I received my email from the competition on Monday evening and the screenplay I entered did not make it to the quarterfinals this year.

However, at the bottom of the email was…

“PS: Your script received two positive reads.”

According to this entry from the Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Facebook page, that means my entry fell somewhere in places 1427 – 2526 out of almost 7,200 scripts.  I need to remind myself to feel good about being in the top 20%-35% and take that as a positive to keep writing and honing my skills.

On a positive note, my friend Ron Maede’s script “God Gets Fired” did make it into the quarterfinals!  I had a chance to read this script awhile back and am very excited for Ron since it’s a quite clever, interesting, and fun story.

Good luck in the quarterfinals, Ron!!!

“A Nicholl for your thoughts?” parts 1 and 2 were about the 2011 competition, which was a bittersweet experience:

About month before the first round results were announced in July of last year, I got some fantastic notes on Sawbuck from both talented local writers who have sold and optioned scripts, and from a couple pro screenwriters currently writing blockbuster movies. That month was a little tough because I knew deep down I wasn’t going to advance as far as I had originally hoped.

When the first round results were announced, I was actually pleased to find out I got two positive reads (places 1302 – 2161 out of 6,800 scripts) considering what I knew needed to be fixed in the script.

Armed with valuable notes and a positive experience with the contest, I put two other scripts on hold and started on a page one rewrite to get ready for…

The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting 2012 Competition

I basically tore Sawbuck down to the studs and rebuilt.

One example of a major change was taking 3 secondary characters and combining them into one (a corrupt Police Sergeant + a Detective + a Forensic Psychologist = a Detective).  This difficult, time-consuming revision changed motivations and timelines throughout the script and, along with a myriad of other changes, had a positive effect by simplifying the story, putting much more focus on the protagonist, and taking the whole script to deeper mysterious and emotional levels.

I couldn’t be more pleased with this draft.

One of my favorite parts of being involved in the contest is seeing the daily Reader Comment Excerpts posted on Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Facebook Page.  Of course, it’s easy to read some of them and think, “Oh man!  They’re talking about mine!”

Could it be?

We’ll see.

GOD GETS FIRED
by
Ron Meade
Third place out of 1,000 scripts in the WriteMovies 28th Writing Contest

ESCAPE FROM THE FRIEND ZONE
by
Colin Costello (Colin’s website)
Finalist in the Beverly Hills Film Festival Screenplay Competition

Well-deserved success for two hugely talented screenwriters!

Back in December of 2010, my multi-talented brother Kaelan told me about a new Sci-Fi series he had a part in.

Having been a huge Sci-Fi fan since I was a kid, I was very excited to hear he was involved in such a project and got a chance to read the script and post a review.

Needless to say, when the pilot was released last week, I couldn’t wait to see it…

WATCH THE L5 PILOT

… and I wasn’t disappointed

I really enjoyed the amazing post-production effects coupled with an interesting premise and solid acting.  A storytelling technique I always like is when technical jargon is used that the viewer is not expected to understand, but makes sense to the characters.  L5′s fabric is woven with this (both in dialogue and visually) and gives the pilot a marvelously rich texture.

Well done, L5 Crew!  Here’s wishing you all the success you deserve!

Find out more…

• L5 Official Site – Synopsis, Storyboard Animatics, Concept Art, and more!
• L5 Production Blog – Production Updates,  Behind the Scenes, Sneak Peeks, etc.
• L5 on Facebook – Become a fan on the Official Facebook Page.
• Hemogoblin on Twitter – Production Updates.
• Pilot – L5 on Vodo

As I read the article this morning, a wave of guilt washed over me.

Oh, not because I don’t print to proofread as Akers suggests. For me, it’s a necessity — physically editing with a pen in hand opens my eyes to things I simply don’t see on the computer screen.

The reason I felt guilty was because I hadn’t written an article about the best sawbuck I ever spent:

App: iAnnotate PDF
Developer: Branchfire
Price: $9.99 (iTunes)

In short, this iPad app allows me to proofread and markup .PDF scripts as if I were writing on paper (with or without a stylus).  And that’s just the beginning.  The care that has gone in to making this a solid app is really astounding.  Having been in the technology business for over 15 years, I’ve spent a lot of money on software — iAnnotate PDF is hands-down the best value I’ve ever gotten for my money.

Following are some features/examples of how this app has revolutionized my writing:

• Edit any .PDF document.
• Size is close to a printed page.
• Dropbox Support!
• Don’t want to print 100+ pages when you review another writer’s script?  Now you can send them a flattened .PDF with your notes and edits (extremely valuable for professionals and aspiring writers active in screenwriting groups).
• Text Box Notes (copy and paste into your screenwriting software of choice).
• Oops!  Didn’t mean to cross that out!  No problem…  delete and redo.
• Non-Intrusive Toolbars/Menus.
• Stock and Custom Stamps.
• Read produced scripts from your favorite online archives and keep a library with notes.
• Highlighting.
• Insert pages into any .PDF document.
• Stops Killing Trees!
• Customize and Add Toolbars.
• … and the list goes on!

At first, I was concerned that using a stylus on a tablet wouldn’t be an adequate substitution for putting red pen to paper.  Within the first few minutes, I actually found it better.

My wife and I just spent a week in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico (the Nuevo/Puerto Vallarta area is awesome!).  Each morning, I would head down to the pool with my cup of coffee, iPad, and stylus, and have a couple/few hours of solitude before everyone else showed up.  I edited over 90% of the script on the trip.  And with WiFi and Dropbox support, I was able to back up everything whenever I wanted.

Following is an app screenshot (I use the highlighter tool to mark words that should be capitalized):

Who would have thought that sitting by a pool in Mexico I would find peace in crossing out chunks of words I had toiled over.  Long before using this app, I knew I was becoming a better writer when I was more excited about deleting than adding.  Irony, anyone?

Since there doesn’t seem to be a full-featured screenwriting app for the iPad coming any time soon, I find iAnnotate PDF makes the iPad a great screenwriting tool.

I was fortunate back in December 2010 to get to read the pilot script for the upcoming hard science fiction series L5 (see post here).  Since then, I’ve been anxiously awaiting the release of the pilot episode.  Along with the very cool trailer below, they’ve also given us a release date:

2.21.12

Many of the updates on the L5 Production Blog have talked about the enormous amount of time they’ve spent on post-production.  After watching the trailer it’s easy to see the time, effort, and care that’s gone into this pilot episode!  Enjoy…

Find out more…

• L5 Official Site – Synopsis, Storyboard Animatics, Concept Art, and more!
• L5 Production Blog – Production Updates,  Behind the Scenes, Sneak Peeks, etc.
• L5 on Facebook – Become a fan on the Official Facebook Page.
• Hemogoblin on Twitter – Production Updates.

write.

alot.

Then, sometimes, there are those things that both motivate and inspire.

Once I’m in the chair, click the Final Draft icon, and get lost in the script, what carries me?  What tethers my soul to the story and, at the same time, keeps me accountable to change what I love in service of what is right for the story?  What gets me excited to read a fellow writer’s script and provide quality feedback?  What won’t let my mind stop attacking a logic problem for days on end?

Lots of reasons.  But one of them is…

I want my story to be worthy of a Thomas Newman Soundtrack.

Even when I’m not listening to music while writing, it’s subtle motivating inspirations like these that help me to stay true to the story.

What motivates and inspires you?

THE GUY
Do you want to read my script?

ME
I’d be glad to!  I’ll read it, then we can get together before
the next meeting and go over the script and my notes.

THE GUY
Oh, I don’t want any feedback… it’s done.

Oh, it’s done?  Okay.

… back to this past Sunday…

While I was chatting with this writer, he dropped a couple of hints like “Oh, I think I sent it to you, right?”

I finally said, “Listen, you said you didn’t want any feedback so, to be honest, I put it on the back burner.”

He seemed a little taken aback — which is understandable — and admitted he probably shouldn’t have said that.  I shared with him how I have paid for professional coverage in the past and have actually gotten even better notes from members of the CSN group on the same material that got a “professional” CONSIDER rating!  In fact, based on those later notes, I’m surprised the earlier version of that script got a CONSIDER rating from one of Hollywood’s top coverage services.  But that’s a topic for a whole other post…

So, he said he’d like for me to read his script and give him honest feedback.  That night, he sent me an updated version with one line in the email:

“Be gentle lol. “

Really?

Be gentle?

Why?

So you can just feel good about your script and not grow?  So I can spend hours reading material by another aspiring writer only to be put in a position where I can’t be totally honest?  How does that help either of us?

That’s right, I said “us.”

Look, I’m not here to be preachy, but at this stage of my development as a screenwriter, I learn a ton by reading screenplays and putting together notes for fellow writers.  It seems when I’m focused on someone else’s material, my shortcomings as a writer — along with flaws/plot problems in what I’m currently working on — always float to the surface and the process of helping someone else becomes an amazing opportunity for personal growth.  It’s a win/win in my opinion.

I have no illusions that I’m any kind of expert on the subject of screenwriting.  But I do know one thing: I certainly know a helluva lot more about story and screenwriting than the average Joe.  Ironically, trading scripts to provide brutally honest feedback is one of the main purposes of the CSN group!

Coincidentally, I drove home from the meeting that night with another writer who has sold scripts and had his material produced, and he said, “By the way, thanks for your notes on <SCRIPT>, it just won <SUCH AND SUCH> contest.”

Because I agreed to,  I will spend the hours it takes to read and put together honest, coherent thoughts on this writer’s script.  I can only hope that my time and effort will help him.  Regardless, I know it will help me.

On a positive note, I also got a script from another friend of mine who wants nothing less than painfully honest notes.

I felt a little like Josh Olson there for a minute.  Except he’s a talented, successful screenwriter and I’m, well… feeling a bit better for having written this. :)

After getting to read the pilot script last year (script review can be found here), I’ve been following the development of Hemogoblin’s upcoming Hard Science Fiction Series L5.  I just got a note from Chad Burns that they have a Post Production Update over on the L5 Production Blog.

The new pictures look great and I can’t wait for the pilot!

Find out more about L5:

• L5 Official Site – Synopsis, Storyboard Animatics, Concept Art, and more!
• L5 Production Blog – Production Updates, Behind the Scenes, Sneak Peeks, etc.
• L5 on Facebook – Become a fan on the Official Facebook Page.
• Hemogoblin on Twitter – Production Updates.