R E A L  F A Q
  In which I answer your real questions.

1. Why did you give up your dream?
I didn't give up my dream.  I have many projects underway, and I have a very fruitful working relationship with my writing partner, Christopher Mensel, and Tiny Penguin Films.

2. I love your script, but I have a great idea that I want to add to it.  Can I?
I encourage it.  I know I don't have twenty pieces of gold on this site.  Actually it's nineteen now...  But if you feel you can improve the short, you are welcome to change the short to suit your needs.  However, I ask that I don't get blamed or praised for your changes.  In this situation, I suggest that you change the credits to read:

Story by
Carl V. Rossi

Screenplay by
Your Name Here and Carl V. Rossi

3. Are there any scripts that haven't been made?  I want to do one, but I want to pick one that hasn't been done.
Yes, there are some that haven't been requested or made.  I'm not going to tell you which, so just pick a short that inspires you and make it.

4. Can I animate the script?
You can make the movie any way that you want to.  I love movies and I have no preference as to how you express yourself in your work.

5. Will you write me an original script?
No.  I am currently juggling 4 - 5 projects, I will not have the time to write you a screenplay.  The forthcoming new scripts to this site are plotted and/or written already.

6. Where did the scripts go?
They're back!  Click the link above and you can read the old scripts as well as brand new ones!

7. What's the deal with release forms? When do I need to get a copy?
Let's look at two scenarios:

1: You make it HUGE.  You're the director of the reboot of Batman.  As a DVD extra, Warner Bros says, "Let's put your shorts on the disc." You will need a release from me.  WB won't put it on there without one.

But you want to submit your film to film fests, post on youtube/vimeo, or burn to DVD to use as a calling card?  No release needed.  The fests will have you sign something that protects them by stating that you have taken care of all the legalities of the short, music licenses, etc.  You'll have no problem from me, because we're already square.  You fulfilled your obligation to me by e-mailing me.  And YouTube, Vimeo, and/or a producer watching your film doesn't give two poops about a release form from me.

8. What is the release form process?
1: Wait until you need a form.  Don't waste our time.
2: Print and fill out this form for each screenplay for which you would like to have a release.  Fill out every empty field except for my signature and date block.
3: Mail it to me.
4: I will then sign and send copies back to you for your records.

F A K E  F A Q
  In which I answer the questions you may have not thought of or won't ask.

1. Do you want a copy of the DVD/Film when I finish?
No.  You may give me the link to your movie or send me a DVD copy of your movie if you would like, and people have, but it isn't necessary.

2. Why is the site so simple looking?
I have a very generous friend who is hosting carlrossi.com and I promised I would have a low-bandwidth site.  I'm not a web designer, but I also believe in the philosophy of keeping it simple, fast, and focused on delivery of content.  An all-html site is all three.  Not to mention, Flash-heavy sites make me very angry.

3. Do you think everything you write is good?
No.  And especially not on here.  When I came up with the idea to give away free scripts, I milled my old scripts that I wrote for writing assignments while at grad school.  Gun Meet Medicine is one such script.  The assignment was write a short scene involving a gun and a bottle of pills.  Frankly, I'm not fond of that exercise. A gun and a bottle of pills are such loaded props, the writer is pretty limited in what they can do.  If I were to give the same assignment, I would choose a much better prop, for example, a baseball cap.  It's specific, but also allows the writer countless possibilities.  If it's okay for me to continue to ramble, a recent 48 hour film project here in Providence featured the prop, "A coffee pot."  That's not too bad, but the required character had to be an addict.  So I predicted that most shorts would involve a coffee addict.  Which stinks.  So my script, "The Good Times" opens like this:

INT. HOUSE. - MORNING
A coffee pot shatters.

But, anyway, to complete my thought, the scripts that began as exercises are lacking, and I know full-well they are.  The remaining scripts are comprised of scripts I planned to film for myself (Like "The Dangerous Type") and shorts written specifically to be given away (Like "Thirst"), and lastly some were written for little internet contests (Like "Asmara, Eritrea").

4. Will there ever be even more new scripts?
When I started this almost five years ago, I didn't think it would be this popular.  I would always like to add more scripts, but the reality is that I need to write with my writing partner, and that means no more scripts for a while.  I also doctor scripts for some friends and work on rewrites for other projects.  And I slug away on a day job.  I'm busy.  I would like to hope there's something here for everyone, but if there isn't, I'm not the only one who has free film shorts, use your google-fu, and good luck!

5. I don't have any money.  Some of these seem expensive.
I counter that and say, "You might be underestimating your abilities."  My baseline is Star Wars Fan Films.  I'm sorry, go to YouTube and search for them.  It's impressive what you can do with no money.  Check this out, and this.  I think you can do it.

6. You've inspired me to write, how can I become a better writer?
Read scripts of movies you've seen and haven't seen.  Do not read shooting drafts (Shooting drafts have each scene numbered.)  You are not creating a finished product.  You're creating a framework for a finished movie.  You have to read screenplays to see how it's done.  Cameron's Aliens is good, as is Wendy and Lizzie Molyneux's My Sister is Marrying Douchebag.  Read the following books, preferably in this order: Egri, The Art of Dramatic Writing; Field, screenplay; Goldman, Adventures in the Screen Trade; Snyder, Save the Cat; Snyder, Save the Cat Strikes Back!; Garant & Lennon, Writing Movies for Profit.  Those are required, people in Hollywood have read those and use lingo from those books, even if they don't know it.  For further recommended reading: McKee, Story; Aristotle, Poetics (Translated by Else); Gibson, Shakespeare's Game.  And that's it.  STOP.  Writers can get trapped reading books about writing instead of writing.  You should be writing.  Do it.  (Keep reading unproduced screenplays though.)