Becoming a screenwriter

I'd like to know too. Except, I have an English degree. But yeah, I is can goode English write stories too.

Should we just come up with a script and get us an agent? And what happens after that?

Alright, well, you've come to the wrong place. he he

Anyway, brace yourself, every screenwriter has to invent their own wheel.

From memory, towards the end of a degree you can be a bit sick of institutionalisation, but while you're in the system, slip over and do a year of film, and if that's doing it for you then do another.

A lot of people here will say read scripts, and that will show you format and layout, but don't lose yourself in it.

Co-writing is a great way to develop, especially in the early days, before you get all precious and ego-centric.

Ultimately though, writing begets writing.

Go and invent yor own wheel.

Screenwriter

Coming up with a good script is extremely difficult. You either have a story to tell that would work in film, or not. Deciding just to come up with one is a tricky path to take, because then you've got to ask why you're doing it eg money, fame, something else???

If you've got a good story, a REALLY good story, don't try and block it into screenplay format immediately. I'd say write a thirty page extended treatment - like a short story - in straight prose. If it really really grabs you and those around you then maybe you could have a crack at screenplaying it. Read David Trottier's 'Screenwriter's Bible' and read a load of screenplays, I mean hundreds, especially those where you know the film well. Everyone wants to write a screenplay. Every novelist wants their novel turned into a film. It's a highly highly competitive business and you have to stick with the STORY rather than the notion you'll knock something up and farm it out. Getting a good agent is pretty tricky too, so keep the champagne on ice til you get them hooked on you.

All the best!!!

Read everything here first

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/showthread.php?t=24087

Read a lot.
Write a lot.
Get critiques.
Give critiques.
Submit.
Repeat till something clicks.

Find that special someone...

Find a successful screenwriter who lives near you who will let you bend their ear and vice versa. It is worth more than fifty years of course-work. I got lucky...but it can happen to you too...

It's not straightforward like being a nurse,or a kinderkarten teacher. There's no set path.

It's a branch of the arts, like painting, or sculpting, or acting. You more or less take your chances.

You can narrow it down to tv or feature or short flms. But you just basically start somewhere, and see if your passion, and your wits, and your endurance can get you somewhere.

If you want to go to film school, it does help. But it's no ticket.

There are no tickets.

I really ejoyed film school. The people, the environment, the grounding. It can really help you find your footing.

And I found one of my co-writers there. And one of my scripts was sold through one of the people I went to film school with.

And if you're selling spec scripts, coal-faced, it helps to get them read. Puts something behind you.

But I'm not in the U.S.

I don't know about film schools there.

Presumably, wherever you're already enrolled, there's a career councellor.

They should know about local courses.

Most colleges,

from what I understand, have some kind of basic film classes.
It's a good place to start and form a base network.
Having a foundation in several elements of the film making process will help you out in all kinds of ways.

SO, yeah, taking a few classes is a good place to start.
Screenwriting is a craft that you learn mostly by doing.
By trial and error and rubbing elbows with other people that are involved in it. There are several really strong screenwriting sites and forums and loads of articles and tips on the net.
A study of them will give you, for FREE, tons more then any class could ever.
(links coming)
Read scripts. Lots and lots of scripts.

And then, just start writing.
Brainstorm out your ideas, jot down scenes, characters, dialogs, what ever enters your mind. Discount NOTHING until you've mulled it over for a bit.
Then form your core conflict and write down an outline or treatment for the three seperate acts.
Don't worry about format yet, just capture the power of your idea.

When you've grasped the basic ideas of scripting then start working your outlines into script pages.

As to getting an agent....
Whoa, slow down there. That is a ways away. Get at least five scripts DONE, where you know they are the best they can be, and have several more that are in near stages of being "finished". You want to make sure you have plenty to over the industry. Several great stories for them to pick from and see your varity. If they don't like the first script you pull out you'll want a second, a third, a fourth, and then back ups.
A decent way of entering the industry is through contests.
(there are links in threads about contests)
You can network with people who are working in other sides of the industry.
And you can query your batookie off.
If, IF, I F you've come up with a great concept and a killer script then it could go some where.

If you really want to do this, Settle in for the long haul.

Lots of luck to you and happy writing.

Links to other sites

http://p083.ezboard.com/bscriptsecrets

Bill Martell runs this site. It's a little slow on the message board forums BUT the articles and tips are invaluable. Bill knows his stuff and he puts it forth in a way that really makes it easy to apply.
There is a tip in there for EVERYONE.

http://207.5.19.9/boards/index.php?

DoneDeal. A very active forum with several real pros and various industry insiders.
A wealth of knowledge covering everything from the basics to deal making, .........and everything else.
Careful, some of em bite.

link removed via request from other site's Webmaster.

A site run by [Redacted--JDM] . Bunches of detailed articles about the buisness, and quite a few about actual writing. Good stuff.

School is a good place to learn but it probably will not help you career-wise. There's a chance you'll make some connections there that'll be of use to you, but going to school is not going to get you a job any faster than not going.

If you want to go to learn and practice and all that then that's great. And you should take advantage of being in a film program and get to know people who can help you out later on.

Film schools will absolutely take you with a non-film background. Just read and follow their admissions requirements. Your writing samples should show your potential and use your personal essay to explain your interest in a career change. It may be worthwhile to pad your resume with some creative things though. A painting class or some such that shows you are a creative person.

In Massachusetts, Emerson and Boston University have the best film programs, but I only know about their undergrad really. I'm not sure if they have grad. Mass Art isn't bad either and is a state school therefore cheap if you live in MA.

I went to film school as well.

Screenwriting...

If I may...

To the OP, please check out my new website. I think you'll find some good tidbits of educational information there.

Good luck!

www.TheWorkingScreenwriter.com

Film School

I think going to film school CAN help your career greatly, certainly in the UK where everyone seems to know everyone else. People end up working together and I know two directors at least who generally surround themselves with people from their high school, film school and university every time they make something.

I didn't go, but it's still amazing how those school and uni contacts can pay off in later years.

appage said:

Yeah I'm thinking personally that film school might be a good idea for me. I would most likely be looking to stay somewhat close to Massachusetts. Know any good resources for researching film schools or have any suggestions?

Click to expand...

www.nefilm.com has a lot of New England resources.

Dpat gives this info: http://www.imsdb.com/

I've downloaded as many scripts as I can afford to print up in hard-copy. Bedtime reading/study. Excellent! Learning from others.

I've got 5 scripts on the boil! Constant rewrites.

Critique is the gem! Loads of it works. It's better than hitting yourself ... let someone else do it and get hard shell.

Humility, utter self-confidence, hard yakka. All good.

Ly

appage said:

Yeah I'm thinking personally that film school might be a good idea for me. I would most likely be looking to stay somewhat close to Massachusetts. Know any good resources for researching film schools or have any suggestions?

Click to expand...

Yes. And these do have graduate programs: Boston University.
NYU's Tisch School of the Arts
Rochester Institute of Technology
Syracuse Univ.