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Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

Savvy Writers I’m assuming we’re all savvy writers who all know loglines are NOT taglines … So let’s put REAL loglines under the microscope in the next instalment of my Top 5 Mistakes series! 1)  Writers forget 1 (or more) of “The 3 Cs” Clarity, characters, conflict – in that order, please! Here’s why: Without clarity, we don’t understand what’s going on We need to know who your character/s are to want to get on board the journey We need to know the conflict to understand what your character/s are up against. EXTRA TIP FOR YOU: I’ve noted savvy writers… Read More »Top 5 Mistakes Even Savvy Writers Make With Loglines

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8 Tips For Perfect Pitches & Super Selling Documents

Selling Documents If you want to sell your writing, you need to understand what selling items/ documents you need. These are invariably … A great, pithy longline (aka ‘short pitch’ if you’re a novelist)  A One Page Pitch or Synopsis A 3-4 page treatment (aka ‘extended pitch’ aka ‘sizzler’) I spend a lot of time reading and hearing project pitches, both at work and in my own time. I read even more on social media and various message boards and bulletins. Inevitably, I see scribes repeating the same mistakes, over and over. So here are my thoughts for you on grabbing… Read More »8 Tips For Perfect Pitches & Super Selling Documents

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6 Ways To Make Hollywood Fall In Love With Your Pitch

Pitching is just like being the nervous suitor asking for a date. Is she or he going to like you? Do you have an exciting or intriguing personality? Do you have passion? This is where initial appearances do matter. Here are 6 ways to make sure you go home with them at the end of the evening. 1. Google, Facebook and IMDB them. i.e. Do your research. How promiscuous are they? How many projects have they done and what genres do they like? Pitching horror to someone who does comedy is a sure way to go home alone. 2. Don’t… Read More »6 Ways To Make Hollywood Fall In Love With Your Pitch

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How to Find a Great Title to your Screenplay by Gordy Hoffman

How exactly does one work on the title of their screenplay? I recently came up with such a wonderful idea for a movie, one of those miraculous moments, like finding money on the sidewalk. I told somebody, and they said, “Great. What’s the title?” Suddenly, and rather horrifyingly, my beauty of an idea is crippled. Instant orphaned bastard! You wanna strangle the person. You feel insulted. What’s the title!? Why would you even ask that, like, right after I told you this incredible gem? Well, of course they would ask that. Every movie needs a name. But unlike nearly every… Read More »How to Find a Great Title to your Screenplay by Gordy Hoffman

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Q: How Do You Script Edit A Script Without Rewriting It As Your Own Story?

Blandine asks, “I notice you’re script editor on ACT OF GRACE. How can you do this without rewriting it as your own story?” Being a script editor is all about doing what’s best for the story – WITHOUT rewriting the script as you see fit, based on your own preferences or how *you* see the story. Why? Because you’re not the Writer. These are two different jobs. As far as I’m concerned, the two jobs go like this: The Writer is responsible for the idea and executing it, ie. coming up with the premise and getting the drafts down on… Read More »Q: How Do You Script Edit A Script Without Rewriting It As Your Own Story?

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DEVIATION Tagline Competition

Bang2writers, I bring you a contest via The Deviation blog – there is no charge and there are prizes on offer, deadline 21st January, 2011. Best of luck with it!!! DEVIATION TAGLINE COMPETITION Create a tagline for DEVIATION. The tagline must reflect the tone of Deviation the movie, which is a dark thriller. For more information on Deviation and its characters, make sure you check out our round up of all the posts and articles about this film online, here. The fab Rinaldo from Moviescope Magazine is offering a subscription to the winner of this contest and fellow deviant Chris… Read More »DEVIATION Tagline Competition

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NEWSFLASH: Loglines Are Not Taglines. Here’s Why

Loglines Versus Taglines Loglines Are Not Taglines!! Cannot. Stress. This. Enough. Every week I see scores of pitches sent to my inbox, to my ears or via script listing sites. Yet every week I see loglines and taglines being mixed up!!! In the course of this post, I will breakdown which is why  you need to STOP mixing them up, ASAP. This Is A Tagline A tagline is the strapline you see on a movie poster or DVD box. Here are some: “He lived the American Dream… With a vengeance.” (Scarface) “An epic of miniature proportions” (A Bug’s Life) “EARTH –… Read More »NEWSFLASH: Loglines Are Not Taglines. Here’s Why

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