professional screenwriter | amateur adult 🎬🍿🎥 CAA & RMG. hello@juliayorks.com
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Nov 29, 2022 • 4 tweets • 1 min read
What's the number one question I ask emerging writers after reading their scripts?
"What is this story about?"
A quick #screenwriting 🧵
Since I started offering my script coverage services, I've read a lot of samples by aspiring professional screenwriters.
And, typically, the writing of the script itself is not the issue.
The dialogue feels natural and characters specific. The action lines are engaging.
Nov 3, 2022 • 16 tweets • 4 min read
For YEARS, I used the Save the Cat beat sheet template when writing my features. But, I'm currently working with a director who thinks about story using the 8 sequence method, and I liked that too!
So, I created a new template that marries both... and then some. (🧵)
To me, the most helpful way to visualize a script is as a bell curve, with the midpoint being the arc's apex. In fact, when I'm starting a new project, I literally draw a bell curve, and mark it up with my big, broad story beats.
Oct 14, 2022 • 18 tweets • 4 min read
When you're hired to write a feature, you usually get 12 weeks contractually to turn around the actual draft.
Here's my typical timeline of working on a project from start to finish which, as you'll see, can be somewhat atypical!
This is the part of the process where the timeline varies the most. If I'm going out for an OWA or pitching on a company's IP, this stage is quicker, like a few days.
If I'm working on my own spec, it varies because--
Aug 8, 2022 • 7 tweets • 2 min read
5 Things I Would Never Do As A Professional Screenwriter:
1. Publicly talk trash about a movie/TV show 2. Post a logline of an unfinished project 3. Worry about formatting issues 4. Write a spec for free based on IP I don't own 5. Post about meetings online
(A 🧵)
1. I would never publicly talk trash about a movie/TV show.
The industry is very small. Like, scarily so. Save your criticisms for the group chat because someday, you might want to work for/with someone involved in the project you publicly trashed.
Oct 7, 2021 • 12 tweets • 3 min read
Here's my typical feature pitch blueprint:
-Teaser scene
-Logline/Comps/Tag Line
-"Why me?"
-Act One plot with 1-2 set pieces
-Act Two plot with 2-3 set pieces
-Midpoint set piece
-What's driving the Act 2B tension
-Finale set piece
-Q&A
(1/12)
TEASER: This is usually what I envision the first scene of the movie to be. Starting with a teaser immediately draws the reader in, sets the tone of the film, and allows me to verbally paint a picture of the kind of storytelling they'll be getting if they hire me. (2/12)
Mar 16, 2021 • 9 tweets • 2 min read
Lots of chatter on the timeline about LOGLINES--why they're annoying to write, why they're important to write--but I didn't see any advice on HOW to actually write them!
So, here's what works for me. Hopefully it can soothe your logline-writing anxiety! A THREAD:
First, the basics:
-A logline is a short (1-2 sentence) premise of your story.
-In my USC screenwriting classes, I learned that the perfect length of a logline was 26 words. (Why 26? IDK. I'm sure 24 or 28 words work equally well. The point is not to get too lengthy)
