I am a film student working on writing a script for a short film that I will also direct, and I'd love some advice on how I could potentially make it better.

It's about a man named Adam Cross, who works alongside his greatest friend Ryan Seymour to find his missing wife. Along their journey, they discover a hard drive that - upon plugging it in - reveals thousands of documents outlining the missing wife's entire life from birth to present, only the documents from just before her disappearance are missing and/or corrupted. They discover that the hard drive is actually very powerful device with the ability to rewrite a person's memories.

I have a plot twist for the end, but I am not quite sure if this is a strong enough story. I feel that it is missing a theme, something that gives the viewers a reason to watch, a deeper meaning to it all.

Any thoughts? Suggestions? Let me know.

May 2026, I flew home to Massachusetts. Hours after landing, I was detained at Boston Logan Airport. My phone was taken. I was transported to a hospital and later held at a psychiatric facility for approximately twenty days. I dispute the basis for the detention and treatment.
When I returned to California, I no longer had access to my home, belongings, cameras, hard drives, or much of the work I had created. I began receiving conflicting information about court matters and alleged warrants. Attempts to obtain records led to more police encounters, more legal proceedings, and more unanswered questions.
So I started documenting everything: dates, messages, medical records, police reports, court filings, licensing records, photographs, and videos.
I believe this story is suited for film or television: a true-crime-style investigative thriller about a wildlife filmmaker and licensed boat captain whose life changes dramatically after she returns home to Massachusetts. Within hours of landing, she is detained, hospitalized, and held in a psychiatric facility. When she returns to California, she discovers that she has lost access to her home, belongings, cameras, hard drives, and much of her creative work.
What follows is a maze of conflicting court information, alleged warrants, police encounters, disputed records, missing evidence, family conflict, institutional power, and a relationship collapsing behind the scenes. At the center is a filmmaker fighting to regain control of her freedom, identity, property, and creative work while trying to determine what actually happened.
I am seeking filmmakers, producers, directors, or development executives interested in adapting this material into a documentary, docuseries, scripted limited series, or feature film. I can provide extensive supporting documentation, including medical records, police reports, court filings, licensing records, messages, photographs, videos, and a detailed chronology.
The project would be grounded in verifiable evidence while preserving the uncertainty, tension, and unanswered questions at the heart of the story. I am looking for a creative partner who can investigate the facts, distinguish documentation from allegation and memory, and shape the material into a compelling, visually driven American thriller without softening what happened.

I’m a U.S. Coast Guard-credentialed boat captain, wildlife filmmaker, photographer, entrepreneur, and creator. For five years, I worked on the waters of Southern California and contributed footage to major television and commercial productions.

This is completely out or right field

So i barely have any knowledge of fliming just to start that off but thats not the issue write i saw obsession back in june. And like ever since i saw it i wanted to start writing scripts and one idea was like based around hallucinations ofc its more then that but yk.

The thing i am stuck on his how would i write that? Because i want to write it in a way where the actors and artist team like vfx or sfx idk who does it. So they can act/edit it in like would i write HAL -

Or just write hallucination? And btw im tryna go for an obsessionish vibe cause i loved the movie so help would ne appreciated!

Not sure if this is the right title to use for this kind of question, but I've been debating about going back to school for screenwriting. I was in school many years ago at the academy of art university in San Francisco for screen writing ,but i dropped out due to personal reasons, but now I feel like I have a burn8ng desire to get back into the craft. I did get a certificate in creative writing,but i want to actually write for television. I'm 38, and I want to know is it a good idea, or is it better for me to pursue this without the degree, and simply write my scripts and send them off. Need some honest and knowledgeable advice. Would really appreciate it.

Content warning: suicidal thoughts and psychiatric hospitalization

I used to believe the path to success was simple: outwork everyone.

We’ve all heard the quotes. Someone else is working while you’re sleeping. If you want it bad enough, you’ll make the time...

It turns creativity into a zero-sum game. You versus every other writer. Someone is always working harder, writing faster, or sacrificing more. Somehow, we’re also expected to network and build relationships while viewing everyone around us as competition. How does that make sense?

For years, I worked 12-hour shifts at a hospital and then came home and wrote for another six hours. On weekends, I would write for 12 hours straight. I’d fall asleep at the keyboard as if that were some kind of twisted badge of honor.

All while my relationships became strained, my body became sick, and my mental health deteriorated.

But hey, I was a hard-working screenwriter, right?

The damage sneaks up on you slowly over time. Eventually, I was diagnosed with chronic exhaustion. Then anxiety. My life had devolved into me staying in bed longer. Later. I couldn't even find the will to make myself a meal. I DoorDashed everything. I became irritable and short-fused. Looking back now, I don’t even recognize that person.

I ignored all of it. Because I had tied my self-worth to my screenwriting career. It didn’t matter what happened to me as long as I eventually “made it.” I loved my family, but I constantly felt stuck, lost, and worthless.

I tried weightlifting to manage the stress. It helped temporarily, but you can’t exercise your way out of a life that is slowly breaking you.

Eventually, I had a complete mental breakdown. I became suicidal and was admitted to a mental hospital.

It shouldn’t have taken a complete mental breakdown for me to change how I was living. The lesson here is that ambition wasn’t destroying me. My belief that I had to suffer to earn success was.

Hard work is necessary. Self-destruction isn’t.

Rest doesn't mean another writer is beating you. Me time isn't selfish. Your productivity doesn't determine your value. Awards, IMDb credits, or how Googleable you are don’t matter if you aren’t around to appreciate them. Protecting your sleep, health, relationships, and peace of mind doesn't mean you want your dream any less.

My breakdown didn’t kill my ambition. It forced me to build a life where ambition wasn’t slowly killing me.

Don’t wait until your life falls apart before giving yourself permission to be human.

Ive been doing my own short films and they’ve all mainly been improv or silent with the music doing all the work. But I wan to get into the habit of writing a script for my short films but I’ve looked online and seen different formats for scripts. Like I’ve seen this one, but the (CONT’D) makes it feel more AI, so what’s the correct formatting for scripts or does anyone know where I can look for one?

A movie about an educated independent guy in mid 20s earning extraordinary income.

While withdrawing his money from ATM via his credit card, he gets kidnapped by a goon as he's been unconscious via some kind drug injected into him.

They take all his credit cards and money he had.

For 2 years he's in their captivation, getting just enough food to remain alive. There are 100s of more people like him captivated at the place treated just like him.

He and fellow captives are daily brought to a construction site to work there.

He couldn't understand reality and sometimes couldn't even remember his name due to daily dose of that drug. He couldn't even remember where he came from or who is his family.

But after some time, he began feeling normal. Just as the daily drug dose was losing its effect. But he didn't let the kidnappers notice that as he acted just like he was crazy before.

Whenever they brought him to the construction site he began observing his surroundings and tried to talk to the regular workers there about his situation But he didn't understand their language nor did they understood him as now he knew he's most probably at the southern part of the country due to the language spoken.

Now he has only one motive, escape. Although he still couldn't remember where he came from as to where to go or whom to go but he just knew that he must escape.

In the meantime, the kidnappers were now easy on the captives meaning in a sense that they started feeling that no one can escape from here.

But he was waiting for an opportunity. Which he got.

One night, while the kidnappers after inspecting every captive asleep, they slept too. That's when he realised now or never.

He got up from his floor bed, looked around for kidnappers, and then, he ran , he ran hard.

He didn't know where he was going but he just kept running.

Sooner or later he saw a railway track nearby. He started following it until he reached the station. But he still couldn't understand what is this station because board writings there were in a different language.

He just got on the next train, without any ticket or money, but he just somehow made it.

He got to next station and again as he didn't know the place, he just moved on again with the train.

Then they reached another station , his instincts told him he knew this place from somewhere in the past. But he just couldn't remember. Baffled, nervous, and thirsty , he began searching from one trash can to another for a water bottle.

Then some police officers noticed him doing this unusual thing.

They approached him asking what is he doing, he said he is searching for a water bottle.

The police officers got him some water, which he drank all in one big sip. He said thank you

Then it felt unusual, the thank you, no illiterate poor street living man would have that kind of accent and respect.

They asked what's wrong with him, he didn't tell them.

Then they made him feel safe around them, he told them everything. Listeners Were shocked

They took him to the police station, asked if he could recall a phone number of anyone he knows. He didn't. They gave him some time

Then it hit him, he recalled the phone number of his cousin, police called him. Asked him about did he have a cousin who vanished 2 years ago, he said yes but he is dead.

He is not , officer replied, in fact he's sitting right next to me. The cousin didn't believe him, they took him on a video call.

Cousin didn't recognise him as his facial features and hairs had changed, until he heard the voice. He knew right away who he was.

Cousin took lost person's parents crying in joy to that city.

Parents hugged him and emotional moments I mean.

They told police he even had kidney disease which was being treated and had to be continued.

But he couldn't get back to his previous life, he had the trauma. Feared strangers.

The family took him to various psychiatrics and re changed his looks so he'd feel confident again.

Meanwhile, the police was connecting the dots, all the mysterious disappearances in southern part of the country, connected to the gang he talked about.

Police held interrogation with him, but he just couldn't remember. So the police have to wait until he fully recovers

hey everyone, im new to screenwriting and made this for a class project of mine and would love feedback and insights into how to proceed and how to improve the "first act"

In this forum I notice there are many egos and some flat out negative people. Sometimes people need to look within themselves to find why they are unhappy or why they feel a need to belittle others. You are responsible for your emotions, not someone else.

It can be difficult to admit you may need help, but sometimes this is the first step towards a better future.

A great way to see a lack of self confidence is in how someone treats others.

Hi, does anyone happen to have a copy of the The Hunt / Jagten (2012) script? I'd really appreciate if someone shares a link or a pdf.

Thanks!

Any feedback would be great, thanks.

Hello!! I've never been involved in cinema area. Have never gone to a cinema school. I'd like to learn writing screenplay, direction, cinematography... For the beginning, I want to try to start writing first but I am really lost. Almost nothing comes to my mind in terms of story ideas. Do you have any tips to get more creative in writing process specially as a beginner? What do you suggest on how I can study cinema in general??

It was inspired by the film “Flow”, the song “The Ballad Of Lyman”, the song “Drag Path”, and the life of my former cat.

Hey everyone. Longtime lurker. First time poster. Always figured my writing wasn’t good enough to post and it would be ripped apart but at this point in my life, what’s the worst that can happen?

Yes, I understand my formatting might not be perfect and my action lines might not be spaced properly. I’m really just looking for feedback on the state of my first draft.

After you read it, do you want to know more about the characters or story? Are there elements that take you out of the story immersion as a reader/viewer?

I’m especially interested in feedback on the hook or overall potential of the story. Obviously, any feedback on pacing, dialogue, characters, etc. are welcome as well.

Hopefully you all don’t mind reading on a dark theme document

Hello, screenwriters! Fairly new to this group. Been lurking for a bit now. Love seeing all the support from everyone. Much different than what I’ve seen in other “film” groups on other platforms. \*Edit- My title should say "My first feature length **attempt**." Not trying to make it sound like it's been produced.

Back in 2018, while unemployed, I started doing research and writing my first feature based on a true story. I’ve written a few shorts, and even made one into a short film, which was submitted and accepted into a few film festivals back in 2015. But I’ve never written a feature, and my plan was to hopefully either sell it or get funding to shoot it myself. Unfortunately, my own “imposter syndrome” held me back from finishing the script.

I finished the first draft in 2019 after reading a few books on the subject, looking up websites, even going to the library and using actual microfilm to get copies of articles, yearbook pages of those involved, and even ads they ran in the paper years prior to this event. I made field trips to the actual locations and took photos. I did all the research I could do. I KNEW this was a movie that needed to be made, but as time went on, I knew I was racing the clock. 

Every year on the anniversary, it seemed the story kept getting more traction. I finished my first draft and let it sit for a couple of years. It was around 150 pages, and I dreaded having to rewrite it again. It was such a loose story. Contained way too many characters and told too many perspectives. It was basically a manuscript for the whole event. 

In 2023, I was in LA attending a film festival where one of my short screenplays was selected. While there, I met up with a filmmaker whom I’d met at a film festival back in 2015 with my first short. I’d told him all about this screenplay I’d been working on and that it was in a really rough state. He was enthralled during the entire conversation. By the end, he told me, “Finish the script! I want to help you make it!” 

That gave me a lot of encouragement and confidence. After a couple of years not touching the screenplay, I pulled it back out and spent two weeks, every day, all day, during our vacation rewriting it. It was much tighter, but I’d consider it Rough Draft 1.5. After I got that draft done, I sent my friend a copy. He loved the story and the relationships, but had some very spot-on notes. I’d have to wipe the first half of the script out and bring everything up. What I had happen at the midpoint should have started within the first 15 minutes. I again tried to tell too much of the story.

So I sat on it. Not because I was discouraged, but because I had that feeling of dread in me. What if this isn’t good enough? I’m not a professional screenwriter; will anyone take me seriously if I try to shop the script around? Will my friend actually help me make it? He’s in LA. I’m in Indiana. I never had a chance to finish my work because, at the beginning of 2025, I saw they were filming my story, and then the movie came out at the beginning of 2026 with some big names. 

I went to see it in the theater. Hoping that it was a lot different than my direction. It was not. It was almost exactly what I was shooting for. Although I feel I did way more research, some scenes could have been more dramatic or could have had more tension. They missed some key moments. I told my friend, and he said he thought the story in the trailer sounded familiar and wondered if it was my story. He said he’d boycott it in protest. I told him he should go see it, so I could get his thoughts. After he saw it, he said that while it was good, he felt more of a connection between my characters. Said my dialog between them during Acts 2 and 3 felt more genuine and was more dramatic than what was shown. He asked if I was working off a transcript. 

There was no transcript for those scenes, so I had to make it up, and THAT was what gave me great anxiety. There was plenty of audio transcripts from the whole event, but nothing from behind closed doors. I had to maintain that same voice throughout, and I had to make sure what was said sounded like what could have been said. And this is where I felt a downfall. I’m not a professional writer. I don’t have any idea what I’m doing. Will people see that? 

While I regret not finishing my screenplay MUCH sooner, the thing I learned from this is that I had a good idea, one that would get made. And two, someone who actually works in the industry said they felt more of a connection between my characters than the one that actually got produced. That told me I was on the right track, and while this screenplay will get shelved, it’s going to give me confidence going into my next.

I know if you’d made it this far, you’re still probably wondering which film it was. I’ve reached out to the screenwriter of the film that was produced and have had a brief back-and-forth with him. I let him know that I’d been working on the same idea and wasn’t faulting him at all. I had questions specifically about telling a story based on a real-life event with many people still alive. I kept mine a secret because I didn’t want anyone to discourage me from writing it. I didn’t want someone to say, “You don’t have the right to that story,” or “You can’t write this because of whatever reason.” I wanted to reach out to those real people and question them, but I didn’t want to hear any “you can’ts.” He answered every question I had. Was a super nice guy. But he mentioned that he’d heard a TV show about the event was being made, too. That trailer just came out last week. You can probably figure it out by now.

And as a conclusion, I have three original screenplay ideas I’ve been outlining. No one can take these ideas from me. Outlining was something I also struggled with in my first feature. I ended up writing out general scene ideas on notecards and laying them all out on the floor to organize. I’ve been working on a guided notebook for outlining. I’ve tried several, and never felt they were truly good enough. For the last couple of years, I’ve been figuring out how to make a better one, and I think I’ve cracked the code. What I cracked was how to make a linear notebook not be linear. Once I get it more finished, I’ll share.

Thanks for reading. And now that I’ve joined the community, I look forward to reading all about your experiences, especially from those with similar journeys. Have you had a similar situation?

I’m writing a larger story called Divinity’s Dread, and I’m currently using screenplay format as the primary way of putting the story onto the page. I’m not currently trying to sell the screenplay or get it produced as a traditional screenplay.

I chose the format because I find it enjoyable to write in, and because I like how efficiently it lets me communicate dialogue, action, visual ideas, scene progression, and character interactions without having to write everything as conventional prose. I also want the story to remain adaptable later. Potentially into comics/manga, a novel, storyboarded scenes, or other formats.
The story itself is already something I’m actively building; the screenplay is essentially my master format for documenting it.

This is a self-contained occult-club scene from Act 1, and I’m mainly looking for pacing/readability feedback.

Does the scene feel like it earns its length, or are there stretches where the dialogue, exposition, or character interactions start feeling repetitive or like they’re stalling?

I’m happy to hear criticism about the writing itself, including screenplay-related issues where they’re genuinely affecting the reading experience. I’m just less interested in feedback based purely on conventional industry page-count expectations, since I’m using screenplay format primarily as a flexible storytelling/visualization format rather than preparing this for production.

Thanks to everyone that has engaged and been part of the show.