Discovering the perfect title

Kristy101081 · Mar 24, 2008

Ok, so I've got myself a great idea for a script. I'm developing the characters, seeing the scenes, hearing the dialogue, and I'm thinking that I'm ready to really get into the planning stages and do what I love.

Then it hits me. I don't have a title. Not only don't I have a title, but I can't think of one. Normally this issue will correct itself within a few days of me really concentrating on the matter. But, my current project has me pulling my hair out because I can't think of one! Everything I come up with is lame, on the nose, lame, or just plain lame!

Anyone got any suggestions?

bluntforcetrauma · Mar 24, 2008

What's the first thing you see when you look out the window? Use that as a beginning in finding a title (unless it's a couple of dogs in heat).

Kristy101081 · Mar 24, 2008

Sadly, a wrought iron gate would not help me in this situation.

Flu · Mar 24, 2008

Don't worry too much about it yet. Plenty of time to come up with a title.
Perhaps one of the characters in the script will whisper it in your ear along the way.

Kristy101081 · Mar 24, 2008

Flu said:
Don't worry too much about it yet. Plenty of time to come up with a title.
Perhaps one of the characters in the script will whisper it in your ear along the way.

Wouldn't that be lucky! Keep your fingers crossed for me because at this rate, I'm not so sure. Hehe.

Writer2011 · Mar 24, 2008

I wouldn't worry about a title just yet--even if you pick one and don't like it, you can always change it later.

I was in the process of taking a screenwriting class but dropped it because of too much going on. I bought David Trottiers Screenwriters Bible--a very good investment.

Good luck with it Kristy

Kristy101081 · Mar 24, 2008

aspiringwriter said:
I wouldn't worry about a title just yet--even if you pick one and don't like it, you can always change it later.

I was in the process of taking a screenwriting class but dropped it because of too much going on. I bought David Trottiers Screenwriters Bible--a very good investment.

Good luck with it Kristy

Thanks! I'm sure the title will come to me in a fit of inspiration, but until then I'll just bemoan the fact that I haven't thought of it in hopes that my subconscious will get tired of my whining and just give it to me. I'm not holding my breath though, LOL!

I've taken several screenwriting classes and I have really enjoyed them. I think my favorite was a class I took at Gotham Writer's Workshop with Max Adams (Excess Baggage). She was awesome and provided a lot of insight into where I was going wrong with my scripts. I tend to be long-winded (in case no one's noticed

)and so my biggest issue was always learning to be a little more lean in my writing. So, I hope you get to go back to finish that class, they can really help focus you in terms of writing.

Mumut · Mar 24, 2008

With my first book, the title came to me early in the writing. My second book wasn't like that. I kept writing hoping the most fantastic name would pop up out of my poridge but no, it didn't. So I worked out what the book was about and what couple of words could describe it best. I used that as a wip name, thinking to have the real one by the time the editing was finished. It never happened. So now it's being published with the best-of-a-bad-lot name.

It's not a good feeling. I can see why you're anyry and frustrated with it. I wish you well in you search for the perfect title.

LIVIN · Mar 25, 2008

bluntforcetrauma said:
What's the first thing you see when you look out the window? Use that as a beginning in finding a title (unless it's a couple of dogs in heat).

Wait a minute... are you saying my title "Two Dogs in Heat" is no good?

Dale Emery · Mar 25, 2008

Kristy's Script

RainbowDragon · Mar 25, 2008

Usually I have a title before I'm a third of the way through the first draft. My last project was stubborn, though, and I got it around the time I finished by brainstorming a bunch of possible ones, then picking the one of those I liked best. Look for themes in your work or recurrent phrases/ideas...don't be afraid to put it off till the script's pretty well-developed; you can always change it later, it'll just need a working title before you start marketing it. . .

Diana W. · Mar 25, 2008

I know just how you're feeling Kristy. I'm about the halfway stage in my script and try as I might I just can't think of a good title for my story either. I wish you luck in naming yours.

Plot Device · Mar 25, 2008

I'm not trying to be rude but how can we possibly make suggestions unless we know the plot? You haven't even told us the genre, never mind the title. There's just no way we can "suggest" anything (other than suggestions on how to not fret about a title right now).

I like there to be a clever twist or subtle pun, or some kind of a dual meaning to a screenplay title. Such as "Maid in Manhattan" or "Trading Places" or "Signs" or "The Net" or "Monster-In-Law."

A straight forward title has its merits also, like "Silent Movie" and "Erin Bockovich" and "Munich" and "One Hour Photo."

Care to share plot details?

krano · Mar 25, 2008

i read (maybe trottier) to keep titles five syllables or less, and high concept.

FTL · Mar 25, 2008

I always come up with the title first before anything. There's never a problem finding a name that can sum up what's happening in my script.

Kristy101081 · Mar 25, 2008

Plot Device said:
I'm not trying to be rude but how can we possibly make suggestions unless we know the plot? You haven't even told us the genre, never mind the title. There's just no way we can "suggest" anything (other than suggestions on how to not fret about a title right now).

I like there to be a clever twist or subtle pun, or some kind of a dual meaning to a screenplay title. Such as "Maid in Manhattan" or "Trading Places" or "Signs" or "The Net" or "Monster-In-Law."

A straight forward title has its merits also, like "Silent Movie" and "Erin Bockovich" and "Munich" and "One Hour Photo."

Care to share plot details?

I wasn't asking for help in the sense that you should help me name my script. I was simply asking what others have done when they've run into trouble in finding a title. My apologies that I didn't make that more clear.

In regards to plot, it's a story about an unlikely romance between a jaded former ballroom dancer and a woman who's trapped in a dangerous relationship she doesn't want to be in, but can't leave. Brie (protag) thinks she's found a way out of her situation so she asks Max (the former dancer) to help her. I'm torn about what I want to do with the ending - I have two in mind and I'm trying to find which one works for the characters. That's pretty much the gist of it without getting into a full blown synopsis.

Thanks for the interest in the plot though! Have a great day!

FinbarReilly · Mar 25, 2008

1) The obvious name would be "It Takes Two To Tango"

....

2) If it helps, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to naming scripts. I've used the place name (Miner's Glory), symbolic (Brass Ring, Shorn Wool), something in the script (Ogre's Pendant, Chinese Chess), what was going on (Strip Poker), humorous twist (Hope's Last Stand) and even based the script off the title (Sex Percussions).

Hmmm....Guess that might not have helped...

FR

Plot Device · Mar 25, 2008

Try to find a dancing term, a unique dancing term that has a specific defnition, and make the term somehow apply to the plot itself.

Ken · Mar 25, 2008

It took me 7 years to come up with a title for one of my projects.
So hang in there. Maybe you'll be lucky and manage it in 6

Kristy101081 · Mar 25, 2008

FinbarReilly said:
1) The obvious name would be "It Takes Two To Tango"....

2) If it helps, there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to naming scripts. I've used the place name (Miner's Glory), symbolic (Brass Ring, Shorn Wool), something in the script (Ogre's Pendant, Chinese Chess), what was going on (Strip Poker), humorous twist (Hope's Last Stand) and even based the script off the title (Sex Percussions).

Hmmm....Guess that might not have helped...

FR

You know, while Sex Percussions did not help with this particular script of mine, it was at least entertaining. I know there isn't really a hard, fast rule when it comes to titling our masterpieces; however, I have never really run into the issue of struggling to find a title. I think the trouble that I have with this one is that anything I choose runs the risk of being too on the nose. Oh well, I shall persevere!

Discovering the perfect title

Kristy101081

bluntforcetrauma

Esquire

Kristy101081

Flu

Kristy101081

Writer2011

Kristy101081

Mumut

Well begun is half done...

LIVIN

Dale Emery

is way off topic

RainbowDragon

Perpetuous Revisasaurus

Diana W.

I'm evolving

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

krano

FTL

Kristy101081

FinbarReilly

Plot Device

A woman said to write like a man.

Ken

Kristy101081