Sold it! My screenplay--finalized deal this week!

Just read all the pages in this thread...Wow! How exciting! Awesome. Thanks for all the links and discussion, and the scripts! This has renewed my interest in screenwriting intensely...Time to read!

Chris
 
Congratulations Kyle. Your story is inspirational to baby screenwriters. You’ve been incredibly generous with advice and tips. I’ve downloaded “Story Elements”, that you’ve been kind enough to post. I plan to follow many of those tips, especially those relating to structure and character arcs.

I’ve been marketing one of my screenplays viaVirtualpitchfest.com, and I’ve had mild interest from Davis Entertainment (I, Robot) and Howard Rosenman (The Family Man) after they read my short synopsis, but both decided to pass on the project.

I’ve spent two years on rewrites following assessments, and even had an ex Universal Pictures script editor do a bit of fine tuning.

It’s been in the market for eighteen months with no success, and I want to give it the best chance of getting picked up. I seem to recall that you said in an earlier post that it was an entertainment lawyer who sold your screenplay. How did find him, and do you think this is the best way to market a script?
 
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Thanks for the book tip Kyle. I've arranged a meeting with a local firm of lawyers who are currently promoting a film festival here on Australia's Gold Coast. My script editor also suggests that an entertainment lawyer is the best way forward. Sound advice.
 
The layers of dialogue--it's like MUSIC

The layers of dialogue--it's like MUSIC

Hey Everyone,

This topic must've been addressed recently on another website because two people PM'd me about it within a few hours of each other so I thought I would share this with everyone.

Regarding dialogue, I think of it as MUSIC with multiple layers. This concept was presented at a John Truby class, and I've had the following notes on my wall ever since.

Hope this helps.

Kyle


Gone with the wind.
 
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Another goldmine thread of juicy knowledge. Congrats to you Kyle.

Since all the links to PDF goodies are dead in this thread I thought I'd pass along all of my favorite writing books zipped up for your viewing pleasure.

Enjoy.

A Gazillion Writing Books

 
Yes, JJ (e-mail correspondence), whether you're at the OUTLINE STAGE or GETTING READY TO POLISH YOUR SCRIPT, I absolutely recommend Karl Iglesias' Book (2005), Writing for Emotional Impact: Advanced dramatic techniques to attract, engage, and fascinate the reader from beginning to end.

And, no, I do not know him.:)

If you want a comprehensive resource on how the pros approach THEME, DESCRIPTION, STRUCTURE, EMPATHY, DIALOGUE, SUBTEXT, RISING TENSION, etc., with countless examples from great scripts, this book is for you. It's an excellent review of these story elements, showing you in detail how to incorporate them into your script. Style copying works, man! There's no doubt your writing skills will dramatically improve.


Karl has an awesome DVD course as well. You can get it at www.creativescreenwriting.com/expodvds.html or www.writersstore.com/product.php?products_id=2912
ON SALE right NOW for $81.99!!!! That's more than half off.
 
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Hey Kyle. I had two questions.

1) Could you please make a simple, straightforward list of the top 10 or 15 screenwriting books in your opinion and starting with the most classic/basic ones? I am young so I want to go to the beginning and catch up. If they were in an approximate order that would be absolutely great and extremely helpful.

2) I can not seem to find the zip file of the 157 scripts and I want to read them so badly. If you or someone else could re-upload them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks so much and congrats!
 
Books for new writers: I always recommend Michael Hague's book, it's great one stop shopping. Everything from structure to margins. Easy to understand.

My book is out of print, and last time I looked was selling for $320 on e-bay, so I wouldn't spend that kind of money. I do write scripts for a living - done it for almost 20 years, now - 19 produced, and many more sold. But I have free script tips every day on my website - right now it's 12 books worth of material. Free.

Mostly - read scripts & write scripts.

- Bill
 
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Entity said:
Hey Kyle. I had two questions.
Click to expand...
Entity said:
1) Could you please make a simple, straightforward list of the top 10 or 15 screenwriting books in your opinion and starting with the most classic/basic ones? I am young so I want to go to the beginning and catch up. If they were in an approximate order that would be absolutely great and extremely helpful.

2) I can not seem to find the zip file of the 157 scripts and I want to read them so badly. If you or someone else could re-upload them, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks so much and congrats!
Click to expand...

Okay, I'll try to do this from memory but I'll probably leave out a great book or two inadvertently. Please forgive me.

If you want a VERY BASIC understanding:

The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier
Screenwriting 101 by Neill Hicks
The Complete Idiot's Guide to Screenwriting by Skip Press

But I probably wouldn't waste my time with the above, unless you're completely green.

The following are much better IMHO (in no particular order):

Books
Story Sense by Paul Lucey
Power Screenwriting by Michael Walker
AFI Writing Great Screenplays by Dona Cooper
The Writer's Journey by Christopher Vogler
Writing Screenplays That Sell by Michael Hauge
Screenplay: Writing the Picture by Russin and Downs
Save the Cat by Blake Snyder
Story by Robert Mckee
Screenplay by Syd Field
How to Write High Structure High Concept Movies (& The Screenwriting Formula, 2nd book) by Rob Tobin
Blue Book Series & The Secrets of Action Screenwriting by W.C. Martell
The Anatomy of Story: 22 Steps... Master Storyteller by John Truby
Writing for Emotional Impact by Karl Iglesias
The Power of the Transformational Arc by Dara Marks
The Moral Premise by Stanley Williams

DVD courses
John Truby's Great Screenwriting Class
The Hero's 2 Journeys by Hauge & Vogler
Syd Field's Screenwriting Workshop
Karl Iglesias' Writing for Emotion Impact Master Class
Chris Soth's Million Dollar Screenwriting Course


Michael Hauge's review of structure is pretty good and available online:
www.screenplaymastery.com/structure.htm

How's that for 15 books off the top of my head?!

The zip file containing all the scripts-- well, I'll have to post that later tonight.

And just so you guys know I'm not blowing smoke... here's a nice photo I just took. And, no, I'm not selling these to anyone for $320, including you Bill!:)
 

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Also, don't forget to use all the tools in your toolbox!

Cliffhangers & Thrusters
Flashbacks
Backstory
Epiphanies & Revelations
Foreshadowing
Prologues
Imagery
Pacing
Subplots
Subtely & Subtext
Transitions
Theme & Premise
Tension
Suspense
Sense of Place

In 2008, I stumbled upon a book for the fiction writer--Between the Lines: Master the subtle elements fiction writing by Jessica Morrell--that shows these story elements in action. Sure it's for the novelist, but it's a good read that will probably lead to new ideas and directions for you current project.
 
Kyle I (and I suspect others) would be interested in knowing your methodology for writing, e.g. do you first come up with a premise, get clear on an inner and outer goal/motivation, then do a beat sheet with all the main beats and turning points (and how long did you spend outlining if you did that), then e.g. did you write a narrative without dialog, then add in dialog after that, etc. Or did you just jump in and start writing scenes, etc? And how many revisions did you do before what you considered was a draft worth of showing to agents/producers?

Also, I know you said you went with an entertainment attorney. Did you also first get an agent? manager? did you directly query studios/producers? I would be interested in knowing a bit more of your marketing plan of action you did for ultimately selling your screenplay.

If you would be so kind as to share your wisdom with us noobs that would be greatly appreciated. =)
~randall
 
Randall, you’ve outlined a very nice approach already!​

Everyone’s different. You have to do what works best for you. Some people can bang out a script on the fly in 3 weeks. Others prepare for a few months, then write the script.​

It took me 7 years to find my method. And it’s not unique or better than any other. In fact, it’s pretty boring. But, my approach affords me the greatest sense of readiness. And I need that. I have very little confidence in my writing until I know the story inside and out. Detailed preparation, for me, makes the screenwriting process SO MUCH EASIER! I have to feel it, breathe it, live it—all that crap!​

Brainstorm the idea for a few weeks. Add anything and everything to my notes I find pertinent—character names and traits, set pieces, themes, lines of dialogue, plot points, revelations, reversals, symbols, image systems, etc.—all the basic stuff.​

Clearly define the PREMISE. As discussed at length earlier in this thread, I always write from THEME and construct a premise that lets me prove my theme(s). Also, writing from theme prevents writers block and makes for a nicely cohesive package of a story. ​

Create a LOGLINE. Paste it on the wall next to my THEME statement(s).​

Write a TREATMENT. Prose, 13 pages. For me, it’s always 13 pages. Superstition. Ask George Lucas why.​

Create a BEAT SHEET. Sometimes an "extended" beat sheet.​

Crank out the FIRST DRAFT. The "VOMIT" Draft. Just get it done. They all suck. If you realize and accept this, it makes the whole process so much easier.​

MULTIPLE REWRITES. Finally the real writing begins. I am a much better editor than writer. Always do multiple passes: based on theme, character, dialogue, description, pace, scene conflict, etc.--each separately so you can focus.​

POLISH. POLISH. POLISH.​
 
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