Script Magazine

 Here are the latest Script Magazine newsletters:

Spit Takes: Quick Look at Writing & Selling a TV Pilot   In this article from 2013, TV and feature-film writer Stephany Folsom arms you with a little TV-writing knowledge so you can manage your expectations about writing and selling a TV pilot. Read More...   By: Stephany Folsom   From the beginning of summer to the start of fall, the networks decide whether or not they are going to buy the pilot you wrote. It’s the start of television development season, so it seems like the perfect time to talk about writing and (hopefully) selling a TV pilot.   Many writers these days are frustrated with the limited opportunities in the feature business so they are transitioning into television. Don’t get me wrong, television writing is fun and amazing, but don’t jump in without a full grasp of what’s involved in getting something on the air. There’s no such thing as an easy paycheck. Hopefully, I can arm you with a little TV writing knowledge so you can manage your expectations, know what you’re up against and boldly go forward to write and sell your first pilot. Read More...     Sadie Dean   Sadie is the Editor of Script. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States

 

Janese Taylor & Thuc Nguyen #BlackPowerYellowPeril Writing Team     Tay (Janese Taylor) and Thuc Doan Nguyen are “Tn’T Dynamite” or Hollywood’s #BlackPowerYellowPeril screenwriting duo. The writing duo share insight on their collaboration process, current projects and more! Read More...   What Will Happen Next? The Art of Suspense     Suspense engages us. It puts us in the shoes of the hero. It keeps us on the edge of our seats, desperate to know: “What Will Happen Next?” Discover how to infuse your story – in every genre – with Suspense. Grab the audience’s attention and keep them hanging on until the very end! Read More...     INTERVIEW: 'Cherry' Screenwriter Jessica Goldberg     Susan Kouguell speaks with screenwriter Jessica Goldberg about her work as a playwright, and the process of collaborating and adapting her new film 'Cherry' from the book to the screen. Read More...     Writing the Series Bible   Hurry, course starts Thursday! A strong series bible is a crucial sales tool for your series. This workshop will help you get your TV series ready for an executive by developing your series premise, honing your pilot, and writing your series bible.. Learn More...       Free Screenwriting Resources   If you’re looking for free screenwriting tips and advice to help kick-start your writing career, then you’ll love our vast selection of free downloads. From learning how to write a script the right way to how to beat writer’s block, you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of success! Read More...   Sadie Dean   Sadie is the Editor of Script. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States   Professional screenwriter Lynn Grant Beck (Hallmark and Lifetime) shares insights into the changing television landscape and writing for the binge-watcher. Read More...   By: Lynn Grant Beck   “Features are dead” or so says my agent. Okay, features aren’t literally dead. Studios are still making Oscar-worthy prestige films to flatter themselves and big-budget blockbusters to cover their bottom line, but as anyone who still goes to the movies will notice, most of the theaters are empty.   For a lot of middle Americans, movies have just gotten too expensive, especially once you pay for the babysitter or take your kids and pay outrageous prices at the concession stand for cheap, bad food. The millennials and iGeners really don’t understand why they should drop precious dough at the multiplex when they can use their parents’ account to access a plethora of stellar streaming content on their iPad from the comfort of their own couch.   Television is the new king in media.   So what does this mean for screenwriters? It means opportunity. Read More...     Sadie Dean   Sadie is the Editor of Script. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States     INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with 'Palmer' Screenwriter Cheryl Guerriero   'Palmer' is one of those films you watch and watch again, not because of the glitz and glamour - it's far from it. It's because of the connection to the characters and slice of life story. We have screenwriter Cheryl Guerriero to thank for that. Sadie Dean speaks with Cheryl about her ten-year journey to getting 'Palmer' made, proving that perseverance, endurance, and talent are key components to making your passion project and more. Read More...   Ask the Coach: Your Writing Questions, Answered   In this monthly column, Jenna Avery will be answering your questions, anonymously, about navigating the ups and downs of writing, being a writer, and living a writer’s life, specific to your unique circumstances. Read More...     Requiem for Rehab: 'Body Brokers' Will Open Your Eyes to What Really Happens in Recovery Centers     You hear “indie movie about drug addicts”, you might think “oh, here we go again”, but 'Body Brokers' is not your typical indie with drug addicts in it. Thuc Nguyen speaks with writer-director John Swab about his new film based on his real-life experiences as a recovering drug addict who was “brokered” and who “did some brokering”. Read More...     Scriptreading Certificate Program   Hurry, Course Starts Thursday! This course will show you, step-by-step, how to write script coverage. We will cover key elements of screenwriting coverage, including analysis of structure, plot, characters, dialogue and genre through the eyes of a film executive. Get your certification and start making money! Learn More and Register...       Free Screenwriting Resources   If you’re looking for free screenwriting tips and advice to help kick-start your writing career, then you’ll love our vast selection of free downloads. From learning how to write a script the right way to how to beat writer’s block, you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of success! Read More...   Sadie Dean   Sadie is the Editor of Script. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States     "They're here..." Contest season is here - is your script ready?   Script Pipeline. Sundance. Cinestory. Oh, my.   Have a script you’re itching to submit to contests, but not sure if it’s ready?   Before rushing to send your script out to the top competitions on your list, turn to ScriptXpert first.   ScriptXpert’s professional readers provide the best coverage and development notes in the industry. Our readers will provide insight on the marketability of your screenplay, an industry-standard logline, one-page synopsis and more. You only get one chance at a first impression, let our readers help you find success.   In a hurry to meet a looming contest deadline?   Select ScriptXpert’s Rush Service at checkout for an additional fee, to receive your notes within 5 business days or less. "I’m blown away at how useful these notes were. The reader gave me sooo many awesome suggestions!" – Tommy C. "I took a look at the notes and they are insightful, thoughtful, and detailed. I appreciate the work that the reader put into this." – Rob T.   GET STARTED!   Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States   When you sit down to craft your story, you are the master, but how do you maximize the story's potential? In this article from 2020, Ray Morton shares five questions to ask before you start writing your screenplay. Read More...   By: Ray Morton   There are five key elements that form the foundation of every dramatic narrative. If you’re going to construct a successful story, you need to have these elements firmly in place at the start of your writing process because without them your story won’t gel. Therefore, before you begin writing, you must ask and answer the following questions:   1. What is my premise?   The premise is the core concept of your story. While the notion that you could write a script without knowing what the basic idea of it is may seem impossible, but I have read many, many screenplays over the years in which it is clear that the author doesn’t have the slightest notion of what they’re actually writing about. The result are pages of scenes and character work and dialogue that sometimes are quite interesting, but that ultimately go nowhere and add up to nothing. There are actually three facets to a premise that you need to decide upon:   · The conceptual premise: Is this a straight story or is it a spoof or a satire? Will this story be told in realistic fashion or will it be stylized? If it is based on preexisting material, will it be a faithful or a loose adaptation?   · The narrative premise: The core story idea of the script – a shark attacks a New England beach town; an idealistic war veteran gets sucked into his family’s life in organized crime; a man from another planet comes to earth and uses his incredible abilities to become a superhero; etc.   · The thematic premise: What is the point you want to make by telling this particular tale?   Read More...     Sadie Dean   Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States     Trailblazers in Film and TV: Writer-Director, Kasi Lemmons   In honor of Black History Month, Sade' Sellers gives us a look behind writer-director Kasi Lemmons' luminous and groundbreaking career. Read More...   How I Hijacked Hollywood or: How To Sell A Screenplay   Screenwriter Zack Ford provides a comical look behind-the-scenes on how he sold his spec script WATCHER to Hollywood. Read More...     UNDERSTANDING SCREENWRITING: Sometimes Books are Better than Movies   Tom Stempel writes about three new movies with mediocre or worse scripts and has read two terrific books about, you guessed it, screenwriters. Read More...     Crafting Stronger Scenes and Set Pieces   This live webinar reveals the elements necessary to crafting strong, dynamic, cinematic scenes and set pieces that will grab audiences, exploit your hook, and progress your story. Experienced development executive and screenwriter Danny Manus will break down the structural parts of a scene, show you how to craft stronger transitions, and much more! Learn More...         Free Screenwriting Resources   If you’re looking for free screenwriting tips and advice to help kick-start your writing career, then you’ll love our vast selection of free downloads. From learning how to write a script the right way to how to beat writer’s block, you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of success! Read More...   Sadie Dean   Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film.Twitter @SadieKDean     Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States      In this article from 2011, Emmy winner Erik Bork shares his insight on pitching series ideas and writing pilots, what he's learned about what they're looking for, and what makes an idea sellable - as well as what a successful pilot script tends to include. Read More...   By: Erik Bork   In my work pitching series ideas and writing pilots (and on good days, selling them to networks such as NBC and Fox), I've learned a few things about what they're looking for, and what makes an idea sellable - as well as what a successful pilot script tends to include.   Most of it I've learned the hard way, from having people not want to move forward with one of my projects at some point in the process - be it the network, studio, producers, or even my own agents at CAA. When your project gets "passed on" at some point in the process (or professionally evaluated by someone like me), hopefully you get some valuable feedback about what might be missing.   Here is the number one lesson I've learned from that process:   Don't think of a series as one long story, but as 100+ little ones.   Most of us writers seem to be most interested in how a character and situation arcs over the course of many episodes and seasons, and draft that out in great detail in some sort of "bible." (Maybe it's because most of us started in features, where that arc is so central to the point of the movie.) When asked what happens in a typical episode, we might have a whole lot of possibilities of what could, in theory, happen. But what we haven't focused on enough, often, is the one thing that buyers and agents are definitely most focused on:   "What is the franchise?"   Read More...     Sadie Dean   Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States     Meet the Reader: “But it seemed like such a good idea…”   You may hear a lot about what works in script writing … but have you heard about what doesn’t work? In this article, Ray Morton lays out 7 script ideas that just don’t work. Read More...   INDIE SPOTLIGHT: Interview with "The Mimic" Writer-Director Thomas F. Mazziotti   It’s very rare that a writer is able to adapt an intimate life moment in the way that Thomas has and done so in an impassioned - yet incredibly dark comedy. Sadie Dean interviews "The Mimic" writer-director Thomas F. Mazziotti about how he got his start as a filmmaker, his writing process in meticulously adapting his true story, and how the cast collectively embraced his vision for single long takes to focus and enhance performance. Read More...     How To Get Your Script To Be "The Right One," Interview with Writer-Director Ken Mok   Paula Landry interviews writer-director Ken Mok about his upcoming theatrical-film writing and directorial debut "The Right One," finding inspiration for the story and his process. Read More...     Story Development and Outlining   Do you have a great core idea for your story, but find yourself struggling to add depth, structure, and arc to your concept? Developing your premise is no easy task, but once you have the essential elements pieced together, your story can truly come together. In this course, you'll learn how to take your screenplay from the early stages of building an idea to a fully developed story. Learn More...       Free Screenwriting Resources   If you’re looking for free screenwriting tips and advice to help kick-start your writing career, then you’ll love our vast selection of free downloads. From learning how to write a script the right way to how to beat writer’s block, you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of success!. Read More...   Sadie Dean   Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media P.O. Box 20730 Boulder, Colorado, 80308 United States   In this article from 2016, WGA writer Michael Tabb shares how he goes from zero to story without ever incurring writer's block. This article delves into selecting a genre. Read More...   By: Michael Tabb   What is genre? Genre is how films are categorized through establishing one of three popular constants: Setting (example: westerns or road trip films) Topic (example: coming-of-age or crime) Mood/Tone (example: comedy or thriller) Genre allows us to identify, classify, and segregate the styles of storytelling before going into the complexities and details of genre classifications and what they mean.   Genre says a lot about the writer   Once I have selected a premise (the hypothesis I want my script to communicate) and brainstormed situations to argue it, it’s time to start imagining how it might look in different genres.    Why is genre important?    Premise provides the film's purpose. It fills a story with passion and meaning. Meanwhile, genre allows the writer to choose how to relay that message. It takes that light of inspiration from the premise and allows the writer to shine it through a specific lens. Think of it as sunshine through a kaleidoscope. Genre establishes a mood, color, and tone for the reader (audience) of that story. It conveys more than just the style of the film. Most important to those who finance movies, the exact genre tells studios how to sell the movie and helps determine to whom (through demographics). How you turn a feeling and a statement into a movie is through the marketing tool of genre. Genre tells a studio how they will sell your idea. It’s important to note that it wasn’t always that way. Read More...       Sadie Dean Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean       Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 United States     Letter from the Editor   It’s such an honor to be taking the helm as the new Editor of Script. I’ve been a fan and avid reader of Script since becoming a writer myself. As Script continues to evolve as a resource and inspiration for your writing and navigating your career, know that I’m right there beside you, cheering you on. Exciting new developments are in the works, so please stay tuned. Until then, keep on creating and writing!  Read More...   INTERVIEW: "Acasa, My Home" Documentary Filmmaker Radu Ciorniciuc   Filmmaker Radu Ciorniciuc speaks candidly with Susan Kouguell about his debut feature film, "Acasa, My Home," and how the importance of building empathy and trust with your subjects can advance the context of your story and provides insight into his writing process with co-writer Lina Vdovîi. Read More...   The Cultural Foundations of Screenwriting: Abrahamism, Part 3   In the final part of his exploration of Abrahamism, Dimitri Vorontzov explores how faith came to inform storytelling, which affected the way Western screenplays were constructed. Read More...     The Company of (Historical) Women, Part 1     Devon Ellington gives a glimpse into this unique program that cultivates writers to pay homage to nearly forgotten historical female figures. Read More...     How To Write Based On A True Story   To find the best ‘story’ within a ‘true story,’ we need to start with a clear understanding of what makes for a viable screenplay idea. There are MANY stories within every true story, and the thrill and challenge of writing based on a true story is to select the one that will make the most compelling screenplay. In this workshop, you will go through the step by step process of building your screenplay from the foundation of a true story. Learn More...         Free Screenwriting Resources   If you’re looking for free screenwriting tips and advice to help kick-start your writing career, then you’ll love our vast selection of free downloads. From learning how to write a script the right way to how to beat writer’s block, you’ll find something that will help you increase your chances of success! Read More...   Sadie Dean   Sadie is the new Editor of Script and will be contributing to the screenwriting column for Writer’s Digest. She has been serving the screenwriting community for nearly a decade by providing resources, contests, consulting, events, and education for writers across the globe. Sadie’s work has been optioned and has had her work produced as well. Additionally, she was a 2nd rounder in the Sundance Screenwriting Lab and has been nominated for The Humanitas Prize for a TV spec with her writing partner. Sadie has also served as a Script Supervisor on projects for WB, TBS and AwesomenessTV, as well as many independent productions. She has also produced music videos, short films and a feature documentary film. Twitter @SadieKDean     Active Interest Media 5710 Flatiron Parkway Suite A Boulder, Colorado, 80301 United States           Active Interest Media, 5710 Flatiron Parkway, Suite A, Boulder, Colorado 80301, United States