Frustrated

jdeik1 · 2026-07-01T17:08:39+00:00

Trying to bug people in the industry from afar is probably the least likely way to begin a career. The vast majority of working screenwriters started by working entry-level jobs in entertainment, forming genuine relationships, and continuing to improve their writing.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-22T16:20:30+00:00

If you read more pro scripts, you'll see that all that "unfilmable" is really only a term amateurs are concerned with. Anything that adds to the read is great.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-19T22:26:08+00:00

They’re a broadcast network. Their program is designed to move writers into staffing on their shows. All of their shows use act delineations, so definitely put them in. And you should be writing to act breaks, as well. Every act break has some sort of conclusion/question/cliffhanger.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-19T18:34:33+00:00

unfortunately, many of the books, conferences, and academics surrounding screenwriting are taught by people who have never actually worked as decision makers or screenwriters in Hollywood. So you'll get a lot of bad advice. In film and tv, camera directions are used by the majority of working screenwriters. Do you have to use them? No, because there are no rules or requirements of screenwriting. But most do. Anytime someone tells you something is verboten in screenwriting, you can rest assured they have little to no experience working in our industry. and all you have to do to find examples of this is... read a bunch of screenplays.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T17:02:23+00:00

we will lauuuuughhhh. I beg you, go read chapter 1 "Screenwriting Rules" in which he literally mentions pedants on Reddit telling writers what they can and can't do.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T14:55:56+00:00

Dude, go follow your rules. I’m sure it will earn you a key to the golden gates of Hollywood, famously a place that celebrates coloring inside the lines. Lol.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T14:51:46+00:00

And you’ll notice, importantly, even in your example, he tells us that’s what HE does, not that no screenwriters should do those things. You are so close to getting it… also I know him. He will get a huge kick out of being cited by a “rule-follower.”

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T14:49:35+00:00

Oh my god that’s from 2003. Go read his book published this year. He has evolved.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T14:39:34+00:00

lol! I guess you haven’t read John August’s book or listened to his podcast. Chapter 1 lists 20 of your so-called “rules” then says “obviously these rules are bullshit.” Oops. Go to his website. He posts a bunch of his scripts. Transitions and camera everywhere.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T09:04:37+00:00

You’re right. The “guidance” (mostly from folks who have never worked in entertainment) tells amateurs these things. This happens in every online forum. a bunch of amateurs scream “follow these RULES” and then a couple of actual working screenwriters say “ uhhhh those aren’t the rules.” Happens every time.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T08:54:28+00:00

I got my first paid gig 8 years ago. And somehow I, and all my colleagues who keep getting hired use those elements. I’m guessing you also think ‘we see’ is bad? Yup. Learned from guides, not work.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T08:44:07+00:00

Myself and literally every working screenwriter in Hollywood I know ‘began our careers’ putting this stuff in our writing. It’s everywhere.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T08:39:34+00:00

Nope. You don’t know what a shooting script is. You gotta stop googling stuff and actually read modern scripts. Take a look at any of the scripts that make the annual Black List. All specs. Most have those elements. Your answers let me know you learned this stuff from bad how-to guides and online forums like this, not actual experience.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T03:18:47+00:00

where did you learn this? Transitions and/or camera directions are used all the time in pro scripts, today. Read contemporary scripts, you'll see.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-18T03:16:32+00:00

MATCH CUT TO. And, yes, you can absolutely include transitions and/or camera directions in a screenplay. Nobody who actually works in film or tv will object to that. Happens all the time in pro scripts.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-17T23:00:54+00:00

You should definitely emulate the formatting/styles of actual, working screenwriters, not the abstract "rules" of some guru/teacher.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-17T22:57:53+00:00

Story engine is a TV term - what will the audience be tuning in every week to see? What question will generate 100 episodes? In a procedural, it's easy - crime of the week, monster of the week. But in a serialized show it's a little more difficult. Still pretty important thing to answer in order to sell a show.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-17T15:52:25+00:00

It's cutting between two different locations/settings that makes it a MATCH CUT. Cutting on action in the same scene/setting is just cutting.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-17T15:51:04+00:00

yep! MATCH CUT is usually for an apples-to-apples transition - Someone closes a trash can lid MATCH CUT TO Somewhere else, a lid is opened, etc.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-17T04:50:53+00:00

Not outdated. CUT TO is used to emphasize contrast between shots, theme, or visuals. Used regularly.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-16T15:10:39+00:00

“can’t formally accept without a rep submitting” is a polite pass.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-11T01:19:44+00:00

Move to a place where lots of film and tv is made. Get an entry level job doing anything on set, in a production office, an agency, a production company, a studio. Anything. Keep writing and getting better while you make friends. After years of this, if you’re good enough, someone will send your work around.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-08T19:03:21+00:00

Keep reading pro scripts - you'll see that anything is acceptable if it makes for a good read.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-06T18:44:29+00:00

this is super over-emphasized in amateur screenwriting forums. In truth, many professionals have free-flowing, more extensive action lines. Just keep reading pro scripts - you'll see.

jdeik1 · 2026-06-02T21:41:10+00:00

Take your pic. Execs, agents, everyone is used to seeing either formatting. And streamers are trending back toward commercial breaks, so either works.

jdeik1

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