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Frequently Asked Questions

 

Questions about the System

Questions about Cost and Logistics

Question about the Industry

Miscellaneous Questions

 

Questions about
the System

  • How does your system work?

    Each day, you log into the system from anywhere in the world — and get the next step. You’ll learn the step (it takes about 20 minutes), and then you’ll DO it (take as long as you like). Then when you’re done, you’ll personalize it (takes about 5 minutes). As you complete each step, you move through the system and experience the ACTION of creating screenplays producers can really use. That experience gives you a system for doing it rapidly in the future, on every new project.

  • How is this different from everything else out there?

    Our system is the first process-based approach. Most screenwriting education is focused on story structure formulas or theory. We recognized that vital phases of the writing process were ignored completely — skills we as a production company need writers to have. Ours is the first (and only) approach to cover the entire process from before you have the idea (obliterating procrastination, silencing your inner critic, discovering original ideas all around you, etc)... all the way to the sale (getting an agent, connecting with the perfect producer, etc). It's also the only system ever designed by a producer actively seeking screenplays for production, so it’s not based on theory or what sounds good — but on what people like us really need.

  • Do you teach script formatting?

    We cover everything. And we don’t just cover “what” to do — we explain WHY it’s done that way (so you'll know when it's okay to break the rules and when it's not.) But script formatting is the easy part — great software exists to do it automatically. In fact, we spend less than 1% of the system on formatting, and still go into greater detail than any other source we've found.

  • Does your system work for adaptations?

    Yes, it works for any kind of story — from independent arthouse films to big Hollywood blockbusters, and from original stories to adaptations. When you’re first learning the system, we recommend creating an original story, so you can understand all the details of the system's design. Then simply apply what you learn to an adaptation project.

  • Do you give feedback?

    We have a different approach to feedback. See, the only feedback that ever really matters comes from the producer who’s going to buy your screenplay. All other feedback might be steering you in the wrong direction! So we don’t want you to adapt to our wishes — we want you to develop the skill of adapting to anyone’s wishes. Plus, we don’t want your ideas to get stolen when they’re most fragile, or to have some early feedback steer you in a direction you don’t want to go. So to keep you safe, you’ll only share your ideas after you’ve legally protected them. Then in the Alignment Phase, we’ll show you how to get, interpret, understand, and use feedback so you’ll be able to improve your work even if you don’t have that producer lying around.

  • I read your book. How is the system different?

    Writing FAST was written in 2004 as an “overview” of the system. FAST Screenplay was designed at the same time, as a vastly more detailed system. In fact, it was too big a project for us to build in 2004, so we put it on hold for 5 years. When we started building FAST Screenplay in 2009, we significantly expanded its scope and reach beyond even the original plans. Today, we think of Writing FAST as the “kindergarten” version of the system, and FAST Screenplay as the “university” version. There's just no comparison between the two. There is substantially more detail in FAST Screenplay, and it’s specifically built for screenwriting.

  • How does your system compare with ________ (guru)?

    It doesn’t. This is something entirely new. Every other teacher or approach to screenwriting we’ve ever seen (and we’ve seen hundreds of them) has ideas and techniques that can work in some situations, but what’s missing is the PROCESS. No other approach or guru puts the process first — a series of action steps that take you through the act of writing (and selling) your screenplay. (In fact, that's the reason we built this in the first place.) They’re all based on story theories or specific techniques. With FAST, you can still use those ideas. Simply drop the other teacher’s techniques right into its appropriate place in FAST Screenplay.

    For example: Do you have a story formula you love? Great! Drop it into the Focus Phase (we’ll show you where) and revisit it in the Strengthen Phase. Do you have a great dialogue technique you picked up along the way? Excellent! Add it to our breakthrough dialogue techniques during the Apply and Strengthen phases. Once you see how our system works, you’ll be able to amplify anything you learn elsewhere.

Questions about
Cost and Logistics
  • If I sign up for 3 months, what happens if I want to continue?

    If you reach the end of 3 months and want to continue, you can renew for another 3 months or 1 year, or upgrade to unlimited lifetime access at the installment payments price. It’s easy. Just let us know.

  • I live in a rural area / a foreign country. Can I still participate?

    Part of the reason for building the system online was to reach every corner of the globe. As long as you have an internet connection (even for just a few minutes each day), you can access the system online, and do the next step wherever you are. In fact, that’s part of the fun! You’ll connect with writers from around the world, and discover new opportunities for your career.

  • Why is your system so cheap?

    We pack more into just 10 daily steps than most online courses do in six months. So why not break it up into smaller pieces and sell it for a lot more money? Because we’re not here to take money from screenwriters — we’re here to generate screenplays to produce. For over a decade, we have offered Australian screenwriters the very best tools and information at the lowest possible cost. We wanted to carry that philosophy into this new system. That’s why we offer 3 solid months of detailed daily steps for less than the cost of most one-day seminars.

  • The system is based in Australia. Does it work in Hollywood too?

    Actually, that’s what makes this system so unique. FAST Screenplay was built by Jeff Bollow, a Los Angeles born and raised producer/director/screenwriter who moved to New Zealand in 1996 and Australia in 2000. Jeff had over 12 years’ experience in Hollywood (where he nearly sold 3 of his own scripts) — including winning his first filmmaking award — before love and travel took him across the globe. What makes the system unique is that it has a local focus built on universal principles. It works in Hollywood, Australia, Europe, Asia, or anywhere writers want to turn their ideas into movies.

  • How does your guarantee work?

    Simple: If you don’t agree it’s worth 10 times what you paid, we’ll refund your money, no questions asked. You literally cannot lose. And if you sign up for unlimited lifetime access, we even guarantee professional results. If you master this system, you’ll launch your career. It’s that simple — it's built right into the system's design.

  • I work full time. Do I have time for this?

    We recommend spending about an hour a day on the system the first time through (at least for the first 3 months — the Strengthen Phase may require more (or less) time, as every screenplay is unique). It's also a great escape from an unfulfilling job.

 

Questions about
the Industry
  • I've heard it's impossible to break into the film industry.

    Not at all! The falling price of technology means movies can be made anywhere across the globe — and that means more movies are made today than ever before. That means we need more STORIES. This is an enormous opportunity for new screenwriters — and the playing field has never been so level (if you know what you're doing, and stop listening to the cynical "old guard"). Whether your target is Hollywood, or Australia, or even your local film industry, we’ll show you how to use a whole new paradigm to master your craft and carve out a professional career.

  • Aren't you really just trying to make money off writers’ dreams?

    We'd give all this away for free if we could! But it takes money to build and maintain a system like this. Every cent of every writer’s enrolment fee is poured right back into the system — to continually build and expand your tool set. In over a decade, Embryo Films has never made a single cent of profit from any of its screenwriting offerings. We don’t want to make money off writers; we want to make money off the audiences who watch our films.

  • If the system is so great, why not keep it to yourself?

    Our goal from the beginning has been to launch an independent film studio that produces 3-6 films per year. We need writers. By creating a system that takes any writer from idea to producible screenplay (and empowers them with the skill of Alignment), we believe we’ll have the variety of original voices needed to build a world-class studio. The more people write production-ready material, the more material there will be to connect with.

  • If I join your system, will you produce my film?

    While we do aim to work with FAST screenwriters (because they will have skills not found elsewhere), we can’t guarantee we’ll be creatively aligned with you, so we can’t promise that. However, even if we don’t align creatively, the Payoff Phase shows you exactly how to find the perfect producer you are aligned with, and how to connect with them, step by step.

 

Miscellaneous Questions
  • I’m scared. I don’t want make a foolish choice. Thoughts?

    The only foolish choice you can make in life is to ignore your passion. There’s nothing to fear here, because you can’t be wrong. Between our guarantee, our track record, and the absurdly low cost of entry, you've got nothing to lose — and everything to gain. If you have a specific fear, contact us and we'll see if we can help directly.

  • Why shouldn’t I wait until next week to decide?

    Procrastination is the killer of everything we love. If you wait a week, that’s a whole week lost forever. Look, we're writers, too. We know procrastination. That's why you’ll conquer it within the first week of our system — and then keep it away by doing one step each day. Please don’t let procrastination beat you. Get started right now — we'll even give you the rest of the current month free. Click here to join today.




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