Escarondito at 2011-01-03 12:22:31:

escarondito.blogspot.com

Scott,

My name is Philip Prince. I am an aspiring Director/Screenwriter.

I read every post and always try to get my input into the daily dialogue section. BTW new suggestions. Interesting Sci-Fi jargon. Basically, in every sci-fi film you have to have atleast one scene which explains the laws of the universe. What are movies that atleast made the sci-fi exposition look interesting. Or a better daily dialogue, "Exposition through actions". Like how we figured Clive Owen is a drunk in Children for Men when he doesn't care to watch the report on the death of Diego and sneaks whiskey into his early morning coffee

I am already on my way to accomplishing what I want to this year by closing down on my goals from last year. Last year I told myself that I wanted to have 3 feature-length scripts done, atleast one TV pilot, and 2 short scripts done. I have 1 feature-length script done. Completed two short scripts and am finishing my first pilot.

Even without completely finishing those goals, I have acted as a Production Assistant of a friends Student-film project. And am now working as a Line Producer and Assistant Director on a project titled "Hell Grace" which will begin shooting Jan 14th-17th.

So you bet I'm happy with my progress? Damn right. And I only hope to push farther this year.

Sketching Girl at 2011-01-03 14:09:08:

Hi All, I'm Sketching Girl, I'm an aspiring writer, I've dabbled with Nanowrimo and ScriptFrenzy (which introduced me to the world of scriptwriting). I'd love to write novels, TV/Movie Scripts, and Comic Book Scripts.

I made a New Year Resolution this year to write a little every day, to practice my scene writing, for both prose and script writing - I'd like to get really good at both.

Loving your blog and wishing you and your readers a Happy New Year!

Here is my writing blog if you want to add it to your list:

http://writing-in-the-woods.blogspot.com/

Joshua Caldwell at 2011-01-03 14:56:36:

Hey Scott,

Posted for the first time on the Film School post. As I mentioned there, I work for Anthony E. Zuiker, creator of the CSI Franchise. As the Creative Director of Digital Media at Dare to Pass, I've been working on Zuiker's digi-novel project Level 26. Basically, we're looking for new and unique ways to tell stories, whether through digi-novels (a book and film combined), iPad and mobile apps, webseries, etc.

I've also been fortunate to be a part of the development process with our television side of things as we have four new scripts we're currently developing for CBS.

In addition to all that, I am also a writer and director. In 2006 I won and MTV Movie Award for my short film The Beautiful Lie. Since then I've directed music videos for Epic Records, SonyBMG, MySpace and Universal Music Group.

I recently directed the narrative short film Dig starring Mark Margolis and Aaron Himelstein, which I am currently editing. (www.digshortfilm.co).

I've written three feature screenplays, one of which, Blitzed, is being produced by Guy Walks Into A Bar Productions (Elf) and was sent out wide to the town this fall, which was a pretty big milestone (regardless of whether or not it sells).

I am continuing to write (I have a new featured in the works) with my writing partner Travis Oberlander. Hopefully, Dig will bring some additional success this year and lead to a feature opportunity.

All of these endeavors can be followed at my blog Hollywood Bound and Down, where I'm sharing my experience as I try and make it as a writer and director. Making a transition from student filmmaker to Hollywood is a daunting, difficult journey and every path is different. There’s no corporate ladder to climb, no clear route to the director’s chair or a bungalow on the Warner Bros. lot. I should know, I’m in the middle of it and I’ve got a Golden Popcorn on my shelf.

Was turned on to your blog by BitterScriptReader and will continue to be an avid reader.

Best,
Josh

Scott at 2011-01-03 15:07:35:

@Matt: I've added your blog to my Friends list. Nice write-up on Rabbit Hole. I'll be doing a feature on that tomorrow.

@Sojourners: Cheers to you, too!

@Ryan: Must be popular toast because it was the first one that popped up on Google.

@Escarnodito: Glad to get a name to match to your moniker. I like your enthusiasm! May you ride it to much success!

@Sketching Girl: Thanks for frequenting the site. I've added your blog to my Friends list.

@Joshua: That's a good bit more info than before -- and quite interesting. Appears you are right where you need to be. And you're damn right about Hollywood offering no clear track to success as a writer-director. You just have to prove yourself on the page and on the screen, right? Drop me an email from time to time to let me know how things are going. And say hello to TheBitterScriptReader. I've been pimping his blog since just about the first day he went online.

J.L. Johnson at 2011-01-03 17:23:41:

Greetings from The Great White North, eh? Although, it's not very white in my neck of the woods at the moment.

I just wanted to say thank-you for all your wonderful post. I discovered your blog shortly after ScriptFrenzy, and I have learned SO MUCH just from this site and the links you've provided. I don't comment much, I like to observe and read (wallflower), dreaming of the day when my work will be see my others.

Wishing you all the best for 2011. Keep up the good work!

Nick West at 2011-01-03 17:32:21:

Thanks for this opportunity to share my works with my fellow writers. I look forward to checking out the other blogs.

I've always wanted to write screenplays but I decided a nice backdoor could be found in the comic book world. I self published King of Pain in 2008 and 2009. The first two issues were released nationwide as a part of "Indy Comic Book Week."

Soon thereafter I picked up paying gigs for a horror story in Sunstone Magazine and a comic movie adaptation for the film The Maze.

Currently I write for a website called Watch Play Read and host Giant-Size Podcast where we review comic books and make dirty jokes. I am working on my first screenplay. I hope to direct it myself sometime next year.

Previews of my comics and other writings can be found at:
http://westcritic.blogspot.com/

Thanks again!

Scott at 2011-01-03 18:52:14:

@Rosie: Would you mind forwarding me your blog URL one more time? This one doesn't seem to work for me. I hear Wales is a beautiful part of the world.

@L.J.: Thanks for the kind words. Other than the U.S., this site gets more traffic from Canada than anywhere else in the world. Also I've a lot of writers work with me in online screenwriting classes. Perhaps just good Canadian karma because "Alaska" shot primarily in British Columbia!

@Nick: I checked out your site before. Congratulations. I'll add your site to my lists. Please stay in touch with whatever transpires with your career.

Z. LaPorte Airey at 2011-01-03 19:06:27:

Hi all. Long-time reader, first time commenter. Happy 2011!

I'm Z. Laporte Airey and I'm an aspiring screenwriter. I recently graduated college and live in CT, but I plan to move to LA in the next year. Terrifying!

Right now I'm juggling about 4 scripts, and am getting close to finishing one of them (my first ever!).

My blog is mostly just a personal log (plog?) of my progress, but it has a cool name!

http://threeusesofthegun.blogspot.com/

the title's in reference to one of my favorite writing books, Three Uses Of The Knife, by David Mamet.

Anyway, wish you all a productive 2011!

Z.

Jeff at 2011-01-03 22:30:56:

I've intro'ed myself before 'round these parts but hey, might as well get up in everyone's face one more time to promote The GITS Club again.

The baseball card stats: 5 kids, 1 wife working towards her Master's while managing a restaurant, occupying a little ranch on the outskirts of a little 'berg in Wisconsin.

Looks like 2011 will be a busy one for me... 3 specs to sell and 1 script to be directed by me is on the slate for the coming year. I'm working with a startup production entity here in the midwest and things are cookin' hotter and faster than I've ever seen them cook before in my strange and awkward "career."

My involvement in The GITS Club had to pull back a bit this past summer because of some health issues (so if you never sleep and drink gallons of coffee to compensate and eat lots of carbs and junk, it actually DOES affect your wellbeing? Go figure....) The great Mike Scherer took the reigns and made some dramatic and wonderful improvements over there. Hopefully I can get back into it more in the coming months... some amazing people contribute on those pages, you should truly do yourself a favor and commit some loglines or scenes or pages to The Club. The criticism is always constructive and friendly and, of course, it instigates a dialog that forces you to think about your script... all for free!

Anyway my compatriots of all things scripty, it's a pleasure to meet and re-meet you. And of course, to our host, Scott, an ever continual bow of gratitude. Without Go Into the Story, there's NO WAY I'd be at this rather nice point in my journey, I would have tossed in the towel and, um, I guess tried to get a toe-hold in the banking industry?

Wow... I shudder...

Lazzard at 2011-01-04 03:52:30:

I've posted a few times before - but here are the details. Living in rural Shropshire , UK (on a clear day I might be able to see Rosie in Wales!) with wife, 4 kids, pets & ponies. In 2005 I embarked on a second career( I'm 50) in screenwriting. Took me three years to get an agent. By the end of 2009 he managed to sell mt first option (soon to be re-optioned!). Since then I've sold two more scripts and have received a commissioned re-write (from the people who bought my first SP - play nice and they invite you back!). And tomorrow I have my first ever Director meeting - on the re-write project - with Charles Sturridge, the guy who directed 'Brideshead Re-visited' for BBC. I have worked lined up - and whilst none of it's earning me a fortune (I could earn it in a month when I was in advertising!!)-more impotantly, I feel I can now call my self a screenwriter ,without the usual apologies. Next target - a production credit.... Happy 2011 to one and alll - and hang in there.

Mragendra Singh at 2011-01-04 08:17:56:

hi Scott,

This is Mragendra Singh. I am a film-maker and Co-owner of 19th Cloud Productions. Me and My partner has produced a web-series last year and two short films. We also just got listed into IMDB for one of our short films.

I am a writer, director and producer. I find your blog very interesting and very helpful. So Keep the good work.

Bit late in dropping the line, but its better late then never.

Happy new year.

Cheers
Mragendra

Atlanta at 2011-01-04 12:01:15:

That is some beautiful toast! I'm with Matt Rickett, your blog is amazing and optimistic, Scott.

I'm a newbie scribe, versed in design and visual art mediums, enough to know the importance of craft, and heart, and reaching and entertaining the audience. Am super psyched about storytelling as medium. Whole lotta fun. I love prep work and freeze at writing. My goal to finish first full length script soon. Big goal to do this all the time, producing comic books, darling art, me writing. Our first protagonist is a cat burglar who tinkers and builds clever Rube Goldberg type contraptions.

The inspirational thought that propels me forth at moment is from Felicia Day via Scott (thank you), first draft is first draft, get it out.

My find of the day to share, podcasts re screenwriting: Creative Screenwriting Mag, UK Scriptwriters, Writing Excuses.

L. F. at 2011-01-04 20:36:10:

Hello all,

I've been GITS since the summer of 09 when I began trying to learn how to write in earnest. I think I've come a ways since then, and this blog has been quite helpful.

I graduated last June and moved to Seattle in September to start work full time. While I'm (somewhat surprisingly) enjoying work, I'm still doing the film thing. I shot an entire web series over two weeks in August, which I had written with some college classmates over the previous six months. Now, four episodes of QUARTER LIFE CRISIS is out, and the fifth due this Friday. Our blog at www.bay51.com is primarily composed of our episodes, but we'll hopefully be sharing our thoughts on everything film related soon.

What's next for me? Mainly, the other five episodes of QLC. But we are also developing our next project. We are having a writers meeting tonight via Skype. I'll be working with the core BAY 51 crew as well as two other writers I haven't worked with before. Should be a fun time :) Other than that, I've resolved to break the story and finish a draft of my first feature script now, as opposed to waiting until all my other projects are finished.

Should be a busy year. Thanks again for the positivity, inspiration, and information Scott, and best of luck with the classes.

Best,
L

TrG at 2011-01-26 14:48:46:

Hi Scott,

I've been meaning to post this for a while. Sorry it's a little behind schedule.

My name is Tim Grant. I am a computer programmer by day and screenwriter by night/weekend. I try to keep up with your blog, but, like the cyber-equivalent of the New Yorkers that pile up in my office, I can't quite keep up. A testament to your prolificity.

I optioned my first horror/dark comedy script last year. The producers really don't want me to say much more than that yet. Sorry to sound mysterious and silly, but I agreed to their request.

This year, I want to finish my second script in the same genre. I decided to try and brand myself in this niche. Not because I never want to write in another genre, but because it seemed to be a good place to get started and it's a genre that I love.

In fact, I have a blog dedicated to my love of horror movies, over here:

http://postmortemdepression.blogspot.com/

Thanks for creating such a helpful resource!

Happy (not so) New Year!

Tim