How did you start to write?

Kaban

Kaban

New member
Well I'm new to this thing, haven't wrote a screenplay yet. But I got some ideas for movies, so probably in future I'll write something.

So, tell what made you to start writing screenplays? And how was your first work?
 
I discovered Syd Field's Screenwriter's Workbook when I was sixteen. At the time it was one of the only books on screenwriting available. My first work was a piece of crap.
 
As an editor, I really wanted to start moving into directing and telling my own stories. My sig should say everything about my first work :P
 
I started with an idea for a novel, but then wanted to know how to make it into an independent film - so I went online and learned about format for screen. Eventually really studied other scripts found online and was motivated to write other scripts.

At first, I thought I only had "one" story in me. Now I can't keep up with my ideas.
 
singlemomsince95 said:
I started with an idea for a novel, but then wanted to know how to make it into an independent film - so I went online and learned about format for screen. Eventually really studied other scripts found online and was motivated to write other scripts.

At first, I thought I only had "one" story in me. Now I can't keep up with my ideas.
Click to expand...
Yeah, I'm also now reading up all the info on the internet about how to write theese screenplays. I already have few ideas for movies, but what I'm unsure is that if I'll be able to put theese ideas on the paper in a ideal way. Gonna be hard work for me, but I've always dreamed to be in the movie business. :D
 
Hey Kaban,

I strongly recommend checking out this site:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html

-and reading all of the columns on that page. They're written by Terry Rossio, who, along with writing partner Ted Elliot, is responsible for some of the biggest movies of the past decade, and then some. Their screen work includes "Aladdin," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and "Shrek," among others.

Rossio really goes into detail about the ins and outs of not only writing as a craft, but as a career and as a way of life. He talks about everything from the studio system to writing on-set for POTC in the middle of the Caribbean. It's a great resource for anyone looking to get into screenwriting as more than just a hobby.
 
Very nice link, and columns/articles at the link. Thank you for sharing. Reaffirms so much of what I am realizing, and telling co-writer friends (concept, concept, concept). Inspirational.
 
Yeah, wordplayer is a great site. I only wish those guys wrote better movies. For me, Aladdin is the only works that holds up. The Pirates movies felt like they were made up as they went along, with its 'rules' changing from moment to moment. And Shrek is kind of lazily plotted. I think the wit in their dialogue and characters is their biggest strength.
 
Last edited:
Batutta said:
The Pirates movies felt like they were made up as they went along, with its 'rules' changing from moment to moment. And Shrek is kind of lazily plotted. I think the wit in their dialogue and characters is their biggest strength.
Click to expand...

I agree. Ironically, though, that's what I love about the POTC movies. The first one was well-structured and thought-out, and honestly it's my least favorite. I still love it, but what I love most is that I think Elliot and Rossio used their lack of a decent amount of time to pen the second and third films as an advantage - they began writing like Jack Sparrow acts, completely making it up as they go. I think it added a lot of fun and character to the screenplays/movies.

That said, I know a lot of people didn't like that style. That's cool too. <grin>

I liked Shrek, but like you said, it was mostly because of good dialogue and characters. Though, with that one, they were adapting a children's book, so I'm not sure what exactly they had to work with in terms of plot.
 
Michael Traven said:
Hey Kaban,

I strongly recommend checking out this site:

http://www.wordplayer.com/columns/welcome.html

-and reading all of the columns on that page. They're written by Terry Rossio, who, along with writing partner Ted Elliot, is responsible for some of the biggest movies of the past decade, and then some. Their screen work includes "Aladdin," the "Pirates of the Caribbean" movies and "Shrek," among others.

Rossio really goes into detail about the ins and outs of not only writing as a craft, but as a career and as a way of life. He talks about everything from the studio system to writing on-set for POTC in the middle of the Caribbean. It's a great resource for anyone looking to get into screenwriting as more than just a hobby.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the site, man. Gonna check it up.

By the way, Merry Christmas to everyone!
 
screw concept.

screw concept.

not to throw a monkey wrench in your learning, but UCLA teacher Richard Walter believes, as I do, that the most overrated overvalued thing is the concept. pulp fiction, true romance, inglorious basterds, almost every tarantino penned movie is relatively low concept.
black swan. the fighter. a serious man. all low concept. no country for old men was about a BAG OF MONEY, the most overused crime movie concept in the world.

If you start with a simple idea, and start making the details interesting, the concept will get more high concept. its a spectrum. true grit: western guy wants to track down a killer. low concept. a young girl goes with him. high(er) concept.

think pulp fiction, not liar liar.
 
@Memento, while I agree that concept isn't everything, it's certainly important, unless you think you're of the skill-set of Tarantino, Aronofsky or the Coen brothers.

Give any of the films you listed to anyone but the people who made them, and they would've failed miserably at the box office. Inglourious Basterds, directed by George Tillman? Fail.
 
Michael Traven said:
@Memento, while I agree that concept isn't everything, it's certainly important, unless you think you're of the skill-set of Tarantino, Aronofsky or the Coen brothers.

Give any of the films you listed to anyone but the people who made them, and they would've failed miserably at the box office. Inglourious Basterds, directed by George Tillman? Fail.
Click to expand...
Is that the movie about thos jews killing some nazi's and in the end being ownt? :D
 
Haha, something like that. It's actually not really a centrally-focused movie. That is, there's no real main character or main narrative plot. It intercuts several different stories, much like Pulp Fiction. The main thing the movie runs on is suspense, the "bomb under the table" that Hitchcock spoke of. In this case, however, Tarantino is the bomb under the table. Without his unique style, the film would be a mess.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top