The Quest Initiative: Day 3
The submission period for The Quest Initiative runs from May 22-June 8. Each day I will provide an update.
Today: Marks the 3rd day of submissions for The Quest Initiative. Number of entrants: 162.
Question of the day: May I submit a logline for a script I have already written?
Answer: Yes, but you have to be willing to go all the way back to the very basics of your story, essentially starting from scratch. Why? During The Quest, you will be learning a character-based approach to screenwriting. You will bring that understanding and level of depth to your writing, and I can assure you that will cause you to change your story.
Tip of the day: Whatever loglines you submit, make sure you have passion for each story.
In my estimation, there are two things that take the words a writer writes and lifts them off the page and into the imagination of a reader: Talent. Passion.
Obviously some writers have more talent than others, but having been an educator in my spare time for a decade, I know for a fact through my experience in the classroom that talent can be honed and developed.
Passion can’t. A writer either has passion for writing or doesn’t. Sure, they may not know it until later in life when their passion for the craft explodes to the surface, but the fact is that passion was there along, it just hadn’t been realized yet.
So along with assessing your story ideas based on their concept and genre, I ask you to consider a third litmus test: Are you passionate about writing this story?
This is not only about channeling that passion into your story, it is also about a completely pragmatic point: You will need to tap into your passion simply to get through the Quest.
During the eight weeks of Core, I’m probably asking you for about 10 hours of your time each week. During Prep and Pages, it will be more like 15 hours. The time required can be more or less, depending what type of writer you are, how complex or easy your story is, how your creative process progresses and so on.
That represents a significant time commitment. It will be a challenge. But if you are passionate about your story, you want more than anything to see it come to life, then that can infuse your pages with life and your soul with energy, helping you to complete your script.
So as you go through your list of story concepts, sit down with each one of them and ask yourself this question: Why am I passionate about this story?
A few words from Max Millimeter on the subject:
So the desk jockey gave you the whole passion spiel, huh? Bet he used some nice, flowery words. Well, allow me to bottom line this for you as succinctly and simply as I can. MAKE ME FUCKING FEEL SOMETHING! You writing a horror script? Scare the shit out of me! A comedy? I wanna laugh til my balls drop off. Romance? You gotta turn these spigots on here so I’m a blubbering baby. Action, thriller, science fiction, fantasy, whatever the hell you write, I don’t wanna just read it, I wanna feel it! I read so many goddammed formulaic scripts. This happens on page 25, a big whatcha call reversal at page 60, uh-oh, it’s page 75, time for the guy and gal to do the nasty, bing, bang, boom… [slaps hand on desk]… pass! Fuck structure! Make me feel something! Like right now. I’m angry! I’m furious! I have no damn clue why, but this is what I want, gimme a story that gets me all riled up. JUST. LIKE. THIS! Now get outta here, I gotta call my shrink.
Passion. Your passion for your story. That passion funneling through your words to the script reader.
So if you have a great story concept, one for which you have an overwhelming passion to write…
Why not submit a logline for consideration to The Quest Initiative?
For specifics on how to submit loglines and general background, hit more.
Here are the essential bullet points you need to steer you through the process of submitting your loglines for consideration:
* What is the submission period? 12:01AM [Pacific / U.S.], Wednesday, May 22–11:59PM [Pacific / U.S.], Sunday, June 8.
* What is the email address? thequestinitiative at gmail dot com. This is the only email address at which I will accept submissions.
* How many loglines may I submit? A total of three [3].
* If I am submitting multiple loglines [2 or 3], how should I submit them? In the subject heading write QUEST LOGLINES and send them all in one email.
* What information should I provide with my submission? The following:
– Subject heading: QUEST LOGLINE / QUEST LOGLINES
Then in the body of the email:
– Story title [if you have one]
– Genre [if you know it]
– Logline
That is it. No biographies. No additional information about the story.
* What type of stories are you looking for? The following:
– Action, Comedy, Thriller [what I am most interested in]
– Drama, Family, Horror [what I am also interested in]
* What type of stories are you not looking for? The following:
– Huge big budget science fiction, fantasy or epic period pieces.
– Obscure independent movies [as much as I love them].
IN OTHER WORDS, I AM MOST INTERESTED IN LOW-TO-MEDIUM BUDGET MAINSTREAM COMMERCIAL MOVIES WITH STRONG MARKETABLE HIGH CONCEPTS.
* If I am a member of the Writers Guild of America or an international equivalent, may I submit a logline? No. I created The Quest Initiative with the goal of opening an alternate doorway into Hollywood for those outside the system.
* Do I have to have an extensive background in screenwriting to apply? No. While it is helpful if you have written at least 2 or 3 scripts, The Quest takes participants through a unique character-based approach to screenwriting that will transform whatever knowledge or practices you have re the craft.
* Is there any cost if I get selected for The Quest Initiative? No. The Quest Initiative is free.
For more background, read on:
What you need to know about “The Quest Initiative”
Cost: Free.
How many participants: Up to 4.
Who may apply: Any aspiring screenwriter who is not a member of the WGA or equivalent professional writing organization. Writers do not have to live in Los Angeles, and may be located in the United States or internationally based. Writers may be any age, gender, race, etc.
When will the workshop run: July 15-December 29, 2013.
How will I determine who gets accepted: There are three key standards. (1) Story concept: I am looking for strong story concepts that I believe when executed as a script can get set up as projects in Hollywood. In other words, I am almost exclusively interested in commercial high concepts. I will make exceptions if the story elements make me think the project is a marketable one, but the concept has to be extremely strong if it is not high concept. (2) Writing ability: I will ask applicants who make it past the first cut to send me a sample of their writing, as well as a detailed description of their background as a writer and a statement about why they want to be a screenwriter. (3) Personal interview: I will have a one-on-one conversation with applicants who make it past the next cut in order to assemble a group I feel will be compatible with each other.
How do you apply: A simple email with the word “Quest Logline” in the subject line, then a logline of your story in the text. If you have a title, please post that. If the genre of the story is not clear from the logline, you may include the genre.
When may you apply: I will be accepting loglines from May 22 through June 8, 2013. You may send them to me at: thequestinitiative at gmail dot com.
NOTE: THIS IS THE ONLY EMAIL ADDRESS YOU SHOULD USE!!!
If you are selected as one of The Quest participants, you must be willing to do the following three things:
1. You have to commit yourself fully to the workshop. That means active participation in constructive criticism and feedback, all writing exercises and assignments, and most importantly pledge you will finish the first draft of your original screenplay.
2. You have to write a weekly journal entry about your experiences in the workshop. As part of The Quest Initiative, I will be doing something akin to reality programming in that each week, I will post something on GITS about the group’s progress including excerpts from your journals. This is a great way for the GITS community to track how you are doing, something of what you are learning, see the ups and downs of the writing process, and so on.
3. If you write a script I believe has strong marketable potential, I have the right to attach myself as an executive producer. At that point, I will take you on into rewrites and we will officially be in producer-to-writer mode. Once your script is finished, I will take the lead in getting it to managers and agents, and try to get the project set up and you established in Hollywood.
You may only submit a total of three [3] loglines!
Last year some folks sent me dozens of loglines. As a result, I ended up reviewing over 3500 loglines. An overwhelming majority of them were not — in my opinion — commercially viable.
So if you are serious about wanting to have a chance to participate in The Quest, I encourage you — with extreme prejudice! — to raise your game. Give me your best shot. That means you have to set the bar high for what you submit to me. You need to ask: Is this really a movie? Can this story concept compete with what is currently out in theaters? Is this something I think Scott will respond to?
Here are genres I am most interested in reading: Action, Comedy, Thriller. Second tier: Drama, Family, Horror.
Cross genres like Action-Thriller, Drama-Comedy, Action-Comedy, those are fine, too.
Here are genres that will be tough sells: Fantasy, Science Fiction.
I love Fantasy and Science Fiction, but if you submit an idea that requires massive and complex world-building along with huge CGI requirements, I’m not in a position to do anything with that.
That said, if you have a truly great story idea that is either Fantasy or Science Fiction and it is low-to-mid-budget, that might work. A big idea with a contained environment like Moon, something along those lines.
Will I offer a free class for every entrant like I did last year? No!
I may be crazy, but I am not insane. There were 1500 entrants last year and a majority of them have received a free Core or Craft class through Screenwriting Master Class. It was a nice gesture on my part, but I simply don’t have the resources to make that offer again.
How should I submit my logline(s)?
In the subject heading of your email, just put QUEST LOGLINE or QUEST LOGLINES depending on if you are submitting one or more (NO MORE THAN 3!!!)
In the body of the email Title [if you have it], Genre [if you know it], Logline.
If you don’t have a title, that’s okay.
If you are not sure of the genre, take your best guess from the following: Action, Comedy, Drama, Family, Fantasy, Horror, Science Fiction, Thriller.
If you have a cross-genre movie like an Action-Comedy or sub-genre movie like a Romantic Comedy, that’s fine. But if you put down: Action Comedy Mystery Adventure Contained Thriller? That suggests this story has not found itself yet.
If you have multiple loglines (remember: no more than three entries), please put them into one email.
Email your submission to: thequestinitiative at gmail dot com.
I WILL ONLY ACCEPT SUBMISSIONS AT THIS NEW EMAIL ADDRESS. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE NOTE THE ADDRESS AND USE IT TO MAKE MY LIFE EASIER!
Up to 4 writers will have what I believe to be an incredible opportunity, not only to write an original screenplay aided by other writers and myself, but also a chance to learn how to think and write like a professional. Because my goal with writers who go through The Quest is to educate and train them so they have the best shot possible not only at breaking into the business, but succeeding month after month, year after year. That’s one of my guiding principles with The Quest: solid screenwriting theory matched with solid screenwriting practice.
3 days and counting. What are you doing to prepare for The Quest Initiative?
If you have any questions, please post them in comments.
Onward and upward!
I WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY LOGLINE SUBMISSIONS BEFORE WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2013. PLEASE RESPECT THIS SCHEDULE!
OFFICIAL LOGLINE SUBMISSION PERIOD: MAY 22-JUNE 8, 2013.
EMAIL ADDRESS: thequestinitiative at gmail dot com. USE THIS ADDRESS ONLY TO SUBMIT YOUR LOGLINES FOR THE QUEST INITIATIVE!!!
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