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Insider Secrets to Successfully Writing and Marketing Sales-Worthy Screenplay: $99 Want to write a marketable screenplay? Have you already written a screenplay but can't seem to sell it? Join Scott D. Roberts as he teaches the Insider Secrets to Successfully Writing a Sales-Worthy Screenplay. In this 3-hour workshop you'll learn 10 Key Tips to Screenwriting: How to write an enticing log line What is the "acceptable" structure to Act 1, Act 2/second part of Act 2, and Act 3? Why does exciting "pacing" make or break a script? What is the value of storyboarding? The importance of writing scenes on 40 index cards How to use the "Pacing Breakdown" as your pitch guide How to utilize your storyboard to write your script Do's and Don't's and bad habits to avoid Why you're not finished when you think you're finished How to get your script read with the right people Date: August 20, 2015 Time: 6pm to 9pm L...

Available for Sale on Amazon in print ( click here ) 2.99 in Kindle ( click here ) 9 A few days later, I received a strange “summons” – and when I say summons I mean command – from Curtis. He asked me to meet him at the Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf the next morning. It was how he said it on my voice mail: “Meet me at nine.” No “please” or “would you” just a demand to meet him. I assumed it was business, and from the tone of his voice, it was serious business. It made me nervous, and my overly active mind went crazy with thoughts. Were they going to fire me? Replace me with another writer? Was Kale too chicken to do it himself? No, Kale was, if nothing else, respectful and decent. He wouldn’t fire me that way. He would do it himself. But wait! Kale had said numerous times how I was talented and all. Why would he fire me? Maybe it was more script notes and production would be delayed. Maybe they were canceling the entire film? “Ah stop!” I said aloud to my...

Location: Red Lion Inn, Sacramento Address: 500 Leisure Lane Date: August 20, 2015 Time: 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Want to write a marketable screenplay? Have you already written a screenplay but can’t seem to sell it? Join Scott D. Roberts as he teaches the Insider Secrets to Successfully Writing a Sales-Worthy Screenplay. In this 3-hour workshop you’ll learn 10 Key Tips to Screenwriting: ·  How to write an enticing log line ·  What is the “acceptable” structure to Act 1, Act 2/second part of Act 2, and Act 3? ·  Why does exciting “pacing” make or break a script? ·  What is the value of storyboarding? ·  The importance of writing scenes on 40 index cards ·  How to use the “Pacing Breakdown” as your pitch guide ·  How to utilize your storyboard to write your script ·  Do’s and Don't’s and bad habits to avoid ·  Why you’re not finished when you think you’re finished ·  How to get your script read with the rig...

Find out from screenwriter, director, producer and publisher how to transform a story from page screen. RANCHO CORDOVA, Calif .—Have you ever thought, “My book would make a great movie, but I have no idea where to start?” Join Scott D. Roberts, novelist, screenwriter, producer, actor and director, as he teaches the elements of taking a story from page to screen. Roberts is presenting June 20, 2015 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. as part of the CaliforniaWriters Club (Sacramento Branch) at Cattlemen’s Restaurant in Rancho Cordova (located near I-50 and Hazel Ave.). Join Roberts as he discusses: How to sell your book for acquisition Methodologies to adapt a book for screen Unique ways to write captivating and winning “log lines” that attract agents and producers Where and how to find an agent by overcoming the Catch-22 Understanding the buying process and knowing the difference between an option or a purchase Insider tips and tricks to gettin...

Scott D. Roberts  Why Not Turn Your Work into TV and Film?   June 20, 11am to 1pm California Writers' Club (Sacramento Branch) Cattlemen's Restaurant (I-50/Hazel Ave.) in Rancho Cordova *Non-members may attend luncheon Why Not Turn Your Work into TV and Film? Have you ever thought, "My book would make a great movie, but I have no idea where to start?" Join Scott D. Roberts, novelist, screenwriter, producer, actor and director, as he teaches writers all elements of taking a story from page to screen. Roberts is a 25-year veteran of the film and television business. He has worked in almost every role, from assistant to talent agent, to actor to writer, to producer to director. Join him as he discusses: How to sell your book for acquisition Methodologies to adapt a book for screen Unique ways to write captivating and winning "log lines" that attract agents and producers Where and how to find an...

****1/2 Actually, I don't know why I gave it less half-a-point, but maybe it deserves five stars. Cake is yet another riveting, emotional and spiritual movie out in theaters. Chronic pain sufferer Clair is kicked out of a support group after she articulately, truthfully and in an unvarnished description goes through a "forgiveness" exercise and excoriates her friend's suicide. The group's stunned reaction leads to Clair being asked to leave. The heart of the story begins here with Clair's pain and addiction to pills spiraling out of control. She begins to hallucinate the woman who committed suicide and soon her obsession lands her on the woman's doorstep where she befriends her widower and son. While Clair is self-destructive and a self-proclaimed bitch, the audience slowly learns what happened that resulted in the physical and emotional scars. Outsiders are often unsympathetic to her situation, but Clair has bottled it all up and uses pills to numb...

Rating: ***1/2 Transcendence was the type of thought-provoking script I would have written when I was still screenwriting (which I will return to doing in the future). The story revolves around the concept of uploading human consciousness into a mega data network that enables the invention and creation of nano technology to regenerate life. I studied nano technology back in the day, and the concept is indeed fascinating. In the movie, our professor Dr. Will Caster and his wife Evelynn are partners in life and work. After a terrorist organization shoots Will with a radiation-loaded bullet, he dies a slow terrible death. During his death "march" Evelynn figures out how to upload his consciousness into the network. The movie then turns into the government trying to stop what many believe is a bad thing that could destroy the world. I liked the movie. I thought it begged some interesting questions about technology and the human spirit. It was the type of movie in which y...

Rating: **1/2 Bad Grandpa is one of those juvenile delinquent comedies you can't help but laugh, but mostly about the expressions and reactions of those around the offending characters. Please note, I am no Polyana and I knew going into the theater exactly what the movie would most likely involve -- a lot of base potty humor. I was naturally right, but my teenage son wanted to see it, so I obliged. Do you know the type of movies where you laugh, and in the back of your mind you're thinking, "I shouldn't be laughing." Yes, Bad Grandpa qualified for this category of movie. I have to admit, though, I like a belly-ache laugh every now and again, and whether my higher sensibility was chastising me or not, I still laughed. For the record, though, I never enjoy watching children turned into little foul-mouthed versions of adults, and Billy, the little boy, became the subject of some jokes I didn't enjoy. The big one was the beer-drinking scene where he chokes...

Rating: ***** Just to show the movie studios a little something important -- grown-up movies done right still rule the box office. Two very grown-up films Captain Phillips and Gravity dominated the box office ticket sales in a refreshing change since a summer onslaught of terrible movies. After seeing Captain Phillips , I actually noted how refreshing it was that we weren't be subjected to films targeted toward 12-year-old boys and pre-teens. This gritty, realistic and action-packed movie is filmed in that handheld camera style that has become popular that gives it a sense of frenetic realism. Now I am not a fan of this style and find it hard to follow and a little annoying, but I soon got over it. The film has a documentary-style to it and creates such a normal everyday feel about it. Any stars in the film are hidden behind their average, everyday appearances. Hanks' Capt. Phillips comes across as a normal family man who runs his ship with a stern, polite manner. Then ...

Last night I watched True Blood , and I normally review it the next day. Well, I am going to review it, but I want to focus on the Jessica/Hoyt/Jason scene. I was never more moved by the show than when I watched that scene. This season has brought a lot of heart to the show. Between Pam and Tara bonding and this scene about letting go, I was just caught up. But let's skip right to the Jessica/Hoyt/Jason scene. Poor Hoyt had just lost everything -- his first love and best friend along with a list of miseries in his descent into despair. When he asks Jessica to glamour away his hurt, I completely understood the desire. Wouldn't a lot of us beg to have the pain erased from our memories if we could? It's an understandable request, but on the flip side, isn't it our pain and hurt that makes us who we are? It rounds us out. It deepens us. We are supposed to learn lessons from every painful moment in our lives as well as the happy ones. I always like to say, how can you know t...

I drink one cup of coffee a day, period and that's it. My Italian author and friend Michael Perrotta, who just released Under the Sycamores (fantastic book and highly recommended) encourages me not to drink coffee at all. He says and I quote, "It's bad for you," in this thick and wonderful Italian accent. Yes, Michael it probably is ... but if I only have one vice and that's coffee then oh well. I am up in Northern California combining play time with work and networking. I decided to return to where 3L Publishing has the strongest base to focus on business development. You know I personally moved about six months ago, but 3L is headquartered here in Sacramento. Our storage facilities are here, and my wizard of an operations manager runs everything from here. I really don't see myself in the long term in LA (too many people), but I am not sure when I'll return up here on a permanent basis. I am going to be flying back and forth more often in the coming mon...

Anyone out there going through a divorce? Now say with me all at once, "Divorce sucks!" I think that is an understatement, but hey! I don't use profanity on the blog, so there you go! Actually, I am making myself chuckle here. It's good to laugh when laughter seems so far from reach. The changes on my script California Girl Chronicles written by the script doctor just made me laugh till I wanted to cry. He is so gifted, but I can't use his name for a number of very good reasons. It reminded of me of a bawdy Friends episode ... and that says an interesting comment on our combined skills. I was told by a little bird, he thinks I'm an excellent storyteller. Thank you! I think he is an excellent screenwriter ... just calling a genius a genius is all. Like my blog love-fest or what?! Well, in sharing I am cheering myself up, and I'm letting you know that the script is progressing. And I'm taking my despair over a terrible, brutal and divorce air out int...

I am very, very fortunate in that I am working with a tremendously talented individual to get the California Girl Chronicles pilot into shape. I just read the notes on it, and I have to say, it's a completely different take on what I wrote -- and that is a good thing. The one thing I learned a long time ago, know what you don't know and learn! Sometimes as we become more experienced with our writing and hone our skills, we get a little self-satisfied. You think, hey I've published some 35 books and sold two scripts. I should know this stuff already. Well, only a person with a lot of hubris and major ego thinks there is nothing else to learn. I used to play that game "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" (the board version) with my family and consistently won. No, not because I knew all of the answers. I knew I didn't know and was willing to admit it, and since I was playing against folks who actually might have had more knowledge, but who didn't know when to j...

I saw the trailer for this movie in the theaters and was interested to see it. Since it's not easy to get out to the movies, I waited for it to come out on DVD. This movie is worth the rental price and more. It seems like most movies these days that are made for an adult audience just aren't that great. I only occasionally run into one I would give a perfect four-star rating -- and Contagion is one of them. As a writer, I was struck with the enormous amount of research that had to go into getting the science and math right. I was impressed with the knowledge that went into the writing. Movies like Contagion can easily get bogged down in the science or just the opposite get bogged down in the focus on the gore and sickness. Contagion walked a fine line between the story, science and conspiracy. It managed multiple story lines with seamless and adept ease, and it kept me interested to the very end. When I can stay engaged for an entire two-hour film then it's a great movie...

The thing about writing funny scenes (for me) is that I can't force the humor. If you stand there and tell me, "Be funny now," I'll stare at you with one of those blank deer looks. In fact, I would be terrible if someone asked me to write in a group and make it funny. Again, blank, uncomfortable stare on my face and absolutely no idea. Yet throw me in a situation where human behavior takes place at random, and I become the narrator of the place. Better yet, do something annoying, and I don't get annoyed, I just make a string of quips. When I'm writing humorous material, I have to be left alone with my quirky mind to run amok on the page. What truly amazes me is when I start a scene and the material evolves on its own without a direct push from my logical thinking. Here is one of my favorite jokes from the script Beauty School . Let me set the scene, our resident fool Bo is attempting to do a little girl's hair with some funny consequences from his own in...

We'll do a kind of mini-workshop on the blog to show you how to build sexual tension either in a book or script. Watch the two methods I employ between Brea and her love interest Drew. Read it below, and I will deconstruct it for you to show you the slow progression and build up. Please notice, I know the entire storyline between these two, so I'm working by making subtle gestures that only an informed audience would notice, which is why you need to know where your story is going and how you intend for it to end so you can build the foreshadowing into the story. I'm not suggesting you don't let some parts of the story organically evolve, but I do know that to build the story arc you need to the end game and character flaws and motivations. So, let me deconstruct that scene for you. Notice a lot of looks pass between them (keeping the focus on the eye-to-eye contact, which is one of the keys to building sexual tension). And mind you, nothing is sexier than a forbidden...

Wow! Here is a really cool goal. Get Google Alerts every day on my new book series California Girl Chronicles . Can you imagine the publicity built up when Google Alerts go out every day with your book title or name? You know you've reached a ground swell of interest when you get alerts every day of the week. I like this idea a lot. If you're reading this and don't know what is a Google Alert then please let me share. If you use Google you have alerts. You can set your alerts to a keyword like your name or title, and the little "spiders" on the Web crawl out and gather information associated with your name or title. It's super easy to use and free. As a publicist, I put client's keywords so I can track what is going on with their books and results we're getting. You don't have to be a publicist, though, to do alerts. Famous people and products have a deluge of alerts each day! I will know California Girl is a best-seller when she gets alerts every ...

If you're a writer interested in writing screenplays, a great exercise to really learn the medium of film is to invest in the DVD of Blu-Ray discs and listen to the commentary. I've learned a lot about film and specifically the intent of the writing by doing this on a regular basis. The directors, writers and producers (and sometimes actors) will lend their insight into the scene-by-scene action. I recently purchased Generation Kill, an HBO series I really enjoyed, and watched it with the commentary on. The screenwriter was on discussing working with the book's author and how he wrote the series; how they filmed it; where they filmed it. It's also fun because the commentary often answers nagging questions you might have that you weren't clear about. For example, I kept wondering, "Where the heck did they film this series -- it looks just like Iraq but it couldn't be filmed in such an unstable country." I found out by listening to the commentary it was ...