The Screenwriting Thread

[The Apatow Crew]

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

what you all do?

 

[Spider-ManHero12]

^^ Well, not sure if I want to reveal, but it's a very......interesting moment. It dwelves into things for "someone" or "something."

 

[Doctor Jones]

So Inception had got me thinking of doing an original sci fi film. But I can't come up with anything. I od'nt want to do anything like SW. I want it earth based and more reality based. Something toned down from Blade Runner or Minority Report.

 

[Cmill216]

I FINISHED MY FIRST FEATURE SCREENPLAY!

 

[Doctor Jones]

Congratulations. There's nothing quite like that feeling. You feel damn proud of yourself that you did such a thing. It's hard for me to finish them.

But i finally cracked my science fiction film idea. I wrote an outline and probably won't write a script for a while. I want to learn more about the brain which this film deals with.

It's a sci fi noir detective tale.

 

[SapphirePrima]

Congrats

 

[Cmill216]

If there's one piece of advice I want to give to any of you struggling to write a story, it's this:

Watch. Bad. Movies.

I firmly believe that you can't learn anything as a storyteller just by watching "great" films. When you sit down and watch a horrible movie, ask yourself: why is this terrible? Where did this go wrong, in comparison to better movies?

When you're able to answer those questions, you'll understand what it takes to construct a good story. By seeing the flaws in a bad film and comparing its holes to a much more successful film, you'll get a better idea of how a good story should be told.

Just a thought.

 

[Doctor Jones]

I completely agree. Whenever you watch a bad film you'll know not what to do.

While a good movie is great, it can get you inspired. And that's it. But you can't help but ne inspired by those ideas when writing. Just stick to the bad movies, figure out what not to do, and do what you would do better with it.

And with good movies, I think of an alternative way I would of written or filmed something like a camera angle.

 

[Dragon]

It's important to study both good and bad films. Bad films offer questions and good can present suggestions. And it's also important to note that even overall good films can have structural or characterizational flaws, so being able to spot those is also a good thing for any aspiring writer.

One other suggestion for folks struggling to stay focused on a single story- consider that that might be the problem. That if the concept fails to hold your interest, then maybe you need to re-think the idea and strengthen it so that it does hold your interest. Sometimes what you conceive of might be satisfactory, but if you're not excited by it then you need to push the envelope a little further with it. The only way to really get through a script is if from first page to last this is a movie that you yourself really want to see.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Very good advice.

 

[Hellion]

I've been writing the same project for years now....(I'm 23 and started sometime in high school)...don't really want to give anything away...but how do you overcome being blocked...I totally have the vision in my mind...but I can't write it down? Like the last so many months of trying to work...again, I have it in my head, but as I try to write it down...I just can't...

What do you guys do when this happens...

Maybe its me...maybe I'm trying to tell myself to move on or something...

 

[SapphirePrima]

I usually write something else. You can do writing exercises or just write what's on your mind.

 

[Hellion]

I usually write something else. You can do writing exercises or just write what's on your mind.

Thanks!

 

[The Squirrel]

My scriptwriting class starts on Friday.

 

[Doctor Jones]

Sweet. Tell us how it is. I'd love to take one of those someday.

 

[Dragon]

I've been writing the same project for years now....(I'm 23 and started sometime in high school)...don't really want to give anything away...but how do you overcome being blocked...I totally have the vision in my mind...but I can't write it down? Like the last so many months of trying to work...again, I have it in my head, but as I try to write it down...I just can't...

What do you guys do when this happens...

Maybe its me...maybe I'm trying to tell myself to move on or something...

I've been there. Many writers, accomplished ones included need time for some ideas to gel. For example it was like ten years between when Thomas Harris wrote Silence of the Lambs and Hannibal (Although based on the result I think he should've taken longer, but that's another story).

I had an idea that I for some reason, I just couldn't put it on paper for several years. It could be that the idea hadn't solidified completely, or that I simply had to mature as a writer. When I was finally "ready" it took me about 2 weeks to write the entire script. So sometimes an idea just needs to ripen.

What you can do when you get blocked is go back to your original concept. It's always good before starting the actual script if you know the story in good detail. Write an outline, a treatment, character bios, etc. And especially knowing how you intend for the story to end. That way, even when you're uncertain about what the next scene may be, you at least know that the scene should be moving your story toward the ending you've envisioned.

Another thing you can do is write out your options. For example your protagonist walks into a room. Does he/she meet someone? Shoot someone? Remember something he has to do and leave abruptly? Don't worry if the ideas aren't good. Just allow yourself the flexibility to imagine, and eventually you'll pick the option that best moves your story forward.

 

[War Party]

Didn't know this thread existed. I start filming my short film "Beer Run" in about two weeks. It's a dark comedy about two friends who find something unexpected in the trunk of their car after returning from buying beer. It's a screenplay I wrote last summer, so I'm excited to actually finish it. It's my third attempt at filming this short because this production has been cursed. The first time we filmed, I had a bad DP and I got rid of him. I took over those duties. The second time we had an actor disappear on us and we have no idea what happened to him. That was very frustrating since we were half way through filming. So now we're going at our third attempt with a new actor. I just can't wait to finish this project so I can move on. So there's my story.

So how do you guys prepare your screenplays? I go about an unorthodox way of writing a screenplay. No outlines or anything. I come up with a title first and I just write it based off that title. And then I do a series of drafts after that. That method hasn't failed me yet. One some awards at school for my screenplays. Maybe one day I'll get a literary agent, but for now I'm enjoying filming my own stuff. Oh if anyone is interested, Scriptshadow is having a screenplay contest coming up so I been preparing something for that. Check out their blog for details. First step of the contest is to submit a logline for your screenplay.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I think of a main idea for it. Then I think of some of the things I want in it. And then I also try to think of a title first and if I can't i still go at it.

I still have one script that's completed and I've not got a title in mind.

 

[War Party]

Yeah, I don't even come up with an idea at first. I think of a title that sounds intriguing and maybe can revolve a story around, and then a flesh out a story. I let it all come out naturally and let my characters do their thing. Especially dialogue. I just let my characters talk and I don't try to make it sound like it's written. I write how people talk. That was my one big problem with Juno. You can tell she tried so damn hard to make her dialogue sound good and cool. I try to avoid that. Then the drafts afterwards is when I usually tighten things up.

And Apatow Crew. Is it ok if I check out your screenplay?

 

[The Squirrel]

Sweet. Tell us how it is. I'd love to take one of those someday.

It's great so far. I'm learning more about writing. And my teacher got cast as a recurring role on Friday Night Lights this season.

 

[War Party]

And here's the link for scriptshadow. Great blog:
http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/

 

[The Apatow Crew]

I don't do outlines either. I just get like a basic idea that's maybe like one or two sentences and build a whole story and movie around it.

But i kinda try to make the title involved with the movie. Like my one takes place basically in a town for the better part and the movie is named after the city, even if that does sound cheesy or cliche. But i just hate when movies have a title and it has nothing really to do with the movie, but just being a catchy title.

And I know what you mean about the dialogue. And when I was talking to people about Juno and they said that's how people talk and I'm just thinking I must be talking to the wrong people then. Cause I never heard people say things like they were saying. One person said I had dialogue that was too regular and not something you hear in movies and I just said how me and my friends used too or would talk in real life.

 

[War Party]

Yeah, I've never heard people talk like that either. I've heard the words said before, but never an entire movie with that kind word usage. I mean I try to make my dialogue smart and clever to an extent. But not too far away from my characters sounding like real people. I just started my next screenplay last week and may actually try to get this one out there. I'm only 34 pages in, but it's possibly the best thing I've written so far. I sent it to my old screenwriting professor and he gave me a lot of positive notes on it so far. It's called "Happy Time Revolver." Title makes sense if you actually read the story.

 

[The Apatow Crew]

It takes alot to get to the point of where you feel one of your scripts is your best work. I mean I didn't know what my best work was until I had written my third full length script. I just think as with each script I do I got better and better with each one. I've written 4 complete scripts and I still feel i'm learning yet as I continue.

 

[War Party]

It takes alot to get to the point of where you feel one of your scripts is your best work. I mean I didn't know what my best work was until I had written my third full length script. I just think as with each script I do I got better and better with each one. I've written 4 complete scripts and I still feel i'm learning yet as I continue.

It's actually pretty extraordinary. I have 11 full length screenplays written, three which won awards, and four short scripts. One of which I made into a film and one I'm currently prepping for to be filmed in two weeks. And I'm only 34 pages into this one and I honestly think it could be the best damn thing I've written. I seriously can't wait to start writing it tomorrow. And if it turns out as good as I think it will, I may actually just film it myself. Go the Rodriguez route and fund it all myself. I would figure it would cost me at most $2000 to make, based off what I've written and where I think I'm taking the story. I don't have to worry about film since I film in digital and I already have my sound equipment. Exciting time.