Forget the Bull, Get a Bulletin Board

These days, scriptwriting software does almost everything for you--thankfully, so far, none of the top programs can pitch your scripts for you, take lunch at The Ivy or collect a 10 percent commission on your earnings. But give them time.
 Some screenwriting software allegedly, and I emphasize the word "allegedly," walks you through the process of constructing scene structure for a feature film script--holy Ishtar!
By far the most useful tools I've found, other than my Macbook pro, and Final Draft screenwriting software, are low-tech products that have been around since before there was any such thing as movies, let alone screenwriting software. It's the standard bulletin board, push pins and index cards.
This is not news to readers of Syd Fields and other screenwriting instructors. But for myself, it was a revelation after years of resisting the bulletin board. Turns out, it's a flexible, inexpensive way to plot out your entire script, and its most obvious advantage is that you can take in the entire story at a glance.
If you establish a set number of cards that you will post to make up a script--the standard being 40, at least for me--you can immediately tell what part of your story is missing and needs to be filled in.
Save yourself a lot of headaches by using these tools and you'll be amazed by how much easier it is to keep your story on track.

I don't have her ...

I called the producer and got her assistant. The producer has had one of my scripts for a number of weeks, and I was calling in hopes of coaxing some sort of reaction out of her. Not necessarily a green light, or an, "it stinks," because no one in Hollywood is ever that direct if they don't like something. I was looking for just some sort of acknowledgment that she read the thing.
The assistant, who was rolling her calls, greeted me with the sound of instant recognition and asked how I was--I've never met him, mind you. And I wondered if it's his job to sound familiar with everyone who's ever had a meeting there.
I asked if his boss was available, and his answer typified the sort of hazy, impossible to nail down kind of talk that goes on in Hollywood.
"I don't have her right now," he said.
He wasn't saying that she's not in. He wasn't saying she is in. He just didn't have her right now.
Then he assured me that I was on the call-back list.
So, the wait goes on. And I, too, don't have her right now.