Anora. Annabel. Abigail. Michael Clayton. John Wick. Marianne. Emilia Perez. What do all these titles have in common? They’re all “name” titles. And what do they tell us about the movie or show? Zero, zilch, nada. Genre? Nope. Tone? Nein. Theme? Non. Subject matter? ʻIkai. (Yeah, that last one was Tongan and we had to look…
You write because you have something to say. Yes, we get it. We all do. We all want to be heard, get our point across, and maybe even make a difference in this world. After all, the word is mightier than the sword. However, that can sometimes lead us to go overboard and we forget…
March 17th through May 31st 2025 We’ve gotten hundreds of writers read by our management panels, which has resulted in over 80 meetings, writers working with managers on developing new material, writers signed to agencies and management companies, and even a big spec sale — when manager Jake Wagner sold writer Brandon Barker’s script “Nottingham…
Psst: That screenwriter may be you Through Dec. 31, 2024, use code MERRY10 to save 10% off any gift certificate! There’s always that one person who’s pain in the butt to buy for, right? Well, if that person is a screenwriter, look no further. Santa Cheecho is here with the perfect gift for any…
There’s a whole hidden infrastructure in Hollywood devoted to tracking and scoring Open Assignments. Come get some. (Note: This article was originally published in 2019, and some of the people mentioned have moved on.) It’s not just about specs. The vast majority of a working screenwriter’s income often comes from assignments. We spoke…
Yes, we know, eyes are glazing over at the thought of yet another missive about formatting. Look, guys, you don’t want to give the gatekeepers a reason to pass on your script before they’ve even read it. And if they open the PDF and it’s clear that the author doesn’t know the difference between sheeeit…
According to the WGA, no one is supposed to write anything in Hollywood without getting paid for it. Yeah, about that… by Jim Cirile Here’s a topic that may shock those of you who hope to one day sell a spec or maybe even make a living as a screenwriter. And that is:…
What possible avenues would I have with my script in terms of pitching (contests, etc)? What do I do with it once it is awesome? One of our clients just asked these very questions and, of course, we figured many of you might be wondering the exact same thing. That’s a big question. We could…
We’re still working our way through GET REPPED NOW! submissions and have noticed a tendency for Shot Calls and Music Calls. Yes, we understand you can visualize your writing so well that you know exactly what it should look and feel and sound like. However, sometimes this tendency can hurt your material and your career….
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…
