Put Your Best Foot Forward, Please! Yeah, so your eyes probably glazed over when you read that headline. Formatting… ugh… so boring! Right? Unfortunately, it’s also important. Because it’s the first thing a reader will notice when they open your file. If the formatting is off, you’ll immediately be judged as an amateur, and it…
What the heck is “voice”? Do I need it? Can I buy a bag at Costco? Read on… By Jim Cirile You’d probably guess that we read a fair amount of scripts here at CI. But you may not suspect how few of them display one crucial factor to help your writing grab…
When you submit a feature or pilot to an agency, manager, or producer, that script will likely be covered — or read and rated by someone at that company. They’re scored on this scale: Pass, Low Consider or Consider with Reservations, Consider, Strong Consider, or Recommend – for both Script and for Writer. The vast…
Screenwriter Jay Adams’ affordable feature drama TITAN blew us away with its impressive dialogue and strong characterizations. An award-winning writer, Adams’ distinctive storytelling and unique perspective as a Queer creator have earned him critical acclaim and numerous accolades. “With ‘Titan,’” said Adams, “I set out to weave a family drama rich with depth and a…
One of our TikTok followers recently asked: “what does ‘out with’ mean? Example: “(x management company) is out with (x script).” Great question! When an agent or manager “takes out” or is “out with” a script or pilot, that means they are sending it out into the marketplace. Generally they’re hoping to sell it, although that…
Twenty years ago, Creative Screenwriting magazine published my article below. I thought it would be fun to revisit it and see what (if anything) has changed in the last two decades. So here’s the original piece, mostly intact. Things which are no longer relevant have been edited out, and I have added new commentary in…
Making History Her B*tch Emmy Award-winning screenwriter Gina DeAngelis is just getting started. Historic Williamsburg, Virginia-based DeAngelis has Masters in both History and Screenwriting, and to quote ZZ Top, she knows how to use ’em. Until recently, her professional writing career has been mostly “research-heavy, making a good story out of real-life events and people…
As you probably know, the Get Repped Now 5/31 deadline is approaching fast! If your screenplay or pilot scores a “consider” or better for script, it will be elevated to our manager panel and hopefully open the door to representation. Want to know the #1 reason many writers don’t land that coveted “consider”? Pedestrian dialogue. We’ve…
But I’m the writer! Only I know what it looks like in my head. That’s why I need to put it all on the page. Every camera angle, every character movement. Right? HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT Part Five: DON’T ANNOY THE DIRECTOR (You can find Part One, Two, Three, and Four…
You’ve heard this buzzword — “Contained.” Everyone seems to be looking for it. But what the actual f@#k does that even mean? HOW NOT TO SHOOT YOURSELF IN THE FOOT Part Four: CONTAIN IT (You can find Part One, Two, and Three of this series right here here and here) Basically, this means:…