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Question Submissions

If you get a note from a producer/exec about a script, and you think the note is awful and will ruin the story, how do you deal with that?
--Deleted Member

1 Vote

Did you enter any screenwriting contests when you first started out?
--Deleted Member

1 Vote

You have co-written numerous produced screenplays over the years. How do you handle the dynamics and division of responsibilities involved in having a writing partner on a project?
--Ben Cahan

1 Vote

What are your objectives and goals in a first draft, whether an original spec or adaptation of existing material?
--Ben Cahan

1 Vote

Your early studio films were all comedies, did that limit how those in Hollywood saw you as a writer and pigeonhole your opportunities in any meaningful way?
--Ben Cahan

1 Vote

How did you get a manager?
--Deleted Member

I once heard you wrote a high page count for Liar Liar and then cut it down, can you share some insight about killing those darlings?
--Atom Jones

Is any cut idea, ever useful later? I find that new ideas always fit better, is it the same in your experience?
--Atom Jones

Turning Pro: A Few Words About Writing and Discipline and Breaking In

Summary

Paul Guay conceived of and co-wrote the hit Jim Carrey movie Liar, Liar, among other recognizable studio films.

In this 20 minute seminar (followed by a live Q&A session), Paul tackles what to do, and more importantly what not to do, in the insanely competitive but potentially highly rewarding art and craft and business of screenwriting.

Presented by

Paul Guay

Paul Guay's movies have grossed over half a billion dollars.

He conceived and co-wrote LIAR, LIAR, at the time of its release the sixth-highest-grossing comedy in history. The screenplay received an Honorable Mention in Scr(i)pt magazine's list of the Best Scripts of the Past 10 Years.

Paul co-wrote THE LITTLE RASCALS, Universal's second-highest-grossing film of the year; co-wrote HEARTBREAKERS, which opened #1 at the box office; and polished THE NEVERENDING STORY, the beloved children's fantasy which spawned two sequels, two TV series, three computer games, a stage play, a ballet, and an opera.

His movie-directing debut, THE VAMPYRE, was an official selection of Comic-Con, the Hollywood Comedy Shorts Film Festival, the Die Laughing Film Festival, the Awesome Con Short Film Festival, and the Anthem Film Festival, where it won the Best Short Comedy Award.

Paul is an Associate Professor at ArtCenter College of Design, where he teaches "Screenwriting: What's the Story?" and "Screenwriting: Adventures in Shorts" to graduate students and undergrads, and where he won the Great Teacher Award. He is a sought-after Script Consultant.

What others have to say...

“Incredible lecture, Paul knows his stuff and Communicates his industry knowledge extremely well. If Paul really does script consulting, I would like to hire him to review one of my projects. Terence Reiter”

-- Terry Reiter

“one of the most informative classes in the smallest amount of time. This guy is good.”

-- Kathy Grater

“Great webinar and information.”

-- MB Stevens