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Screenwriting

From structure to content to representation to industry trends, this is the place to discuss, share content and offer tips and advice on the craft and business of screenwriting

SE Nov 2025 Lab
FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event – Wednesday, October 8th at 11am PT!!

FREE Stage 32 Webcast Event – Wednesday, October 8th at 11am PT!!

Register by clicking the link below!

When you’re crafting an indie film, the music you choose isn’t just background—it’s storytelling. The right score sets the tone, builds emotional depth, and can make your film unforgettable. But too often, filmmakers bring composers in too late or struggle to align visions, leaving powerful opportunities on the table.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our Stage 32 + Film-Raderie Webcast: Composer + Filmmaker Relationship: How to Make Your Indie Film Successful—a FREE live event designed to help you navigate this crucial collaboration.

This expert panel features:

  • Dara Taylor, celebrated composer (Marvel’s Ironheart, The Tender Bar)
  • Lagueria Davis, director of Black Barbie (acquired by Shondaland)
  • Phil Popham, veteran composer (Helix Collective)
  • Emilie Upczak, filmmaker and storyteller

Together, they’ll share real-world insights on:

  • Why early music integration shapes your film’s tone from day one
  • Practical strategies for aligning creative visions with composers
  • Case studies from projects like Ironheart and Black Barbie
  • How to overcome common challenges like budget and timing

This is your chance to learn how to use music as a storytelling superpower—and to build the creative partnerships that can elevate your indie film.

Click here to register, if you can't make it live you'll recieve the full recording on-demand: https://www.stage32.com/education/products/stage-32-x-film-raderie-composer-filmmaker-collaboration-webcast 

Let us know in the comments below- What’s a film where the music completely transformed the story for you?


Liked by Federico Aletta and 31 others

Maurice Vaughan 5
"No One's Gonna like This [Script]"

I used to tell myself “No one's gonna like this [script].” Sometimes I'd go ahead and pitch the script, but a lot of times I didn't. I let the script sit on the computer.

I don't tell myself “No one's gonna like this [script]” any more. If a script is ready, I'm pitching it. People might not like it,...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

That's a great plan, Elle Bolan! I always suggest to writers that they build a portfolio. I've pitched to producers and directors who asked me "what else you got?" And I'm glad I had other stuff to pi...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

Great points, Lindbergh E Hollingsworth! I "sell" a script idea to myself when I outline it, and I write the script for myself. I didn't used to do that.

Maurice Vaughan 5

Your script sounds interesting, Erik Gagnon. It might've served its purpose as a turning point in your development as a writer, but it might be more. Suggest pitching it. I'd watch it!...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

You and Lindbergh are right, Jay Gladwell. "If you don't believe in your script, how will you convince anyone that they should?" Exactly. And it'll show in a writer's pitch....

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Jim Boston

Maurice and Jon, thank you both for the shout-outs!

Speaking of budget, Jon...I DO understand that cost is what holds back lots of scripts about yesterday's people. [Hmm...with that in mind, I just mig...

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Liked by Pat Alexander and 9 others

Monte Albers de Leon
When does your latest draft become the READY DRAFT?

I am approaching two years since I completed my first script and am eternally grateful to have achieved the impossible in gaining an attached production company, and have no problem in the continued revisions that has entailed. I am now on draft 12, and am starting to receive my first responses from...

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Leonardo Ramirez 2

Monte Albers de Leon - Pat Alexander really hits all the points. The only thing I'll add is that there's a point between your last draft and when the team is assembled that you'll "just know". I typic...

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Francisco Castro

"What makes a script draft the ready draft?"

When the lead producer says so.

Jon Shallit

Francisco. Yes. Money rules. Producers want that.

Jon Shallit

Monte- your FIRST ever script is going into production?

Monte Albers de Leon

Jon Shallit -Jaw still on the floor, yes.

Liked by Erik David and 9 others

Staffan Von Zeipel
Using (cont’d) in screenplays

Hi,

Quick formatting question about using “(cont’d)”.

In FadeIn, I automatically get (cont’d) when a character continues talking after an action line.

I’m thinking of removing it for a cleaner page (since it’s usually obvious who’s speaking).

But when a parenthetical comes before the second line, it...

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Caliann Lum
2 is a definite no. Regardless of what you do with the mores and continueds, consider putting that "a beat" in parentheses (beat), centered in Jessica's second comment. Avoids reader eyeballs rolling Expand comment
Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

Instead of have A beat on the left margin, make it a parenthetical. Character speaks, and underneath that use (a beat) and then under that continue the dialogue. The way you're using "a beat" is character direction.

E Langley

Try to be a bit more creative. In lieu of (beat), try (thinks), etc.

Or add a return between lines of dialogue to indicate a pause.

Sherry Allred

Keep the formatting for cont'd, but insert (a beat) as parenthetical instead of action, then you will have less repetition concerning "cont'd".

E Langley

LOL

Mark Deuce
Who Is Tilly Norwood? Backlash to the AI-Generated Actor, Explained

The AI-generated actor is sparking debate in Hollywood, with Emily Blunt calling Tilly "really, really scary."

Tilly Norwood has become one of the most divisive actresses in Hollywood — and she's not even a human being.

The AI-generated actor was created by Eline Van der Velden, a Dutch actor and co...

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Who Is Tilly Norwood? Backlash to the AI-Generated Actor, Explained
Who Is Tilly Norwood? Backlash to the AI-Generated Actor, Explained
https://www.today.com/popculture/tilly-norwood-ai-generated-actress-rcna234693
Who is Tilly Norwood? All about the AI generated actor sparkling controversy in Hollywood and what its creator had to say while defending it.
Mark Deuce

Thoughts?

Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 4 others

Maurice Vaughan 5
Small Action, Big Impact

A small action (like the protagonist giving a character their raincoat) can have a big impact on the story based on a character’s relationship with another character, what happened in the past before the script started, what happened throughout the script, and/or what’s going to happen in the future (like setting up a sequel).

Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, pretty good, getting flu shot later today. Getting ready for NY comic con, next week

Maurice Vaughan 5

Hope you have a great time at NY Comic Con, Billy Kwack! How's your script going?

Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, thanks, i will. I promised myself a week after comic con, I'll start writing again

Maurice Vaughan 5

You're welcome, Billy Kwack. Great. Have you ever thought about writing a Con script?

Billy Kwack

Hi Maurice, no i haven't, i can think about it though

Liked by Dwayne Williams 2 and 7 others

Sandra Isabel Correia
What Movie Quote Lights Your Match?

Some lines stay with us.

They echo in our rewrites, whisper through our characters, and shape the way we see story.

Mine lately?

“All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.” — Gandalf, The Lord of the Rings

It reminds me to write with urgency, with heart, with purpose.

So here’s...

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Michael Dzurak

At the end of Dr. No and James Bond's first meeting, Dr. No has Bond beaten.

In the next scenes, Bond navigates a painful e...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

I remember that scene Michael Dzurak :)) And that dialogue matches perfectly your absence writing creativity :)) No matter what, you will do it :)) I love 007 movies, special with Roger Moore :))...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

I need to find a movie quote that sparks my creativity again and again, Sandra Isabel Correia. Thanks for the idea!

Michael Elliott

"There is no try. Only do". Yoda

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

It’s a very simple quote from one of my absolute favourite movies, The Fountain: “You do. You will.” Also from the same movie “Finish it.” Every time I feel I’m stuck and don’t know the way forward it’s like Izzi herself is telling me to keep going. I gotta watch it again lol

Liked by Billy Kwack and 4 others

Pat Alexander
How Professional Screenwriters Outline

A look into how professional filmmakers and screenwriters outline and structure their stories before writing.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAY5Y9XWu4I)

Maurice Vaughan 5

Must-watch video, Pat Alexander! Thanks for sharing it! I make my outlines for feature scripts and teleplays really detailed. My outlines for short scripts are really short. The outlines I make for my...

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Liked by Sandra Isabel Correia and 14 others

Maurice Vaughan 5
Take the Step

A lot of writers wait for the perfect moment to do things like start a script, network, pitch, make a film, etc. And a lot of times the perfect moment never comes, and they miss opportunities.

Once, I waited and waited for the right time to start a script because I was busy – when really I could’ve...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

That’s why today I don’t share my ideas Maurice Vaughan 5 :)) Only the ones I don’t want for me. I learned. Ah! The guts. It’s how everything starts my friend :))...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Me also Leonardo Ramirez 2. That’s why The Misstep was so good, almost nobody new about the production and direction :)) I am so sorry for you also, but now, we are smarter:))...

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Lindbergh E Hollingsworth

There's never a perfect moment. Most create a perfect moment that's "conditional." Meaning, when this happens, I'll be able to do X. Then when this happens, I'll be able to do Y. Just start by taking a small step because the next step gets you a little closer to where you're going.

Maurice Vaughan 5

I do that sometimes, Sandra Isabel Correia. Share the ideas I don’t want. Sometimes I save the ideas I don’t want though because I might change my mind later....

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Maurice Vaughan 5

You're right, Lindbergh E Hollingsworth. I had to rewrite big parts of a feature script. I knew changing things would lead to me having to change other things, so I didn't want to do the rewrite, but...

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Liked by Arthur Charpentier and 13 others

Sandra Isabel Correia
Your October Writing Journey Starts Here

Screenwriters

Stage 32 just launched a 30-day challenge to help us sharpen our craft, deepen our discipline, and reconnect with our creative fire.

Read the blog here:

This isn’t about hustle—it’s about alignment. Whether you’re...

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Sandra Isabel Correia

Thank you my friend :)) I will make my best :)) Thanxxx Maurice Vaughan 5

Sandra Isabel Correia

Oh, that’s so cool. I am happy for you Banafsheh Esmailzadeh and cheering for you. Thanks for sharing :))

Banafsheh Esmailzadeh

Thank you Sandra Isabel Correia, I'm cheering for you too~

Maurice Vaughan 5

You're welcome, Sandra Isabel Correia.

Sandra Isabel Correia

Maurice Vaughan 5 & Banafsheh Esmailzadeh <3 :))...

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Liked by David Kane and 11 others

P. J Oken
First draft complete

Hey Stage 32 community, I’m excited to share that I’ve just completed the first draft of my screenplay, Rise of Vigil.

It’s a coming-of-age vigilante story about Kevin Quinn, a bullied teenager whose world is shattered when his father — a decorated soldier — is killed. Kevin struggles through grief,...

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Leonardo Ramirez 2

Congratulations P. J Oken - finishing up your first draft does feel good so relish it. Love the premise of the story! Take your time with the rewrites - there'll be plenty of them. But for now, celebr...

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Jack Middleton

congratulations on your accomplishment. you have a reason to celebrate. I look forward to seeing that on the big screen!

Maurice Vaughan 5

Hey, P. J Oken. Congratulations on finishing the first draft! Unique backstory for a superhero.

Lawrence Hughes Stern

That's great - the first draft is a big milestone. Now let the rewrites begin!

Jay Gladwell

You, J.P., have accomplished something that few ever do.

Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 4 others

Nataly Kiut
“AI had its say. Now — what about you?”

I took a scene from an already produced film — just as a sample. One page only.

Ran it through [ScriptReader.AI] — big thanks to Jim Boston for the lead!

The result? A full analysis: structure, tone, rhythm, characters, even comedy.

Everything broken down in detail. And (surprisingly!) it sounds qu...

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Nataly Kiut

Asia Almerico, thank you so much for your comment and advice

Maurice Vaughan 5

I find people who truly read screenplays by networking, Nataly Kiut. Sometimes they give me feedback for free, and sometimes I pay for feedback. Sometimes I do script swaps with other writers....

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Nataly Kiut

Maurice Vaughan 5

Thank you. May I ask — when you seek feedback, do you value more the opinion of professionals (consultants, readers, managers) or simply thoughtful fellow writers and friends? I ofte...

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Jim Boston

Nataly, thanks for shouting out about ScriptReader.ai! (And I'm very much with you about seeing a screenplay as a blueprint!)

Maurice Vaughan 5

You're welcome, Nataly Kiut. I value the opinions of professionals (consultants, readers, managers, etc.) more, but other writers and friends give great feedback too. And all of it can help a writer g...

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Liked by Kenneth Ellis 2 and 5 others

Leonardo Ramirez 2
Another Resource Recommendation: Adhering to the Standards of Screenplay Formatting - How Do You Do It?

One thing I’ve learned is that proper screenplay formatting isn’t just about margins—it’s about clarity. But what about situations that are a little off the beaten path?

For example:

A character speaking in a foreign language (and how to indicate subtitles)

An invented language in a fantasy or sci-fi s...

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Maurice Vaughan 5

Thanks for the book rec, @Leonardo. The strangest formatting challenge I've run into is making words disappear (top of the screenshot). I changed the color of each word. It took a little while to get it right.

Leonardo Ramirez 2

You're very kind Jon Shallit - honored to meet you. Just got your DM so I'll respond there.

Leonardo Ramirez 2

Ok that is kind of a cool challenge Maurice Vaughan 5. I love that! What a neat and unique idea!

Maurice Vaughan 5

I saw another writer do it in a script, Leonardo Ramirez 2, but I didn't know how, so I had to figure it out in Final Draft.

Leonardo Ramirez 2

That's pretty innovative Maurice Vaughan 5. Very cool.

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