It bothers me that Mark Zuckerberg has said he has no plans to see The Social Network. I don't understand how it's humanly possible to resist watching a movie written about you and your life - even if the movie is fictionalized.

The most disturbing thing I have come across concerns the response rates to queries I have sent out 2010 -vs- 2011. Last year I sent out around a gazillion queries for three (3) scripts and received script requests 2.38% of the time. This year the response rate is 0.84% for a somewhat equal number of queries. That’s a response rate 67% less than last year. Seems the industry is (a) scared; or (b) short on cash; or (c) not interested in specs -- take your pick.

Curious if others have seen a similar reduction in script requests off their queries.

Keep Writing!

Have you made any recent discoveries re the craft of screenwriting you want to share?

It seems that is fair for a writer to borrow plots from other story.Is it true ? Do you have any examples (like Point break , Fast and furious or Pocahontas and Avatar).
Do all the writers did it?

@ Mike... I believe you responded to my logline evaluation a couple of days ago... I'm Natty on the boards.

But I'm with you... it DRIVES me bananas!!! I understand these agents, managers and production companies get covered up with queries but AT LEAST send a quick "screw off" or "it stinks" or "weak logline" or SOMETHING.

I've sent out around two-hundred query letters since January... I've had three requests for the script and two other requests that wanted my money... listed as production companies... but suddenly turned into an "evaluation service." I don't have a percentage rate on return but I can tell you that I'm about 100% frustrated with the lack of any type of response.

Heck... today I reached out to my friends on Facebook just to network... open a few doors. A simple...

"In the spirit of networking... if any of my Facebook faithful know any producers, managers, agents or anyone involved in the movie-making process (especially in LA) please shoot me a PM."

I received ten replies. Made my day. When you're trying to beat down the door... every little bit helps.

Kept me from throwing my laptop in the Mississippi River!!!

Thanks for the vent Scott!

Random question...

I never paid much attention to this until this past weekend. But I watched The Wizard of Oz which was directly followed by Gone With the Wind. To give you a sense of how blind I've been... (I guess writing opens your eyes) I didn't realize they were both directed by Victor Flemming... both in 1939.

But this is what stood out to me... the final shots of both films...

DOROTHY
Home! And this is my room -- and
you're all here! And I'm not going
to leave here ever, ever again,
because I love you all! And -- Oh,
Auntie Em -- there's no place like
home!

And then there's this...

SCARLETT
Tara! Home!... I'll go home -- and I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day!

Did Mr. Flemming have something to do with this theme of home?

Of course I understand Dorothy's struggle to make it back to Kansas but I never fully digested Scarlett's yearning for Tara until Saturday.

And it only took forty-one years!

To everyone who responded to this post, I summon up whatever spiritual connectivity I discovered from three years at Yale Divinity School, and send you all a heaping spoonful of cosmic goodness.

Now go write 42 inspired words in your current story... including 7 strong verbs!

@Mike - Sort of on your same subject but I just started getting replies to Queries I had sent out in November, five to be exact. I couldve swore that I was done trying to pitch that project but keep hearing back from people. I think everyone is finally catching up from the holidays and what not. So I have learned my lesson and won't be sending out queries that time of the year again... Best of luck to you

Screenwriting sucks. The act of doing it is an arduous, stressful and well, sucky experience. I hate it.

Outlining, index cards, character backgrounds. Work, work, work, work work!

The lines can be funner. The HAVE TO be funnier! There's always more to do, it never ends!!!!

People who gush about how they just "Love to write" I want to punch in the face...

Why do so many producers (at least in my country) think that they could get a great script for free just because it is a short script?

They claim that they just have a small budget - or no budget - and that I will get my name in the credits as payment instead. Instead? Of course I get my name in the credits!

Firstly I think a great script is the basics for a great film and it is worth paying for. They can never compensate for the lack of good writing, but still they refuse to pay for a good foundation.

Secondly, they could make a horrible movie out of my script, or not manage to get it shown anywhere, and what on Earth do I have for use of my name in the list then?

I just want to give them the bird.
Pay me for my work or take a hike.