Screenwriter

Making Connections and Getting Noticed in the Screenwriting Business

Dan Watanabe — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 13:13:55 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 3/3/2023 1:13:55 PM

Screenwriting is a tough business. Per former Hollywood Development Executive Dan Watanabe, the best way to make connections and get your writing noticed is to join some networking groups or events. Your goal shouldn't be to get as many business cards as possible, he says. You need to make authentic connections where you can help others and they can help you. Watanabe says to look at it as a way to gather friends.

He also recommends having a social network outside of the entertainment industry to ground you. You need these connections and friendships to keep your writing real and relatable, and to get insights into what audiences really want.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../MakingConnectionsandGettingNoticedintheScreenwritingBusiness.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

Making Connections and Getting Noticed in the Screenwriting Business

Dan Watanabe — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 13:13:41 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 3/3/2023 1:13:41 PM

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Making Connections and Getting Noticed in the Screenwriting Business

Dan Watanabe — Fri, 03 Mar 2023 13:08:26 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 3/3/2023 1:08:26 PM

Former Hollywood Development Executive Dan Watanabe discusses the importance of networking and friendships for screenwriters.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../MakingConnectionsandGettingNoticedintheScreenwritingBusiness.mp4

Tags: fiction, Nonfiction, video

How Screenwriting and Writing a Novel Complement One Another

Mike Robinson — Fri, 06 Jan 2023 18:21:15 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Mike Robinson on 1/6/2023 6:21:15 PM

Award-winning author, screenwriter, and editor Mike Robinson recommends writers explore different writing formats and mediums to help strengthen their craft. He's found that screenplays and novels complement each other really well, because writers can learn important writing techniques from both formats. Screenplays will teach you how to streamline various story elements, while novels will teach you how to dig deeper with various story elements. The best way to hone your craft is to just keep writing!

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../HowScreenwritingandWritingaNovelComplementOneAnother.mp4

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How Screenwriting and Writing a Novel Complement One Another

Mike Robinson — Thu, 05 Jan 2023 19:37:47 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Mike Robinson on 1/5/2023 7:37:47 PM

Award-winning author, screenwriter, and editor Mike Robinson discusses the similarities between screenplays and novels.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../HowScreenwritingandWritingaNovelComplementOneAnother.mp4

Tags: fiction, Subscriber, video

How Writers Can Overcome Changes in the Entertainment Industry

Michael Tabb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:53:27 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Michael Tabb on 9/16/2022 6:53:27 PM

Although the entertainment industry is always evolving, that does not mean it has to change how writers write. The challenges are still 1) how to get your work seen and 2) how to get a writing job. Michael Tabb, WGA Screenwriter, author, and MFA educator, shares that there are ‘growing pains’ in the entertainment industry with everything moving to streaming. The best way to set yourself apart as a writer is to meet, follow up, and execute. The bottom line, per Tabb, is that you have to prove two things to industry decision-makers: why you, and why this story.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../HowWritersCanOvercomeChangesintheEntertainmentIndustry.mp4

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How Writers Can Overcome Changes in the Entertainment Industry

Michael Tabb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 18:22:21 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Michael Tabb on 9/16/2022 6:22:21 PM

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Pros and Cons of Writing Episodic Stories vs Single Stories

Michael Tabb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:14:47 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Michael Tabb on 9/16/2022 5:14:47 PM

The television and movie industries can be hard for writers to break into. WGA Screenwriter, author, and MFA educator, Michael Tabb says the easiest path right now is through television. As a writer for television, you can start as an assistant and slowly work your way up the staff. When writing for movies you either make it or you don’t. Television also produces more content a year than film. There are thousands of shows and episodes created a year for television; however, there are a limited number of single story movies created each year. In addition, the work of television writers is put out with little change from the directors. In the movie industry, the directors have the ability to change your book screenplay so much that it may be unrecognizable by the time it hits the big screen.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ProsandConsofWritingEpisodicStoriesvsSingleStories.mp4

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Screenwriting Contracts and How Screenwriters Get Paid

Michael Tabb — Fri, 16 Sep 2022 17:01:50 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Michael Tabb on 9/16/2022 5:01:50 PM

You put in the time and work, your screenplay gets accepted, and now it is time to get paid. Some writers that work in television get paid a salary. Screenwriters, on the other hand, typically get paid by the project. WGA Screenwriter, author, and MFA educator, Michael Tabb says for individual projects, it is best to get paid half up front, and half upon completion of each draft. Tabb also highly recommends hiring a lawyer to represent you because they will be able to save you money and make more money for you since they know how the industry works. They will be able to guide all of the financial avenues to ensure you are making your fair share for all the hard work you put in.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ScreenwritingContractsandHowScreenwritersGetPaid.mp4

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Creating Captivating Beginnings for Various Types of Screenplays

Dan Watanabe — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:33:59 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 1/25/2021 2:33:59 PM

Just like books, screenplays need to capture audiences from the very start. Entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe explains the options for captivating beginnings in screenplays, and why the intended type of media matters.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CreatingCaptivatingBeginningsforVariousTypesofScreenplays.mp4

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Why It’s Important for Screenwriters to Know the History of the Entertainment Industry

Dan Watanabe — Mon, 25 Jan 2021 14:33:31 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 1/25/2021 2:33:31 PM

Entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe discusses why education on the history of entertainment is important for screenwriters.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhyItsImportantforScreenwriterstoKnowtheHistoryoftheEntertainmentIndustry.mp4

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Why It’s Important for Screenwriters to Know the History of the Entertainment Industry

Dan Watanabe — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:47:35 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 10/12/2020 1:47:35 PM

Entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe discusses why education on the history of entertainment is important for screenwriters.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../WhyItsImportantforScreenwriterstoKnowtheHistoryoftheEntertainmentIndustry.mp4

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Creating Captivating Beginnings for Various Types of Screenplays

Dan Watanabe — Mon, 12 Oct 2020 13:45:20 GMT

Revision 2 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 10/12/2020 1:45:20 PM

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../CreatingCaptivatingBeginningsforVariousTypesofScreenplays.mp4

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Creating Captivating Beginnings for Various Types of Screenplays

Dan Watanabe — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:16:26 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 10/2/2020 6:16:26 PM

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Why It’s Important for Screenwriters to Know the History of the Entertainment Industry

Dan Watanabe — Fri, 02 Oct 2020 18:14:50 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 10/2/2020 6:14:50 PM

Entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe discusses why education on the history of entertainment is important for screenwriters.

Tags: article, fiction, Nonfiction, Subscriber

How Writing for Episodic TV Differs From Other Forms of Writing

Brandyn Cross — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 20:14:30 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Brandyn Cross on 6/26/2020 8:14:30 PM

Writing episodic content for television is quite different from other forms of writing and can be very rewarding, per author, screenwriter, and producer Brandyn Cross. In his experience, there are very few stand alone episodes, so the writing is typically a continuous story. Cross often worked seasons in advance and knew the complete storylines for each character ahead of time on his past projects. This allowed him to plan for foreshadowing and also reference past events. When writing a novel, you can look at it chapter by chapter, but the story is all contained in one body of work. Motivation becomes very important when working on a novel, because it can take a long time to complete. Cross was able to write multiple episodes in a day, which kept him going.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../HowWritingforEpisodicTVDiffersFromOtherFormsofWriting.mp4

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How Writing for Episodic TV Differs From Other Forms of Writing

Brandyn Cross — Fri, 26 Jun 2020 15:00:33 GMT

Revision 1 posted to Screenwriter by Brandyn Cross on 6/26/2020 3:00:33 PM

How Writing for the Stage Differs from Writing for the Screen

John Henry Davis — Thu, 21 May 2020 17:33:04 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by John Henry Davis on 5/21/2020 5:33:04 PM

Two major aspects that differ between on-stage plays and screenplays are the language and the environment, says author, instructor, director, and screenwriter John Henry Davis. Language is often more important in a play, while screenplays are not as dense and textured in terms of their language. The scenery on stage is usually not naturalistic – the audience has to imagine some things that are not there, along with imagining events that have happened or are currently happening off stage. A screenwriter doesn’t have to engage the audience’s imagination as much. A screenplay will give viewers a literal environment, and should avoid having events that happen off screen.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../HowWritingfortheStageDiffersfromWritingfortheScreen.mp4

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Advice for New Writers on Breaking Into the Entertainment Industry

Dan Watanabe — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:35:46 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 1/14/2020 2:35:46 PM

Entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe tells new writers in the entertainment industry to not be a “diva.” Instead, be someone people want to work with and talk to. On film sets, in studios, and similar places, you work long hours and spend a lot of time with your coworkers. Nobody wants to deal with a difficult personality, so be a team player, a professional, and be genuine with others. This extends to networking as well. Watanabe says real networking is all about being a good friend and establishing positive relationships. These connections can be fostered with good listening and follow up with people. Watanabe recommends staying in touch on a regular basis so you can continue learning from one another.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../AdviceforNewWritersonBreakingIntotheEntertainmentIndustry.mp4

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Challenges Facing New Writers in the Entertainment Industry

Dan Watanabe — Tue, 14 Jan 2020 14:32:58 GMT

Current Revision posted to Screenwriter by Dan Watanabe on 1/14/2020 2:32:58 PM

Breaking into the entertainment industry nowadays is quite difficult, but entertainment expert and media arts instructor Dan Watanabe encourages hopeful writers to not get discouraged. He says the current state of the industry is chaotic, but out of chaos eventually comes growth and opportunity. He uses Disney and Netflix as two examples of the chaos. With Disney making purchases of other media companies, some of the brands now under its control are suffering. Over at Netflix, they are struggling with billions of dollars of debt. With all these difficulties, Watanabe advises writers to be willing to make compromises and stay flexible. You may not get what you want every step of your career, but you have to think about the long-term journey and not short-term satisfaction. Watanabe recommends that new writers take advantage of all opportunities that come their way.

www.authorlearningcenter.com/.../ChallengesFacingNewWritersintheEntertainmentIndustry.mp4

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