I did it! Recap #100Screenplays2021

I made it!

Thank you to all who joined me for #100screenplays2021! I hope you're having a great time in person with friends, family, and chosen family for whatever holidays you might celebrate. I hope you're at least celebrating being able to celebrate again! 

On this day, 21 years ago, I was a young bride. I can't believe all we've been through, and never dreamt it might include a global pandemic. By this time next year, we may have an empty nest with two young adults out in the world and I've set my own goal to hopefully be writing this blog from Los Angeles (at least during the winter months).

If you read along with me this year, please feel free to share this list on your social platforms with the hashtag #100screenplays2021.

Here's a recap of what I read in 2021:

I read scripts as a juror for two international competitions, as well as for screenwriting colleagues and private clients. I only share the produced titles publicly (obviously), but I still topped my previous totals by a landslide. 

Total yet-to be produced scripts: 82

Total produced scripts: 137

Grand total: 219

What I learned in 2021: 

Reading produced scripts continues to help me discover the "IT" factors that make decisionmakers say yes and audiences to invest their time, money, and emotions into a story. You can see how a suspense writer weaves in the clue trail, a comedy writer builds in hilarious incongruency, or a horror writer causes utter emotional distress for the audience. 

Reading contest entries showed me (again this year) that many newer writers have difficulty being objective of their own work, and sadly forego editing or even basic formatting conventions--which is a surefire way to turn off decisionmakers. I know screenwriting twitter will collectively advise that formatting is BS, and to some extent the smaller things are, however, basic formatting is a must. A parallel would be to show up to every work meeting late and then wonder why the meetings don't go well or even cost you business relationships. If you follow certain rules like being on time to a meeting, then the person you're meeting with is more open to hearing what you're pitching. Same goes for turning in a script that looks as professional as possible so that the reader can get lost in the story rather than simply lost.

I learned that performing standup comedy is a great way to test out potential punchlines for scripts, and definitely improves script dialogue. It's also a fun stress reliever when life is kicking my ass. Thanks again to my dear friend James Moorer (Roadmap Writers) for the reminder to stop kicking my own ass. 

I learned that "industry adjacent" bill-paying jobs can be inspiring too. Before the pandemic, I used to work part-time for a company that set up the movie theater displays, surveyed moviegoers, and observed audience responses to movie trailers. I gained insight into how to pitch a concept so that the audience is clear on genre, hook, and expected ending without spoilers. This year's warehouse job got me thinking about how 99% of Halloween merchandise is connected to a movie, TV show, book, or comic book--which means writers are JOB CREATORS for literally thousands of people worldwide--and that inspires me to KEEP WRITING.

A couple of months ago I realized that a respected screenwriting colleague, Ann Kimbrough (instagram @everythingann), published "The 100 Script Challenge Journal" (2016), which I highly recommend. That said, I'll be shifting my 2022 focus from counting the scripts I read to selecting scripts we can read AND watch together, and I plan to add my perspective on critical "IT" factors that make the stories stand out as contest entries, make them marketable as a movie or TV show, create hundreds of jobs, and secure potential residual income for the writer. I'll continue my special focus on comedy and underdog stories, because that's what I write.

I've got a couple of projects that will hopefully move forward next year, so cross your fingers that there will be an occasional behind-the-scenes blog post from a filming location.

Thanks for reading along and I hope you'll join me in 2022.

Happy New Year my friends,

Where to find scripts:

https://indiefilmhustle.com/free-screenplays-download/

https://www.imsdb.com