Corey Mandell, an L.A. based script consultant and screenwriting teacher, shares more views on how to bridge the divide between amateur writes and professional ones. I’ve recently had several agents and managers come to my UCLA classes to speak about how the industry has changed since the last writer’s strike, and one thing I heard really… [Read more…]
January 28, 2011
Corey Mandell, an L.A. based script consultant and screenwriting teacher, shares his views on how to distinguish amateur hobby writers from the professional ones. There are certain essential skill sets required to write at a professional level. Too many writers continue to crank out scripts without learning and developing these skills. This is not generally… [Read more…]
January 26, 2011
Scripted TV shows are generally categorized into drama and comedy. The key divider is length. Comedies are half hour and dramas are usually a full hour long. COMEDIES Family, workplace, romantic and urban tribe. They are either multi-cam or single cam. Multi-cam comedies are shot on a sound stage, in chronological order in one session.… [Read more…]
January 25, 2011
Here is an article by Daniel Manus, an L.A.-based script consultant. Dialogue is the attention whore on the page who always steals the spotlight and scores the big laughs and crocodile tears. But it’s the solid utility player on the page known as description that actually grabs a reader at the beginning of each scene… [Read more…]
January 22, 2011
Another inspiring article from Marvin Acuna of BOSI. 1) NEVER GIVE UP People come and go in this business. They have their own reasons; it’s not a judgment. But, if you stay you’ll discover that the opportunity you have been working towards will present itself. The KEY is you must be ready. You must continue… [Read more…]
January 19, 2011
Coverage is script haiku for executives too busy to read entire scripts. Hollywood Reader Training prepares script readers to provide extensive coverage. The final grading of coverage is PASS (around 90% of scripts), CONSIDER (around 9% of scripts) and RECOMMEND (around 1% of scripts). Typically, coverage consists of a title, genre, logline, short (1 paragraph)… [Read more…]
January 16, 2011
Melanie Anne Phillips, co-creator of Dramatica, examines an alternative view of characters creating the plot as they are driven by choices and actions. In her article, she discusses how writers can operate in reverse and create characters if they already know their story. This is especially important in adaptations, or loose concepts. You’ve nailed the… [Read more…]
January 13, 2011
Many screenplay readers complain that most of the characters they read are pedestrian, boring and dull. They know all about the character in the first few lines of dialog, know how they will act and whether they will achieve their goal. Remember that boring person you met at that party? Within the first sentence they… [Read more…]
January 11, 2011
Given the dire state of the spec script and open writing assignment markets, writers are looking at alternative avenues to make money. The current video game market is increasingly lucrative and worth several times the value of the feature film market. Furthermore, video games such as “Tombraider” are relentlessly being adapted into feature films to… [Read more…]
January 9, 2011
Dialogue is what the actors say. It is their verbal DNA and more than words on the page. Quality dialogue works on three different levels by revealing plot/ exposition, character and subtext. Although more prominent than action and production design, less dialogue is more when it works optimally. Dialogue can be manipulated in a number… [Read more…]
Fellow screenwriters have been bugging me to do script consultations. Contact me for details via my twitter account @jgsarantinos
The next deadline for the Hollywood Outreach Program at The Scriptwriters Network is Saturday 15 September 2012. Visit www.scriptwritersnetwork.org for more details. Get studio quality coverage. Top scripts are recommended to agents, managers and production companies.
If you like this blog, let others know!
January 31, 2011
1