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I'd have to agree that there was a lot of potential squandered in the second and third acts. The girlfriend subplot petered out and, in my opinion, contributed nothing to the main plot's arc. The second-act "downside" to the drug was expected and somewhat cliche. The third-act resolution...

It's possible to make a living writing screenplays. But yeah, the odds are against you. The more scripts you've written and had successfully produced, the easier it will be to get your foot in the door for a query or pitch. Nothing succeeds like a record of success. So when you're just...

That's a good question. I suspect everyone's different. There are a slew of books that describe how to get organized, that have templates on plot outline, that describe what story beats you need to hit on which approximate page of the script, etc. I think they're helpful to many people...

There is no law against using "ing" verbs in spec scripts. However, it is generally a good idea to avoid using gerunds when writing anything in the present tense. That's just good writing sense. And avoid the passive voice. And spell correctly. And don't over-modify your verbs and nouns...

Nestor Almendros for Malick's "Days of Heaven," and Vilmos Zsigmund for Cimino's "The Deerhunter."

Beware of the fine print, though. (which is why you need a lawyer) There could be a clause giving them an inordinate amount of time to make a decision to refuse it and thus release the rights back to you. Meanwhile, your masterpiece sits gathering cobwebs. Make sure the time-frame they have...

Was raping and pillaging on Google and, serendipitously, discovered this script was a Finalist in the 2010 New American Screenplay Contest: http://www.newamericanscreenplaycontest.com/ Bloody bastards never notified me! (fairly impressive list of judges, too). Can't seem to find the Winner's...

We are all story tellers, right? Stories can be told in many acts, often depending on the length of the story, but there is a good reason full-length movies, plays, TV dramas and novels almost always are told in three acts. It isn't due to an artificial convention that this happens, but for a...

Registering your script with the WGA is enough. The last I checked, it's $35 to copyright a script with the U.S. Copyright service. While you should register your work with the WGA, don't worry about people stealing your ideas. Besides, before most studios or agencies will even read your...

Yes, this is better than the first raw-cut trailer, Joseph. And best of all, this one even has YOUR character in it. Nicely done! -Charles

Congratulations, Funkster! The clue: Wheatie's turf. Hmmmmmm.... Oregon and environs... (p.s., Happy Motherf*%kers' Day, everyone!)

The concept of the TV series replacing the novel is fascinating. Novels used to be serialized in newspapers. A good example is Dickens, many of whose novels were first published in that manner. A kind of print soap-opera. The problem with television, whether network dramas or premium...

Salman Rushdie says TV drama series have taken the place of novels Booker-prizewinning novelist to write sci-fi drama for television (Showtime), citing The Wire, The Sopranos and Mad Men as an inspiration. This should be VERY sweet. One point he makes in the article I find very interesting...

I agree that there are several ways to interpret the axiom. And that makes all the difference. No, I'm sure George Lucas didn't know a creature like Jar Jar Binks, but I bet he knew a friend, a relative, a co-worker, a fictional character from a novel or a movie who, perhaps their...

Selling a feature script is very, very hard to do. Once you've sold one, and once its been produced, it becomes a little easier. If you were a producer or investor and were spending your hard-earned money on a risky venture like, say, making a movie, and had two scripts in front of you, both...

I get you don't want to give the twist away, which is cool. But I don't think it will hurt to give a few small hints so that, after the reveal, people can think back (rewatch) and say, "Yeah, now it makes sense!" It's kind of like being "fair" in a whodunit flick. If you don't give at least a...

ThatGuy: Thanks for viewing and for the feedback. I generally agree with your critique. The "relief" prior to his killing has to do with his anxiety over the missing axe. As he exits the house, he sees the axe sitting on the porch, so he's relieved that obviously Shawna doesn't have it...

Oh, and one further point: What is the significance of the green origami frog? I can't find a reason for it. Why not an origami bird? Or an origami elephant? Or bottle cap? Or a piece of string, or whatever? The point is, in a short script, everything has to have a reason to be there...

Hi, mad_hatter. SPOILER WARNING: I read your script "The Confession." It's a good concept with a nice twist at the end. It's also, as you mentioned, "dialogue heavy." In my opinion, it would benefit from some cutting back of on-the-nose dialogue, and using visual cues and suggestions to...

Congratulations, Wheatie! Couldn't have happened to a harder working or more talented guy! -Charles