What’s Required To Sell Your Script In The Current Marketplace - Corey Mandell

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#writing #screenwriting #screenplay

[@Mr_Bob_A_Feet]

To those curious about engines, let’s use Breaking Bad: A chemistry teacher who cooks meth with one of his students and slowly goes from good to bad is the concept. The engine is his cancer because Walt has a ticking clock that’s *driving* him to make money for his family episode to episode.

[@PowersBenzoCoaching]

I think that was the engine at first and then his engine became his addiction to power. And then we have other smaller engines and dynamics.

[@tommycharles4666]

So...the concept is the what, and the engine is the why and the how.

[@finalfan91]

Vincent Gilligan said it best, "turning mr.chips into scarface". That's literally what you get in the first episode. Its introducing the story arc.

[@finalfan91]

@Corpsefoot Gaming the engine is the cancer. The inciting incident is actually when he sees how much money people make selling meth on the news which is why he asks hank for a ride along and runs into jesse and everything begins. Think about it, if he didnt see the news this whole meth thing would have never have happened but the cancer (and being a chem teacher) is what drove his curiosity to find out more.

[@finalfan91]

@Corpsefoot Gaming I was also just thinking about the walking dead and the engine for Rick's character is finding his family or at least finding out what happened to them and even though unfortunate things happen to his family throughout the series it still remains to be the primary engine.

[@SeriousPOV]

Concept vs Engine, he should be able to distill that in a paragraph.

[@C.Church]

You really gave it the old college try, getting him to squeak out a little about what an engine is. I very much appreciated it. 😅👍

[@David.Andrew]

This was great. As a poor kid from Richmond, CA I could never afford to be a student at USC film school but I feel like I just sat through a top-tier lecture. I can listen to Mr. Mandell's discussions on writing all day. More importantly, it helps me with my craft.

[@FilmCourage2]

USC is incredibly expensive. Not all day, but here is our full 3 hour interview with Corey - kzbin.info/www/bejne/mZuYpZ95eaqXmac Believe the segment you just watched was the opening of this full interview. Corey doesn't let up the entire time.

[@danbee998]

I was hoping this was for screenplays, but TV scripts are good as well. Thank you.

[@bOmBAsTiK]

Yes, this helps. Corey is one of the better/more informative interviewees on the channel...

[@xianthegaian4060]

Totally agree, I love his whole approach to the craft

[@Sophia-wv6yf]

Wow! Not what I was Expecting from the title. This Interview was a ocean of Fantastic information! Pure gold with only 300 plus views. I believe the engine is The designing principle. Greatest interview yet!

[@judichristopher4604]

YOU have no idea how much I appreciate this video!!! WOW. Timing is everything ... 5 years ago I wrote a "Play" for my daughters High School Drama Dept... I liked my story so well, that I decided to keep a longer version for a BOOK... While I was writing the manuscript, my daughter's Drama teacher's husband (film director) had been at home, recovering from an illness. One day, he decided to "Critique" my manuscript... He said he was bored and wanted something to chew on, namely my manuscript! After reading it, to my supervise, they had me over for supper one night, and told me to "Forget about the play, and write a screenplay for film"!!! I was absolutely dumbfounded, I hadn't even finished the manuscript, and coming from this very sophisticated-take-no-prisoner Film Director, Seriously, I am not intimidated by many people, but when it came to this film director.... Well, lets just say, I listened to every word... (Smile). Now... 5 years later I am ready to write the screenplay. I feel you're right about the first 10 pages... right now, my manuscript is too "Soft", so I will put the "Reason" for the whole story up front, like a teaser... and then work forward. I am so glad that LIFE got in the way for 5 years... because IF I had written the screenplay then, I would not have been ready, mentally, and socially too... because NOW I am also an Actress... and a Drama Teacher... I have learn so much, beside that, I'm ready... P.S. This is only one of the manuscripts that they (or someone) wants to see made into a film... I have one about "Billy the Kid", and HBO is waiting to see that one too... I live in New Mexico... Everyone knows about "Billy"... except, I have proof that he wasn't killed by Pat Garrett... "OOOOHHHH Boy... some people are going to be so upset (laughing). Bring it on Boys!" I'm 65 years old, I'm ready to live life... Again... Thank you for sharing this great video... ... and I KNOW... not to write this much in a screenplay... K.I.S.S. (Keep it simple sister). I'm just so glad to watch your video.

[@named7]

Hello, would you mind sharing what is happening with your story a year later?Your comment really interested me, and i wanted to know more about your writing journey. Thank you!

[@judichristopher4604]

@@named7 You are so kind to ask... I am a little embarrassed to say I am not as far along as I wanted to be... I have been taking care of my 84 year old mother, and picked up one of my loves' of "Flipping RVs"... I refurbished a Vintage 1972 Travel Trailer, I affectionately call VT3 (Vintage Tiny Travel Trailer), and also a 1982 huge 30' Class A RV (it was so bad, because it had been a meth lab, that the guy gave it to me... "Yikes" but it's looking so much better now, will be finished with it, hopefully in July... this is my 25th one to refurbish over the last 37 years. (they seem to find me!)... That could be a store in itself!(Laughing) But to be honest, when I move back to Albuquerque, I want to be completely ready to reopen up my (little) Acting Studio, mainly for kids, because "Acting" can "Show not Tell" in ways, where some Teachers, like myself, with a bobbing head, just talking can bore us all to death, in ACTING on stage or in front of a camera, will Teach us what we can do to grow and become a better person... the reason I'm so passionate about this, is I was a Foster Child, and had to grow up fast. I was very fortunate and blessed to have (hidden angels) desicised as mentors/teachers. To make a long story short (too late for that now, LOL)... Where was I? OH... Because of this video we have seen ... I have written 10 pages at the frist of my manuscript, to set in place what is to come... Thank God (Seriously) I am so glad I watched this video, because it is REAL that the first 10 pages of a screenplay is so essential, when script reader, or producer, or anyone important will discard the screenplay, if does not catch their eye (interest)... in the first 10 pages... some people only ready the Logline, and determine how well the screenplay was written (Ouch!) To (finally) answer your question... I am waitting to get a New Computer (MacBook Pro) I have had one for 11 years, but it is getting too old! Poor Baby. Then I'll write my screenplay(s)... We are so blessed in this day and time, to be able to be a screenwriter or scriptwriter, whichever you prefer... Are you interested in writing a screenplay too? If so, that is so exciting... OHHHH and also since I wrote this last time, I have finished school to become an NLP/Hypnotist... Hypnotherapy (to help people to lose weight, stop smoking... (secretly) to help anyone to become a better ACTOR....to overcome stage fright... trauma... etc. I have used Hypnosis since the 1977s. I had both of my children totally naturally, without pain meds using Self-Hypnosis. If you're still reading this... God Bless YOU... Thank you. Please let me know if you are writing a screenplay too...

[@22h8]

@@judichristopher4604 Hi, 8 month later, Any updates??

[@judichristopher4604]

@@22h8 Again... Life gets in the way (sorta)... that's okay, that just give me time to finetune my craft. I am taking care of my elderly mother, but will be moving to Albuquerque, New Mexico in the next (hopefully) 6 weeks. I wished you could see my little bedroom I have at my mother's house... I have 33 Scripts around me... studying each one... including some very Vintage Scripts I picked up on eBay (that is where I buy my scripts)... It is amazing how our writing, editing, filming (do they even use that word anymore?) LOL. has changed even in the last 10 years. Everything is faster pace. Especially our editing in film/video. My teaching in acting for film, is a faster pace since we use more "B" roll to explain how one person is talking, and the camera picks up a subtle (no, I did not misspell that, like suttle) glance of another person, and that subtle glance tells the audience something is missing... this especially works when you're writing a Murder Mystery Dinner Theater (that is a hint of what I'm doing too). It is amazing what we can do in the editing room now. So we as playwrights, and screenwriters or scriptwriters, need to know not to DRAG a scene out with "Talking Heads"... this isn't the 60s, where we are doing over the shoulder shots... ACTION... even in our words, but especially in the WAY we talk and move... Like they say: "Show Don't Tell".... I can't remember who said it, but it was amazing... He said: (I am paraphrasing here) "The audience will will forgive you for a lot of things... but Boredom isn't one of them! So our writing should pick up the pace... NOW with that being said... If one is writing in a book, you have to explain in more in detail because you're only reading it... but in a movie, and especially for TV like a 30 minute sitcom... "Cut your Darlings" to the bone. "ACTION" .... not more talking. Ooopps... I'm writing a short novel... here... LOL

[@22h8]

@@judichristopher4604 OMG I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU, HOPE EVERYTHING GO WELL, And i can't wait to watch one of the 33 script Goood luckkkk and keep us updatedddd

[@CraigHinrichs]

Great stuff. My idea of the engine is the chemical reactions between parts and how much information feeds the chemicals and how when those things come together with open up all the possibilities for the show.

[@Upploadz]

Each time I hear this perspective, I hear more depth. Thank you!!!!!

[@petertahoe]

this is very helpful. Thank you Corey and Film Courage!

[@Nemo37K]

The engine is the premise that forces a character(s) to move forward and take action: 1. Twin Peaks: Dale Cooper needs to figure out who murdered Laura Palmer. The mystery forces the character to act and interact and solve the problem 2. Battlestar Galactica: The remaining survivors have to search for a new home AND escape the cylons. 3. Oz: The internecine political struggles of various prisoners 4. The Wire: the war on drugs, in Season 1, the investigation of Avon Barksdale's drug crew 5. Six Feet Under: Running a funeral home, and dealing with the grieving families. 6. Star Trek TOS: The five-year mission to explore and collect information about various cultures. Each of these is on a large scale, and cannot be solved over the course of one episode. It will take many episodes - or seasons to resolve these conflicts satisfactorily. Additionally, they lend themselves to multiple types of conflicts and tensions. It also forces the characters to act and react to various situations. Hope that helps

[@judichristopher4604]

I love that show... except when it first came out, I was too young to totally understand it.. last year I binged watched it, and realized the (deep) concept of the conception of the meaning of the show... YES, it was a little out there, but it was GREAT.

[@privateaccount9239]

so the engine is the 'conflict' ?

[@sbcinema2363]

I don't think it's that - that force is called motivation. I think he meant an engine that creates more stories, characters, other aspects of the story

[@ashenafiwolde8982]

Concept and engine are the same thing. The concept is the engine of your story.

[@AKN8V]

It made me replan my day for tomorrow’s writing. I’d been floundering about but now I’m gonna Doyle Brunson the script and go “All in”!

[@PaulManningg]

How’d that work out? Or did you do nothing

[@johnferriso4377]

Strong Engine... Great advice,.

[@sarangbhirad]

Let me know if this is right in context of Game of Thrones: Concept: Various dynastic families across two continents travel through times of wars in order to capture the iron throne and rule over Westeros while also facing a grave war between the alive and dead. Engine: The single ambition of sitting on the iron throne in Kings Landing ruling Westeros.

[@saschasteenaart7589]

Useful information

[@karellt2355]

I wonder if Hollywood buys specs during holiday season? Hmmm..

[@marteng1941]

The concept of Breaking Bad: High school chemistry teacher is diagnosed with lung cancer and starts cooking crystal meth, descending deeper into the criminal underworld until he himself breaks bad. The engine is Walter White's greed and pride (and sometimes desperation), propelling him into dangerous situations with the criminal underworld and the police, he needs to solve these situations with desperate counter measures that only create even bigger obstacles, forcing him to become more and more of a bad guy. That's how I would describe it. But maybe I don't understand fully Mandell's definition of an engine.

[@gbh2478]

I think this is quite close but I have a slightly different take. The engine, for me, is Walt's need for recognition. The greed and pride are manifestations of that. When you see him in the pilot with a huge scientific accolade on the wall and then his actual life, you see a man who has failed to fulfill his potential. That happens throughout the series, his constant need to be known as the best cook, making the best product is what gets him to where he is. The money is not enough, the security isn't enough, etc. Best scene for that is when Hank talks about Heisenberg and Walter is drunk, almost incriminating himself because he can't stand not being considered as the "genius".

[@PowersBenzoCoaching]

GBH nailed it

[@BigV24]

@@gbh2478 fantastic insight.

[@Beautyinwverything]

The engine is the WHY of the story. The engine can change as the story evolves.

[@brendenhamilton]

1:30 that growth in production is bonkers

[@Wordsley]

These Rock!

[@ryanhowell4492]

I love it

[@101RealTalker]

Updated "Post Corona" version please??

[@TunezCottage]

True Detective is sitting in the corner like "uh-huh... okay... mm..."

[@rhizomorph-music]

When a year-old video gets recommended and the title includes the word "current," it's not current anymore...

[@film_magician]

Yay you got him again! Also, Cory lost weight. Great video.

[@robertgreen6027]

What is the average price a person would pay for a script?

[@stevepax2809]

the engine must be the formula that you exploit over and over to keep churning out new episodes that are not the same, but are still unsurprising---just a comfortable old friend visiting a hooked viewer. Like on Gillian's Island they keep almost getting rescued. Or the Beverley Hillbillies keep poking the Drysdales. Or Walter White keeps finding a new Mr Science fact to just save his skin. A-Team, Mygiver, Stargate, Star Trek et al, NYPD Blue---all the same thing. They all strive to have multiple engines going. The Hillbillies always misidentify something. Star Trek et al always phase shifts or remodulates something. In Breaking bad --besides the Mr Science fact, there is 'his brother in law keeps almost catching him', 'he almost gets himself killed', 'his side kick almost gets them both killed', 'he or his side kick comes through to save the other', 'the marriage almost breaks up', 'the lawyer comes to the rescue', 'the bad guy comes to the rescue', unfortunately reality seeps into season five and finally breaks the spell and you see it is just a clever Mygiver.

[@robness3882]

Corey stubbornly refused to give any examples of an "engine"... so I guess we'll never know what that term is supposed to mean.

[@FilmCourage2]

There are answers / discussion here in this comment section.

[@robness3882]

There are people in the comments section, making guesses at what an "engine" might be. But since Corey avoided actually TELLING us what an engine is, that's all we have: random guesses.

[@RSEFX]

Some of the best, longest-lasting work goes beyond the "sell" and answers the question "are our lives enhanced in some way" by doing this?...meaning it's more than entertainment; It's entertainment-Plus. And that's the hardest combination to create, because the "plus" part of it often scares the investors when they become a little too aware of it. Ideally that quality registers subliminally with the producers and doesn't become the sudden, "hey, wait a minute: Is this some kind of message movie/end of pitch" thing. You don't want to be faced with a "you got to boil it down to the dumbest common denominator" order (which is an actual quote I experienced in a story development meeting with the staff of a major producer---tho this was quite a long while ago. Maybe things have changed. )..

[@FilmCourage2]

Like that - Entertainment-Plus. Is this "a great story with a message," which scares away investors because the message part is too biased? Too obvious?

[@lonjohnson5161]

I don't understand why this is on Film Courage 2 as opposed to the main Film Courage channel. Perhaps it is because he alluded to the real gems rather than giving them outright, but even without an adequate explanation of the engine, I found this to be a very useful video.

[@FilmCourage2]

Lon, great to see you discover this video and happy to see get some gems out of it. We're just doing the best we can to grow both channels. In our new interview with Corey, this is our opening segment so when we finally release the full interview on the main channel it will start with this one. That made it a good opportunity to start with it here. We were very fortunate to have 3 hours with Corey so we have a lot more incredible content coming.

[@lonjohnson5161]

@@FilmCourage2 I can understand the desire to grow both channels, but if you put content that is essentially the same in subject matter and quality, I don't see the point in having both. As you know, I have greatly benefited from your work, so I'm happy with anything you do to keep the ball rolling and if this is what it takes, great; but I genuinely don't understand the purpose of having 2 channels if they are essentially the same (or maybe I have failed to accurately perceive how they are different).

[@FilmCourage2]

Hi Lon, we always appreciate the feedback and contributions you make on our channels. Over time, we may be in a position to diversify these channels more. There is a lot of stuff we'd like to do that we haven't tried out yet. The main reason for this second channel is we currently have 50+ hours of unreleased content. Our main channel can't handle the overflow, so we need this second outlet. It's also fun to build and experiment.

[@ZumaDogg]

Hope this guy is successful because I found it the most helpful video. Gonna edit my new script based on this. Luckily, it has more engines than Jay Leno's garage.

[@xianthegaian4060]

If you also found his advice helpful, he is successful

[@KennyTC63]

I recommend that you visit his website and check out the testimonial page. There is no shortage of people there, many of them whom are working in staff writing positions as well as others who have sold both tv and movie specs, including A-list writers. There are also testimonials from studio executives that have sent writers to his courses. Mandell is professionally recognised as one of the best teachers in the industry!

[@munlyleong4753]

is there even a link to this engine content he keeps alluding to?

[@DvsLee]

Great series! In the case of Breaking Bad I tended to lean towards Walt's arrogance as the engine of the show since it is what prevents him from accepting financial and emotional support from family & friends and keeps him on his path to self destruction even after his cancer enters remission.

[@harlanpaulson9826]

Please help, How do I find the e-mails to send out my screenplay?

[@gianthills]

Would be good if he defined concept. And that's what a treatment or longline does. To have the concept revealed by page 10 makes no sense.

[@gustavoseabra]

Would'nt the engine be the plot? Like the actions and situations that move the story foward?

[@homer_thompson5090]

@@chrisd7733 Or you could just email his assistant for the information as he mentioned repeatedly.

[@davemckay4359]

Winter is coming...the best engine.

[@frenstcht]

Technically, an engine extracts work from a differential in heat. Though I'd rather push a television show forward through re-optimization. Because it's funnier.

[@jasmkhalil6413]

Hello everybody does anyone know how can i Markit my script to an production agency Please replay

[@acebrockton1828]

I feel like he gets me lol

[@doctordef324]

I don't have credits but I get work SOLD!!!!! People hate to read and write.. Simple

[@AmigoBrazucaq]

As I understand it, he's implicitly saying: only TV scripts are selling.

[@genesisday871]

It's not a gimmick . I'm not a fraud . I just have to finish , a.k.a FADE OUT.

[@painfulLife168]

I am the one who Knocks

[@FilmCourage2]

Post / Avatar!

[@xianthegaian4060]

13:55 me

[@chucku.farley]

AN ENGINE is how this guy sells courses. Gotta put gas in the engine.

[@moha2142]

He will be my god father of this career , thanks to you

[@Darfaultner]

He doesn't want to give away his wares. Fair enough.

[@homer_thompson5090]

But he mentioned repeatedly that you can get the information by emailing his assistant.

[@RobertKS]

@@homer_thompson5090 lol

[@101RealTalker]

...soooo....wtf is an "Engine"? lol

[@WatchAdam]

Story concept

[@retroelectrical]

2024 now and pretty much nothing in this video is reality. Studios/Streamers have switched to "implosion mode" where they are only proceeding with DEI projects from no talent hacks that have the right pronouns and politics. The writers strike and covid have pretty much killed off the industry. Star Wars, Star Trek and Doctor Who are all dead, DEI'd to death, and the contests now will ONLY select DEI purple hair winners. One of the major screenplay/film festivals have chosen DEI winners for the great majority of their winners for four years in a row. The film world Corey is talking about with story engines no longer exists. If you have the right pronouns, and skin color and sexual orientation and have a script that follows "the message" you might be able to proceed. If you are a normal person with a great screenplay. Forget it.

[@HonestArttsEntertain]

he could have went into the engine a little bit more. smdh