Want to get involved in a future episode of Spot the Pro? If you're a pro or amateur writer who'd like to submit a page, or if you're a professional writer / industry professional who'd like to be on an episode, get in touch here: www.nathangrahamdavis.com/spotthepro
Hey Nathan! Loving this series! It's such a fun way to discuss craft in action. One suggestion is to have your names under your video feeds so we can all start learning who you are as we listen, a great way to get name recognition for you and your guests! Otherwise, loving it all! Great stuff!
Really glad you're enjoying it and appreciate the suggestion. Maybe we'll play with the design a bit and try something like that in the future. Thanks!
Every episode convinces me what I sensed after the first: this is the next huge step up in writer education. Syd Field’s stuff, Story, Save the Cat… now this. Truly groundbreaking. Keep it up!
Everything heretofore has been about structure. Yet we always hear reps want a unique voice. And many ask what that is. This is the first thing I’ve seen that defines, critiques, and advocates for voice. Really a master class in it.
This was my favorite challenge so far. To be honest, the critiques and feedback in previous episodes were often too timid, as though the panels were preoccupied with not hurting the screenwriters' feelings. Shorr and Zaozirny proved that you guys can be frank without being malevolent. Especially enjoyed Zaozirny's no-nonsense analysis. More of that, please.
Yeah, we've talked a lot about this and tend to agree with you. It's a tricky line to walk, because it is a very gutsy thing for a writer to put their work out there on TH-cam, for thousands of people to see. We don't want to discourage amateur writers, and we also don't want the pros who are cool enough to offer pages to worry about blows to their reputations. But I think John and Ian walked right up to that line without crossing it, and it made for some excellent discussion.
@@NGDwrites I understand your concern and applaud your sensitivity, but no one benefits from feeble feedback. I agree that it’s gutsy for a writer to expose their work on TH-cam. But the thousands who will see their work on this platform pale into insignificance compared to millions, the millions the screenwriters presumably hope will someday see their movies. Right? Any serious writer knows the frustration of finding friends and colleagues who will tell you what you NEED to hear, not merely what they think you WANT to hear. Professional writing of any sort isn't for the faint of heart. If constructive criticism can crush a writer’s soul, then that writer is in the wrong line of business. No? I mean, if your panels pull their punches, the industry surely won’t. Teachers that award “C” students an “A” in order to spare their feelings are, in the long run, doing those students a disservice under the guise of charity. In short, neither amateurs nor pros (nor the aspiring screenwriters viewing these videos) benefit from namby-pamby critiques. Yes, the truth hurts. But the truth also helps.
I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this series! Amazing advice, captivating scripts, great personalities, and a fun game all in one. Every new episode becomes my favorite! 😄
We appreciate it! Seriously -- it's been a lot of fun to see how much people are enjoying this series and every time we see a comment like this, we tend to share them with each other. Thanks!
Such fun! So glad you've continued this! Keep it up! Got 4 out of 4 again myself, but it was a VERY STRONG lineup. So it was based on a very few small tells. In a few cases, it was just misspelled words. Although I will note in one case it wasn't something a spell-checker would catch ("scandals" vs "SANDALS").
Hi all. I learned a lot this episode, to the point I'm actually going to have a bit of a tinker with the page I'm planning to submit. Hoping to get invited soon!!
@@NGDwrites Definitely. A lot of really great points made in this episode where it's dawned on me that there's other ways of doing things. Not necessarily audience subversion, but just stuff that -- particularly the 'away' team -- said has lit a few lightbulbs.
Learning so much from this channel I've shared it with my writers/actors group. In this episode alone, I'm inspired to make adjustments to projects I'm working on.
I think both the christmas instagram and the lady stealing diapers can both be improved by just changing their order of information. For the party, if it opened with the house party and ended with the gloved finger, it adds a sinister aspect. With the diapers, ending with the VO could add an emotional punch rather than leaving mid conversation. I'd love to see how that would have affected the choices. Overall, I went 4/4 on this one. Best record so far.
@@NGDwrites Ha! Swear I’m not cheating. Wouldn’t help me. However, I’m positive I’m gonna be tricked eventually. When Jason made the joke about the upset I initially believed him. Lol. That’s how tight the race is with these. Several could go either way. Ps… the trick is: I pause you guys after the read, ponder, then don’t change my vote even if I suspect I’m wrong. 😂
@@NGDwrites Definitely. I suspect I’d get more wrong in real time and could be swayed if one of you dudes had a convincing argument. Some obvious others a stab in the dark. 🤙🏾
Have you considered swapping the first two bits on your page 1? Lead with the store and end with the VO. I'm kind of a stickler for order of information and how it can impact the emotional tone of a read. Not sure if it would work since I've only seen page 1, but maybe it can help.
Really enjoying this series. Out of curiosity, is there any possibility of an audio/podcast version in the future? Would be awesome to be able to listen to STP on the move. Not a deal breaker - will be following along either way!
Glad you're enjoying 'em so much! TH-cam has a thing where it converts some longer videos to podcasts... it did that with my entire Re-Entry series a couple months ago. That was automatic, but maybe I can find a way for it to do that with this series as well.
I love this series and I'm currently in the middle of a complete rabbit hole into it. That being said, can someone please explain to me HOW on EARTH everyone loved the "Howard Marsh" page when it was absolutely riddled with inconsistency, syntax and grammatical errors, and just plain nonsense and lazy writing. I didn't think either of those pages were strong, I'll be fair. But, have any of you guys ever been to a storage unit???? You can't SEE ANYTHING INSIDE OF IT. THERE IS NO LIGHT. Immediately, I was taken out of the story because of the pure mechanics not ringing true. Also, assuming Lucky is an alcoholic is the exact opposite of what that page was trying to convey. Trust me, alcoholics do not make peanut butter malt milkshakes with their whiskey. Why on Earth would they want to ruin it? : ))) Again, love this series so much- please keep making it. It's such an amazing learning experience. I would genuinely love your feedback on why everyone loved the Marsh script, despite the inconsistencies and (all my) issues with it. It's incredibly informative and eye opening to get an insider's look into what really matters when someone reads your script!
The bar is probably 100x higher now simply because the industry is deluged with wannabe writers. Every university in America has a beginning screenwriting course now. It used be only UCLA, USC, and LACC had screenwriting courses, now add just about every university or community college in California, let alone the US.
Another good one! Any chance you guys would include a page from your own scripts? 1 before you became a pro then one after… and other guys guess which is your pro page? It would be cool to try to see the growth of a writer. Just an idea :-)
Ha - that is a fun idea. Jason, Joe, and I have all read enough of each other's work that it might be a little tricky to figure out, but definitely something to keep in mind. I'll tell you this much, if you compared one of my first six or seven scripts to one of my more recent ones, you'd have ZERO problem guessing, lol.
Want to get involved in a future episode of Spot the Pro? If you're a pro or amateur writer who'd like to submit a page, or if you're a professional writer / industry professional who'd like to be on an episode, get in touch here: www.nathangrahamdavis.com/spotthepro
Hey Nathan!
Loving this series! It's such a fun way to discuss craft in action.
One suggestion is to have your names under your video feeds so we can all start learning who you are as we listen, a great way to get name recognition for you and your guests! Otherwise, loving it all! Great stuff!
Really glad you're enjoying it and appreciate the suggestion. Maybe we'll play with the design a bit and try something like that in the future. Thanks!
Every episode convinces me what I sensed after the first: this is the next huge step up in writer education. Syd Field’s stuff, Story, Save the Cat… now this. Truly groundbreaking. Keep it up!
Everything heretofore has been about structure. Yet we always hear reps want a unique voice. And many ask what that is. This is the first thing I’ve seen that defines, critiques, and advocates for voice. Really a master class in it.
Thanks a ton, Scott. Really means a lot!
This was my favorite challenge so far. To be honest, the critiques and feedback in previous episodes were often too timid, as though the panels were preoccupied with not hurting the screenwriters' feelings. Shorr and Zaozirny proved that you guys can be frank without being malevolent. Especially enjoyed Zaozirny's no-nonsense analysis. More of that, please.
Yeah, we've talked a lot about this and tend to agree with you. It's a tricky line to walk, because it is a very gutsy thing for a writer to put their work out there on TH-cam, for thousands of people to see. We don't want to discourage amateur writers, and we also don't want the pros who are cool enough to offer pages to worry about blows to their reputations. But I think John and Ian walked right up to that line without crossing it, and it made for some excellent discussion.
@@NGDwrites I understand your concern and applaud your sensitivity, but no one benefits from feeble feedback.
I agree that it’s gutsy for a writer to expose their work on TH-cam. But the thousands who will see their work on this platform pale into insignificance compared to millions, the millions the screenwriters presumably hope will someday see their movies. Right?
Any serious writer knows the frustration of finding friends and colleagues who will tell you what you NEED to hear, not merely what they think you WANT to hear.
Professional writing of any sort isn't for the faint of heart. If constructive criticism can crush a writer’s soul, then that writer is in the wrong line of business. No?
I mean, if your panels pull their punches, the industry surely won’t.
Teachers that award “C” students an “A” in order to spare their feelings are, in the long run, doing those students a disservice under the guise of charity.
In short, neither amateurs nor pros (nor the aspiring screenwriters viewing these videos) benefit from namby-pamby critiques. Yes, the truth hurts. But the truth also helps.
Best screenwriting channel on YT! This format rocks- Pros vs. Joe's screenwriting!
Thanks a ton, Danny!
I feel so lucky to have stumbled upon this series! Amazing advice, captivating scripts, great personalities, and a fun game all in one. Every new episode becomes my favorite! 😄
We appreciate it! Seriously -- it's been a lot of fun to see how much people are enjoying this series and every time we see a comment like this, we tend to share them with each other. Thanks!
Great episode! And congrats Joe for having a indie in post!
Such fun! So glad you've continued this! Keep it up!
Got 4 out of 4 again myself, but it was a VERY STRONG lineup. So it was based on a very few small tells. In a few cases, it was just misspelled words. Although I will note in one case it wasn't something a spell-checker would catch ("scandals" vs "SANDALS").
Yeah, Jason picked some GREAT pages.
Hi all. I learned a lot this episode, to the point I'm actually going to have a bit of a tinker with the page I'm planning to submit. Hoping to get invited soon!!
If it's inspiring you to do some writing and rewriting, that's about as much as we could hope for from this series. Glad you've found it so helpful!
@@NGDwrites Definitely. A lot of really great points made in this episode where it's dawned on me that there's other ways of doing things. Not necessarily audience subversion, but just stuff that -- particularly the 'away' team -- said has lit a few lightbulbs.
@@stukay2803 Love that you were able to get some nutrition out of our word salad!
Keep up the great work! Spot the pro is a lot of fun to watch and learn. Thank you!
So glad you're enjoying it! It's been a lot of fun to do.
this was great. I have you gents on the right of the screen and am running my Ps on the left.
Learning so much from this channel I've shared it with my writers/actors group. In this episode alone, I'm inspired to make adjustments to projects I'm working on.
Appreciate you sharing it, Steven. Glad you're getting so much out of 'em. We are, too!
Page 15! Good point and if page 1 is well-crafted, there's a chance of getting there.
I think both the christmas instagram and the lady stealing diapers can both be improved by just changing their order of information. For the party, if it opened with the house party and ended with the gloved finger, it adds a sinister aspect. With the diapers, ending with the VO could add an emotional punch rather than leaving mid conversation. I'd love to see how that would have affected the choices. Overall, I went 4/4 on this one. Best record so far.
Nicely done on the 4/4!
Another great one, guys! I’m addicted to this series. 😂🤘🏾
And… I’m still 4/4. No cheating.
We really appreciate it, man! Even if I'm starting to question that perfect record... 😂
@@NGDwrites Ha! Swear I’m not cheating. Wouldn’t help me. However, I’m positive I’m gonna be tricked eventually. When Jason made the joke about the upset I initially believed him. Lol. That’s how tight the race is with these. Several could go either way.
Ps… the trick is: I pause you guys after the read, ponder, then don’t change my vote even if I suspect I’m wrong. 😂
@@jaysonx5576 haha, fair. It's definitely an added challenge doing it in real-time, on camera. Still a solid record, though!
@@NGDwrites Definitely. I suspect I’d get more wrong in real time and could be swayed if one of you dudes had a convincing argument. Some obvious others a stab in the dark. 🤙🏾
Really great stuff! Got 3 out 4 this time, so interesting hearing all the opinions, picking up on things I didn't notice.
I had the same experience, lol. Always cool to discover what other people are seeing.
Brilliant stuff!
I guessed my own script right lol! This is great 🙌🏾
Haha, well done!
Have you considered swapping the first two bits on your page 1? Lead with the store and end with the VO. I'm kind of a stickler for order of information and how it can impact the emotional tone of a read. Not sure if it would work since I've only seen page 1, but maybe it can help.
@@cypher-robinsonI appreciate the feedback!
Good job!!
Love the show!
Thanks for watching!
Congrats of getting the channel monetized, Nate! Loving the series.
Thanks! Making a solid 85 cents a day or so... lol.
Glad you're enjoying these!
Really enjoying this series. Out of curiosity, is there any possibility of an audio/podcast version in the future? Would be awesome to be able to listen to STP on the move. Not a deal breaker - will be following along either way!
Glad you're enjoying 'em so much! TH-cam has a thing where it converts some longer videos to podcasts... it did that with my entire Re-Entry series a couple months ago. That was automatic, but maybe I can find a way for it to do that with this series as well.
the blue pupils threw me too.
I love this series and I'm currently in the middle of a complete rabbit hole into it. That being said, can someone please explain to me HOW on EARTH everyone loved the "Howard Marsh" page when it was absolutely riddled with inconsistency, syntax and grammatical errors, and just plain nonsense and lazy writing. I didn't think either of those pages were strong, I'll be fair. But, have any of you guys ever been to a storage unit???? You can't SEE ANYTHING INSIDE OF IT. THERE IS NO LIGHT. Immediately, I was taken out of the story because of the pure mechanics not ringing true. Also, assuming Lucky is an alcoholic is the exact opposite of what that page was trying to convey. Trust me, alcoholics do not make peanut butter malt milkshakes with their whiskey. Why on Earth would they want to ruin it? : ))) Again, love this series so much- please keep making it. It's such an amazing learning experience. I would genuinely love your feedback on why everyone loved the Marsh script, despite the inconsistencies and (all my) issues with it. It's incredibly informative and eye opening to get an insider's look into what really matters when someone reads your script!
The bar is probably 100x higher now simply because the industry is deluged with wannabe writers. Every university in America has a beginning screenwriting course now. It used be only UCLA, USC, and LACC had screenwriting courses, now add just about every university or community college in California, let alone the US.
Another good one! Any chance you guys would include a page from your own scripts? 1 before you became a pro then one after… and other guys guess which is your pro page? It would be cool to try to see the growth of a writer. Just an idea :-)
Ha - that is a fun idea. Jason, Joe, and I have all read enough of each other's work that it might be a little tricky to figure out, but definitely something to keep in mind.
I'll tell you this much, if you compared one of my first six or seven scripts to one of my more recent ones, you'd have ZERO problem guessing, lol.
Haha, fair enough.
You inspired us. We're gonna drop a twitter thread with two first pages each in the next few minutes. Stay tuned, lol.
@@NGDwrites Nice! I appreciate it. It’s helpful and fun to see.
DAMMIT JOHN
Pro writers know-don't mention characters' eye colors! You don't want to restrict casting.
Style over substance.
Aw, man... that reacharound comment you deleted was way more original than this one.
@@NGDwrites yeah but didnt want to offend so deleted