Show Notes
The Kinolime podcast episode focused on the importance of professional screenplay submission materials beyond just the screenplay itself. Hosts John Schramm and Danny Murray emphasized that modern filmmakers and screenwriters must actively market their stories through polished pitch materials such as loglines, one-pagers, treatments, and pitch bibles. They stressed that strong presentation helps projects stand out in highly competitive submission environments.
The conversation then shifted toward screenplay treatments, which both hosts described as one of the most valuable storytelling tools. They argued that treatments help writers condense a full screenplay into a concise narrative that highlights tone, voice, structure, and major plot points. Examples from Simon Kinberg and Gus Van Sant were used to demonstrate how treatments can effectively communicate both story and artistic identity while remaining engaging to read.
The hosts also discussed pitch bibles and visual pitch decks, especially for television projects. Using the original Montauk pitch deck that later evolved into Stranger Things, they highlighted the importance of visual tone, references, pacing, and concise design. The discussion emphasized that successful pitch decks combine strong aesthetics with clear storytelling while avoiding excessive text or unnecessary industry attachments.
The episode concluded with broader advice for screenwriters: embrace personal voice, avoid overly generic AI-generated writing, and use every submission material as an opportunity to communicate passion and originality. The hosts summarized the hierarchy of pitch materials—logline, one-pager, treatment, pitch bible, and screenplay—and encouraged writers to refine all aspects of their project presentation. The episode closed with promotion for Kinolime’s upcoming screenplay competition and its mission of turning winning scripts into produced films.
Key Takeaways:
- major section of the discussion explored how to craft effective loglines and one-pagers. The hosts explained that a strong logline should clearly establish the protagonist, goal, and conflict in one or two concise sentences, using examples from Kill Bill and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. They also outlined the structure of a one-pager, which includes the title, genre, logline, “why now” section, synopsis, and explanation of why the project will succeed commercially.
Full Transcript
[00:00]
If you're going to be proactive enough to be part of the less than one percent of people
[00:04]
that sell their screenplay make their movie, be proactive in every part of the pitch, every
[00:11]
chance you get to display wire stories great and get more eyes on it.
