John welcomes Marc Velez, SVP, Head of Development at UCP, on for an in-person round of the Three Page Challenge. As always, we look at listener-submitted pages and offer honest feedback, at the Austin Film Festival.

We’re joined live by each of the writers who add context and pitch their vision for each project. From near-future sci-fi to a familiar Hollywood horror story, John and Marc offer advice on how to craft a compelling opening.

In our bonus segment for premium members, we answer listener questions on noisiness, specs, and preparing other pitch materials.

Links:

• Marc Velez on IMDb
• The Encyclopedists by Michael X. Heiligenstein
• Call Me 7.14 Years Ago by Liliana Liu
• The Untimely Demise of That Awful David Schwartzman by Rudi O’Meara
• Thank you to the Austin Film Festival! and all our participants in the three page challenge.
• Get a Scriptnotes T-shirt!
• Check out the Inneresting Newsletter
• Gift a Scriptnotes Subscription or treat yourself to a premium subscription!
• Craig Mazin on Twitter
• John August on Twitter
• John on Instagram
• Outro by Jeff Graham (send us yours!)
• Scriptnotes is produced by Megana Rao and edited by Matthew Chilelli.

Email us at ask@johnaugust.com

You can download the episode here.