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Script Proofreading
3 Ways You’re Using BEAT Incorrectly
(beat) it Sometimes you need your actors to pause in your script. One of the common ways to convey this action... or rather, inaction, is to use the word "beat." Here are three ways that people typically misuse BEAT: 3. At the beginning of a dialogue block Some...
Are You Punctuating Acronyms And Initials Correctly In Dialogue?
Screenwriting is Weird There are tons of "rules" in screenwriting that take a long time to figure out. Many of these so-called rules are shibboleths or leftovers from a bygone era that are handy at weeding out the amateurs from the pros. However, most of the standards...
Reader Question: One Or Two Line Spaces Before Scene Headings?
Scriptwrecked reader, Jenny, asks about line spacing: Final Draft allows you to manually adjust to either ONE or TWO spaces between each scene.Does it really matter?Increasing from one to two lines adds about a page per 120 pages script, so does it really impact...
Turn Your Script Into A Novel & Sell It – This Guy Did!
Interview with Paul A. Mendelson Paul A. Mendelson is a professional screenwriter and a super nice guy to boot! He was kind enough to give us some insights into how he's been able to take his scripts, turn them into novels, and get Hollywood's interest. If you're...
New Shot, New Paragraph
When do you start a new paragraph? One thing that tends to confound new screenwriters is the issue of paragraphs. Some scripts have longer paragraphs. Other scripts have shorter ones -- some as short as one word. So how do you decide it's time to start a new...
Quick Screenwriting Tip: Don’t Abbreviate In Dialogue
Quick Screenwriting Tip: Don't use abbreviations in dialogue. Abbreviated words like "Dept." and "Sen." are confusing in dialogue and force the reader to stop and think, however briefly... which is bad. Is it "Deputy" or "Department" / "Senator" or "Senior"? Just...
The Incredible(s) Sale!
It's finally here! One of my favorite films of all time is THE INCREDIBLES... Not just favorite animated films -- favorite films, period. I just think it's brilliant. In celebration of the opening week of the long-awaited sequel that was just released, I'm offering a...
Shakes His Head
Efficiency Screenwriting is all about efficiency. Maximum impact with the minimum number of words. So one of my biggest pet peeves is when I see the following in scripts: She shakes her head no. There are two big things wrong with that action line: Why is the word...
You’re All Invited – WAKE UNTO ME Online Premiere
Wake Unto Me A woman alleging to be a time traveler makes a startling proposition to someone she claims will become her future spouse. Most of you know me for my proofreading and script consulting services, but I also dabble in filmmaking. My last short film, TRIPLE...
TRIPLE TIMe – Official Selection at Roswell Film Festival!
World Premiere of TRIPLE TIMe After some private screenings and notable contest wins, I'm proud to announce that my short film TRIPLE TIMe is having its official world premiere at the Roswell Film Festival! Here's more info on the event that takes place from April 24...
The Importance of Active Verbs
Dude, aren't all verbs active? Good question, smartass! The truth is, there are passive and active forms of verbs. The active form (without the "ing") is almost always the best one to use. For example, I often see a variation of the following sentence: Jack is sitting...
MoviePass – Is It Worth It?
What is it? MoviePass is a service that allows you to see as many movies as you like (but only one movie per day) for a flat monthly fee. So in a 31 day month, you could conceivably see 31 different movies... or one movie 31 times, if that's your thing. When the...