Daily posts on screenwriting. Writer of 8 films, including WINCHESTER + others. I share what I've learned as a pro at https://xitter.cf/t.co/TECqRNjU1B and @UHouston š¾
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Tom Vaughan retweeted
I work with a lot of writers who assume a 30 page pilot is easier than an hour long. Trust me, itās almost always harder.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
YOU HEARD THE HEADMANš£ļø
šļø: uhcoogs.co/tix
Tom Vaughan retweeted
Don't ignore the deep connection between your physical, mental and emotional state, and your writing. Often what we interpret as creative bankruptcy, self-doubt, or even a lack of motivation and discipline, are symptoms of a far deeper struggle. Creativity mirrors the inner self.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
Hollywood magic still exists.
Your script can land your top choice to star.
You can work with dream producers.
Bidding wars can still happen.
And all thatās made even more special because you get to make a studio movie with your best friend from film school.
LFG, LGF.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
First, I stopped responding to people I donāt respect.
Then, I stopped trying to explain myself to people who benefit from misunderstanding me.
Finally, I stopped giving my attention to people I wouldnāt choose to sit across from at dinner.
Once you remove the noise, there really isnāt much left to respond toā¦ because the people who matter arenāt the ones doing goofy shii.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
Donāt let anyone tell you that you canāt succeed. It is absolutely possible. It doesnāt happen overnight. It takes hard work, patience, perseverance, networkingā¦ you canāt give up. From my first written script to my first produced film? 12 years. Keep writing.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
I am here to help you as much as is humanly possible with your feature or TV pilot!
Here is @GareRick.
storyandplot.com/garrickdionā¦
Tom Vaughan retweeted
You don't need a letter. Email subject line: SPEC SCRIPT LIKE [YOUR MOVIE]. Email content: I wrote [your movie title]. Logline: [logline]. Interested?
That's it. The query all comes down to the LOGLINE. And that comes down to your STORY CONCEPT. #scriptchat
Tom Vaughan retweeted
In the early stages of our screenplay, too often we think in terms of plot points and information.
It's why we get so many screenplays that just go along. Something happens. Then something else. And then something after that.
Stop doing this. Instead, think in terms of great scenes.
Kick-ass, emotional, hilarious, horrifying, sexy, romantic scenes.
Any story idea can produce information. Does your story idea produce great scenes?
The best, high-concept ideas promise those scenes in the logline.
So start with this early.
If your idea doesn't give you great scenes in its conception, maybe the idea itself isn't ready.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
I reread this every year.
I cry like a baby every year.
Todd Beamer died a father, husband, and hero.
Todd: Helloā¦ Operatorā¦ listen to me. I canāt speak very loud. This is an emergency. Iām a passenger on a United flight to San Francisco. Our plane has been hijacked.
Lisa: I understand. Can they see you?
Todd: No. There are three that we know of. They have knives ā razor knives, like box cutters. Someone announced from the cockpit there was a bomb. It sounded fake.
Lisa: Your name?Todd: Todd Beamer. United Flight 93.Todd: They killed one passenger in first class. They forced most of us back. Fourteen of us here. Five flight attendants. The guy with the bomb ordered us to sit on the floor.
Lisa: Are you okay?
Todd: Weāre going downā¦ wait. No. Weāre leveling off. We changed directions. Weāre flying east again.
Todd: A guy named Jeremy called his wife. She told him two planes hit the World Trade Center. Lisa, is that true?
Lisa: I have to tell you the truth. Itās very bad. Both towers are gone. A third plane hit the Pentagon. Our country is under attack. Iām afraid your plane may be part of their plan.
Todd: Oh God. Lisa, will you do something for me? Call my wife and my kids. Promise me youāll call.
Lisa: I promise.
Todd: Our home number isā¦ You have the same name as my wife. Lisa. Weāve been married ten years. Sheās pregnant with our third child. Tell her I love her. Iāll always love her. We have two boys ā David, heās 3, and Andrew, heās 1. Tell them their daddy loves them and he is so proud of them. The baby is due January 12th. I saw an ultrasound. We still donāt know if itās a girl or a boy.
Lisa: Iāll tell them. I promise, Todd.(Lisa patches in the FBI.)
Agent: Todd, your plane is on a course for Washington. Best guess is the White House or the Capitol.
Todd: I understand. Iāll be back.
Todd: Everyone knows this isnāt a normal hijacking. We have decided we will not be pawns in their plot.
Lisa: What are you going to do?
Todd: Four of us are going to rush the one with the bomb. Then the cockpit. A stewardess is getting boiling water. Weāll take them out.
Todd: Would you pray with me?They pray the Lordās Prayer. Then: Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me.
Todd: God help me. Jesus help me.Are you guys ready? Letās Roll.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
If any journalists/outlets are covering Fantastic Fest and want a screener of GOODBYE, MONSTER, DM me. Love to get some eyes on it. I'm happy to chat as well.
KUE LAWRENCE
ME
the voices of
PATTON OSWALT
TINA MAJORINO
a score from
BEAR MCCREARY
produced by
FANGORIA STUDIOS
100% practical effects.
Shot in one day in my garage with talented friends.
Premieres Friday 9/18 at 1130am before KYGOR IN THE GRIZZLY ABYSS
Tom Vaughan retweeted
Many readers don't know how to interpret their own notes.
If someone says your screenplay lacks subtext, they don't actually want more subtext. They want:
1. Smarter characters.
2. Behaving more truthfully.
Do that, and your story will have as much subtext as it needs
Tom Vaughan retweeted
You have to have empathy with your screenwriting.
And I don't mean the characters you write, even though that's true.
I mean empathy for those who read your screenplay.
Are you making it easy for them? Are you making it a pleasant and emotional experience?
If you're asking for help, are you giving them something they can benefit from?
Are you giving them something worth their time?
Is it something they can sell to their boss?
We tend to send our screenplays out to the world, asking the world what they can do for us.
At some point, you have to look at it from their point of view and ask what your project can do for them.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
One of the primary ways I learned screenwriting was by breaking down as many films as I could. Timecode + scene.
One movie after the other. This was early 90s, we had VHS tapes to watch over and over again, but screenplays were not readily available. Those were a prized possession outside of LA.
By breaking down the structures, I saw how simple the plots were. What mattered were great scenes and sequences. More than anything else, this view made it all seem... doable.
This is from one of my very first breakdowns, GROUNDHOG DAY.
I was mapping the character change in the far-right column.
I wasn't sure how many laughs were needed to call something a comedy, so you can see me counting the laughs on the left!
Literally had no idea what I was doing. Just trying to figure things out.
It was fun, exciting, and new.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
After writing screenplays professionally for 29 years, here are ten random things I wish I knew before I started:
Tom Vaughan retweeted
I want to thank whoever it is thatās made a huge run on my screenwriting book this month. It means a lot. I donāt promote it endlessly here becauseā¦ thatās not why Iām here. I donāt think Iāve promoted it here in months. But once in a whileā¦ especially since it seems to be selling well right nowā¦
Itās called āThatās Not the Way It Worksā and is mostly about how to be in the business of screenwritingā¦ with some craft advice thrown it. And if youāve read it, thank you. If you havenāt. Iāll encourage you to. Available through most book stores, Amazon, and all the Ebook sites.
Thanks again.
Tom Vaughan retweeted
I loved Coyote Vs ACME
You will too (š
95% FRESH!)
I loved it 3 years ago when I was part of the last audience to see it. I love it even more now that everyone can finally love it too. Everything that went into releasing it has only made it better. See it with some fellow humans, coyotes, birds, rabbits, and pigs but please leave the ACME products at homeā¦
Tom Vaughan retweeted
Stop focusing on whether you can sell a 190 page script and just finish your fucking script.