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The Insider's Scoop They say by the time it makes it to the screen, a film is a story that's been told three times: once by the screenwriter, once by the director and once by the editor. Welcome to step one.
Writing, as in all forms of communication, involves an interaction between three parts: the sender, the message, and the receiver. In terms of screenwriting, you're the sender, the script is the message, and whoever reads it is the recipient. First off, as the writer, you have to construct your message in such a way so that the reader will understand you. A writer writes with the reader in mind, and if you're writing for it to be sold, that means write in industry standard screenplay format. It sounds daunting, but there are lots of books out there to help screenwriters with proper format. One recommendation is: The Screenwriter's Bible, by David Trottier. It's also a good idea to pick up some screenwriting software (search the web for better deals than what you'd find at most retail stores), as these do much of the tedious formatting work for you. If you think proper formatting doesn't apply to you, quit writing now and save yourself some energy. It does. Sure it's constraining, but snooty industry readers will take great joy in tossing your one-of-a-kind original script in the trash just because you decided to use a much better font than boring old 12-point courier. Okay, you have the formatting down, now it's time to write. Just so you know, everyone's got a story, believe me. Go to any party and tell everyone you're a screenwriter. By the fourth round every drunk fool you've told will stagger back to you to say, "I've got this great idea for a screenplay, just last week I got really wasted and then...," but as a screenwriter it's your job to craft your story into a screenplay that someone will actually read. Again, write with the reader in mind. If you're wondering what a screenplay is, well, a very concise definition of what it needs to accomplish is this: Enable a sympathetic character to overcome a series of increasingly difficult, seemingly insurmountable obstacles and achieve a compelling desire (from Michael Hauge's: Writing Screenplay's that Sell). How to do that? It takes a lot of practice and a lot of learning. A lot. Suggestions at developing your skills as a screenwriter are: visit screenwriting websites (www.screentalk.biz), read produced screenplays (www.script-o-rama.com/snazzy/dircut.html), read magazines (www.screenwritermag.com), and books on screenwriting (authors Syd Field, Linda Seeger, Michael Hauge, Robert McKee). Just as important as that is to get out of the house and interact with other screenwriters. Become active in film and screenwriting organizations in your area. In Atlanta there's Image Film and Video (www.imagefv.org), the Atlanta Screenwriters Group (www.atlscript.org) and others. Did I mention it takes a lot of practice? Once you're done (and you're never done, by the way) now you must convince anyone and everyone to read your stuff. In the short term, that means giving it to friends, family, peers and anyone else you can actually get to read it and give you feedback. With that feedback you continue to craft it into something good enough to make it to your long term goal of getting into the hands of someone with a boatload of money just begging to buy it. And that's just step one. Good luck. Nathan Flood is a local screenwriter currently working on his second feature length script, "Science Fair Project." |
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