Hey - new writer to the forum

A

Ammar

Member
Hey. My name is Ammar and I just came across this forum. It seems really cool here and from reading the posts everyone seems really nice so I thought I would stay.

I'm a science fiction screenwriter having finished a couple of shorts and have been working on an epic feature film for about a year. I'm extremely determined and passionate and fell in love with screenwriting last year.

I'm doing a Masters in Feature Film Screenwriting at the Royal Holloway University of London - which is awesome, and am currently still writing and learning, probably like most of you are.

I'm writing draft 2 of the science fiction screenplay now, having finished draft 1 in March and am really excited about having it finished and done.

And lastly - my dream is to sell the screenplay to hollywood. Then hey, maybe I can do this every hour of every day - forever.

You can find out more about me here, if you're interested: www.myspace.com/ammarnet

So yeah - hello everyone.

Ammar
 
Be sure to check out the ScriptFest II - Sci-fi writing contest on these forums, if you haven't already.
 
Hey there, welcome from an actor and a fellow writer! You will find this to be a great place full of kind, talented and fully clothed people (except for Rogan.)

If you ever need any help, shoot me a PM!
 
Welcome. This forum is full of amazingly talented and knowledgeable folks. Do well and visit outside the screenplay section.
 
Welcome to the house, man. Hope you enjoy yourself here.

Definitely locate the scriptfest II forum at the top of the page as the genre this time around is Sci-Fi.

Something tells me there will be something else coming up soon that will fit your described writing focus, so stay tuned for that too :beer:

Later,
Jason
 
Jason Ramsey said:
Welcome to the house, man. Hope you enjoy yourself here.

Definitely locate the scriptfest II forum at the top of the page as the genre this time around is Sci-Fi.

Something tells me there will be something else coming up soon that will fit your described writing focus, so stay tuned for that too :beer:

Later,
Jason
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Oh ****! You said too much J Man! You said waaaaay too much! Bwahahahahahaha! I feel almost privlidged now! Woo hoo! :D
 
Ammar,

I have a Q about Royal Holloway University of London MA program in Screenwriting. Is this course aimed at Hollywood or the UK industry?

EJ
 
EJ,

I would say that the course is aimed at both. When I was there we had people coming in from Hollywood and the UK industry. Most of the screenplays we studied and used for reference were also of American origin.

The course leader came from LA so the course is realistic in that they know movies are in Hollywood. When I was there I saw both worlds.

Hope this answers your question. Feel free to fire anymore my way.

Ammar
 
I know this is a petty silly question, but what, if any, did the course teach about "Americanizing" your specs? By that I mean using only American English vs English English.

EJ
 
Okay that is a bit out of left field. :) From what I remember, I was sat there in class when I asked a similar question.

We were told that it is very hard to make a script American if you haven't lived there though it really depends on your genre. If you're talking about just the English then we all wrote in British English - which let's face it is the real English. :)

I'm curious - are you concerned with having American language for Hollywood? Things like Americanize instead of Americanise?

Ammar
 
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Ammar said:
Okay that is a bit out of left field. :) From what I remember, I was sat there in class when I asked a similar question.

We were told that it is very hard to make a script American if you haven't lived there though it really depends on your genre. If you're talking about just the English then we all wrote in British English - which let's face it is the real English. :)

I'm curious - are you concerned with having American language for Hollywood? Things like Americanize instead of Americanise?

Ammar
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I was just curious as to what steps the MA goes to bullet-proof your specs for overseas markets, namely US market. Obviously the language is basically the same, but of course there are variations on spelling and such. That's what I'm getting at, the actual change and spelling or US words vs UK English (which is modern English).

Another Q if I may. What was the MA's stance on commerical ideas. Especially genre of what MA students should write? Did they teach the $$$ aspects of genre?

EJ
 
The course tutor was very stern on commercial ideas. She always said she would not judge a screenplay on whether it was a commercial idea - or rather the commercial viability of the project.

The course was more concerned with writing story - and the writing of the screenplay. They teach you to care about your story and why you are a writer. I remember something she said once. She said we were writers who loved movies.

So to be honest if you're looking for a Masters that focuses on commercial ideas in the US market then I would probably suggest something in the US such as the course in UCLA.

I'd love to refer you to my course, but some of the things you're wanting aren't the focus - though I can relate as these are some things that I'm interested in.

Ammar
 
Ammar said:
If you're talking about just the English then we all wrote in British English - which let's face it is the real English. :)


Ammar
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Yeah but you used the word "Awesome" in a very Canoga Parkish way. Don't tell me that's how you guys always use it.

Welcome to the forum.
 
Ammar said:
The course tutor was very stern on commercial ideas. She always said she would not judge a screenplay on whether it was a commercial idea - or rather the commercial viability of the project.

The course was more concerned with writing story - and the writing of the screenplay. They teach you to care about your story and why you are a writer. I remember something she said once. She said we were writers who loved movies.

So to be honest if you're looking for a Masters that focuses on commercial ideas in the US market then I would probably suggest something in the US such as the course in UCLA.

I'd love to refer you to my course, but some of the things you're wanting aren't the focus - though I can relate as these are some things that I'm interested in.

Ammar
Click to expand...

Thanks for the answers Ammar. I was just curious as I've never formally learned screenwriting, and was just curious as to the level of the MA in England.

What scripts and books were suggested reading in your course?

EJ
 
I can't remember straight off though it was mainly Chinatown, Dangerous Liasons, Little Miss Sunshine and others.

Screenplaywise it was anything that won an oscar or was exceptionally produced. Bookwise she suggested we stay away from the traditional screenwriting books and learn the craft straight from the course.

I do agree with her there as many books tell you direct rules which can't be applied to writing. She always said we should stay away from anything with diagrams which is in about every book.

The course was really concerned with story and writing, and having a uniqie voice. It was centred on what you're creating as a writer.

Hope all of that helps. To get a comparison of the level of the MA, the one I am on is either the first or second in England - directly competing with London Film School.

Ammar
 
Welcome. The more time you spend in here, the more this place will grow. I write science fiction too so it'll be nice to have another sci-fi writer in the mix.
 
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