Advice — expert series

Question: I keep hearing about these mysterious story analysts who will be charged, hopefully, with reading my script. Who are they and what are they like? Marisa D'Vari responds: Story analysts (or readers, as they are sometimes called) come in two types. The full-time studio or production company reader is required, in most places, to read and analyze at least two scripts a day. They show up for work like everyone else, have their coffee, put their feet up on the desk and read. Many are exceptionally well-educated, and have advanced degrees, with law degrees particularly prevalent. Despite their education,...

Question: I have completed my screenplay, but I never wrote a treatment. I met a producer who wants to see a treatment only. Some people say a treatment should be three pages long, some say 12. Any advice? Michael Halperin, author of 'Writing the Killer Treatment,' responds: Before starting out on a treatment based on a completed screenplay, you have to ask questions. Does the producer actually want a treatment, or does he want a synopsis of the screenplay? Some producers continue to confuse one with the other. Writers go off and write their treatments and deliver them. Producers wonder...

Journal writing is a wonderful way to know yourself and to discover exciting ideas inside you. There are many ways to apply journal writing. As a script consultant and as a licensed psychotherapist in private practice in Los Angeles, I have used journal writing with hundreds of writers and non-writers alike with amazing results. Journal writing is a healing tool that is cost-effective and helps people in times of stress, crisis and recovery. All you need to begin the journal writing process is a pen and paper. It doesn't matter whether you're writing a personal journal or using a journal...

I've spoken before in this column about the fact that 95% of writers fail in the premise. You may come up with a terrific one-line idea for a movie, but if you don't develop it the right way, the best scene writing in the world won't make a difference. The single most important decision you must make when developing your premise is: what genre should I use? Genre is a particular type of story, like detective, comedy, thriller or action. The reason genre is so important is that the entire entertainment business is based on it. That sounds like a...

Some writers do their best work hunched over the computers at their desks. Others work in libraries. Or at the beach. But I like nothing better than writing in a restaurant. While some people are terrified at the prospect of dining alone, for me it's a chance to let someone else do the cooking, serve my food and do the dishes while I relax and inhabit my current play or screenplay. Call me a caveman, but when I write at a restaurant, I don't bring along my laptop. I bring a legal pad and some pens. Here's why: when I...