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Writing Plays/Screenwriting/Questions Answered by Expert John M. Lovett
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Copyright and trademarked characters | 1/31/2012 |
| Q: Mr. Lovett, When I write a spec script for a TV show with trademarked characters, do I still put my ... A: Phil, You can send a script to anyone you want. Their reading of the document is another matter. ... | |
| Copyright and trademarked characters | 1/30/2012 |
| Q: Mr. Lovett, When I write a spec script for a TV show with trademarked characters, do I still put my ... A: Phil, If you have copyrighted the script, then the little circle c with the year goes in either the ... | |
| Selling my Screenplays | 1/12/2012 |
| Q: Mr. Lovett, Before I ask my question I would like to thank you beforehand for taking time away ... A: Dr. Keoseyan, I am not sure how anyone would be forced to work in medicine, but I will try to ... | |
| Unsolicited Material | 12/27/2011 |
| Q: I recently purchased the Hollywood Representation Directory to search for literary agents. Some ... A: Jared, The simple answer to your question is yes, maybe, sorta. The words "no unsolicited ... | |
| To who is may concern | 12/15/2011 |
| Q: To who is may concern, I thank you for your time, you have spent on this site and I am sure it ... A: Mr. Oni, In Nigeria, no. In the US, most all production companies offer jobs as production ... | |
| Agents | 12/13/2011 |
| Q: How many agents who accept unsolicited material should I send my screenplay to at once? Thank you in ... A: Jared, The movie business is not like the publishing business. You do not have to put "multiple ... | |
| To who is may concern | 12/12/2011 |
| Q: To who is may concern, I thank you for your time, you have spent on this site and I am sure it ... A: Mr. Oni, How many scenes are there in a movie? How long is your movie? A scene is normally 3 - 5 ... | |
| To who is may concern | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: To who is may concern, I thank you for your time, you have spent on this site and I am sure it ... A: Mr. Oni, You start writing by, well, writing. You do not need to know how to write a script to ... | |
| Is it possible?! | 10/20/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Lovett, My question applies more to television. A little while ago, I had an idea for a ... A: Barry, Yes, the process requires you doing more than writing out a 'blueprint' for the series. You ... | |
| Thanks in advance- Script Question | 10/19/2011 |
| Q: I am an aspiring writer who recently came across a contest featured on my state's film office ... A: Ada, A 'pilot' script is a thing of television and is formatted exactly the same as a motion ... | |
| CAPS to emphasize things in script | 10/10/2011 |
| Q: While I had an internship, I read a good chunk of scripts that employed caps to emphasize things in ... A: Katherine, A quick review of Trottier and others reads that you are correct in your observation ... | |
| Title Page | 9/26/2011 |
| Q: could you please tell me how to correctly format a title page nowadays including how to put the ... A: Eddy, The best format for a title page is placing the title centered on the page in bold capital ... | |
| in need of assistance | 9/1/2011 |
| Q: I have the opportunity to write many small screen plays for dramas and a few large fantasy science ... A: Mr. Behnam, I am not clear from your question what exactly you want. If you want an agent, I am ... | |
| script | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: John I appreciate the replies I get from here. I just finish my feature film script. And I don’t ... A: Mr. Romiti, A few questions first- Have you re-read you script checking for basic spelling errors ... | |
| question ! | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: I ll enter a screenplay competition , it required for competitors to submit just screenplay pitch ... A: AJ, Not knowing which contest, I would speculate that all the contest runners want is a long ... | |
| Acquiring info for screenplay plot | 11/4/2010 |
| Q: Who would be the right person (military title) to contact at a Naval Installation that would provide ... A: Don, If your friend Lt Cdr So-and-so wants to write an introduction to your book as your friend, ... | |
| Acquiring info for screenplay plot | 11/3/2010 |
| Q: Who would be the right person (military title) to contact at a Naval Installation that would provide ... A: Don, Each Naval Base has a website. On that website is a phone number for the Public Affairs ... | |
| When to and when not to CAP! | 8/20/2010 |
| Q: I am writing a story but this is just a general question. I know I CAP characters names, even in the ... A: Aaron, In short, things and names are capitalized only if there is a sound or speech associated ... | |
| Buyer beware? | 8/16/2010 |
| Q: I want to try and sell my script to a major studio after I am finished with it. Besides all the ... A: Aaron, Good luck on the sale your script to a studio. Simply put, any excuse a production company ... | |
| royalties | 4/14/2010 |
| Q: My friend has written a play and she asked me to help her add to her play. I have contributed much ... A: Angela, The directly answer your question, there is no standard fee or fixed percentage. You get ... | |
| Registering script | 4/10/2010 |
| Q: I've written a script for a sequel. A friend told me I can register it with the Writers Guild of ... A: Mike, To directly answer your question, you can send any written material to the WGA, usually ... | |
| Hollywood recommend screenplay | 11/14/2009 |
| Q: can my screenplay that has budget be produce, its set in WASHINGTON, female lead. Talbert A: Are you writing that your film has a budget or that you have determined an estimated cost for the ... | |
| Movies | 8/18/2009 |
| Q: What is the choir that provides dramatic movie backgrounds? The songs without words, just dramatic ... A: What you are asking about are movie scores. While the studios had for a long time in house ... | |
| Movie Idea | 6/6/2009 |
| 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 ... | |
| phenomena | 12/11/2008 |
| Q: there is some phenomena I practice want to take your opinion on ? when I m writing a scene or ... A: aob, I have absolutely no idea what it is that you are asking for the first question. If you are ... | |
| question ! | 12/4/2008 |
| Q: I asked you before about recommending musical notes or entrance in my script , you told me that ... A: The short answer is all these drafts were written by screenwriters. Final draft and revised draft ... | |
| question ! | 12/1/2008 |
| Q: I asked you before about recommending musical notes or entrance in my script , you told me that ... A: I do not know how to answer your question regarding musical notes and camera directions. If you ... | |
| another new | 11/22/2008 |
| Q: I had shown you a scene , I had written before , you had told me your opinion , hope you remember I ... A: AJ, I have no opinion about the short scene. It is just a conversation between two people. May I ... | |
| need opinion | 9/7/2008 |
| Q: I had written 2 separated scenes as a sample to proving my abilities as new screenplay writer , I ... A: AJ, Before you proceed, may I suggest you get a book on screenplay formatting. What you have ... | |
| POW | 7/11/2008 |
| Q: Where Can I find detailed information on POW camps and life as a prisoner of war? Particularly POW ... A: Patrick, For information regarding POWs in the Iraq War, start here ... | |
| need to ask | 5/31/2008 |
| Q: because I want to improve my screen write with some shots & camera movement & angles so I required ... A: jc, Simply, camera angles do not go into a speculative screenplay. How you write the narrative is ... | |
| screenplay | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: Is it better to write a screenplay in scene sequence first, then dialogue. For example (scene one: ... A: Alex, My initial answer is for you to write the screnplay in the way that best suits you or the ... | |
| Sending my query letter | 3/27/2008 |
| Q: I had a question regarding sending off my query letter. I was told to send it to agencies. But my ... A: Mrs. Underwood, You can send your query to whomever you wish; agents, managers, production ... | |
| screenwritting | 1/1/2008 |
| Q: all i can say i am more than facinated towerds directing a film. i am new like a baby born. i have ... A: Miftahur, Your question has two distinct issues; directing and screenwriting. These issues require ... | |
| Military Questions | 8/19/2007 |
| Q: Good day John, I am putting together a script that covers two military bases and would be happy if ... A: Michael, Can we call a coms room a coms room? If a coms room you mean a communications center, ... | |
| airforce | 7/13/2007 |
| Q: I am writing a screenplay about a fighter jet shot down over enemy territory. What is the title of ... A: MR. Svensson, Pilots wear flight suits. They also wear NOMEX gloves. If armed, they carry the ... | |
| airforce | 7/3/2007 |
| Q: I am writing a screenplay about a fighter jet shot down over enemy territory. What is the title of ... A: David, The rank of USAF officers is the same as the Army - Second Lieutenant, First Lieutenant, ... | |
| marines | 5/24/2006 |
| Q: i am writing a screen play and the main character is in the marines. he enters the military after ... A: Ms. Houghtelling, To begin with, why don't you go on line and look at http://www.marines.com/ . ... | |
| practical?? | 3/29/2005 |
| Q: I would just like to know how practical is it really to get into screenwriting? Will I be able to ... A: If you want to know about screenwriting and its advantages and disadvantages please go to Writers ... | |
| About war | 9/16/2004 |
| Q: I have this idea that involves a flashback to World War 2. My question is how emmotionally and ... A: My question is how emmotionally and physically draining were battles in that particular war? I am ... | |
| Traning Academy in US | 4/22/2004 |
| Q: I have a character who joins the Miltary Academy as a career option in 1980s. Then he is deployed to ... A: Shashi, This is not as easy to answer as it would seem. What you are really asking about is how ... | |
| about tibet&secret armies in china | 4/15/2004 |
| Q: greetings,sir,i'm typing this message in order to ask you something about policies given by the ... A: I do not know anything about secret Chinese armies. What I do know is that on 7 October 1950, ... | |
| Extraction tactics | 3/28/2004 |
| Q: .. I'm outlining a story and I need my main character to extract a deep cover agent from danger. ... A: I'm outlining a story and I need my main character to extract a deep cover agent from danger. Would ... | |
Writing Plays/Screenwriting
Answers by Expert:
John M. Lovett
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I answer questions regarding film production and screenwriting. I will answer questions dealing with screenwriting style, ideas, film production, format, and agents.
Experience
Sixteen years working in the motion picture and television industries as a screenwriter, producer, and military technical advisor. Have two produced movies TWO WEEKS and CATHY MORGAN. Worked with Digital Ranch Productions, Warriors Inc, and Nichols Productions.
Education/Credentials
CSUF, BA, 1980
UCLA, Certificate in Screenwriting, 2009
Past/Present Clients
Warriors, Inc.
Dreamworks Interactive
Legacy Interactive
Silvertouch Pictures
Synergy Group
Nichols Productions
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