I've introduced myself here before, but I can't turn down a free cybermartini. My name is Patrick O'Riley and I am a starting screenwriter. I got a couple features down, floating around town, and as often as I can, I post mini-scenes on my blog http://patrickoriley.blogspot.com. Check it out if you have time!

Hey All -

My name's John Arends, from the greater Chicago area, and I'm straddling that 9-10 scripts written threshold. Pretty daunted by the level and caliber of the pros, 'cuz I can see it very, very clearly now. Primal fight and flight stuff going on as I'm trying to elevate my new feature spec into that realm. Tough, hard climb.

I've been blown away by the quality and spot-on-ness of the GITS content stream -- every day. The Rod Serling videos, the way-cool Kurt Vonnegut piece yesterday, the character patterns revelation... The video blog just today was the perfect piece of advice I needed for the rewrite of a sports bio-pic/passion project. Head-rocking stuff, Scott. Thanks a million for all of it.

I write mostly action/adventure, thrillers and the occasional, gotta-get-it-out-of-my-head passion project. Currently working with a pair of producers on turning one of the feature specs into a backdoor pilot for a TV series. Writing assignment (sci-fi) for another pair of producers is just now coming back out of the deep freeze of the past year.

I've had consistent success on the contest circuit for a couple of years now (won PAGE, semifinal/Top 30 in the Nicholl), so am really focused on the next step -- a for-real option, writing assignments and sales. Won't happen until I can get down on paper "THAT" script...the one...the high concept that's amazingly well executed.

Background as a journalist, fiction writer, poet, copywriter and ad guy.

Yep. Too much info, probably but...I'm thirsty! Gonna hit submit now, and fade back into the trees to take it all in...

Again, Scott, thanks a million (Canadian, not US...for the moment ;-) for the vital stuff you share.

Keep on writin' on...

John

Hey Guys, nice to meet everyone. My name is Chris Lanning and I'm based in Manila, the Philippines. Yes Scott you do have readers outside of North America. I'm an ex-photographer ex-business guy ex-film student from NYC now based out here writing my first feature. Trying to tell authentic stories about the craziness in the third world and Asia in general...

I'd love to meet anyone else in this part of the world who's interested in screenwriting. There aren't too many screenwriters looking for ins in the Western movie industry that live out here and it can get lonely as hell chatting with virtual people all the time...

Thanks Scott for the great material, look forward to reading more.

Chris

Hey everyone,

I finished my first script in june of '09 and have been working on a couple since. I have lots to learn!

-Zach

Hi all,

My name's Owen Palmquist. I write and produce documentaries for TV but secretly harbor narrative aspirations. I split my keystrokes between tv specs and features. Thanks for the martini!

-O

Thanks so much for this site. It's a serious help. My name's Travis Gordon. I've been writing for about 5 years now. Mainly trying to break into features but I've tried a little tv too. I won the Virginia Screenwriting Award at the Virginia Film Festival this year. I read scripts for a screenwriting contest. I also do lighting and grip work out of North Carolina, mainly Wilmington.

Hello all! I'm Jamika, from Tacoma, WA.

I started screenwriting about 3 years ago. I was studying creative writing and I took a month long intensive course on screenwriting and fell in love. It's been my favorite form of writing since. I've always loved watching movies, but it's become more of an obsession since I started screenwriting.

I've written 3 feature length screenplays--2 that are still in draft stages (I haven't had the courage to go back and fix the holes). One that I'm ready to get into the hands of someone who can turn it into something. Also, I've written handful of 10-15 minute scripts.

I've been working on writing spec scripts for random TV shows, just to get a hang of the format, but it's slow-going.

As of now, I've written a drama, a romance and a teen comedy. I have to say that the comedy was really fun to write, but I enjoyed writing a not-so-mushy love story as well.

If I could work with any actors, I want to work with Sandra Bullock, Kimberly Elise, Tina Fey, Anne Hathaway, Denzel Washington, Alfre Woodard, Will Smith, and so many others.

Anyhoo, I've been fortunate enough to have someone who has years and years of experience in screenwriting and producing to help guide me and give me honest feedback.

At the moment, I'm working on two screenplays. One intensely, the other to give me something to do when I'm stuck on the first one.

Well, that's probably sufficient enough. I'll take that martini now. Normally, I make my martinis with Belvedere, but Stoli is a great substitute.

My first good script is with a successful producer (big in the 70s and early 80s) and waiting to hear back from him before deciding my next move. I'm currently writing two action and kids adventure pictures.

Write, read, watch movies. REPEAT.

Hi

My name is Désirée Nordlund and I live in Sweden. I mostly write in English to widen the market a little.

I've sold three short scripts, two of them to the US, one to Åland.

I'm writing on my 6th and 7th feature script. Both of them outstanding, of course. The last script always is, at least for a while.

I have a blog too, at http://writerofmoviescripts.blogspot.com/

Have a happy day!

Hey all,

Ricky & Shawn here. We started seriously pursuing this screenwriting dream about a year ago. We didn't have any formal training, so we researched and read as much as we could. We've finished several drafts of our script and are currently polishing it with a "30DaysOfRewrites" project.

We hope to have a script that is ready to be critiqued by experts within a week, and from there hope to have a fully marketable script.

We've seen more movies than anyone we know and have spent some time reading a lot of scripts, especially in our genre. We've always been able to relate our stories in humorous ways (spoken and written), so from day one it has seemed like a natural fit for us. Time will tell whether we're on the right track or not. We're hoping that a few "six degrees of separation" relationships we have with various people in Hollywood can get the ball rolling for us.

The two leads in our script are an ideal fit for Paul Rudd and Sean William Scott, if only they were still about 24-27. Any suggestions on similar actors in the age range would be awesome.

You can follow our journey to option/sell our script at our site:

http://studentloansmovie.blogspot.com

In addition to our screenwriting struggles, you'll find our take on music, sports, movies and anything else we deem appropriate.

@Patrick O'Riley: I've added your blog to my Friends roll.

@jcarends (John): Sounds like you're right where you need to be. Just nail this next script. Sending good karma your way.

@Christopher (Chris): Living well outside of LA can be hugely valuable for a writer if they take advantage of where they live / what they know re foreign or unique subculture. So many scripts submitted that feel like the same thing, anything different can grab eyeballs. Plus huge international market. So I think your instincts re "craziness" and third world / Asia are right.

@Zach: Getting that first script done is a big deal. Separates you as someone who actually writes a screenplay instead of someone who just talks about writing a screenplay.

@Owen: What do you think of this year's WGA nominees for writing in documentary category? Winner was The Cove, Written by Mark Monroe.

@Travis: Have you ever worked for Trailblazer Studios out of Raleigh?

@J. Cordelia: Which of the genres you've written feel like something you could write in for several years? Hwood tends to pigeonhole writers, so something to think about as you go for your next spec. Re Belvedere: Nice!

@DS: Good luck on your script with the producer. Let us know what happens.

@Désirée: You're a longtime GITS reader, so it's odd I didn't know you'd written that many scripts. And sold some short scripts. Good for you! Where are the shorts in terms of production?

@SL: I've added your blog to my Friends roll.

Hello Everyone. My Name is Eric. I've written scripts ever since I was about 14. I'm 21 now, and just finished my first 'real' script. It's been sent out to a few fellow writers. The plan is to produce the script myself in the near future. The blog for the project is http://tlwseries.blogspot.com/ It's not really 'writing' all the time, but rather an overview of the project. As it stands now- finding actors is a huge problem. But, I'm hoping!

Hello All,

I'm a native Los Angeliana, turned New Yorker, turned Aussie, now working out of Sydney Australia. I started my film career as a production designer and became hooked on screenwriting when I started about two and half years ago. My first screenplay won a couple of awards and I've been shopping it around ever since (as best I can anyway). I'm now on feature script number five and hoping to shape a career for myself as a writer/designer. I think I can make that work. :-)

I don't have a blog about writing but I have been sharing my cultural observations as an ex-pat in Oz on my blog http://marglish.com/. I love the series of conversations with Rod Serling. Keep up the helpful posts! I learn something new every day.

Cheers!
-Margaret M. M.

My name’s Gayne. I’m an outdoor writer for several different magazines as well as a few online versions. My first attempt at a screenplay got me the attention of Kopleson Entertainment. That led to me being asked to write a script for them that still hasn’t gotten me jack squat. Undeterred, and still in their good graces, I have just submitted to them my third work for a “first look.”

My webpage is in the process of being updated by someone that actually knows what they are doing. Still you can find out more about me at www.gaynecyoung.com.

Drop me a line.

But not right now as I’m going to the fridge to get another beer.

@Daley Productions: I'm not even sure I could spell "screenwriter" when I was 14. Allow me to pimp your site again.

@Margaret: I've had perhaps a dozen online screenwriting students from Australia. One of my good friends Gary Frutkoff is a production designer. I've added your blog to my Friends roll.

@Gayne: Well, I don't travel the world like you. And I'm not much of adventurer. But we do have one thing in common: Both of us born in Ft. Worth. I tried to add your blog to my Friends roll, but got some message about your URL. Let me know when your person finishes with your site - and continued success with your writing.

Hi all,

I have posted once or twice but I thought it would be polite to join in. So!...

I am a writer producer living in Canberra, Australia in the backwaters of every film community.

So these blogs are worth there weight in gold as far as I am concerned.

I discovered this blog a while ago, through MMonFilm. It was a brilliant recommendation.

I am writing several feature scripts and have produced three documentaries, as an in-house producer, all broadcast on the Australian public broadcasters.

I am really into reading poetry and social history at the moment. Social history of the BC kind.

@Scott: Well, I guess I haven't introduced myself properly before. I'm sorry about that.

On the other hand, my first three scripts were not any good. My forth is better, but didn't make it far in contests. Number five is great, but I'm stuck and I haven't been able to finish it yet. My current projects will of course win Oscars. They always do :-) So in reality my CV is a little too short to brag too much with.

The short script I sold to a production company on Åland was a writing assignment. It will have premiere on a festival now this March.

The other two ("Walking the Graveyard" and "Paralyzed in Paradise") was sold to the same buyer, one of them was a writing assignment and a collaboration with the buyer/producer. The production of these have been delayed, but I'm told one will be filmed this spring and the other later this year.

I can't remember if I've introduced myself before. My name is Philip Prince. I recently graduated from northeastern university with a degree in criminal justice. I love movies and I enjoy screenwriting. I currently have finished my first screenplay and am working on my second. My first is on the GITS club, the second I am posting up every other time I finish a new part so check em both out. My name is escarondito for everything I do online, and my blog site is escarondito.blogspot.com

Hi all, my name is Moritz and I am from Berlin. I just stumbled into this whole online-screenwriting community very recently. I love this site. I study media science at the film&television acedemy in Potsdam-Babelsberg. I took some courses on screenwriting and hoping this can be a perspective for me.

I wrote one short script and several outlines for short movies. Right now I am writing with a partner on a project thats gonna be produced in Octobre.