Screenwriter-to-Screenwriter.com

Floating on an Ocean

Monica — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 15:13:43 +0000

This year was like floating on an ocean. At first, it seemed peaceful. Sacred, even. Not here nor there. The expanse. Then, as the chill bit and the solitude weighed, any lingering thoughts of peace flew out the window and it was like, get me the fuck out of here.

As 2011 comes to a [...]

The Seed of Your Story

Monica — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 15:13:18 +0000

I personally think in many cases the difference between a script I love and a script I’ll pass on is the emotional density of the project. When reading, do I feel deeply for the characters – does their journey make me feel? Do I laugh and cry with them or for them? Do I want [...]

Emotional Density

Monica — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 18:56:05 +0000

Many times screenplays are simply dry. They may be cleanly written, even well written to some degree. The plotting can make sense. The characters may even be charming. But they leave me feeling thirsty for more. The experience of the script feels like tissue paper – it just has no density. As a reader, I [...]

Nominations for the 83rd Academy Awards

Monica — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:59:40 +0000

Just in case you missed them, the Oscar nominations were announced for the Academy Awards earlier this week.

Here is a complete list of nominations.

2011 “Where I’m From” Short Film Contest

Monica — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 04:49:45 +0000

The 2011 “Where I’m From” Short Film Contest for the Austin Film Festival and Texas Monthly is taking submissions now.

For all you writers out there who are really directors at heart…

Click here for more details.

2011 CineStory Competition – Enter Now!!!

Monica — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 07:09:48 +0000

It’s not too late to enter the 15th Annual CineStory Screenwriting Awards.

Approximately 20 finalists and semi-finalists of this competition are invited to participate in a weekend retreat wherein writers work closely with Hollywood professionals on their material. Previous attendees have gone on to accomplish great things in entertainment. It is a really wonderful mentorship [...]

Okay, Fine… But What’s Your Story About, Really?

Monica — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 15:13:17 +0000

Anyone who knows me well can probably tell you that sometimes I can be wholly oblivious to the most obvious points but pick up on subtleties the average person wouldn’t even think to look for. This is an interesting character juxtaposition and probably what makes me a writer before anything else. Documenting and chronicling the [...]

Be Your Own Audience

Monica — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 15:13:11 +0000

When I’m writing and rewriting something – a script, story, manuscript – it’s hard to see the forest for the trees. Much of the time I get so inside my story that it’s hard for me to step outside of it and think rationally if what I’m trying to construct is working or not, and [...]

Screenwriters Are Storytellers First

Monica — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 23:30:52 +0000

A professional screenwriter said to me recently, “If someone reads my script and says, ‘Man, I really loved the writing,’ I want to punch them in the face. What I want them to say is, ‘I really loved your story.’ There’s a big difference.” He explained that the difference is that we’re primarily storytellers – [...]

The Season of Weird, Chatty Dramedies

Monica — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:13:43 +0000

I can’t say I totally understand it but this year was definitely the reading season for the Weird, Chatty Dramedy.

I’d estimate that approximately 20% of the scripts I read this year involved an ensemble of types sitting around, chatting about various personal issues that were of absolutely no interest to me.

Many of these [...]