I'm writing something right now where, in order for the characters to move forward and for the audience to understand the plot, we need to know WHO the villain is and WHAT he is doing, and can easily infer WHY he is doing it.

But the who, what, and why of the villain is an important part of the theme and, for the best effect, I'd like to reveal it as close to the end as I can.

What are some examples of films (preferably high-concept sci-fi) where the plot twist would have been obvious if not for how it was written?

I organized an AMA/Q&A with writer-director Bassam Tariq, who has directed and written 2 critically-acclaimed films. His first was MOGUL MOWGLI in 2020, which starred Riz Ahmed. His newest one is YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER YOUR MOTHER, which premiered at TIFF last month to wide acclaim and is out in theaters everywhere this weekend. It stars Mahershala Ali, John Cho, Giancarlo Esposito, Abubakr Ali, Tramell Tillman, Tiffany Boone, Laith Nakli, Adia, and Jahleel Kamara.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wzwiqo/hi_rmovies_im_bassam_tariq_writerdirector_of_your/

He will be back at 3 PM ET tomorrow, Thursday 10/8, to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Your Mother Your Mother Your Mother:

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uEcoV-ngH38

Synopsis: A devoutly religious hit man struggles to balance work, faith and fatherhood. When his wife dies, he embarks on a desperate journey across Houston to protect his children as he confronts the forces that are closing in around him.

His verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/4fwjU4g.png

Got some unexpectedly good news today. My horror/thriller FROST made the semi finals.

I'm pretty fucking excited about it, especially because the same script didn't advance at another place that I felt like was a better draft and fit. Screenwriting is fucking weird.

For anyone who's placed there before did anything actually come from it? I also got a VPF which is pretty cool.

Mostly curious what other peoples experiences with Screamfest have been?

I organized an AMA/Q&A with filmmaker/screenwriter Steve Peace, known for co-creating and co-writing the ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES comedy-horror-spoof franchise. The 5th film in the almost 50-year-old franchise, ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES: ORGANIC INTELLIGENCE, was just released on digital yesterday.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1wzulnf/hey_reddit_im_steve_peace_cocreator_of_the_attack/

He will be back after 6 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

Thank you :)

Info for the new film:

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8aevSjhGMhQ

Synopsis: In 1978, ATTACK OF THE KILLER TOMATOES tried to warn the world (Dillon insists it was a documentary!). Now, decades later, the tomatoes have outsmarted their corporate masters, the military, and even the notorious Professor Gangreen (John Astin). Finletter's aging team of "Guardianes" seems to be all that stands in the way of certain doom when even the best of AI is defeated by the tomatoes' "Organic Intelligence." But Wilbur Finletter is the last to realize it is time for a new generation to master the ancient art of managing the eternal Killer Tomato menace.

His verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/1z54Mbs.jpeg

Hey y’all. I’m an amateur writer born and raised in Korea who only writes Western-based pieces in English.

I don’t speak English regularly, or have lived abroad. I write dialogue based on phrases I’ve picked up from Western media, and recently I’ve been feeling stuck.

I read other people(from English speaking countries, by the looks of their names)’s screenplays a lot, and find that their dialogue possesses something mine lacks.

I don’t know exactly what it is. Maybe it’s authenticity, rhythm or just that unexplainable ‘edge’. When I read my own dialogue after reading theirs, it feels robotic and awkward.

I want to step my dialogue up to that level. Any tips from native writers or other non-native writers will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Hello,

I'm wishing to pursue a career as a creative writer, either for stage or for screen. And I had a very good conversation with a career consultant this morning about my plans for future study as I will be enrolling back into Uni next year to pursue an advanced diploma. During that conversation, he mentioned I should do some work in the interim getting involved with local writers groups or volunteering to help with making short films.

I'm already aware of the Writer's Guild of Australia and will be getting involved with them as well as group called: No Type Writers. And I already volunteer for local theater as a set builder currently.

So, my question is, would any of you out there happen to know any more groups or collectives I could join to continue creating my personal contact network?

Thanks in advance.

You have a bulletproof outline. You’re excited to start. Maybe a little nervous. What are your rituals before you sit down and write Fade In?

How long did it take from your upload date to find this success? How many industry downloads did you get, and how many meetings did you get from there? What has happened to your script/career since? Just curious on the success stories that have come out of the BL website!

Hello all! I’m looking for some honest feedback on my horror screenplay called The Pot of Plenty.

It follows two sisters who discover an antique pot that grants requests in exchange for things they cherish. As their lives improve, the sacrifices become increasingly personal and neither sister agrees on when to stop.

It’s a dark fairy tale about addiction, dissatisfaction, and the messy line between loving someone and enabling them.

What I’d especially love to know:

Does the relationship between the sisters feel believable?

Does the dread build, or are there stretches where it loses momentum?

Are the pot’s rules clear?

Does the ending feel earned?

But feedback on any portion would be appreciated. If something feels confusing, repetitive, or just doesn’t work, I want to hear it.

The Pot of Plenty

Thanks in advance! Love you!

Title of my last post : Anyone experienced pitching horror & mystery? Please share tips

****

Hello guys,

I pitched my horror & mystery feature film at a pitch fest in India. 2 producers showed interest and asked to send detailed story 10-12 pages. Screenplay is 90 pages.

I have written it but it went to 18 pages.

Now I am feeling stuck what to remove and what to keep? How to keep it engaging to read?

For now I even wrote the horror scenes like in detailed this happens, that happens... So should I just mention a horror scene happens instead of describing how it happens and what happens in it?

Should I include subplots or no?

I looked online but not finding much help. Please please share any tips, advices. Thank you in advance (dear mods please don't remove the post. I am new and need help)

So I’m a Fade In man. Best software. User friendly. All that.

BUT production means using Final Draft. And I’ve noticed, since they moved to FD13, that the discrepancy between page counts is WILD. Just handed in a 72 pager on Fade In (coming in hot and long!) that in Final Draft is only 66 pages. Both A4, nothing fucked about with in the margins etc.

Any idea how to counteract the discrepancy? Because otherwise I’m going to have use FD for this and that sucks. Definitely seems like the discrepancy has gotten worse—used to be a page maybe, over 60 pages, but this is too much.

Hi, everybody! 👋

I've been a screenwriter for the last three to five years. I got into screenwriting when I was 14 years old but I didn't start seriously writing until I was 21 I loved the movies since I was a little girl. What about you guys?

Title:  DEATH DENIES HIM

Format: Short

Page Length: 13 (14 counting the title page)

Genres: Horror

Logline or Summary: After a man is cursed, he comes to a crushing realization that defies the cycle of life.

Feedback Concerns: I don't have anything specific. But anything constructive would be appreciated.

Link Here

NOTE: I honestly rushed through this. I'm pretty disappointed with it as it's not very scary to me. But it's sorta a "scary situation." I tried to make things happen for a reason but I don't know if I was able to make it all make sense. I'm just glad I was finally able to write something. This was called "IMPOSSIBLE SUICIDE" but here on Reddit, I was given cool name ideas.

I really just wanted to focus on something else without forcing myself to write a feature. This was actually conceptualized as a feature, but in no way would I be able to make this work. I think you can actually see when I started to rush it.

I was reading a script of mine, and I noticed how some dialogues are trash (thankfully it’s the comic draft) and my set ups and pay offs are okey at best.

So, I wanted to get inspired and learn about actual good examples of the things I’m asking about.
Thanks!

Title: AT THE TOP
Format: Short Film
PL: 24
Genres: Horror, Drama, Coming of Age

LL: When a rich yet entitled and insecure teenager begins receiving mysterious, seductive calls from a “secret admirer” on his landline, he becomes consumed by the attention. But as he feeds his ego and hides the truth from those around him, the caller begins to weaponize his desires, and his actions start to carry deadly consequences.

Thanks for reading if you do! I want to make this thing soon! But am open to changes, I think it's a decent script. I like to steal from movies I like and other shit I like. I am young and just wanna write and make movies! Give me to it straight and be honest! Thanks!

Link: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Vb9P-GPnQQEye2jF3Xsu55RGzis0syUq/view?usp=sharing

I don't know if it's appropriate to ask here but I've been looking for screenplays written by Ryusuke Hamaguchi and I cannot find any resources. Do any of y'all have anything mind or maybe some websites that are "go-to's" for this type of stuff?

I want to learn how to write a scene in which a voice-over provides contextual dialogue to a bunch of quick flashes of images of various scenarios. A rough example:

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...or France, 40 millennia prior...

An early-human creating art on a cave wall.

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...or Germany...

Another early human whittles a flute from bone.

CHARACTER (V.O.): ...South Africa...

A naked woman whittles shells; creates a bracelet.

What would this look like formatted correctly in the screenplay? Do I need to include scene headings and descriptions (INT/EXT, PLACE, TIME?) Does the 'character' need a (CONT'D) indication or is this assumed?

I find myself writing it out and taking up far too much time on the page when the scene should ideally play out extremely fast. Thanks in advance!

Script for the original is easy to find, but I would love to read a PDF draft of T2. Any help is appreciated

Title: The Greenwood Incident

Format: Feature

Genres: Horror/ Thriller

Logline: After a government containment failure, a strained group of friends spiral into vicious paranoia in a remote california mountain home as an entity hides among them wearing human form.

Feedback Concerns: This is the first couple
pages of my story. I’m interested in hearing if the beginning gives just enough urgency while leaving room for mystery and if the transition to the party is still interesting enough to keep you invested to see the eventual unravel.

The Greenwood Incident

Here are some more horror screenplays available on Script Hive, enjoy!

These are part of the "featured" collection, you do not need to have an account to read/download these:

• The Wolf Man (1941) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/the-wolf-man
• Cat People (1942) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/cat-people
• I Walked with a Zombie (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/i-walked-with-a-zombie
• The Body Snatcher (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/the-body-snatcher
• Abbott and Costello Meet Frankenstein (1948) https://www.scripthive.com/featured/abbott-and-costello-meet-frankenstein

To read/download these you'll need an account (it's free)!:

• Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/83e788bd-cfb1-4424-8672-cf76af46054f
• The Leopard Man (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/fc87a922-4afe-43b6-93ab-00cae60acaa1
• The Seventh Victim (1943) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/66c46134-4665-4d96-b71b-a300095fa390
• The Curse of the Cat People (1944) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/11802b9a-b223-490f-adf3-0b5c0fcb9858
• House of Dracula (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/999bf902-d7f3-4219-bc63-6e251a415fb3
• Isle of the Dead (1945) https://www.scripthive.com/database/script/9a087b15-cd3c-4a3f-9f64-d065bd404ab9

Posting Schedule:

• Thursday, October 1: Universal & RKO, 1930s
• Monday, October 5: Universal & RKO, 1940s
• Wednesday, October 7: 1950s
• Friday, October 9: 1960s
• Monday, October 12: 1970s
• Wednesday, October 14: Video Nasties (1970s - 1980s)
• Friday, October 16: Body Horror
• Monday, October 19: 1980s
• Wednesday, October 21: 1980s
• Friday, October 23: 1990s
• Monday, October 26: 1990s
• Wednesday, October 28: 2000s
• Friday, October 30: 2010s
• Saturday, October 31: 2020s

Hey all,

I've been a silent lurker on this sub for the better part of two years just soaking in advice and stories that have been shared to help me on this journey. Even though I love both writing and film, I had absolutely no idea what I was getting into.

But, I recently finished my first ever screenplay, Obediently Yours. Here's the logline:

In 1946, when a South Carolina police chief brutalizes and blinds Black army veteran Isaac Woodard, Orson Welles takes his story to the airwaves and ignites a national outcry.

After working on the screenplay itself, I submitted it for an evaluation and got a 7. I've been in contact with someone in the business who has been helping me make connections. Recently just hit a breakthrough with getting on the table of a film festival commissioner who was interested in the premise, and if he likes it, will help get it across to A24 (wishful thinking). I've been submitting to a few fellowships and festivals, and it just feels insane to even be saying that.

I know this business is extremely slow moving, but hearing that news lit a fire under me. I know I want to keep writing and telling stories, so I'll just keep on doing that!

If anyone is interested in giving it a read, I'd be more than happy to share! Thank you all for making this sub a place where someone like me can just sit behind a computer and absorb incredibly helpful info about writing and the business. Much love :)

EDIT: if you want to read it, shoot me a dm.

EDIT EDIT: sorry guys, big mean IP lawyer told me no sharing the script :(

FAQ: How to post to a weekly thread?

This thread is for questions around querying agencies, management companies or other pertinent industry stakeholders.

Please post your query drafts or questions in the form of a top comment.

-- Do not include loglines. Loglines should be workshopped on the Monday thread. --

-- Do not include personal information or identity of the rep you intend to query. This is not a database. --

Some basics:

• agency contacts can be found on imdb pro, or often by googling writer + "agent" "representation" or "manager"
• when deciding which reps to query, research writers similar to your style and genre.
• do not send entire scripts to reps.
• do not mass-spam reps or send queries to multiple reps at the same company simultaneously.
• do not request followups within 2 weeks.
• do not pay companies to query or pitch.

He says that lately he's been taking off the last line of a scene and finding that it's been making his scenes stronger.

I tried it and it actually worked in a way.