Tip and Quote of the Week: Kill the Widows

Killing Widows

If you have any action lines or dialogue lines that result in widows – that is, one word, dangling lines – rewrite it to take up one less line.

For an easy, quick read, this will make a big difference.

“So the writer who breeds more words than he needs,
is making a chore for the reader who reads.”
- Dr. Suess

Sources: http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/editing and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

I got this picture here.

Tip and Quote of the Week: TV Spec Writing

TV Spec Writing

Never spec an episode of a cancelled, low rated, or old show.

Keep it fresh.

Spec shows that are well rated and will obviously be around for several more seasons are how you get the most bang for your buck when writing a spec episode.

You worked hard on it -- why not make sure it's a solid and sought after read for more than just a few months.

"A stage play requires very different craft from a book,
fiction or otherwise, and ditto from a screenplay."

-Dirk Benedict

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

http://www.tv-calling.com/drama-spec-script-2012-what-is-hot-and-what-is-not/

Tip and Quote of the Week: The First Five Pages

The First Five Pages

Your first five pages will make or break your script. That cool, awesome, amazing little detail or set piece you've imagined for your script?

Put it up front.

You never know if anyone will read past the first five if it isn't compelling.

Likewise, if you're creating a new TV series, don't save your best stuff for the show bible or season two. All that's going to be read is the pilot -- so put your heart, soul, and kitchen sink into it.

"To me, movies and music go hand in hand. When I'm writing
a script, one of the first things I do is find the music
I'm going to play for the opening sequence."

-Quentin Tarantino

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/script.html and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.

Tip and Quote of the Week: Shorter is Sweeter

Shorter is Sweeter

If any 4 lines of action in a paragraph can be rewritten to only take up 3 lines, do it. If any 3 lines can be 2, do it.

Don’t be precious with your words – a quick read is paramount. Tell us only what we need to know to move the story forward, or enrich our view of the characters – nothing else.

"You use simple brushstrokes in a screenplay for things over which
you would take much greater pains in a novel."

-Richard Russo

Sources: http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/keywords/screenplay.html#Qt2XAKBwUuITJCDb.99 and http://www.screenplay.com/default.aspx.

A former Hollywood Lit Manager, Michael Ferris started ScriptAWish.com as a way to help other writers get their foot in the door and has helped several writers sell their scripts (like Travis Beacham of PACIFIC RIM) and set up projects with producers like Academy Award Winner Arnold Kopelson. The mission of ScriptAWish.com is to help aspiring writers get their scripts into shape and then get their foot in the door. His new venture is a collaboration with several professional screenwriters called StudioGhostwriters.com and is intended to help producers get their movie ideas on paper or their drafts polished for production.