Joel McElvaney
@screenwritermac.bsky.social
Took a workshop from William Goldman in college. Waited 25 years. Started screenwriting career. Did I do something wrong? ATLFF Finalist. StC! Top 5 Finalist. GA Film Academy-trained. UH Manoa alum. West Coast boy. Enters late, leaves early. 🤙
Pinned
Wow! THE PHROGGER is a FINALIST in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. An unexpected surprise!
Reposted by Joel McElvaney
Unfortunately I have made the decision to move the short out to December... but that gives us more time to hit our goal! Learn more about my project THE OPEN AIR, inspired by my children, and donate here: staceycampbellruss5.wixsite.com/home/the-ope...
#scriptsky
#scriptsky
August 15, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Unfortunately I have made the decision to move the short out to December... but that gives us more time to hit our goal! Learn more about my project THE OPEN AIR, inspired by my children, and donate here: staceycampbellruss5.wixsite.com/home/the-ope...
#scriptsky
#scriptsky
Am I the only screenwriter/filmmaker who sets his Bluesky feed to #Scriptsky and just leaves it there permanently?
August 5, 2026 at 6:14 PM
Am I the only screenwriter/filmmaker who sets his Bluesky feed to #Scriptsky and just leaves it there permanently?
Just finished reading ‘The Lost’ by @leahfromsd.bsky.social. What a clever and frightening re-imagining of the Peter Pan story! The tense and unexpected narrative grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let you go. Highly recommend!
August 1, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Just finished reading ‘The Lost’ by @leahfromsd.bsky.social. What a clever and frightening re-imagining of the Peter Pan story! The tense and unexpected narrative grabs you from the first page and doesn’t let you go. Highly recommend!
Reposted by Joel McElvaney
Steve Martin: “I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot.” gointothestory.blcklst.com/on-writing-b... #writing #screenwriting #scriptsky
July 27, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Steve Martin: “I believe entertainment can aspire to be art, and can become art, but if you set out to make art, you’re an idiot.” gointothestory.blcklst.com/on-writing-b... #writing #screenwriting #scriptsky
Without saying your age, what’s your favorite movie that came out when you were 18?
July 21, 2026 at 3:00 AM
Without saying your age, what’s your favorite movie that came out when you were 18?
Ah, damn. 😢
Jurassic Park: Dr. Grant's Iconic Shades Moment
Alt: Jurassic Park: Dr. Grant's Iconic Shades Moment
static.klipy.com
July 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
Ah, damn. 😢
As someone who saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the theater when I was 11 and E.T. when I was 16, Disclosure Day feels like the perfect culmination of an epic Spielberg trilogy.
June 18, 2026 at 2:54 AM
As someone who saw Close Encounters of the Third Kind in the theater when I was 11 and E.T. when I was 16, Disclosure Day feels like the perfect culmination of an epic Spielberg trilogy.
Who else loved the Raiders of the Lost Ark Easter egg in The Burroughs?
June 10, 2026 at 10:06 PM
Who else loved the Raiders of the Lost Ark Easter egg in The Burroughs?
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Here’s the first page of the first screenplay I ever wrote. A dark one called FIGHT. HIDE. RUN.
Here’s the first page of the first screenplay I ever wrote. A dark one called FIGHT. HIDE. RUN.
June 5, 2026 at 9:27 PM
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Here’s the first page of the first screenplay I ever wrote. A dark one called FIGHT. HIDE. RUN.
Here’s the first page of the first screenplay I ever wrote. A dark one called FIGHT. HIDE. RUN.
#Scriptsky #TwoPageTuesday
Drawing on 10+ years as the Gay-Straight Alliance advisor at my high school, my drama/thriller The Phrogger was inspired by the (often horrifying) experiences of some of my students. The script strives to honor their humanity, bravery, and resilience.
Drawing on 10+ years as the Gay-Straight Alliance advisor at my high school, my drama/thriller The Phrogger was inspired by the (often horrifying) experiences of some of my students. The script strives to honor their humanity, bravery, and resilience.
June 2, 2026 at 6:01 PM
#Scriptsky #TwoPageTuesday
Drawing on 10+ years as the Gay-Straight Alliance advisor at my high school, my drama/thriller The Phrogger was inspired by the (often horrifying) experiences of some of my students. The script strives to honor their humanity, bravery, and resilience.
Drawing on 10+ years as the Gay-Straight Alliance advisor at my high school, my drama/thriller The Phrogger was inspired by the (often horrifying) experiences of some of my students. The script strives to honor their humanity, bravery, and resilience.
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Page one of my comedy caper. Brief nod to my decades as an English teacher (and tip of the hat to Stannis Baratheon). IYKYK
Page one of my comedy caper. Brief nod to my decades as an English teacher (and tip of the hat to Stannis Baratheon). IYKYK
May 30, 2026 at 1:36 AM
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Page one of my comedy caper. Brief nod to my decades as an English teacher (and tip of the hat to Stannis Baratheon). IYKYK
Page one of my comedy caper. Brief nod to my decades as an English teacher (and tip of the hat to Stannis Baratheon). IYKYK
A random fact about me:
When I was 11, I rode a unicycle 18 miles without stopping (for a bike-a-thon).
Hand me a unicycle today, and I can still ride.
When I was 11, I rode a unicycle 18 miles without stopping (for a bike-a-thon).
Hand me a unicycle today, and I can still ride.
Hmmm, a random fact about me?
I have a freakishly good sense of direction.
If I go somewhere one time, I can find my way back-- even DECADES later.
Seems like Zooks inherited it from me, too: even as a toddler, he knew if we were going to grandma's house or not based on the route through town!
I have a freakishly good sense of direction.
If I go somewhere one time, I can find my way back-- even DECADES later.
Seems like Zooks inherited it from me, too: even as a toddler, he knew if we were going to grandma's house or not based on the route through town!
Here's one random fact about me: I cannot write cursive. I used to be able to, and had wonderful penmanship. But when I was in junior high, my mom went to work for an architect, who taught me architectural lettering. I print to this day, except my signature.
How about a random fact from you?
How about a random fact from you?
May 13, 2026 at 10:34 PM
A random fact about me:
When I was 11, I rode a unicycle 18 miles without stopping (for a bike-a-thon).
Hand me a unicycle today, and I can still ride.
When I was 11, I rode a unicycle 18 miles without stopping (for a bike-a-thon).
Hand me a unicycle today, and I can still ride.
Don’t tell anyone, but I’m cheating on my WIP with a side script.
May 13, 2026 at 2:51 AM
Don’t tell anyone, but I’m cheating on my WIP with a side script.
Those moments while writing when you make *yourself* laugh. Or cry. 🤌
May 3, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Those moments while writing when you make *yourself* laugh. Or cry. 🤌
I can’t be the only one who says this (for comedic effect) on occasion. giphy.com/gifs/photosh...
Bill Murray Dalai Llama GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY
Discover & share this Bill Murray Dalai Llama GIF with everyone you know. GIPHY is how you search, share, discover, and create GIFs.
giphy.com
April 9, 2026 at 12:24 AM
I can’t be the only one who says this (for comedic effect) on occasion. giphy.com/gifs/photosh...
Wow! THE PHROGGER is a FINALIST in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. An unexpected surprise!
March 12, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Wow! THE PHROGGER is a FINALIST in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. An unexpected surprise!
Honored that my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER made SemiFinalist in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Congrats and good luck to the other 27 SFs!
March 5, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Honored that my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER made SemiFinalist in the Atlanta Film Festival Screenplay Competition. Congrats and good luck to the other 27 SFs!
I got staffed into a writer’s room! That’s the milestone. I got *paid* to write scripts. With my late start in the industry, I wasn’t sure that was ever gonna happen. Now I can’t wait to do it again! #Scriptsky
February 27, 2026 at 6:46 PM
I got staffed into a writer’s room! That’s the milestone. I got *paid* to write scripts. With my late start in the industry, I wasn’t sure that was ever gonna happen. Now I can’t wait to do it again! #Scriptsky
Been waiting awhile to be that screenwriter who cryptically posts they can't talk about anything and then disappears from social media for a while only to re-emerge with a very cool milestone success.
Well...can't talk right now. See you in a bit. 😉
Well...can't talk right now. See you in a bit. 😉
January 12, 2026 at 6:27 PM
Been waiting awhile to be that screenwriter who cryptically posts they can't talk about anything and then disappears from social media for a while only to re-emerge with a very cool milestone success.
Well...can't talk right now. See you in a bit. 😉
Well...can't talk right now. See you in a bit. 😉
Happy National Screenwriters Day to all who celebrate. Write on, fellow scribes! 🖋️
a woman with red nail polish typing on a keyboard
Alt: a woman with red nail polish typing on a keyboard
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 10:53 PM
Happy National Screenwriters Day to all who celebrate. Write on, fellow scribes! 🖋️
My drama/thriller feature THE PHROGGER made Barnstorm’s Short List! Great way to end the year! Cheers to all! 🥂
January 1, 2026 at 12:11 AM
My drama/thriller feature THE PHROGGER made Barnstorm’s Short List! Great way to end the year! Cheers to all! 🥂
Rob Reiner directed some of my absolute all-time favorite films. Princess Bride and Stand by Me being at the top of the list. So sad. 😢
December 15, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Rob Reiner directed some of my absolute all-time favorite films. Princess Bride and Stand by Me being at the top of the list. So sad. 😢
#Scriptsky
Great to see my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER as a Semi-Finalist in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition. Congrats and good luck to all the other semi-finalists!
Great to see my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER as a Semi-Finalist in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition. Congrats and good luck to all the other semi-finalists!
December 12, 2025 at 5:43 PM
#Scriptsky
Great to see my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER as a Semi-Finalist in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition. Congrats and good luck to all the other semi-finalists!
Great to see my drama/thriller THE PHROGGER as a Semi-Finalist in the Outstanding Screenplays Feature Competition. Congrats and good luck to all the other semi-finalists!
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Here’s Page 1 of a Manchurian Candidate style script I had to set aside because political reality stepped in with waaaay more bonkers, totally unbelievable and grotesque characters and plot points.
Here’s Page 1 of a Manchurian Candidate style script I had to set aside because political reality stepped in with waaaay more bonkers, totally unbelievable and grotesque characters and plot points.
December 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
#Scriptsky #FirstPageFriday
Here’s Page 1 of a Manchurian Candidate style script I had to set aside because political reality stepped in with waaaay more bonkers, totally unbelievable and grotesque characters and plot points.
Here’s Page 1 of a Manchurian Candidate style script I had to set aside because political reality stepped in with waaaay more bonkers, totally unbelievable and grotesque characters and plot points.