES gives a shout out to my new documentary "Most Valuable Players."I'm teaching another online workshop called "HOW TO TALK ABOUT YOUR SCRIPT" on Sunday May 23 from 9AM-11AM PST. You can find the details HERE.

MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS

2010-04-24T16:28:00.000-07:00

We had an advanced screening of my documentary on April 16th in the Lehigh Valley, PA, where the film was shot.You can see the trailer HERE.You can see some TV news footage HERE.Become a "fan" at our FACEBOOK page.

BUCK SLIP #3

2010-03-13T06:16:00.001-08:00

I'm leading another online workshop called "Navigating the Script Maze" on March 27th from 9AM - 11:30AM (PST). These interactive Internet classes have been a lot of fun and an easy way to take the show on the road without having to travel. Find all the info HERE.My documentary MOST VALUABLE PLAYERS will have an advanced screening in Easton, Pennsylvania (the town where it was shot) at the State

TEN TIPS FOR 2010

2010-02-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

I’m weighed down at work and busy in post-production on my documentary, so I’m continuing to turn over blogging duties to Adam Levenberg. I’ve received a few nasty letters from people complaining that I’m hocking Adam’s script consulting services. Adam does provide a service, and I provide a link to his site. If one is in the market for a consultant, Adam should certainly be considered. He has

BUCKSLIP #2

2010-01-11T21:42:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to Scott Keiner for winning the twoadverbs.com logline contest for his adventure screenplay LORD OF THE JUNGLE.A dark re-imagining of Edgar Rice Burrough’s public-domain novel Tarzan of the Apes, told from Jane’s perspective. A young woman travels to the West African jungle in search of her long-lost parents but struggles to survive when a violent, jungle creature (known to local

SCREENWRITING FALLACIES

2009-12-12T02:27:00.000-08:00

The response to Adam Levenberg's previous two articles here has been positive, so he adds yet another entitled THE FALLACIES OF THE UNREPPED WRITER:At the age of 16, I spent the summer at UCLA taking two classes, including an introduction to screenwriting taught by Chris Lockhart. In retrospect, I feel very badly for Chris, as those six hours per week (with only a handful of other students)

SELLING "ARMORED"

2009-12-04T12:58:00.000-08:00

Congratulations to James V. Simpson, whose first produced screenplay, ARMORED, opens today nationwide.Jay contributed to this blog right after selling the screenplay in November 2006. Someone wrote to me, wondering what he could expect after selling his first script. I asked Jay to answer the question. Here's what he had to say:First, let me apologize to the loyal INSIDE PITCH readers who are

SOME ADVICE ON PITCHING

2009-12-01T23:16:00.000-08:00

On December 5th, I’m meeting with the Alameda Writers Group at the Glendale Library to hear pitches. The event is free and open to the public. I thought I’d use some space here to offer up simple suggestions on pitching.Writers at different stages in their careers will pitch under different circumstances. An “A” list writer can pitch just an idea in a room with the hope of walking out with a deal

TWO ADVERBS LOGLINE CONTEST: SEMI-FINALISTS

2009-11-25T05:52:00.000-08:00

The ten semi-finalists in the TWOADVERBS LOGLINE CONTEST have been selected.The loglines are up in the 2A forum, where members will spend the next two weeks casting their votes for the top three. The poll is public, so members can track which loglines lead the race.The final three will be shared with a group of producers, agents, managers and executives, and the best logline will be chosen.For

DON'T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU!

2009-11-21T23:57:00.000-08:00

On Thursday, Adam Levenberg gave us his thoughts on the five types of highly unsuccessful writers.He continues today with:THREE UNREPRESENTED WRITERS YOU DON'T WANT TO BE!In my previous article, I discussed some highly ineffective work habits for those trying to break through into the world of professional screenwriting. Today, I'll share some approaches to material that I routinely recognize in

UNSUCCESSFUL SCREENWRITERS

2009-11-19T04:43:00.000-08:00

Many years ago, I taught a screenwriting class for high school kids at UCLA. The kids came to the campus for the summer from all around the country. In the class, we talked about the basics of screenwriting and saw how they were applied in both scripts and films. The kids pitched their own ideas and wrote scenes.In my very first class, one of the kids was an enthusiastic high school thespian from

MAILROOM #13

2009-11-17T00:04:00.000-08:00

You've relaunched your blog?Yes, I blogged for a year (2006-2007) and then put the skids on when my tenure at ICM was coming to a close and a new chapter of my career at William Morris began. The turmoil involved in leaving ICM was part of a precedent setting lawsuit and didn't leave me with much of a desire to blog. Since that time, I've produced two movies and survived the biggest merge in

BUCK SLIP

2009-11-12T21:35:00.000-08:00

Some random thoughts:A FINAL NOTE ON "PASS THE DUTCHIE"I’ve received quite a few sympathy notes from my Netherlandic brethren as a result of my previous blog entries. (I responded to several queries with a link to PASS THE DUTCHIE). And they shared some of their thoughts with me.It seems the author of the book “Rich From One Sentence” has gotten a few complaints from others in town who are

PASS THE DUTCHIE - PART TWEE

2009-11-10T07:15:00.000-08:00

The mystery as to the origins of the Dutch deluge of query letters has been solved.It seems Dutch filmmaker and author Paul Ruven has written a book entitled "Rijk door 1 zin" ("Rich Because of One Sentence").This book explains how Hollywood pays big bucks for good ideas, and it offers up a marketing strategy that includes names and e-mails of Hollywood types – one of which is mine.A little

PASS THE DUTCHIE

2009-11-07T21:32:00.000-08:00

As a kid I remember a catchy TV jingle promoting tourism in the Netherlands. But its plural sounding name confused the geography for me. Was it one country or a cluster of smaller countries? Contributing to that confusion was the Netherlands/Dutch/Holland identity issue. I still don’t know much about the Netherlands. Its capital is Amsterdam, where its carefree policies on drugs and prostitution

STORY CONFERENCE

2009-10-21T22:11:00.000-07:00

In 2002, for six weeks, writers gathered in the Beverly Hills Library to discuss screenplays, ask questions and pitch ideas. We called the gathering “Story Conference.” Five writers stepped up and allowed their scripts to be posted to twoadverbs.com. One script was featured a week and attendees would read the script in advance of the Saturday session. The five writers featured were Michael

PS 22

2009-09-22T06:37:00.000-07:00

As a former Staten Islander, I need to jump on the bandwagon and contribute to the conflagration of the PS22 Chorus (PS = public school) led by music teacher Gregg Breinberg. While it seems like the chorus has been around for almost a decade, it was the posting of music videos on YOUTUBE that inspired over nine million hits, sending the kids and their conductor into an elementary school

A MUSICAL PITCH

2009-07-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

This goes back at least five or six years when Jack and I would meet with writers in the backroom of the Take-One Bookstore (long defunct) in Westwood. These were informal, free gatherings where we heard all sorts of stories, met all kinds of people and made some good friends. In this particular clip, an endearing young woman pitches a rather cryptic musical. It's one of my favorite memories

THE COLLECTOR

2009-07-02T00:15:00.000-07:00

While I was away, I had a baby, shot a documentary and co-produced THE COLLECTOR. The project was developed under the title THE MIDNIGHT MAN. It sold to Dimension and was produced under its auspicies. It was shot in Louisiana in 2008. Later, Mickey Liddell bought the completed film from the Weinsteins. THE COLLECTOR is being distributed on 7/31 via Freestyle Releasing. I blogged about this

FADE OUT

2007-04-21T06:45:00.000-07:00

It’s been a year since I started blogging.I don’t get many opportunities to write – which, oddly, creates some guilt. I recently started tracking the amount of “hits” I get a month and was quite surprised to learn that people really do visit this site. Suddenly, a responsibility washed over me, and blogging wasn’t as much fun anymore. It was something I had to do. It became a child I needed to

SACRAMENTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

2007-04-06T05:26:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday, after my LAVC class, I took a flight out of Burbank to spend the rest of the weekend at the Sacramento International Film Festival.I’m not a very good traveler and even the shortest trip feels like I’ve been away for years. I’m never very comfortable on a plane; my legs don’t appreciate the cramped quarters and my ears despise the change in altitude. I don’t have a fear of flying,

AN OUTSIDER COMES INSIDE

2007-03-18T08:50:00.000-07:00

Continuing to play hooky from my blogging duties, I offer up an entry by Terrence Loose.Terry is an MFA student in screenwriting at UCLA, who served as an intern in our Story Department doing clerical work and reading screenplays. Terry was recommended to me by my previous intern.When I first met him, I was rather shocked. He looks more like a surfer dude than a pasty faced screenwriter who

WET T-SHIRT CONTEST

2007-03-11T22:28:00.000-07:00

The following has nothing to do with wet t-shirts. This entry is actually about screenwriting contests - a subject with little marquee value.One of the most popular category of questions that I find in my e-mail box is about screenwriting contests.As I say over and over, I believe that most are a waste of energy and entry fee. Some - like the Nicholl and Disney Fellowships - are very reputable

MAILROOM #12

2007-03-03T19:16:00.000-08:00

Recently, you were discussing Sherwood Oaks College as a path for honest industry access to agents, etc.... How about the Concept to Sale Conference and Pitchfest in February at The Hyatt by Fade In? They already have my $300, but now that they sent the actual list of attendees for the pitching this weekend -- there are not as many agencies as advertised on their website, only 4 if you count one

QUICK NOTES

2007-02-23T06:52:00.000-08:00

We survived our move from Beverly Hills to Century City, and the new digs are quite nice. The design is modern and "open," hoping to create more of a camaraderie amongst co-workers. (I will report all assaults and murders here.)There's still a lot of clutter everywhere but as boxes get broken down and the contents get put away, the place will appear much more organized.I'm adopting a "paperless"

MOVING ON

2007-02-15T12:20:00.000-08:00

Today was my last day at ICM.I started at the talent agency in June of 1998, and after almost nine years, I had to say good-bye.I should clarify a small point. Today was my last day at ICM in Beverly Hills. As of next week, I will be starting at the new ICM.For the last 15 years, ICM has occupied the building at 8942 Wilshire Blvd. at the corners of Almont on the west and Lapeer to the east –

JUST A THOUGHT

2007-02-10T21:45:00.000-08:00

I had a quick thought and decided to jot it down here. I guess it's less of a thought and more of an experience I thought I'd share - not that I expect anyone to really care.Normally, I feel compelled to post some ponderous entry and would never consider typing up some random musings that probably have very little significance. But I suspect that’s the real purpose of a blog anyway.This is sort

MAILROOM #11

2007-02-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

I have two questions for you. First, there are several services out there that offer coverage from Hollywood readers. Would it make any difference to you or someone in the know, if you received a query from a writer who had received a “consider” or “recommend” from one of these services? Or is it just another waste of time/money?And secondly, I've also read that for unknown writers it's important

MAILROOM # 10

2007-01-13T09:33:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year! After a brief hiatus, I have returned to the mailroom to answer a few questions.Please feel free to send questions and comments to theinsidepitch@sbcglobal.net.All mail could be used for this blog._______________________________________________I was reading your piece on twoadverbs.com about constructing loglines ("The Construction of a Logline"), and I was surprised that you

LOGLINES REVISITED REVISITED

2006-12-19T07:51:00.000-08:00

I received lots of positive e-mails in response to the Logline Lottery blog entry. So, feeling akin to Stan Freberg, I dug into the trunk to present another blast from the past. Like the previous entry, I invited some industry friends to comment on the loglines too.Here are the results from the Logline Lottery dated December 15, 2005.__________________________________________________________

THE BLACK LIST

2006-12-14T06:13:00.000-08:00

The Hollywood Blacklist of 1947 began with ten names of writers and directors who were found by the House Committee on Un-American Activities to have ties to the Communist party.The Blacklist meant shame and led to the professional and personal ruin of many artists.Sixty years later, the "blacklist" has taken on new meaning, a more positive one, a list on which writers want to see their

LOGLINES REVISITED

2006-12-08T07:48:00.000-08:00

With the holidays approaching, things have been busy, so I thought I'd offer up some reading material without having to do too much work.What follows are results from the former Logline Lottery at twoadverbs.com. For two years, we randomly selected ten loglines a month to be critiqued. The most effective logline - as judged by me - would win a prize of script coverage (for the logline's

MAILROOM #9

2006-11-26T08:50:00.000-08:00

Some people say thesis or dissertation ideas will be copied by some professors and that screenplay pitches, themes, synopses or treatments will be emulated by people (professionals) who may judge them for official competitions. I may be sounding too amateurish, but... any comment?Yes, I think you’re sounding amateurish and even paranoid.The majority of material floating around town isn’t worthy

MY FIRST TIME

2006-11-06T20:45:00.000-08:00

What can I expect after selling my first script?________________________________________________A book called "The First Time I Got Paid For It...," edited by Peter Lefcourt and Laura J. Shapiro, shares almost sixty different stories from TV and film writers.Since no story is exactly the same, it's impossible for me to answer this question with any sort of accuracy.It is safe to say that after

OCTOBERFEST

2006-10-26T20:59:00.000-07:00

October has been an extraordinarily busy month. Work, extracurricular activities and some personal business made this a taxing few weeks. I haven’t had much time to go through all the e-mails, but I’ll get back to answering questions once I settle in to normality.Earlier this month, I visited the SCREENPLAY LAB at the Raleigh Studios in Hollywood. I listened to

INTERMISSION

2006-10-13T05:34:00.000-07:00

Things have been hectic - not leaving enough time to blog.I'll return at the end of the month with reports from the ScreenplayLab Pitch Contest, the Austin Film Festival and the "Big Break!" (Final Draft) Screenwriting Awards.Special congratulations to James (Jay) V. Simpson, a long time friend and contributor of twoadverbs.com, who landed a finalist slot in the prestigious Nicholl Screenwriting

THE ARMLESS MAN

2006-09-30T21:41:00.000-07:00

On Sunday October 1, Turner Classic Movies is airing two Lon Chaney films, LONDON AFTER MIDNIGHT and THE UNKNOWN.Chaney was one of America’s first movie stars, who ruled the horror genre in its silent heyday. Known as the “Man of a Thousand Faces,” his most famous roles were the title characters in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME. The protean actor created his own make-up

MAILROOM #8

2006-09-26T08:49:00.000-07:00

Which contests /fellowships do you reckon to be the most respected /watched by story pickers?In terms of notoriety, I would think story pickers keep a close eye on the Nicholl Fellowship first and foremost. The Disney Fellowship follows close behind.But in my opinion, the Disney Fellowship gets the highest grades as a "contest" overall.Disney offers fellowships in both screenwriting and

MAILROOM #7

2006-09-09T10:52:00.000-07:00

I have been studying screenwriting for almost six years now, and am starting to think that my knowledge and love of film and storytelling would be better suited more to the business side of the industry. Rather than writing and directing, my interests are drifting more toward the jobs of creative and developmental executives. My questions for you: How does one become executive story editor of ICM

THE "A" LIST

2006-08-29T07:35:00.000-07:00

Can you offer a list of story points that I should consider after finishing my first draft?___________________________________________________Each story is its own fingerprint. Since each script has its own set of goals, it can be difficult to offer up a checklist to which all screenplays should subscribe. I think each screenplay has its very own unique checklist. However, there are certainly

MAILROOM #6

2006-08-19T18:55:00.000-07:00

Three weeks ago Joe Dante's Renfield Productions requested my script without representation. After I pissed my pants, I sent it in with a very professional and short "thank you". If you were in my shoes, how would you proceed? Would you follow up after a period of time or just be patient for a response? I've heard all the customary suggestions, but I'm curious, with your savvy and knowledge, how

THINK "HALLEWOOD"

2006-08-06T18:51:00.000-07:00

On Saturday, I spent two hours listening to writers pitch their screenplays. The writers were all earnest and some energetic and entertaining, but none offered a slamdunk movie concept. Some managed to pique a little interest, but none were going to smash down the doors to Hollywood. The greatest challenge for any writer is finding a concept that will spark interest within the Hollywood

"HEAT"

2006-07-26T07:21:00.000-07:00

"Heat” is a buzz term referring to the excitement and hype one might find with a particular Hollywood commodity that makes it more attractive in the marketplace.There was plenty of heat in a particular screenwriting class this past month in the San Fernando Valley. However, with tongue-in-cheek, I’m using the term here metaphorically.I’ll get to that in a moment.I should begin by saying it is my

MAILROOM #5

2006-07-04T19:52:00.000-07:00

Okay, this is probably more of a continuation of an old thread, but might be an add-on to the subject of "goals" to which you blogged about. The inciting incident sets the overall goal, which drives the protag to be active. However I've been involved with a number of discussions pertaining to 1) sub-goals and 2) story structure around a protag who either assumes the wrong goal/sub-goal or his

MAILROOM #4

2006-06-18T12:58:00.000-07:00

In some of your responses, you've advised one writer to stop being "a pussy," and another "to start making funeral arrangements" if he thinks he's going to die if he doesn't sell a script soon. Could you expound on the expected mind-set of the professional writer? It seems that talent without the proper mind-set or attitude will not take a writer very far. It also seems that the profession of

TO SIR, WITH LOVE

2006-06-03T21:20:00.000-07:00

My dilemma is that after 2 straight months of querying managers, (not onto agents yet) 10 letters every Monday like clockwork, I must say the results have been rather dismal (2 passes and no word whatsoever from the other what...78?).Now I've studied your logline construction post and I guess my question is--is this normal practice for managers? One would think in order to foster the career of an

MAILROOM #3

2006-05-29T05:07:00.000-07:00

I keep hearing different things about what types of spec scripts are more likely to sell these days, especially if the writer is a novice screenwriter. On one hand, I hear that the only type of screenplay that a novice screenwriter can hope to sell is "high-concept" - which appears to mean an action movie or some type of fantasy movie. A family drama, like "Ordinary People," would not sell today

THE WHITE DEVIL

2006-05-20T06:34:00.000-07:00

I’m a novelist that’s written a few screenplays. Some of my friends think my scripts are too dense with words and that I should break up my passages with “white space.” That kind of criticism feels superficial and useless to me. Is this just Hollywood afraid of having to read and what's all this “white space” business anyway?_____________________________________________Screenwriters can be

"THE MIDNIGHT MAN"

2006-05-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

THE MIDNIGHT MAN is a project developed from a pitch by PGL winners Patrick Melton and Marcus Dunstan.A while back, I invited the writers to my L.A. Valley College class along with some others - including Mike Gozzard, fomer V.P. at Fortress Entertainment. (Mike co-authored the screenplay P.D.R. starring Terrence Howard and Bernie Mac, a Fortress film currently in production.)I knew the writers

LET'S KEEP THIS SHORT

2006-05-11T22:30:00.000-07:00

I was approached by a "director" on one of the screenwriting websites and asked to write a short script for him, based upon some work of mine (a couple of writing exercises) that he had seen on the website. I know that short films are kind of a calling card for aspiring directors, but short of a writer directing their own script, I can't seem to find an upside for the screenwriter. Having said

SCREENWRITING 101

2006-05-07T22:53:00.000-07:00

Does Hollywood look for a certain sort of storytelling? Is there a specific kind of structure that Hollywood expects?_________________________________________________If you're referring to studio movies, there is a certain story structure prescription. That doesn't mean a writer should not deviate from it. However, this basic dramatic structure is the language Hollywood uses. If you want to work

MAILROOM #2

2006-05-03T00:32:00.000-07:00

I have the good fortune of having a friend who knows two readers who worked for an agency in New York. Through my friend I was able to get two of my scripts read. Because of my connection these readers sent me script critiques on both my screenplays. I was told this is normally not done, but they were making an exception for me. The good news is they both liked my scripts and said they were

THE RIGHT SCRIPT

2006-04-29T10:42:00.000-07:00

If I don’t sell a script soon, I’m going to die! What should I do?_________________________________________Start making funeral arrangements.You’ll probably never sell a script. Most writers never sell scripts. Why should you be any different?But I’ll try to answer this question – even though there is no answer.It all comes down to having the “right script”. This goes against modern wisdom that

MAILROOM

2006-04-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

What is the proper etiquette for switching managers/agents, assuming you already have representation that doesn't seem to be working for you? The relationship between client and agent is a professional one – so any “delicate” matters should be handled professionally. At the very beginning, you and the agent should sit down and discuss expectations and the game plan. (It’s a two-way street. You

SOMETHING FOR NOTHING

2006-04-21T05:59:00.000-07:00

I have the possibility of a free option on my screenplay. It's a very short option period with a small production company. They have made some great connections with other projects they have and have presented themselves in a very forthright and business like manner. What are your thoughts on these kinds of options?____________________________________________This is a difficult question to

"BUT WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS DIRECT."

2006-04-18T07:13:00.000-07:00

How co-mingled do you think screenwriting and directing are? Lately, I've been getting the itch to do more than just write. I want to direct...I think. I have no formal training and no real technical filmmaking knowledge. All I have is a growing desire to oversee the visual telling of the stories I write. How can an aspiring screenwriter put himself out there as a writer/director? Is it as simple

FOREIGN CORRESPONDENCE

2006-04-17T08:19:00.000-07:00

1) Have you got any recommendations for foreign authors/screenwriters trying to make it in the US? This concerns not only me, but several other screenwriters, mostly French, mostly with very European projects in their portfolio. Personally, I managed to get some attention on American Zoetrope. My latest SP, very American, is definitely gathering some moss, and I have become ferociously addicted

YOUR FIRST DATE

2006-04-14T12:25:00.000-07:00

A production company exec has invited me in to meet. It’s my first meeting ever! I’m definitely nervous 'cause I know he wants to hear my ideas. What can I expect and how do I pitch?________________________________________________The quiet, solitary and safe life of writing is turned upside down when the writer must meet potential buyers and employers.However, your professional goal is to go out

IN MEMORY OF MRS. MARY C. BROCKWAY

2006-04-14T02:03:00.000-07:00

I have an opportunity to work with a company that guarantees to send out my script at least once a week for the duration of our contract. The company will also provide me with script analysis, casting lists and production budgets. The company is owned by a former manager who represented some heavyweights but there is a heavy fee too. Is this sort of service worthwhile?____________________________

THE FORBIDDEN ZONE

2006-04-12T00:55:00.000-07:00

I went to a seminar where the guru explained that writing the character's thoughts or “talking to the reader” are absolutely forbidden. True? ______________________________________________________Always be wary of any absolutes.Teachers, authors and “gurus” need to have something to preach. But what we learn in the classroom is often usurped by real life. Reading screenplays will prove that this

"THE INSIDE PITCH"

2006-04-09T14:26:00.000-07:00

This blog has been created to address questions regarding the craft and business of screenwriting.Answers are based on my experiences within the film industry. Since there is rarely a "right" or "wrong" in this business, ten executives could answer the same question differently.But they'll have to get their own blog.Please be sure to visit www.twoadverbs.com. There is an interactive message board