And Scriptshadow is going to help you do it!
Whenever I don’t know what picture to use, I use a picture of the greatest candy ever.
First of all, I want to wish everyone a happy new year. It’s going to be a fun year at Scriptshadow. I have a couple of tricks up my sleeve I’m eager to reveal in the coming months. I recently got this amazing idea to help writers better connect with agents and producers that I’m shocked it took me this long to think up. I’ll share that with you soon.
But I’m excited, most of all, about us bringing new stories into the world. Each year, a select few are fortunate enough to experience that surge of inspiration that enables them to craft a tale that resonates with a large portion of the populace. My wish is that this opportunity presents itself to as many of you as possible.
Initially, I had a plan where you were going to write two screenplays in 2024, one for yourself and one for the industry. The former would allow you to engage in a more personal journey without having to worry about marketability or popularity. The latter would allow you to write the ultimate industry script, the kind that managers, agents and producers go gaga over.
After a couple of dozen e-mails from you guys, I’ve decided that that’s not the way to go. Not enough of you were interested in locking yourselves down into an unmarketable screenplay. Which was inspiring to hear. It tells me that you’re in this game for the right reasons – to entertain people. You’re not here to stroke your own ego.
So we’re still going to write those two screenplays. But I’m no longer putting restrictions on them. Write whatever script you want. Every week, here on the site, I’ll act as your guide – pushing you forward to make sure you not only finish your script but finish with the best version of that script possible.
What’s the reward you get for all this? Two completed screenplays by the end of the year, thank you very much! The reason two is better than one is because every screenplay is a crapshoot. You don’t know if it’s going to suck or not. By writing two scripts, you double your chances of writing something good. I’m tired of watching writers spend 3 years of their lives pushing one script. You need options.
The other reward is Mega Showdown. We do Logline Showdowns every month here on the site. They go through the weekend. But, in this case, we’re going to do a gigantic week-long showdown at the end of each six months specifically for these two scripts. It’s going to be fun. You’ll need a good logline to get into the competition. But once you’re in, you’ll have a chance to get your first 5-10 pages published on the site so that people are voting on more than just an idea. They’re voting because they’ve been pulled into your story.
So, what’s your first assignment? Over the next two weeks, I want you to decide on the concept for your first script. Why two whole weeks? Because your concept is going to make your screenwriting journey either REALLY EASY or REALLY HARD for you. If you choose a strong concept, everything about this journey becomes a thousand times easier. I can’t emphasize that enough. It all starts with the concept.
A good concept also makes writing the script easier. Take “Bad Boy,” for example, the kick-ass script I just reviewed in the newsletter about a dog who ends up with a new owner (spoiler) who he comes to realize is a serial killer. That concept starts generating scenes before you’ve even started writing it. You can already see the scenes in your mind. You know the scene is coming where the dog first sees his owner kill a victim. You know you’ve got plenty of scenes where the most recent kidnapped victim will try and connect with the dog to help her escape. The concept is providing you with scenes.
If your concept is more passive or internal, such as the film, The Zone of Interest, I promise you you will be pulling your hair out trying to come up with scenes to write. So, I don’t just want you to come up with a marketable concept. I want you to come up with a concept that’s going to make the writing easy. It’s going to generate scenes for you.
We can use this post here to test out ideas. I would strongly recommend getting feedback. If nobody’s excited about your idea, don’t let your ego get in the way. Move on to a new idea. That’s what these two weeks are about. They’re about throwing stuff out there and seeing what sticks. Because you can go back and change characters that aren’t working in a script. You can go back and change weak plot points. You can rewrite bad dialogue twenty times over until you get it right. But the one thing you can’t go back and change is your concept. You’re locked into it. So make sure you’re ULTRA CONFIDENT about your script idea. Don’t wait until the Mega Showdown to find out your idea sucks.
I know some of you are not keen on posting your movie ideas on the internet. You can always test them on me, as well. It cost 25 bucks (carsonreeves1@gmail.com) but I’ll tell you where I rate the concept on a 1-10 scale, I’ll give you a little feedback, I’ll rewrite the logline for you, and I’ll tell you straight up if it has zero chance of being chosen. So don’t come to me if you’re looking for a pat on the back. I’m going to give you the harsh truth because I don’t want to send anyone down a six-month road that I know will lead to failure.
I can’t emphasize this enough, guys. The concept you choose is going to have the BIGGEST INFLUENCE on the reaction to your script of any other factor. And if you don’t believe that, revisit your reactions to every single movie you heard about in 2023. I’m guessing you had a strong immediate reaction when you saw those trailers. That’s because we judge movies on the strength or weakness of the idea. I want you to come into this ring with the best fighter possible.
Okay, have fun, and don’t be afraid to throw out a bunch of concepts. Sometimes it’s the ideas we DON’T think are going to resonate that resonate. You never know until you share them.
Let the writing begin!
