All screenplays on the simplyscripts.com and simplyscripts.net domain are copyrighted to their respective authors. All rights reserved. This screenplaymay not be used or reproduced for any purpose including educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author.
But I'm managing to learn how to finish one feature, rewrite it, and then move on to the other feature. It's slow and steady that wins the race.
Gabe
That's the spirit! Jugglers learning the value of completion! Once it's completed, it can be evaluated and evolve. It's not just a ball you're throwing around.
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
Yeah . . . rewrites, helpful to a point, but the core 'story' is the most important thing to focus on, there may be lots of ways to execute certain scenes, handle reveals, change character arcs, conflict etc, but if the story jumps off the page with a killer concept, worry about the rewrites when the producer etc hands you detailed notes and after you have cashed that cheque(check).
Well, not if you're writing just for yourself or loved ones. I don't get the impression you have anything to prove with your scripts. Seems to me the excitement of creation drives you. It's the act itself that provides the nourishment you're after.
So, I wouldn't say you're screwed... I'd say your value system is different than most writers.
Or, I'm completely off and you're a hopeless git.
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
I say we're all fucked in the head. We're just looking for someone to pay for our fucked up in the head stories.
On a tangent here, it's good to see you around Brett. It's been a while. Hope everything's going good.
Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages. https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
So, are you saying you're juggling a dozen rewrites annually?
Hmm, a lack of focused energy coupled with endless revisions. Perhaps training yourself to spot "diminishing returns" could help?
Perhaps you can learn to recognize when you're doing that and stop yourself.
No. I re-write as I go along. I'd be absolutely fine with doing a dozen re-writes in a year as it took about a month to re-write "Christmas Story".
Let's put it this way. When I was at my worst, I had over fifty projects I would be working on in the span of a week. I've gotten that number down to about 10 per week. But when I re-write, I never actually make any progress but there is a small benefit. If I actually finish something, I don't have to re-write it nearly as much as I would normally have to.
I guess writing would be a lot easier for me if I had some sort of imagination. I try writing interesting characters but I can't imagine the details that make them interesting so they end up plain. I try to imagine heist movies and things of that nature but I know the plans are ridiculous and would never work. It's even worse when I'm working on my comic book where the more ridiculous your characters are, the better it'll work out. That's actually, probably, my biggest problem.
In truth, I'm none of the above which is truly very enlightening for me on many levels.
I see the Speed Demon category, but I would have to say I'm the opposite of that because I like to spend time on "things". Yes, things and people. This gets me into trouble because really, I'd much rather be present oriented that future oriented and attaining the skill to hammer out neatly defined scripts is well and good, but I also need to feel as a reader and a writer some kind of indefinable substance that makes the script into a living thing. That's what I'm after in The Read and The Write and I guess inside myself I don't care how long it takes to find and feel it and experience it on all levels.
The constant re-dos of what's been done (even though I don't watch a lot of movies) bothers me and bores me. It's not what I'm after and I'd be a liar if I said it was.
I am after the sharing of experiences, learning from the process of reading what I consider top notch work that has what I would call the "unknown variable" within it-- that which makes it real on some level... but doing that takes time. It's not a "rush out be a great writer" mentality. I think it has to be a "take time and be a great observer" frame of mind. ...and then just do.
I think in the end, everyone who writes is a successful writer if they write for the right reason. That reason is going to be a bit different for everyone.
I'm defo a Juggler, which is weird cos if I threw three things up in the air, I'd miss 'em all on the way down.
I suddenly get this great idea and write it down, then add things to it, then start it, then 'Bang' another great idea and I begin again! lol. Slowly my imagination will dwindle and I'll go back to one idea and work on it until...
Things aren't helped my mind numbly slow writing. I spend an hour writing a couple of pages and then realise I should be somewhere else, like work! If I ever got the golden ticket of being asked to write a script for someone, I'd be f##cked big style.
Check out my scripts...if you want to, no pressure.
Well, not if you're writing just for yourself or loved ones. I don't get the impression you have anything to prove with your scripts. Seems to me the excitement of creation drives you. It's the act itself that provides the nourishment you're after.
So, I wouldn't say you're screwed... I'd say your value system is different than most writers.
Or, I'm completely off and you're a hopeless git.
Regards, E.D.
Brett, you may have nailed me there. I love just getting an idea for a story and creating something from an empty page. I see script writing as just an outlet for all the things ticking over in my head.
Yeah . . . rewrites, helpful to a point, but the core 'story' is the most important thing to focus on, there may be lots of ways to execute certain scenes, handle reveals, change character arcs, conflict etc, but if the story jumps off the page with a killer concept, worry about the rewrites when the producer etc hands you detailed notes and after you have cashed that cheque(check).
I wish it were that simple for me. What I'm finding here in town is quite the opposite...
Since the studios cut development overhead, it's all on the creators of content. Indie producers hook up with writers/scripts and do all that themselves. I'm rewriting two features for producers here in town. They won't risk their reputation on a script unless it's killer. So, there are plenty of rewrites for me before a paycheck... But we have an agreement in place to benefit us both if we can move forward.
Just another gate you have to get through.
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
On a tangent here, it's good to see you around Brett. It's been a while. Hope everything's going good.
Hey Gabe!
Tangent acknowledged. Oh, I've been doing plenty of reading for SS vets... Just not on scripts that are posted to the site.
As to me, I'm staying busy with assignments... Two feature rewrites with verbal intent from producers. One indie. The other studio. Lie Detector is sold and in pre-production for the short. I'm in talks with both prod co. that bought it to develop a feature based on it. And there's a fourth project based on a true story I want to write. I have a rights option contract out to the non-profit that person started. Flew to meet his daughter, we became fast friends. So, she'll shepherd the contract through her dad's foundation, etc.
I'll get back to reading some new SS features. Seems there was a big lull post 7WC, but it's turning around now.
Take care and keep at it!
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
I guess writing would be a lot easier for me if I had some sort of imagination. I try writing interesting characters but I can't imagine the details that make them interesting so they end up plain. I try to imagine heist movies and things of that nature but I know the plans are ridiculous and would never work. It's even worse when I'm working on my comic book where the more ridiculous your characters are, the better it'll work out. That's actually, probably, my biggest problem.
I've read yours stuff, I think you have plenty of imagination. For me, when it comes to characters, it's all about the "right fit" I struggle with that too, so I've got a regimen to help with that...
If I have an idea for a concept that really excites me, I ask myself... "What is the best type of character to maximize this idea?" "What qualities can I give them that will intensify conflict?" And the biggie... "What do they want out of life?"
I find starting there helps me out tons!
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
In truth, I'm none of the above which is truly very enlightening for me on many levels.
I see the Speed Demon category, but I would have to say I'm the opposite of that because I like to spend time on "things". Yes, things and people. This gets me into trouble because really, I'd much rather be present oriented that future oriented and attaining the skill to hammer out neatly defined scripts is well and good, but I also need to feel as a reader and a writer some kind of indefinable substance that makes the script into a living thing. That's what I'm after in The Read and The Write and I guess inside myself I don't care how long it takes to find and feel it and experience it on all levels.
Hey Sandra!
Good to hear from you. Seems you're one of those that writes for themselves and is satisfied. Great attitude to have, certainly less worry inducing I'd imagine.
I agree on the taking your time part. My latest feature took 2 months to prep. 4 months to write. 2 months of rewrites. But it seems to be paying off, based on the early word from industry readers.
It maybe just popcorn entertainment. But I did my best and took my time to make it gourmet popcorn!
Regards, E.D.
LATEST NEWS CineVita Films is producing a short based on my new feature!
What about the procrastinator? Usually they become a speed demon later on when they do have to deal with a dead line, yet I know alot of people that have potential but they just keep pushing it off till later and its not one of those things that they become clouded with other things to do and push it off its just that they have nothing to do and go like oh tomorrow I'll work on it and when tomorrow comes they tomorrow it again and then it just turns into a game of tomorrow's.
And personally I do not think a speed demon is a bad thing I have seen people work at mad rates and put out good work.