| Subject | Date Asked | Expert |
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| Biographical play | 7/8/2009 | Beth |
Q: Myself and a friend are writing a play about a historical figure (17th c). Would we need to secure ...
A: This is a question you may want to confirm with a legal expert, but I do not believe you need any ...
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| Production companies info | 7/7/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Good day, I'm ready to ship out some query letters for my script. I'm having trouble finding ...
A: Rick, you're right in that I'm not really the right person to ask. I've had representation almost ...
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| Questions on finding a screenwriting software program | 7/5/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Roger. Thank you very much for your valued feedback and thanks for the link on John Truby. I ...
A: I'm not aware of any other software that breaks it down by genre in this way, save possibly ...
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| Next step | 7/5/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Mr. Roger, my name is William or Bill Sivels. I am 19 years old and currently writing a cartoon ...
A: Although I have written many animated projects for TV and features, you're kind of leaving my area ...
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| Were to go from here | 7/5/2009 | Arlene Schulman |
Q: My friend and I have developed a musical play and improved it over six one night performances in ...
A: Sounds like you've already had a great start. Congratulations! As for where to go from here, you ...
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| Questions on finding a screenwriting software program | 7/4/2009 | Beth |
Q: I'm an aspiring screenwriter. I have a screenwriter software program called, Movie Magic ...
A: I don't know a lot about these types of programs. I have used Movie Magic before, and I liked it. ...
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| Questions on finding a screenwriting software program | 7/4/2009 | Anthony T. Carter |
Q: I'm an aspiring screenwriter. I have a screenwriter software program called, Movie Magic ...
A: Okay, I will say right off the bat, that I don't know which program you mean. I use Final Draft. And ...
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| Searching for a screenwriting software program | 7/4/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: I'm an aspiring screenwriter. I have a screenwriter software program called, Movie Magic ...
A: You've hit the mother lode with me on this topic; I love screenwriting software and have beta tested ...
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| Next step | 7/1/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Mr. Roger, my name is William or Bill Sivels. I am 19 years old and currently writing a cartoon ...
A: I'll give it to you straight. If you're not an artist with a brilliant and unique style, you're not ...
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| followup to chad high school film | 7/1/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: i too am a high school drama teacher. instead of the usual play production, i would like to involve ...
A: I think it's a good idea to involve your students in live theater or film production. The secret of ...
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| colaborator needed | 6/30/2009 | Arlene Schulman |
Q: I've written the lyrics for a completetly all singing rock musiclal. I need to find someone to write ...
A: I can't answer for all producers, of course, but generally producers don't get interested in a play ...
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| Blog to TV idea | 6/24/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: I have been blogging for three years now. I have a large audience and many of them often say they ...
A: On the internet, there is a site called Movie Pitch: http://www.moviepitch.com/. It contains a ...
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| Graduate School - Screenwriting | 6/22/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Hey Barry (I hope this is going to Barry!) I read one of your answers to someone considering ...
A: I understand that you are proceeding with caution. Post-graduate options are serious decisions. ...
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| Copyrights and Spoofs | 6/22/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: What steps do I need to take when writing a movie spoof to avoid copyright problems? I will be ...
A: Here are two q&a's from my archives that address this problem. I'm not a lawyer and I am not ...
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| Those enormous Hollywood hurdles | 6/19/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Barry Auuuggghhh! Can you explain this bazaar enigma that is Hollywood to a new screenwriter such ...
A: It's the sense of humor that helps us survive, isn't it. Love the pic of you and your wife on her ...
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| Those enormous Hollywood hurdles | 6/18/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Barry Auuuggghhh! Can you explain this bazaar enigma that is Hollywood to a new screenwriter such ...
A: I'm sympathetic to your feelings about the difficulty of getting a screenplay *read* let alone get ...
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| Help! | 6/17/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: How do I go about getting my script to something like the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, The idea and ...
A: Michael, There are, but it's a very long shot. Simply check the internet with that question and ...
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| editing software | 6/17/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I have a story that need sto be edited and might move it into a screenplay... do you know of any ...
A: Todd, I have no awareness of any software that takes care of editing a story. You might run an ...
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| Preferred Cast Page | 6/16/2009 | Arlene Schulman |
Q: I'm working on a few plays and I have a question concerning the order of the characters on the cast ...
A: Of course every playwright approaches his/her cast list differently depending what they want to ...
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| Am I really any good? | 6/16/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Is there some way you could review my idea? I've just completed my 3rd act, it's my first draft. ...
A: I really regret being the bearer of bad tidings, but the odds of a first draft screenplay getting ...
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| Screenplay from a book | 6/16/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: The book that I am interested in has been out of print for some time. The author, Edger Rice ...
A: Michael, Without spending time researching, for which I would have to charge, I am unable to help ...
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| Help! | 6/16/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: How do I go about getting my script to something like the SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL, The idea and ...
A: Michael, I don't know if Sundance still has its screenwriting section. You might want to check it ...
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| copyrighting, publishing & marketing an original musical | 6/15/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I have written a complete musical based on the book Pilgrim's Progress. It has been performed by a ...
A: Cynthia, The first step would be to check into the rights with the author/publisher for "Pilgrim's ...
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| Cartoon screenplay format | 6/15/2009 | Beth |
Q: I was just wondering if there is a difference in the structure or theory of writing a screen play ...
A: I actually do know the answer to this question, as I have several friends in this line of work. ...
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| Sub plots | 6/15/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Are there any rules our guidelines for sub plots? Is there a difference between a sub plot that is ...
A: Yes there are structural patterns that could be called "rules," But which are too detailed and ...
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| copyrighting and publishing a musical | 6/15/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: I have written a complete musical based on the book Pilgrim's Progress. It has been performed by a ...
A: First, the disclaimer -- I'm not an expert in publishing matters, although I've been published a few ...
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| Flashbacks | 6/9/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Is it OK to use flashbacks within flashbacks? For example in Saving Pvt Ryan, the entire movie is a ...
A: I don't know that it would necessarily be more confusing. But I do start to get the feeling that it ...
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| Flashbacks | 6/6/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: Is it OK to use flashbacks within flashbacks? For example in Saving Pvt Ryan, the entire movie is a ...
A: It would be wrong of me to say you should never do this. Every rule has its exceptions. But your ...
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| Movie Idea | 6/6/2009 | John M. Lovett |
Q: I have an idea for a movie writer it is about terrorism and oil industry and how can i get the ...
A: Desmond, Allow me to ask you a question. What if a neighbor comes to you and suggests that you ...
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| script length | 6/4/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: I'm writing a very dialogue driven comedy script and when I say dialogue driven I'm saying Gilmore ...
A: I think it's fair to use Final Draft's "cheating" options to lessen the script length by a few pages ...
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| so new at this, but so ambitious | 5/28/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I've read most of your answers to most of the questions. you always mention in at least more than ...
A: Mary Ann, Getting a script market ready means that the script must contain elements in it to ...
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| first time writers | 5/24/2009 | Roger S. H. Schulman |
Q: once an screenwriter is established how do they or where do they get medical insurance?...for a ...
A: Once a screenwriter is established by selling at least one screenplay or teleplay, they are required ...
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| Graphics | 5/24/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I am writing a screenplay in which the main character escapes from reality into a fantasy world ...
A: Russ, Although your work is impressive and creative, I would caution you about the use of images, ...
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| first time writers | 5/21/2009 | Anthony T. Carter |
Q: how much money does a first time screen writer make if their first movie they wrote does well at the ...
A: As for salary it varies, depends on how much someone wants your script. And if you are lucky you can ...
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| Getting Started, Do I Stand A Chance | 5/20/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I am an 18 year old Art student and I have just written my first movie script. I spent several ...
A: Craig, Your chances for getting your script produced is just as good as anyone else's. The key to ...
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| Finding a "match" | 5/14/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: Have written several screenplays. The problem is... Finding a good match. Seems like I'm writing for ...
A: Don, I apologize for taking so long to answer your question. I'm shooting a film, so it's difficult ...
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| Gross V Net | 5/14/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: I am just entering into the industry and I am currently in the preliminaries of building my team: ...
A: I can't really give you cogent advice until I know a lot about how and with what you plan to "enter ...
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| Montage Sequence | 5/9/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: Could you please tell me how to format a montage sequence with a longer voiceover - my concern is if ...
A: Nice to hear from Australia. Put the montage first so the reader can picture the visuals, then put ...
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| turning a book into a film | 5/7/2009 | Don Vasicek |
Q: I am wishing to turn a published series of books into 1 or more screenplays. I only want to write ...
A: Shye, You should contact the author. If that fails, for whatever reason, contact the publisher. ...
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| structure of typewriting scene | 5/6/2009 | Barry Pearson |
Q: What is the standard form in a screenplay for showing what a character is either typing on a ...
A: Barry types a note to a writer. INSERT: PAPER IN TYPEWRITER Letters click across the page, "Use an ...
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