[tmiquotepage]

Film Friends!

Just as a heads up: I read and give detailed professional feedback on screenplays significantly cheaper than you’ll find coverage on big pro reader sites.

While full coverage can run you $150+ easily for one script, I read scripts for just $15 a piece for features or TV pilots (webseries and short films are only $10). Included in your purchase are a numerical score 1-10, logline, synopsis, a list of strengths and weaknesses, and up to five pages of detailed feedback on your script overall!

As a little background on myself and my qualifications, I have been writing screenplays for five years, and I have two years of professionally reading them (first for a producer looking for scripts to produce, and now for the Atlanta Film Festival) and my feedback can get you a sneak peek at what a reader for a festival or competition might be thinking of your script in its present state. I make notes covering everything from pacing, to characters, to grammar and spelling, and everything in between.

So, if you have a submission coming up, or a final in a screenwriting class, or you just want to know how your script reads at present, message me here or at [email protected], and we can get started!

[tmiquotepage]

Time Catchers: Competition Fee Help!

Hi all! So, if you know me (or have been following me for a while), you’ve probably seen me post once or twice (or fifty times) about my TV Pilot, Time Catchers. I’ve been writing it for years, and finally got it to a place where I’m ready to sumbit it to some competitions. But I’ve got a bit of a problem: I’m working an unpaid internship and won’t have enough money to submit to the four big competitions I’d like to. 

Time Catchers is aimed at followers of similarly toned-shows such as Vampire Diaries and Shadowhunters. Aside from the general age demographic, however, I fully intend for TC to become a home for LGBT+ viewers and/or viewers of color. Both are heavily represented in the series, as the lead cast are all PoC and they all fall in the LGBT+ spectrum. This show is about more than just time travel. It’s about family, and finding yourself, and representation where you can see yourself on screen without that character being solely about their race or identifying sexuality.

I hate asking for anything from any of my followers, but winning competitions could mean one step closer to bringing this passion project of mine to the screen, and maybe giving a voice to several new writers of color and actors of color. It’s an opportuity to bring diversity to Hollywood. I mean, a badass new mythology-based time travel story with a fun cast of characters, but also a diverse show. 

If you have a buck or two to maybe donate toward my submission fees, I’ll link my PayPal here.  Check out more information about the show and characters below if you’re interested, and please support the project if you can! If you can’t, please just reblog and share! 

Thank you all! You’re the best! Much love!

[tmiquotepage]

A bit of extra info if you are planning to/interested in giving!

I’m planning on entering the following competitions, at the following costs:

ISA Fast Track Fellowship - $70 (due 8/8) WeScreenplay - $59 (due 8/10)  Screencraft Pilot Launch - $39 (due 8/15)

I’ve already entered the show into the Slamdance Screenplay Competition, as well as used the pilot for my application to the Disney/ABC Writing Fellowship. By the end of the year, I plan to start sending it to potential managers and possibly agents. 

If more is donated than I absolutely need for the entries, I will donate every extra cent to organizations like re:imagine/ATL and Array, who help teens and filmmakers of color get their start in regions/situations where they normally would not be able to.

Thank you again for all the shares and love. Means the world to me! Best birthday present I could ever ask for!

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Did I mention you can check out a snippet of Time Catchers (plus a handful of my other screenwriting projects) on my website portfolio?! Just head to http://www.ashleighahayneswriter.com/portfolio.html and click on the title of the script you’re interested in to read a sneak peek! In case you wanted to have an idea of exactly what you’re supporting!

[tmiquotepage]

Update: I’ve got $50 for ISA that I raised myself. I only need $20 to make this work. If you are able to donate even a few dollars, I would be more grateful than words can express!

[tmiquotepage]

Also, another update: if you guys can’t donate, but have read the snippet from the website, please feel free to post your reviews/opinions of the project! Also feel free to message me with any feedback. It’s always appreciated! 😍

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Working on the pilot todaaaaaaaaay!

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When your characters go from sipping tea in the previous scene to SPILLING IT IN THE NEXT.

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Playing around with a TC design. Not sure if I like the font yet, though. I’m too picky about typography. 😂 #TimeCatchers

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Time Catchers Characters

I was making up the pitch book for my TV series (because, with all luck, I’ll actually be pitching it soon), and part of it is listing information about the main characters. So, I just wanted to share a little about them w you guys. :) (photos are of my dream cast, not anyone currently attached to the roles.)

Melinda Dormer. 21. Anthropology student. Pragmatist. Time traveler. Pan/aro.

Kala. 17. Time personified. Badass warriors. Never stays in any time or place long enough to learn or care about social norms. Ace/aro.

Jameson Dormer. 25. Melinda’s older brother. Founder of AllTheWorld social media platform. CEO of ATW company. Bisexual (engaged to Stephen Avgerinos).

Dr. Stephen Avgerinos. 25. Astronomy professor. Certifiable genius. Bisexual (engaged to Jameson Dormer).

Alec Wolffe. 22. Melinda's roommate & best friend. Works for his father’s global conglomerate, but his passion is in cooking. Father’s husband is a soccer star, and his mother is a fashion designer. Literally the only solidly heterosexual person in the series. 

So yeah. These are my main babies. <3 Can’t wait until I find a way to share them with you all every week. 

A brief logline of the series itself: A family of time travelers strives to protect the human personification of Time Itself.

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Sometimes, old writings of the TC journal are deep and insightful. And then there are puns and Tumblr posts like this one.

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Though the animal from which he takes his name is a warm-blooded pack animal, Wolffe is as cold-blooded and cunning as a snake.

Time Catchers, 1x01 “Pilot”

Introducing Alec Wolffe, Jr. 

(Part 1 of ? of Introducing Time Catchers:The Characters)

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When you have a whole pilot and Damn near 100 pages of notes and you still can’t answer the question of “what is this story about?”. Ack.

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A video I shot with my little cousin while I was babysitting the other day. She wanted to be in a movie, and so we came up with an idea the night before and then shot in three hours the next morning before I had to get her ready for the dentist. Not bad, I think. Except for the atrocious lighting, cinematography, directing, editing, etc. I’m good at scripts and writing, normally. The other stuff I haven’t really studied enough to even attempt being good at. All in all, I hope you like it! :)

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I realized I posted this at like 2:30 in the morning so most of my followers didn’t see it. Decided to reblog. :)

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Hoping to have a draft of the pilot episode up by Christmas! I will be sharing some synopses, character sheets, and log lines with you guys soon to help you get an idea of some of the characters and where they fit in the story. Also, of course, I'll tell you what the show is about. Remember, nothing is impossible. If enough of you like the show enough, production isn't a crazy theory. That's why I can't to get it out to you guys!!! I hope you like it so much you tweet it to your favorite show writers rooms! :P Much Love, Ash

[timecatchersseries]

Time Catchers Workday/Social Media Hiatus Wrap Up: Day 5

Tumblr is like a rabbit hole. I swear I did log on both yesterday and like an hour ago to post yesterday’s update. Yesterday I was drawn into the fantastic gay marriage news and had to reblog essentially everything. At the end of the day, I fell asleep and actually forgot what I logged on for. An hour ago, I just forgot because I have the attention span of a squirrel and just started scrolling. BUT I AM FINALLY BACK!

(Quick reminder of what’s up:  So, the entire reason for this week long hiatus from social media (aside, of course, from these updates at the end of every day) is for me to finish the television pilot script of my story, Time Catchers.Of course, other things are going on and taking a break from the vice of social networking is always healthy, but T.C. is certainly the center of this whole plan. The idea is for me to have the entire pilot essentially ready by Sunday, at which point I would love to share it with some Beta readers. We’ll see how far I get though.) (side note: I honestly don’t know how likely this is at this point, but we will see. :D)

Yesterday’s progress: More future episode scenes and notes (including character deaths that will absolutely destroy you), but I did also get caught up. I did the teaser rewrites and worked on act one yesterday. Today, I’m barreling through and ignoring the notes and development of future episodes just so that I can have the entire pilot down on paper to revise and (hopefully) send out tomorrow! (Betas are welcome! Just message this page or tmiquotepage​ or email me at [email protected] to let me know you are interested. There is a little more information on the T.C. blog if you’d like to know what exactly I”m looking for and what you’ll be reading.

Advice from yesterday’s experience: Sometimes, distractions find you whether you want them to or not. For me, I was working and got dragged out of the house about four times, had to watch TV with my sister, found out I could marry whoever I wanted, and, honestly, it got to a point were I gave up on writing because my focus and determination had just been chipped away into non-existencce. Finding a place where you just can’t be disturbed is probably the biggest thing you can do to help yourself write. If you live with others who are going to bother you, you have several options. First of all, you can just lay down the law. Tell everyone in the house that, from time A to time B, I have to be left alone for my creativity. If you live with difficult people and can get away, driving to the local library or a coffee shop and setting up. Odds are, no one will bother you there (and nobody will ask you to go out to the grocery store or to get lunch while you are out of the house). If neither is an option and you can’t make a designated time every day, then make sure you make use of the little time you do get every day. Turn off the TV, put your headphones in, listen to a noise machine (I use the “Relax Melodies” line on iPhone and I believe they are also on Android) or music or something to cancel out the world around you, and just sit and write. If someone bothers you, tell them it’s homework or just work (if you’re out of school). After all, it is. If you are planning on being a writer, literally any writing you do is practice for your future way of making a living. It’s important. Don’t let someone tell you it’s just a hobby. If you want it to be, it is your job. Ad if you choose it to be the only job you have, then you have to actually commit to that. If you say you are a writer as your profession, then commit to it. Work every day toward your goals. Don’t just sit around eating popcorn and watching TV/spending your whole day on social media. Be strict. Actually be your own boss instead of acting unemployed. You will get so much more done.

Favorite tidbit from yesterday: “Idiot.” “Is that what you call the person who just saved your life?” “Only when his plan lands me in a storage room with my foot stuck in something disturbingly sticky.”

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Time Catchers Workday/Social Media Hiatus Wrap Up: Day 4

I KNOW I MISSED A DAY PLEASE DON’T HATE ME! So, long story short, while I didn’t indulge in any social media posting yesterday, my brain was frazzled from such hard work on Monday and Tuesday that I just couldn’t have written anything useful. So, while I could have written up a blog post about how I spent the day staring at my toes and reading trashy fan fiction, I decided to spare you the boring (and gory) details. Today, though, work was done, and that I do intend to share. ;)

(Quick reminder of what’s up:  So, the entire reason for this week long hiatus from social media (aside, of course, from these updates at the end of every day) is for me to finish the television pilot script of my story, Time Catchers.Of course, other things are going on and taking a break from the vice of social networking is always healthy, but T.C. is certainly the center of this whole plan. The idea is for me to have the entire pilot essentially ready by Sunday, at which point I would love to share it with some Beta readers. We’ll see how far I get though.) (side note: I honestly don’t know how likely this is at this point, but we will see. :D)

Today’s progress: Not any specific scenes but a lot of work on future episodes and looking forward to what we are building up to. Tomorrow, I look at how to begin the build up with the pilot and early episodes and seasons.

Advice from today’s experience: I think this is more a lecture for me than anything, but you have to be able to focus. My focus is on develping the story when I led myself to believe it would be actually writing it. Decide what you’re ready for, and take it at the pace you and your story will benefit the most from. (Hanging prepostition. I should be screaming at myself, but I’m too tired. You should be glad that the rest of the post is even read-able...)

Favorite tidbit from today: Figuring out what Time Catchers really is at its heart. Also, the punny line that Melinda says when that one character dies. Honestly, that shouldn’t be her first response, but she’s in shock. You all will be. :P

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Time Catchers Workday/Social Media Hiatus Wrap Up: Day 2

Hey there! I know I’m posting a bit early, but I have stuff to do tonight and won’t be doing much else work today. Anyway, here’s the low-down on what I’ve been up to today! :)

(Quick reminder of what’s up:  So, the entire reason for this week long hiatus from social media (aside, of course, from these updates at the end of every day) is for me to finish the television pilot script of my story, Time Catchers. Of course, other things are going on and taking a break from the vice of social networking is always healthy, but T.C. is certainly the center of this whole plan. The idea is for me to have the entire pilot essentially ready by Sunday, at which point I would love to share it with some Beta readers. We’ll see how far I get though.)

Today’s progress: Got about halfway done with act one (really not impressive) and also added quite a few characters to the pilot and later episodes, and I really feel like you’re going to love them. I want to see who figures out what’s happening before we reveal it... :D Anyway, no spoilers. For now. ;)

Advice from today’s experience: Sitting down and telling yourself not to get up until you have a finished product is not an efficient way of working. After about an hour, you’re tired of the story, don’t ever want to look at it and, more importantly, you find other things to occupy your time. Take at least ten minutes for every hour to get up and walk around and work your brain out. Go for a run or read or take a walk in nature. Try to give your brain a rest without letting the creativity/brain flow come to a complete stop. Do a puzzle or play a game. Trust me, your brain, story, and your bum will thank you. 

Favorite tidbit from today: (not exact quote)  Melinda: Who’s the pipsqueak?   Kala: My name is Kala. And I’m time. Quite literally.  Melinda: ...  Melinda: ...  Melinda: I’m done.

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Time Catchers Workday/Social Media Hiatus Wrap Up: Day 1

Hi there! ‘Tis I! I have finally arrived back on social media for a few minutes after my whole first day on hiatus. Let me tell you something: social media is the hugest crutch for idle hands. I was working today and sat back to think for a moment, and 9/10 times, I looked down to see that I had unconsciously opened Facebook or Twitter or some other form of social media. Luckily, I was able to keep a damper on it and logged off before I became entrapped. It took so much self control, but I finally handled it. I think tomorrow will be better.

So, the entire reason for this week long hiatus from social media (aside, of course, from these updates at the end of every day) is for me to finish the television pilot script of my story, Time Catchers. Of course, other things are going on and taking a break from the vice of social networking is always healthy, but T.C. is certainly the center of this whole plan. The idea is for me to have the entire pilot essentially ready by Sunday, at which point I would love to share it with some Beta readers. We’ll see how far I get though.

Today’s progress: Okay, only the first scene of the episode to be honest. But, in my defense, I spent the majority of the time today researching and building up a strong foundation because writing a script without knowing what you’re doing is like building a house of cards during an earthquake. I’m sure it’s possible, but it’s highly unlikely. All together, I am very proud of the work I did today, as I imagine it will only increase the entertainment value for future show viewers. 

Advice from today’s experience: The biggest thing I have to say about developing a story is to constantly ask yourself “Why?” Why is this character my antagonist? Why does he want to hurt my protagonist? Why should we care about this character or this story? Why is it set in this setting (i.e. is it important? And if it isn’t, could I change this setting so that it is important and enhances the story without distracting from it?)? Question your choices and then defend them. “You should care about this character because there is something about her that every person can relate to. Every person can connect to losing someone close to them and that heartbeat. You should care because [insert reason here].” Or “I chose to set the story in New York City because the main character is the head of a super rich family whose company is stationed in the city, and because she has to be close to her Hamptons house for later episodes, and [insert other reasons here].” And they do need to be reasons and not excuses. Your answer to “why is this character in the story?” shouldn’t be “because he’s cute and adds sass.” It should be “because their character advances the plot. Because they are important.” Everything is important. 

Favorite tidbit from today: Tie fairies. ;)

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(Date is just a placeholder) This was my final project for my class and I’m really happy.