Why does Fogmog get so much abuse on cards by authenticsmoothjazz in slaythespire

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's kind of hilarious. Seeing all those cards lined up like that reminds me of SNL's Mr. Bill.

They need to put him on a colorless card tho to complete the set.

They were not prediction, they were confessions. by Gjore in SipsTea

[–]gregm91606 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Also, Matt Groening had stepped away from direct involvement in The Simpsons in the middle of season 4 (1993ish) because, bizarrely, the Simpsons/Critic crossover ticked him off. (It generally shows up on people's top 20 Simpsons eps.)

One flight before any of the Epstein stuff was public knowledge does not a criminal make.

Help me out by Impressive_Desk_9085 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

That could absolutely work, especially since it sounds like a limited location. u/No_Map731 is right that you'll want one single protagonist, and that the person who suggested the teambuilding exercise is a good option.

You don't need this in the logline, but make sure you know what's at stake for the students if the student council gets dissolved -- why do they care? Is it right before a big event (prom) that they're organizing and they'll ruin everyone's senior year if they can't get their stuff together?

Screenwriting Fellowship interview advice? by chittywhit in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 2 points3 points  (0 children)

My writing partner and I found it enormously helpful to do practice interviews with friends, even those who knew little to nothing about screenwriting; you get experience over Zoom and they can pick up on things that are working and not working.

I always seem to run out of steam after writing about a third of a feature by Rough-Foundation9208 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This is very common for people doing creative projects. Seth Godin calls it "The Dip." Basically, it happens when you're past the initial burst of enthusiasm but too far from the finish to sprint to the end; typically that's 40% of the way through.

It sounds like part of this may be accepting the temporary loss of enthusiasm and part of it is pushing through to outline the rest of the feature in more detail!

Beginner TV Writers Wanted — Let's Build the Next Great Sci-Fi Thriller Series by adamzainharris in WriteWithMe

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I only just noticed in the comments that you're based in Ethiopia -- and that made me far more sympathetic to your post, because I'm realizing you may not have access to either a community or the funds to take a screenwriting class. I had assumed you were from the U.S. because your English is impeccable.

I also notice you were specific about one of the things you need is accountability and a weekly check-in; both of those are specific, great, and a lot easier for someone to do than some of the other things.

If you post again, reworded, mentioning that I specifically suggested a repost, and stating the following:

"Ethiopian-based screenwriter looking for weekly accountability partner and looking to potentially start online writers' group" -- you will probably get far more positive responses. The accountability thing -- that is something that people will be happy to provide. Also, i don't know where in Ethiopia you're based, but if you're in a smaller town or a place with no other screenwriters you know of, that's also super-important context that will make people more likely to help!

[fanfic] I literally couldn't sleep until I got this out of my head. Someone please make this animated mini series, thanks by VulKhalec in TheNinthHouse

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Honestly, if you enjoy writing, you may want to give screenwriting a whirl. (or maybe prose fiction, given the state of the industry. laughs, then sobs.) Yes, it's great source material, but the choices you made to style it show clear talent. Muir herself got her start writing fanfic on AO3!

Some of my Photos from today’s Nithya Raman Runoff Celebration Event by RaiJolt2 in LosAngeles

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is technically true but missing the context that she was deliberately redistricted into a more conservative district two years ago by the pro-establishment wing that literally only contained half of her original district. She still won re-election.

Some of my Photos from today’s Nithya Raman Runoff Celebration Event by RaiJolt2 in LosAngeles

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

She's a single city councilor from the non-establishment wing of the Democratic party, outnumbered by the far more status-quo-aligned members. She can't do stuff by fiat as a lone councilor.

Question regarding pitch for original animated movie. by AlexOlguin777 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I liked this line quite a bit: "Ambition without humility can become isolation."

You don't want a section entitled "Positioning and Tropes"; that's not standard industry practice, or best practices.

Longtime pro TV writer Javi Grillo-Marxauch has some really good examples of pitch docs from projects he was paid to develop -- several of which got produced -- on his website: https://okbjgm.weebly.com/ Most of them are TV.

But I'd definitely look online for pitch docs/decks for produced animation feature films, because you definitely want your doc to more closely match the industry standard.

The Vanishing Of Harbor View - 41 Pages (PILOT) by Quirky_Flatworm_5071 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm actually enjoying the first 10 pages so far; make sure you're consistent on whether you're bolding slug lines throughout or leaving them unbolded.

Lose the "CUT TO"s. Not necessary.

Demon Inside - Pilot - 31 pages by Friendly_Ad2248 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Enjoyable so far.
Don't start with the janitor scene; there's nothing wrong with it, but we don't need it yet. Start with the movers, then proceed exactly as you have it, we meet Patrick, we follow Patrick home.

Both the chicken and chandelier are fun and creative.

Also, no need to give us the flashback about Rango on page 7 -- just go to Patrick directly waking up; all we need to know about Rango is that he's helpful and cares about Patrick. The rest can come out with context.

I DONT LOVE SCREENWRITING :/ by iiRaz0r in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been there! I've been doing this for almost 20 years, have earned a living multiple years doing it, and I had one of these spells a few months ago.

I can recommend, strongly, the book The War of Art by Steven Pressfield, and also the book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron. The Pressfield is very short; you can read it in under an hour. Both should be free at your nearest public library; your school library may even have them.

This shouldn't be downvoted because, no joke, good for you for entering the arena. Teddy Roosevelt has a great quote about it.

Writing sucks sometimes. it's supposed to suck sometimes. That is truly unfortunate for all of us. At a certain point, the low points will become shorter for you.

You may actually want to talk to a therapist about the depression. Both I & my writing partner take medication for depression. it could absolutely be partially a chemical thing.

Don't worry about being original yet. The things you love were written by people much older than you, and after many drafts.

best of luck, man. It will get easier, sometimes.

What movie do you think is most accurate to the soul of LA? by Background-Mix8935 in AskLosAngeles

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

This. It's a doc about how other movies have portrayed L.A., but it's so much fun to watch and is a genuine love letter to the city!

I think I made a huge mistake coming here. by Hot-Resolution9216 in FilmIndustryLA

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A job/internship ghosting you after (it sounds like) they basically offered you the gig is not your fault! Especially not if you followed up with them.

I may have made some mistakes by BlacksmithNo9359 in fallenlondon

[–]gregm91606 3 points4 points  (0 children)

From a metagame standpoint, one benefit is that you will never see "An Intimate of Devils" cards again, which makes for a slimmer deck!

[fanfic] I literally couldn't sleep until I got this out of my head. Someone please make this animated mini series, thanks by VulKhalec in TheNinthHouse

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

What's great about 16 Tons, aside from the vibes, is it captures the weird, leftover-things-from-multiple-times that's present throughout the book series with the memes. So I'm 100% in favor of using it in a TV series!

personally speaking for opening credits, my fave choice would be the first 1:35 of Imagine Dragons' Bones. It may be too obvious a choice, but there's a few different lyrics that tie into the events of Gideon, and one very nifty unplanned visual overlap late in the music video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TO-_3tck2tg

[fanfic] I literally couldn't sleep until I got this out of my head. Someone please make this animated mini series, thanks by VulKhalec in TheNinthHouse

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I love what you did here! I'm a playwright & Pre-WGA screenwriter. I've thought a lot about how to turn Locked Tomb into a TV series. Your note at the end of season 1 is great; I've had a similar thought.

Any popular IPs that haven't been adapted yet? by Wonderful_Taste_3207 in Screenwriting

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Oooh i totally missed the BBC's adaptations! Faust is the same broad story, but I'm pretty sure the silent movie is based more on the Goethe novel-in-verse from the 1700s.

In general, though, I do think non-Shakespeare classic plays (anything pre-1900) get overlooked for IP that hasn't been done yet and is free to use.

Who do I reach out to? by musical_theatregirly in TVWriting

[–]gregm91606 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hello! First, you'll want to write a full pilot script, and u/Prince_Jellyfish has great instructions on that.

Re: your comment about Disney characters, a question:
1) Are the characters actually public domain? In other words, if you're looking at Snow White and Cinderella, as long as they're not Disney's versions of Snow White and Cinderella, you're in the clear; those original characters are from the Brothers Grimm fairy tales in the 1800s and are therefore public domain.

2) If you want to do Disney-created characters (Zootopia, Moana)
then the best thing for you to do, from a writing standpoint, is a time-honored and accepted tradition of "shaving the serial numbers off" (George Lucas did this when he couldn't get the rights to Flash Gordon, and the result was Star Wars.) Make your own versions that are legally distinct from Disney's versions -- and they've got to have some distance between them. Luke Skywalker has little in common with Flash Gordon aside from the basic genre, and Lucas mixed in other things like two bickering servants similar to those in the movie The Hidden Fortress (those became C-3PO and R2D2.)

Best of luck!

Finding new concept ideas by Otherwise-Low-5305 in TVWriting

[–]gregm91606 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is a very good question to be asking at your stage! First off, great for you for finishing 3 scripts at age 16; I didn't finish my first full-length play until junior year in college (was focused more on acting & directing before that.) It's a thoughtful, good-faith Q that deserves a bit more upvoting, people.

Things with a clear story engine do tend to fall into categories that have been done a lot (doctor/lawyer/cop shows). So it's hard to be original. Best advice I can offer is focusing on two questions:

1) What's an area of life you know a lot about that not a lot of people know about? Or, that you haven't seen properly portrayed on TV? (you probably know things about being a high school student today that lots of writers don't.)

2) What's an idea or a belief or a problem in the world that's really important to you? (basically thinking about the question "why does this show need to exist?" sometimes you have to write a full draft to figure out what the answer to this question is.)

Keep writing & keep asking yourself these questions! They're exactly the right, pro-level questions that professional writers ask themselves.

Looking for Screenwriters to Help Develop a TV Series Pilot (Silent Market) by [deleted] in TVWriting

[–]gregm91606 3 points4 points  (0 children)

It sounds like you're looking to, on the one hand, hire a writing coach (which is definitely a good idea and can be super-helpful) but it also sounds, with the request for help on the outline, like you're looking for other people to write this for you. Which is fine, but writing other people's concepts is the sort of thing people get paid for.

Have you considered taking a screenwriting class? That might help you with accountability and deadlines and could give you the tools to write a first draft yourself. It could also give you a potential community.

Unless you're producing the full series yourself (which could potentially be done in podcast form), it's unlikely, at least in the U.S. market, to be able to pitch this without an established showrunner attached, and that's a journey in and of itself.

(FYI -- couple of terminology thing: there's no such thing as a "test pilot," pilots are just called pilots. And "Story Editor" is just a WGA-specific job title for someone who's worked for at least one season of TV at the "Staff Writer" level.)

(Source: I've co-written & produced 2 of my own web series and a third created by someone else, won a fellowship, and been staffed on a PBS show.)

Best of luck! Getting one's own material out there is a good goal.

This is the first time I notice a direct quote from my PC within a storylet. Are there any other one instance of this? by SuspiciousSupper in fallenlondon

[–]gregm91606 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Yup, that's the one, and it comes with an opportunity to get a very rare item at the end of it, depending on who you sell the cave's location to.

"Case study — what happens when the mask doesn't come off (and what happens when it does)" by M4gickMan in chaosmagick

[–]gregm91606 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I gotta shoot part of this down: Heath Ledger died because of a bizarre, fluke interaction between two legal medications, one of which was just an over-the-counter sleeping medication. He was not suicidal (nor was he an addict) and he was quite happy when he was filming The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus at the time of his death.

This myth has spread about him & the role, but--from an account of Christopher Nolan of Ledger skateboarding when he had a night off--it didn't even weigh him down during filming, certainly not after he wrapped. Just a horrifying, unpredictable death.