How do you write your screenplays?

[zeprosnepsid]

I've been talking to a lot of screenplay writers about this lately, so I just thought I'd ask -- do you usually work from a treatment/synopsis/scene outline or do you just start writing and see where it goes? What's your style?

[Joe Calabrese]

You're gonna think I'M CRAZY, BUT I don't think I have ever written a script exactly the same way twice.

Each script, depending on it's complexity, backstory, research needed to be done, gets a different approach. For scripts that are pretty straight forward and require, what I consider, very little prep work, I through compose and just start typing away right from scene one, without an outline and/or synopsis. However, a complex script with many layers, lots of research and stuff needs the planning ahead of time. I might to an outline or a synopsis, whatever tickles my fancy.

The one constant in all my writings is a logline and title. I can't write anything until I have a title on the cover page. I've tried. I would have some big block that would last as long as I resisted putting a title page out there. As for the logline, I need it. It is the story in it's truest most simplistic form and I need it to keep reminding me of that.

Other things you may find interesting.

I can't write a first draft on my laptop. I can on the regular computer but not the laptop. Rewrites are fine though.

I eat on avarage 2.3 swedish fish per page written.

I do 4-6 pages a day on a first draft, 2-3 pages a day on rewrites.

I work best early morning for first drafts, late night for rewrite.

I never write in the nude. That's just silly.

[IWrite]

I generally beat out only the major beats of my store - for structure and pacing purposes - set-up, inciting incident, first act turning point, midpoint, 2nd act turning point, climax, end.

Then I focus on building my story in 10 page chunks (3 - 5 scenes).

Sometimes however if I'm doing a writer for hire gig, I'm forced to do an entire beatsheet or treatment before I start for the producer. I don't like working this way, but I will when I have to. More oftent than not the 2nd and third act don't end up reflecting what was on the beat sheet anyway. Because the story and characters take me in a different direction.

[zeprosnepsid]

I've recently found that everyone I know just starts writing with some idea of where they're going but without directly plotting.

I usually write a treatment, then a more in depth treatment, then another, then a scene outline full with description, then plug in the dialogue (I don't write dialogue heavy pieces).

But I'm currently collaborating on a screenplay but in trying to hammer out a treatment my collaborator and I go back and forth ad infinitum talking about the plot. So I eventually said -- let's just start writing and assigned her the first scene and myself the second scene. I've never written a screeplay this way -- with only vague ideas of where we're going. But it could be interesting.

So Joe, I'm happy to hear you change it up an that hopefully it works =) And IWrite, that you can also change it up if you have to. Because I think I have to.

[lizziepants]

I eat on avarage 2.3 swedish fish per page written.



I'm in the process of doing a re-write on a project called Best Served Cold being produced by Nonstickglue (http://www.nonstickglue.com (http://www.nonstickglue.com/)). I've never written a screenplay -- ever, and have no experience whatsoever with film/play basically anything other than novel parameters. However, I do eat swedish fish.

Could one of you guys give me a good idea where I might be able to find a set of rules to go by, or an outline to follow for this process? My partner, Dave Park, has given me a bare bones kinda script to work with, so I know the basic layout of a screenplay -- I'm just not too sure where to put my notes, etc.

Dave seems to have every confidence in my writing ability -- I just have no idea about the screenplay format. So. We'll see what happens. I might be frequenting this thread quite regularly and any insight anyone has will be welcomed.

Many thanks!
Lizzie

[IWrite]

Lizzie -

There's a lot more to writing a screenplay than just understanding the format. The basics of building a story (conflict, protag, antag, climax, etc.) are the same - but it is a totally different craft.

On the one hand it's an extremely visual form of storytelling, at the same time you can't rely on long detailed descriptions to create the visual images or describe the action.

It's often harder for novelists to make the switch to screenwriting than vice versa.

I'd suggest you pick up a good book on the craft and also read several scripts before even attempting the rewrite.

Some good books on the subject:

Screenplay by Syd Field
The Screenwriter's Workbook by Syd Field
Story by Robery Mckee
Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434 by Lew Hunter
The Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier
Making a Good Script Great by Linda Seger

These authors are among the most respected experts on the craft.

There are a number of sites online where you can get screenplays. Pick some in your genre and also pick a couple all-time classics.

Good Luck

[lizziepants]

Excellent. I own David Trottier's The Screenwriter's Bible.

Thank you, thank you.

[kevacho]

zeprosnepsid,

Iwrite's suggestion of the book, "Lew Hunter's Screenwriting 434", is some of the best advice you can get. Syd Field's stuff is very good too, but Hunter writes extremely well, and not only is the book informative, but it's also entertaining.

When I write a screenplay (or a novel) I always go by a very simple outline- he did this, she did that, this happened... simple. I allow my addled brain to deviate from the outline if I have an inspired idea, but basically I stick to it. Also, I create a page Lew Hunter suggests, where you have three columns: Column 1. has important dialogue, Column 2. has must have moments, moments that are integral to story and character development, and Column 3. (I always forget column 3, and my much-used copy of Lew's book is packed away in boxes) but I think it's something like "choice moments". Anyway, you get the gist.

Now considering I'm a "will-be", and I think Stephen King coined a writer who writes from an outline as a "hack" or something... take this advice for what it's worth. But screenplays are so rigid (for the most part) when it comes to format it helps me to know where I'm going in the story and why.

Kevin
www.kevacho.com (http://www.kevacho.com)


"Live to write... write to live."

[zeprosnepsid]

I'm suprised that no one seems to write the way they often tell you to. With treatments and scene outlines and all that. Very interesting. Writing from the beginning with an idea of where you are going seems to be the prefered method of just about everyone I've talked to.

and kev, I think those suggestions were for lizzie. I went the paying 100,000 for college route of screenwriting. =)

[Joe Calabrese]

I think when you've been writing scripts as long as I have (I sound sooo old) you can do the outline in your head just before you write the script. I mull things over for weeks, hashing out an idea and trying to see if it plays as a film in my head, before commiting it down to paper. I do an outline, just not on paper.

[IWrite]

I think in the end it's just a matter of individual creative process. Our brains all work differently.

While doing a full treatment or an outline may give some clarity, others (like me) may find themselves bogged down if they have to focus on the details 87 pages down the line.

I do think, that because of the specific structure of screenplays, it helps to have the major beats hammered out - signposts down the road - so you know where you need to be by the end of each leg of the trip.

And I could never imagine beginning without knowing the ending, because a story is a character journey and you need to know how you want your character to end up, so you are sure to start them in a place that will allow them to grow.

But that's just me.

[maestrowork]

I write as if I'm watching the movie in my head at the moment... and I describe what I see and hear. Sometimes I see as if I'm the camera....

I write my fiction that way, too, by the way.

[Mightypen71]

I've tried many ways.

The best for me, and what I'm currently using, is a I just write and rewrite character bios and backstory to start. I go all over the place in search of uniqueness. Then, when I feel I have characters that fit my premise and are where I want them I start building my overall scene events, from scene 1 through the last, within the 3-act format. I spend a lot of time staring at my index cards (taped neatly to the wall in progressive sequences) to make sure they fit all of the basic criteria.

Then its a slow building of subtext, situations, and eventually dialogue. So basically I need to plan, plan, plan and plan more to make sure the story won't fail me once I do write the scenes. Oddly, much to the disbelief of my friends, its a lot of fun, too.

Mightypen

[ashlee111]

Screenplay, hmmmm. I have never written a screenplay, but when I write, I like to paint a video picture ,of what I am seeing in my head, and put it down on paper.ashlee111

[nikdun]

Well, look. I think I have tried every method under the sun...on how to write a screenplay. I have written them from scratch, just grasping at an idea that felt powerful and then writing like a madman for 2 weeks flat out.

I have written synopses, treatments and loglines and then step outlines - and all have their benefits and all have their weaknesses.

In the end, I think that the act of trying out all of these different methods has enabled me to find what works best for me personally. Which is a constant flow of a changing dynamic.

By that I mean, when I need to outline some steps, I do.

When I need to write passionately unguarded and unfettered I do.

When I need to remind myself of the basic story I am writing I refer back to my thematic logline which I keep pinned on my computer.

In essence the most important thing to me is having something to say. It is theme, it is your view on the way human beings should live and act in the world.

Try and include theme into your log line it deepens it profoundly.

Far to many screenplays are copycats.

Stop it guys, you won't sell them.

Take time, explore your unique vision of the world. And age is not a factor here. Your vision is unique depending on whatever stage you are at.

Be brave - be bold. Fortune favors the bold.

Best wishes,

Nick Dunning
Head of Development
************************
http://www.screenwriting-on-the-net.com/Post
Royal Academy Of Dramatic Art
Hollywood film Institute
New Producers Alliance

[Boo_Radley]

One thing I can say I think benefits me quite a bit is that I'm never short on ideas. On the average, I'd say I get one new screenplay idea per every time of the day I light up a cigarette. And I smoke about a pack a day.
:D

Okay, that's an exaggeration, but you get the idea.

That having been said, it's also a bit of a hindrance. I get so many ideas that I could be smack in the middle of writing one down when suddenly, I have to divert myself and jot down that idea as well. Now, imagine that diversion process happening every five minutes and you'll see why it's a hindrance.

So, I have a list saved on my PC. Right now it's about forty items long. Each item is a title and a really crappy log line, just enough to refresh my memory when I look at it. So, when I finish a screenplay and am ready to start another, I look at that list and glom over it, just looking for one of my past ideas to grab me. Sometimes, it actually works. Usually, however, I just close my eyes and touch my computer screen and whatever title and crappy log line my finger lands on, that's the one I start next.

This, in turn, results in endless hours staring at a blank computer screen, wondering where to start. Sometimes it hits me really quickly and I bang out a disgustingly high number of pages. Other times, it results in either falling asleep at my PC and missing dinner, or I get bored, shut off the PC and walk away (naturally, five minutes later, I get an idea how to start the script but by then I'm bored and tired lol).

Now, when I do settle on something I want to write, I'll kind of wing it as I go but have a general idea of the inciting incident, various plot points and my main protagonist and antagonist. I measure out the beats...inciting incident, plot points, mid-point, climax, resolution, etc. and then fill in the spaces for a very sloppy and hectic rough draft. Then I put it away for a few days. When I come back to it, I read it start to finish two or three times and see exactly what kind of damage I've done to the basic idea. And thus begins the rewriting process...which I won't go into, because this post is already taking on novella proportions due to my inherent tendency to ramble.

If I'm into a script enough to begin a third rewrite, chances are that puppy's going to go on to a final draft and will be registered with the WGAw. If by the second draft I'm just no feeling it...I back burner it and it collects dust in my PC's memory banks.

Just so you know, I wouldn't recommend anybody try my "process" if you ever want to finish anything lol