I've been thinking about becoming an author ar a screenplay writer when I grow up and I want to know.. my chances, I suppose, haha. I'm a very good writer, I'm creative and I'm in advanced language arts (a.k.a. English class) and I would like to know more about screenplay writing. Thanks.
2006-12-22 10:52:49 · 7 answers · asked by ELLE(: 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Performing Arts
Screenplay writing is like chess, easy to learn but takes a lifetime to master. Unless you are born with the talent.
Writing screenplays is harder than writing novels because in a novel you can just write, "he was lying" - In a screenplay you have to show he is lying - visually, ie; describe it as you will see it on the screen.
If you wrote in a novel that the secret agent walked slowly to his stolen car, it is understood.
If you wrote the exact same line into a screenplay (the secret agent walked slowly to his stolen car) a movie exec will throw it in the trash.
Here is why, that scene can not be filmed. On screen we would see a man walk slowly to a car. Unless he has a post-it note stuck to his head saying "Secret agent" we don't know who he is, and as for the stolen car unless it is written in big letters on the side of it we have no clue it's stolen. So your screenplay ends up in the trash, along with all the other wannabee writers.
For every 1000 screenplays written I might find one that is mediocre and with some revisions could become average.
For every 10,000, we might find a winner!
The reason for this is because people think, Hey! - I have an Idea, I have a word processor and I can spell!!!!!!!
This is why the industry hires readers - who get paid to look for a good script. They get paid between $15 and $30 per screenplay, depending on their level. So if there is a mistake the are allowed to "pass" on it.
I once got a vampire script, actually I have had many (it's actually the most popular genre) - popular for novice screenwriters that is.
Anyhow, it started by saying, " Enter Jeremy, he is gay and has the body of a weekend scuba diver"
This would translate (onscreen) to "a man enters"
2006-12-22 13:24:34 · answer #1 · answered by Nedzer255 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Screenplay writing is one of the most simple forms of writing. Some films barely have any major dialog. Rocky 1, Titanic. There are several software program for formatting scripts. There is a basic length of 100 pages or so that is suitable. Concept is the hard part. Writing dialog is easy. Map out your scenes on a large paper on the wall. make each scene separate so you can move them around. Take each scene individually. get to know you characters intimately and then start talking with each of them. where is the scene going? You create tension by having everyone being not interested in the intent of the scene, they must be convinced first.
Bad example; Katie:Terry lets go to the mall.
Terry: Ok
Good Example:
Terry lets go to the mall.
Katie:Are you kidding, do you remember the last time we went there together...
Now when you have your script write a short paragraph synopsis, now the hard part... find an agent because the studios will not accept anything unrepresented or unsolicited.
Good luck, it just takes tenacity!
2006-12-26 10:28:57 · answer #2 · answered by mogli 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'd say the good news is you can learn screenwriting, like a craft (the proof of that is how many movies being produced right now that fit a formula, over and over again). So, majoring in screenwriting at college or taking classes somewhere would be helpful.
The bad news is you will face major competition. In L.A., just about everyone has written a screenplay, so be prepared for a lot of competitors.
As for these other people who are talking about writing "great" screenplays, that's all opinion, and everyone will argue over what's great or what isn't, so don't let that stop you...
I say take a class at a community college or online & see if you like it
2006-12-22 15:45:45 · answer #3 · answered by thewhexican 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well, if you are going to write a screenplay, then you must first know how to express dialouge. One cannot just write a screenplay and expect it to be powerful. As you write, look at your work and sound it out; if it does not sound like right, erase it and write something else. I am not a screeplay write, but my friend is, and he is fairly talented. You must also loearn to be able to describe; to describe the scene, the tone of a voice, and the way a person is thinking to make the play more powerful. Hope this helps!!!!
2006-12-22 10:59:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
there are some sites that have info on screen writing and some sites that are chat rooms for those who work at it. It is like everything Else to do with writing nothing works better than practice I wrote 250,000 words in 2005 and 2005 but still don't feel like I am getting my stuff together well enough to be a pro at it just go to the library and get some basic books on screen writing and work on it I chat from time to time with a very well known author who has become an e-mail friend and he has 47 screen plays to his credit it was noting but work all the way but it did get easier once you have the bone structure done then y just go for it keep up the good work and never swerve from what you want to do. good luck
2006-12-22 11:02:10 · answer #5 · answered by doc 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I would like to believe that I am one of those that LC is referring to. She has a lot of respect for those who can’t speak English as well as she(or the learned) can. English is not my mother language although I learned a bit of it in school. But I’ve worked on it having been given opportunities. And I agree with Danny R, that the experience of a million years is the thing that pushes a person to learn the language and thus become a poet. So people may be born poets yet they need to learn the language of their current circumstance in order to be called “poet” by the people of that circumstance. Thus to me, there is such a thing as a born but "voiceless" poet.
2016-03-13 09:54:53 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
alll that junk is generic. based on a form. way easy but being good at english wont make u a good screenplay writer NOR an author. better luck as a proof-reader. u need creativity
2006-12-22 12:46:01 · answer #7 · answered by Steve P 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
shut up people. Hes lying, no you have to show him lying
Its the actors and the director that does the real work in movies.
you guys dont know anything about screenwriting so shut up
2006-12-22 13:33:45 · answer #8 · answered by a_l_m_o_s_t_famous 1 · 2⤊ 2⤋