Message Board

do they even exist anymore or is payment the only way to get analysis and feedback with yourscripts?

Hello Bob -

You've come to the right place.

On this bulletin board, you'll find many, many screenwriters willing to help you out in quite a few ways. Just ask them. Anything. The feedback and assistance, which you'll receive for free, comes from the heart and a love for the craft. There's not too much BS-ing going on at this site. If someone is toying with us, they'll get called out on it. If someone is genuine with their request for input and feedback, then it shall gush forth.

Seems like most everyone on this site helps each other out because they enjoy helping each other, and because a lot of those here who offer advice are simply very cool people. For example, you'll often read posts from writers congratulating other writers on their accomplishments. How's that for cool?

So ask away. There's someone here who has the answer.

Robert

Dear Bob,

I second that. This board is an excellent place to pose a question for feedback.

We've critiqued loglines before and would comment on any brief, specific question. The wisdom here is incredible.

I do have mentors that read all my work for free. They are film school teachers that have know me for years, know I take my craft very seriously and know that I won't ask them to read a new draft of a script without having put in extensive work. (ie not too frequently)

I also have mentors that I pay by the hour. Sometimes it's easier not to second guess if I'm imposing.

Good luck,

Heather

Hi Bob, You might want to enter a script for IFP's screenwriting lab. Not only do the winners meet with a series of established screenwriters, producers and filmmakers, you'll be assigned two mentors at the end of the workshop. Sundance may have the same deal. R.G.

Thanks RG.

Bob

Another possible tactic is to look at imdb.com and find contact information for a writer whose work you admire. Drop him or her a line. I did that and ultimately wound up with a great mentor, even though it was completely unexpected.

Thanks, Lisa! I would have never thought of that!!

That's pretty cool Lisa. :) I'm surprised that a writer would have direct contact info on imdb though -- did you have to go through their agent?

--Gene

Gene - somepeople have the contact info without getting the pro version. It depends on who they are. I found the email for a line producer. Big names won't be on there.

Bob/Bobbette. I'm confused by your male and female names.

Paula, I'm a female and my name is Bobbette, but I go by Bob. I originally had Bob on my moviebytes identification, but realised that led people to think I was a male. Hence, I changed it to Bobbette.

You get what you pay for. If you expect good expert mentoring for free, then beware of the value of the information you recieve.

it amazes me that people who wouldn't expect a doctor or lawyer or plummer to work for free, think that writers should do just that. A writer or script consultant's time is valuable. A Screenwriting mentor's time is valuable and you shouldn't expect to get something for free. lord knows enough so called producers expect that already. I know someone who does script mentoring ( not me) but they do charge, but are very reasonable.

Leah, I understand perfectly the time of a script consultant. I am interested in knowing if there are established writers out there who just love writing and want to assist young/future writers in becoming great in the art without concern for lining their pockets.

Hi Bob,

They're out there. For example, Terry Rossio has tried to be just that sort of mentor. If you haven't read "Throw in the Towel," yet, here's an excerpt: "I tried to be different. I tried to leave the door cracked open a bit. I politely asked you to send me only good stuff, your best stuff. And for years now I've been deluged by a storm of crappy query letters and mind-numbing script submissions. So many I can't keep up, can't even respond to them all. And not one of them has been any damn good."

I believe there still are professional screenwriters out there who would be willing to take fledglings under their wings and mentor them, if they glimpsed a spark of genius.

But that sort of relationship is probably like finding Mr. Right--it usually only happens when you're not looking for him. There's a "cute meet" and the rest is history.

My mom always said, "Become the person you are looking for," and I think that's still good advice.

In the meantime, paying for services is only shameful if there's a pimp involved.

Shell :o)

Thanks, Shell. I had hoped that there are people out there who aren't in it just for the money or "what's in it for me?" I mean, we all want to make a movie and make money, helping a fellow writer along the way out of the goodness of your heart shouldn't be taboo.

I know it's frustrating, Bob.

I also know Virginia is not the hub of the movie biz. I'm in rural Iowa, and I haven't met one other person who writes screenplays, here.

Maybe if you took a screenwriting class through the UCLA Writer's Extension, that would give you a mentor--your instructor--that could last longer than the class.

Another thought I have is Two Adverbs. Have you been there, yet?

http://twoadverbs.web.aplus.net/

Good luck,

Shell

Gene,

In this particular case I did not have to go through an agent. But then, the writer in question is not a "big name." He's just a guy who has done some indie films and whose writing really stands out to me as exceptional. I only contacted him to compliment him on his writing and ask for advice, and was pleasantly surprised by the help he offered. And I would rather get advice from someone on the B-list whose work I admire than an A-lister whose work seems mediocre to me.