Hello ladies and gentlemen, I am an aspiring screenwriter who has many questions on the ins and outs of the business. If there are archives to be read on the subject then please point me in the direction of them and I will save you the trouble of repeating the same answers you've probably given time and time again. I, like approximately 17 million other Americans, feel like I could write an incredible feature film...if not three. I have some history in creative writing (being first in my class) in college and have been published in a few magazines...(okay, okay, mostly cartoons, but still, hey, I was published). I have carried this thought with me for about a decade now and would like to make an honest effort at bringing it ti fruition. What would be the first five things that I need to do to take the proper steps in this direction? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
dont shoot the newbie...
- Thread starter NYker
- Start date
Matias Caruso
Member
There is a lot of free and useful information on the web.
Some of my favourites sites are:
The columns available at www.wordplayer.com
Christoper Lockhart’s blog: http://twoadverbs.blogspot.com/
William Martell’s script tips: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/index-2.htm
You could also purchase screenwriting books like The Screenwriter’s Bible (Trottier) which covers story and format basics.
Some of my favourites sites are:
The columns available at www.wordplayer.com
Christoper Lockhart’s blog: http://twoadverbs.blogspot.com/
William Martell’s script tips: http://www.scriptsecrets.net/index-2.htm
You could also purchase screenwriting books like The Screenwriter’s Bible (Trottier) which covers story and format basics.
YaBoyTopher
Active member
go to www.simplyscripts.com they have a ton of feature scripts you can read.
Reading scripts that have been successful can be one of the best ways to learn. They also have a very helpful community on there forums if you need pointers (ofcourse dvxuser is the best place to get help but cant hurt to have another)
After you do that go to www.celtx.com its free screen writing software that will help you with formatting.
and then ofcourse there are countless books on the subject.
Then all thats left is to start writing...at first you may not like what you have but keep writing and you will get better and better.
Hope that helps.
Reading scripts that have been successful can be one of the best ways to learn. They also have a very helpful community on there forums if you need pointers (ofcourse dvxuser is the best place to get help but cant hurt to have another)
After you do that go to www.celtx.com its free screen writing software that will help you with formatting.
and then ofcourse there are countless books on the subject.
Then all thats left is to start writing...at first you may not like what you have but keep writing and you will get better and better.
Hope that helps.
Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
Read Aristotle's "Poetics", at least the section on plot
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/resources/poetics/poettran.htm#Section5
Aristotle invented the 3 act story, and the notion of surprise twists, etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting#Three_act_structure
Structure a screenplay using Aristotle's 3 acts, and of course the Hero's Journey elements if possible and appropriate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting#The_Hero.27s_Journey
For short scripts there is little time to go too in depth with hero's journeys and characters, but still good to study, esp. for feature screenplays.
Just my nickel's worth of thought, and I might owe you some change back.
Randall
http://www.leeds.ac.uk/classics/resources/poetics/poettran.htm#Section5
Aristotle invented the 3 act story, and the notion of surprise twists, etc:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting#Three_act_structure
Structure a screenplay using Aristotle's 3 acts, and of course the Hero's Journey elements if possible and appropriate.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting#The_Hero.27s_Journey
For short scripts there is little time to go too in depth with hero's journeys and characters, but still good to study, esp. for feature screenplays.
Just my nickel's worth of thought, and I might owe you some change back.
Randall
Last edited:
seansshack
Well-known member
Good articles.
Randall_Oelerich
Veteran
Just be aware that sometimes the free scripts online are actually transcripts, not the actually screenplay written by the original screenplay writer; such scripts usually state so upfront.