The Writers Guild Strike: Embracing AI in the Writing Process

Posted on July 22, 2023 by aa

In the world of entertainment, the recent Writers Guild strike has brought attention to the evolving landscape of the writing industry. As writers, we have a unique opportunity to leverage the power of artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance our creative process.

While the strike raises important concerns about fair compensation and working conditions, it also highlights the potential benefits of incorporating AI tools in our writing workflows. AI can act as a valuable collaborator, helping us generate ideas, improve productivity, and refine our craft.

With AI-powered writing tools, we can:

1. Generate fresh ideas: AI algorithms can analyze vast amounts of data and provide us with unique insights and inspiration. They can suggest plot twists, character developments, and even help us uncover hidden narratives.

2. Enhance productivity: AI can automate repetitive tasks, like proofreading and editing, allowing us to focus on the creative aspects of our work. This streamlines the writing process and enables us to meet tight deadlines more efficiently.

3. Improve language and style: AI language models can assist us in refining our writing style, making our work more engaging and impactful. They offer suggestions for sentence structures, vocabulary choices, and even help with grammar and syntax.

4. Collaborate effectively: AI can facilitate collaboration among writers by providing a virtual space for feedback and brainstorming. It can analyze multiple drafts and offer objective insights, fostering a more inclusive and iterative writing process.

5. Adapt to changing audience preferences: AI algorithms can analyze audience data and trends, helping us tailor our content to specific target audiences. This enables us to create stories that resonate with viewers and readers, enhancing our chances of success.

It’s important to note that AI is not meant to replace human creativity or the invaluable role of writers. Instead, it complements our skills and empowers us to push the boundaries of storytelling. By embracing AI in our writing process, we can navigate the changing landscape of the industry, adapt to new technologies, and continue delivering captivating narratives.

#AIinWriting #WritersGuildStrike #EmbracingInnovation

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Blackout

Posted on July 14, 2023 by aa

LOGLINE:
Alone in a darkened room during a storm, a woman must confront a sinister presence that whispers her name from the shadows, pushing the boundaries of her sanity and forcing her to fight for her survival.

SYNOPSIS:
“BLACKOUT” is a psychological horror short film that unfolds as SARAH finds herself trapped alone in her dark living room during a raging storm. As the power abruptly goes out, she becomes ensnared in an eerie atmosphere, haunted by strange scratching sounds from above and a malicious whisper that taunts her.
Armed with a flickering candle, Sarah’s fear intensifies as a chilling gust of wind extinguishes the flame, plunging her into a suffocating darkness. In her desperate search for a light source, she discovers a flashlight, illuminating the room to reveal a GROTESQUE FIGURE mere inches away, poised to strike.
Before the figure can harm her, the power unexpectedly returns, flooding the room with light. Sarah finds herself standing alone, her racing heartbeat the only sound. Overwhelmed with relief yet shaken to her core, she sinks to the floor, tightly gripping the trembling flashlight.
“Blackout” delves into the depths of Sarah’s terror and her struggle against an unseen evil. Through its atmospheric tension and nerve-racking encounters, this psychological horror short film invites viewers to question the boundary between reality and the sinister forces that lurk in the shadows.

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The Scarecrow’s Curse

Posted on July 14, 2023 by aa

LOGELINE:
A skeptical paranormal investigator and his determined assistant girlfriend become trapped in an abandoned farmhouse with a haunted scarecrow. To survive, they must confront the curse and perform a dangerous ritual.

SYNOPSIS:
“THE SCARECROW’S CURSE” is a supernatural horror film that follows ALEX, a skeptical paranormal investigator, and his girlfriend LISA, who enter an abandoned farmhouse to debunk scarecrow curses. Their investigation takes a terrifying turn when they awaken an ancient evil.
Trapped inside, they face a malevolent SCARECROW and must confront their deepest fears. With the help of dark artifacts and an ancient book of spells, they battle the curse in a desperate bid for survival. As they fight against supernatural forces, their love is tested, and they must find the strength to banish the curse before it consumes them.
“The Scarecrow’s Curse” is a chilling tale of suspense, unraveling secrets, and the ultimate struggle against an ancient curse.

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Bloodlust Boulevard

Posted on July 14, 2023 by aa

LOGLINE:
A vengeful drifter battles a sadistic cult and their charismatic leader on the notorious Bloodlust Boulevard, leaving a trail of blood-soaked bodies in his wake in this grindhouse-inspired rampage of violence and revenge.

SYNOPSIS:
In a seedy motel room, JACK, a rugged and brooding drifter haunted by his lost love, prepares to seek justice for her. As he cleans his shotgun, his determination grows amidst the peeling walls and heavy atmosphere. Jack leaves the motel and hitches a ride with HANK, an experienced driver who imparts wisdom about facing demons.

They arrive at “BLOODLUST BOULEVARD”, a haven for dark desires, where Jack confronts MALACHI, a charismatic cult leader. In a showdown filled with chaos and violence, Jack dismantles the cult and ultimately defeats Malachi. After freeing a captive named LUCY, Jack and Lucy share a brief moment of gratitude before Jack continues on his solitary journey, leaving the darkness behind.

As Jack walks away, Lucy asks who he is, to which he cryptically replies as a wanderer seeking justice. Jack departs into the night, leaving the neon glow of Bloodlust Boulevard, the sirens wailing in the distance. The story ends with Jack’s figure fading into the shadows, hinting at his ongoing pursuit of peace and justice.

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“Last Date” is being produced!!

Posted on May 16, 2023 by aa

I am now a produced screenwriter!!

“Last Date” has garnered several awards from film festivals and screenplay contests since the table read with Sunvale Table Read contest. The biggest award was wining the Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contest this the grand prize being production by Mad Wife Productions. It is actually being produced by their sister company, Dead Wife Productions.

The short horror film is currently in post production, with a release date TBD. I get more excited every time I receive an update, and I can’t wait to see what it looks like on film.

Last Date - short horror film
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“Last Date” – Table Read

Posted on January 17, 2023 by aa

My short script “Last Date” has been chosen the December 2022 winner of the Sunvale Table Read screenplay contest.

This is the email I received:

Thank you for your submission to the monthly Table Read Screenplay contest.

Our December 2022 winner has been chosen. Congratulations to Armand Arekian and his screenplay Last Date.

Armand will receive a table read of his screenplay with professional actors and a director.

This is very exciting for me, as it is another step forward for my screenwriting. Once the table read is complete, I will provide a link to the audio and video.

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A Q&A with Armand Arekian, Screenwriter for From New York to Nashville | Best Short Screenplay

Posted on January 17, 2023 by aa

A Q&A with Armand Arekian

Tell us your script name, the category you won for, and where the idea for your script came from? From New York To Nashville, Best Short Screenplay

The idea of this particular script came from the title. I came up with the title and loved it, and I wanted to work around that. With that title I had a character. I wanted a troubled musician on a journey to finding himself.

What were the toughest aspects of creating this script? How did you overcome them? My original ideas weren’t working. As I was writing, I kept hitting roadblocks. I would go back and rewrite what I had, but I would end up filing—

Read the full article here

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GYM CANDY – Feature Screenplay

Posted on December 29, 2022 by aa

My latest feature spec screenplay is finished.

Logline:

A private detective is hired to find her client’s runaway kid sister. During her search, she quickly stumbles upon a steroid ring that her client has been skimming from.

Synopsis:

Brook Savage…bad ass…wise ass…private detective.

“GYM CANDY” is a crime/drama/noir feature about a bad ass, wise ass, private detective, BROOKE SAVAGE.

Brooke is hired by LEVI to find his runaway teenage sister, STACIE. Within 24 hours, before she can even begin to look into the runaway teen, Brooke discovers that Stacie has taken off with her big brother’s steroid stash. When Brooke stumbles upon a steroid ring, where Levi is skimming drugs and not paying, she suspects Levi and his girlfriend AMANDA know more than either is willing to share. She also discovers the ring is run by a very dangerous man, a man known only as BEAR.

After Levi shows up at Brooke’s office with Stacie, a series of steroid rage induced events leads to multiple violent confrontations. Confrontations with Levi and Brooke, Bear’s thugs and Brooke, and Levi and Bear’s thugs. A trail of beatings and bodies culminate with Bear making a visit to Brooke. To protect Stacie, and to save Levi and Amanda from Bear’s wrath, Brooke takes on Bear in one final confrontation.

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LAST DATE – Short Screenplay

Posted on December 19, 2022 by aa

Logline:

After a bad breakup, a woman is set up on a blind date by a mutual friend.

Synopsis:

PIPER has split up with her boyfriend. The break up was long over due. Her best friend JEN, trying to console her, sets Piper up with a friend, KYLE.

She can’t put it off any longer, Piper nervously phones Kyle. Their engaging banter seems to be amusingly dark, but it is not all droll. It is not just playful banter, the darkness is real, it is darker than either of them realizes?

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Film Festivals and Screenplay Contests

Posted on January 19, 2022 by aa

It’s been a while since I’ve updated or added to my website. I’ have spent the last year writing and writing and writing. Currently have multiple screenplays entering in various film festivals and screenplay contests. Some have done quite well. Below is a list of my completed screenplays and how my writing has faired in the festivals and competitions.

  • Bone Creek (Horror/Western – Feature)
    • Adbhooture Film Festival – Winner, Best Horror Screenplay
    • Dreamz Catcher International Film Festival – Winner, Best Screenplay
    • Doge Film Festival – Winner, Best Feature Screenwriting
    • Vegas Movie Awards – Winner, Best Feature Script/Screenplay
    • Cult Movies International Film Festival – Winner, Best Feature Screenwriting
    • Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival – Winner, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • The Monthly Film Festival – Second Runner-up, Best Screenplay
    • Filmfest International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Bright International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Unproduced Script
    • Airflix Film Festival – Finalist, Best Screenplay
    • EdiPlay International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Delta International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Swedish International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script
    • International Screenwriting Competition – Finalist, Best Feature Script
    • Oil Valley Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Screenplay
      • Other Awards – 5 Official Selection, 1 Semi-Finalist, 1 Quarter Finalist, 1 Nominee
  • Burn (Crime/Mystery – Feature)
    • Airflix Film Festival – Winner, Best Screenplay
    • Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival – Winner, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Las Angeles Motion Picture Festival – Winner, Best Feature Screenplay
    • Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contest – Finalist, Best Feature Screenplay
    • Swedish International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script
    • Delta International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Sunvale Screenplay Contest – Finalist, Best Screenplay (Action/Adventure)
    • Beyond the Curve International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
      • Other Awards – 4 Official Selection, 2 Semi-Finalist, 1 Honorable Mention
  • Craps, You Lose! (Crime/Mystery – Feature)
    • Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival – Winner, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
    • Delta International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Feature Script or Screenplay
      • Other Awards – 1 Official Selection, 1 Quarter-Finalist, 1 Nominee
  • Winter Solstice (Thriller/Suspense – Feature) *NEW*
  • From New York to Nashville (Drama – Short)
    • Grass Root International Film Festival – Winner, Best Short Script/Screenplay
    • New Jersey Film Awards – Winner, Best Short Screenplay
    • Delta International Film Festival – Finalist, Best Short Script
    • Multi Dimension Independent Film Festival – Finalist, Best Short Script or Screenplay
      • Other Awards – 2 Official Selection, 1 Semi-Finalist, 2 Quarter-Finalist, 2 Honorable Mention
  • Up Close and Personal (Suspense – Short)
    • Reno-Tahoe Screenplay Contest – Semi-Finalist, Best Short Screenplay
  • Malice (Suspense/Thriller – Feature) *COMING SOON*
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