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Does any one here have any advice on how to write a movie script?
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:59 pm
Posted on 10/21/16 at 4:59 pm
Thanks in advanced.
P.S. no trolls.
P.S. no trolls.
6
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:04 pm to CleverPilot31
There is software called Final Draft that will help you put it in the correct format to even be looked at. That's the extent of my knowledge. I know someone who knows someone who has done it.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:16 pm to p0845330
Thank you very much. 
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:40 pm to CleverPilot31
So youre working on a Japanese language anime movie.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 5:40 pm to CleverPilot31
Seriously...I minored in English with an emphasis on screenwriting.
I recommend you simply purchase a few screenplays to study how screenwriters write. My favorite screenplays are:
1. Sling Blade (incredible yet simple screenplay)
2. Jacob's Ladder (great screenplay which is based off a famous short story from the Civil War - "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge")
3. Good Will Hunting (another simple yet very effective screenplay)
4. Pulp Fiction (strictly for the dialogue)
The golden rule is that one page of dialogue is roughly equivalent to between a minute to a minute-and-a-half of actual time so expect your screenplay to be approximately 90 pages long.
Dialogue is more difficult than you may think. People have a tendency to write in their own voice. Writing in different voices and genders is tough, and writing children's dialogue is even tougher. Pay attention to conversations. Take mental notes of how male and female conversations are different. Avoid excessive use of profanity. Unless you're Tarantino (and you aren't), profanity is cheap and quickly wears thin.
Essentially, read known scripts, watch the corresponding movies to see how the screenplay translates to film, read a little about camera angles, and understand that everyday life is your greatest resource. Be inspired by everyday conversation and mundane details.
The magic occurs in the details, details which most people overlook as insignificant.
Writing screenplays, much like visual art, is all about viewing the world differently than the average person. You're painting with words and scenes.
Good luck!
I recommend you simply purchase a few screenplays to study how screenwriters write. My favorite screenplays are:
1. Sling Blade (incredible yet simple screenplay)
2. Jacob's Ladder (great screenplay which is based off a famous short story from the Civil War - "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge")
3. Good Will Hunting (another simple yet very effective screenplay)
4. Pulp Fiction (strictly for the dialogue)
The golden rule is that one page of dialogue is roughly equivalent to between a minute to a minute-and-a-half of actual time so expect your screenplay to be approximately 90 pages long.
Dialogue is more difficult than you may think. People have a tendency to write in their own voice. Writing in different voices and genders is tough, and writing children's dialogue is even tougher. Pay attention to conversations. Take mental notes of how male and female conversations are different. Avoid excessive use of profanity. Unless you're Tarantino (and you aren't), profanity is cheap and quickly wears thin.
Essentially, read known scripts, watch the corresponding movies to see how the screenplay translates to film, read a little about camera angles, and understand that everyday life is your greatest resource. Be inspired by everyday conversation and mundane details.
The magic occurs in the details, details which most people overlook as insignificant.
Writing screenplays, much like visual art, is all about viewing the world differently than the average person. You're painting with words and scenes.
Good luck!
This post was edited on 10/21/16 at 5:51 pm
Posted on 10/21/16 at 6:43 pm to CleverPilot31
Use a pencil.
Posted on 10/21/16 at 10:31 pm to mizzoukills
Don't use that bullshite arse eraser on the end though. Get one of those big ones.
Posted on 10/22/16 at 12:07 am to CleverPilot31
I use the old version of Celtx because it's free.
Keep your screenplay simple. Most people put unnecessary details like camera moves, costume descriptions, special effects, prop descriptions. These things belong in your notes if you are planning on making the movie yourself.
Only put these things in the script if they are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to understand the story.
The script should really only consist of:
SCENE HEADING - When and where is this scene taking place? Is it inside or outside (EXT. or INT.)
Action - What is happening in this scene?
CHARACTER - Who is talking?
Dialogue - What is the character saying?
There are other things like transitions, parentheticals, and intercuts you'll learn later.
The screenplay should tell the story and leave many details open to interpretation by the director/cinematographer. If you read professional screenplays you'll be surprised at how a long fight scene simply says "They fight." The fight choreography is more easily described with a storyboard.
Watch movies and read scripts. Analyze filmmaking. If you want to learn cinematography watch movies without sound. Want to be better at dialogue, sound effects, or scoring music? Listen to a movie with your eyes closed.
Keep your screenplay simple. Most people put unnecessary details like camera moves, costume descriptions, special effects, prop descriptions. These things belong in your notes if you are planning on making the movie yourself.
Only put these things in the script if they are ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY to understand the story.
The script should really only consist of:
SCENE HEADING - When and where is this scene taking place? Is it inside or outside (EXT. or INT.)
Action - What is happening in this scene?
CHARACTER - Who is talking?
Dialogue - What is the character saying?
There are other things like transitions, parentheticals, and intercuts you'll learn later.
The screenplay should tell the story and leave many details open to interpretation by the director/cinematographer. If you read professional screenplays you'll be surprised at how a long fight scene simply says "They fight." The fight choreography is more easily described with a storyboard.
Watch movies and read scripts. Analyze filmmaking. If you want to learn cinematography watch movies without sound. Want to be better at dialogue, sound effects, or scoring music? Listen to a movie with your eyes closed.
Posted on 10/22/16 at 1:27 am to CleverPilot31
I'm not a writer but I work in the film industry so I have a wee bit of credibility here. Firstly, don't expect your material to ever go anywhere. It's utterly impossible to have a producer or major motion picture company read your material unless you're A) a WGA member with a strong resume or B) have strong ties to a big wig in the industry (not a PA, locations, electrician, grip, etc, but I'm talking Megan Fox is your cousin or your aunt is dating Christopher Nolan). Not being a dick, I'm just being honest. Even if it's Avatar, no one is going to waste time reading it REGARDLESS of what you read on the internet or what people tell you.You've got a better shot at getting investors to buy in and getting an indie crew to bring it to life. So don't get your hopes up because you'll set yourself up for disappointment. But if you're dead set on wanting to write a script, then do it regardless.
Read "How NOT To Write A Screenplay". No shite, this book is the ticket and will teach you E V E R Y T H I N G you need to know about screenplay writing. I don't know you're knowledge on story telling or creative writing, but you should totally learn how to write/tell a story first before learning how to transform it into a screenplay. There's obviously an art and a guide to it other than just opening up your laptop and starting on page one. It takes an arse load of brainstorming (characters, character arcs, backstories, conflicts, resolutions - everything that happens in a story has to happen for a reason and have meaning, etc.). And scripts are totally different than your standard novels obviously.
But mark my words, that's the best book to buy if you're serious about learning the art of screenplay writing. I'm not a writer, but I've read enough sides/scripts to know what I'm talking about and reading a script that an amateur writes compared to the sides that are written by a professional that we're given each morning is easily noticeable. You want to mimic the writing of a professional and not a high schooler who calls himself a writer because he downloaded Celtx.
I day played on the remake last spring. Never even heard of the original until then. I decided to watch it one evening and was surprised. Great, suspenseful film for its time. Looking forward to seeing how the modern day version compares.
Read "How NOT To Write A Screenplay". No shite, this book is the ticket and will teach you E V E R Y T H I N G you need to know about screenplay writing. I don't know you're knowledge on story telling or creative writing, but you should totally learn how to write/tell a story first before learning how to transform it into a screenplay. There's obviously an art and a guide to it other than just opening up your laptop and starting on page one. It takes an arse load of brainstorming (characters, character arcs, backstories, conflicts, resolutions - everything that happens in a story has to happen for a reason and have meaning, etc.). And scripts are totally different than your standard novels obviously.
But mark my words, that's the best book to buy if you're serious about learning the art of screenplay writing. I'm not a writer, but I've read enough sides/scripts to know what I'm talking about and reading a script that an amateur writes compared to the sides that are written by a professional that we're given each morning is easily noticeable. You want to mimic the writing of a professional and not a high schooler who calls himself a writer because he downloaded Celtx.
quote:
Jacob's Ladder
I day played on the remake last spring. Never even heard of the original until then. I decided to watch it one evening and was surprised. Great, suspenseful film for its time. Looking forward to seeing how the modern day version compares.
This post was edited on 10/22/16 at 1:47 am
Posted on 10/22/16 at 9:37 am to BradPitt
quote:
Jacob's Ladder...Great, suspenseful film for its time
Great suspenseful film, period. It's truly a classic movie in all aspects. It's a masterful film - one of Adrian Lyne's best directorial efforts (if not his best) and he's directed many great movies.
I didn't know a remake was planned. If true, it'll be terrible compared to the original.
Whoever remakes it will probably focus too much on the horror element and completely ignore what made the movie great - the plot (which was inspired by the classic Civil War short story - An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge).
If people would read An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge and then watch Jacob's Ladder, they would quickly realize why Jacob's Ladder is a special movie. The horror element is just icing on the cake. The real substance is the story - a spiritual struggle.
A focus on horror and not on a strong story/characters will be the reason the remake will fail. Some movies should be sacred and this is one of those movies. It would be like remaking One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest...why do it?
This post was edited on 10/22/16 at 9:50 am
Posted on 10/22/16 at 10:34 am to mizzoukills
Sex and violence. Repeat often.
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