Premier screenplay writer service, the only agency to have a team of talented Hollywood and Bollywood screenwriters
RSS
Illustration by: Amitava Chandra, courtesy, Unish Kuri.
Jimmy’s version (11.05 AM)
“The Metro station?” the girl looked questioningly. I looked at her.
“This way,” I answered, pointing my thumb towards the Metro rail station.
I have to repeat this reply at least two hundred times in a day. My little tea-coffee joint Jimmy’s Hotties is a two minutes’ walk from the Metro…the tube-rail station of sector five of Salt Lake, Kolkata. My joint is merely a five by five kiosk with three sides open but does fair share of business. Luckily the New Writers’ Building, the state government administrative house has come up right opposite my kiosk two years back in 2013.
During the great worldwide economic depression of 2009-2010 many large information technology companies closed their shutters and departed. The vast township of Salt Lake looked like a haunted city then.
My father established this stall many years ago and looked after its affairs till a few years back. The old aluminum kettle was still used on the gas stove to make tea those days. Now everyone uses slick machines for making tea and coffee. From 2011 onwards the market improved again. And the new Writers’ Building started coming up at that time. Now this is our state Chief Minister’s address.
“Thanks”…the girl left. Pretty girl…poor thing, there was a huge plaster in her arm.
“Tea,” a man of about twenty five stood in front of my counter. A printed white Che Guevara portrait frowned at me from his black tee shirt.
“How many, Sir?” My routine question.
“Can’t see anyone else around! So, one cup would be enough,” he looked around and replied.
“The Chief Minister hasn’t yet entered office I suppose.” he continued.
“Telling me, Sir?” I said.
“No.” He said. He was on his cell phone. His sunglasses are his cell phone. These days you can’t make out who’s talking to whom.
“Has the Chief Minister entered?”
“Are you talking to me now?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“No. Her convoy comes at eleven. Will arrive any time now.”
Within a minute the Chief Minister’s convoy approached noisily.
“Thanks.” The boy spoke over his sunglass phone. “I’m entering now. The Chief Minister has arrived. Navin Goel has already entered, I can see his car.”
The guy left in a hurry leaving half his tea unfinished.
Ten minutes after this, the massive video billboard across the road suddenly blacked out. In a gust of wind something must have come and hit it… I stared in surprise. A train was passing overhead noisily. I noticed a crack across the huge video billboard screen.
Suddenly there were hooters screaming from everywhere. Or maybe, it was coming from the direction of the government building. Something must have happened inside the Writers’ Building. Security forces were running towards the Writers’ Building. Has anyone attacked the Chief Minister? I crossed the road and walked curiously towards the government building. What could have happened?
I saw the time – 11.30 AM.
Rahul’s version (11.05 AM)
Our car halted right behind Naveen Goel’s Mercedes. While getting off, I told Natasha to keep the audio recorder on.
“Sure,” said Natasha, “All the best.”
I asked a police constable posted at the gate of the government house when the Chief Minister was expected to arrive. He wasn’t sure. He looked away.
I had to spend time. I thought of having a cup of tea from Jimmy’s Hotties, a stall across the street. Crossing the road was a pain – traffic has increased immensely in the last 4-5 years. But pollution level has definitely come down.
At the tea-stall I briefly exchanged glances with a pretty girl with a plastered arm. She was probably looking at the picture of Che Guevera on my shirt. A lot of people look at it. She left as I stepped in front of the tea stall. I sipped my cup of lemon tea. Natasha called me, her voice was screaming from my sunglass-phone, “Why did you cross the road? “
“The Chief Minister hasn’t yet entered office I suppose,” I replied her.
Immediately I heard the convoy approaching. I paid the boy and left, leaving my tea half-finished. The security guy at the gate asked for my appointment letter. I missed a few heartbeats. Because even though the letter I was carrying was genuine, the time and date had been altered. The security supervisor frisked me and asked, “Carrying any electronic gadgets?”
“Nothing officer, except the sunglasses,” I smiled. I chose to remain silent about my electronic button. The electronic button on my shirt could record any sound within 500 meters.
“Can I enter, then?”
“No, the Chief Minister is in a meeting, the red light is on. Please wait here for some time.”
So, she’s in a meeting with Naveen Goel. And that’s exactly what I wish to hear. It could be the subject of my next article. I had to move closer, in order for my button microphone to receive the conversation inside.
“I’m sitting here next to the door,” I said.
Once I go near the door, I’d be able to enter somehow. As if like a warning the red light was glaring at me from the top of Chief Minister’s door at the end of the corridor. I knocked the door. The Chief Minister’s bodyguard peeked from Chief Minister’s room with an automatic rifle in his hand, “What do you want? Can’t you see the Chief Minister is busy?” He pointed towards the red light above the door.
“The Chief Minister has called me to attend this meeting.” I blurted out as I pushed the door and entered.
“What’s this? What do you think you are doing? I’ll get you arrested,” shouted the security personnel pushing me back.
I could see the Chief Minister Maya Bannerjee. Naveen Goel sat facing her.
“Ma’am, I’m Rahul Sen from ‘People’s Democracy’, the weekly. I raised my voice and said, “If you could tell me why you have called Naveen Goel today, ma’am.”
“Do you have an appointment?”
“No ma’am.”
“How strange! How can a reporter enter like this, breaking all protocol?” The Chief Minister was visibly annoyed.
“Get out!” A security officer caught me by my collar.
“Easy, brother,” I tried to smile.
Naveen Goel stood up excitedly and pointed at me, “This is the guy. He’s the one who wrote misleading reports about ‘InGeneers’ to malign us. He’s trying to spoil our reputation and hinder the project.”
I couldn’t stay any longer; not even for a minute. After coming out of the Chief Minister’s room, I was harassed once again by the security officer outside the room.
“What’s the matter? Didn’t I tell you to wait? Why did you enter?” Before I could answer, I heard the radio transmitter tucked in his belt raising alarm, “Calling Security supervisor!”
“Vijayprakash Singh here, go ahead,” he replied.
“Sir, please come inside. The Chief Minister has been shot just now.”
“My goodness!” he rushed towards the Chief Minister’s room.
I shuddered. I knew I should move out from here at once Not only did I enter under false identity; I forced myself into the Chief Minister’s room.
I walked towards the ground floor in quick steps. Suddenly hooters and alarms went off from all directions. I saw many more armed police officers and security guards coming in hordes. It took a minute to reach ground floor. I entered the toilet, opened my black tee shirt, and shoved it into the cistern.
I came out in a red sleeveless vest. Now I’ve got to look for Natasha.
My watch showed 11.30 AM.
Vijayprakash Singh’s version (11.05 AM)
My job—security supervisor to the Chief Minister is not at all romantic. It is grueling.
The man, who handed over the letter saying, ‘I have a meeting with the Chief Minister at eleven hundred hours,’ looked impressive. I could make out immediately that he was a VIP. Ten years into this job; I can recognize VIPs at one glance. I saw the name, Naveen Goel, CEO, InGeneers. It sounds like ‘engineers’, but is spelt differently; as if it has some hidden connotation.
“Please take a seat, Sir.” I paged the security of Chief Minister’s convoy over the radio transmitter. He replied that they were just one kilometer from the Government house.
“Sir, the Chief Minister is just one kilometer away,” I informed Naveen Goel, the visitor.
“Thanks.”
Within five minutes the Chief Minister arrived. Meeting started; the light over the door turned red. It suggests, no one should disturb at this time.
One more visitor appeared. A young man in his twenties, wearing a black tee shirt flashing a picture of Che Guevara. I checked his appointment paper and identity proof. He had an appointment. He told me he was working for an NGO – a non government benevolent organization. My junior frisked him and I told him to wait. I had to take a call after this. After talking over the phone for about four minutes I was shocked to see that the boy in black tee shirt was being shoved out from the room. I lost my cool. Son of a bitch!
“What’s the matter? Didn’t I tell you to wait? Why did you enter?” I shouted.
Before he could reply I heard Raghubir, one of the bodyguards of the Chief Minister paging over the radio transmitter, “Sir, please come inside. The Chief Minister has been shot just now.” There was normal excitement in his voice.
“My goodness!” I exclaimed and entered Chief Minister’s room. I entered and made a quick scan. The Chief Minister was lying on her belly on the floor beside her chair. The two bodyguards—Raghubir and Hardeep Singh made body-shields and covered her… a standard practice in such a situation.
“Is she hit?” I asked.
“No sir.”
Thank God, I thought. Is anyone hit then? Who fired the gun? Was there a firing at all? In a moment I got some of the answers. I spotted Naveen Goel lying prostate on the floor—a wound on his chest. Thick blood was flowing on to the ground.
So, there was indeed a firing, and it missed the Chief Minister. It struck Naveen Goel. There was no one else in the room, except the two bodyguards. Was it fired through the window? There was only one open window. I ran towards it. The room is on the third floor. Nobody was seen running away on the street below. And if fired from below, it would have hit the ceiling. There was no building right on the opposite side. Far away I could see the wetlands of fisheries. A hundred meters away was the tube railway line of the East-West Metro. I saw a train rumbling away.
Where is the second visitor? The man who barged in without permission? I rushed out. Where did he go? He’d be caught for sure. His identity papers were with us, scanned. Of course those might be false.
I used the radio transmitter – “A guy around twenty five is walking out in a black tee-shirt… with a white Che Guevara face on the tee. Catch him.”
I started running towards ground floor. Others triggered the hooter. We’ve got to catch him.
It was 11.30 AM.
Naveen Goel’s version (11:05 AM)
I saw the watch. Just reached the Chief Minister’s office; there was no sign of her.
I’m the head of ‘InGeneers’. The name of my organization is unique – it is a portmanteau of 3 words; ‘In’ for India, ‘gene’ and ‘engineer’. Yes, we are an Indian company working with genetic engineering. I’m a molecular biologist myself.
The Chief Minister just entered. She had called me. I made a quick call to my office from my specs-phone. “I’m entering Chief Minister’s cabin. Where is Papa?”
“Papa is in position” replied my office.
“Convey my regards to Papa”. I disconnected. Papa is a code word – Papa is the international code for ‘P’ and P stands for Priyanka. Priyanka has been assigned a special task.
It would have been foolish to call her myself. So there’s someone in between. Today is a crucial day for us. It can turn out to be the end of our project. The research work carried on by ‘InGeneers’ could come to a complete halt. In 2011 our research started under the patronage of the then Chief Minister Tathagata Bhattacharya. It started as just a research project. But now I can vouch for the fact that our company has taken this research to the level of art. We are working towards increasing the speed of man. And it could definitely be used in sports, defense and industry. But for all good work done—there is always a group of people trying to put a stick in your spokes. And unfortunately that has happened to us too. Some people from our own country had started raising objection to our project. And now many others from various countries have joined in the protest. That is why the Chief Minister of this state, Ms. Maya Bannerjee has called me today.
After entering her office and exchanging formal greetings, I was asked to sit facing her. I had a quick glance at the open window behind the Chief Minister.
“Mr. Goel, let me cut it short. I’m proud that a company like ‘InGeneers’ is working in my state. And I hope your organization and your project will draw the world’s attention towards my state, but not for the wrong reasons.”
“Wrong reasons are man-made,” I smiled. “The controversies are created by some media. Our company has never done anything illegal, and will never do so. Our aim is noble. First there was the airplane, and then came the supersonic plane. Similarly first there was man, and now we are trying to design a super-fast man.”
“I know all this, Mr. Goel. But the point is, you are violating human rights in trying to do so. You are experimenting with human beings, like guinea-pigs. You are endangering them,” replied the Chief Minister.
“That is not true. It was published in a weekly, the ‘People’s Democracy’… a perfect example of yellow journalism by an irresponsible, attention greedy reporter, Rahul Sen. After that a few popular social networks had carried the news and it started a worldwide commotion.” I clarified.
“Amnesty International has also got involved, Mr. Goel.”
“You go through this presentation madam; it will give you a clear idea about the way we work, and what we are trying to achieve.”
“Leave it Mr. Goel; there’s no need of a presentation. I got hold of some information about your company. Sorry to say, I had to resort to the intelligence bureau of police for that.”
I was taken aback for a while. This means, not only the media, but also the police detectives are after us.
“You have opened another company, ‘Bio Kynematics’ haven’t you, Mr. Goel? So that if one is closed down for irregularities, you can still carry on your activities in another name, isn’t that the reason you started the other organization, Mr. Goel?”
Our dialogue was going from bad to worse. I was of course prepared for such a situation. In case negotiations failed, my alternative plan was ready.
At this time the Chief Minister had to take a phone call. I took the opportunity to make a call from my specs-phone. “Plan A has failed. Execute plan B. Tell Papa, the mission is on,” I whispered to my office.
The Chief Minister looked at me and said, “You’d do me and yourself a favor if you could maintain a little more transparency in your functioning, Mr. Goel. I heard InGeneers is like a fortress. Nobody can enter it. Is that so?”
“Is that wrong? Every organization has the right to maintain its own privacy, is that wrong ma’am?” I asked.
“That is true. But since a controversy has cropped up, you better maintain transparency. You are not doing anything detrimental to the nation, so what’s your problem? Allow our inspectors to have a look at your laboratories.”
Suddenly there was a commotion at the door. I saw journalist Rahul Sen. He had forced himself in without permission. He was thrown out, but Chief Minister was a little shocked; she lost her words.
I looked at my watch—11.29 AM.
Then at the window.
A East-West Metro train was passing noisily. I quickly looked at the Chief Minister. Then suddenly, it was as if someone poured hot molten lead into my chest. Before I fell from my chair I saw blood oozing out from the left of my chest and a sharp pain shutting out my senses.
Then it went dark.
Priyanka’s version (11:05 AM)
I looked at my watch. 11.05 AM.
I was supposed to reach the metro station at sector five by 11. I’ve never been to this station before. I decided to wait at a tea stall Jimmy’s Hotties.
“The Metro station…?” I asked the guy at the kiosk.
“This way”, answered the guy at the counter. Another young man in a black tee shirt also pointed at the station. He was staring at my plastered arm. I saw a Che Guevara portrait printed on his tee. We exchanged glances once before I left for the station.
I bought a ticket up to Central station and walked up to the platform. Soon the train arrived. But I waited for the instruction and let the train go.
I have a pseudonym—P or Papa. I’m a molecular biologist. Once I was a pupil of Naveen Goel; now an employee of InGeneers. On the advice of my teacher and boss, Naveen Goel, I opted to become the test subject of the Super Fast Human Project. Today I’m the first super fast human in the world. I can do in one hundredth of the time what others can do at normal speed. So, my world is entirely different. I see everything around me move slowly –at one hundredth of my speed. I never feel I’m very fast; only others around me seem to move like a slow motion movie.
Nobody knows about me yet. The time has not arrived. I’m still at an experimental stage. And for this secrecy I rarely go out into the world. Today is an exception. I’ve come out on a mission. I’m told to be very careful and keep pace with the normal world.
I was hoping I’d finally get a call today that the mission is called off. But instead, the message came, that the mission is on. So, I have to complete my assignment.
I got into the steel-colored train. There were very few commuters. It was moving in slow motion, like slow motion movie footage.
I have to check the built-in long distance rifle inside the plaster of my arm. The rifle had a camera with it. In the lens of my sunglasses, I can see the image of the camera if I wish to. The train emerged from the station, traveling at a height of 30 feet from the ground. I could see the massive video billboard from the window. Some advertisement film was on. I aimed the rifle by raising my plastered arm casually towards the window. I could see the image in my glasses. At the press of the trigger in my pocket a bullet shot off cracking the billboard right across. It is not possible for ordinary humans to see the details I could see when it broke from end to end.
Perfect; I smiled to myself.
Now, my next target was the Chief Minister’s window.
The train, now moving at 60 kilometers per hour will pass the Chief Minister’s window soon. At this speed, no ordinary person can pass a bullet through a one-meter-wide window. The train is covering 1000 meters in a minute. So, to pass the window it will take only 0.06 second. But that is the common man’s calculation. Since I’m 100 times faster I will get full 6 seconds before the train passes the window… enough for me to make a perfect job.
The window was approaching. There, I can see her, Goel is sitting opposite the Chief Minister. I lifted my plastered arm. My mission today is to shoot the Chief Minister. Naveen thinks the Chief Minister’s sudden death will put an end to his crisis for the time being, and he would get some time to finish the project. By the time the new Chief Minister takes over and notices this issue, the controversy will lose its punch.
I pressed the trigger and the bullet flew off.
Who was hit, the Chief Minister? No, it was Naveen Goel.
Was it my mistake? No. I never miss my target.
Naveen’s death was supposed to be in my hand. And why not? I had volunteered for this secret project at his word. But why did he have to suppress the truth? It is violation of human rights… a crime!
Naveen had told me my speed will increase a hundred times. But he never told me that my life-span will also decrease a hundred times. According to normal parameters my death will come 100 times faster, within one year. Actually my body-clock has been reset with a hundred times faster speed. I discovered this fact myself from Naveen’s lab, from his computer. I suspected when I first saw faint signs of wrinkles on my arm, I was only twenty five. Why did he hide this—I asked myself many times. I wanted to live.
That was when I took the decision; Naveen Goel’s end will be in my hands.
My mission is accomplished. Time: 11:30 AM.
Okay guys I am back after a long silence.
Lots of updates regarding TheScreenplayWriters.com.
Hire a film director
We have started our new ‘hire a film director‘ option recently. Since our motto has been to provide the best film related services at the best prices, we have priced this service most reasonably at $12,000 (Rs. 550,000). Click here to know more. We plan to bring a wider range of options (hire a film director) for you soon. So if you are planning a film, you have to look no further – we have your director.

Bhootnath movie poster
Sudhanshu – Screenwriter of the Superhit Film ‘Bhootnath’
Sudhanshu, screenwriter of popular Bollywood films like Bhootnath, Anjaan, Hunko Deewana Kar Gaye, Kal Kisne Dekha and Suppandi (under production) is now a part of our team. Click here to know more. If you have a large blockbuster in mind, of the dimension of ‘Bhootnath’, mail us at info@thescreenwriters.com.
by Nick Blake
We get lots of interesting mail here at TheScreenplayWriters.com. People all over the world send us story ideas or requests to do stories about their lives. Any story ideas we delete unread (to read them sets us up for liability issues up the ying-yang that are best avoided altogether). We tend to respond to interesting life stories, however — not to write them ourselves, but to encourage people to write their own stories.
Writing is something Pinaki and I both feel passionately about. Though we love taking interesting commission projects, we equally love pushing people with a story to tell their story. Life and art are meant to be shared. If you feel passionately about a project you should pursue it. When acted upon, passion tends to open doors and makes things happen. People respond to passion — that’s what makes good stories GOOD.
Below is an example of a recent exchange. It is by no means unique. We hear stories like this at least once a day. For the sake of urging people to engage creativity in their daily lives, I offer it as an example of the kind of interesting life story that should get written!
I also offer it as an example of the kind of request we can’t do, and what our response will be. If you think you have an interesting story to tell, then tell it! We’d love to take a look at it when you’re done and see if we can’t help craft it into something stronger. At the very least we might be able to point you in the right direction if we can’t do anything with it.
All my best,
nick
—-
Ms. L wrote:
I was once featured on a short lived reality tv show called three wishes on nbc. Since that show aired, my hearing got worse and my story is truly better than fiction. I think it would make a great movie. I have begun work on my book, but I am not writer… does anyone take great stories and write them as screenplays…would anyone be interested?
Pinaki wrote:
Dear Ms. L,
Thank you for writing to us. I am sure you have an interesting story to tell.
FYI, we are a professional screenplay writing company. We write screenplays on demand, when a client (usually filmmakers or producers) finance the project. I believe you have to either get in touch with a film production company and convince them to make a film on your life, or finance the screenplay project yourself and then show it to a producer/production company.
Pl feel free to ask questions if any.
Best regards,
Pinaki Ghosh
Co-founder www.TheScreenplayWriters.com
Ms. L wrote:
Pinaki:
Thank you, I thought that may be the answer I would recieve, but thank you for taking the time to respond. I am sure you are very busy… I appreciate your kindness.
Regards,
Ms. L
Nick wrote:
Hi Ms. L,
This is Nick, Pinaki’s business partner. You’re very welcome, thanks for writing! The movie biz, like many creative endeavors, is fueled by passion. My advice: if you truly believe in your story, write it. Shop it around to several movie editing services (relatively inexpensive – generally $200-$250 … there are several good ones out there, including our own. If you’re interested I’ll point you to a variety of online writers). Don’t be afraid to spend time developing the story – years, even. You’ll end up with something beautiful in the end. Then you’ll be in a position to approach agents who might be able to land you a movie deal (or TV, or something). That part takes perseverence and a little luck – but luck tends to favor the bold. ![]()
Writing is extremely difficult – most of the time it feels like a worthless endeavor. But if you fight for it, it will be immensely satisfying!
All my best,
Nick
Ms. L wrote:
Nick,
You and your business partner must be kind men. I do write a little… I have a blog I started several years ago… I am in the process of beginning the long journery of writing a book. I have journals and the blog, so I at least I have a starting point… and I have the story, how many deaf music teachers are there?
Warm regards-
Ms. L
By Nick Blake
We received a survey from a college student looking for more information about what a screenplay writing career looks like (see below). My response is posted below.
I’m interested in what other writers out there have to say. Tell me, what’s been your experience of a screenplay writing career?
Survey starts:
1) Are there any specific training, certification, or licensing requirements for this profession?
2) What does the career ladder look like? Is there a stratification in employment opportunities or is it a very self-motivated profession? What does the salary range look like?
3) What personal skills, attributes, attitudes that individuals in this
occupation find important/useful?
4) What changes to the occupation over the last 10-15 years have occurred? – downsizing, multiple roles, paradigm shifts, etc. What changes are anticipated in the next 5-10 years?
My response:
There are lots of routes to take to be a successful screenplay writer. You could move to LA and cover scripts for a major studio, move to New York City and work on a TV show (fetching coffee for producers is a good way to start) and slowly work your way up the ladder, or go to school to learn the craft. There is no right or wrong way to do it.
No matter how you tackle it, however, you’ve got to be self-motivated and have incredibly thick skin. And, most importantly, you’ve got to write. Constantly. Say goodbye to friends, the sun, your social life … when you’re not working on script treatments for a client you’ll be staring into space waiting for inspiration to strike as you struggle through a script of your own. You can go to school to learn how to do it, or have written dramatic works since you were a kid, or stumble into the field mid-life. Creativity is what this field is all about. If you got it, you’ll thrive. If you don’t, you’ll starve regardless how many diplomas you hang on the wall.
As for career advancement and reward, that all depends on skill, networking and luck. The first two you can manage if you try your hardest. The last is less certain. The monetary reward isn’t always what I’d like, but the satisfaction of digging into characters and psyche is hard to beat.
Based on all my research and experience, this has not changed since the industry was born. But I could be wrong. I also can’t speak for our Indian counterparts.
All my best,
Nick
Here is Pinaki’s Response:
1) Are there any specific training, certification, or licensing requirements for this profession?
If you are a screenwriter, you are a professional. You need to have the usual trade license required for professionals to practice. It varies from country to country. Besides, in USA there is the WGA (Writers’ Guild of America)… you may or may not be their member. Members get some benefits from the association but must maintain a minimum rate set by the association to prevent unhealthy undercutting of rates. We have a similar association called Film Writers’ Association in India, for Bollywood/Indian screenwriters.
Most film schools offer training of screenwriting, but you can also be a screenwriter without a formal training. There are good books available in the market; you can read those; you can read scripts and you should watch good movies. Ultimately if you are not passionate about screenwriting, a formal training will not help you much. On the other hand if you are very passionate and enthusiastic, a formal training may not be necessary.
2) What does the career ladder look like? Is there a stratification in employment opportunities or is it a very self-motivated profession? What does the salary range look like?
A large number of screenwriters try to come to this profession passion driven, but since opportunities are limited, many of them later divert to other mainstream professions, getting no success. For those who stick to it and see success, the earning graph is very unevenly distributed. In the beginning some even write for free to get an opportunity with a big house. Some write for as low as $1,500 a script. The rate shoots up considerably once there is one produced movie in your credit. In India it can be around $15,000 when you have one produced movie. It shoots up many times and becomes a gigantic, enviable figure once you give a hit. It can cross $50.000 for a single movie. American rates are more.
3) What personal skills, attributes, attitudes that individuals in this occupation find important/useful?
Those who are passionate about cinema, watch good movies by the best directors, have participated in creative writing as students, are likely to be good screenwriters.
4) What changes to the occupation over the last 10-15 years have occurred? – downsizing, multiple roles, paradigm shifts, etc. What changes are anticipated in the next 5-10 years?
In the last 15 years the screenplay writers’ playground has become a lot more international. Due to the internet and popularity of mixed cultural movies, the screenwriter does not only serve the local market. We have Indian writers writing American movies (I have done so); American writers writing Indian Bollywood movies (US screenwriter duo Joshua and Briyan wrote the Bollywood movie Blue; US writer David Benullo wrote the Bollywood sci fi movie Ra 1, etc.)
I did not see any downsizing, but I am not writing screenplays for 15 years; so I may not be the right person to answer this.
In the next 15 years, screenplay writers will have to update themselves technically and adapt to rapidly changing new technologies.
PLEASE ADD TO THIS LIST IN THE COMMENTS SECTION. IF YOU LIKE THIS, WE’LL COME UP WITH A SIMILAR LIST ABOUT BOLLYWOOD MOVIES SOON.
During all police investigations, it will be necessary to visit a strip club at least once.
All beds have special L-shaped sheets which reach up to the armpit level on a woman, but only to waist level on the man lying beside her.
All grocery shopping bags contain at least one loaf of French bread or bunch of celery that sticks out the top of a full bag.
It’s easy for anyone to land a plane, providing there is someone in the control tower to talk you down.
Once applied, lipstick will never rub off, even while scuba diving.
The ventilation system of any building is the perfect hiding place. No one will ever think of looking for you in there, and you can travel to any other part of the building without difficulty.
If you need to reload your gun, you will always have more ammunition, even if you weren’t carrying any before now.
You’re very likely to survive any battle in any war, unless you make the mistake of showing someone a picture of your sweetheart back home.
Should you wish to pass yourself off as a German officer, it will not be necessary to speak the language – a German accent will do.
If your town is threatened by an imminent natural disaster or killer beast, the mayor’s first concern will be the tourist trade or his forthcoming art exhibition.
The Eiffel Tower can be seen from any window in Paris. The Taj Mahal from any window in India. The Howrah Bridge from any window in Calcutta.
A man will show no pain while taking the most ferocious beating, but will wince when a woman tries to clean his wounds.
If a large pane of glass is visible, someone will be thrown through it before long.
Most dogs are immortal.
If being chased through town, you can usually take cover in a passing St. Patrick’s Day parade – at any time of the year.
When paying for a taxi, don’t look at your wallet as you take out a bill – just grab one at random and hand it over. It will always be the exact fare.
Interbreeding is genetically possible with creatures from anywhere in the universe.
Kitchens don’t have light switches. When entering a kitchen at night, you should open the fridge door and use that light instead.
Word processors never display a cursor on screen, but will always say: ENTER PASSWORD NOW.
Mothers routinely cook eggs, bacon and waffles for their families every morning, even though their husbands and children never have time to eat.
Cars which crash will almost always burst into flames.
The Chief of Police will always suspend his star detective – or give him 48 hours to finish the job.
A single match will be sufficient to light up a room the size of the Astrodome.
Medieval peasants had perfect teeth.
Although in the 20th century it is possible to fire weapons at an object out of our visual range, people of the 23rd century will have lost this technology.
Any person waking from a nightmare will sit bolt upright and pant.
It is not necessary to say hello or goodbye when beginning or ending phone conversations.
Even when driving down a perfectly straight road, it is necessary to turn the steering wheel vigorously from left to right every few moments.
All bombs are fitted with electronic timing devices with large red readouts so you know exactly when they’re going to go off.
It is always possible to park directly outside the building you’re visiting.
If you decide to start dancing in the street, everyone you bump into will know all the steps.
Most laptop computers are powerful enough to override the communication systems of any alien civilization.
When a person is knocked unconscious by a blow to the head, they will never suffer a concussion or brain damage, and nobody involved in a car chase, hijacking, explosion, volcanic eruption or alien invasion will ever go into shock.
Any lock can be picked by a credit card or a paper clip in seconds – unless it’s the door to a burning building with a child trapped inside.
Police Departments give their officers personality tests to make sure they are deliberately assigned a partner who is their total opposite.
When they’re alone, all foreigners prefer to speak English among themselves.
You can always find a chain saw when you need one.
An electric fence which is powerful enough to kill a dinosaur will cause no lasting damage to an eight-year-old child.
Television news bulletins usually contain a story that affects you personally at that precise moment, and it’s never necessary to listen to the complete bulletin.
It doesn’t matter if you are heavily outnumbered in a fight involving martial arts – your enemies will wait patiently to attack you one by one. They’ll dance around in a threatening manner until you have knocked out their predecessors.
Cartoon courtesy: John Crowther
Government (Cabinet) Decision
The Union Cabinet today approved the proposal to introduce a Bill to amend the Copyright Act, 1957. The Ministry of Human Resource Development has proposed the amendments in order to gain clarity, remove operational difficulties and to address the newer issues that have emerged in the context of digital technology and the internet.
Amendments are being made to bring the Act in conformity with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Internet Treaties, namely WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) which have set the international standards in these spheres. The WCT deals with the protection for the authors of literary and artistic works such as writings, computer programmes, original databases, musical works, audiovisual works, works of fine art and photographs. The WPPT protects certain “related rights” which are the rights of the performers and producers of phonograms. While India has not yet signed the above two treaties it is necessary to amend domestic legislation to extend the copyright protection in the digital environment.
Amendments related to bring the Act in conformity with WCT and WPPT :
· Through a new section in the Act, it is proposed to ensure protection to the Right holders against circumvention of effective technological measures applied for purpose of protection of his rights like breaking of passwords etc. while maintaining an appropriate balance between the interests of the right holders on the one hand and of Technology innovators, Researchers and Educational Institutions on the other.
· The existing Performers’ Rights are proposed to be further enhanced by introducing a new section to provide exclusive rights compatible with WPPT.
· “The Moral Rights of Performers” are proposed to be introduced in a new section.
· Amendments have been proposed to protect the interests of researchers, students and educational institutions so as to ensure that Technological Measures do not act as a barrier for further development of the technology. These amendments also address the issue of access to information in the digital context and the liability of Internet service providers.
· The period of copyright for photographers is proposed to be enhanced to “Life plus sixty years” instead of only sixty years as at present.
Amendment to protect the Music and Film Industry and address its concerns :
· Statutory licence for version recordings and authorship to ensure that
while making a sound recording of any literary, dramatic or musical work the interest of the copyright holder is duly protected.
· Term of copyright for cinematograph films has been extended by making
the Producers and Principal director as joint authors.
· A copyright term of 70 years to Principal Director which automatically
extends the copyright term for the Producers for another 10 years provided he enters into an agreement with the Director;
Amendments to address the concerns of the physically challenged:
The physically challenged need access to copyright material in specialized formats, e.g. Braille text, talking text, electronic text, large print etc. for the visually challenged and sign language for the aurally challenged. Currently the cost of production of material in such formats is very high. With additional requirement of royalty payments the price of such material to the target groups would be even higher.
· A clause is proposed to be introduced as a fair deal clause to allow the production of copies of copyright material in formats specially designed for the physically challenged.
· A separate compulsory licensing provision has been proposed to allow for publication of copyright works in formats other than specifically suited for the physically challenged.
Amendments for rights to authors:
· Amendment is proposed to give independent rights to authors of literary and musical works in cinematograph films, which were hitherto denied and wrongfully exploited, by the producers and music companies.
· An amendment is proposed to ensure that the authors retain their right to receive royalties and the benefits enjoyed through the copyright societies.
· Another amendment ensures that the authors of the works, particularly songs included in the cinematograph film or sound recordings, receive royalty for the commercial exploitation of such work.
· It has been proposed to introduce a system of statutory licensing to ensure that the public has access to musical works over the FM Radio and Television networks and at the same time the owners of copyright works are also not subject to any disadvantages.
· It is proposed to amend existing provisions to provide compulsory license through Copyright Board to publish or communicate to the public such work or translation where the author is dead or unknown or cannot be traced or the owner of the copyright work in such work cannot be found.
Other amendments
· Amendments are being made for incidental changes, which are required in the context of digital technology to cover “storing of copyrights material by electronic means’.
· Amendments in relation to operational facilities, such as registration of Copyright Societies by providing that only authors can register and procedure for tariff schemes of copyright societies and commercial distinction between assignment and licence; and
· Enforcement of rights such as border measures, disposal of infringing copies and presumption of authorship under civil remedies.
Background :
In order to formulate the proposed amendments and to carry out wide-ranging consultations with all stakeholders, the Ministry of Human Resource Development had constituted a 30-member Core Group in the year 2005 under the Chairmanship of the Education Secretary with representatives of the other Ministries/Departments concerned with the subject and other key stakeholders like copyright-industry organizations, stakeholders, subject experts and Institutions of repute in related fields. The Core Group had deliberations at length in five sessions to cover all the provisions of the existing statute and made recommendations with regard to the proposed amendments. The Core Group then created a Drafting Committee to draw up the text of the proposed amendments and to fine-tune the recommendations of the Core Group.
By Pinaki Ghosh
TheScreenplayWriters.com opens yet another chapter. From today we start yet another new service. We have set up our state-of-the-art storyboard artist studio. You can hire storyboard artists from us at the best rates anywhere in the industry. $50 per frame for B/W storyboard, and $100 per frame for color.
Using storyboard artists for your screenplay is one of the best ways you can visualize your movie much before the movie is actually made. It can be best described as hand drawn art (nowadays digital art is also seen) that look like comic strips or graphic novels. Frame by frame, they depict the screenplay. At a glance a screenplay storyboard may book like a comicbook.
The filmmaker wants to take a look at the screenplay as it will look from the lens of the camera. As such the role of storyboard artists is enormous. Sometimes, due to budget constraints, only some select scenes are made into storyboards. Especially the more expensive, outdoor and ‘visual’ scenes.
Not only visualizing; storyboards have helped filmmakers locate potential problems with scenes before they are actually shot, and correct them.
That should not give you the impression that storyboard artists are used only for big budget movies. In fact at $50 or $100 a frame it is really dirt cheap, considering the benefit.
It is also a fun way of making a film.

By Pinaki Ghosh
Happy Halloween friends!
This is one day of the year that reminds me of the hundreds of horror movies I have watched throughout my life. Most of them did not touch me; but some definitely did. I quite clearly remember the first two horror movies I watched as a child. The first was William Friedkin’s ‘The Exorcist’, the second, Sam Raimi’s ‘Evil Dead’. I still remember spending several nights (after watching these movies) not being able to go to the toilet, and my bladder growing unbearably; imagining something or someone was under my bed in the dark room, waiting to catch my leg if I got down from the bed. I even imagined the hands that would have caught my leg… rough, cold, with razor sharp long nails.
And today, some of the best horror movie screenwriters are available through TheScreenplayWriters.com, founded by Nick and me; and we are writing scary scenes to frighten others.
Let’s find out what a horror movie screenwriter and filmmaker should keep in mind while writing a horror screenplay.
Be original, do not follow cliché
What makes good horror movies different from bad horror movies is originality. Good horror movies are based on original thoughts while bad horror movies follow cliché ideas and trends. It is easy for the horror movie screenwriter to step into the trap of following former successful horror movies. As a result we have seen several horror movies that follow the trend of Evil Dead or Friday The 13th. As a horror screenwriter, remember that the viewers have already watched plenty of scary scenes in the past and don’t want to be bored by the same old stuff. So, by all means, avoid preparing old wine in a new bottle.
Feel the deepest fears
A horror screenwriter should experience fear first hand. Unless she or he does so, the output produced will be dispassionate and done just for the sake of doing it. Try to face your deepest fears. Feel genuinely frightened. Not that you can do that on purpose, but try to remember the incidents when you felt really really scared, or came close to death. Take a walk on one of the scariest roads in town after midnight. Or take the last train in a notorious route. How did you feel? Put that down on paper.

Think of 1 – 3 scenes never seen on screen before
A horror screenplay writer has the remote control of making a movie a success or a failure. All successful horror movies had at least 1 scene that was never seen on screen before. Remember the spider walk scene of ‘The Exorcist’, the tree rape scene of ‘Evil Dead’ and the scene where the chairs are suddenly found inverted, in ‘Poltergiest’? These were scenes that were never seen before, and were implanted in the memory of the viewers for several years. Many of us saw these scenes as a child but still remember the scenes. As a horror screenplay writer you have to come up with 1 – 3 such absolutely original scary scenes, which were never before seen on screen and will leave a lasting impression in the minds of the viewers.
Surprise beginning, slow buildup, high climax, scariest scenes towards the end
That is pretty much the formula of horror movies. As a horror movie screenwriter, you have to start with a surprise beginning, and then build up the first act with almost no extreme occurrences, except one or two elements of suspense and surprise speckled here and there, to keep the interest of the viewers alive. These will get more frequent in the second act, leading to a high climax, which should have the scariest scenes. Of course you can think originally and break the rule, if you want to do an original experiment with horror screenwriting.
Make things appear real
A majority of horror movies appear unreal. The viewers watch it, but they are never really drawn into it, as everything appears unreal. As a horror movie screenwriter, try to write your screenplay in a way that the characters, dialogs and the incidents appear as real and as life-like as possible. If you look at the movies of Manoj Night Shyamalan, his dialogs, characters and incidents appear very real. That is one of the reasons of his success as a horror screenwriter. For that purpose you can also check out ‘The Ring’.
Do not end up appearing funny
One of the toughest challenges of a horror screenwriter is to keep the script natural and dignified. Any overdose of anything can make your screenplay appear hilarious on screen. Often we laugh all through bad horror movies. Make sure your script will not appear funny on screen, unless your intention is to make a horror parody movie.
Avoid CG and special effects for low budget horror movies
As a horror movie screenwriter, avoid writing scenes that require the help of computer graphics (CG), special effects and animation. These are great for big budget movies, and big movies will never be made without the help of these. But in low budget movies, animation, computer graphics and special effects scenes look extremely poor quality-wise, due to lack of a standard budget and hence should be avoided. An otherwise good horror movie screenplay can get spoiled by the use of poor CG and special effects. Write only scenes that can be shot without the help of CG, animation and special effects.
Watch plenty of horror movies before you start
Not to copy, but to tune your mind, you, as a horror screenwriter need to watch plenty of horror movies… preferably good ones, before you actually start working on your project.
By Pinaki Ghosh
A new week. A new announcement.
We at www.TheScreenplayWriters.com are now offering our clients the option to buy spec screenplays, or ready made screenplays. Often, purchasing a spec screenplay is a great option for filmmakers and producers who are tight on time and cannot spare two or three months to get a screenplay written from scratch. Secondly, we have a great array of spec screenplays of various genres, from talented screenwriters across the world. As such filmmakers and producers looking for something fresh, are likely to come across excellent new storylines if they check out our brand new section on spec screenplays. Click here to visit.
From the point of view of new, budding and established screenwriters; this is an excellent opportunity to showcase your talent and work. Our site is visited by hundreds of renowned filmmakers all over the world. You can sell your spec screenplay through us now. Send your loglines and treatments to info@thescreenplaywriters.com to begin. If we like your story idea, we shall ask for your screenplay. Please make sure your screenplay is copyright registered, or registered with an established writers’ association like the WGA. Visit our Career page for details.
Check out our new spec screenplay sales here.
By Pinaki Ghosh
Oops! No blog posts since 27 Sept is an unpardonable sign that we neglected our blog. On the other hand it also speaks about how busy we were at www.TheScreenplayWriters.com during this period. An average of two new screenplay writing projects seem to land up every week and if a week passes without any new project getting confirmed, we start thinking something is wrong and Nick starts testing our contact form and calling up our webmaster Anindya to make sure the contact form is working.
During this apparent hibernating period, we have also strengthened our screenwriters’ teams considerably. We now have 5 solid city based teams in New York, Los Angeles, London, Mumbai and Kolkata. While my friend Nick (Blake) was working on building our USA teams, I was working on strengthening our 2 Indian teams: Mumbai and Kolkata. Nick will probably write about his team building experience soon.
We realized within days of launching our screenwriting service, that there was a steady need of Hindi screenplay writers. From day 1 our team had Rajan, the extremely experienced Hindi screenwriter and assistant writer of films like Mujhse Shaadi Karogi, Phir Hera Pheri and No Entry. Later Shivani, the Hindi screenplay writer of ‘Dus Kahaniya’ (Ten Stories) became a part of our team. In the recent weeks I have befriended what I feel are extremely talented Hindi screenplay writers, Antara (3 National Award winner!), Sumit, Indranil and Anirban.
I need to explain here how we normally develop a Hindi screenplay. Our system has evolved in a creative way and is probably quite a unique way of handling a Hindi script writing assignment. Whenever there is a Hindi screenplay project, we first allow our American screenplay writers to handle the basic job. Our American team expands the treatment into a basic screenplay. Nick polishes the first draft and passes it to me. We then allow one of our Hindi screenwriters to work on the first draft. Dialogs are changed to Hindi; new scenes and sequences are added. Some are omitted. Modifications are made. After the Hindi screenplay writer has completed his or her work, it comes to me and I polish it once again.
What this means is an emerging trend of Hindi screenplays made in America. I am quite sure this is an emerging trend and we have consciously set our working system in accordance with this emerging trend, to cater the demands of our clients who are not against this trend.
Shah Rukh Khan has hired American screenplay writer David Benullo (who is also in friendly terms with us) to write the screenplay of his science fiction Hindi film ‘Ra 1’. American screenwriter duo Joshua and Brian (who can be hired through us) have written the screenplay of the blockbuster Hindi movie ‘Blue’ (2009).
The opposite trend is also true. I’ll write about that some other day.