12 Screenwriting Tips for Beginners
Guest Post
Screenwriting Tips for Beginners
Creative Commons Photo Credit: julianrod (PBUH)
I wish I had a dollar for every time someone told me they’re going to write the next, big blockbuster movie. They all say the same thing: “I have this idea for a screenplay… It could be huge.”
Sadly, most of these people never write a single word. Their ideas retreat to the backs of their minds, lost or forgotten. “I don’t know anything about filmmaking,” they say. “I have a mortgage, a family, a job. No time to diddle around with my dreams.” And worst of all, “Why bother?”
Can you imagine if George Lucas had said, “Why bother?”
Everybody Has to Start Somewhere
If you don’t know anything about screenwriting, then pick up a book and learn. If you have a busy life, then carve out short blocks of time; write a page a day. So what if it takes you a couple of years instead of a couple of months?
After all, somebody has to write movies, and it might as well be you.
Here’s a fun and useful list of twelve screenwriting tips for beginners. If you’ve ever had an idea for a movie but don’t know a lot about screenwriting, then these tips will help you get started.
Screenwriting Tips
Some of these screenwriting tips are mandatory (you have to format your screenplay or nobody will read it). Others are optional and are included to give you ideas and to provide you with techniques that you can use as you work through the process of writing a screenplay.
- Learn and memorize how to format a script properly. This is not optional. Agents and filmmakers will not read your script if they glance at it and see that it doesn’t adhere to industry formatting standards.
- Watch a lot of movies. Watch award winning movies and watch B movies, made-for-television movies, old movies, new movies. Watch them all and pay attention to what works. What makes one film better than another? Was it something in the script or did the director do it?
- Read screenplays for movies you’ve seen. You can get through most screenplays in less than two hours. The more you read them, the more ingrained that formula will be and the better you’ll understand the relationship between the screenplay and the final production.
- Read books on screenwriting. Look for interviews with successful screenwriters. Visit screenwriting sites on the web and start building a collection of screenwriting tips. Find out who wrote the screenplays for your favorite films and let those writers become your mentors.
- Get some software. There’s plenty of screenwriting software out there. You can use Word or another regular word processing application or you can get software that is designed specifically for screenwriting. Just know that at some point, you’re going to have to type and format your screenplay and using the proper software will make the tedious task a lot easier on you.
- Once you’ve finished brainstorming or outlining an idea for a screenplay, try writing a treatment to see how your idea pans out in prose. This will tell you if the concept works, and it will be a useful reference for you while writing the screenplay itself, and later on, when you have to write the presentation treatment.
- Study character development, dialogue, plot, and setting as well as storytelling. Don’t shy away from story formulas as they are proven techniques for successful scripts, especially for beginners.
- Master the art of writing. Study grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and voice. Learn how to write a comprehensive sentence and a compelling paragraph. By cultivating better writing, you’ll strengthen your screenplay and acquire the skills you need to sell it (writing proposals, treatments, and queries).
- Get it written. Yes, you should study the craft and spend time sketching ideas, but ultimately, you have to sit down and write your screenplay.
- Edit, proof, revise. Repeat. Repeat again. And again. One more time… It doesn’t matter if you’ve written the great American novel, an article for the tabloids, or a term paper. You should always polish your work carefully.
- Get coverage. Coverage is when you have someone review and critique your screenplay, and this someone should be experienced in screenwriting (as opposed to other types of writing).
- Write the presentation treatment. You’ll use this to sell your screenplay, so make sure it’s tight.
Once your screenplay is polished and shiny, you can start shopping it around. Consider entering some screenwriting contests and reach out to agents. If you have any connections in Hollywood, call in your favors.
Did you find these screenwriting tips helpful? Do you have any tips to add to the list? Share your thoughts by leaving a comment.
About the Author: Melissa Donovan is a website designer and copywriter. She is also the founder and editor of Writing Forward, a blog packed with creative writing tips and ideas.
Screen Legend Liz Taylor Dies
by Jaden
On March 23, 2011, screen legend Liz Taylor died in Los Angeles, California, USA.
February 27, 1932, London, Elizabeth Rosemond Taylor was born. As war was brewing in Europe, in 1939, she returned with her American parents back to the United States.
Liz won her first screen role in 1942 at the young age of 10 years old. Famous for so many movies, spanning over six decades, one would be hard pressed to name them all: Giant (1956) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966) are my favorites, two movies that blew my mind.
In 1963, Elizabeth Taylor made a record breaking $1,000,000 for her role as Cleopatra.
Liz had a saucy love life. Marrying actors, a singer, a construction worker, and a politician, not in that specific order, Liz married eight times to seven people. Richard Burton was the lucky doubler-uppper who starred in 11 movies with her.
Having issue with painkillers and alcohol surely caused its share of complications. Liz Taylor once said, “One problem with people who have no vices is that they’re pretty sure to have some annoying virtues.”
Being a child to such an unstable and famous parent must have been extraordinarily difficult for Liz’s four children. Yet, as often is the case, what is one’s weakness is also one’s strength. It is the unapologetic vivacity of Liz Taylor that is admirable and makes her stand out through the ages. She’s a person who lived life to the fullest and took every dangerous exciting plunge without fear.
Suffering great physical pains throughout her life, breaking her back several times, having a grave illness that required an emergency tracheotomy, having a brain tumor removed, three hip replacements, radiation for cancer, and finally the congestive heart failure that would not leave her alone, Liz Taylor paid her dues.
Japanese Screenwriter Kundo Koyama and Actor Ken Watanabe Unite to Help Japan
by Jaden
As Japan is beaten with over 200 strong earthquakes this past week, a massive devastating tsunami on March 11th, and nuclear crisis, Japanese writer Kundo Koyama (Iron Chef) and extraordinary actor Ken Watanabe (Inception, Letters from Iwo Jima, Memoirs of a Geisha, and The Last Samurai) unite to help Japan in this time of tragedy with their new website Kizuna 311.
They write: “Being involved in the Entertainment industry, we concluded that we must do what we can to the best of our ability… Our hope is that our message will show the uplifting efforts we Japanese are making to come together and help one another rebuild our lives after the earthquake and tsunami. We believe that this message inspires the power of Kizuna among the victims of these tragedies, and demonstrates our Kizuna to the world.”
At this sad time, some inexperienced American youngsters are receiving a shameful Internet fame for their ignorant comments and hateful videos, embarrassing themselves, America, and the entirety of humankind; meanwhile, other thoughtful unnamed people and old forgotten rival nations from around the world are coming together to help the Japanese, a long lived dignified culture of brilliant respectful fearless people.
Americans have counted on the detail-oriented Japanese people for its high quality products; without the Japanese exquisitely engineered automotive and industrial parts, many American industries are having to hit the pause button. America is and will continue to be affected by Japan’s calamity.
Joined by the Pacific Ocean, California is united by water with Japan. From their island, the Japanese people have made unmatched advances in technology and contributions to world civilization. It is in the interest of the USA and its people to help Japan in whatever way possible.
When earthquakes of magnitude 5, 6, or 7 destroy California towns, imagine having several of those each day, plus an 8.9 quake, a tsunami, and nuclear catastrophe! Only then, can you possibly begin to imagine what is going on over in Japan. It breaks my heart.
I’ve always wanted to go to Japan for its unique architecture, intricate arts, and sophisticated beautiful people. What is happening now in Japan is what I always feared would happen there, due to the location, so I never went. The most beautiful locations in the world are usually the most vulnerable to natural disasters for being at water’s edge. With that said, California, and particularly Hollywood, need to be much more prepared.
I would love to see screenwriter Kundo Koyama and actor Ken Watanabe work on a movie about the Japanese fire fighters, nuclear engineers, and plant workers who put themselves in the hands of death for duty and for their people. These people are currently working at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in a desperate effort to cool the plant before a complete meltdown. Half the profits of the movie should go to the families of these anonymous heroes. Hollywood movies reap millions of dollars and these families are going to need and deserve it. It is one thing to die unexpectedly from a natural disaster. It is another, and most noble, to die in an effort to save strangers. I’d be honored to work on the script and help these families, so call me Ken and Kundo!
DONATE to help Japan
Kundo Koyama and Ken Watanabe recommend donating to help Japan through GlobalGiving at:
http://www.globalgiving.org/projects/japan-earthquake-tsunami-relief/
The American Red Cross is another great place to donate for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami:
BREAKING NEWS — Japan Tsunami and Earthquakes — WARNING to other PACIFIC OCEAN COASTS
by Jaden
March 11, 2011 at 2:46 pm, Japan 8.9 earthquake just off the north east coast in the Pacific caused tsunami and multiple aftershock quakes in the 6 and 7 magnitude range — disastrous to Japan and many other regions.
TSUNAMI ALERTS for HAWAII (3am) and CALIFORNIA PACIFIC COAST (5 to 10am)… Go away from the coast.
Hawaii LIVE STREAMING NEWS UPDATES:
http://livewire.kitv.com/Event/Hawaii_Tsunami_March_2011
Alerts also issued for Australia, New Zealand, Mexico and Central and South America
They are saying possibly the 6th biggest quake recorded of all time.
Serious tragedy in Japan and potentially elsewhere around the Pacific. Many countries and islands on high tsunami alert.
Vehicles, ships, buildings, all just swept away… live on tv. Very sad to watch people trying to drive away, but not succeeding.
Here are some still images taken from my TV.
Click on image to enlarge it in a new window.
Magnitude of quakes from Japan and around the world:
TODAY:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/
THIS MONTH around the world:
http://neic.usgs.gov/neis/qed/
Nothing moves without moving something else.
Prepare.
OTHER NEWS SOURCES, Japan Tsunami and Earthquake:
BBC
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-12709598
CNN
http://www.cnn.com/2011/WORLD/asiapcf/03/11/japan.quake/index.html?hpt=T1&iref=BN1
CNET
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-20041995-93.html?tag=topStories1
NBC
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
Best Love Story Movie of the Year for First Quarter of 2011: The Adjustment Bureau
by Jaden
Today I saw The Adjustment Bureau. As a screenwriter and storyteller, this is the type of movie I aspire to write: a tightly wound ball of love, sci-fi, religion, and our daily modern life, wherein reasons are given for all those weird little things we can’t explain. The Matrix in 1999 was the last sci-fi movie to fascinate me in the way Adjustment Bureau did, providing imaginative answers to life’s biggest mysteries.
I admire writers, like George Nolfi of Adjustment Bureau, who are able to take the infinite picture of life and narrow the scope down to just a few important key points. To have a winning movie, you absolutely must find your focus. You can’t cover every topic under the sun because your script would be far too chaotic and confusing. The Adjustment Bureau employs some complex sci-fi ideas, put forth in a short story by Philip K. Dick, into a simple theatrical story about love and fate.
The romance element of The Adjustment Bureau struck me with its arrow: a distinct and intimate love story sharply delivered by actors Emily Blunt and Matt Damon.
Emily Blunt is one of the most adorable actresses playing for Hollywood today. In Adjustment Bureau, she plays a sassy New York contemporary ballet dancer with a wicked sense of humor. In her movie role and interviews, she is absolutely charming and beautiful, meshing old time glamour with modern likability. Emily is the kind of woman for whom straight girls have crushes.
When Matt Damon first came on scene as an actor, I have to admit, something about him irked me. I don’t know what it was, but something. Since then, he has grown into his own skin. With each movie part he plays, Matt impresses me more and more each time. Moving to a respectable place at the top of the chain of male leading actors, I now go out of my way to see his movies because he is so good and believable in each role he plays.
In The Adjustment Bureau, Emily and Matt are genuine in their characters and have strong personalities that feel real, not fabricated. For this, I commend the writing, directing, and acting.
The love and attraction are palpable through the screen, not in that gross dishonest humping off-screen between takes cheating on their spouses sort of way, but in a good acting transference sort of way so you feel like you yourself are up on the screen reliving your first love.
The last good forbidden, ill-fated, love-against-all-odds, it is so wrong, it is right, movie I saw was Titanic in 1997.
Reviews on this movie are mixed. I am really glad I saw it before I read all the negative reviews, so I could enjoy it on the big screen with a fresh perspective and get fully immersed in it. Like all movies, half of you will love it, half of you will hate it, depends where you are in your own life as to what you will interpret and see on screen. To me, this is the most vivid love story I have seen in a while. If you like The Matrix, Inception, and Titanic, you should like The Adjustment Bureau, which has a simpler story structure, yet equally enjoyable ride, with less sci-fi, more love.
