Drought, drought, drought, drought—monsoon! It's sorta like duck-duck-goose, being a spec writer waiting for feedback and opportunity. Whole gaggle of us on the floor in a circle. Nervously anticipating that shoulder tap. The false starts. The sweaty armpits. All that awful nervous flatulence. And then BAMN! Producer or director calls you "goose" and bolts, cackling like … Continue reading Duck-duck-goose, Austin Film Fest, and pep talks from the Universe

In Samuel Beckett's Worstward Ho, he quips: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." And, I think that's what I'm doing. True, I failed again to place in the finals of a screenplay competition ... but I managed to fail better. According to Bryn Tilly, Festival Director & Head of Programming for … Continue reading My horror script made the ANOH short-shortlist

"This is a hilarious script with fantastic depth of character." —BLUECAT SCRIPT READER The 2023 BlueCat Screenplay Competition released a round of script analyses this week, and though the announcements for first-round contenders are a ways off, the feedback I received was quite promising.This is my second year submitting to BlueCat. My 2023 entry is … Continue reading My 2023 BlueCat Screenplay Competition script analysis

As a hope-I-might-someday-sell-a-screenplay type dude, I would never ... ever ... ever ... super-probably be overly precious about one of my written works. But, if I was, I know my screenwriting mentor Don Holley—creator of the cult classic comedy Loaded Weapon 1—and a hilarious Hollywood memoir, would be there to yank my leash. Because even … Continue reading A reminder for wannabe screenwriters

This being my first year submitting to the Academy Nicholl Fellowships, I didn't have super high hopes. OK, I secretly wished they'd realize my genius after reading a mere five pages and cancel the competition to declare me the Crown Scribe & Earl of Hollywood. Are you sitting down? It didn't happen. In fact, I didn't … Continue reading My 2022 Academy Nicholl Fellowships screenplay results