Why Hollywood is ready for subtle storytelling at last. Part 2: MANCHESTER BY THE SEA’s complex Protagonist
We delve into what MANCHESTER BY THE SEA storytelling and narrative techniques were implemented to make this film a subtle success. (more…)
WriteMovies Writing Tips – Robert McKee and being secure as a writer
WriteMovies Writing Tips – Robert McKee and being secure as a writer
“Secure writers don’t sell first drafts. They patiently rewrite until the script is as director-ready, as actor-ready as possible. Unfinished work invites tampering, while polished, mature work seals its integrity.” – Robert McKee (more…)
Spring 2017 Screenwriting Contest – Semi-Finalists Revealed!
We are delighted to announce the Semi-Finalists for our Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest.
Since the Bonus two-week extension in late May, we’ve had a lot of scripts to get through – but it’s been an enjoyable task reading through every one submitted – so thank you to everyone who entered the contest.
At this time, we try to only include scripts that we’re still considering as a potential winner. Having made the Quarter-Finalists shows that a script or writer already has some clear potential, and a Semi-Final place means that with more development this script could become a contender. Keep that in mind as you think about what to do with your script next. With the Summer 2017 Contest having just recently opened, the results should give you a good guide to the current state of your idea, writing and script.
We hope that those who did not make the Semi-Finals will stay in touch with us: very few writers secure an industry commission with their first few screenplays. We have enjoyed our exchanges with you and continue to work hard at making this site more relevant to your careers. Don’t forget that many of our writers got their careers going by using our consulting service: CLICK HERE
If you’ve sent us a revised version of a previous script but it’s still not gained the result you were hoping for, we recommend that you consider getting a consultancy on it from us. That way you can find out what we currently feel is holding your script back. And don’t forget our latest round of contests. You can get free entry to our main contest and the Featured Script of the Month when ordering a consultancy HERE.
So, here are the WriteMovies Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest Semi-Finalists, all of whom will get re-evaluated and new eyes as we select our top three Winners to be announced Friday, July 7th.
| SEMI-FINALISTS | ||||
| PERFIDIES, Bill Baber | INSURRECTION (Pilot), Simon Bowler | THE 405, Patrick Byrne | BURNER, Bob Canning | SEEMINGLY HARMONIOUS, Dengxian Cao |
| FELIX KERSTEN, Juniet Cedric | CAPE ANGEL BLUES, Carl B. Clark | AMERICAN HUNGER, Victor de Oliveira | CRAZY WITH LOVE, Ronald L. Ecker | THE ASHERAH, Ronald Ecker |
| COLONIALS, Ian Fletcher | DRAGONS, Jason Ginsburg | THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE BAILEY, Phillip Hardy | NOBODY’S TRACKS, Guy Harvey | PEANUT, Manny Jimenez Sr. |
| CHOKE JOB, David Johnson | THE FACTION, Kevin Karp | GAMERS, Travis Lemke | MYSPACE LOVE, Christophe Lourenço | NEVER A WORD OF A LIE, Karl Mather |
| LOVE CRUSH, Hamilton Mitchell | THE LOCKSMITH, Jeffrey Morales | THE LOSING GAME, Bernhard Riedhammer | THE LORDS OF FARHAVEN, Michael Snow | THE CHERRY ROOM, Christine, Stevens DeLorenzo |
| BLACKBERRIES IN THE DREAM HOUSE, Patrick Towne and Diane Frank | LOVING MY ENEMY, Maria Rosario A. Yano |
Why Hollywood is ready for subtle storytelling at last. Part 1: Shedding some MOONLIGHT on subtle characterization and storytelling.
Watching several of the most acclaimed movies of the last year, one thing that really stood out to me was how subtle and low-key they were. MOONLIGHT, MANCHESTER BY THE SEA, and ARRIVAL have a lot of differences, but they’re all more subtle scripts than we’re used to seeing at the cinema. Their success points to a new willingness in Hollywood, critics and audiences for subtle storytelling – as long as the subject matter is deep enough to deserve it! At WriteMovies we’re pleased to see this happening – and we think that the kinds of script we back and pitch can benefit. (more…)
Spring 2017 Screenwriting Contest – Quarter Finalists Revealed!
We are delighted to announce the Quarter-Finalists for our Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest.
Since the Bonus two-week extension in late May, we’ve had a lot of scripts to get through – but it’s been an enjoyable task reading through every one submitted – so thank you to everyone who entered the contest.
We decided against many competent works for a variety of reasons. Most were simply outperformed by other scripts at this stage in their development. Some were not suited for the cinematic medium, others conceptually flawed, and some lacked commercial appeal. But the enthusiasm and dedication from each writer is clear to see, and a lot explored genuinely distinctive territory that deserves further development. This should not be the end of the journey for anyone who submitted to us.
We hope that those who did not make the Quarter-Finals will stay in touch with us: very few writers secure an industry commission with their first few screenplays. We have enjoyed our exchanges with you and continue to work hard at making this site more relevant to your careers. Don’t forget that many of our writers got their careers going by using our consulting service: CLICK HERE
If you’ve sent us a revised version of a previous script but it’s still not gained the result you were hoping for, we recommend that you consider getting a consultancy on it from us. That way you can find out what we currently feel is holding your script back. And don’t forget our latest round of contests. You can get free entry to our main contest and the Featured Script of the Month when ordering a consultancy HERE.
So, here are the WriteMovies Spring 2017 International Screenwriting Contest Quarter-Finalists, all of whom will get re-evaluated and new eyes as we select our Semi-Finalists:
| QUARTER-FINALISTS | ||||
| ARIZONA, Natacha Astuto | PERFIDIES, Bill Baber | THE DAWN OF EVE, James Bingham | LADY ON THE RUN, Virginia Bola | ONCE A KILLER, Virginia Bola |
| TO DIE IN TAJOUTE, Virginia Bola | THE CAGES OF CORCORAN, Virginia Bola | TWO CHILDREN OF FATE, Ian Bonser | INSURRECTION (Feature), Simon Bowler | INSURRECTION (Pilot), Simon Bowler |
| THE 405, Patrick Byrne | BLESSE, Bob Canning | BURNER, Bob Canning | THE GHOSTS OF LONDONDERRY, Bob Canning | SEEMINGLY HARMONIOUS, Dengxian Cao |
| FELIX KERSTEN, Juniet Cedric | CAPE ANGEL BLUES, Carl B. Clark | ROAD KILL, Miles Colella | MARIGOLD, Lisa J. Cristoforo | AMERICAN HUNGER, Victor de Oliveira |
| CRAZY WITH LOVE, Ronald L. Ecker | THE ASHERAH, Ronald Ecker | COLONIALS, Ian Fletcher | ROCK BOTTOM, Mark Flood | DRAGONS, Jason Ginsburg |
| THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GEORGE BAILEY, Phillip Hardy | NOBODY’S TRACKS, Guy Harvey | PEANUT, Manny Jimenez Sr. | CHOKE JOB, David Johnson | THE FACTION, Kevin Karp |
| CHARMER, David Kurtz | FOR THE LOVE OF PETE, David Kurtz | GAMERS, Travis Lemke | MYSPACE LOVE, Christophe Lourenço | NEVER A WORD OF A LIE, Karl Mather |
| LOVE CRUSH, Hamilton Mitchell | THE LOCKSMITH, Jeffrey Morales | WHEN I WAS A CHILD, Terry Needham | LAST RIDE OF METRO 313, Michael Neyland | TABLE FOR FOUR, Jim Norman |
| DEPARTING O’HARE, Bill Papa | SHINE YOUR EYES, Clint Pearson | MALE DELIVERY, Paul Penley | THE LOSING GAME, Bernhard Riedhammer | HERE, THEN THERE, Paul Sargia |
| UP THE MAST, Andrew Smith | THE LORDS OF FARHAVEN, Michael Snow | RICHER THAN A WHITE MAN, Christine Stevens DeLorenzo | John Smith, IRON MAIDENS | THE CHERRY ROOM, Christine, Stevens DeLorenzo |
| BLACKBERRIES IN THE DREAM HOUSE, Patrick Towne and Diane Frank | THE SECRET OF BANRION WOOD, Persephone Vandegrift | THREE WISHES, Rita Wheeler | LOVING MY ENEMY, Maria Rosario A. Yano |
June Featured Script of the Month winner – LAST RIDE OF METRO 313 by Michael Neyland
We are proud to be able to announce LAST RIDE OF METRO 313 by Michael Neyland as the winner of our Featured Script of the Month for scripts submitted in May 2017.
This bonus prize has been created to reward and develop the most interesting script we receive in the previous month, and the result has no bearing on the result of other entries to any of our competitions. As always, it was an interesting challenge to pick the most interesting script from such a wide variety of scripts written to a high-quality, but Michael thoroughly deserves this.
For winning the Featured Script of the Month, Michael receives free Judging Feedback, plus a free resubmission for a redrafted version of his script, LAST RIDE OF METRO 313, to our upcoming Summer 2017 Competition! On top of that, we give Michael and his script the kind of publicity that our previous Monthly Contest winners have received.
Honorable Mentions:
VEIL, by Harlan Banks.
THE LOCKSMITH, by Jeffrey Morales.
AMERICAN HUNGER , by Victor de Oliveira.
Here’s a quick bio on Michael:
Michael is a married, father-of-one with a cat (a large, furry, and very floppy cat).
He studied English, with a focus in Creative Writing, at FSU before shifting over into animation and design, graduating from Full Sail University with a MFA in Media Design in 2010. He now works full time as a graphic and broadcast designer and co-owns a design company (Infidium, LLC) with his wife, Susan.
Writing has always been a large part of Michael’s life – he’s been writing short stories and comics since as long as he can remember. But it wasn’t until fairly recently that the pursuit became more than just a hobby, largely by the encouragement and support of his wife (who is an invaluable source for creative – sometimes brutal, but always honest – feedback). And, with more than 40 outlines already written, he’s eager to build off his experiences working on “Last Ride of Metro 313,” and turn these outlines into completed projects.
His screenplay, “Last Ride of Metro 313,” is the first step in a larger universe of stories in the contemporary fantasy/horror genre.
Michael and his family live in Northern Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.
Here’s a quick synopsis on the script itself:
Passengers on a commuter bus become stranded during a storm and must work together to survive strange and unnatural creatures.
Congratulations once again to Michael for winning the Featured Script of the Month! To be in with a chance of winning the Featured Script of the Month yourself, all you have to do is submit your script to a contest (CLICK HERE) or order a consultancy package (CLICK HERE) and you’ll be entered into the Featured Script of the Month FOR FREE!
Our pick of the web for April-May 2017 – From the @WriteMovies Twitter Feed!
Our pick of the web for April and May 2017 – From the @WriteMovies Twitter Feed!
Our @WriteMovies Twitter feed has been sharing lots of exciting things giving our tips of the best new articles, insights and offers for screenwriters and producers on the web. And in case you’ve missed anything there, here is our pick for April and May 2017…
Shrek 5 script is complete – http://www.denofgeek.com/uk/movies/shrek/48433/shrek-5-script-is-complete- Ridley Scott Reveals His Original, Brutal Ending To ‘Alien’ – http://theplaylist.net/ridley-scott-reveals-original-brutal-ending-alien-20170404/?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter
- Get Out Surpasses Blair Witch as Highest-Grossing Debut for Original Screenplay – http://io9.gizmodo.com/get-out-surpasses-blair-witch-as-highest-grossing-debut-1793937038
- Avatar 2 Script Is “Amazing” And Will Begin Filming This Fall, Star Says – https://www.gamespot.com/articles/avatar-2-script-is-amazing-and-will-begin-filming-/1100-6449163/
- April Featured Script of the Month winner – THE CHERRY ROOM by Christine Stevens DeLorenzo – https://writemovies.com/april-featured-script-month-winner-cherry-room-christine-stevens-delorenzo/
- Meet our Winter 2016 Screenwriting Contest Third Placed Winners: IN THE SHADOW OF FREEDOM by Elliott Riebman and Michael Gozzard – https://writemovies.com/winter-2016-screenwriting-contest-third-placed-winner-in-the-shadow-of-freedom/
- Bilingual in English-French or English-German? Love movies and writing? Get in touch! – https://writemovies.com/relaunch-opportunity-for-english-french-german-bilinguals/
- The ‘Star Wars: Episode IX’ script has been completed – http://www.nme.com/news/film/star-wars-9-script-completed-2037816#g9UeAjASBjMuQild.99
- How “Prison Break” Helped Wentworth Miller Break Into Screenwriting – https://www.fastcompany.com/3058437/wentworth-miller
- Meet our Winter 2016 Screenwriting Contest Second Placed Winner: THE ARENA by Belinda Whitney – https://writemovies.com/meet-our-winter-2016-screenwriting-contest-second-placed-winner/
- Screenwriters to Watch, Class of 2016: Where Are They Now? Checking in With Seven of Last Year’s Picks – https://www.moviemaker.com/archives/moviemaking/screenwriting/screenwriters-to-watch-class-of-2016-where-are-they-now/
- Review: Final Draft 10, the Mac app that aims to make light work of screenplay writing – https://9to5mac.com/2017/04/21/final-draft-10-review-mac-ipad-screenplay-app/
- Meet our Winter 2016 Screenwriting Contest Grand Prize Winner: BLACKOUT.COM by Ruben Bush III – https://writemovies.com/meet-winter-2016-screenwriting-contest-grand-prize-winner-blackout-com-ruben-bush-iii/
- ‘Game of Thrones’ bosses have tightened script security – http://ewn.co.za/2017/05/01/game-of-thrones-bosses-have-tightened-script-security
- Titans: Geoff Johns Already Working on Live-Action Series Script – http://screenrant.com/teen-titans-geoff-johns-tv-series-script/?utm_source=SR-TW&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_campaign=SR-TW&view=list
- Example Studio Consulting: GONE GIRL Script – https://writemovies.com/example-studio-consulting-gone-girl-script/
- May Featured Script of the Month winner – IDLE OF MAN by Joseph Campbell – https://writemovies.com/may-featured-script-month-winner-idle-man-joseph-campbell/
- 5 Types of Loglines That Don’t Work – https://www.inktip.com/article_single.php?a_id=177
- How we represent and sell YOUR SCRIPT through Talent Scout International Management… – https://writemovies.com/about/represent-sell-script-talent-scout-international-management/
- WriteMovies Writing Tips: Writing Beyond the First Page – https://writemovies.com/writemovies-writing-tips-writing-beyond-first-page/