Any Screenwriters On The Board??

So hold on...

The ORIGINAL creator of this ain't getting jack sh*t?

A literary manager reached out to him on Reddit and producers bought the rights to the story.

 

EXCLUSIVE: Tyler Perry Studios is set to kick off the Dream Collective, a program designed to identify and cultivate the next wave of filmmakers, particularly with underrecognized and underrepresented voices.

The program will revolve around the process of making a Short Film, “giving filmmakers unprecedented access to industry experts, hands-on training and tailored support, empowering them to tell their stories and build toward career sustainability,” according to Perry.

Applications open on April 17.

“For a long time, it’s been on my heart to create a program where I could take what I’ve learned in this business and share it with others. That’s why today, I’m honored and excited to introduce the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective,” said Perry. “This is a fantastic opportunity for up-and-coming directors to learn about the craft and business of filmmaking from professionals at the top of their game. In a word, this is about access. Breaking into the industry can be tough–believe me. When I started making movies twenty years ago, even though my stage plays were selling out, nobody in Hollywood knew my name or gave me a shot. The Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective is my dream of opening the door for the next generation of artists.”

Dawn Hudson, former CEO of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will head the Tyler Perry Dream Collective.

“After I left the Academy [of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences], Tyler and I had a conversation about how the film industry is getting more and more difficult to enter and navigate,” said Hudson. Film schools are expensive. If you’re not directly connected in some way, it’s easy to feel shut out. This is why we joined forces to create the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective. It is of vital importance to have a diversity of voices in cinema and television. This makes the world a more compassionate and informed place to live in. You can’t create without community. And you damn sure can’t make films.”

Added Nekisa Cooper, who will lead Program Design & Production: “There’s so much more opportunity in television and film than there ever was. Still, there’s a ton of work to be done. That’s why the Tyler Perry Studios Dream Collective is so incredibly important. This program is about knowledge-building, skill-building, habit-building and brand-building. Our goal is to amplify a multiplicity of voices in the industry and give emerging filmmakers the tools to tell their stories and design sustainable careers.”

Below is a summary of the application process:

Round 1: Tyler Perry Studios’ Dream Collective call for submissions will be taking place from Thursday, April 17 – Thursday, May 1. One thousand submissions of past work and accompanying materials that best articulate the filmmaker’s vision will be accepted via the submissions process, 100 preliminary finalists will be selected and notified in May 2025.

Round 2: One hundred Finalists will next participate in virtual sessions. The four-week virtual sessions are designed to educate, inspire and cultivate a lasting community. The sessions will include an opportunity to meet with a director and creative collaborators covering topics that include career origin, the art of collaboration and case studies of trials and triumphs on and off sets.

Round 3: The 100 Finalists will be invited to submit their Short Film scripts and accompanying materials that best articulate the filmmaker’s vision. After evaluation of the Short Film submissions, 10 winners will be selected and announced in July 2025.

Round 4: The 10 Winners then begin an immersive, 10-day hands-on training workshop which includes Short Film prep at Tyler Perry Studios in July/August 2025. Participants will have the opportunity to experiment with their script scenes, focus on collaboration with department heads, work with actors, and develop their directing skills in the context of the world-class Tyler Perry Studios. The 10 Winners will be invited to pitch their Short Film vision and articulate their plans to bring their stories to life. After evaluation of the pitches, 5 Grand Prize Winners will be selected and notified in August.

Round 5: Five Grand Prize Winners will be announced in August. Grand Prize Winners will each be awarded $30,000 from Tyler Perry Studios to make their Short Film this Fall in the greater Atlanta area. This will include access to local below-the-line crew, the studio’s production resources and mentorship from Tyler Perry Studios and industry professionals.

More information can be found at the website here.
 
I know this may be too early to ask, but does anyone have the screenplay to Coogler's "Sinners?"
I can't wait to read it.
 
I know this may be too early to ask, but does anyone have the screenplay to Coogler's "Sinners?"
I can't wait to read it.

It's likely to pop up at the end of the year during awards season. Warner Bros will campaign hard for multiple Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Production Design, Costume, Hair and Makeup, Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay. On a side note, it's too early to predict acting nominations, but the new Best Achievement in Casting category seems like a lock.
 
I know this may be too early to ask, but does anyone have the screenplay to Coogler's "Sinners?"
I can't wait to read it.
It's likely to pop up at the end of the year during awards season. Warner Bros will campaign hard for multiple Oscar nominations: Best Picture, Best Director, Production Design, Costume, Hair and Makeup, Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Original Song, and Best Original Screenplay. On a side note, it's too early to predict acting nominations, but the new Best Achievement in Casting category seems like a lock.

^^^^

If I'm Coogler and the studio?

I either SELL a printed copy limited edition on line - bound in leather - along side exclusive pictures and stills and outtakes from the movie With any notes or edits penciled in.

Maybe even a smaller number SIGNED or have a few signings. And make sure any black owned book stores get early access to signed copies they can sell or do some type of promotion around.
 
^^^^

If I'm Coogler and the studio?

I either SELL a printed copy limited edition on line - bound in leather - along side exclusive pictures and stills and outtakes from the movie With any notes or edits penciled in.

Maybe even a smaller number SIGNED or have a few signings. And make sure any black owned book stores get early access to signed copies they can sell or do some type of promotion around.

You bring up an excellent point. More than a few non-writer folks would be willing to shell out cash for books in the Sinners' world. Coogler's deal to get the rights is probably one of the shrewdest in decades. It's not on the level of George Lucas getting the Star Wars toy rights, but it's close. Seeing Stallone salty over the Rocky rights to this day must have put the thought in his head. Most screenwriters hope for a trilogy at best, but this man was thinking about creating worlds and generational wealth!
 
Greetings BGOL Fam,

I'm still working on my screenplay, creating and revising.

Here's one of my first loglines:
1) "After accepting an innocuous gift, a poised real estate
broker inadvertently triggers a series of mystical occurrences
which lead to a lethal confrontation with a murderous nihilist
who imperils human existence."

This one is my latest:
2) "After being tormented by mystical nightmares that bleed into
reality, a poised real estate broker must unravel a series of
lethal events which threatens existence with
annihilation."
 


forgot to add a few cliffs:

- he's always been a horror and sci-fi fan
- his uncle was a big Blues fan, but he didn't get into it until his passing
- he used to think it was for old Black people and white people
- eventually made the connection between Bones Thugs-N-Harmony "Crossroads" and Robert Johnson lore
- considered using werewolves, zombies, and shapeshifters in the script but always came back to vampires
- when you put your work out there, people are going to project their feelings and thoughts on it

Following up on that last note, I've seen folks say the films critiques the myth of POC solidarity, but he was directly asked about this in another interview and said no. So, unless it comes directly from his mouth, I'm dismissing most of these hot takes.
 
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Greetings BGOL Fam,

I'm still working on my screenplay, creating and revising.

Here's one of my first loglines:
1) "After accepting an innocuous gift, a poised real estate
broker inadvertently triggers a series of mystical occurrences
which lead to a lethal confrontation with a murderous nihilist
who imperils human existence."

This one is my latest:
2) "After being tormented by mystical nightmares that bleed into
reality, a poised real estate broker must unravel a series of
lethal events which threatens existence with
annihilation."
I don’t have a lot to offer with loglines but here are some questions on what you’ve shared that may be supportive —

It seems the gift is a catalyst? *1
It seems the antagonist is supernatural? *2
— is it a force (lethal events a la “death has a design not to be fucked with” …Final Destination etc)? Man v nature.
— is it a being (person or whatever with an annihilation goal)? Man v man.
It seems there is a ticking clock on the pending doom the broker is up against? *3


This is a somewhat decent logline for BACK TO THE FUTURE —

When a high schooler with dreams of rock n roll stardom is *accidentally sent back 30 years in time*1, all his creativity must be used to play matchmaker to his teenage parents, *after his untimely arrival jeopardizes their successful courtship*2 and *by extension his own existence*3.

I say it’s decent bec while it could be tighter better etc, it does what your examples also do and also implies both a timeline and the stakes in pretty specific terms.

Keep up the great work!
 
I don’t have a lot to offer with loglines but here are some questions on what you’ve shared that may be supportive —

It seems the gift is a catalyst? *1
It seems the antagonist is supernatural? *2
— is it a force (lethal events a la “death has a design not to be fucked with” …Final Destination etc)? Man v nature.
— is it a being (person or whatever with an annihilation goal)? Man v man.
It seems there is a ticking clock on the pending doom the broker is up against? *3


This is a somewhat decent logline for BACK TO THE FUTURE —

When a high schooler with dreams of rock n roll stardom is *accidentally sent back 30 years in time*1, all his creativity must be used to play matchmaker to his teenage parents, *after his untimely arrival jeopardizes their successful courtship*2 and *by extension his own existence*3.

I say it’s decent bec while it could be tighter better etc, it does what your examples also do and also implies both a timeline and the stakes in pretty specific terms.

Keep up the great work!
Thank you, Brother.

1) You are correct, the gift is the catalyst.
2) The antagonist is supernatural.
3) The being is exceptionally lethal, as in killing anyone or anything means nothing to it.

4) I'm struggling with the ticking clock thingy. The time really doesn't start until the protagonist accepts the gift. I would like for the story to take place over seven days "max." But, I'm going to try to make four or five make sense.

I've been looking at clips of Aflred Hitchcock, and how he wrote suspense etc...

I'm watching a lot of videos on "Show Don't Tell." I'm weak in this area, so I'm studying it.

I know that the logline is missing something. I'll stay on it until it's tight though.

I really appreciate the incites and comments.

Thanks again, Brother
 
Thank you, Brother.

1) You are correct, the gift is the catalyst.
2) The antagonist is supernatural.
3) The being is exceptionally lethal, as in killing anyone or anything means nothing to it.

4) I'm struggling with the ticking clock thingy. The time really doesn't start until the protagonist accepts the gift. I would like for the story to take place over seven days "max." But, I'm going to try to make four or five make sense.

I've been looking at clips of Aflred Hitchcock, and how he wrote suspense etc...

I'm watching a lot of videos on "Show Don't Tell." I'm weak in this area, so I'm studying it.

I know that the logline is missing something. I'll stay on it until it's tight though.

I really appreciate the incites and comments.

Thanks again, Brother
Glad to offer some support!

Sounds very much like you’re on the right track. Loglines are just part of the eventual sales pitch though, so while they can be really helpful in keeping the story clear when one may get lost in the thick of writing, once you have all the main character plotline A to Z, it’s pretty easy to pull together a logline that reflects your protagonist’s basic throughline

Here’s a quick and dirty one I made for BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 - as it is a bit more aligned with your 1,2 and 3 —

When a time traveling HSer allows a sports almanac from the future to fall into the greedy hands of a ruthless bully, going back in time becomes his only chance to recover the book before the bully can use it to gamble himself into enough money and power to torment and destroy multiple generations of the HSer’s family.

If you think about BTTF2 the ticking clock doesn’t start until they get back to the alternate 1985 where Biff (bully) has come into that money and power and already done the damage to Marty’s (high schooler) family.

Again, hope this is helpful!

Sounds like you’re real damn close to the home stretch - at least in terms of a draft you feel confidently conveys your story’s main idea start to finish. That’s huge! In my experience there’s no way you get to the point it sounds like you’re already at without having a hell of a lot of b stories and supporting characters that are developed well enough to feel good about any rewrites you want to explore for yourself too.

I say all this because I’m big on writers getting to having a script that the writer feels really good about before seeking any pro/semi-pro industry feedback on a draft.
 
Glad to offer some support!

Sounds very much like you’re on the right track. Loglines are just part of the eventual sales pitch though, so while they can be really helpful in keeping the story clear when one may get lost in the thick of writing, once you have all the main character plotline A to Z, it’s pretty easy to pull together a logline that reflects your protagonist’s basic throughline

Here’s a quick and dirty one I made for BACK TO THE FUTURE 2 - as it is a bit more aligned with your 1,2 and 3 —

When a time traveling HSer allows a sports almanac from the future to fall into the greedy hands of a ruthless bully, going back in time becomes his only chance to recover the book before the bully can use it to gamble himself into enough money and power to torment and destroy multiple generations of the HSer’s family.

If you think about BTTF2 the ticking clock doesn’t start until they get back to the alternate 1985 where Biff (bully) has come into that money and power and already done the damage to Marty’s (high schooler) family.

Again, hope this is helpful!

Sounds like you’re real damn close to the home stretch - at least in terms of a draft you feel confidently conveys your story’s main idea start to finish. That’s huge! In my experience there’s no way you get to the point it sounds like you’re already at without having a hell of a lot of b stories and supporting characters that are developed well enough to feel good about any rewrites you want to explore for yourself too.

I say all this because I’m big on writers getting to having a script that the writer feels really good about before seeking any pro/semi-pro industry feedback on a draft.
Thank you, Brother.

I have a lot of time in it already. But real talk, the story damn near wrote itself. I based around legends and folklore.

I thought about a situation, then I started to flesh it out. I actually had the ending before I had anything else. So I wrote the ending down (how I saw anyway). Then it was just a matter of making the beginning catch up.

I have a lot of exposition, so I'm working on that as I rewrite.
 
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