Story Retreat

with Mengyuan Li

1. A “writer first” philosophy.

Much like good therapy, it’s about the person. The goal is to bring writers closer to their own intentions. To help a writer with their script is to watch their movie with them, side by side. A well-placed question can unlock more ideas within the writer than any smart-sounding advice.

2. Who can benefit?

Writers with original feature scripts, short films scripts, TV pilots and short stories. The more complete they are, the more writers get from a session. A flawed, full attempt reveals far more than a perfect, unexecuted concept.

3. What do sessions look like?

A one-on-one, in-depth conversation based on multiple, detailed readings of the script. Depending on the state of a project, the writer may (and should) voice their priorities. Is there room for structural changes? Is an important scene falling short? Has a character taken a turn from their conception — is that a boon or an issue?

Regardless, these key elements will be accounted for. The consultant (yours truly) will put together a plan. However, if a writer gets that wild look in their eyes we can throw the plan away and turn to jazz. It’s your story. We’re here to help you write it.

4. What should the writer provide?

A brief summary of the script – format, logline, genre, etc.; a brief introduction of the project’s status and goals (labs, grants, upcoming production, sample); the writer’s experience with screenwriting; deadline for completion.

Given availability, the consultant (yours truly) will schedule a 15-minute phone call/Zoom meeting with the writer. We will say hi, align expectations, and proceed upon agreement. The consultant will then provide a signed standard NDA and request a full draft from the writer, along with a quote for hourly rates.

The standard fee of $150/hour reflects my professional rate from past studio work & commercial film/TV projects. Depending on the writer’s budget, their affinity to the indie film community and plans for production, up to 40% in discount may be applied.

For feature screenplays, a minimum of 3 hours will be billed for preparation — depending on page count. One-hour TV pilots will be billed at 2 hrs, and half-hours at 1 hr. Short film scripts will be billed at 1 hr.

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