Every day I get a tweet, Facebook message, email or text from a writer, asking me for advice. They peruse this site for the tips of talented experts who generously share their experiences with our readers. But when is it time to stop listening to the screenwriting experts? I’ve attended many lectures over the years, [...]
Recently, a blog I wrote on query letters sparked a lot of discussion in social media. As writers shared their real world query experiences, I could hear the undercurrent of frustration, even outright resentment. They were following all the “rules,” all the proffered advice, and still getting rejected. One resentful writer posted, “Producers have a [...]
When an agent or manager considers taking you on for representation, they will look to and consider your body of work to confirm or refute whether you will be the type of writer who will deliver consistently and prolifically, and provide them with the sort of clarity and focus they could sell to the development, [...]
Many beloved films have come from adaptations throughout the years. This is more common in Hollywood than you may think. Some think of using adaptations for screenplays as fodder for the “lazy writer” who couldn’t come up with an idea of his or her own. Contrary to this belief, adaptations have been prevalent among Hollywood [...]
The Scoggins Report by Jason Scoggins & Cindy Kaplan May 20, 2013 May 2013 Spec Market Scorecard Consider the following remarkable stats: There has been 24% less new material on the market so far this year than last (100 specs in 2013 vs 132 in 2012), yet there have been 10% more spec sales (44 this year vs 40 [...]
Last night, I had the good fortune of being a fly on the wall at the sort of event most aspiring writers would give plenty to attend: An afternoon for Madhouse represented writers as well as executives with the one and only Michael Hauge. Having done some work with the indelible Hauge, I had the [...]
The process of starting a screenplay can be very difficult to say the least. When writing a story you have to keep track of events, characters, locations and slip in things like character quirks and attitudes. Organization can be daunting for people like me who can’t keep track of their keys and sneakers. There are [...]
Five years ago, a good spec TV script could land you a job on staff. Now, everyone wants spec pilots. So where are the resources on how to write one? Enter William Rabkin: not only has he written and/or produced hundreds of hours of dramatic television, but he literally wrote the book on pilot writing. [...]
The Scoggins Report is a compilation of sales and trends in the industry. Archive editions can be found at The Business of Show Institute and on www.thewrap.com. Details on every person, project, and company covered by the Report can also be found at www.ItsontheGrid.com. The Report is reprinted at ScriptMag.com by permission of the authors. [...]
