4:00 A.M. Screenplay????

J

Jokerswild

Well-known member
Ok I know this is going to sound weird. Maybe I had too much spicy food before going to sleep or something but I woke up at 4 in the morning after a very very detailed dream that would make a super techno thriller movie. After the dream I debated going back to sleep knowing that I would never remember all the details....So, I got up , took the notepad out and then proceeded to write about 8 pages of this dream/script.

I can't believe how detailed the concept was..Now what do I do with it is my question. I wrote it like a story but I realize I first need to write it like directors and producers are used to seeing...Is there an area I can visit to give me tips on the best way to write this concept down in Cine lingo??
 
look at the faq in this section. It has links to books and websites that may help you.

in terms of what hollywood may want wordplayer.com is a good place to start. get books read them. post it up and people might be able to give you some advice.
 
I love waking up and spending an hour or two writing down the dream or what I could remember of the dream then heading back to bed thinking I have the next [insert a cool as **** movie here].

Then I wake up in the morning and can't even decipher what I wrote.
 
I can relate, as I've had some pretty strange dreams that I have always thought would make a great movie. I had one about seven years ago that was eerily like I AM LEGEND, except I had never read the book or watched any of the film versions before having the dream.

As far as learning "Cine Lingo", two books I highly recommend are linked below.

Writing for Emotional Impact

Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting

To get a feel for screenplay style and format, you can also read scripts online for free. Two of my personal favorites are:

Drew's Script-O-Rama

Simply Scripts
 
As long as you have the passion and the vision just keep writing. You can give it form and shape in the rewriting stage. Don't get too caught up in all the formatting issues at this point. Just get it on paper--even if it's just a sentence or an action. Write qickly. Stallone wrote Rocky in six days and it's the best thing he has ever written. Most people don't get great ideas that often so grab them while you can. Even if the script doesn't turn out as great as you thought you're a step a ahead of the game the next time around. It's a process.
 
Persue it. Naturally it would not be good to make it completely like your dream because dreams are always full of continuity. But I suggest you draw a lot of inspiration from it, then write. If for nothing else, because you wanted to see the turnout you came up with.
 
If I recall right. Clive Barker makes a point of taking notes on his dreams and turns them into novels. Some people say if its not worth remembering, its not worth writing down. I say bull. Take notes all the time. If the dream gives you a good start, them you are two thirds the way there.
 
I have never actually awoken with a brilliant idea from a dream, but i do tend to get some great inspiration around 2:00 AM as i lay in bed about to fall asleep...it never fails.

They all recommended you some good books to read up on Screenwriting but i also recommend trying Celtx its a screenwriting program that makes formatting and all that alot easier...its free also, there are some nicer programs that cost money but Celtx is a good starting point
 
A great book is Story by Robert McKee. Screenplay by Syd Field, mentioned above, is another top notch book. Also mentioned above, read a lot of scripts.
 
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