Celebrate After Each Draft

I just finished the third draft of my script last night. It's ready to be sent out to have some professional eyes look at it (readers) and tell me where the holes are.

Writing a book or a script is a marathon. Even if it isn't the final draft, you deserve to take some time out and pat yourself on the back. I always think of Romancing the Stone, when Joan Wilder selects one of those miniature liquor bottle to celebrate.

I like some Mexican food and a glass of wine. Last night my husband and I headed for the local Mexican place (we live in a 1,400 person town, so it's the only Mexican place). I ordered Chardonnay and it came hot and in a hot glass.  I reordered it and it came this time in a not-so-hot glass. I hate to waste 6 bucks, so I drank it, but not with much gusto.

I hope this doesn't reflect the quality of my script.

Diane

Tom Malloy speaks in Seattle February 19

If you're a screenwriter and looking for new ways to get your script(s) into the hands of the right people, you may want to come hear Tom Malloy speak this Friday.

Or if you've always wanted to produce your movie, but wondering how you go about finding the dollars, you'll also want to hear Tom speak.

The NWSG is hosting Mr. Malloy this Friday at 7:30 p.m. at the Clear Channel Building in Seattle. Doors open at 6:45.

Tom recently published a book entitled Bankroll: A New Approach to Financing Feature Films. He's raised over $15 million in four years to finance his films and his book covers how he did it — and how you can too. So you can expect he'll be talking about that on Friday.

Personally, I'm headed to hear him talk because if he has insight into any new avenue for getting your script produced, I'd love to hear it. It only takes one person to say "yes"!

Also, there's going to be some Q&A time with Tom and I'm putting together my list of questions. If you have some you want to ask while I'm there, just let me know.

Back to the keyboard

OK, it's back to the keyboard. I'm in the middle of a rewrite and found out I need to know a lot more about the prohibition era. THANK GOD for the internet. Or maybe not. I just typed "Prohibition" into Google and it came back with 22 million pages.

Have a GREAT day!

di

Breaking Into Screenwriting — 8-week online course

I’ve talked about screenwriting in my blog, but I don’t know if I’ve mentioned that I’ve been teaching since 1997.

This quarter I thought I’d try teaching Breaking Into Screenwriting online. The first eight-week class will begin February 15.

What you’ll Get

This will be a hands-on course where writers will learn to weave a visual story and create tight plots and dynamic characters. You will learn not only the tools and skills necessary to write a script, but to market it as well.

Because there is no way to finish and rewrite a full-length script in 8 weeks, I have each student write a short script (15 to 30 pages) from concept through rewrite.

Online Structure
Here's a rough overview of how the class will be structured:

1. The course will be set up as a Yahoo Group, so students will have the benefit of reading other students questions and responses.

2. You will be given information on a topic each week (the virtual equivalent of a short lecture).

3. There will be weekly assignments: reading, watching movies and written tasks.

4. Students will be able to email me throughout the week, and I’ll be available to answer any questions and give feedback.

5. Each student will have a half hour telephone call each week (if they want to talk to me) about their progress.

Cost
Since this is first time I’ve taught this class on the web (and anticipating there may be a few bugs), the cost will be a VERY reasonable $75.

Credentials

If you’re wondering about my credentials, in addition to teaching for over 10 years, I’m a member of the Screenwriter's Guild (WGA), with a movie in post-production with Hallmark (due to air this fall) and have won or placed in numerous regional and national screenwriting contests.

If you're interested in taking the class, or have any questions about the class you can contact me directly at diane@spilledinkstudio.com.

Hope to hear from you!

di

Online Screenwriting Class Starting February 15

Hi,

Short post today, but I wanted to let folks know that I'm going to be teaching an 8-week online screenwriting class beginning February 15. (At the very reasonable cost of $75.00, I might add.)

I've been teaching screenwriting for over 10 years in a classroom setting, and decided to finally branch out online.

It should be fun! Stay tuned for details on Monday.

Di

Love What You Do

A couple weeks ago, I spoke to a Gig Harbor high school film class about screenwriting — the ups and downs I'd experienced.

The Downs

As I went along, I realized there were a lot of downs.

• As a writer, lots of people will reject your work — quick possibly for YEARS

• You'll be rewriting countless hours, with no assurances of a sale.

• When someone does buy your script, you will loose creative control.

I left thinking, "I hope I didn't tell them too many downs. I hope I didn't turn anyone against writing. I hope they saw there's a lot of good stuff too."

The Good Stuff

Writing's a personalized journey and the good stuff for one writer is completely different for another. My good stuff? Where do I start?

Working to become a screenwriter has lead to:

• a freelance career

• meeting my husband

• traveling around the world

• wonderful friends and experiences

• and eventually a movie and some money

Class Response

I got the thank you card from the class yesterday. I was hesitant to open it, expecting something like, "Thanks for nothing!!!"

Instead I read, "You truly reminded me that you should absolutely love what you do. Thank you so much!"

It made my day. Despite the downs, I realized I really DO love what I do. How cool is that?

Everything comes with ups and downs. I guess the trick it choose the thing you're passionate about — it'll make the roller coaster ride worth while.

Getting Your Screen Credit

I'd heard about writers having their screen credits arbitrated by the WGA. I imagined it was a last resort between writers and producers, complete with huge drama and big dollars hanging in the balance.

No Drama or Dollars

Now that I challenged my shared credit and started the process to have it reviewed by the WGA, I find out my expectations were WAY off. First of all, there was zero drama. A producer sent around a notice of how they intended to post the credits and I could agree or disagree.

I called the WGA to find out how to contest. A woman there said, "It's easy. Just email me and tell me you want full credit and we'll get the process started." It was all very common place for everyone but me, who was stressing like crazy.

And as far as the big dollars . . . I wish. I know writers where getting sole credit instead of shared credit has meant the difference between receiving residuals in the amount of $500,000 and $250,000, but unfortunately that's not my scenario. If I get enough money down the road to pay for car tabs, I'll be smiling big.

Getting it Right

I just want to get it right. I read the final shooting script and more than 50% of my original script is still there. I'd like full credit, in part because it seems like it may make getting future assignments easier, but mostly because it just seems fair.

Of course, now I'm stressing because I'm going to have to put together writer's statement explaining why I think I deserve full credit. When I asked the woman at the WGA how detailed these statements are, she said she's read anything from two lines to 15 pages. Her advice, "15 pages seems a little long, but some writers are wordy".

I'm sure once I write the statement and turn it in, it will be less eventful than I'm imagining. I'll get a form letter that reads "Received", or something equally as exciting, and all this sweat will be for nothing.

Until then, I've decided that this imagined stress is an excellent reason to go out and buy a nice bottle of wine to sooth my nerves.

Are We Shooting Yet?

I'm getting nervous. The movie I wrote the script for was supposed to start shooting in late August. Well, it's about as late into August as you can get and I haven't heard a word.

"Don't they keep the writer informed?" you might ask. No. It doesn't really work that way.

A Screenwriter is Like an Architect

Being a screenwriter I've found is much like being an architect. Your job is to design a story in the form a screenplay that an actor, director, producer, etc. can work from. You're just like an architect who designs plans for a house that a builder, plumber and electrician can all work from.

Once you buy the house plan, you don't want the architect around anymore — especially if every time you want to add a window or take out a door the architect stands there screaming, "You ruined my vision!"

It's the same with screenwriting.

You Will Lose Control

Screenwriting is commercial work. You're an architect of stories. What they do with your scripts is ultimately out of your control -- unless you never sell them. There it is. (But it beats working at WalMart!!)

But back to my original point -- they haven't told me when it's shooting. I'm nervous. I better call someone, because no one is going to call me.

You know You’re Procrastination When . . .

I sat down last night to write the final, action-acted scenes of my script. In my head they were cool, funny and exciting. I could even see a shirtless Ryan Reynolds playing the lead (OK, I can always see a shirtless Ryan Reynolds playing the lead).

Unfortunately, I knew some of the "cool/funny/exciting" in my head probably wouldn't translate to paper, so I procrastinated.

I'm a professional procrastinator, but last night I hit a new low — I elected to change the cat box instead of writing the ending. I mentally regrouped as I scooped. No matter how my ending turned out, it had to be more satisfying than cleaning a cat box.

Let's face it, it's not like I had procrastinated by helping out at a food bank or volunteering at Habitat for Humanity. This was a stupid cat box, and it wasn't even that dirty. I had to really hunt.

My coaching teacher says you’re supposed to swap your negative thoughts with positive ones (cognitive therapy I think it’s called). He has these cool examples like, "Replace 'I don’t think my ending with be worthy,' with 'I will write a entertaining and satisfying ending.'”

In reality, my thoughts aren’t as glamorous. But he’ll be proud that today I’m swapping . . .

“The cat box needs changing,” with “Go write that *$(#*!!@ ending!”

Query Letters, Think Like a Producer

This must be query letter season. I read several letters last week written by screenwriters trying to get the attention of agents or producers.

Query letters are tough — introducing your story in such an exciting way that an agent or producer can’t help but contact you to read the whole thing.

My advice is to think like a producer, not like a writer. They want to know if this is a great concept, not whether the theme is fully realized.

If a query letter gets read, and that’s a big IF, you’ve only got a few seconds to get an agent or producer interested. Here are just a few do's and don'ts.

Don’t . . .

• . . . open by talking about yourself at length. In fact, unless what you’ve done has a bearing on the manuscript (you’ve won a couple Oscars or you’re Judd Apatow), I don’t think they care.

• . . . describe in your story in 4 or 5 lengthy paragraphs.

• . . . tell them it’s the best script they’ll ever read. They’ll be the judge of that. (This includes telling them that your friends read it and really liked it.)

• . . . discuss the theme, the character motivations, sub plots, etc. etc.

• . . . tell them your dream cast list or the ideal place to film.

Do . . .

• . . . introduce yourself.

• . . . write a killer log line — a quick one or two lines revealing the heart of the story. (Think of what you would want to see on a movie poster to get you in the theater door.)

• . . . write a one (maybe two) paragraph synopsis of your story — the shorter the better.

• . . . succinctly state anything that sets you apart from the pack — any awards you’ve received, options, etc.

• . . . provide your contact information

There is loads of information out there on writing query letters. But this, I hope, is enough to get you started.

Good luck