Can screenwriting be taught?

[empireravenshadow5]

talkin about teaching screenplays...paf, ...i'd rather do my usual 5 movies a day.

[TheTopBloke]

I'm sorry to sound like an asshole, but seriously, I've noticed that every english person on youtube discussing screenwriting just bables on and on and contains absolutely no relevant substance. WTF?

[foxcamm]

Most instructors of screenwriting never spent a single day working behind the gates of a studio in the story department.

[geiadude]

I have a concept. A story. How do I share this with others?

[RizzoTheRatt]

@geiadude Send your script to the WGA to get copy-writes to it. Then send it out to agents.

[astrologysongs]

Good info,

Thank you from HOLLYWOOD SCREENWRITER -the song.

[Screenwriteofpassage]

Good lecture. I would also add "read a lot of scripts" to this list, especially recent ones, to stay on trend.

[laughingcrows]

Huh oh, he told the truth. Nobody in the academic world is going to like this.

After all, how can learning happen unless you pay someone to force you to do it?

[youenvy]

hmmm pretty good speech

[TheRealBladeRunner]

It can't be taught imo, it's intuition.

I'd be prepared to put in more than he says per week: But to think I'd be earning anything -- even minimum wage -- is nonsense.

[samizdrama]

Where was this lecture held?

[maxguaverra]

i don't think it can be 'taught', but the fundimentals and idea's can definetly be schooled...

...the best way to learn is to watch movies!!! All kinds of movies; good, bad, old, new, etc...

[TheRealBladeRunner]

Yes but obviously you have to write as well I'm sure you'd agree ;)

And there are certain conventions in films: E.g. apart from the really obvious most screenplays will have at least a few attractive -- as in attractive looking -- characters in them. Male and female. So writing a film about old people-only, whilst it might be a good film, will probably not appeal to a mass audience.

Also you have to think about what ages all the characters start at in your film. Age 16? 25? 30? 40? etc..

[BastardfromtheBush]

George Bernard Shaw said, "Those who can, do ;

those who can't, teach. I don't know if this guy, Friedman or Lejos Egri, Robert McKee, Syd Field, John Truby themselves ever wrote Oscar-winning screenplays but their advice & methods are gleaned from years of hard study & research and they're a good place to start.

Perhaps you won't become a Joe Esterhas, Rod Serling or Paddy Chayevsky by studying them but you'd become one hell of a script doctor.

[burpo]

@BastardfromtheBush I understand your point, but if I wanted to be Muhammed Ali, I wouldn't necessarily seek out Ali's advice. I'd seek out Angelo Dundee. Experts aren't always examples. They are students of the subject. I'd listen to a marriage counselor who has exhaustive research, even if they are divorced. Lots of doctors smoke. Just a thought.

[TheTopBloke]

@burpo Every doctor I've ever known drinks like a fish.

[burpo]

@TheTopBloke (laughing) Too true. Too true.

[womblewandering]

@BastardfromtheBush

Robert mckee may not have wrote any oscar winning sreenplays but his students have. They wrote forrest gump among many others.

Thats good enough for me ;)

In my opinion, a good teacher is not someone with fame. Its someone with wise teachings that make sense.

We have to remember that just cos a script is made into a movie, doesnt mean its good. We have plenty of examples of those.:)

[kokopellifan1]

@womblewandering

Forrest Gump is my all time favorite movie ever (and Tom Hanks is my favorite actor).

[BewareOfMyEgo]

There's too many wannabe writers. 80% of them watch too much youtube, movies, and television and think they're the next great "artist". I wonder what they're doing this very second?(nothing)

[1934388206]

Well if they are reading your comment, they are watching a video on screenwriting, i think thats doing something. If formal higher education is not a viable option, its a good way to learn the method. And i think your perception of a 'wannabe writer' as you eloquently put it is a little harsh, most up coming writers know they wont be rich wont be famous and most likley of all not be great.

[BewareOfMyEgo]

True, I guess I'm just jaded. But wouldn't you agree that screenwriting-and pretty much all of the film making process for that matter-is best left in the hands of Japanese sex slaves?(who aren't handcuffed to a Bowflex in my basement)

[1934388206]

Who can forget, Chinatown was written by Harigawa Horibe while confined to a basement, daily pelted by orange peels, but i'm afraid such days are gone. I think hollywood and all film industries would benefit better from more spec scripts in the industry, dedicate whole sections to em, well better than now. But the Indian film industry needs better producers.

You'll have to excuse all the typo's and mistakes.

[BewareOfMyEgo]

Ah, a Bollywood reference. I'll give them credit, they know how to make a musical. And the whole idea of arranged marriages is sexy.

[xneeneex]

I agree with 1934388206. If someone wants to be a screenwriter, it would be a good idead to actually watch something about screenwriting. It's not like they are going to write all day, everyday.

[tayloreh]

Damn essays, I knew it!!

[sifigrasshopper]

very good , thanks i saved this to Favorites 5/5

[TheRealBladeRunner]

Great video, thanks.