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I believe that would be a good way to go actually. Someone would have to choose the script, but as an economic major in college in makes sense to pool resources and purchase shares

Well, first of all without risk there is no reward. Secondly, if you can finance a project yourself, you can make a shit load of money outside of the hollywood system. Look at Tyler Perry. His movies do like 30 million a picture but he makes a ton of money. How? Because he is able to self finance, thereby he can dictate the best terms. The man made 125 million dollars last year alone. It has been done and is currently done.

I am looking to try something new with my next screenplay and partner up with another writer. If anyone out there is writing alone, and wants to work with another writer, let me know.

I just got through working on an action adventure/fantasy script. I am looking to do something different, something that would sell easier. Like a lower budget thriller or comedy.

yeah, send me your email address my is dingram04@yahoo.com

good luck to all the writers who enter (I entered myself). The competition will be fierce , there are over 6,300 that entered this year. If I don't win it, hopefully a moviebyter will...good luck

I made it also...congrats to all of you guys who did. Frankly I am a bit surprised, but... oh well.

personally I didn't enter this contest but I respect the fact that Audrey has communicated before and she is offering her side of the story.

Damn Irin wins everything....Hey, Irin, I cut grass really well. lol

So when you buy the big mansion in Malibu let me know.

What interesting about this year, is that every contest seems to have done huge numbers compared to previous years, my guess is you have a lot of people out of work and thus have more time to write.

Janet...it's all good (pulling hair ain't my thang) . As far as these contest you have to take it for what it's worth. I entered two contests (same script) with completely different results. In Bluecat I didn't even make it to the quarterfinals, but in Page I did. As far as I am concerned, it's all about who reads it. People have different tastes, opinions, etc...

Let's throw him a party and kick his a....that way we can break his hands so he can't write....he'll probably write with his mouth...damn

celtx is free and available on the net, google it.

I'm a rookie at this stuff, but I am happy to be in such good company with my fellow MByters. Congrats to you all.

Actually Terry, the script is a cross between two of my favorite stories. "Knights of the Roundtable and Star Wars. Basically there is an ancient land, Governed by a powerful King and his Imperial Guard, which are so powerful they have never been defeated. The General holds an ancient sword made of gold, thus making him the "Master of The Sword". Ultimately, the King's evil brother along with one of the Guard betray them all and overthrow the King, killing most. There are 3 survivors, the second highest officer who now has the sword becomes "The Last Master", the Princess and her infant son who will eventually become "Master of the Realm". This is the first in a Trilogy.

I agree with Irin "what's the big deal". I mean as far as I can tell it's all in the eye of the beholder. How many times have you gone to a movie and hated it, but you knew someone else that likes it? How many times have you heard a song and hated but it became a hit record? Art has been and will always be subjective, I don't care what anyone's resume says.

There are a number of sources on the net, and books as well. Based on what I have read from readers, and established writers, 100 - 110 seems to be the appropriate range for unknown writers.

To me either is okay. Basically, copyright is essentially just proof that you created something (song, screenplay. etc...) Legally, as soon as you write something, you have exclusive rights to it, and are the owner. Obviously then you have to prove it, which is what a copyright and/or WGA registration is for. The only advantage is a copyright is longer, but both would stand up in court if anyone attempted to steal your work.

Poetist is correct. I believe he used about $12,000 of his own money, and self financed his first play. So that's an option to be considered.

I just read that Warner Bros is preparing a script based upon "Soul Train". Are you kidding me!! This is just proof Hollywood has lost it's collective mind.

I agree, about the market for musicals. Is the music that central to the move? Can it be told without it? For instance if you have a love story about an inner city girl who wants to be a singer/dancer, can you focus on her drive, determination and the obstacles she faces rather than the actual music or dancing. Just a thought.

Hey guys,

I am writing a script and I have come across a issue, I don't know how to format it. In the horror script a demon takes over someone's body in act one, and is killed. The demon takes over another person in act two, but the audience is not supposed to know it's the demon. In act 2, do I need to identify the second character as the demon, or not?

I'll take a look, thanks Ron

A title can't be copyrighted anyway and cannot be registered. Below is what the WGA says about registering titles "Titles are not registered with the WGAW Registry, as they are not protected by registration. The title or filename is mainly used to identify material within specific registrant records. The Registry does not make comparisons of titles or record title changes for registered material. Title changes do not require re-registration of material."

He said no script longer than 185 pages. That's a dead giveaway...lol

I guess the only question I have is when the advancement takes place. For instance, in Nicholl let's just suppose you have 6.500 or more (which they may get this year). If scripts are judged on a 1 to 10 basis (1 being the worse, 10 the best) If a script let's say scores a high score (8.8 as an example) does it get read again based upon the scores from previous years or does certain amount of scripts have to read. Hopefully that makes sense, I have always wondered.

from the nicholls website

Q: I noticed that entry scripts should be ''approximately 90 to 120 pages.'' Does that mean that a 85- or 125-page script will be disqualified?

A: No. We include the word ''approximately'' in the competition rules to allow some leeway on script length. The shortest script to earn its writer a Nicholl Fellowship was 85 pages long; the longest was 153 pages.

Be aware, however, that short and long scripts could prejudice a reader. This applies especially to long scripts, which readers tend to approach with some resistance.

That's what I was asking as confusing as it was.

I'm not in the business but it seems to me that it's much easier for any legit production company to just pay a few thousand to option rather then spend huge amounts in a lawsuit. In these parts on the news they just reported that a lawsuit has been filed against the Hurting Locker, which is up for an Oscar. Apparently, the screenwriter interviewed a solder as background for the script. The soldier is now claiming that the movie was totally based on him. He's hired a very famous lawyer and filed a multi-million dollar lawsuit. So this is a serious suit. It's going to cost them a lot of money to defend it, so they have a real headache now.

Correction the Hurt Locker

I don't know any proofreaders but my suggestion is print it out on paper and go line by line. I always print my script on paper and read it at least twice line by line all the way through. You will catch most if not all of the typos.

No particular order 1. Godfather 1 2. Godfather 2 3. Saturday Night Fever 4. Star Wars 5. Scarface 6. An Officer and A Gentlemen 7. Psycho 8. Gladiator 9. Superman 10. Fast Times at Ridgemont High

hey guys I have come across a format issue that I can't quite solve. The opening sequence of a screenplay I'm writing shows the main character aging from ten years old into adulthood. Same character ...Same location...but over a ten year period. I've checked different writing sources and all have given different solutions. I wonder would LATER be acceptable since the scenes take place in the same location.

Thanks for the info Athena. I felt LATER probably wasn't the way to go.

Good question Alex... in this particular screenplay...the character ages in a prison cell. There are 3 shots of him at different ages...young...middle aged...and old. So you have the same person, same location but the time lapse is in years. So that's why I'm pretty sure LATER would not be used because of the time span

I thought I knew the answer to this but now I'm not so sure. I had always been told the double spacing in a screenplay was the correct format, but I've read a couple of things that said single. Has the format changed? Which is it?

I should have been clearer. I meant after a period, do you single or double space to begin a new sentence.

Don't get me started on them. I paid for a coverage and got ripped off. Never got it, and they never responded to any of my emails. I never thought it would happen with such a reputable organization, Guess I was wrong.

Just as an FYI for you guys. I paid for a coverage with them, never got it, and no one has responded to my email. It's cool, you move on. Just letting you guys know to not make the same mistake.

Just as an FYI for you guys. I paid for a coverage with them, never got it, and no one has responded to my email. It's cool, you move on. Just letting you guys know to not make the same mistake.

Well actually I submitted for the coverage on Mat 12th. So we're talking close to 4 months ago. It's all good, you live and learn, and frankly once they refused to respond to my emails, I figured I cold kiss my money goodbye. But I just wanted to warn everybody else out there, don't completely trust this organization.

To all, this situation was resolved with an apology, which I accepted. I am happy my suspicions proved incorrect.