[Jonathan Terra]

My name is Jonathan Terra. I’ve written three scripts, all pilots for a TV series which changed radically from the original concept, and the second as well. The third version is in still the works.

I hope to learn the art of writing quickly. Scripts dragging on seems to be the single biggest problem I’ve come across, so I’m keen to address it constructively and find effective solutions. I also hope to be able to figure out more quickly whether a concept is more suitable for a film, a limited series, or an open-ended series. This is more difficult than most people realize, and industry observers seem to oscillate between whether the time is ripe to do a feature film (which seems to be the latest view) or a series (many people are claiming the time has past for selling a TV series without serious obstacles, since the big streamers — esp. Netflix — have over-invested in TV series and are now dialing back; I’m not sure what the actual trend is now, since Apple TV and Amazon still have huge budgets to invest in limited and longer series; any insights here are welcome).

I’ve worked as a professor of political science, diplomat, political advisor & consultant, opinion analyst/writer for newspapers & politics websites, and documentary film producer (one full-length independent film was shown on TV and in festivals in multiple countries, while 18 shorter ones funded by the US State Department were broadcast in Afghanistan in 2011-12), among other things. I’ve spent most of the last 25 years living in Central Europe, although I lived in Afghanistan for a couple of years as well a little over a decade ago (where I did much more than produce documentary films, but that’s another story), before things went tragically sideways there.

If anyone has any advice for how to crack the code for getting your emails and support tickets responded to by SU staff, or communicating some other way which elicits a response, please advise… Thx!

• This reply was modified 2 years, 3 months ago by  Jonathan Terra.

[Jonathan Terra]

I, Jonathan Terra, agree to the terms of this release form

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

[Jonathan Terra]

Jonathan Terra

I agree to the terms of this release form.

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of Writing Incredible Movies, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, through social media, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, videos, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.

This completes the Group Release Form for the class.

[Jonathan Terra]

A few things stood out as points of learning from the long list of notes we took during the call:

-The role of breakthroughs is a critical part of progressing as a screenwriter. Each of us will experience different breakthroughs, and we will experience them differently. But it’s important to be aware when this happens and take full advantage of it.

-Give your *four* best and most useful notes. Don’t pass on a torrent of notes which will inevitably include criticism which may not be that useful, and which will overwhelm a writer.

-Prioritize learning over content.

-Don’t get hung up on formatting, despite the common advice to be precise and detailed here. Use the four main keys (slugline, description, character name over dialogue & dialogue) and write the script without cluttering it. Keep the formatting clean and simple so the reader can focus on the writing.

-Don’t wordsmith and do micro-editing on your first draft. Keep it to a minimum so as not to block working in flow and distracting your focus on more critical elements of the script until your final draft.

-Make sure the script consultant you use has the specific skill-set that matches your need.

-Treat feedback cautiously. Don’t let it shut you down. Don’t become dependent on it.

-Ernest Hemingway can always be relied on for a good quote about writing. In this case, “All first drafts are shit.” Keep this in mind when writing your “shitty first draft.” Another favorite quote of his: “There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.”

-One remaining issue is how to catch up if your start in the course was delayed for various reasons. Hal said to join in where we are, and catch up on past assignments. Good advice. But it’s not possible to access the current assignments until you’ve caught up and finished preceding ones. So, what’s the solution?

[Jonathan Terra]

My name is Jonathan Terra.

I’ve written two different versions of a TV series pilot. One reflects a story concept that eventually changed to something quite different.

I want to improve my overall skill-set as a screenwriter who is primarily oriented toward the TV series and limited series format, although screenwriting for film is something I also want to be capable of doing. I also hope to arrive at a place where writing teleplays and screenplays becomes something I am able to do with the level of joy, confidence and competence with which I’ve been able to do other things where I’ve reached a certain level of achievement.

I am a political science Ph.D. who taught undergraduates and graduate students for several years, mostly in comparative politics and regime change. I’ve also worked as a security & strategic communications analyst (most recently for a NATO project aimed at countering “hybrid threats” from Russia), documentary film producer and media commentator (I still publish on security-related topics).

I also held a non-political appointment as a US diplomat in Afghanistan for the better part of two years before it all recently went tragically south. Part of my work there was managing a public awareness campaign aimed at Afghans using the short documentary format for TV and radio (I produced 18 of them). I also did political reporting (i.e., writing “cables” for the Embassy in Kabul and State Department HQ in Washington) and worked on projects supporting the rights of Afghan girls and women. During the part of my diplomatic tour when I was based in Kabul I was also the US Embassy project liaison to the Afghan Ministry of the Hajj & Religious Affairs.

Although I’m originally from Northern California, I’m a dual-national and I’ve been based in Central Europe for most of the past 25 years.

The last quarter century of living and working in unusual environments, combined with my professional, academic and linguistic background, has given me considerable material for storytelling. I hope this course will improve my ability to to this.

(Please note that I am only now beginning the course at the end of January. I hope to catch up soon.)

[Jonathan Terra]

<div>Jonathan Terra
</div><div>

I agree to the terms of this release form.

</div>

GROUP RELEASE FORM

As a member of this group, I agree to the following:

1. That I will keep the processes, strategies, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class confidential, and that I will NOT share any of this program either privately, with a group, posting online, writing articles, through video or computer programming, or in any other way that would make those processes, teleconferences, communications, lessons, and models of the class available to anyone who is not a member of this class.

2. That each writer’s work here is copyrighted and that writer is the sole owner of that work. That includes this program which is copyrighted by Hal Croasmun. I acknowledge that submission of an idea to this group constitutes a claim of and the recognition of ownership of that idea.

I will keep the other writer’s ideas and writing confidential and will not share this information with anyone without the express written permission of the writer/owner. I will not market or even discuss this information with anyone outside this group.

3. I also understand that many stories and ideas are similar and/or have common themes and from time to time, two or more people can independently and simultaneously generate the same concept or movie idea.

4. If I have an idea that is the same as or very similar to another group member’s idea, I’ll immediately contact Hal and present proof that I had this idea prior to the beginning of the class. If Hal deems them to be the same idea or close enough to cause harm to either party, he’ll request both parties to present another concept for the class.

5. If you don’t present proof to Hal that you have the same idea as another person, you agree that all ideas presented to this group are the sole ownership of the person who presented them and you will not write or market another group member’s ideas.

6. Finally, I agree not to bring suit against anyone in this group for any reason, unless they use a substantial portion of my copyrighted work in a manner that is public and/or that prevents me from marketing my script by shopping it to production companies, agents, managers, actors, networks, studios or any other entertainment industry organizations or people.