Helpful Links
BOOKS
(Note: I love this book. I often refer to it while I am writing)
CONTESTS
(Note: This screenplay competition pays out $50,000 annually)
FESTIVALS (Christian)
Branson International Film Festival
Canadian International Faith & Family Film Festival (Canada)
CEVMA (Germany)
Christian Worldview Film Festival and Guild *
Great Lakes Christian Film Festival
Hollywood Divine International Film Festival
I Will Tell International Film Festival (UK)
International Christian Film Festival
Jesus Film Festival (Argentina)
FESTIVALS (with a Christian category)
Franklin International Indie Film Festival
(Note: If you are going to go to only one festival a year, CWVFF is hands down the one to go to.)
You can download the best thing ever written about how to write a logline below. It is a 17-page in-depth tutorial followed by 37pages of simple loglines of popular movies. It was written by Christoper Lockhart who is a Story Editor at William Morris Endeavor Entertainment. Download
PODCASTS
(Note: I enjoy both BS and OTP but be warned that Alex at BS swears a lot)
SCRIPT CLEARANCE
SOFTWARE
One Time Cost
Subscription-Based
Free
Highland (Mac Only)
(Note: See my thoughts on Final Draft in the next column)
TITLE CLEARANCE
WEBSITES
VERB CHEAT SHEETS
Ever wonder how to spell such popular noises as pfft (dismissal or unconcern), mwah (a kiss), mwahaha (a sinister laugh) - wonder no more. Sounds Cheat Sheet - compiled by Rolando Gómez.
Out of the entire collection of screenwriting and film production books (see banner), the one I always recommend is The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier. Another one that I dig out everyone in a while is Your Screenplay Sucks by William M. Akers which offers helpful advice during the rewrite.
I have only used Final Draft - actually that's not true - I started on MS Word. When I finally got Final Draft v5 it was like night and day. It made writing SO much easier. They are now out with version 12 and the changes through the years are phenomenal. The Beat Board alone is such an advancement and sets it apart from all of the other software out there. Trying to explain it here would not do it justice so please go to Final Draft's YouTube Channel to learn more.
If there is something I should add to this page, please send me an email at ChristianScreenplays@gmail.com