On Tonight's Euro #scriptchat we talked about the Planning and Preparation that happens before the 1st draft is penned. There were lots of great tips so enjoy the read!
Moderator: @teenierussell
Teenie Russell@teenierussell
It's #SCRIPTCHAT O'CLOCK! Let's talk about what happens before the writing starts! #scriptchat twubs.com/scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
For those of you who use Tweetchat, it is no longer. #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
Hello #scriptchat!
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Taro@TaroJ
Hi #Scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
I'm testing out tubs.com, another option is OneQube, here's how -scriptchat.blogspot.co.uk/p/how-to-chat.… #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@DebbieBMoon Hi there *waves* #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat One thing I've learned over past ten years: what you do before the "writing" is the *real* writing. Prep = most important part
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
So, how much prep do you all do from the moment you have your initial idea, before you start your script? #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@DebbieBMoon Hello #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@DebbieBMoon I have learnt that first hand, writing a feature without a clue of "what's next" is time consuming #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell I am probably guilty of using "planning" to delay the writing. Not a very good technique #scriptchat.
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_@flightrisker
@teenierussell I'm very new to all this but I've found I definitely don't do enough! I wanna rush to the> #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@Gordondon Hello :-) #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell Hello :-) #scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat precise process changes every script, but mostly... First stage is the file box. Photos, news articles, notes, scribbled scenes.
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
#scriptchat. It usually starts with a dream. Then I test pilot it on a few willing victims. Rave reviews means a month of thinking b4 writg
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat Then rough scene outline on index cards. Then rough draft. (sometimes those two steps in reverse order!) Then proper first draft
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@DebbieBMoon amen to that girlfriend *fist bump* #scriptchat
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_@flightrisker
@teenierussell >script-writing part and when I get there I get about 2pages in before getting stuck! #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@flightrisker I share the sentiment, I have an idea and really want to start writing but now know what happens when I do that#scriptchat
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Jonathan Peace@Jonathan_Peace
@teenierussell after I've written a first draft, I put it away & spend a week outlining the next script (beat sheet) #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
First I think of the idea, then I plan my Oscar winning speech#scriptchat
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Taro@TaroJ
@DebbieBMoon which would you say you spend the most time on?#Scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @TaroJ Probably the file box, because that goes on for weeks, as a sideline to other projects. That's the idea "brewing" stage.
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell I start with a rough outline. Try to work out the characters. Then throw ideas on a whiteboard. #scriptchat
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Jonathan Peace@Jonathan_Peace
But that week of intense prep could be after mulling the idea/making notes for months, even years. #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
A file box sounds like a great idea, I might use Evernote in a similar fashion @DebbieBMoon #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell @DebbieBMoon I too use the notes function on my phone. The problem is decyphering them :-) #scriptchat
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Taro@TaroJ
Has anyone wrote a documentary? Might have one coming up soon, and any planning advice would be great #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
If it's a short, I will normally write it with no prep. #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@Gordondon @DebbieBMoon I use the notes all the time, it's great as it syncs to Mac, but I do like the old pen and paper#scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat Pictures are really important for me at the planning stage. Locations, real people, actors... Anyone else?
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@DebbieBMoon I can't remember ever using pictures as prep, although I have recently drawn my characters #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
Someone recently talked about using Pinterest as a mood board for characters, locations, etc @DebbieBMoon #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@DebbieBMoon I use music playlists rather than pictures and put music I think is tonally right for the idea. #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
How much research do you all make? #scriptchat
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Stephanie Ancell@stephanieancell
@DebbieBMoon I've started using pinterest boards to flesh out characters, pinning what they might wear, where they live etc.#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
I've read scripts that have been very detailed with real street names and locations; I would rather write them more generic#scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell Depends on the idea. If based in the real world then will do some if needed for authenticity (e.g. procedures).#scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @stephanieancell That's interesting. I might try that.
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@stephanieancell I love that, I would spend too much time pinning though #scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @teenierussell Not enough! Though I did recently have to put an idea aside because I couldn't get enough research info...
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @teenierussell you have to be sure it means something to everyone. Empire State Building, yes. Norwegian Church, Cardiff? No.
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@DebbieBMoon Definitely, landmarks help with visualisation if it's important to the plot #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
We're half-way through Euro #scriptchat talking about the preparation before 1st draft, what are your methods? #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
Does everyone here do a full treatment before writing the 1st draft? #scriptchat
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Taro@TaroJ
Hmm in the name if research I demand a trip to Hawaii#Scriptchat
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
@TaroJ #scriptchat Nice. What's the doc about?
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell Yes indeed. I have also tried the scriptment including chunks of dialogue. #scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
@teenierussell If dealing with facts - then you HAVE to do your research. With the internet it's no too difficult to find out#scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @teenierussell just index cards, unless have to do treatment for someone else.Gives me enough info, but also freedom to diverge
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
I have never been patient enough to write a treatment, but am planning on doing one after I've nailed the outline #scriptchat
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Taro@TaroJ
@NamingJasonC one on a famous footballer and another which I have to keep hush hush but is Motorsport based #Scriptchat
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Debra Eckerling@WriteOnOnline
Last day to post goals & be entered in the June drawing to win a book from @MWPFilmBookswriteononline.com/2013/05/06/jun… #writeon #scriptchat
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Sharita@14Shari
my story is set in New York, since I don't live there, but in Holland, I use movie stills to get the vibe #scriptchat twubs.com/scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell Mine are probably more like expanded outlines really :-) #scriptchat
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David Doyle@davidrdoyle81
“@teenierussell: First I think of the idea, then I plan my Oscar winning speech #scriptchat” Beautiful.
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
Joe Cornish talked about doing so much research that he was bursting to write, he had so many ideas. I like that #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@14Shari you might just have to go to New York ;-) #scriptchat
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
@DebbieBMoon #scriptchat. Like my cosmic board, I cut out pics of peeps close to my imagined characters & prop 'em up in front of computer.
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @SimonMeacock yeah, you get to a stage where you just *know* you're ready to write now...
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@DebbieBMoon @teenierussell How do you plan for a whole series? Do you know each episode before starting or just the main arcs? #scriptchat
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Simon Underwood@SiFoulaReel
In olden days (when I wasn't as good) I'd dive right in to scripting. Now, think up pretty much whole story, and then write a...#scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @Gordondon With Wolfblood, I knew other writers would come sboard, so most of my prep was character.Then they contribute to plot
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SimonMeacock I was really inspired by his talk, I love that he just went out & chatted to the type of kids he was writing about#scriptchat
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Simon Underwood@SiFoulaReel
...scene outline - every separate scene in order, sometimes with notes for dialogue or "stuff that needs to happen here." #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SiFoulaReel when I did the same I suddenly realised I either didn't know how I was getting from p1 to the last page...#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SiFoulaReel ...or I just didn't have enough material for a whole feature #noplanning #scriptchat
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
@teenierussell #scriptchat. Presently tons of research with the Apocryphic Bible etc. Next outing will be the police & forensics :-(
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David Doyle@davidrdoyle81
@teenierussell #scriptchat When I have idea I try smash out the first ten pages to see if my trail if thought looks right. Then index cards.
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Simon Underwood@SiFoulaReel
@teenierussell If I'm missing connections, this seems to bring it to light ("Oh, I need a scene where this happens somewhere.")#scriptchat
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Simon Underwood@SiFoulaReel
@teenierussell First completed project this way has been TV pilot, and it took a while but the plot held & was the right length.#scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
#scriptchat Did my first treatment for a short last year - found it INVALUABLE in focusing the story. Will always do one now
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell think writers do the wrong research sometimes. Best to start w/industry stuff in first stages, than story stuff#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
I have a separate notes area where I write the lines of dialogue that come mind before I'm ready for them #scriptchat
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robinbellwriter@robinbellwriter
Prep to me is thinking time. Build it in my head for 3 months to over a year #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
Anyone tried software to aid planning? I have used Outline 4D and Celtx's index cards #scriptchat
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell first: what's gone before? What's different about mine? What are the reference films/shows? Who's my audience?#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SimonMeacock how long is your short? #scriptchat
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Gill Kirk@gill_kirk
@Bang2write what do you mean about industry research first, before story? #scriptchat #beingthick #scriptchattwubs.com/scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
#scriptchat For me it's research, outline, character development, treatment then draft zero (the one no-one sees).
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @Bang2write @teenierussell That kind of research is vital too!
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell from there, THEN story specifics - make that concept bombproof. Test it to destruction. Build it up from logline#scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
@teenierussell 25 pages #scriptchat
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Writer's Carnival@WritersCarnival
Calling all #script and #screenplay #writers to check out our#script section at writerscarnival.ca #scriptchat Join for free!#WIP
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell get feedback on your logline. Write a one pager. Gauge reactions to that. Short treatment. More feedback#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@Gordondon I didn't get on with Celtx index cards, I prefer moving paper around, what did you think of it? #scriptchat
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janetvaneeden@janetvaneeden
#Scriptchat @teenierussell Have learnt to do a good pitch: tagline logline, synopsis then beat sheet. After many random rewrites it;s best
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell the more prep you do @ foundation level, the easier the draft is to write ...And more likely someone will want it#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SimonMeacock also known as the vomit draft (love the expression) #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell I thought it had its uses. That said, I have recently put up a whiteboard and use post-its. #scriptchat
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@gill_kirk just what has gone before; what's different about your story; who your audience is etc. #scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
@teenierussell oops I forgot to include scene breakdown before first draft :S #scriptchat
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
@Bang2write @teenierussell #scriptchat. Then you settle down to write the script. Completed it. And it all goes to pot ;-)
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
I test loglines on others before anything happens, it's great to find out if you're pitching something that already exists #scriptchat
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Taro@TaroJ
@Gordondon @teenierussell that's exactly what we did nicking the kids whiteboard for a while, they weren't impressed #Scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @teenierussell @SimonMeacock I call mine the 'proof of concept' draft. Is this *really* a movie?
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@NamingJasonC @teenierussell haha tell me about it! But you'll probably get back on track quicker if prep done ;) #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell The number of times friends have said "Oh, you mean like..." is both disconcerting and useful. #scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
@Bang2write @teenierussell How long/short is a logline? One sentence? #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@SimonMeacock I see how a treatment would be useful for that length, I don't do one for 5-12pg shorts #scriptchat
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@DebbieBMoon @SimonMeacock yep, second that too!#scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat @SimonMeacock Generally one, sometimes two. 25-30 words is good to aim for, but some will need to be longer.
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Connor@fastcatmiles
“@Bang2write: #Scriptchat The 7 Deadly Writing Sinsbang2write.com/2013/06/the-7-…” - brilliant read!
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Jeanne V Bowerman@jeannevb
Putting my writing first. Who's up for a #writingsprint? Psst@RWWfilm @UnkScreenwriter #happinessmeter #scriptchat
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simon meacock@SimonMeacock
@teenierussell For a 5 or ten pager I wouldn't bother, maybe just an outline. This needed it and was a great development tool.#scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@Gordondon exactly, it's deflating, you have a great idea and it's already some obscure film #scriptchat
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@SimonMeacock @teenierussell there's loads of logline advice on the blog but generally, 25-60 words is the ideal #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell But also shows I am thinking in a commercial sense, I suppose. #scriptchat
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Wallace Brown@NamingJasonC
@Gordondon @teenierussell #scriptchat Or worse. The producer asks what two films can u compare yours to? Erm...erm..erm...?
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Mr Matthew Stott@ComedyBurble
@teenierussell I always do what I call my script skeleton. Each scene given its own bullet point. Refine until ready. #scriptchat
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
@ComedyBurble I like the idea of bullet points rather than a full treatment. #scriptchat
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Debbie Moon@DebbieBMoon
#scriptchat Okay, time for The Returned. Bye all!
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Teenie Russell@teenierussell
Thank you everyone for joining in tonight! It's been really helpful seeing how everyone works. Lots of great tips! #scriptchat
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Lucy V Hay@Bang2write
@teenierussell not a probif your story already exists BUT needs a new take - we don't want stories that have already been told#scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
Thanks for another great #scriptchat.
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Mr Matthew Stott@ComedyBurble
@teenierussell If I find myself going too in depth, it tells me I'm ready to start on the actual script #scriptchat
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Gordondon@Gordondon
@teenierussell Thanks for a brilliant #scriptchat, plenty to think about. Have a good one.
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