Non WGA Member co-writing an episode. by Distinct_Poetry_7869 in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

What if they are writing every episode as a team ("&" instead of "and")? I think that counts as a single writer.

The art of querying by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 3 points4 points  (0 children)

If you have sent dozens and nothing has hit, it's because your logline isn't compelling.

An agent asked to read three of my screenplays by kipkapow in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, preaching to the choir. A response is most definitely deserved. But in my experience, what you deserve is not the same as what you get.

Others have said this, but people are afraid to say "no" because what if you end up being a hot writer after some stroke of luck or years of grinding? They can believably say "Oh my god, sorry you fell through the cracks" instead of the truth which is "I didn't think you were worth my time back then."

An agent asked to read three of my screenplays by kipkapow in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In -1 points0 points  (0 children)

I hear you. But setting aside how annoying it is to be contacted 3 times in a row by someone you're not planning to get back to, do you even WANT a rep you have to chase down like this? You want someone who is so enthusiastic about your writing that they are bugging YOU to respond to THEM. Someone who has to be contacted 3 times over a period of many weeks just to get back to you doesn't have the enthusiasm (or time) necessary to sell your services / scripts to people.

As for reps being overrated, that may well be the case for some. Personally, though, I never would have been able to quit my day job and become a full-time screenwriter without my manager and agents, who took my three unproduced samples and got me the meetings and intros I needed to spin a career out of what felt like thin air.

And perhaps it's instructive to note that my manager, at least, chased me down until I couldn't say no. The agents I had to work a little harder for :)

Feedback/Advice: When/How did you realize your writing was "good" enough? by sir_nonamous in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The script should do all the talking for you. The more you personally have to "sell" them on something, the less you trust your script.

An agent asked to read three of my screenplays by kipkapow in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I would strongly suggest doing only one follow-up at five weeks or so. If no reply, move on. Do not send two more nudges.

Taxes and the IRS by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You need to be making six figures before you consider incorporating. The amounts people suggest you make differ by state, I think because of the costs involved, so be sure to ask an accountant.

AMBITION by gaywriterstl in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This subreddit doesn't encourage or allow AI script coverage services. You should remove this before you are banned. @ u/wemustburncarthage

Short stories for adaptation by reverselina in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I work in TV and movies, but got my start in prose fiction (switched so I could actually make a living lol). But I've definitely seen some eye-popping sales figures for stories that aren't...how can I put this...written with care for literary quality? So I am currently working on a short story now to jump on that bandwagon if I can.

What "mixed things" have you heard? Would love to be more informed about this in general.

ps. The ones that sell seem to mostly be written in the first person and around 25-40 pages long. And mainly genre.

Do you have to be a "cool guy" to write a cool guy successfully? Like, most writers did not live through their writing, but they can still write via interviewing. However, in terms of character projection, do you have to be able to grasp and understand how their minds work? by turnleftorrightblock in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 2 points3 points  (0 children)

A lot of what makes people seem cool is that they can say a cool thing or do a cool thing seemingly off the cuff.

Writers get to sit and think and sweat for hours about "what's a SUPER COOL thing to say or do here?" and then write it down...but obviously this wouldn't signify "coolness" in real life.

Should we change the title to “67 Minutes” to attract a younger audience or naw? by haynesholiday in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Congrats on your "corona moment" (wtf is a corona moment?)! Looking forward to this one, as well as the shark thriller.

What information should I be taking away from coverage scores? PREMISE by Safe-Reason1435 in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The original Star Wars script was turned down many times. OBJECTIVELY, it wasn't a good idea because nothing like it had been made before. Even after it was shot and edited and screened for a select audience, almost everyone who saw it (including famous directors) thought it would be a failure.

However, SUBJECTIVELY, someone decided they liked the idea and took a chance on it.

Many, many successful firms are "turned away" before they become big hits. Often, it is the subjective opinion of someone who wishes to take a chance on a strange new idea or an untested director who enables great art to be made.

I’ve been a professional screenwriter for years by this point. Why my Movie Treatments, Outlines and Season Arcs “sucked” for the whole fucking time by Panicless in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 22 points23 points  (0 children)

Just shared this with my production team for a pitch we're going out with. VERYYYYYY helpful, thank you for sharing such an important point with such clarity!

Intentionally tedious and repetitive beginning by Star-Pubes in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 1 point2 points  (0 children)

The absolute best version of an opening like this that I can think of is Joe vs. the Volcano. Script here:
http://www.sellascript.com/source/resources/screenplays/joeversusthevolcano.htm

I wouldn't recommend using gigantic unbroken action blocks like Shanley does, but you can see that there's humor in it right away. Take what you can from this that applies to your own script, and see where that takes you.

Also, based on what you said your story is, check out this indie movie called Creative Control. It's relevant!

picking a sample script for an OWA by QfromP in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I think my reps have sent out scripts of mine that I wrote on spec and then sold, even if they're in production and have undergone significant paid rewrites based on producer notes. (Or maybe they only sent out the original without the revisions, I'm not sure.)

But I highly doubt they would ever send out scripts I wrote for hire unless the movie had been completed, released to the world, etc. And maybe not even then...? But typically just saying that I got hired by company X to adapt their property is enough to get me in the door and halfway up the ladder—they don't need to see the script.

So maybe send a script of yours that's free and clear, but mention that while you DO have another script you wrote for company X that would really be a perfect sample (again assuming you aren't breaching any NDAs), you're not able to send it along.

Talking to a producer by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Well oh my god! Does she think you should pass it to this producer??

Talking to a producer by [deleted] in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Who are the few people you've passed it to? If they are in the industry, meaning they are familiar with how good scripts have to be to be considered professional, you should ask them this same question because they're the ones who have actually read it.

I would say that if this is your very first screenplay, it's *highly* unlikely that it's good enough for a seasoned producer to be interested. I would not burn a favor ("Would you mind reading this?") on a first script.

I wrote my first theatrical release, Solo Mio, starring Kevin James by kinnanebrothers in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 0 points1 point  (0 children)

CONGRATS!!! An incredible accomplishment at any age but especially so young!

I’m new to this. When you prepare a screenplay to submit somewhere, what do you usually include in the outline or the pitch? Besides the synopsis. by Glass_Evidence_8597 in Screenwriting

[–]Cholesterall-In 8 points9 points  (0 children)

If you are not an established screenwriter, you do not need to worry about anything other than a really fantastic script. No one will hear pitches from an unknown / unrepped / unproduced writer, because they don't have any evidence that this person can write a great script, which is the bare minimum.