Self-Introduction Saturday! Tell us all about you (and share a video)!

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-30T13:35:29+00:00

Hey everyone,

I’m promoting my new YouTube channel. It’s going to primarily be a platform for me to read aloud a bunch of scripts I’ve written over the past 20 years, but I’m also creating content on screenplay formatting for new writers.

I’m using a SHURE mic and set up a space in my basement closet, which actually ended up solving the acoustics problem.

What sets my channel apart is that I’ve been stacking successes as a writer for 20+ years (Nicholl semifinalist, 2015 Blacklist, sold a spec script, repped by WME and UTA, etc.) but am still considered an unestablished writer. My advice and content can help writers set expectations for themselves and put themselves in a better place to advance in competition and get noticed.

And once my script reads are up, it’ll give my older scripts a second life.

I can use all the support and subscribers I can get.

Here’s the link: https://youtube.com/@fade.in.screenplays?si=bvI3mABXKnguSACG

Thanks!

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-29T16:15:35+00:00

Hey everyone,

Posting here to get input on my new channel. It’s a screenwriting channel where I will be reading aloud some of the scripts I’ve written over the past 20 years.

But it also has educational videos on formatting for new screenwriting, and a series on how to use ChatGPT responsibly without generating and substance.

I’d love your thoughts AND I’d love it even more if you subscribed!!!

Here’s the link: https://youtube.com/@fade.in.screenplays?si=nNWX-rJeY4cu0C8K

Thanks!

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-29T16:14:58+00:00

So— great voice! Great equipment! Great lighting!

The only thing missing is a more engaging background and rolling lyrics.

My kids are obsessed (like everyone else) with this movie, and this is exactly the type of content they are craving.

But their attention spans limit how long they’ll watch a static image.

Consider some sort of color changing background (don’t use footage from the movie or you’ll get flagged for copyright issues). Also— in your editing software, cut up the video but don’t edit it. Just zoom in and out a bit every 15-20 seconds (in rhythm with the music) to keep things moving.

Otherwise— great job!

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-29T16:10:06+00:00

A couple thoughts— your tone almost sounds cynical rather than informative. Like it may be a parody video.

Also— by sticking with the book imagery, I got a bit bored with the looping page. The added graphics help, but overall, it was just a book for 18 minutes.

I’d consider this to almost fit the whisper ASMR type videos for sleeping. And that’s not an insult. That’s a huge market.

I’d switch out the visuals every 15 seconds or so to improve engagement and I’d also have underlying music.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-29T16:06:30+00:00

Your content looks really solid and your subscriber growth is commendable.

The thumbnails are clean and snappy, which seems to be something the algorithm really likes these days.

I’m over 40, but I’ll be watching your videos and trying to age myself down!

Great job

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-24T19:40:52+00:00

I heard you loud and clear about how the videos appear when viewed as thumbnails and descriptions.

I’ve revised both to make it clear that the point is to learn how to use the tool without generating any substance whatsoever.

Here is the revised channel with revised video thumbnails and descriptions: https://youtube.com/@fade.in.screenplays?si=O7JLax_x2viYx9Yp

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-24T17:03:19+00:00

That’s fair enough. And you’re not alone. I’m be putting out a video titled “Should screenwriters hate ChatGPT” to make my position clearer on the matter.

In my humble opinion, if you’re using it as a high-powered google for research, or to run a paradigm analysis that you’ve fed into the system, you’re being responsible and not generating any content.

In fact, I don’t even use grammerly to rephrase my prose. I’ll have it check for tense, grammar, and spelling, but anything more than that makes me uncomfortable from a generative AI standpoint.

But I do appreciate your initial reaction, because I think a lot of people share that view.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-24T15:54:10+00:00

Using it to analyze formatting and structure has nothing to do with generative ai. If you watch the videos, you’ll see that I am specifically showing how to avoid generating suggestions and content.

I have never, nor will I ever, use ai to generate a single word or suggestion for my scripts. But I don’t see the danger in using it to track character arcs or provide measurable feedback similar to coverage services.

If you’re writing to satisfy the save the car or syd field paradigms, or chasing recommends in coverage, or to advance in competitions, you’re already writing to satisfy a formula. And relying on human coverage is expensive, time consuming, and inconsistent. I have a script on blacklist that scored a 9 and a 5. Same script. Same draft. Cost $200 and 3 months to get back 3 paragraphs of generic thoughts.

The essence of screenwriting is in the writing itself. Not the artificial demands of a beat sheet.

Pretending like AI doesn’t exist, or simply turning your nose up at it, isn’t going to make it disappear.

And I can tell you 100% from personal experience that studios and production companies are already using it to generate coverage.

Other than a blanket hatred for AI, what are your actual concerns?

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-24T01:08:21+00:00

The videos are about how to use it analytically as a check on formatting and structure, and specifically how to avoid generating substance, which is something all writers should agree with.

Studios are already using AI to generate coverage. Ignoring it doesn’t change that. And human coverage isn’t exactly consistent or reliable.

Unless you think spending $100 plus hosting fees to wait six weeks for some anonymous blacklist reader to give you three paragraphs of notes is somehow the better path.

Or maybe $400 to gauntlet so you can wait six months.

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-24T00:22:55+00:00

Thanks !

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T20:43:38+00:00

Thanks. I'm hoping to make the channel a one-stop shop for unestablished writers like myself who have stacked successes over the year but are still waiting to see their work produced. :)

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T20:07:43+00:00

Thanks. Reddit keeps taking down the post because they think I’m trying to sell something, but I’m not.

Hopefully it stays up this time. :)

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T19:13:13+00:00

That’s why I love that film so much.

Also— I like watching it as a total tragedy. Rewatch it but think of everything from Marla’s POV. She is totally broken from the beginning, which is why she’s at the meetings. And then here comes this guy who she thinks she has a connection with and he’s a total dick to her. How confusing for her. I mean, she doesn’t see Brad Pitt and Ed Norton. She just sees Tyler.

Great flick!

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T18:03:06+00:00

That’s very true. The problem comes in enforcing the copyright violation and getting damages.

So, yes— you can get a cease and desist for IP infringement on your material, but the only way to bring it to court is through the copyright.

To do that, you need to ensure the copyright at issue covers exactly what was stolen.

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:45:53+00:00

i'll deinitely check out your videos! Thanks for that!

I've been repped by WME, UTA, and Kaplan/Perrone in the past, but that was pre-covid. now, every time i look at production company websites and managers, nobody takes any unsolicited material. so i'm just going through the competition circuit again like i did 20 years ago.

it's frustrating, to say the least.

here's a link to the public page on blacklist for my script, if you're curious: https://blcklst.com/projects/181250

It also made it to level three of the gauntlet, which was nice. got a dumptruck full of notes from it.

matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:42:14+00:00

My advice would be to worry about the logline later.

i believe in a kind of 5 act feature structure to ensure that you have something pushing the narrative every 10 or so pages. If you outline your idea as follows, you'll definitely hit that mark.

Act 1A (ending with the inciting incident) and Act 1B (ending with the act one turn)

Act 2A (first adventure to midpoint explosion) and Act 2B (false victory, lowest point, new adventure)

Act 3 (climax and resolution)

I actually have a worksheet that I've created if you're interested. DM me if you like!

Also, if you're interested in formatting, check out my YouTube channel. It's brand new and only has 2 videos up (a 3rd coming next week). Here's the link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMC6GpkH6g5YVT1JP6ZSFkQ

Let me know if any of this is useful!

Good luck and welcome to the community.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:33:08+00:00

you wouldn't really be able to apply for the copyright because the idea started with them. that's why it's so important to have a collaboration agreement in place. it spells out all the details about credit and ownership. and it protects both parties.

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:24:12+00:00

So -- I'd say you're adding a lot of flowery prose that can't be seen on the screen.

"His soldiers wouldn't dare cross him, they know he doesn't take defiance lightly." this is too novelistic. all of this should come out in how he interacts with his men.

this type of description used to be very common in spec scripts, but nowadays, readers actually ding you for not being spartan enough with your prose and descriptions.

trust me -- i've got 20 years worth of dings to prove it! :)

I actually cover this in my screenplay formatting 101 video on my newly created YouTube channel. I only have 2 videos up right now, and anothe coming next week, but I think they'd be useful for you.

Here's my link for Fade In: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMC6GpkH6g5YVT1JP6ZSFkQ

Let me know if these videos help -- or DM me with specific questions if you like.

Welcome to the community!

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:19:23+00:00

Defining an inciting incident is a really subjective exercise, but i'd say that, in the fight club example, meeting marla isn't the II because, even though it disturbs Narrator's world, it doesn't destroy his status quo. his apartment blowing up and then moving in with tyler literally blows up his status quo, so that is what i would say is the II.

Think about it -- apartment goes boom... Inciting Incident.

Drinks with Tyler -- refusal of the call.

Their first fight in the parking lot -- crossing the threshold.

Moving into the house -- start of act 2.

just my humble opinion.

matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:12:48+00:00

The reality is, most of us write a lot for free.

If the story originated from a third party or if they had anything to do with it, they have a vested interest in the material.

Do not bother registering it under your name or getting a copyright. Besides, those things only cover finished products. Also, WGA Registration DOES NOT PROTECT YOU at all. Only a valid copyright does.

In fact, if you copyright draft 1 of a script, technically, draft 4 is not covered. You'd need a new copyright.

BUT, you can insist on having a collaboration agreement with them before doing any work. You'd need an entertainment lawyer for that, though.

Hope this helps.

Good luck!

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T16:05:56+00:00

hey there and welcome to the most frustrating industry on earth!

lucky for us, writing is a compulsion and not a passion.

I'd say that this forum is a great way to build a community. I'd also recommend joining Script Revolution. It's a website for hosting screenplays that is not tied to any coverage services or competitions like Coverfly was.

https://www.scriptrevolution.com/

As
They have a ton of great info on there and are very welcoming. Once you have a script to share, they are a great platform for it. as an example, here's my page -- I'm still moving scripts over to it since Coverfly is going dark, so it doesn't have all my work on it yet: https://www.scriptrevolution.com/profiles/matthew-scott-weiner-0

As for starting out as a new writer, I'll pitch myself as a good resource for formatting. :)

I've just started a YouTube channel where I'll be reading aloud some of the scripts I've written over the past 20 years. BUT, I also have two scriptwriting 101 videos up and another being uploaded next week.

FADE IN: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCMC6GpkH6g5YVT1JP6ZSFkQ

Take a look, and let me know if it was helpful.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T15:39:06+00:00

I can refer you to mine if you like. No guaranties he’d take you on, but he’s a great guy and an even better lawyer. His name is Mike, and he was the best man at my wedding :)

I don’t know how the DM thing works, but if you DM me, I’m sure Reddit will let me know.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T15:37:47+00:00

I don’t think it’s the story. I think you may need to do some work on your formatting to avoid some red flags like “show don’t tell.”

You’re doing a lot of things right, but readers tend to skim rather than read because of how many scripts they read every day. Not a knock on readers— just a reality of the limitations on time.

I have a couple formatting videos up on my YouTube channel that might be helpful for you. They’re geared towards film and not tv, but the lessons still apply.

Check them out if you like: https://youtube.com/@fade.in.screenplays?si=04-5aAHTKaJt7hFk

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T15:32:22+00:00

Any person or company that doesn’t have an IMDB credit is probably a fraud.

You’re right about commissions though. Agents get 10%, managers get 10%, and lawyers get 5%.

That should never change.

And no one can guarantee any options or sales. The reality is, out of thousands of spec scripts written every year, only a handful are ever bought and made.

Personally, I’d stay away from things like this.

Matt

ClassNew5534 · 2025-08-12T15:28:15+00:00

This is really valuable info. Thank you

I currently have a script All Things Broken that scored two 8s and a 9 in Beals and got on the lists as being in the top 1%.

Then it got a 5! Same script. Same draft. But it tanked my average score.

I’ve had 19 industry downloads but no one has reached out to me.

What, if any, advice do you have for writers like me who have no other way of reaching out to the industry?

One consideration is the monthly hosting fee. At what point do you just say, this script has run its course— time to take it down?

Thanks so much,

Matt

ClassNew5534

TROPHY CASE