No matter how successful a movie might or might not be, it always started as a simple idea. Regardless of where it was inspired, ideas are the foundation of any movie, television show, or book ever made. If you've ever said, "I have a great movie idea," then you've got what it takes to write a screenplay. If you're serious about screenwriting, there are some things you must keep in mind.
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.
When sitting down to flesh out your idea, you're going to want to start with a treatment. This is a very important step in the writing process. These are typically five to six pages long and detail the movie from start to finish. Some can run even longer, up to thirty pages or more. Treatments will let you see how your movie will progress and allow you to make changes to the basic story without having to re-write an entire script. It'll also give you an idea on movie length. Is it a feature or a short? You'll also have a chance to see all your characters, how they react, and how the story flows. Treatments typically do not contain dialogue, though you can add a few lines here and there to get a sense of how they meld with the story. Keep a treatment basic: don't add a lot of explosions or camera movements. Leave those for your actual script. What you're doing with a treatment is seeing if your idea is feasible and if it can make a good story.
Once you've got a treatment you're happy with, it's time to begin writing. Stick with your treatment's structure and try not to stray too far from it. Doing so will increase the chances of having a screenplay that makes no sense. This is also where you add dialogue. When writing this, try to make it seem natural. Don't force lines or make them too manufactured. Imagine how you would say the line, or how your character would say the line, and write it that way. This will help keep it believable. Get as creative as you want with the story, but try to keep in mind the budget this film would take to get produced. A lot of special effects or explosions or car chases are going to take a lot of money to do right. Most studios take that into consideration, so you're better off starting small and keeping the budget down. Keep in mind that a feature-length movie would be about ninety pages or so in length. Features are difficult to start with, so you might be better off starting with a short. Also, make sure you register this script with the Writer's Guild of America. For a small fee, your work will be protected. They'll assign you a WGA number, so be sure you include this on the cover page.
Once your screenplay is done, it's time for re-writes. Read through your script from start to finish, acting out your character's dialogue and get a sense for how the story actually sounds. Make any changes you feel are necessary. If you're happy with it, and it's properly proofread, start hunting for producers. These are people whose sole job is to promote and produce your script. Find one willing to work on an untried writer. Typically, these producers focus on independent productions. If your script is good enough, they might want to pick it up and run with it. If this is the case, do any rewrites they want and work with them to get the project started. They typically won't want you to change your entire story, but always keep in mind you're the creative mind behind this. Don't compromise your vision for theirs. Be tenacious, but not bullheaded. If your script isn't selling, rewrite it or scrap it for a new one.
With time and practice, you'll have the next Academy Award winner in your hands. - 30542
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.
When sitting down to flesh out your idea, you're going to want to start with a treatment. This is a very important step in the writing process. These are typically five to six pages long and detail the movie from start to finish. Some can run even longer, up to thirty pages or more. Treatments will let you see how your movie will progress and allow you to make changes to the basic story without having to re-write an entire script. It'll also give you an idea on movie length. Is it a feature or a short? You'll also have a chance to see all your characters, how they react, and how the story flows. Treatments typically do not contain dialogue, though you can add a few lines here and there to get a sense of how they meld with the story. Keep a treatment basic: don't add a lot of explosions or camera movements. Leave those for your actual script. What you're doing with a treatment is seeing if your idea is feasible and if it can make a good story.
Once you've got a treatment you're happy with, it's time to begin writing. Stick with your treatment's structure and try not to stray too far from it. Doing so will increase the chances of having a screenplay that makes no sense. This is also where you add dialogue. When writing this, try to make it seem natural. Don't force lines or make them too manufactured. Imagine how you would say the line, or how your character would say the line, and write it that way. This will help keep it believable. Get as creative as you want with the story, but try to keep in mind the budget this film would take to get produced. A lot of special effects or explosions or car chases are going to take a lot of money to do right. Most studios take that into consideration, so you're better off starting small and keeping the budget down. Keep in mind that a feature-length movie would be about ninety pages or so in length. Features are difficult to start with, so you might be better off starting with a short. Also, make sure you register this script with the Writer's Guild of America. For a small fee, your work will be protected. They'll assign you a WGA number, so be sure you include this on the cover page.
Once your screenplay is done, it's time for re-writes. Read through your script from start to finish, acting out your character's dialogue and get a sense for how the story actually sounds. Make any changes you feel are necessary. If you're happy with it, and it's properly proofread, start hunting for producers. These are people whose sole job is to promote and produce your script. Find one willing to work on an untried writer. Typically, these producers focus on independent productions. If your script is good enough, they might want to pick it up and run with it. If this is the case, do any rewrites they want and work with them to get the project started. They typically won't want you to change your entire story, but always keep in mind you're the creative mind behind this. Don't compromise your vision for theirs. Be tenacious, but not bullheaded. If your script isn't selling, rewrite it or scrap it for a new one.
With time and practice, you'll have the next Academy Award winner in your hands. - 30542
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