How to Write a Script - Getting Started

[MadMrConin]

@lilylessons Do you meen write the script? If so I would!

[lilylessons]

Who want to make my movie?

I'm going to do another surgery maybe documentaly

[ThorFan4Life]

When Mike Bark was a boy he gave a beggar a basket full of bread the beggar gave him a corroded coin and dissapeared. He kept the coin with him always and prospered in all things. One Christmas eve he lost the coin on his way back from midnight mass. He sprinted home to see the beggar dressed in a suit helping his wife and kids decorate the house shocked he ran into his house. They didn’t recognise him. some time later the beggar goes to him and tells him that he would be nothing without his lu

[TheToolfan123]

what if ur a producer can u make a script

[TheCadillacjoel]

@TheToolfan123 Most producers have helped with scripts.

[trams33]

great info thanks

[officereagle]

Does most of this apply to short films too?

[normalguyable]

im a vegan scriptwriter, its given me so much energy, try it!

[ballwizard6]

i have created alot for my story and i do not have a title lol title is hard

[EmperorFishFinger]

$39.99/month. Wow.

[NotEntertaining]

usefull info

[applemac00]

we want writers, poets, people who write reviews, bloggers anyone who writes any type of literature to feature on our site

check it out, its new and they are competitions, and tutorials all coming

[ThisIsWhatJackHasToS]

This website isnt free-:(

[damaginglazines]

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[STEPHAN61001]

Thanks a lot

I've been working on my screenplay for a couple of months now and I'm greatful to get good information like this from time to time.

[Bortsthename]

How can anyone take this seriously? Giving advice on writing when they can't even spell 'luxury'. They get work too, that's the disturbing thing.

[placebo4yo]

i need help! What do you name the MAIN CHARACTER if he does not have a name throughout the story. (This character is very mystique and searching for who he is).

So what would I name him, throghout the script and in the dialogue?

[newbcake152]

@placebo4yo how about Sarit

[MrGearsOfWar96]

@placebo4yo A prontaginist.

[E5CAPEGOAT]

@placebo4yo M.C.

[mrpinkproduction92]

@E5CAPEGOAT I knew that one was the right choice. Except I didn't use the acronym.

[AceGuitarR7]

@placebo4yo in layer cake with daniel craig we never know who the main characters name is and in the credits hes just listed as "XXXX"

[Floorsnarl]

"SOMETHING IN RETURN" 

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PRAY FOR REX WOOLGROVE. PRAY FOR HIS DEATH.

WISH HIS DEMISE BEFORE THE UNTHINKABLE.

PRAY FOR THOMAS, THE SON.

PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION AND HIS FRIENDS.

BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY....

....PRAY FOR YOUR SANITY!!!

Find the screenplay @ circalit.com. View now for FREE! before it's theatrical release.

[benniquaid]

Personally, I can't start with a title. I start with the theme and as the story progresses, titles start to come to me, and then I filter them from there.

[zeldamax28623]

I always start with a killer title and build up my ideas on that to form a story.

[sirussm]

That's what I always start with the title, it's like giving

the story a face to look at.

[BlackSkullz09]

I have an idea for a script and it's a Thriller, but i cant find anyone who has a copy of a dummy script so i can copy in order to write my own script. Ok what i mean is i want a script i can look at and sort of transfor how it's written to my own idea for my script. Kinda like tracing something over a blank paper lol. Ugh i cant find this info anywhere :(

[Biscuitchris7again]

wwwDOTscript-o-ramaDOTcom

However, you cant just pick one script and treat it like a blueprint. Read a lot of scripts. And not just Thriller/Horror. Read as many as you can, but be careful, a lot of scripts, especially those written by accomplished writers, as well as directors tend to be incorrectly formated. They've gotten to the point in their career where they don't need to follow the rules anymore, but you and I do I'm afraid. I can go on if you want me to...but...

[Biscuitchris7again]

...If you're serious, go out to your local bookstore and buy two books, "Save The Cat" by Blake Snyder and "Your Screenplay SUCKS!" by William M. Akers. "Save The Cat" is the basic breakdown of a screenplay, it will teach you where to put what, and even on what page a plot point should happen, don't treat it like the Holy Bible, but it will help you as a new writer. "Your Screenplay SUCKS" is more of, "you did this...you should have done this." They are both great books to get you on your way.

[BlackSkullz09]

@Biscuitchris7again thanks :)

[WestBlueWood]

this is good

[WhiteRussianBC]

I wanna punch him

[TBIES71]

my problem is i want to write horror scripts, i have good ideas and can see scenes in my head but ive never written in my life and dont know were to start! annoying!

[Thorudon]

@TBIES71 I'm having pretty much the same damn issue. I have the idea, I have the story, plot, title, I've written about 3/4 of it into a book, but I would rather make a script. Just don't know where to start.

[MrSGproductions]

@TBIES71 same problem i have man haha same exact problem

its like u know what u want but u dont know how to explain it in a way so that everyone understands it

[pikiwiki]

Actually, I think a title is pretty important. It's the most succinct description of what the movie's about. It should, I suppose, encapsulate the idea of the movie and therefore, can be quite challenging. I found the info in this broad, but- for me- it hits the nail on the head. As I watch more movies, I come to the conclusion, which is- What do I want to learn, today? It's that simple. What simple premise or truth is going to be expressed in a feature length script? Simple is power.

[SeFu2006]

I'm currently preparing for making a COD machinima and this will help me do so.

[yammer123]

horrible idea

[ddin2012]

i'm a student, 17 this year. i just want to ask, what do i do when i desperately want to write a movie script without any programs and gadgets, without knowledge about writing movie scripts? But i have ideas about stories for movies that i think that they are great and i really Really want to write them! I'm really serious about this and i want to ask a professional for help! Please offer me some help if you see my comment. i will be waiting for your reply!

[kidstud1]

ddin2012 - Writer's Cafe - free software download. It's really neat and truly amazing! One caveat, you can't print from the free version but use it to outline and develop your story, plot, characters, etc. Then use NeoOffice (an MS Word knockoff) or Celtx for screenwriting, both free download apps.

[RooosterKogburn]

@ddin2012 well develop your skills first off. research on how to properly write a script. once you do that all of these ideas you have will just fall out into the script. there a lot of free programs out there that formats it and everything. the best free i have used is Celtx. but if you want to buy one i would go with final draft for sure because it is the industry standard

[bingstar316]

What was the "theme" to police academy 4?

[Chitownrunthis]

Lol how to write a script over the net simply impossible to teach - for all you newbies it takes years to learn the craft of screenwriting so start reading cause 9min vid will not cut years of hard work needed to achieve this goal

[CrymeTymeRule]

the best thing for a title is the main object or character of the story. like TITANIC, it's what brought the two together, and creted the whole point to the story.once you come up with a title, you can accomplish almost everything in the story.

[NauticalFILMS]

the hardest thing about writing screenplay is most screenwriter get writers block.

Yes, this happens everytime.

[jackstitty]

i can write scipts all day without writers block....i jsut dont know who i could pitch them too...i live in ohio....how do i sell a script????????????????

[NauticalFILMS]

YOu have live popular locations in order to get script sold.

Don't waste your time writing screenplay while living ohio. no buys screenplay from ohio. you either move to ny or california.

[WallyWadeMovies]

I don't want to sound like a dick, but seeing that you can't even write properly leads me to think that you are not someone to be giving advice.

Telling people to stop writing because they are not LA trash or artsy NYU students does not mean that they have to abandon their city to sell something like a script.

Its ok to sacrifice, but one must gain from it.

Moving to LA and dicking about wont sell my script. I know that much

[NauticalFILMS]

Not true. It's hard to get movie script sold in differnet locations. It does not matter how good the grammar is or writing skill is.

You see New York And California have higher education standards than any other states. Millions writers come from California and New York.

It's more like simon cowell. "Yes -- I'm going to buy this screenplay. Tell me about yourself"

Most Hollywood industries want box office screenplay.

[WallyWadeMovies]

NY and Cali doesn't have higher education standards. If anything, those 2 states have the most college drop outs from east to west. But that doesn't have to do nothing with being a writer in Ohio. M. night Shyamalan Lives (and even films) in Philadelphia. I imagine his representation is in LA. But he still stays in Philly. The Whachowski Bros are from Chicago. And they got started with a cheap film (Bound 1996) before they made "box office screenplay" The matrix. Someone always starts somewhere

[NauticalFILMS]

M. night Shyamalan was a NYU student. Larry went to Bard College in New York.

Anyways, my best hope is not damage or discrimate writer's dreams. So tell me what's your screenplay about if you have any.

I live Flushing, NY. The Weinstein Brothers grow up there. I have sony vegas, final draft, celtx. Just pop me in. So we can start our film company together if you like.

[WallyWadeMovies]

I live in Las Vegas. So for me its not hard to go to drop by LA. I am not going to venture out till i finish atleast 4 scripts (I hope to get atleast 5 finished) I lose nothing by writing an hour at night. I am writing the "blockbuster" script, but its safe to make a budget conscience script too( yeah, i actually pause and figure out how much it would cost to shoot a scene) Sorry, no sniper inside a helicopter creeping up the side of a building. I am writing Comedy and cyberpunk genres.

[WallyWadeMovies]

Yeah. To me that is what is more important. Just knowing what branch to yank on. Its not like we can step into warnerbrothers and say, "Hey, i got a script i want to sell you. Wanna read it?"

I would imagine you need some kind of representation. That is what i want to know. I can invest the money and time (even to get a lawyer)

but it would help to know who has the job to read my random-no-name-script.

"Move to NY or LA" Thats very vague and dangerous. I'm goal oriented, not an idiot.

[jackstitty]

well if u figure it out and get rich let me be an extra or something...im broke...lol

[WallyWadeMovies]

Same here. I am at the threshold of destiny. Been working like a dog doing dead-end jobs. I think is when people hit rock bottom that is when they decide to get serious about what they dreamed to do. My dream was to be an animator. I have 2 ways to get to it, sell one of my crap-shoot scripts (which i am working on the 3rd one now) or just go back to school and follow a plan. So thats the place where i am. I made a promise to my GF that i wont chase this for too long. Just script writing

[jackstitty]

well im a rock bottom...also worked dead end jobs...and have no job...and have no idea what to do....lol....nothing is realistic anymore...you have to know someone or you dont make any real money.....i hate this fucking shit....

[WallyWadeMovies]

I just want to let you know that you are not alone. There are alot of people who are down (especially now) Even my father who likes to brag about how he is the king of the hill is starting to have financial troubles (i dont get along with him) but you're not alone. See your situation like this, "I am alive today, and if i wake up tomorrow, then that means i still have a chance to change things." You have to be stronger at your weakest moments. Get more ambitious.

[jackstitty]

yea ur right....i am ambitious though...i have alot of different skills...very define imagination, but that seems to not be worth shit for a person like me....just a random nobody...and i know about 60% of people everywhere feel like me....u have a good outlook on things...u will make it...all u have to do is bug people..nag and bug untill they give u what you want...its the only way...demand it..show no mercy for the answer no...

[WallyWadeMovies]

I will either be the next Spielberg or the next Ed Wood.-LOL

Ed Wood was happy making his crap movies. This is why i promised my GF that when i turn 30 i will abandon this nonsense. She's indulging me for the moment. But I love her too much to drag her in one of those conversations, "You got to believe in me baby. It will work" --20 years later, i sell the same line. No. My ex had an uncle like that. In his late 40's, no job, still convincing people that his cartoon idea was going to work.

[jackstitty]

lol maybe me and you do motivational speeches at schools.....lol..

[forevafresh24]

Sometimes the only way to get a title is to finish writing the sript, then you can get a bette jist of what it's really about.

[GEPSiTO]

Importany thing is to just learn from mistakes. There's so many people that read screenwriting books, watch movies, and don't actually write something. The best thing is to just write, write, write. Hemingway said, "Write until you're pupped"

[darwinplus010]

the thing is to have all ideas well define, to have a order of the events, come into details and later there´s the development of the whole plot, finaly we start polishing off the flaws, this is where the plot thicks!

[sinbadrichardson]

Ive never written a feature script, but the title as the first thing sounds like the worst idea ever. a working title sounds like a better idea and to not get too hung up on a title.

[FilmSchoolOnDVD]

Of course you can rework the title, as many of us do during the writing process. The entire point of creating a title is to help the writer begin to solidify his/her idea. The title and theme help dial in what the movie is about. Look at it as more of a writing tool for the writer than for the audience.

[spadeofhartz]

@FilmSchoolOnDVD burnnnnnn hahaha nice

[Tones4me1]

@sinbadrichardson I think that coming up with the title is important. This is the point where you not only understand the story and can "name it, so to speak" but you also are commit yourself to it. Like naming a baby. If you want a little girl princess name her Tiffany. Want a tomboy? Name her Sam. Now if you name Tiffany but treat her like a boy then the message is very mixed. Get it? Don't change horses in the middle of the race. Just a thought.

[Dimes329]

@sinbadrichardson I think they mean the first thing before you start writing. Like if you know what you want to write and you have a solid grasp on what your story is going to center around, then you should be able to formulate a title based on that before you start writing it. I dont think they mean, hey make up a title then start writing around it.

[iRayuLaz]

Ain't this more a Manuscript, than a script?

[weedipikia]

Start with the title? But how do you know the title before you know what it's about?  Reminds me of the idea of a "One Sheet World" where you design a movie poster first and then say "nice, this will sell tickets... now let's get to work on the script."

[GreySparkles]

I agree with you because Im writting a script and I have the whole screenplay in my head, I wrote all it's scenes in different order lol, and the title will be last for me. Give me feed back??

[bonyjoop]

i believe if you have the theme and the logline first then you can come up with the title

[nibargerswife51482]

But sometimes it's hard to come up with a title.

[SaintProductions8]

it is hard to come up with titles

[Schizophrenik7]

too general info.!

[samerhadionline]

Thanks !

[Adakai23]

AwSoMe!!!!!!!!!