Script Frenzy Young Writers Program - The Beat

Tell us about your Script Frenzy experience!

Chris Angotti — Mon, 16 May 2011 18:33:08 +0000

Hello, Scriptwriter!

It's the second week of May, and we hope you've managed to recover from the Frenzy. Not everybody is resting, though. We've heard from so many writers who are ready to step behind the camera to commit their ideas to film; some who want to bring their words to life onstage; and still others who are sharpening their pencils to create comic books. Awesome, right?

All of us started with a blank page on April 1. And whether you're going to throw your script under your bed or pitch it to a Hollywood producer, you should be proud of the work—finished or unfinished—you brought into this world. We sure are. All 28,127 pages that we wrote together last month.

In order to make that number even more amazing next year, we need your help. Answer our short Script Frenzy YWP survey, and we'll be able to make big improvements based on your suggestions. In return, you'll have the chance to win Frenzy t-shirts, tote bags, and limited-edition posters. Not a bad trade.

Just click on the link above and submit your survey by Tuesday, May 31 for a chance to win and help out our program.

Educators: You can find your version of the survey in the Educators Forum.

Thanks in advance!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Deep Breath Time

Chris Angotti — Mon, 02 May 2011 18:35:19 +0000

The first week of May. AKA, deep breath time.

I'll bet a lot of you can still see that cursor—you know, the flashing, taunting one you saw every day as you worked hard to finish your script? I want you to give your eyes and brain a break, and take a look at something else. Near the bottom of the page, to the right, you'll see a box that says "Now Rolling."

This might be the first time you've noticed it. If so, you've been missing out. Every few hours in April, that little box updated with fresh numbers that showed our progress during the month. I've been obsessed with seeing our totals go up day by day—a little slowly at first, and then picking up speed as we neared the deadline.

I am proud to say that over 2,800 writers took on the Script Frenzy challenge.

And I am impressed to say that, together, we wrote 28,127 pages.

If you stacked all those together, we're talking over 9 feet. Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man ever, would have to look up at our scriptwriting majesty.

It's pretty amazing that, just 30 or so days ago, none of these pages existed. You helped bring them into the world, and you deserve congratulations no matter how close you got to your page-count goal.

Take some time to celebrate, and stay tuned for new updates and advice on revising your script!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

How to Win the Frenzy

Chris Angotti — Mon, 25 Apr 2011 05:24:31 +0000

Winning has started for Script Frenzy! That means the script you've been working hard on this month can finally be uploaded and officially validated on our site.

Whether you're ready now or you've still got a few pages to go, here are the steps you'll need to take to ensure that the winning process goes smoothly:

1. Convert your script to PDF. If you haven't done it before, it's easier than you think. See our FAQ for how to make the conversion with online tools or your word-processing program.

2. Put your script into the Page Count Validator. In the "Page Count" section of the Writer Info page, browse for and select the PDF file containing your script.

3. Press the "Validate" button. If your page count meets or exceeds your goal, you are an official Script Frenzy winner. You should now be able to...

4. See your Winner Page! This is where you'll get your super-sweet certificate and web badges. If you're not taken to the page automatically, you can find it through the "You Won!" left-side menu item on My Script Frenzy.

And that's it! If you have any trouble with the winning process, please feel free to contact us or post a question in the tech help forum.

Congratulations in advance,

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Around the Bend: Week Three!

Chris Angotti — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 18:52:09 +0000

Ladies and gentlemen, we are officially around the bend on Script Frenzy 2011! Did you know that “around the bend” is an old phrase that means “crazy”? I’m using it in both senses: we’ve crossed the halfway mark, and we’re also going bananas as we try to bring our scripts home.

So hi, crazy scriptwriters, and welcome to the third full week of the Frenzy. I know that those of you still reading this are in for the long haul, and I want to congratulate you on your commitment. What’s Week Three all about, you might ask? Well, you’ll be happy to know that this is when things start to really come together. With the halfway hump behind you, and your script in full swing, you should start to see that finish line getting closer.

But let’s not forget our scriptwriting brethren who might still be a little behind. If you find yourself among them, check out my midway pep talk for a little inspiration. You could also press the “Go” button on that Plot Machine over there. We just reloaded it with a ton of great stuff. Whether you can use it or not, it’s worth spinning to remember that anything goes.

The last tip is one that many of you are taking advantage of already: look at the work of your fellow scriptwriters. Take a cruise through the forums for a shot of creativity, or see posters for YWP scripts in 30 Posters, 30 Days. Everybody here is doing amazing stuff, and you are, too. Keep that in mind as you keep up with your writing this week, and we’ll all be high-fiving at that finish line before you know it.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

The Time to Act

Chris Angotti — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:31:37 +0000

Hey, it's the second full week of Script Frenzy! Hope you're doing well and racking up those pages!

Actually, let me back up. We're all friends here, so let's not pretend that this writing is super-easy and getting done without a hitch. We've all got school, jobs, and other responsibilities, and right about now is the time when a lot of us may doubt our commitment to this scriptwriting challenge. So what should we do about this week?

The only answer I know is to keep at it. We should all remember that by signing up for this challenge, we made a pledge to our scripts—to fight hard to bring them to life. Whether you've written 30 pages or 5, your script is waiting for you. This week, try to double your effort to reach those daily goals, and to catch up if you're behind. Now may be the time that we doubt our commitment, but now is also the time to act.

You're going to get an extra dose of encouragement this week, too. Searching for a bonkers element to add to your story? We'll be reloading the Plot Machine with a bunch of new ideas. Need some good advice about how to stay the course? Look for upcoming Cameo articles on overcoming writer's block.

Me, I'll keep plugging away on my sitcom script. A little behind, but I'm ready to start knocking it out. I'm also going to send an you an Official Pep Talk and Check-In™ on April 15, the official Frenzy halfway mark, so check your email inbox.

Time to act, scriptwriters. Let's go.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Script Frenzy Is Now Rolling!

Chris Angotti — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 19:17:02 +0000

How did your first weekend of scriptwriting go? According to the collective page-count block on our homepage, the YWP has written over 3,000 pages in only three days! That's definitely a number to be proud of.

I got off to a bit of a slow start with The Lounge, my sitcom script about the cast of characters in an oddball teachers lounge. I think I may have had too many ideas, and that was stopping me from just sitting down and writing. But suddenly, on Saturday, the opening scene popped into my head, and I began typing a mile a minute. That's one cool thing about writing a script: you can picture how your ideas might look on film, television, stage, or comic page, and use that to drive your work forward.

So if you're struggling with your page count, don't worry! A couple of missed days are easy to make up. Skip a night of television to write your own sitcom or drama script; pass on a dumb movie so you can work on a better one. Can't seem to force the words out? Try the visualization technique I talked about above.

We'll also have new Cameos this week with some good advice on character and graphic novel writing, and you can always check out the forums for questions and conversation.

Keep doing your best on your script this week! I'll be right there with you.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

The Frenzy Is Upon Us!

Chris Angotti — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 22:19:45 +0000

So, the last week of March is finally here. In a few days, on Friday, April 1, you'll plunge into a month of frantic scriptwriting. Are you nervous? Excited? I'm definitely a combination of both. It's the kind of feeling that propels creativity, and that's a good thing for our scripts-to-be.

Some of you have done Script Frenzy before, so you know what to expect once April begins. For newcomers, or those who need a refresher, I wanted to provide a closer look at some of the mechanics of the month.

You may start writing as soon as the clock hits midnight on April 1. (Be sure you've set your time zone!) A lot of writers use these first hours to get a good jump on their scripts. You'll gain motivation from knowing that thousands of others are starting at exactly the same time—and with the exact same blank page—that you are.

Write as much as you can in the first few days of the Frenzy. It's falling on a weekend this year, so you'll have plenty of time to boost your page count (and a good excuse to skip a few chores). To know what your daily writing goal should be, just divide your page-count goal by 30.

Track your progress on your Writer Info page. Not only do you deserve those bragging rights, but your achievement motivates others to keep going with their own scripts. (Don't forget, also, to fill in information about yourself and your script if you haven't yet.)

Look for Cameo articles (advice and encouragement from experienced scriptwriters) all month. We'll post them regularly on our homepage, and they may be just what you need when you find yourself stuck. Our Writer's Resources and Forums are also always helpful.

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact us. Good luck with the Frenzy!

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

The Countdown Begins...

Chris Angotti — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 20:07:14 +0000

Oh my goodness. You guys know that this is the last full week before Script Frenzy begins, right? When next Friday comes, it is officially hardcore scriptwriting time. You should use this week to make sure you've got all your ducks (ours are nicknamed "Slugline" and "Logline") in a row. Here are a few reminders:

• Tell us about yourself and your script. Remember, we're a community of writers, and our success depends on knowing and encouraging one another. We want to know what you're up to!

• Set your time zone. Be sure you have all the hours you need to finish your script (even if you're still working until the last minute, like I probably will be).

• Finish your boot camp. Of all the resources we have on our site, these are the best way to plan. Don't stop now. And if you're just getting started, you've still got plenty of time to catch up.

• Join the conversation. No matter your interest, there's probably a fellow scriptwriter who can match, and add to, your knowledge. The forums are a meeting place for all of us on the adventure.

I also have a pretty awesome announcement. For the first time, the YWP will be involved in the 30 Poster, 30 Days project. We've recruited 30 professional graphic designers to create posters for your scripts next month. You can learn more and find the nomination form here.

Okay, enough chatter. You ready for this week? Let's do it.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

It's Brainstorming Time!

Chris Angotti — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 19:37:48 +0000

This week marks the official halfway point of March. As I've looked through the forums, I've seen that some of you are completely prepared to write your scripts in a couple of weeks. You've got full plots and compelling character ideas, and are just counting the days until you can let your imaginations run wild on the page. That's awesome! Others are still moseying along, with a small idea, or even none at all. That's okay!

But this is definitely the week when you should start doing some thinking about your script. It's still easy enough to catch up with the boot camps, and read the information in our writer's resources. Go for it.

Last week, I told you about "discovering" the formula for sitcom scripts. In the next few days, I'm going deeper. I have a concept for my show (a single-camera that takes place in an oddball teachers lounge), and I know I'll be writing three episodes and change. Now, I need to better define who all my characters are, and the plot/subplots of each episode. I think the first one will be called "Who Ate the Fudge?" but that's not set in stone yet.

I'll have a better idea of where I'm going in April when I sit down for some serious brainstorming. I hope you'll join me this week!

We would also love to begin featuring some of our scriptwriters on the site, and on our blog. Be sure to get my attention if you or a friend has an especially amazing or unique script idea that others should hear about.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director

Learn by Watching

Chris Angotti — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 20:07:08 +0000

It is Week 2 of March, and Script Frenzy continues to sneak up on us. Hopefully, you signed up for the challenge last week, and you spent some time filling in your profile information, taking a look at our writer's resources, and chatting in the forums.

And, if you were really hyped, you started one of our boot camps to pre-write your script.

If you haven't done any of this stuff yet, or if this is your first visit, don't worry! Plenty of time to catch up and get going. As of today, we have over 500 young scriptwriters, but we'll expect even more by April 1. You're still way early.

For those already thinking about their scripts, I wanted to share a little bit about my own preparation. I've decided to write a sitcom, and though I've watched a lot (I can't even tally the hours), I don't know too much about how they're constructed. So I've been watching reruns of some common shows—Seinfeld, Friends, and The Office—and thinking about how they come together. Each of these is a little different, but I've begun to notice commonalities in their timing and patterns. For instance, I now understand that the "teaser" gives us a taste of the plot and situation, which is then fully seen in Act I (before the first commercial break). We also usually get a smaller subplot involving other characters.

It's pretty cool that sitcom scripts can be so original within a basic structure. The funny thing is, this is true of nearly all scripts. Once you've learned more about the kind you'll be writing, watch more examples. You'll be an expert before you know it, and your script will come easy in April.

Chris Angotti
YWP Director