Could you provide a little more info - to show what sort of level your at, so people can give advice approporate to you

There is not one way to write, you have to write the way you feel comfotable. I guess all I can offer is some practical advice:

1) Get a 1st draft down first! Sounds obvious but alot of people spend ages trying to make a scene perfect 1st time around, its called a draft for a reason!

2) Re-draft and re-draft. You have to keep going over it to improve it. Again some people think they are done when they finish it for the first time - that is just the start

3) Really focus in on making the dialogue realistic - often written dialogue is different to the way people actually speak. Just try to imagine the situation in your head and think what you would say or how you would react.

For dialogue - less is often more, for example, if you wrote this:
John: Look paul, Jason is over there

Go through and take out unnecessary words -
John: Look, Jason's there

Even with this basic (and very poor!) example it already sounds much more like dialogue.

Hope this helped!

Rob - UK

quote:

---

Originally posted by searformerclarityching

Hey guys

Are there any special techniques when it comes to writing scripts that might help a fellow filmmaker out?

Thanks.

---

There's too much to try to impart in a forum like this, which is why I always recommend the following two EXCELLENT resources for new aspiring Screenwriters. There are a lot of books and other things out there for Writers, but these two are the best ones I've found for NEW Writers:

http://www.amazon.com/Film-Scriptwriting-Practical-Manual-Second/dp/0240511905/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1291990765&sr=8-1

?url?www.wordplayer.com?/url?

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

I would like to add something regarding recommendations such as 'Film Scriptwriting: A Practical Manual'. I have seen quite a few younger aspiring filmmakers comment on this book, specifically about how old it is (and therefore, 'obsolete'). The second (and last) edition came out over 20 years ago, and the author died soon thereafter. They read the Preface to the Second Edition (..."Even real estate offices, hospitals, and small country schools have VCR units. And the simplicity of inserting a cassette of video tape versus threading film through a projector means that showing is easier and less liable to failures which used to plague film showings.") and after that passage, they give up on the book, assuming that there is nothing fresh or up-to-date in it. I've heard similar comments about Joe Mascelli's Five Cs of Cinematography (35 years old).

It is very important for young, aspiring filmmakers, to understand that, while the story telling methods of motion pictures took some time to develop, by mid-20th century, it was clear that no matter what technology you were to use and no matter what your story was about, basic rules and grammar (visual, as well as dramatic) was common for them all. These basic rules haven't changed, and will likely never change. The books on these subjects that were good in the 60s, 70s and 80s will still be good and relevant.

So, young filmmakers, when you take these old books out of the library, try not to laugh at "pictures of your grandfather" (in Mascelli's book), or references to VHS (in Swain's). The stuff in there is just too valuable to judge it based on when it was written. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and especially Euripides wrote some stuff 2500 years ago that is still relevant today...

quote:

---

Originally posted by Vasic

I would like to add something regarding recommendations such as 'Film Scriptwriting: A Practical Manual'. I have seen quite a few younger aspiring filmmakers comment on this book, specifically about how old it is (and therefore, 'obsolete'). The second (and last) edition came out over 20 years ago, and the author died soon thereafter. They read the Preface to the Second Edition (..."Even real estate offices, hospitals, and small country schools have VCR units. And the simplicity of inserting a cassette of video tape versus threading film through a projector means that showing is easier and less liable to failures which used to plague film showings.") and after that passage, they give up on the book, assuming that there is nothing fresh or up-to-date in it. I've heard similar comments about Joe Mascelli's Five Cs of Cinematography (35 years old).

It is very important for young, aspiring filmmakers, to understand that, while the story telling methods of motion pictures took some time to develop, by mid-20th century, it was clear that no matter what technology you were to use and no matter what your story was about, basic rules and grammar (visual, as well as dramatic) was common for them all. These basic rules haven't changed, and will likely never change. The books on these subjects that were good in the 60s, 70s and 80s will still be good and relevant.

So, young filmmakers, when you take these old books out of the library, try not to laugh at "pictures of your grandfather" (in Mascelli's book), or references to VHS (in Swain's). The stuff in there is just too valuable to judge it based on when it was written. Aeschylus, Sophocles, and especially Euripides wrote some stuff 2500 years ago that is still relevant today...

---

Nicely put. Which is also why I love to pass this on: http://johnaugust.com/archives/2009/media-mcgyverism

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

How do you get to Carnegie Hall? Practice, practice, practice. But, before that, take lessons.

How do you write? You guessed it. But, before that, if you have no education, take courses in basic writing, then go into script writing.

Write, write, write, and then write. But then write, after that write, then write some more, after that get somebody to read it, and be constructive, and then write, after that write some more. Then Write some more and then write, at this point you don't want to forget to write. Then study the master's like Mamet, Logan, Welles,Samuel Beckett, Arthur Miller, Graham Greene. Read screenplays, then read some more, and then write, write, and of course write. Read write, and after about 25 years if your lucky you will have a screenplay maybe as good as "Clerks". I'm mostly joking about the clerks part, but not about the writing part.

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191

quote:

---

Originally posted by Rjames

Write, write, write, and then write. But then write, after that write, then write some more, after that get somebody to read it, and be constructive, and then write, after that write some more. Then Write some more and then write, at this point you don't want to forget to write. Then study the master's like Mamet, Logan, Welles,Samuel Beckett, Arthur Miller, Graham Greene. Read screenplays, then read some more, and then write, write, and of course write. Read write, and after about 25 years if your lucky you will have a screenplay maybe as good as "Clerks". I'm mostly joking about the clerks part, but not about the writing part.

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191

---

I heard a story a long time ago, not sure if it's true or not, but it's good enough to pass on even if it isn't. 🙂

Anyway, according to the story, some famous Screenwriter arrived to give a talk/speech/workshop/(something like that) to an auditorium of aspiring Screenwriters. When he got to the podium, he simply looked out to the eager faces who were staring back at him waiting for helpful hints, advice, etc from this guy who had "made it."

The speaker merely said something like, "You want to be writers? What are you doing here listening to me for? Go home, sit down in the chair, and start writing!"

Then he left.

The point is obvious and I think that the only true thing to add is that while practicing can and does help a talented Writer get better, I'm not convinced that any amount of schooling, either formally or at home, can truly help an untalented Writer craft something wonderful. The best thing that a book or school can really impart is how to STRUCTURE a story. Once you grasp that, then if you're naturally gifted, it'll just appear on the page. This isn't to say that every story will come easily, but it will be a lot easier if you have some natural talent to begin with.

The other thing that www.wordplayer.com can help you with is knowing A) what to write in the first place and B) what to do with your work when you're finished writing it. You could write the most amazing screenplay in the history of history, but what good is it if no one in the industry sees it?

Anyway, it all starts with just sitting down and writing. You could spend years studying (I've even heard of people wasting time getting a Masters Degree in screenwriting... what the hell for?!) and reading books about screenwriting, but nothing happens until you sit down in front of a blank piece of paper and fill it with a story.

Brian Dzyak
Cameraman/Author
IATSE Local 600, SOC
http://www.whatireallywanttodo.com
http://www.realfilmcareer.com

Agreed Brian, my point basically was how do you know if you have talent for something if you haven't worked at it.

Sure Structure, plot, outlines, Charaters journeys, Themes, all that stuff will put you near the playing field, but nobody every hit one out of the park, without any practice.

The Professors at all Universities, want to see a well written screenplay that follows established rules. I think if Tarantino turned in Reservoir Dogs he probably would have gotten a C+ with these notes atached "Often uses an unconventional storytelling device such as retrospect. Try to follow a more linear story telling Device."

Reservoir Dogs was Tarantino's 1st feature film. He didn't have any experience so he went to the Sundance Lab to practice his directing skills. They made him shoot some of the scenes on video. Then he showed it to professional directors working there and they helped him out and gave him some pointers.

Myfilm"Shadow of Crime"
trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ig0HgDFFgMs

additional
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdNQyriKApA&feature=mfu_in_order&list=UL

Trailer:
http://www.vimeo.com/4103913
Where to buy:Shadow of crime
https://www.createspace.com/288191