Depends on what works for you, but personally I'd write an outline first before starting on a feature-length script. Even if you have two or three pages listing the main scenes, it's going to be a lot easier to turn that into 90-120 pages of script than starting from scratch knowing nothing about where the story is going to go.

You might want to start by figuring out a few great scenes for your western, and then working out a plot and characters that let you link those scenes together into a complete movie script: that's often helped me in the past.

I think he's right. Countless times I've gotten into a script and just had totally no idea where to go with it because I didn't plan it out first. Sometimes you may be able to plough through to the finish but personally I believe its much easier if you know what you're writing first.
The choice is up to you though. Good luck with your film and keep us updated with your progress.

I have a tough time writing a script without making a outline first, (even if the outline is only a page or two). I find that I am MUCH MORE productive when I have a simple outline of some events that happen sometime along the way of the story.

What I love to do when I first start writing a new script: I close my eyes and I just think of three our four "Really Cool" scenes in this story that I haven't written yet. Just four really cool scenes. The more detailed the better, (in my case). Then all I have to do is stick them in order from 1-4 and connect them together. If my scenes are detailed enough then the story pretty much writes itself because the scenes have to match up with the story. Yep, that?s my advice. Good luck! Let us know about your progress, (even hope to watch it on the big screen some time).

Future Director,
Tyler Ives

The best Westerns often distill down to a Myth or an Archetype. What's your own favorite? Perhaps you could use that as a starting point and then mold your imagined scenes to fit.

--Marc
August 30, 2004 ? 8:01 PM