The Screenwriting Thread

[The Apatow Crew]

Hey what do you guys use to write your scripts/screenplays? I currently have Celtx but I think Word is easier to use.

Is it worth to save up and buy Final Draft?

I have Final Draft 7. It's just about the only program I ever use. It's great for a lot of things to do.

But if you look around the internet and know the right places you can find it for free.

 

[The Squirrel]

Hey what do you guys use to write your scripts/screenplays? I currently have Celtx but I think Word is easier to use.

Is it worth to save up and buy Final Draft?

I use Celtx right now and I like it. I plan on buying Final Draft one day because I believe it is the industry standard, and you can register your scripts directly with the WGA with it.

 

[SapphirePrima]

I've been stalking amazon and ebay for Final Draft still waaaaaaayyyyy out of my price range.

Where do you suggest I look to find it for free?

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I've been stalking amazon and ebay for Final Draft still waaaaaaayyyyy out of my price range.

Where do you suggest I look to find it for free?

I mean just check out sites on the net that have free software. Or you could prolly even download it through torrents if its on there.

 

[Cmill216]

I use Final Draft. It's buggy, but it's the sleakest program there is.

Celtx is solid, but it has some bizarre quirks that didn't sit well with me.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Celtx you can download for free?

And how does Final Draft work?

 

[Doctor Jones]

I'm actually the opposite, to be honest. Maybe once you get deep into the actual script writing, you'll be more interested? I had a hard time actually figuring out how to start my original script I'm working on now, but I finally just sat down and wrote whatever came out, and now I can't go to work every day so I can skip actually doing work, and listen to music while I write my comic out instead.

Give that a shot?

That happens to me sometimes. And usually when I am sure what I'm going to do. Sometimes i get impatient and don't write and outline I jsut go right into a script.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I was trying to download Celtx and it said it doesn't have a publisher. Can I still run it?

 

[SapphirePrima]

I was trying to download Celtx and it said it doesn't have a publisher. Can I still run it?

You should be able to run it with no problems. Do you have a Mac?

 

[Cunning Stunts]

This is kind of off-topic, but has anyone ever written comics?

The reason I ask, is because I've begun writing mine (I've only written single pages at a time before), and I'm not even past the first four points on my outline, and I'm already like thirteen or fourteen pages (the first couple are kind of double-spaced, then I stopped doing that like five pages in) into the script. I just wanted to know if anyone could share a little insight as to whether that is going to translate to a lot less room in an actual graphic novel, or what?

 

[Rain Dog]

This is kind of off-topic, but has anyone ever written comics?

The reason I ask, is because I've begun writing mine (I've only written single pages at a time before), and I'm not even past the first four points on my outline, and I'm already like thirteen or fourteen pages (the first couple are kind of double-spaced, then I stopped doing that like five pages in) into the script. I just wanted to know if anyone could share a little insight as to whether that is going to translate to a lot less room in an actual graphic novel, or what?

I've tried before but lost interest/got frustrated. The thing with comics is that there is no universal format for writing them. Some scripts include individual panel descriptions while others are more like screenplays and just outline action and dialogue. How you write them depends on a lot of things including your preference and whether or not you'll be the one drawing it. If you're doing panel for panel descriptions then I'd imagine it would translate into less room in the acutal novel.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Yeah, that happened to me. i tried writing one and I saw how they did describing the panels. And damn, that' a pain in the ass. I would just write it like a script.

 

[Doctor Jones]

You should be able to run it with no problems. Do you have a Mac?

No I have an hp laptop.

 

[Cunning Stunts]

I've tried before but lost interest/got frustrated. The thing with comics is that there is no universal format for writing them. Some scripts include individual panel descriptions while others are more like screenplays and just outline action and dialogue. How you write them depends on a lot of things including your preference and whether or not you'll be the one drawing it. If you're doing panel for panel descriptions then I'd imagine it would translate into less room in the acutal novel.

I'm writing it like a screenplay, kinda... And yeah, drawing it too. So, I'm hoping that all the dialogue will translate into a lot less room, because like I said, I'm not even past the first page of my outline, and it feels like I've written 30 pages worth of dialogue on four plot points alone.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I downloaded Celtx. it's pretty awesome. other than not capitalizing afetr I start a sentence it's great. I started writing my post nuclear fallout zombie screenplay today.

 

[catintheengine]

I too use Celtx and it's pretty good considering it's free to download. I'd still like to get my hands on Final Draft at some point, as it is the standard for Hollywood writers, but it is expensive.

To those of you who have trouble sorting out your ideas, I absolutely know how you feel. I get one idea in my head that I keep saying "Ok, this is good, I'll stick with it." but then I eventually have another idea that takes over, and from there another, etc., etc. It sucks. I wouldn't call myself a 'perfectionist', but rather my problem is that I get down on myself and start poking holes in my own ideas! It makes it hard to get anything done.

Basically, it's a labor of patience/love. Just stick with it.

 

[CBGB]

I'm in the middle of shooting my own short film right now. I'm about one third of the way through it. It's basically about a guy who goes out and searches for Bigfoot. He is essentially stuck in the forest, and starts to go crazy. You see the occasional glimpse of some sort of creature. But it's up to the audience to decide whether the creature is real or just the characters mind going crazy. Think "Blair Witch" meets "the Shining".

It's shot in black and white, and has very little dialogue. It's a throw back to old monster movies.

 

[Doctor Jones]

SOunds cool.

And i started my third draft of Left 4 dead this morning. and I'm liking it so far. I changed the beginning, keeping the ambiguity of the characters but introducing Zoey as being on her own and going into an office building meeting Louis who has stowed himself in there since the outbreak.

The whole beginning is suppose to be ominous and atmospheric. I want to open the begginning set to "The End" by the doors. Just various shots of the abanonded city. Showing no infected just no signs of life.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

Okay, So i was thinking of shooting like the first 7 pages of one of my scripts. The first 7 pages is basically the opening of the film, before the title credits and you get a feel for the film.

And was wondering whats the best way to go about it.

what I mean is going about getting actors a small crew. Cause its just basically me and I'm looking for people to help me. How would I go about finding people in my area to help me.

 

[catintheengine]

Okay, So i was thinking of shooting like the first 7 pages of one of my scripts. The first 7 pages is basically the opening of the film, before the title credits and you get a feel for the film.

And was wondering whats the best way to go about it.

what I mean is going about getting actors a small crew. Cause its just basically me and I'm looking for people to help me. How would I go about finding people in my area to help me.

I've just been talking to some friends about when I get something going, whether or not they'd be interested in helping me out with it.

You could probably post something on a bulletin board at a local college, like a flyer or something.

Actually, that's not a half bad idea...I think I might do that! lol


And, CBGB, would you mind if I PM'd you some questions sometime?

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I was gonna have a "friend" or someone I thought was a friend help me out. But that was way back in the end of may and were almost in the end of August, so I said the hell with me. Not returning any of my calls.

 

[CBGB]

And, CBGB, would you mind if I PM'd you some questions sometime?

Yeah sure, catintheengine.

 

[CBGB]

SOunds cool.

And i started my third draft of Left 4 dead this morning. and I'm liking it so far. I changed the beginning, keeping the ambiguity of the characters but introducing Zoey as being on her own and going into an office building meeting Louis who has stowed himself in there since the outbreak.

The whole beginning is suppose to be ominous and atmospheric. I want to open the begginning set to "The End" by the doors. Just various shots of the abanonded city. Showing no infected just no signs of life.

The beginning sounds very Kubrick-esque. I like it.

 

[Cunning Stunts]

*Edit*

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

Wrote more of No Room In Hell last night. Very proud of what I did.