How to Write a Screenplay That Doesn't Suck - 3 Tips for How to Write a Script That Will Sell

[acidunlimited]

This has been the single most useful video on youtube I've seen yet. Thank you.

[TheMykeSkillz]

Thanks for the info... Good video.. excellent information...

[JMBPR0DUCTI0N]

wow, this is sending me back to square one with a damn script i've been planning out and prepping to write for 2 months

[videofxnoosa]

thanks



[MJimiD]

More like "How to write a screenplay that sells." Most screenplays that sell suck, and a lot of the more truly beautiful and artistic ones end up on the shelf. Suckiness has nothing to do with money-making potential and if that's your main goal, you're a businessman, not a film maker.

[MissMerida]

i thought this was general knowlege in any form of literary writing

[JmonZta777]

nice, sounds good but how do i market and make some cash? can you tell me that.

[MKL257]

Thanks for the vid. I would like for you to make more videos explaining what the selling points were for many of the past scrips you covered.

[MissMerida]

@J03hb where do you go to school

[Derekmanster]

I like the way this guy cuts through the bull**it....he knows what he is talking about...good video

Baby Cow

[blackprincess82]

Great vid.

[josephrawlins]

who have you read for? Do you offer script-reading services, still?

Thanks!

[Custom09]

love this video! thanks for the email. It would have been great if you went longer actually. I love to hear about the "biz" and learn as much as I can.

[UnderCoverStrongGirl]

Thanxxxxxx

[SacredEffect]

WOW this is great i was wrighting a screen play stoped after my Dad passed away

in Nov 2010 i hope i can get back the passion to wright my movie your Info was great

i will watch this again and again after i start my screen printing bussiness then i will work on it again.

thank you

[minecraftfanactical]

You would rake in sum $ with this idea!

[the1mightygod]

if i have an idea for a movie, but have no script, (im a director btw) who do i approach and tell the idea to ? thanks

[richierich2k7]

@the1mightygod Very Good question,probably only question that really matters in Global entertainment industry.KUDOS

[RVingFullTime]

Don't know how you found my desire to get better. But, I'm giving a short lecture in March at my local camera club on "How To Make Videos That Others Will Watch". While I did know about making the video interesting by constantly showing a succession of threes (Hero, Hero's action, The result of that action), you have enlarged my thinking on how that could get done. I'm going to 'work in' your main idea in my talk to retirees who want to make better videos and slide presentations. Thanks.

[Stairc]

The principle you're trying to pitch is solid, and frankly one talked about in many of the sources you assume the reader has already read, but your presentation suffers from the weakness of the principle taken too far. Solid point, broken video structure. You only get to the point near the end and build up to it in semi-contradictory ways (one could argue that joining a punk rock band is what the story is just 'about') - then only give the reason why to conceptualize this way afterwards.

[Exigo6677]

MEN!!., this guy look like a GEY!!., in some Salon.,

[lucclaris]

@Exigo6677

[womblewandering]

The other key to writing a screenplay that sells.......link up with the illuminati.

100% guarantee you will rise to the top

[1knou]

It's nice to know your the main character in your writing

[lucclaris]

3) Casting

You are not the 'star' of this video - your topic is. Think of it as a documentary instead of a drama short, background the performer and become a facilitator rather than a lecturer.

And, as such, have a more accessible video.

See

The Story Book - a writer's guide to story development. principles, problem solving and marketing, by David Baboulene - on Amazon

[lucclaris]

@lucclaris 'The Story Book' will point you in the direction of the critical element that you left out of your formula.

[lucclaris]

2) Visuals

A good idea - but they don't always develop beyond them being a good idea.

a hint: when you're just chattering away, hold on a cutaway visual. Go back to your subject (you on screen) when you’re saying something worth listening to.

When you're talking about the formula - hold on the shot of the formula shot so that it can be absorbed by the viewer. [Unless, of course it's just crap which you included because it was a visual].

[lucclaris]

1) Dialogue

You're taking AT us instead of TO us which made the content difficult to absorb.

Try a more conversational tone, rather than a confrontational tone - difficult when making one's own video but a technique worth acquiring: remember, the audience must engage with the protagonist asap to create an emotional connection.

If you wrote this out as a script you would see how much you would edit out. There's too much chat that obscures the content.

[Tonsgard]

Great for someone who doesn't no how to write the "logline" - !

[flufferpuff67]

A living cliche starts his video off by insulting his viewers...

[flufferpuff67]

And who the fuck are you?

[MadMercutio]

Love it, awesome advice, thank you.

[fairlyfastfreddie1]

I'm not a screenwriter, I write novels, but this guy is hitting the nail on the head. Without conflict, you have no story - period! Doesn't matter what format - screen, novel, short story, play, etc. And this is what he is basically saying. I thought it was done very well, and not that "long" at all since there is so much more to writing a screenplay. I know, I have two first drafts sitting in my desk drawer right now. Maybe I'll try finishing them now. Thanks for the good tips!

[kinzeUK]

I liked this video and will subscribe thanks for sending me that email

[scriptbully]

@kinzeUK Thx! Any other stuff you want covered? I'm trying to come up with a few other topics

thx again!

[kinzeUK]

@scriptbully Ermm, well I guess just other basic pointers that us budding wannabe scriptwriters all want to know? I am downloaded Celtx but haven't set it up yet. Am suffering from Writer's Block and I haven't even started yet lol

[kinzeUK]

@kinzeUK *that should be "I have downloaded"

[richierich2k7]

@scriptbully hello sir, the1mightygod has comeup with an excellent question.Could yu plz make a follow up video on that topic.

[HotPocketsBoy]

all i wanna know is how does this guy know am a "film fan" lol. good vid tho

[Checker222]

Great advise! Well done!

[Trelli28]

your pdf is good advice though, I used these ideas when I write because I had read Mckee's "story" in the beginning and it stopped me for a while. Then I dumped the stupid book.

[scriptbully]

@Trelli28 McKee is good...but he over-complicates it in my opinion. (His book made structure look like math formula.)

thx for the kudos. And good luck with yer script!

[ninomojo]

@scriptbully But the book can be summarized in the few very powerful principles that are real easy to grasp. For example, one of them (probably the most important thing I learned from McKee) is - about your characters : "who they are is how they choose, under pressure". It seems evident, but a beginner (and hobbyist :) like me didn't know this, and it helped A LOT.

Agreed with what you say in your video otherwise, great advice!

[Trelli28]

bad way to start the video fella. You're making assumptions that the viewer's screenplay is crap. I only came here because you send me the video. Now that I'm here, don't try to insult me, you don't know my writing.

[HotPocketsBoy]

@Trelli28 trust him. it does suck

[Trelli28]

@HotPocketsBoy get a life

[HotPocketsBoy]

@Trelli28 I am breathing

[scriptbully]

@Trelli28 Yeah...you might be right. The opening insult might be a little strong. (But you'd be amazed how much junk I've read.)

[velwear]

@scriptbully Thought it was awesome. I actually have something I’d like to pitch your way if you don’t mind, so what I’ll do is mail you then go from there.

[Custom09]

@Trelli28

"you don't know my writing" lol just wow. I'd have to agree with the assumption that your writing is crap. good writers (and artists) accept criticism. Even great artists feel that their work is crap and hope no one realizes it. and most of the time screenplays are always crap. especially by people that think they're writing is perfect.

[Trelli28]

@Custom09 you sound like a failure in life who can't relate to the possibility of someone being a talented and insightful writer. I put the very first short I'd ever written on simplyscripts and three separate people produced it. Get some talent.

[Custom09]

@Custom09 forget it. not worth it.

[SummitTraxxas]

Thanks for messaging me!!

I was actually writing my screen play for a big movie and needed advice!!