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Thomas Glowacki
Thomas Glowacki
I'm gonna answer some questions about myself here. Curious about something that didn't come up? Email me at thescriptguardian@gmail.com.
Let's get it.
Alright, so where you from?
Alright, so where you from?
Maryland! I grew up in a small town on the Eastern Shore called Centreville. I've lived in the College Park area for the past several years, and by the end of summer '25, I'll be living in Los Angeles, CA.
Hmm, yeah. Gonna make your big move to Hollywood and become a star, that the plan?
Hmm, yeah. Gonna make your big move to Hollywood and become a star, that the plan?
Yep. Well, I'll be in LA doing service work for a year first, and then after that, yeah, a star. That sounds cool.
I bet it does.
I bet it does.
...Well it'd be okay if I wasn't famous or anything. I just think that could be fun.
Sure. So why do you write? Go ahead and identify, say, 3 discrete motivations without rambling please.
Sure. So why do you write? Go ahead and identify, say, 3 discrete motivations without rambling please.
Hmm, that's... specific. Uh, put discretely:
I have something to say,
I know what I like, and
I don't read books.
...like, I CAN read. And I reserve the right to read, if I so choose. But I... typically... don't-
Hey! No rambling. Anyway, why do I get this persistent, unshakable feeling that you have a Bachelor of Music?
Hey! No rambling. Anyway, why do I get this persistent, unshakable feeling that you have a Bachelor of Music?
Uh... wow. Very keen. And again, quite specific. I'm guessing you feel that way because I do, in fact, have a Bachelor of Music. The University of Maryland gave it to me. It's a cool place with great people, some of the best. I was a percussionist. You know actually, if you search YouTube for "Thomas Glowacki Senior Recital" you'll find-
Don't care. So, you were a musician, but now you want to be a writer? Like, professionally?
Don't care. So, you were a musician, but now you want to be a writer? Like, professionally?
A screenwriter, yes.
Right, you're illiterate.
Right, you're illiterate.
That's not quite-
So why the switch? And why should you be trusted to write at a professional level when your training is in another field?
So why the switch? And why should you be trusted to write at a professional level when your training is in another field?
I can't possibly answer that question without rambling.
Alright, fine. Then just explicate your entire process writing a screenplay from start to finish.
Alright, fine. Then just explicate your entire process writing a screenplay from start to finish.
Well, I mean, that's kinda proprietary information-
Do it! Now!
Do it! Now!
Ahh! Ok, I can't tell you everything, but I'll give you a taste, how about that??
Fine, make it clever!
Fine, make it clever!
Ok, so, uh, well, I conceptualize a screenplay's content as the expression of three features:
Genre- the types of things that happen,
Plot- the order in which those things happen, and
Story- the selection of those things that happen- why it's these particular things that happen in this particular order. Or better yet, why it could only be these particular things that happen in this particular order.
I could go on about each feature, if I were to ramble 😒, but this is basically how I outline. I spend itemized time thinking about genre, plot, and story, and along the way items from each connect to others until it's all woven together and I'm ready to sit down and write the screenplay.
How's that. Clever enough?
...Huh? Oh, no way, I was so incredibly bored through most of that. Say something controversial about movies!
...Huh? Oh, no way, I was so incredibly bored through most of that. Say something controversial about movies!
Really??
Yeah! I can take it.
Yeah! I can take it.
Ok. Film is not visual media.
WhhhaaaaaaAAAAAaaat?!?!!??!
WhhhaaaaaaAAAAAaaat?!?!!??!
Rather, film isn't ONLY visual media, or even first and foremost.
What the heck kinda fecal nonsense are you about to throw my way?!
What the heck kinda fecal nonsense are you about to throw my way?!
It's a-
Is it cuz movies have sound too?
Is it cuz movies have sound too?
No, it's-
Oh, oh, lemme guess, REAL cinephiles smell the movie. Huh? Is that it???
Oh, oh, lemme guess, REAL cinephiles smell the movie. Huh? Is that it???
DUDE, one second! Can I get one second to give you a thoughtful answer?!?!
...go ahead.
...go ahead.
*sigh* ...It is, no doubt, important- uncontestedly so- to consider how a film looks... AND how it sounds. But neither consideration is the primarily effective way to characterize a movie's existence. A film can exist while looking like nothing, a film can exist while sounding like nothing, but a film does not exist if not in sequence across time. I'd even be so drastic as to say that a movie that's not currently being played ceases to exist until someone plays it or unpauses it.
...
That's because every moment in a film, without exception, occurs within a sequence. It is contextualized by a consecutive series of moments before it, and will join the context for a consecutive series of moments after it. This is true even when events are presented out of chronological order, or when time is artificially compressed or elongated; the movie is a fixed, linear sequence across time, no matter how cleverly the piece might cloak or facade its nature.
...
As such, it is foundational to the work of film that abundant care is taken for sequence, most formatively by the screenwriter. Take care of the sequence, and the rest will follow. In fact, when the sequence is properly and continually nurtured, you might even find that certain questions related to the movie's look and sound will answer themselves.
...
...Why are you using "film" and "movie" interchangeably?
...Why are you using "film" and "movie" interchangeably?
I mean it as a concise way to imply that my opinions about- and approaches to- screenwriting apply to all motion pictures. Movies, TV, video games, flip books. To me, the only non-transferrable features between each relate to format/length, and even then there's opportunity for overlap. But I'd rather not say "motion picture" over and over again, cuz... eh. I'd just rather not. So I hoped that switching freely between "film" and "movie" might get that point across. Sorry if that was confusing.
No no, I totally understand. It was a good answer.
No no, I totally understand. It was a good answer.
Thank you.
...Nah, it was, like, a REALLY good answer.
...Nah, it was, like, a REALLY good answer.
I mean, ok-
Like, someone should hire you, asap.
Like, someone should hire you, asap.
Off the merit of one answer to one question???
Yeah, man, you gotta capitalize! How can they hire you!?
Yeah, man, you gotta capitalize! How can they hire you!?
They?? Who-
Quick! NOW!
Quick! NOW!
Ahh! I don't know, they can email me I guess! thescripTGuardian@gmail.com
What about, like, agents and stuff?!
What about, like, agents and stuff?!
Yeah! Anyone who wants to have something to do with helping me become a professional screenwriter! Or if they don't! We can just chat about movies or tv or writing, or like, yeah.
Whatever. You said you write movies AND tv pilots?!?!
Whatever. You said you write movies AND tv pilots?!?!
Well, I didn't say, but yes. Also short films, sketch comedy-
That's too much.
That's too much.
Why!
Pick one.
Pick one.
But I like all of them!
But where's the marketable skill!? You gotta be a movie guy, or a TV guy, or a whatever guy, but you gotta be some kind of guy.
But where's the marketable skill!? You gotta be a movie guy, or a TV guy, or a whatever guy, but you gotta be some kind of guy.
I am some kind of guy. I'm a screenwriter.
But that's not good enough! They're all screenwriters! Why are you different?! If you don't have a lane, or a style, or jeez, at least a catchphrase or something! I mean ANYTHING! Why should anyone care??
But that's not good enough! They're all screenwriters! Why are you different?! If you don't have a lane, or a style, or jeez, at least a catchphrase or something! I mean ANYTHING! Why should anyone care??
Ok, stop, stop, STOP! Slow down... ease up for a minute.
...
...
...
It's too much. This is too much.
...
...
I'm working on it. I'm working on all of that.
...
...
Ok?
I know. I... I'm just tryna keep you on task, moving forward.
I know. I... I'm just tryna keep you on task, moving forward.
I am.
Ok...
Ok...
...Ok?
...I just don't get why you're not more... pressed about it.
...I just don't get why you're not more... pressed about it.
Well I am pressed. But like, I'm not tryna worry all the time either. Frankly, I can't afford that. I don't just want to be a screenwriter: I want to make my living as a screenwriter. That means long-term. That means waiting for my opportunity, staying ready. That means doing my thing at my pace. That means taking care of myself. That means chillin out whenever possible. That means being enough. That means being ok.
...That's fair. Look, I'm sorry-
...That's fair. Look, I'm sorry-
No, don't apologize-
Nah nah, listen. I know I can be...urgent, and I'm sorry about that. I'm not tryna get you ahead of yourself.
Nah nah, listen. I know I can be...urgent, and I'm sorry about that. I'm not tryna get you ahead of yourself.
You're not. I won't let you.
...Ok.
...Ok.
Ok.
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