Every movie ever made, from the Academy Award winners to the box office flops, can trace their origins back to one thing: an idea. Be they inspired by books or constructed in dreams, ideas form the basis of movies, books, television shows, etc. All it takes is someone saying, "I have an idea that would make a great movie!" If you've ever had this thought, you're obviously going to want to know to write a screenplay if you want to make it a reality. There are some simple steps you can follow to set yourself on the path of the screenwriter.
The first thing you need to do is pick up a copy of Final Draft. This is a computer program made specifically for screenwriters. It makes the process much, much easier in that it automatically formats your screenplay, tracks things like characters and setting, and will even give you some basic screenwriting tips. You can certainly write screenplays with any word processor, but Final Draft cuts out a lot of the guesswork. Though the program is expensive, you're going to need it if you ever hope to sell your work. It is considered the industry standard and move producers won't even look at screenplays not in this format. If you can, get it early and practice with it often.
With that out of the way, it's time to start your treatment. This is a document, typically up to six pages but they can be longer, that details your entire film from beginning to end. You will explore the entirety of your story here, from plot twists to character deaths and so on. This will also detail the length of your script and tell you if you're writing a feature film or a short. You're going to use this as your foundation, so keep it basic and don't go overboard. You don't want to add much in the way of dialogue or special effects. Keep it simple.
When you're done and comfortable with your treatment, it's time to begin the real writing process. Stick with your treatment as best you can to avoid getting lost in the story. Don't get excited and start adding "cool" or "exciting" elements where they don't really belong. Keep your dialogue grounded as best you can. You can accomplish this by acting out the scenes in your head and saying the lines as you would say them. Try to keep it from feeling too artificial. Also, keep in mind that the more you add, the more money it'll take to create the screenplay. The budget it something a producer is going to take into consideration, so try and keep it as low as possible. You can accomplish this by avoiding length action or stunt sequences, keeping the locations and characters to a minimum, and cutting out any unnecessary scenes. You also want to make sure you get your screenplay registered with the Writer's Guild of America. This will ensure your work is protected, so make sure you include the WGA number on your cover page.
Now that you're done, read through your script from cover to cover and make sure you're happy with it. Make any changes you need to and get ready to send it to producers. Producers are responsible for getting your movie made, so they're the ones you want to deal with directly. More often than not, producers are going to be working with independent productions. If you did well enough, they might want to pick you up. If they do pick up your script, work with them to get your project completed. Make any necessary rewrites and be prepared to make changes. That being said, don't compromise your vision for the producer's. Stay on top of your script but don't become obsessed with it. If it's not selling, it's time to rewrite it or scrap it for something new.
With time and practice, you'll have the next Academy Award winner in your hands. - 31966
The first thing you need to do is pick up a copy of Final Draft. This is a computer program made specifically for screenwriters. It makes the process much, much easier in that it automatically formats your screenplay, tracks things like characters and setting, and will even give you some basic screenwriting tips. You can certainly write screenplays with any word processor, but Final Draft cuts out a lot of the guesswork. Though the program is expensive, you're going to need it if you ever hope to sell your work. It is considered the industry standard and move producers won't even look at screenplays not in this format. If you can, get it early and practice with it often.
With that out of the way, it's time to start your treatment. This is a document, typically up to six pages but they can be longer, that details your entire film from beginning to end. You will explore the entirety of your story here, from plot twists to character deaths and so on. This will also detail the length of your script and tell you if you're writing a feature film or a short. You're going to use this as your foundation, so keep it basic and don't go overboard. You don't want to add much in the way of dialogue or special effects. Keep it simple.
When you're done and comfortable with your treatment, it's time to begin the real writing process. Stick with your treatment as best you can to avoid getting lost in the story. Don't get excited and start adding "cool" or "exciting" elements where they don't really belong. Keep your dialogue grounded as best you can. You can accomplish this by acting out the scenes in your head and saying the lines as you would say them. Try to keep it from feeling too artificial. Also, keep in mind that the more you add, the more money it'll take to create the screenplay. The budget it something a producer is going to take into consideration, so try and keep it as low as possible. You can accomplish this by avoiding length action or stunt sequences, keeping the locations and characters to a minimum, and cutting out any unnecessary scenes. You also want to make sure you get your screenplay registered with the Writer's Guild of America. This will ensure your work is protected, so make sure you include the WGA number on your cover page.
Now that you're done, read through your script from cover to cover and make sure you're happy with it. Make any changes you need to and get ready to send it to producers. Producers are responsible for getting your movie made, so they're the ones you want to deal with directly. More often than not, producers are going to be working with independent productions. If you did well enough, they might want to pick you up. If they do pick up your script, work with them to get your project completed. Make any necessary rewrites and be prepared to make changes. That being said, don't compromise your vision for the producer's. Stay on top of your script but don't become obsessed with it. If it's not selling, it's time to rewrite it or scrap it for something new.
With time and practice, you'll have the next Academy Award winner in your hands. - 31966
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