Meet Frank Mosley and Joslyn Jensen

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Frank Mosley and Joslyn Jensen a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Frank and Joslyn, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

With many combined years of experience in the film world, we found that many of our colleagues would reach out to us to help develop their screenplays and/or provide feedback. During the early days of COVID, and like many other writers, we were using the time at home to develop our own scripts and submit to writing competitions. We noticed a gap in the industry for informed, constructive feedback that is not competitive or scored. So we decided to start Script Eater, a two person collective for screenplay analyses–and for writers at any stage of experience.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

As writers who consistently submit our work to various contests, labs and workshops, we noticed a gap in the industry for informed, constructive feedback that is not competitive or scored. So we decided to start SCRIPT EATER: a screenplay coverage and feedback service for writers at any level of experience. We love reading shorts, pilots and features that challenge the norm and give voice to the under-represented.
As multi-hyphenates ourselves (we are actors, writers, and filmmakers), we understand the many perspectives on a script and respond to a script not only from the writing alone—but the big picture and how they can be translated into films, TV shows, short films, etc.
We love working with beginners, as we enjoy imparting the essential fundamentals of screenwriting. But what can be just as exciting to us is to read the work of more seasoned writers who are challenging these rules and know how to break them in exciting ways.
Recently, Joslyn gave an interview with Los Angeles filmmaker Dean Peterson on Youtube specifically focused on the importance of transitions and subtext in screenwriting. Frank is slated to give his own perspective with Dean in the coming month.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Aspiring screenwriters and screenplay readers should develop perseverance, curiosity, and a strong routine that works for them. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or having trouble knowing where to start, pick something that keeps you connected to why you wanted to write/read scripts in the first place, such as: watching a film everyday or every week, especially one that is outside of your normal taste to open you up to new ideas. What we’ve found doesn’t work well is to force a routine that is joyless. Knowing when to leave your desk and take a break is important–getting outside for a walk, making yourself tea or coffee–can be just as important as the writing/reading routine itself. That said, if you’re anything like us, you can fall into the trap of procrastination if there isn’t a part of your routine that also includes accountability.

How would you describe your ideal client?

It’s hard to define the perfect Script Eater client because we’re always looking for someone who will surprise us with their work, so that’s something we can’t easily anticipate. Plus, we wouldn’t be in this business at all if we weren’t already inspired by all the people who submit their work to us. That’s important because we’d never want to fall into a situation where we were judge, jury, and executioner all at once. The “judging” of a script isn’t the fun part—the exciting part is being brought work that is at a level that will get our own gears turning. We have a philosophy that every idea can be good. So we approach our clients’ work not with the hope to teach them writing or to bring their script to the finish line, but to help them express their idea in the best way possible.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.script-eater.com
• Instagram: @script_eater