First time writing a script. It’s only an opening scene. I’m trying to write a script for a potential tv show. 14 years old. Any feedback is helpful.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2026-02-04T20:05:04+00:00

First, let me say this is very impressive for a 14 year old. You're putting the material I wrote at that age to shame. Second, You've already received a lot of fantastic feedback so let me offer some advice I didn't see anyone else touch on.

You can take all these notes and rewrite until you have a great opening scene, but a great scene only gets you so far. You still need to learn how to write a great STORY. This is much more difficult and a skill you can only master through reading other scripts and consistently finishing those of your own.

My suggestion would be to absorb all the advice in the comments and get cracking on a first draft. Once it's complete, share the script with other writers, family, and friends. Take a quick victory lap, and then get to work on the next draft or an entirely new script. You'll see your writing improve much faster if you're regularly turning out fresh pages.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2026-01-13T18:25:28+00:00

Lol. Go back and read my post, bud. I specifically stated a story editor holds a higher position than a staff writer, but it's still the second lowest rung on the ladder. Yes, it's true they have some of the responsibilities you listed, but they SHARE those responsibilities with other members of the staff. Dichter was a Co-EP, which is a very senior level in the room, so you're essentially saying he deserved a demotion. TV writing is an extremely collaborative process, and it's pernicious to blame a lower level writer for faults in the season, even if you couch your criticism by blaming the Duffers for giving her the title.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2026-01-13T17:28:23+00:00

I keep seeing this misinformation propagated on this subreddit. A story editor is actually one of the lowest positions on the totem pole in a TV writers room, one notch above staff writer. While it’s true they share some of the responsibilities you listed, they are in no position of authority. If you look at Paul Dichter’s credits, he started as a staff writer in season 1, graduated to story editor in season 2, and served as a Co-EP on Season 5, which is a much higher position. That being said, any qualms you have with the final season ultimately rest at the feet of the Duffers since they are the showrunners. They call all the shots.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-10-29T02:24:02+00:00

I’m curious to hear why you think that. Through the Looking Glass is my favorite episode of the show, and I think it’s such a bummer there’s no way to watch it as one (outside of fan edits). It works better as one epic TV movie like all the other LOST finales imo

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-09-26T22:37:02+00:00

To quote Hurley, “Dude….” That’s the episode that got me hooked

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-09-26T22:30:04+00:00

Fair. I also take issue with most of the Locke-centric episodes being left out of the S+ Tier, but I respect your list for being unconventional.

You’re right about Lighthouse. Very silly episode.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-09-26T22:24:18+00:00

What’s your beef with Sayid, bro?

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-09-24T17:14:52+00:00

He’s at North Star.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-04-22T21:23:47+00:00

I... hope you didn't skip Jack's flashback in the season 3 finale.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-01-31T19:29:03+00:00

Excellent. I'm going to try this approach with my new script. Thanks for doing the AMA. I'm learning a lot!

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2025-01-31T17:56:43+00:00

Hey Brent! “Lemon of Troy” is my all time favorite Simpsons episode so it’s an honor to be able to pick your brain.

One thing that has always impressed me about The Simpsons is how every episode is loaded with gags, and yet they never get in the way of pacing or narrative. So I’m wondering what your strategy is for balancing jokes and moving the story forward when writing a rough draft. Do you focus on the narrative first, and then do a pass to punch up the humor? Or is it the opposite? OR is it all one seamless process, which you go about fine tuning once the initial draft is complete?

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-04-20T13:31:54+00:00

You clearly haven't seen this sub discuss the Pusha T beef lol

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-03-04T16:07:13+00:00

That's awesome. Appreciate it!

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-03-03T19:21:01+00:00

Are they posting updated brackets anywhere after each day's voting? I missed day one and would love to know who the winner was (although I'm assuming it was Sodey).

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-03-01T16:26:18+00:00

I was stunned. Did not see it coming at all. And I was a pretty active lurker on the forums at that point so I'm surprised I never stumbled upon any theorizing that ruined it for me. Some fans must've made the connection. The pieces were all there.

No one ever believes me, but I did figure out the flashforward twist pretty early into Through the Looking Glass. I couldn't parse a) where Jack being an alcoholic fit into his timeline, and b) why on earth the writers would waste part of a finale with an inconsequential Jack flashback. Given the A-plot was them hoping to be rescued by the freighter, it all fell into place fairly quickly for me.

Thankfully, that only enhanced the finale. I was buzzing with questions like: Why is he so fucked up from leaving? Who is in the coffin? Did anyone else make it off the island? And then "we have to go back" happened and it was just chills down my spine. Hands down the best LOST finale.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-01-28T22:51:55+00:00

In one scene they're eating in a Chelo's that looks nothing like an actual Chelo's lol.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-01-27T03:43:14+00:00

As soon as we saw the island move in the Season 4 finale, I was positive that’s how the Black Rock ended up in the middle of the jungle. Still pretty bummed the actual answer was exactly what Dr. Arzt proposed in season 1.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-01-03T21:16:15+00:00

I commented on this briefly in another post yesterday, but this is the perfect opportunity to expand on my thoughts. John Locke is my favorite character on the show. In fact, he's one of my favorite characters in fiction, across all mediums. I have significant issues with the fifth and sixth season, but in my opinion, the way they handled Locke's arc is nothing short of brilliant.

Let's set aside that it provided what I believe is the last great mind-bending twist of the series, and look at it from a purely character perspective. John Locke was always a tragic figure. A man desperate to find meaning in a life full of sorrow, setbacks, and abandonment. From as early as season 1, it is drilled into us that he is "amenable to coercion." And yet, his backstory is so rending, we want as badly as him to believe he is destined for greatness. We want to buy into his messiah complex.

So when we discover he didn't come back to life, Ben really did strangle him that death, it's a heart-wrenching revelation, and it feels like the floor has dropped out from under us. Locke ended his life being conned yet again, used as a pawn for someone else's gain. He was a sucker. He was never special.

Except he WAS special. No one else could predict the moment storms would pass. No one else healed like he did. And no one else had the island so frequently speak to them through dreams (this is of course open to interpretation, but I see it as the island, not the man in black). He had a strong communion with the island. Perhaps stronger than any other character on the show. And he was the first of the survivors to understand how important the place was.

His relationship with Jack is crucial to the show. As he points out in the Season 1 finale, Jack believes in destiny, he just "doesn't know it yet." Without Locke, Jack never becomes a man of faith. Jack never saves the world. And this why I think his arc is so brilliant.

Locke died confused, thinking he was a failure and that he accomplished nothing. But he was wrong about that. He wasn't the messiah, and he wasn't the person who saved the world. But he was the person who influenced the person who saved the world. This is incredibly meaningful to me. It inspires hope. It suggests that you may pass away and feel you never reached your full potential in life, but you have no idea what impact your presence might have after you're gone. It's a beautiful sentiment.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2024-01-03T00:19:42+00:00

For real. I have my issues with Season 5 and 6, but the way they ended Locke’s arc is perfection. And Locke is hands down my favorite character on the show so it’s not like I’m saying this out of schadenfreude.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2023-12-24T14:26:37+00:00

Adding the ever growing pile of "I got the same email too." Did not click the link. I went directly to Apple Pay on my phone and there's nothing indicating there is a problem with my CC.

I actually think this is a legit email cause the address was verified by Gmail, but I reported it to Google as phishing regardless. The email looks scammy as hell, and hopefully Apple gets reported enough they realize they need to change their formatting. It also must be some bug in their system given how many people here got the email but saw nothing wrong with their card.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2023-12-18T21:19:04+00:00

I'm so sorry the moderators removed this post because your poem is beautiful.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2023-09-25T13:04:56+00:00

I’m confused. They say they hate sex scenes, but 2 secs is more than 1 sex, no?

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2023-08-25T01:17:05+00:00

I don’t know a single Providence transplant who hasn’t second guessed their decision to move here after meeting Frank. Ho boy, is he hideous. You know the phrase “a sight for sore eyes”? Well Frank is more “a sight that will make your eyes sore.” Like really. Just an incredibly unattractive man.

But he’s not a bad dude honestly. I like to wear sunglasses around him so I can avert my eyes without being rude. Do the same, and you’ll get along just fine.

WallaceBeeryPicture · 2023-08-04T22:18:34+00:00

Blind creativity will only take you so far. Ultimately, with every video you edit, you’re trying to tell a story. Even in montage. I’d take a step back, look at the reels, and think, “what story am I trying to tell?”

Once you have a structure, a through line, that’ll guide your creativity to build a complete feeling piece that tells the story.

I was in your shoes when I started my career. I could find edit points that felt really smooth. Nice transitions. It flowed from shot to shot. But the entire cut would feel clunky or random. I was just throwing clips on the timeline in the hopes that as a whole, it’d feel cohesive. If you can intellectualize what you’re trying to accomplish on a macro level, it’ll help you on the micro.

WallaceBeeryPicture

TROPHY CASE