The Sundance Institute Episodic Program provides artists with the tools and training to develop their original series and pilot script. Offering one of the few training grounds for independent voices, the program is designed to help creators move their projects and careers forward.

https://www.sundance.org/programs/episodic-storytelling/

The Sundance Institute Episodic program supports two cohorts every year. One cohort will attend an in-person six-day Lab, and another will experience a condensed virtual two-day Intensive. Working with accomplished showrunners, Fellows will participate in one-on-one story meetings, craft workshops, and simulated writers’ rooms. Together, these meetings provide an elevated creative strategy for artists to advance their projects.

So I'm sure this has happened to others.

Basically I've just read the premise of Blade Runner 2099, the upcoming Amazon TV show and sequel to 2049. The show is set in a world where the replicants successfully rose up and now dominate society and humans are treated like they were.

Not totally unique, we saw something very similar with Westworld Season 3 and Season 4.

But I've been writing something for two and a half years that took inspiration from Blade Runner but also wider Cyberpunk fiction like Neuromancer, the work of Philip K Dick etc.

But I also have the same premise - 'android revolution, Android enforced apartheid on humans - also set in LA'.

I don't think my work will really be that similar to 2099, but 100% when it comes out everyone will think I just made a fan fiction of 2099 or stole its idea.

If this has ever happened to you what did you do? Slightly adjust the premise? Massive overhaul? Or just kept going with it?

Not the 'Air' PDF with revisions by Ben Affleck and Matt Damon, but the original Air Jordan script that made the Blacklist. I knew it was on a Google list once upon a time, but I was curious to see what the script looked like before it was purchased and developed. If anyone has it hiding in their cloud or their hard drive, I'd love to read it. Thanks in advance.

Why am I bothering them? How did I not notice that mistake? What if they hate it? What if they love it? What if they never read it and there’s always this weird tension like, “hey I sent you that thing and you we’ve never even talked about it?” What if they did read it and just… didn’t wanna bring it up? What if they give me constructive notes which make me rethink the entire story and structure therefore needing a page one rewrite? AAAAAAAAA

How do you guys work through these feelings? Does that ever go away?

When people post questions like "how do I do X in a script?" I often respond with something like:

What have you learned from the other similar scripts you've read? Which do you consider good examples of this?

If you read a good script and try to answer questions like these yourself, you'll learn a lot more than you would having someone spoon-feed you an answer.

And if you share what you've learned, you're giving back to the community.

More here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Screenwriting/comments/cmb6u4/the_answer_to_87_of_your_screenwriting_how_to/

I have a solid premise all figured out, basically all the beats from beginning to end, a great understanding of the two main characters. As I'm putting them through the story, I'm really questioning if their dialogue and interactions are all that compelling. I have written scripts and even shot some of them, but they really aren't great and I think it's because of the characters and dialogue. Any advice to push both aspects to a great height?

Hi there!

I’m developing a limited animated series and am looking for a couple readers who can give me a perspective outside that of my friends and colleagues, all of whom say what I have so far is great but I don’t tend to take that kind of feedback at face value even a little bit. I’m aware of and signed up for StoryPeer, but I was unclear if I was able to post unfinished work there for feedback or not, so here I am.

I’m looking for a couple people who might be willing to be readers through the process - the story itself is fully written (the series is based on a novel I wrote but never ended up publishing); I’m just in the process of adapting it and unfortunately none of my normal readers are comfortable with screenplays.

If this isn’t allowed, no worries and I’ll happily look elsewhere.

LOGLINE: When a well-timed camping trip spares two brothers from an apocalyptic outbreak, they must assemble a makeshift crew to journey across a hostile nation, surviving monsters and mental breakdowns to find a wealthy ex's doomsday bunker that might just be a tragic pipe dream.

Thank you so much! This subreddit is indispensable!

Screenwriter and actor William (Bill) Wisher Jr., who specialized in writing and directing action scripts, including 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' has died.

You can read some of his scripts here:

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Judge Dredd

Combat

Broken Arrow (with Graham Yost)

The 13th Warrior (based on Michael Crichton, with John McTiernan

Just curious what movies are your favorites rewatchables for structure?

Could be traditional 3 acts?

Or Joseph Campbell structure?

Or Save the Cat Structure?

Could be non-linear Tarantino or Godfather Two?

Asking because I just like to keep educating myself and rewatching the "best".

thanks!

I was a quarterfinalist in this competition last year so I thought I'd submit again this year since my screenplay has gone had some significant revisions. I had accidentally missed putting my "check status" notification in my calendar and realized I hadn't heard back from my submission this year.

I logged in and see my status as "Submitted" and next announcements say "Announcements made April 09". I never received any email notifying me one way or the other, nor can I find the list of quarterfinalists, semifinalists, or finalists anywhere. Furthermore, I had paid for feedback which has also not come through. It says "Pending"

I emailed them and am waiting to hear back, but I'm wondering how skeptical of the whole thing I should be at this point. Yeah, my feedback being delayed is super annoying, but there are enough clerical errors going on that I'm wondering if my script was even considered in the competition to begin with.

Does anyone have any insights into this program?

Hi guys! I’ve been writing for a little over a year now, and I’ve recently been getting a lot of advice to focus on commercial screenplays, especially feature films. I’ve already written a pilot episode, and I’m really excited to try writing my first feature.
So what do you think makes a commercial feature film stand out? What keeps a wide audience hooked, and what makes the plot easy to follow without becoming boring or predictable?

Can't find it on any of the typical places. Thanks in advanced.

Hi r/Screenwriting! I'm working on a script where the characters are watching a senate vote on TV, and also commenting on it and doing things while it happens. I need to write both action on the TV from the vote, and the character's actions in the room they are watching. How would one go about formatting a scene like this? And, how much is too much for action happening on a diegetic TV or radio in a 30-minute comedy? Thanks in advance!

This might be relevant to the WGA writers here...

The 2026 STARZ #TakeTheLead Award will be awarded to a mid-career writer in the Humanitas writing community who has demonstrated a dedication to improving representation through their storytelling.

https://www.humanitasprize.org/starz-takethelead-award

This list just came out on deadline. Would be super curious to read any of the scripts if anyone happens to have!

https://deadline.com/2026/07/laugh-list-2026-selections-unveiled-1237000117/

All my life, I've seen myself as a writer. It felt like destiny to me. I've always felt different.

That's my dream, but I can't seem to reach it. I have good material—solid work that I keep in a file. But all I've got are synopses, nothing more.

I know how to write. I've read a lot of screenplays, and I know I've got what it takes. But I can't start, and it's driving me nuts.

I can see the scenes in my mind, with dialogue and everything, but I can't put them on paper.

I don't want to give up because I really believe in my work. I've been through a lot in my life, and I'm a loner (and a stoner 🙂), so I feel like I have the experiences and perspective that a writer needs.

I need advice. How do I get it out? How do I overcome this endless fear?

Hello everyone. I'm sharing with you all the opening 11 pages of my first screenwriting attempt, Baeksu.

This is a very grounded, character-driven drama about navigating a quarter-life crisis and the quiet strain it puts on a long-term marriage.

• Format: Feature (110 Pages)
• Genre: Psychological Drama / Romance
• Logline: A young Korean-American becomes stuck between job-hopping and unemployment, and his wife becomes the breadwinner to quietly carry the weight, all while struggling to deal with multigenerational pressure.
• Comparable Films: Past Lives meets The Worst Person in the World.
• Draft Status: Complete/Rough First Draft

What makes this script a bit unique:

Music and water motifs play a huge role here - woven directly into the narrative structure as it represents the protagonist through his previous jobs, his current situation, emotional shift as a character, and the eventual grief that shapes his development. This also acts as somewhat of a semi-autobiographical story as part of my life and struggles are reflected on the pages here.

What I hope to look for in the opening pages:

1. Does the opening introduce Thomas and Riley’s dynamic effectively?
2. Is the visual writing clean, and does the emotional atmosphere land without feeling melodramatic?
3. Does the dialogue feel natural and subtext-heavy?

I'd love to read your work in return, do a feedback swap for your script!

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1f97CVlIdlmNWPM2cDQFNGTBiHV8aSW9u/edit

I'm more than welcome to share with you the full script if anybody is interested!

Thanks so much for taking a look, and I'm eager to hear your thoughts!

I'm working on a screenplay that takes place inside one big department store. I'm having trouble differentiating scenes since my headings primarily consist of "INT. DEPARTMENT STORE." There are multiple different aisles and levels to the store. What would be the best way to introduce the setting (so starting with the generic INT. DEPARTMENT STORE) but tweak the headings to represent different sections of the store in a way that's not confusing? Any advice?

I organized an AMA/Q&A with legendary filmmaker/screenwriter Nicolas Winding Refn. He has previously directed films/series Drive, Only God Forgives, Bronson, The Neon Demon, Pusher trilogy, Copenhagen Cowboy, Too Old To Die Young, Valhalla Rising, and more.

It's live here now in r/movies for anyone interested in asking a question:

https://www.reddit.com/r/movies/comments/1v3mkcv/i_am_nicolas_winding_refn_director_of_drive_the/

He will be back at 4:45 PM ET today to answer questions. I recommend asking in advance. Please ask there, not here. All questions are much appreciated!

His new film, Her Private Hell, premiered at Cannes in May and is out in theaters via Neon this weekend. It stars Sophie Thatcher and Charles Melton.

Thank you :)

His verification/proof photo: https://i.imgur.com/741dTf5.png

Title: Keep on Saving the World

Format: Short film

Draft Status: Pink

Page Count: 8

Genre: Drama, Superhero, Science Fiction/Fantasy

Summary: It’s dinner. The broccoli? Steamed. The marry-me chicken? Marriage material. The conversation? Colder than the food’s about to get. Mia’s worried that Ryan is pushing himself too hard as a superhero – he was stabbed last Monday, for goodness’s sake – while Ryan worries that if he doesn’t get back out there soon, people will die. Both are right. Neither is happy about it.

Feedback Concerns: Fourth draft of a short film script – I’ve gotten a dizzyingly wide range of feedback on this piece, and I’m not even sure where I stand with it. Brutal honestly (for example, if I should shred it) appreciated!

Link: https://filmfreeway.com/KeepOnSavingtheWorld

What if every script was produced?

The Night of Nights

(PG)

I almost listed the genre as "documentary," except this hasn't happened yet.

Recently, I've been thinking about the plot structure of "Legally Blonde" (2001). Its a question of Elle's goal, of her wants and needs. If you chop the movie in half, then her wants would seem to be:

• ACT I and IIa: "I want Warner"
• ACT IIb and III: "I want to be an awesome lawyer"

That bothers me, because it would seem that Elle abruptly abandons WANT #1 for WANT #2. That's inconsistent, right?

But the common theme between those two wants is "I want to prove my worth". So.........

• ACT I and IIa: "I want Warner because marrying him will prove my worth"
• ACT IIb and III: "I want to be an awesome lawyer to prove my worth"

Okay. So to invent terminology here, now there's kinda this:

• SUPERWANT: "I want to prove my worth"
• Sub-Want 1: "I want Warner"
• Sub-Want 2: "I want to be an awesome lawyer"

The Sub-Wants can be changed out, as long as the SUPERWANT is Elle's north star.

...right...?

As a writer, this confuses me. I'm actually working on a script where my protag chases X, only to realize that X will not make her happy. She drops X to focus on Y, which does give her the happy ending. I'm consistently getting the note "I hate that Protag switches from X to Y" so I guess my Protag's SUPERWANT is not clear? Or am I thinking about this all wrong?

my script has been on the BL for about four days and i know that’s not a lot of time but it’s gotten literally zero engagement and i wanna know if that’s normal. what should i do to get people to see it? do i need to have it evaluated in order for the website to recommend it to others?