Update: New script – But what now?
July 11th, 2010
Sorry for my long absence. I’ve been working on completing a new feature script and it’s finally done!
Now I have to switch gears to a marketing/salesman position. After completing a feature script, the job is far from over. Getting the script into the right hands is another challenge all in itself. So, here is my advice for after the script is finished:
First, copyright and make sure the script is finished. Get some friends to read it and get their feedback or take it to an editor. You’ll be surprised how many small mistakes you overlooked.
Second, write out a solid logline, query letter, and imagine how you’d see the poster. A logline can be tough but it’s possible. A query letter can be even more difficult but rewarding. Get to the point in your letter because you only have seconds to grab their attention. As for imagining the poster, that’s only for you to get the sense of your story’s appeal to the public. This will help when you have to sell someone on the idea to read it – pitching it.
Third, buy the Hollywood Creative Directory and make a list of companies/agents to send the script to. This step can be tedious but worth it. Make sure you take detailed notes of each company and what happens.
Fourth, be patient. I’ve heard the word no so many times that I don’t even flinch now. James Cameron has been told no. George Lucas has been told no. Be patient and keep going.
Finishing a new script is like having a baby. It’s become a part of you and it’s finally out of your brain. Be excited and take the next challenge along the way… selling the sucker.
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Styles and Genre
May 12th, 2010
I’ve recently understood my style and genre of writing – drama. I think I always knew it deep down inside but I’ve had to accept it. I wanted so badly to write an action flick with all the explosions and one liners but alas… it is not my specialty. Car chases and fight scenes struggle to write themselves on the page. I’m not saying that I can’t write an action flick but it doesn’t flow out of me like a dramatic piece with lots of subtext dialogue.
I wondered… why? What makes me so much better at drama?
Experience. Write what you know.
Growing up I had nothing but dramatic subtext dialogue thrown at me from every side. Not to mention, my whole life is a self-discovery self-mastery adventure psychoanalyzing myself and the journey. Makes sense why I’d right great character driven stories. It’s what I know. It’s what my whole life experience has been about so far.
Maybe if I go on some crazy action seeking adventure then I’d come back with a hell of an action sequence. It’s a thought.
The point I’m getting at is how powerful the writer’s own experiences are. Don’t discount them. I’ve had countless people in the business tell me – write what you know. I just never thought that would be the psychological interaction between people. I heard that and thought about my countless jobs. Thankfully, I’ve seen the forest through the trees and have realized it’s my personal self and relationships that I know.
Some things are so simple. It’s just getting out of your head and seeing the forest from the trees.
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Follow Me on Twitter and Facebook
March 15th, 2010
Keep connected further and follow me on Twitter: @editmyscript
And join my Facebook page to interact with other screenwriters/filmmakers: search “Screenplay Genius”
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Creating A Perfect Ending
March 5th, 2010
My recent challenge was creating the perfect ending for the revision of my newest screenplay. I added a lot to the whole story that summing up and tying together five story lines resulted in puffy eyes and pulling hair. So far, I believe I found success. My ending resolves all the minor story line arcs as well as leaves something for the unseen future.
What makes a “perfect” ending?
It’s a debate. Personally, I don’t think the perfect ending is a happily ever after senario. Life is much more unexpected. In a round about way, we always get what we want but not quite the way we expected. That is the perfect ending. Of course, the topic right now is really based on how you view life working out and I don’t want to jump into a philosophical debate.
Therefore, let’s briefly talk about what technically makes a great ending for a screenplay.
A story and screenplay can be related to a circle and an arc. Every one contains resolution. (Granted, there are exceptions but let’s stick with the general.) Within that resolution, each storyline and each character must come to a resolution or have changed from the start of the story. Write a list of each story line and each character. What is the arc? Has it or have they reached that goal yet?
In addition, each story line and each character interacts with the other stories and characters. How does the arc in each one affect the arc of the others?
Can you see the complex web I’m describing? The best thing to do is create a chart or graph that states each element and how they intersect. From there, you can discover and create the perfect ending.
Now you can fully visualize my frustration. However, once the pieces are put together, it feels fantastic like you just finished the most complex puzzle ever.
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Characters Have Purpose
February 17th, 2010
Recently, I spoke with a close friend of mine. She went on a rant about a script she read having way too many characters. I didn’t read the script she spoke of but I’ve read similar ones. That made me think about being a writer and made me question how many characters I have in my screenplays.
Each character serves a purpose to your story, with the main story line and any additional story lines. If they have no purpose, delete them. This is the best advice I can give beginning writers. There is nothing worse than too many characters and confusing the reader.
One of the important aspects of a character is relate-ability. The reader and audience must relate to a character for them to stay invested in the story and character. Otherwise, why watch? Why read? And if they can’t even remember who the character is and what they’re doing there, then you must delete that character or do some major revisions.
Remember a top key to screenwriting- Less is more.
And always, always… Write with purpose. Everything you write has a purpose to the story. The characters are no exception.
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