tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75714933344476309402024-02-19T03:06:26.805-08:00The Working ScreenwriterMiscellaneous rants, raves, musings, adventures (and misadventures) of a working Los Angeles screenwriter.Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.comBlogger223125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-80044893818051390792020-10-01T12:40:00.003-07:002020-10-01T12:46:28.760-07:00NOW IN PRODUCTION...<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> My feature screenplay, DARK HAVEN, now filming...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTd5nmry2bGqB4tm5k_QNUzsv_0uq47gt_PEE4i79Qi_r224BqIRs2cAk6dsqLcARHoYBnbo_Az03qgF4jmzW7Vly4xD8vYfVK8Hhx1bNOQ7CgN3coKxtAe2USGtpqMyS-IyVoWXwbWg/s1356/DARK+HAVEN+P-30+%2528B%2526W%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="969" data-original-width="1356" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkTd5nmry2bGqB4tm5k_QNUzsv_0uq47gt_PEE4i79Qi_r224BqIRs2cAk6dsqLcARHoYBnbo_Az03qgF4jmzW7Vly4xD8vYfVK8Hhx1bNOQ7CgN3coKxtAe2USGtpqMyS-IyVoWXwbWg/w400-h286/DARK+HAVEN+P-30+%2528B%2526W%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqRTvjLM4yQgYy1u1X2N48FiN_Z54q_69ViAKU6jYtLtzaAycRAkSnit2YVHbOTTvAqU_vz5D3ETxs7oKIfCYSD65FgjEJg_a9tPeZd-yt8_3TiYycczOJ0MzbWg9KbfebB5gYMWNT24/s1673/DARK+HAVEN+P-35.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1673" data-original-width="1195" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqRTvjLM4yQgYy1u1X2N48FiN_Z54q_69ViAKU6jYtLtzaAycRAkSnit2YVHbOTTvAqU_vz5D3ETxs7oKIfCYSD65FgjEJg_a9tPeZd-yt8_3TiYycczOJ0MzbWg9KbfebB5gYMWNT24/w286-h400/DARK+HAVEN+P-35.jpg" width="286" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-B8mIfggYKGCDHSArjq4Bj7eprskpnefgXfOJd6jEhPB3aSZTaM_8tB06Q1SRdx51Tuk8-VK7G-09u6nz2xlndqniD5HIR9II8245D7g8apGAfe_1vOVf2giUtWlbHU4avMQkZwH2CI/s1091/DARK+HAVEN+P-20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="780" data-original-width="1091" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-B8mIfggYKGCDHSArjq4Bj7eprskpnefgXfOJd6jEhPB3aSZTaM_8tB06Q1SRdx51Tuk8-VK7G-09u6nz2xlndqniD5HIR9II8245D7g8apGAfe_1vOVf2giUtWlbHU4avMQkZwH2CI/w400-h286/DARK+HAVEN+P-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">#</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">And for your reading pleasure...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">"A rollicking, sexy ride through the Hollywood maze."</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00VGTNR2M?pf_rd_r=H2946F1WS8Y064968MTG&pf_rd_p=edaba0ee-c2fe-4124-9f5d-b31d6b1bfbee" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</span></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">#</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;">My journey from script to award-winning short horror film...</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: trebuchet;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3gW6vQC" target="_blank">A Beast Is Born!</a></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-57891803127833919582020-09-16T06:00:00.000-07:002020-09-16T06:00:28.458-07:00Never give up, never say never...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">DARK HAVEN is a screenplay I wrote 20 years ago. Since
then it's been optioned a handful of times, edged close to production three
times and has sat dormant on the shelf for a number of years. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But now,
finally, contracts have been signed, tweaks to the script executed, and -- I'm
quite pleased to say -- filming will commence today (September 16, 2020)!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will the finished movie be any good? Your guess is as good
as mine -- but at least I don't have to think about this one any longer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But the takeaway here is this...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you think you have a great script, stick with it. One day
it'll pay off.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">#<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out my new e-book!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/3gW6vQC" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Beast Is
Born!: A Screenwriter's Journey from Script </span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/3gW6vQC" target="_blank">to
Award-winning Short Film</a></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And if you like novels about Hollywood and screenwriters, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you'll want to check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Luigis-Chinese-Delicatessen-Jim-Vines-ebook/dp/B00VGTNR2M/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=jim+vines+luigi%27s&qid=1600261108&sr=8-1" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-61101566463284515472020-07-03T21:15:00.004-07:002020-07-03T21:16:32.730-07:00If you like novels about screenwriters in Hollywood (and c'mon, you know you do)...<br />
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>Hollywood...<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>It wasn’t what I
expected.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>It seemed every
other building along the boulevard contained a head shop, tattoo parlor, dive
bar, or outlet for worthless, plastic souvenirs and T-shirts that boasted
bullshit such as, “MY PARENTS WENT TO HOLLYWOOD AND ALL THEY GOT ME WAS THIS
LOUSY T-SHIRT.” Sure, there were pockets of glitz and glamour here and there,
but mostly it was a trash heap. The boulevard itself is embedded with grimy
salmon-colored and gold-embossed stars that boast the names of the currently
known, the long-forgotten, and everyone in between.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><i>This</i> was Hollywood?<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>Then there were the
people. The outcasts, the forgotten, the ignored. The angry young men and
women—once bolstered by a dream but now dazed by a hard life—struggling against
poverty, drugs, booze, madness, and railing mightily against whatever it was
Mommy or Daddy or Uncle Joe supposedly did to them once upon a time. They
populated Hollywood Boulevard and the surrounding area like cockroaches on a
grease-encrusted sewer pipe.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new";"><b>(Excerpt from <a href="https://amzn.to/3akZC7i" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a>,
a novel by Jim Vines)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>(Photo </b></span><span style="font-family: "Courier New"; font-size: 11pt;">©</span><b style="font-family: "courier new", courier, monospace;"> Jim Vines</b><br />
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh4U5XmRpfB-eeqRWUqkFZSSow2MwkT_tmukB7mKhPl37wRuRVpo7RUtCsQ9MkUubaadWKoMkxor9RyD8Uso3oYyg47jjhiy7QFvcbegAYHQUjzC4794Kwf_WgVVpMeuQxb0lzlw9xVg/s1600/Street+3+homeless+under+blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="712" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbh4U5XmRpfB-eeqRWUqkFZSSow2MwkT_tmukB7mKhPl37wRuRVpo7RUtCsQ9MkUubaadWKoMkxor9RyD8Uso3oYyg47jjhiy7QFvcbegAYHQUjzC4794Kwf_WgVVpMeuQxb0lzlw9xVg/s400/Street+3+homeless+under+blanket.jpg" width="296" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><a href="https://amzn.to/3akZC7i" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a> is available </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b>in paperback and e-book, from Amazon!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "courier new" , "courier" , monospace;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-1783100302378022742020-06-21T11:20:00.000-07:002020-08-13T11:29:04.640-07:00My first movie...<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My first produced movie, <i>The Perfect Tenant</i>, was released in 2000. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It did very well on the cable TV circuit, broadcast TV, and played all over the world (happily, I received foreign royalty payments from the WGA).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It ain't exactly Alfred Hitchcock -- but it's a fairly diverting 93 minutes. </div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hope you enjoy it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
To watch <i>The Perfect Tenan</i>t, click <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=alNc8bgSOfc" target="_blank">here</a>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>A Beast is Born!: A Screenwriter's Journey from Script to Award-winning Short Film</i>, </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
by Jim Vines</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Get your e-book <a href="https://amzn.to/3gW6vQC" target="_blank">here</a>!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-77996871409243652972019-09-26T08:33:00.002-07:002019-10-23T01:52:47.008-07:00MY NEW E-BOOK -- NOW AVAILABLE!<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A Beast Is Born! </span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A Screenwriter's Journey from Script </span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank">to Award-w</a><a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank">inning Short Film</a></span><br />
<br />
(As of 9/29/19, a "#1 New Release in Screenwriting" on Amazon/Kindle store!)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-qmpE-4goVNxXqxpgYIxpRkn1MeoivVh2DVVBE8wKAa6083Xw3NVGYyPwGXyBL4kl9S9HnpSip_nYVFhII9Ri4A0hCCYEbxZ1H_Wmeeh2BkcAuKd2AwArsetx3dPicrUsSv3kh3rvsI/s1600/A+Beast+Is+Born+COVER+%2528High+Resolution%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1000" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja-qmpE-4goVNxXqxpgYIxpRkn1MeoivVh2DVVBE8wKAa6083Xw3NVGYyPwGXyBL4kl9S9HnpSip_nYVFhII9Ri4A0hCCYEbxZ1H_Wmeeh2BkcAuKd2AwArsetx3dPicrUsSv3kh3rvsI/s640/A+Beast+Is+Born+COVER+%2528High+Resolution%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;">A
Beast Is Born!</span></span></i><span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> chronicles a writer’s arduous
eleven-year journey to develop his short horror script <i>Susie’s Beast</i> from nascent idea
to award-winning film. Compiled from emails, text messages, phone
conversations, and personal journal entries, <i>A Beast Is Born!</i> demonstrates just how dogged perseverance
and sheer determination are the screenwriter’s truest allies when
searching for a filmmaker who can transform words on a page into a
captivating cinematic entertainment. <i>A Beast Is Born! </i>is an absolute must-read for any
screenwriter who believes their stories were meant for the big—or
small—screen. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="ydpa01952e8msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A Beast Is Born! </span></a></span></b></div>
<div class="ydpa01952e8msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">A Screenwriter's Journey from Script </span></a></span></b></div>
<div class="ydpa01952e8msonormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "palatino linotype" , serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2lp1Y1N" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">to Award-winning Short Film</span></a></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Kindle eBook!</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>(Also available from B&N, Apple Books, </b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>KOBO...pretty much everywhere!)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-43153093737868890162019-07-29T13:33:00.009-07:002020-12-21T01:01:58.802-08:00The exciting life of a writer!<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Over the years I've been asked, </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">"Jim, what's your typical writing day like?" </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">I usually give some long-winded response. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">But actually, it can all be boiled down far more succinctly.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Click <a href="https://youtu.be/cOWht9g0fsc" target="_blank">here</a>!<a font-size:="" href="https://youtu.be/cOWht9g0fsc >here</a> to watch the exciting video!</span><br />
<span style=" large=""><br /></a></span>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b># # #</b> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>Just a sexy, rollicking tale about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b> "A great summer read!" </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b>"A sexy Hollywood tale!" </b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif"><b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Luigis-Chinese-Delicatessen-Vines-2015-04-07/dp/B01K3GCG5C/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=%22jim+vines%22&qid=1558839881&s=books&sr=1-2-catcorr">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a></b></span><br />
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-71603499254518729962019-05-11T11:17:00.000-07:002019-05-11T11:18:21.625-07:00Why Studios Won't Read Your Pitch...<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Whether you're a budding screenwriter or a budding novelist, I think you'll find some solid value in this video posted by filmmaker/writer Austin McConnell.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS2tzDiP7LA" target="_blank">Why Studios Won't Read Your Pitch...</a></span><br />
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If you like novels about screenwriters in Hollywood,<br />
you'll love...<br />
<a href="https://amzn.to/2JEzria" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a><br />
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-1506389771503616522019-02-17T01:56:00.000-08:002019-02-17T01:56:29.012-08:00Horror script reading!<div style="text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigAf3Nh4Z4BpWzvp8m3SE8wb_79xSgJxr8W2X7GpXHXujXNTUhhMkLmfIJqxA7byVmx2tE0x4LLyfMrhjtWCeWjkI-010eA7bC9rohWkYqJTs8GtXpfjdsnCuhtstmLCFieVh0537Vno/s1600/DARK+HAVEN+script+reading+021619+%25232+EDIT.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1108" data-original-width="1600" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiigAf3Nh4Z4BpWzvp8m3SE8wb_79xSgJxr8W2X7GpXHXujXNTUhhMkLmfIJqxA7byVmx2tE0x4LLyfMrhjtWCeWjkI-010eA7bC9rohWkYqJTs8GtXpfjdsnCuhtstmLCFieVh0537Vno/s400/DARK+HAVEN+script+reading+021619+%25232+EDIT.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The reading of my script was yesterday afternoon.
Twenty people were on hand, with only three of them participating in the actual
reading. After 90 minutes it was all over. A little nerve-racking, lemme tell
ya. But everyone—well, nearly everyone—seemed to really respond to the story
being told and the two characters within it. Yes, there were ideas for
improvement tossed around. Later, after everyone had gone, the director and I
went over these ideas and came up with a handful of relatively minor (I hope!)
changes to the structure and character arcs. I’ll commence on the revision in
the next few days. My pencils are sharpened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">If
you like reading novels about Hollywood and about screenwriters, you'll love<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><a href="https://amzn.to/2yYzDTD" style="font-size: 12pt;" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a><span style="font-size: 12pt;">!</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-45793009756290235932018-11-30T23:04:00.002-08:002018-11-30T23:27:33.437-08:00Watch my web-series on Facebook!<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A web-series I created and wrote--MY ROOMMATE SAM--hit Facebook last month and it's been racking up some nice views. Hope you'll check it out!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/MyRoommateSamSeries/" target="_blank">Visit the MY ROOMMATE SAM page on Facebook!</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To watch a video montage of on-set photos I took during production, click </span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3laZqMeSDI" style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">here</a><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">More from Jim Vines...</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Read how 16 working screenwriters did it!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Working-Screenwriter-Trenches-Perspective-Industry/dp/1425968465/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1543649135&sr=1-1&keywords=Q+%26+A%3A+the+working+screenwriter" target="_blank">Q & A: The WorkingScreenwriter--An In-the-Trenches Perspective of Writing Movies in Today's Film Industry</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>* * *</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"A great summer read!"</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"A sexy Hollywood tale!"</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<a href="https://amzn.to/2RmdQMt" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Check out LUIGI'S CHINESE DELICATESSEN!</span></a><br />
<br />
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<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Disclosure: The links above are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-indent: 48px;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></span></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-49475691371379434722018-09-08T10:00:00.000-07:002018-09-28T21:52:27.256-07:00Your screenwriting questions answered! (#2)<b style="font-family: "trebuchet ms", sans-serif;">Many thanks to those who have sent in their questions about screenwriting. This is the second batch of your questions and my answers. More to come!</b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Q: I’m always getting writer’s block!
How do I get rid of it?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A: As far as I’m concerned, writer’s
block is nothing more than a form of total, absolute and complete laziness.
Face it, you’re just not willing to sit yourself down, put on your thinking cap
and plumb the depths of your creativity. Sorry to be the one to break it to
you, but that’s what screenwriting is all about. So get used to it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Do whatever you have to do, but force
yourself into your writing mode every day. Whatever it takes. And believe me,
once you get rolling and ideas are flowing, you’ll wonder what all your
apprehension was about. However, if you still find it near-impossible to park
yourself in front of that keyboard, and/or if you continually have trouble
coming up with ideas, and/or you’d prefer to watch <i>Championship Knitting</i>
on C-SPAN rather than crank out script pages, then this might be the universe
telling you, “Sorry, pal, you’re not a screenwriter.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><i>"There's no such thing as writer's
block. That was invented by people in <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>
who couldn't write."</i> - Terry Pratchett <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A fellow writer posted the following on
one of the screenwriting boards. I liked what I read (mainly cuz I
wholeheartedly agree with every word of it).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here it is...<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I don't believe in writer's block. Most
of the “serious” writers I've known don't, either. I agree with the one who
says, “It's an indulgence of amateurs. When you've got a contract with a
deadline, you either turn in a manuscript or return your advance. You may find
writing difficult and your results unsatisfying, but you do it anyway, because
that’s what professional writers do: they write.” However… <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I do believe in the realization that if
your current work is of poor quality it should be abandoned. (Don’t delete
it—the idea may be worthwhile even if the execution isn’t.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in inadequate preparation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in inadequate organization,
too. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in writing yourself into a
corner so tight that you either need to start over or abandon it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in lost enthusiasm for a
particular work. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in lack of focus, in not
knowing what your story’s really about and why these characters should tell it.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in increasing boredom with an
entire genre that’s become too familiar. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in well-crafted characters
you don’t want to spend time with. (And if you don’t, nobody else will,
either.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in stories that require a
daunting amount of preliminary research before you can write. (“Sure, that’s
it—a police procedural following a serial killer who’s targeting milliners in
1910 <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Belgium</st1:place></st1:country-region>!”)
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in shyness and lack of
confidence that makes seeking expert advice or background hideously difficult
or impossible. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in not knowing how to start,
or where to start, or even if you should start. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in finding the need to learn
basic writing mechanics and screenplay format so boring or off-putting that
you’d rather procrastinate than spend the time it takes (which isn’t much for
format). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in concluding that your whole
concept is stupid, immature, derivative, impractical, embarrassing, too
personal, legally actionable, or any of a host of other fatal flaws. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in realizing that you're not
as good as other people—the ones who ought to know, like teachers and fellow
writers—think you are. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in realizing that you're not
as good as you think you are—or ought to be. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in that “what’s-the-use”
attitude after you learn that your first several screenplays are probably going
to be pretty bad regardless of the blood, sweat, and tears you give them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I believe in the inability of young
writers to write characters well beyond their own age and, regardless of
research, situations well beyond their experiences—and I believe in the
incredible frustration of being young and bursting with ideas that you
shouldn’t tackle yet. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Now, any of those can stop you dead in
your tracks and keep you stopped. The question then becomes: <i>How can you get
started again?</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Give yourself permission to write utter
crap. Lousy ideas, poor grammar and spelling, stilted dialogue…Write it anyway.
Nobody has to see it. Written things can be revised or rewritten to improve
them. The blank pages of the “blocked” remain blank. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Change your writing environment. Try
something radically different. If you write on your computer in a quiet room,
try a spiral notebook in a park or coffee house, or ruled paper on your
grandmother’s dining room table. (Not recommended: your blood on walls.) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Perform writing exercises. Writing
something different may free you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Move physically. Play a sport, go for a
walk or run, swing on a playground, whatever you like, but get your blood
pumping. When it's racing through your body, the brain gets plenty of
oxygen—and ideas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Give yourself blocks of unstructured
time when you’re not likely to be sleepy. Find a quiet place, think about your
current writing project, and let your mind wander. Rein it back to the subject
as needed. This can be combined with physical movement—a long walk may be an
idea wellspring! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Play <i>What If…?</i> with what you
see. <i>What if</i> the kid cutting your sandwich suddenly plunged that knife
into the woman at the cash register? <i>What if</i> he merely put caustic
chemicals in the mayonnaise? <i>What if</i> the sandwich and kid are fine, but
you choked, right here at your table? <i>What if</i> you gave half your
sandwich to that lady over there who looks poor? <i>What if</i> she thanked you
for it by giving you something valuable (that she didn't think was worth more
than the sandwich)? <i>What if</i> you sold it and couldn’t find her to give
her any of the money? <i>What if</i> she found you and demanded all of it? <i>What
if...</i> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Write daily, every day, no exceptions,
for a set amount of time. If you can't write, you must remain in your writing
environment for the set amount of time anyway. Your choices are a) write, and
b) don’t write. No games, no internet, no texting, no TV.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Stimulate your mind with new
experiences. If you're a movie fan, see a play or watch a street performance.
Hear live music rather than CDs, or listen to something in a genre you know
nothing about. Eavesdrop on or observe people unlike most of the ones you know.
People-watch (and invent lives for passers-by). Attend a sporting event (any
kind, at any level) where you don't know anyone and watch the crowd rather than
the players. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Upon waking, jot down the surrealistic
snippets of whatever dreams you remember. They don't mean anything, in my
opinion, but the odds are good that they're packed with drama. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Just do it. You don't want to be a self-indulgent
amateur, right? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">© 2011 by Maryn Blackburn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Used with permission.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">MORE Q & A TO COME--SOON!</span><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disclosure: The link below is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost
to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A great summer read!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A sexy Hollywood tale!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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Learn from those who have done it! Interviews with 16
working screenwriters!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1425968465&asins=1425968465&linkId=dd596c2733cca7013d37bf09e8d40c53&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"><o:p></o:p></p>
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<br />Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-76337110819026512792018-09-01T20:47:00.001-07:002018-09-28T21:53:38.524-07:00Your screenwriting questions answered! (#1)<br />
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Many thanks to those who have sent in their questions about screenwriting. This is the first batch of your questions and my answers. More to come!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><b>Q: I want to write screenplays, but I
don’t know where to begin. What’s the best way to get started?</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A: My best advice would be to spend
some time immersing yourself in studying the art, craft, and process of writing
a screenplay. Read a few how-to books (yes, my book <i>Q & A: The Working
Screenwriter</i> would be one excellent choice!), then read a handful of scripts
that have been produced. (Google search “movie screenplays free” and a lot of
great websites will come up.) Also, watch the movies that were made from these
scripts. Then, re-read some (or all) of these scripts. But just don’t read
them, <i>study</i> them. By this point in time, you should have absorbed enough
information to give you a good push toward starting your first script. Finally,
sit your rear end down in a chair—and write. No, I’m not going to tell you to
write an outline (more on this later), and I’m not going to tell you to write
on a computer, or with pen and pad. Some things you’ll have to figure out
for yourself. Trial and error. Learn from your mistakes. Discover what works
for you and what doesn’t for you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">DO THE WORK. It’s the only way you’ll
truly learn.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Next, you need to slog your way through
the first draft of a script. Any script. Any genre. Just get that first draft
done. Don’t worry about getting it perfect. (As a famous writer once said,
“Don’t get it right, just write.”)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">When this draft is completed, give it
to three or four trusted, intelligent friends and get some opinions. Find out
what worked for them and what didn’t.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Did any scenes drag on too long?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Was the dialogue realistic?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Were any of the characters unrealistic or
one-dimensional?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Were they involved in the story?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Armed with this feedback, slog your way
through a rewrite. Again, how you do this is entirely up to you. Figure it out.
Some writers work only on their computer. Some, as I do, always print a clean
copy of their script and attack it with a red pen, then transfer the changes on
the computer version. Maybe this process will work for you and maybe it
won’t—but that’s for you to discover. That’s what screenwriting is all
about—discovery. No two screenwriters have the exact same method. Whatever
works. Don’t get it in your head that you’re writing your first script with the
intent to sell it. The chances of selling any script ain’t high and the chances
of selling the first script you ever write are...well, virtually nil. First
scripts are for learning purposes only. It could take 2, 3, 6, 8, 10 scripts
before you write one that’s saleable. Chances are pretty decent that you’ll
NEVER write a saleable screenplay. Screenwriting is both an art and a craft and
not everyone is equipped to be an artist or a craftsman. I wish I could draw
pictures, but I can’t. I can barely scratch out a decent stick figure. But
that’s life. Problem is, screenwriting has become the new sporting event and
everyone’s jumping onto the field. Everyone’s got a computer, everyone can get
a scriptwriting program, and everyone has seen a movie and said, “I could write
a better movie than that!” Can you?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, give this screenwriting thing your
best shot—work your rear end off and write, write, write...and see where your
journey takes you.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Q: How long should it take me to write
a feature-length screenplay?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A: Somebody once said, "It takes
as long as it takes—and not a moment longer." For the most part, I’d
agree. But, if you're taking two years to complete just one screenplay, I think
there's a problem. (However, if you've turned out something akin to <i>Gone
with the Wind </i>or<i> Raiders of the Lost Ark</i>, at the end of those two
years, then it was time very well spent!) Also, if you're writing a spec that
nobody is actually waiting to read, then taking your sweet time is fine. But,
if you get an assignment (i.e., work-for-hire) and if a producer gives you a
deadline to meet ("I need the new draft by <st1:time hour="17" minute="0" w:st="on">5PM</st1:time> tomorrow!"), then the leisurely pace you've
established for yourself will be unacceptable. So, the upshot here is that it’s
good to be able to work <i>quickly</i> and <i>efficiently</i>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Q: Should I outline my script before
starting the actual screenplay?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">A: I’m sure you’ve heard it a bazillion
times before, but I’ll say it again here: It’s like going on a cross-country
trip without a road map. You might—might—end up at the intended destination,
but with the map, you’ll save yourself a lot of gas (not to mention headaches).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">Over the last several years, I’ve had
numerous conversations with first-time writers, and many have said, “I’m stuck
on page thirty and don’t know where to go.” I’ll ask them, “You didn’t outline
your script, did you?” Nope, not one of them did. That’s what happens. You get
this great idea, you come up with a solid start, maybe a bit of the second act,
then—BLURP—it just falls apart.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">As far as I’m concerned, outlining is
where the real work comes in. It’s where you test-drive the story and determine
if it’ll all work. It’s where you work out all the pivotal details, where you
track characters, where you plot the twists and turns. It’s where you work out
the subplots and get a feel for timing and flow.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">So, yeah, I feel outlining is an
integral part of the screenwriting process and I wouldn’t start any script
without some type of semi-detailed outline.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">I always hear people say, “But if I
write an outline, it stifles my creativity.” I’m not sure I understand this.
The outline is where you’re supposed to explore your creativity! Go crazy, try
things, see what’s gonna work. Believe me, it’s far less aggravating making
those inevitable storyline changes and reworking those twists and turns in a
20-page outline, than in a 110-page screenplay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">But go ahead, write your script without
the outline, and see if you can get across the finish line with a coherent
story. It’s very possible that you can. However, if you get in the general
vicinity of page 30 and say, “Um, now what do I do now?” you might want to
consider an outline. (Search this blog for “The Outlining
Process.”)</span><span style="font-family: "garamond" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;">MORE Q & A TO COME...SOON!!</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disclosure: The links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost
to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p>
<o:p><span style="font-family: "trebuchet ms" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A great summer read!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"A sexy Hollywood tale!"</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1508650748&asins=1508650748&linkId=36a9c19009846cbb96146688183a7141&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></font></p>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Q & A: The Working Screenwriter </i>by Jim Vines! Interviews with 16 working screenwriters! </span><br />
<br />
<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1425968465&asins=1425968465&linkId=63c2c63176ae3fc3202ae23d4ee53fdf&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
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<br />Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-85801057917780402832018-08-25T15:21:00.000-07:002018-09-28T01:03:52.837-07:00Questions about screenwriting??<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Do you have questions about the art, craft and business of screenwriting? If so, let me know and I'll post my answers here on my blog. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Should I accept a "dollar option" deal?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Are screenplay competitions "the" route to success?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">My screenplay is 150 pages--can I still sell it?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Do I REALLY need an agent or manager to sell my script?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-large;"><br />
</span> <span style="font-size: x-large;">Pose questions in the comments section below or email me at TheWorkingScreenwriter(at)yahoo.com.</span></div>
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No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span> <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1508650748&asins=1508650748&linkId=36a9c19009846cbb96146688183a7141&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></font></p>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-12191537668730251472018-07-08T00:49:00.000-07:002018-09-28T01:06:53.435-07:00WHO NEEDS A SCRIPT CRITIQUE?<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I'll be starting a new assignment later this month and I'm lookin' to fill my time doing some critiques. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If YOU need a critique on your latest screenplay, I hope you'll get in touch. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can do a BASIC critique or an IN-DEPTH critique. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Get in touch via email and I'll provide more details and pricing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thanks, </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jim</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">TheWorkingScreenwriter(at)Yahoo.com</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
"A great summer read!"<br />
"A sexy Hollywood tale!"<br />
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"<br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"></span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1508650748&asins=1508650748&linkId=36a9c19009846cbb96146688183a7141&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></font></p>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-87325505053432238012017-12-16T21:39:00.000-08:002017-12-16T21:39:14.925-08:00Some "Susie's Beast" news...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">A short film I wrote recently won a nice little award </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">at Film Slam. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Congratulations to </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">director Chris Williamson and </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">his cast and crew!</span></div>
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No witches, warlocks or vampires...<br />
just a sexy tale about a guy trying to live the Hollywood dream...</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Luigis-Chinese-Delicatessen-Jim-Vines/dp/1508650748/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1446366114&sr=1-1&keywords=jim+vines">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a> by Jim Vines<br />
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-58894919904188199542017-12-16T14:48:00.001-08:002018-09-28T01:33:50.545-07:00BOOK REVIEW: Constructing a Story by Yves Lavandier<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://www.clown-enfant.com/leclown/shop/category.php?pageid=8" target="_blank">Constructing a Story</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">I sat down with <i>Constructing a Story</i> with a bit of trepidation. But days
later, when I turned </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">that final page and set the book down, my first thought
was, “This is one humdinger of a book </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">and no self-respecting screenwriter or
novelist should fail to keep a copy within arm’s reach of </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">their writing desk.”
Seriously, this is a good one. Character arcs, inciting incidents, tropes,
“Motivations, subgoals…,” The first/second act transition,” “Major dramatic
ironies,” </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">“Protagonist objective/obstacles,” and so much more…it’s all there.
This isn’t a heavy, dryly </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">written book that you slog through. No, it’s written
in a breezy, conversational style and you’ll </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">blaze through its pages. So before
you write your next screenplay or novel or short story, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">whatever your level of
experience, you’ll want to read <i>Constructing
a Story</i> by Yves Lavandier.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Order your copy from the publisher's online <a href="http://www.clown-enfant.com/leclown/shop/category.php?pageid=8" target="_blank">shop</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">You can also order from <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Constructing-Story-Yves-Lavandier/dp/2910606147/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1513464251&sr=1-1&keywords=constructing+a+story" target="_blank">Amazon.com</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span></div>
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"A great summer read!"</div>
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"A sexy Hollywood tale!"</div>
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"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"</div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-16569775907880306912017-11-05T01:27:00.000-07:002018-09-28T02:15:09.542-07:00Q&A with Screenwriter/Author Rich Whiteside...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSn1nE8jMRil2a3RUBVs5vF4nl10Q6Tuse0mk2D28VkXIBmn9aGHJI0jHBZt7oTjqkWb3SihGWnksPAzypIYDlS9wYk9NWEHPZL9UGMuw0-VQRi7sFczESzvpgneiSShZbCu3B58o_X0/s1600/Rich+head+shot+red+shirt.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1600" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwSn1nE8jMRil2a3RUBVs5vF4nl10Q6Tuse0mk2D28VkXIBmn9aGHJI0jHBZt7oTjqkWb3SihGWnksPAzypIYDlS9wYk9NWEHPZL9UGMuw0-VQRi7sFczESzvpgneiSShZbCu3B58o_X0/s320/Rich+head+shot+red+shirt.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Quick-Start-Development-Networking-ebook/dp/B0759S2475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1509094807&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriting+quick+start" target="_blank">Rich Whiteside</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
So, Rich, tell us about yourself—and why you wrote <i>The Screenwriting Quick Start.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
<i>The Screenwriting Quick Start</i> is
written for those new to screenwriting and is based on twenty-eight years of
uniquely-broad Hollywood experiences. I’ve been a technical and journalistic
writer for more than thirty-five years. I have written or co-written a couple
dozen screenplays. In 1998, Penguin Putnam published my book <i>The Screenwriting Life—</i>a look at the
world of screenwriting<i>. </i>I have
written for <i>Script </i>magazine (when it
was in print form), screenwriting newsletters and screenwriting websites.
Industrywise, I have acted on Prime-Time television shows, contributed story
elements to television shows as a subject matter expert, pitched episodic
stories, pitched series concepts to network television development executives,
pitched feature concepts to drama development executives at major studios, had
a feature script optioned and moved to production, and interviewed more than a
hundred writers, producers, directors, studio executives, agents, screenwriting
professors, and authors of popular screenwriting how-to books. I worked for
more than a decade at Paramount Pictures and CBS/Paramount in Network
Television Business Affairs and Network Television Legal. As to formal screenwriting
training, I completed three years in the UCLA Advanced Professional Program in
Screenwriting and have introductory experience with the USC World Building
approach. I’ve long been an avid screenwriting student. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Over
the past twenty-eight years, I have also had a fascination with story
structuring and storytelling. My office bookshelves are filled with
screenwriting and storytelling how-to books—heavily underlined, I might add—including
many lesser known books, some dating back to the start of filmmaking.<b> </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
Who best benefits from your book?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
I wrote the book primarily for vast audience of writers who are new to
screenwriting. However, there are insights that will absolutely benefit the
experienced writer. In fact, one of my test readers is a highly successful
actress-writer-producer with pages of credits. When she read the chapters on
Politics and Development, she discovered insight about how TV development works
that she never knew. And those insights helped her make sense about why several
deals went south. She told me that had she known what she learned in my book
before going into those negotiations, it would have helped her tremendously. What
I cover in this book I have not found covered well in any other book or
publication. For example, I don’t know anyone who has talked about the
prime-time major network TV year. In network television, there is a distinct TV
year that begins and ends with the Up Fronts in mid-May. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The
major seasons are pitching season, pilot writing season, and pilot production
season. Then for running TV shows, there is a period for season development
(plotting out the overall arc for the year), staffing season (when the show
rehires staff, replaces staff and brings on an entry-level staff writer), and then
the episodic writing and producing. And within each of these seasons there are
a lot of moving parts that overlap and are interdependent. Understanding the
vagaries of all this helps those who are struggling to break in. Understanding
the system helps eliminate some of the frustrations by informing the writer
when it is ideal to expend certain effort and when not to waste your time. For
example, if you try to pitch a new pilot idea during pilot producing season
(January to May), you are wasting your time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
Why aren’t they taking pitches during pilot producing season?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
The simple answer is that each network has a designated pot of money to pay for
a pilot to be written. Once they have expended that pot, there is no need to
take any more pitches because there is no money to pay for the writing. In
general, pilots are pitched starting as early as June; pilot script orders
could be handed out as early as then, but generally not until a bit later.
Then, usually, by November all the major networks have handed out their
allotment of pilot writing monies. After that, unless a studio is willing to
pay for a script to be written, pitching season is over. When I worked at
Paramount Network Television Business Affairs, the studio rarely paid for a
pilot script, but it did happen. So, if you are a struggling writer and you are
out there pounding on doors from November to May, they’re not going to open.
I’d recommend they put their effort into something else to further develop
their skills.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Now,
all this only applies to prime-time, major networks. Today, there are many
other episodic platforms, such as, Netflix, Amazon, and all the non-major
network channels. I can’t speak too much about development seasons in these avenues
because I have little experience with them. But I can tell a writer to not go
after pitching to major networks outside of their pitching season. Instead,
maybe invest time into finding ways to reach out to the other venues.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
Is there anything unique or new to the world of screenwriting how-to books?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
Yes. Since 1989, I have invested thousands upon thousands of hours into
studying nearly all the major story structuring and storytelling how-to books
and programs. I also completed three years in UCLA’s Advanced Professional
Program in Screenwriting and have taken classes on USC’s World Building
approach. Also, over the years, I have helped new writers get a screenwriting
start. As I looked back through all this experience, I realized writers pretty
much fit into one of three groups when it comes to a structuring approach that
best suits them. I also posit that the greatest value of any structuring approach
is its ability to motivate the writer to start writing and keep writing. The
only way to grow as a writer is to write. Structure books have little value if
they fail to help the new writer start and keep on writing. I think that what I
have added that is new is my belief that writers can be divided into one of
three groups and then directed to structuring approaches that best fits their
writing style.<sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
I looked back through all that I had learned and experienced, I realized that
writers tend to fall into one of three groups (what I refer to as the three
lanes in the structuring road): those who want the least amount of handholding,
those who want some handholding, and those who want a lot of handholding. I
believe that those who want the least handholding work best when given the
basics and then are left alone. For this group, I’d suggest an Aristotelian
approach—basically, Aristotle’s beginning, middle and end teaching. For those
who want a little more handholding, I’d recommend a scene sequencing approach. This
is the concept that stories can be broken down into a sequence of small stories
that build to tell a larger story. In that approach, the writer identifies the
sequences and then writes each short story—and each sequence will have its own
beginning, middle, and end. And for those who need the most handholding, I’d recommend
a roadmap approach. And in my book, I describe the basics of each of these
approaches and recommend some books that I like.<sub><o:p></o:p></sub></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This
is not to put down any one of these approaches because each approach has generated a major hit. Again, keep in mind that the greatest value of any of
these approaches is its ability to get a writer writing and to keep them
writing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
I see you have a section on Commonly Debated Topics. What’s that about?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
I’m sure you can relate to this. How many times have you weighed in on
questions posted online about theme that led to endless arguments over
definitions of theme, premise, moral and message? Probably more than you want
to admit. I have a chapter that lays out the basic conflicting points of view
in the most often posted questions. I tried to be more of a journalist in this
section and present the different points of view. I suggest to my readers that
they read this chapter and then skip over all those online posts because they
all end up as nothing more than angry back-and-forth exchanges. I’m convinced
that most of those posters don’t really care to learn, they merely want to
start threads that bring out bickering. I have wasted too many hours on these
arguments when I could’ve been working on productive writing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Q:
How important is goalsetting?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
I think it’s critical. The people I’ve met who do not have short-term and
long-term goals tend to wait for inspiration that rarely comes. Without a
disciplined plan, too many aspiring writers fall into the trap of writing only
when inspiration and free time hit them—which is not often enough to grow and
turn out enough product to launch a career. Goalsetting is a critical element
of accomplishment. I wrote this short chapter to recommend that writers craft a
plan for education, writing, and networking. I believe that a disciplined
routine is the best way to succeed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
Do you need to understand Hollywood politics before venturing in—or can you
wing it and succeed?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
No, but understanding how the system works will very likely help avoid wasting
time and running down rabbit trails. It can also give you a level of comfort to
know how the system grinds. Most things are out of your control. Understand and
accept this and do what has the potential to move the needle forward for you.
Accept the fact that, compared to the numbers who are trying, exceedingly few
will sell a script or get staffed. So don’t waste time worrying about what you
can’t control. Learn what you can control and do all that you can to become one
of those few. Have a day job and invest time into writing, networking, and
everything else that has the potential to open doors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Q:
How does TV development differ from feature development?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A:
In short, TV development last for that year only. At the end of the TV year,
99% of that year’s unproduced deals are dead and put in storage, and the TV
year starts out afresh. At the top of the year, networks are deciding what
pitches they are open to and what ideas they are not interested in hearing.
That is passed to the studios and agencies and pitching season begins. When a
pilot concept moves into development, the studio development exec works with
the writer(s) on the pitch. If a network likes a pitch and places a script
order, the writer must address notes from the studio development exec as well as
network notes. Then you wait to see if it gets a pilot order. If it doesn’t,
that’s pretty much the end of the line.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In
feature development, scripts can flounder in development hell for years or
decades as the production company works to get a draft that has the potential
to reach the demographics they need to meet to realize the predicted sales
necessary to justify production and turn a profit. In the mix are bean counters
who estimate what revenues can be expected to come in and what markets the
story will work well in and which markets will it not work well in. From that,
the studio may choose to give notes to the writer to address market weaknesses.
This is where scripts can be improved or, frankly, fall apart. We’ve all see
movies after which you wonder how the hell something so convoluted got made. I
blame the bean counters and production execs trying to force a round peg into a
square hole. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Feature
development seems to be more about finding a vision that the production company
will get behind and fund producing. For big budget movies, it’s also about
locking down A-list talent (directors, actors, producers, etc.). Feature
production is more like a putting together a jigsaw puzzle. Again, you can make
better decisions the better you understand how the system works. <i>The Screenwriting Quick Start</i> provides
a foundational understanding for those just starting down the Hollywood rabbit
trail.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Buy it on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Screenwriting-Quick-Start-Development-Networking-ebook/dp/B0759S2475/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1509094807&sr=1-1&keywords=the+screenwriting+quick+start" target="_blank">Amazon</a> today!</div>
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# # #<br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
"A great summer read!"<br />
"A sexy Hollywood tale!"<br />
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out my book, <i>Q & A: The Working Screenwriter</i>! Interviews with 16 working screenwriters! </span></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-33555812668721499402017-10-20T19:20:00.000-07:002017-10-20T19:20:01.618-07:00"The Words"...<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>There’s this glorious and astounding magic that happens when I put pen to paper or fingertips to keyboard...</i></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-kYCL-MaLJWWNYojhCR1Sym2_szfaFIySrw_3daES4taf52EsOkgi2tpsa-ajjbwpdy_73sSd2QugXsH4yvMzN3GWucAe5oHL2R66HRieUs0S5hl4kDFq7-tLEHE4IGR6ZG24NV7oKaR/s1600/%25237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-kYCL-MaLJWWNYojhCR1Sym2_szfaFIySrw_3daES4taf52EsOkgi2tpsa-ajjbwpdy_73sSd2QugXsH4yvMzN3GWucAe5oHL2R66HRieUs0S5hl4kDFq7-tLEHE4IGR6ZG24NV7oKaR/s1600/%25237.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="691" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6-kYCL-MaLJWWNYojhCR1Sym2_szfaFIySrw_3daES4taf52EsOkgi2tpsa-ajjbwpdy_73sSd2QugXsH4yvMzN3GWucAe5oHL2R66HRieUs0S5hl4kDFq7-tLEHE4IGR6ZG24NV7oKaR/s320/%25237.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>I go to this alternate realm of consciousness.</i> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>It’s where I meet characters who speak to me, who take me to interesting places, and who introduce me to compelling situations.</i> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>I’m not certain where any of this comes from because none of it was there when I sat down, when I was convinced I didn’t have any words in me.</i></span></b><b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"> </span></b></div>
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<b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>But still, it's all there.</i> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>So even when the thought of a blank page makes me feel a little queasy, I force myself into that chair anyway...</i> </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>...and it's after a minute or two of laying down those once elusive words that I have to wonder what all the fuss was about. </i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>The words come...<o:p></o:p></i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "courier new"; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 18.4px;"><i>...they always do.</i></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;">Copyright <span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">© </span>2017 by Jim Vines</span></b></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-36119223483308172532017-06-03T01:28:00.000-07:002018-09-28T21:55:26.266-07:00Q & A with...Mark Sanderson<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu7BjmkSFwAwU2VtAI0e5VLiJ7OHoy2rwtiB8jaMlb0rRB2-8wuY4z15cGk1mza2KQjioxE_JndaxndKr3NIxadxAK9njnWd6cmKLIyhXcIUpOyGP4bUWFgFA2FPSjEKj62uZ174S3kU/s1600/Mark+pic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1339" data-original-width="896" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFu7BjmkSFwAwU2VtAI0e5VLiJ7OHoy2rwtiB8jaMlb0rRB2-8wuY4z15cGk1mza2KQjioxE_JndaxndKr3NIxadxAK9njnWd6cmKLIyhXcIUpOyGP4bUWFgFA2FPSjEKj62uZ174S3kU/s200/Mark+pic.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.fiveoclockblue.net/" target="_blank">Mark Sanderson</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: So, Mark…what influenced you to become a screenwriter?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: My interest to become a screenwriter and filmmaker started when I was
just eleven years old. My childhood best friend, Matt Reeves (director of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Cloverfield</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Dawn of the Planet of
the Apes</i>, and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">War
for the Planet of the Apes</i>), received an 8 mm film camera from his grandpa,
and it’s the event that sparked our passion to become filmmakers. We started
making short films, writing screenplays, and became part of a collective group
of pre-teen filmmakers on the Westside of Los Angeles that included J.J. Abrams
(<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Star Wars Episode
VII</i>) and Larry Fong (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Watchmen</i>, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Kong: Skull Island</i>).
It culminated with a big screening at the historical Nuart Theater here in Los
Angeles. The sold-out screenings even garnered a feature article in the <i>L.A.
Times</i> and showed Hollywood that we were serious about our craft—even as
teenagers. I continued to write and direct my own films throughout my high
school years and then when I attended UCLA Film School. Screenwriting has been
a huge part of my life, and I was blessed from an early age to be able to
pursue my dream of being a filmmaker.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: How-to books: a help or hindrance?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: Well, considering that I just published one on Amazon—they’re a help! My
new book, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">A
Screenwriter’s Journey to Success: Tips, Tricks and Tactics to Survive as a
Working Screenwriter in Hollywood</i> is the culmination of my past twenty
years working professionally in Hollywood. My desire is to help aspirants by
offering my advice so they can avoid some of the nasty pitfalls that can hinder
many screenwriters from realizing their dreams. I think that all aspirants
should read the well-known books like Blake Snyder’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Save the Cat</i>,
John Truby’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The
Anatomy of Story</i>, and Robert McKee’s <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Story</i>, but also
read screenwriting blogs and as much as you can from other successful
screenwriters about the craft and the journey. Be warned—you shouldn’t think
it’s as easy as following one screenwriting formula and you’ll end up with a
fantastic screenplay. As they say, you have to know the rules before you can
break them. There’s so much more involved in the craft than a simple
storytelling formula. Study the various storytelling techniques and use what
you agree with, and discard the rest. Over time and with experience, you’ll
form a style that’s uniquely your own and influenced by those you admire.
That’s my recommendation. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: What is a “marketable” screenplay?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: It’s a viable screenplay ready to go out into the marketplace that could
be purchased by a producer or company based upon its high concept and near
perfect execution of that idea. It’s also written in a genre that sells or is
in demand today in Hollywood. The screenplay must reach the largest audience
possible to have a return on its budget. Every film has investors and a lot of
money rides on the success of the final product. Remember, Hollywood is running
a business and not a charity. You want all of your screenplays to be marketable
to compete in a very competitive industry. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: What are five big blunders most neophyte screenwriters make with their
early scripts?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: 1.) They don’t respect the craft enough and believe that one screenplay
will jump-start their career. If you don’t even know proper format, how is
anyone going to take you seriously as a screenwriter.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">2.) Before they commit to an idea, they don’t consider “why” they are
writing their particular story or who their audience is. “I thought it would be
a good idea for a movie” isn’t enough these days. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">3.) They don’t create a solid story treatment before starting to write
pages. When they reach ACT 2, they get lost and their story collapses.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">4.) They believe that every screenplay they write is going to sell for
a million dollars. The truth is that most of what you write is not going to
sell. If it opens a door or lands you a job—that’s success.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">5.) They eagerly rush through their script and present it to Hollywood
before it’s ready. This will harm the project and your reputation as a
professional.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: Before querying agents, managers, and/or producers, how many marketable
screenplays should a screenwriter have available—and why?</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: I would have three solid screenplays ready before you ever go out with
just one. I’ve seen writers who finish their first screenplay, think it’s
amazing, and start approaching agents. It’s too early. Agents and managers want
to see that you have a solid body of work that shows your talent but also shows
your serious attitude about a career. After you go out with a script and it
gets you meetings, you will need a follow up project and new pitch ideas. It’s
going to take maybe three or four scripts (with many drafts of each) just to
get a handle on the craft. The worst decision you can make it to approach the
industry before you are ready. The competition is too intense and you’ll get
eaten alive. In addition, you’ll waste the precious time of those who agree to
read your script and it’s probably not ready to compete professionally.
Aspirants need to learn and practice patience. This is not a sprint, but a long
haul marathon to reach any level of success.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: Are screenwriting competitions—e.g., Nicholl, Austin, and BlueCat—the
magic bullet for a budding screenwriter’s career? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: No, just because you win or place in a contest does not mean you will
instantly sell scripts and have a career. What the competitions offer is a
fantastic way of getting noticed and then it’s much easier to get agents,
managers, and producers to read your work. Consider the competitions as another
tool in your arsenal to open doors in Hollywood. Back in the day before I was a
working screenwriter, I entered my script in the prestigious Academy’s Nicholl
Fellowship with the hopes of winning one of the yearlong fellowships. My script
ended up being a semi-finalist, placing in the top 1% of all entries as a top
twenty screenplay out of thousands entered worldwide, but they picked the top
nine writers for the fellowship that year. I could have looked upon this as a
complete failure, but I used my script’s advanced placement as a successful
step forward and was able to get agents and producers to read it because of my
achievement. A year later, I sold my script as my first spec sale. The film was
produced and later opened the Palm Springs International Film Festival,
premiered on cable TV in the US, and was distributed worldwide. So, yes—if you
can win or place in the competitions, it can certainly help your screenwriting
career. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: Just because you have an agent and/or a manger, that doesn’t mean the
writing gigs will come flooding in. How much truth is there in that
statement? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: There is a <em>lot</em> of truth to that statement. It’s vital to eventually sign
with an agent or manger to establish a career, but even then you have no
guarantees. You will be competing with other professional writers, sometimes
going after the same jobs, and the clock will be ticking for your rep to secure
you employment. If you go out with two or three scripts that do not sell or
land you assignment work, the agency might grow cool and drop you as a client.
Agents or managers survive on their commissions from clients and rarely look to
“break in” an unknown writer—it’s just too much work. They also look for a
client who is a talented workhorse and ultimate professional. They don’t want
any surprises once you secure a job and then your attitude or inability to execute
notes gets you fired. I’ve had agents in the past who I thought were working
daily for my best interests, but I later found out they were not. The key is to
come with a solid body of work or job offers that you’ve found before you
solicit an agent or manager.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Q: Actually getting out and meeting people in the film community face to
face and getting them to read your scripts—as opposed to posting loglines
and/or scripts on sites such as InkTip—is one of the best ways to launch a
screenwriting career. What are your thoughts on this? </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">A: I think a combination of both is a good plan. I’ve always secured jobs
from the contacts that I’ve personally made and not from an agent or manager’s
efforts. These personal relationships that you form and the networking that
comes from face to face meetings is vital to your success. It’s all about
timing, having a viable project that someone wants to produce, and being ready
when an opportunity crosses your path. That’s why it’s important to live in or
near Hollywood, close to the action, where you can meet people in the film
community every day. You also need to surround yourself with like-minded
people, establish good contacts, but also be a good contact yourself. If you
want your film industry relationships to last, they can’t be one-sided. Help
others who deserve your time and remember those who helped you. While you’re
networking in person, you can also post your projects on the sites like InkTip.
They are a good way to have your scripts or pitches out there in the marketplace,
but it’s a still numbers game to be seen by the right producer who wants to
make your film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark
Sanderson (aka @Scriptcat) is a Los Angeles based screenwriter, author, script
consultant, and sometimes actor blessed to be living his childhood dream
of making movies with thirty-three screenplays written in genres ranging
from comedy to drama. His work includes writing sketch comedy and
performing as founding member of<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>The
Amazing Onionheads</i>, writing for MTV, his spec sale, and seventeen
screenplay assignments with television premieres and worldwide
distribution of his nine emotionally compelling films—the WWII
indie feature<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>I’ll
Remember April</i>, Lifetime Network's holiday films<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>An Accidental Christmas</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>and<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Deck
the Halls</i>, the stylish indie noir feature<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Stingers</i>, action-packed
thrillers<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>USS Poseidon:
Phantom Below </i>(aka HereTV's <i>Tides of War</i>) and SyFy
Network's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Sea Snakes</i><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>(aka Fox's<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Silent Venom</i>), LMN's <i>Mother
of All Lies</i>, last year’s highly-rated Lifetime thriller<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Mommy's Little Girl</i>, and his
new movie<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>Fatal Mistakes.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark's films
have premiered on Lifetime Network, LMN, SyFy, Fox, HereTV, HBO
Canada, Christmas 24, and NBC/Universal and have been distributed
globally. His films have also been recognized at festivals including
a premiere and opening the Palm Springs Int. Film Festival, premieres
at the Hawaii Int. Film Festival, St. Louis Int. Film Festival, The
Rainbow Festival in Hawaii, Newport Beach Int. Film Festival, Fort
Lauderdale Int. Festival, and nominated for the Starboy award at the
Oulu Int. Children's Film Festival in Finland.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark’s long
association with award winning Hollywood filmmakers dates back to his
first produced screenplay and has since worked with Academy Award® winning
producers, veteran directors, and has written films starring Academy Award®,
Golden Globe®, and Emmy® nominated actors.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Mark has five
projects in development including among others the sci-fi TV series <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<em><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Paranormal
X</span></em><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"> with director Dan
Harris and producer Mark Harris (<em>Crash</em>), and the web-series<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><em>Tribulations</em><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>with director Joe Palese. Mark's new
book, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/151730945X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1489184844&sr=1-1&keywords=mark+sanderson"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">A Screenwriter’s Journey to Success</span></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">, is now available on Amazon. He was
also named one of Screencraft’s “25 People Screenwriters Should Follow
on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/scriptcat"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">Twitter</span></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">.” Check
out his popular screenwriting blog<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="https://scriptcat.wordpress.com/"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">MY BLANK
PAGE</span></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">, picked by <em>Script
Magazine</em> as "Website of the Week," and he offers screenplay
consulting/editing services, workshops, and webinars<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><a href="http://www.fiveoclockblue.net/"><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;">here</span></a><span style="font-size: 13.5pt;"><a href="http://www.fiveoclockblue.net/">.</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Mark Sanderson interviews ME! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Read it on his screenwriting <a href="https://scriptcat.wordpress.com/?s=jim+vines" target="_blank">blog</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disclosure: The links contained on this page are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost
to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">Get Mark's book here!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: medium;">No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just a sexy, rollicking story about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
"A great summer read!"<br />
"A sexy Hollywood tale!"<br />
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"<br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out my book, <i>Q & A: The Working Screenwriter</i>! Interviews with 16 working screenwriters! </span></div>
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</span>Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-39327274695729265292017-04-20T21:37:00.000-07:002019-05-11T11:11:56.912-07:00"Hollywood Lunch"<div id="yiv4575130425yui_3_16_0_ym19_1_1498891833081_2269" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0pt; text-indent: 0.5in;">
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I heard a quote recently that really
struck a chord with me. It goes like this: “In Hollywood, if somebody takes you
out to lunch, enjoy the lunch.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">What exactly does that mean?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">It means the manager, agent,
producer, or director taking you out to lunch is going to blow smoke up your
rear end. It means they’re going to make all sorts of promises. It means
they’re going to paint a glowingly rosy picture about things—your project, your
career, whatever—when things, in reality, aren’t quite that rosy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">I know this all sounds a bit harsh,
perhaps even a bit grim—but hey, welcome to Hollywood. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Bon appétit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> — Jim Vines</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Check out my book, <i>Q & A: The Working Screenwriter</i>! </span></div>
<div style="text-indent: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Interviews with 16 working screenwriters! </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ac&ref=tf_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=jvblog63-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=1425968465&asins=1425968465&linkId=63c2c63176ae3fc3202ae23d4ee53fdf&show_border=false&link_opens_in_new_window=false&price_color=333333&title_color=0066c0&bg_color=ffffff" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></p>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-56483843161268606562017-01-28T14:55:00.002-08:002018-09-28T21:57:09.263-07:00Script-selling services: Yay or Nay?<div style="text-align: center;">
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It sickens me whenever I hear of a novice writer asking
about script-selling services such as Scriptblaster and InkTip. I see these
writers throwing away their hard-earned cash. Sorry, but this is not how you
sell (or option) a screenplay. So, how DO you sell a screenplay? You do it by
getting involved in the film community, meeting people face to face, impressing
them with your intelligence and your writing talent. People in Hollywood (or
whatever film hub you're targeting) want to work with people they know and
like. Virtually all of the sales, options and assignments I've racked up over
the years have been a direct result of PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS. This, friends,
is where you should put your time, energy, and money. <o:p></o:p></div>
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OK, I know, you don't live anywhere near Hollywood, right?
So get on a plane and come visit for a week or two. (But don't come here until
you've set up some meetings and/or some film-related events here in town.) Come
here and meet people, schmooze, and strike up lively conversations. Yes, have
some scripts and synopses on hand...just in case. But most of all: MAKE
CONNECTIONS. <o:p></o:p></div>
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How did I sell my first screenplay? Good question and thanks
for asking! Well, I had met this producer who was looking for thriller scripts.
I sent him one. He liked it but it wasn't something he could sell at that time.
He called me a year later, said he needed a script...and was I interested. Yes,
I was. So I wrote it. Three weeks after I turned in my submission draft, he
sold it to the prodco. Why did I get the gig? I got it because this producer
knew me, liked me, and liked my writing. This...THIS…is how you launch a career
and sell/option scripts. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Face to face connections and personal relationships.
Remember that.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disclosure: The link below/is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost
to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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No witches, no warlocks, no vampires. Just
a sexy, rollicking tale about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.<o:p></o:p></div>
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"A great
summer read!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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" A sexy
Hollywood tale!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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"It's WHAT
MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"<o:p></o:p></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-62791850341971264732016-12-19T12:55:00.000-08:002016-12-19T12:55:45.845-08:00SUSIE'S BEAST promo (12/16)...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">It
seems movies these days are only about superheroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And
superheroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">And,
oh yeah, superheroes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hey,
there’s nothing wrong with a superhero movie.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">But
isn’t it time for some good old-fashioned HORROR?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Yes,
yes, it’s time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman" , "serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">SUSIE’S
BEAST is coming to sink its teeth into your flesh…soon.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Directed by Chris Williamson</div>
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Written by Jim Vines</div>
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Produced by Wilfredo Aqueron</div>
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Cinematography by Ryan Dean</div>
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Visit the SUSIE'S BEAST fan page on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/susiesbeast/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>!</div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-36714963246639470112016-11-21T00:40:00.004-08:002016-11-21T00:40:58.733-08:00That's a wrap!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>It lives. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>It lurks. </b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>It waits.</b></span></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yes, yes, it waits.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>(Photo by Jana Henry)</b></span></div>
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</span>Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-12753069954218396592016-11-10T02:39:00.000-08:002016-11-10T02:39:30.662-08:00Wow, has it really been almost 10 years??<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for visiting my blog...which I've had for nearly 10 years! I do hope you'll stick around a while, check things out. I've got a ton of great info here, including interviews with working writers, budding writers, and lit agents; also useful nuts-and-bolts information on getting a marketable screenplay written, as well as my personal insights into being a working writer in Los Angeles. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">And while I have your attention...</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Check out my novel <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Luigis-Chinese-Delicatessen-Jim-Vines-ebook/dp/B00VGTNR2M/ref=sr_1_1_twi_kin_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478771771&sr=1-1&keywords=jim+vines" target="_blank">Luigi's Chinese Delicatessen</a>. You'll love it cuz it's all about a young guy trying to make his mark as a screenwriter in Hollywood. It's a sexy, rollicking tale!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also check out <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Working-Screenwriter-Trenches-Perspective-Industry/dp/1425968465/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1478772069&sr=1-4&keywords=jim+vines" target="_blank">Q & A: The Working-Screenwriter - An In-the-Trenches Perspective of Writing Movies In Today's Film Industry</a>. In this book I interview 16 working scribes, including Stephen Susco (<i>The Grudge</i>), Brent Maddock (<i>Shirt Circuit</i>, <i>Tremors</i>), John Rogers (<i>The Core</i>), and David J. Schow (<i>The Crow</i>). These talented wordsmiths give first-hand insight into why they write, what keeps them motivated, and how they got their scripts written. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Come visit my "creative page" on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/jimvinespresents/" target="_blank">Facebook</a>! (You'll find some of my photography, a bit of my writing, the latest news about the production of my short horror script <i>Susie's Beast...</i>and so much more!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Come visit my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuvmJG1XQAw_eaGFxtR1_kg" target="_blank">YouTube</a> channel! (You'll find lots of fun stuff there, including clips from TV shows I did while attending Beverly Hills High School back in the late '70's! There's even a 1981 clip of yours truly presenting young Nicolas Cage with his first acting award!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Follow me on <a href="https://twitter.com/WriterJimVines" target="_blank">Twitter</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Thanks for (nearly) ten years of support! -- Jim</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-11145398497717579792016-05-13T18:09:00.001-07:002016-05-13T18:09:29.507-07:00From Screencraft: What you need to know about agents and managers...<br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Here's a solid article every screenwriter<span style="line-height: 115%;">—</span><i>especially</i> the pre-pro screenwriter<span style="line-height: 115%;">—</span>should read.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://screencraft.org/2016/05/11/everything-need-know-agents-managers/" target="_blank">Everything Screenwriters Need to Know About Agents and Managers</a></span></div>
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7571493334447630940.post-39008081256586081652016-02-18T12:47:00.000-08:002018-09-28T22:00:17.316-07:00Quote of the day...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">“Being a screenwriter
is easy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">It’s like riding a
bike,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">except the bike is on
fire,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">you’re on fire,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">everything is on fire,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">and you’re in hell.”</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">(So true, eh?)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Disclosure: The link below is an affiliate link, meaning, at no additional cost
to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Just a sexy, rollicking tale about a guy trying to hit it big in Hollywood.<br />
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" A sexy Hollywood tale!"<br />
"It's WHAT MAKES SAMMY RUN for the 21st century!"<br />
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Jim Vineshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03916150948362587451noreply@blogger.com0