Tag: screenwriter

Month Late

Posted on May 26, 2015 by WhiteShadow

If you’ve been waiting for a blog entry from me, I’m sorry I’m a month late. Due to my wife’s epilepsy becoming something that has taken up a lot of my time and mind. I’ve been super slow to write or even work on my dream of being a screenwriter. I know many write no matter what goes on in their lives. I’ve been offered writing jobs (my own opinion), but scared to act. Am I good enough comes to mind, then what about my wife? Doctor’s visits driving here and there. Catch her when she falls, and take care of her. Feed her and just be there for her.

Then my mom says you’ve been blessed. I say no she said to take a look. We may not be debt free or do I have a bachelor’s degree, but bills are paid. We have a house. We got with government assistance a new furnace and A/C. We have food on the table. Our dogs are fed. We may not leave the house much or have friends beyond family. However, we are loved, and we love.
I know when I make it our lives will change drastically. We will be debt free. We will be able to give to those in our situation now. We will still be loved, and love others just have money to help our actions. We will leave our house, and we will still have our old farts (dogs).

I know everyone has their problems and their successes. I’m currently in a “many problems” in my life right now, but I know my successes are coming.

I hope to write more and write about success, but if not I hope to write more positive tidbits and thoughts about screenwriting and screenplays.

Celtx or Final Draft Neither

Posted on January 9, 2015 by WhiteShadow
Celtx Software

For screenwriters, many books have tips on writing a script. All have what is thought to be the correct way and format. Well with the ever-changing SPEC way, what is the right way? That I’m still trying to figure out, but if you want to write with the visually correct way, there are different kinds of software to help you out.

Celtx Online

You may think of the free Celtx or Final Draft. Who wants to pay 100 to 200 dollars for something you can get for free? Celtx may sound like a good choice, but since they went fully online (no software only if you search for it), it’s more distracting than helpful. I saw a question from someone via LinkedIn asking about this issue.

Celtx Mobile
Celtx Mobile

I’ve used Celtx since they have a mobile app, and I’ve used it for screen writing and for comic book writing. I like it because of a semi standard way of writing comic scripts. I’ve used Final Draft but didn’t like it much. While searching for software I came upon a few free ones and others that cost way to much. However, I wanted to write on the fly and on my phone or tablet, what I found was FadeIn.

FadeIn Desktop Software

With Celtx, you can save your work to their cloud, but FadeIn you save to Dropbox. While Final Draft is more for Apple products where Celtx and FadeIn can be used on Windows and Linux machines. I also like FadeIn because the creator took some suggestions and implemented them into the mobile app. I need to suggest a comic book format option.

FadeIn Mobile
FadeIn Mobile

We all want to be flawless in our format and there are those who want you to use Final Draft. Well fade in can import from Final Draft and Celtx and you can export to Final Draft with FadeIn this is perfect for mentors or others who need to edit your work or edit with those you are collaborating with that use the un liked Final Draft.

If you’re looking for a Final Draft alternative the $50 plus $5 for the android app. You will have what you seek. I know this is short and not that wordy review most do. Check it out and try the demo of the desktop software and try out the free version of FadeIn mobile. They have free updates without having to purchase them in the future.

http://www.fadeinpro.com/index.html

Back To The Future

Posted on December 20, 2014 by WhiteShadow


When it came to deciding what movie, I would review or even just talk about. It came to a classic that has great memories for me. It comes into a trilogy of great movies, with great actors and great music. Back to the Future is the sweet musical. When I was younger, my dad went to record the first Back to the Future, but the funny thing is the power went out, and we missed the first ten minutes. The second great memory was when two came out in theaters I went with a good friend and on the way home his dad was pulled over. His speedometer didn’t work so he was caught speeding.

When you come to the realization writing movies is your dream you try to analyze and think why does this movie bring those great memories and why can I see it on repeat? Now if you’ve never seen them, you’re missing out on something magical. Yes, there are some inconsistencies, but what great movie doesn’t.

You’ve probably have read many reviews and seen many clips seen the cartoon series or the recent game. However, these are my thoughts. And my (hoping) writing will have some wisdom that I can give.

When we think about structure, story, dialogue, and overall script to screen. We think of a great script and writer, but when you read the earlier draft, you can see how far it came before it became a classic. Back to the Future was such a good movie that they used what Marty was wearing in another movie called Zapped Again.

The story of a crazy scientist inventing a time machine is great. It builds excitement and makes you stand up in hopes Marty doesn’t get caught and or get stranded in the past. The use of a futuristic car the Delorean. This not only made it visually stunning, but fueled a fire to bring the car back 20 years later. Within dialogue, there are some good speeches, but a few great lines that stay with you. “Great Scott, this is heavy!”

When you read the first drafts from 1981 and later or watch the behind the scenes, and the ending that they planned. You thank the script Gods that it ended the way it did. You also see how much work it takes to make a nearly perfect flick.

This has shown me that even though I’ve worked on my scripts for years that it may take many more before I see my scripts come to screen (unless I make them myself). I hope this has given you a short insight into the struggle that it takes, and how long you may have to wait before your dreams come into the real world.

Out of 5 Stars
Story ****
Dialogue *****
Structure *****
Plot *****
Script to Screen *****
Few Inconsistencies ****
Total 4.7 our out of 5