How do I write my screenplay??

Cafe Society
1

OK, I have the concept down for a screenplay I want to put together. I have the story, I know of a few specific scenes I want to work in, but where do I start to pull all this together?

Also, does anyone know where I can find a primer that will explain the way screenplays are written? (The lexicon and directions used, the format and so on.)

Also, any helpful advice from anyone who’s done anything similar would be great! I don’t actually expect to sell my finished product, it’ll probably end up being something I can sit on a shelf, or publish online as ‘fan fiction’ or something, so there’s no real deadline.

2

I’ve written two screenplays and several half-hour teleplays. Never sold anyway, got an agent and a mention in a contest.

Any book on the subject will have what you need in terms of formatting.

The biggest things, probably, are;

  • Make sure the story you tell is visual. If there’s a way to get something across with an action or a visual instead of dialog, do it.
  • Don’t put parentheticals in dialogs about how a line should be spoken (exception - ‘sotto’ for ‘fake whiper’). That’s the actor’s job, and will turn off anyone who might otherwise take your product seriously.
  • Don’t tell a director how to do his job. Don’t put in things like ‘close up,’ ‘soft focus,’ ‘fade,’ etc. Every scene ends with ‘CUT TO’ except that last scene in the whole movie, which ends with ‘FADE OUT.’
3

Go to Amazon and plug “write screenplay” into the Search box.

4

bup, can I asl you a few specifics?

I intend to use CAPS for the first introduction of a character (she opened the door and found TODD), for props that have significance to the scene (Barb walks briskly to her car fondling her KEYS in her hand), or large props that would require some serious budget (over the horizon George saw the BATTLESHIP).

Is there any other reason to use them?

Also, should I start with some sort of outline or synopsys, or just start writing it as I ‘see’ it?

5

For formatting, I guess it’s OK to make important props all caps, but I’ve never seen it. I wouldn’t introduce a character that way, though. The first thing I think when I read that direction is “How does the audience know it’s TODD?”

Also, minor point - direction (that’s the name of the part of the script that’s not dialog, although you’re not really telling the director what to do), is written in present tense in every script I’ve ever seen.

For your second question, do whatever works for you. The hardest part is to get it going. I’ve seen exercises to get people to write their first script as specific as ‘The first scene has to have three people; two are arguing. On page four there’s a loud sound offscreen that requires one person to exit. The first scene ends on page 5…etc.’ It gets people going.

Most people have an outline.

Also, there are thing that all mainstream Hollywood movies have in common - they’re three acts, the second act is the longest, etc.
E-mail me and we can talk about it more.

6

I’m far from professional, but have done a bit of research and “played” a bit with the art. One technique that seems common in response to your question about outlines and synopsyses is to write down broad ideas on index cards. So, you have several major sub-stories running through your screenplay. Write each sub-story as a series of cards with summaries of major points of the sub-story. Then you can mix your deck of cards to interweave your stories until they are as you like. Using the deck order you write the actual screenplay.

Before you write (or as you write), it’s also valuable to write a description of each character, including such things as (for example) name, age, gender, physical appearance, personality, likes, dislikes, strengths, weaknesses, basic goal in the story, desires, traumas, etc. This should assist in making sure your characters have life and are consistant.

Same thing locations: list each place, a description, and a function (the villains hideaway, the place the lovers meet, etc.)

It’s also valuable to write down a sort of a summary, including such things as genre (science fiction, romance, fantasy, etc.), the basic concept of the story, where and when the story is set, theme or subject that underlines the story (forbidden love, revenge, coming of age, etc.), the outcome (hero gets girl, main character dies tragically, etc.), the target audience.

As I say, I have no professional experience or even training. But these seem to be standard techniques, and have helped me in my amateur efforts.

7

Significant props are only capitalized in a shooting script. Don’t bother in your draft; it could just detract the reader. You are correct to capitalize the first (and only the very first) appearance of a character, though.

I’m a professional screewriter, and would be happy to answer questions. Unfortunately, I’m about to head out the door to get on a plane and will probably have scant internet access for the next several days, but you can always email me or I can answer when I get back.

Oh, and the Syd Field books are a good place to start for reading material. Screenplay is a good one to start with to learn the basics.

8

These columns (originally posted by KGS) contain a lot of useful information about developing and selling a screenplay. My local library had copies of How To Write a Selling Screenplay by Christopher Keane and Writing Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge. Both are good reads.

9

Thanks, folks… I have had this idea for a while, and want to finally get it down on paper.

Hopefully I can refer to some of you from time to time as the project comes along.

Thanks for all your help!

10

Since this is about writing, I’ll move this thread to Cafe Society.

bibliopahge
moderator GQ

11

If you want to spend a few bucks I would recommend Sophocles Screenwriting Software. It takes every last bit of effort out of the format and lets you focus on writing.

12

There is FAR too much for me to say to you in this thread. Please email me at lumkinsc98@aol.com or contact me on AIM using either lumkinsc98 or Downhome00 and I’ll talk to you one on one. If you have any specific questions, I’ll answer them here also.

13

The Raindance site is a must see for indie film types. Here is their format guide in pdf format.

There are lots of sites like Drew’s script-o-rama that have scripts online for comparison.

14

http://www.craftyscreenwriting.com/

http://pub130.ezboard.com/bdonedeal

http://pub18.ezboard.com/bscriptsecrets

http://www.vcu.edu/artweb/playwriting/seminar.html

http://www.screenwritersforum.com/articles.htm

http://pub24.ezboard.com/bscreenplaycommessageboard

15

An unconventional approach, but one I find appealing:

Avoid the screenwriting instruction books. So many of them are published every year, each one claiming to have the secret of writing a great script.

Just read screenplays of great films. Figure out how each script works in terms of plot and characterization, dialogue and action. Then watch the film. See what works, and what doesn’t.

Use what works as a model for your script.

For format only, not style, check out Trottier’s Screenwriter’s Bible or Cole and Haag’s Complete Guide to Standard Script Formats

Start here:

             http://www.screentalk.biz/gallery.htm
16

While all you have said is true (Screenwriter’s Bible is a MUST), I advise NOT going against the grain unless you are a known writer. When first “breaking in” it is best to follow the so-called “rules of the trade” when writing, and doing it as everyone says to do. Sure there are different opinions on things, but for most things, there is certain guidelines that people like to see.

As for content, then that’s your beast, and allow it to grow as you may!

17

NoGoodNamesLeft

If you are new to screenwriting, format is NOT what should be concerning you at this point.

You should be concerned with STRUCTURE. One of the most respected screenwriter’s in Hollywoord is William Goldman (“All the President’s Men,” “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” “The Princess Bride,” and many others). Goldman says the first rule of screenwriting is: “Structure is everything.”

Here are a few tips:

Act 1 should run about 25-30 pages. (The entire script should be about 110 pages.) In Act 1, show your hero and your main characters as they live their day-to-day lives in your story-world.

At the end of Act 1, your hero sets out on some quest: Dustin Hoffman shows up for work dressed as a woman in Tootsie, Cher must convince Nicholas Cage to attend her wedding to Danny Aiello. Thelma and Louise go on the run after the murder.

Act 2 should run about 55 pages (half the script). The hero tries to get closer to his or her quest. Hoffman must continue his secret identity; Cher must go to the opera with Cage; Thelma and Lousie must stay one step ahead of the cops.

At the end of Act 2, the hero often abandons the first quest and adopts a new one: Hoffman wants to get rid of his alter-ego; Cher wants to break off her engagement to Danny Aiello; Thelma (who allowed Louise to make all the decisions until now) takes over and starts calling the shots.

Act 3 runs about 25 pages, and of course, has the hero involved in a showdown: Hoffman vs. Jessica Lange, Cher vs. Danny Aiello AND Nicholas Cage; Thelma and Louise vs. the Texas State Cops.
Don’t worry about the format now; focus on your structure first. Worry about format after your story structure problems have been ironed out.

Good luck.

18

Dude, get yourself a copy of The Complete Book of Scriptwriting, by J. Michael Straczynski. (Yes, that’s the same J.M.S. who was responsible for Babylon 5.) The book is in its 3rd edition, and was written by a guy who’s done a lot of professional writing work in both Hollywood and Burbank.

19

Baranlaith.
While what you say is true, it’s also what, what Syd Field said in his books and so many others. The problem is, that makes - many times - for a very formulaïc screenplay.

Structure, how to and all else… Do you have a story which is suitable for a visual media? Get your story straight. Write it as an article, short story or a comic book, but get the story down first. If you’ve seen The Player by Robert Altman, you should know how the game is played. If you can’t tell me what your story is, in 25 words or less, it’s no good.

As a comparison, the first chapter of Genesis is 797 words long. Whoever wrote it managed to get the creation of Earth and the Universe into those words and start three world religions. I try to think about that, when I get longwinded.

This whole text turns out to be 160 words long.

20

If you want to not have to worry at all about your formatting, I suggest you look into the greatest of all software packages, Final Draft 6. It’s a touch pricey, but if you’re serious about screenwriting, it’s definitely a life saver. No need to deal with setting tab stops or switching “styles,” it does it all on the fly with just a tab or an enter to move between lines.