Jun 10, 2015 I'm in the very beginning stages of a movie I'm writing, kinda just for fun and out of boredom but I'm also taking it seriously. If I'm happy with the final product, I may try to push this further. But that'd be after I'm done and after a few re writes and after I organize everything. So far I've only got the opening scene and the first part of the 2nd scene. I'm jotting down ideas as I think of them on a separate page and also working on the dialogue. I assume most people have the whole storyline figured out before they start writing the script but I kinda just have the main idea of how I want it to go and don't have an ending or too many details figured out yet. I'm taking my time with this cuz I don't want to rush it just to get it done and come up with forced ideas, trying to be a tough critic on myself and make it as great as I can. Curious to hear if others have any experience with something like this whether it was just a short film for school or something or some kinda indie project. If so tell me about your experience please.
Jun 10, 2015 Are you familiar with the screenwriting format? It's a bit different than just writing a play. Cop a program like Celtx to make it easier on yourself in that regard. I recommend reading a couple screenplays to get the idea. I've dabbled, but I'm more accustomed to short stories. I can't write decent dialog to save my life.
Jun 10, 2015 Not familiar with any of that, no. I was planning on waiting until after I was done with it and if/when I decided to go further with this and possibly eventually submit the script somewhere. But I suppose it'd probably be a better idea to do it the proper way first just in case. I'm not even doing it on the computer now, just writing it by hand in a notebook, the old fashioned way.
Jun 10, 2015 Format is something you can go back and fix so it wouldn't be a big deal to save that for the end. Plenty of screenwriters start with bits and pieces and shape it into something coherent and that makes sense from a cinematic and story telling standpoint. I'd still recommend reading a couple of screenplays before proceeding just to make it easier for yourself. Good luck. Feel free to post it up as it comes along.
Jun 10, 2015 as charlie work said scripts have their own unique structure, flow, and rhythm. obviously every writer adds his or her own flair to a script, but the fundamentals are very important i tried to write this script like a year or so ago..it was for some competition (where it didnt get selected) where i got assigned a random topic and theme. mine was like "a fairytale having to do with a red frisbee" or something lol and i came up with this: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_H0UdWwVhDJTEF5RWJpNmxMdFU/view?usp=sharing the original version of it was like 21 pages but i had to cut 6 to stay within the 15 page limit this is something unfinished that's very dialogue heavy...started off as a vague idea but i didnt know where to take it so i havent touched in a while https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_H0UdWwVhDJUEV3UEZ0dWFsekU/view?usp=sharing my baby tho is a spec script for always sunny i got like half way through and really need to finish ill make sure @CharlieWork is the first one i show it to whenever i finish it
Jun 10, 2015 s---, could you have possibly got a worse theme? Lol, I'd definitely have nowhere to go with that. Also I don't like the idea that someone gives you a topic, you should be able to do whatever you want. But I guess since it was a specific competition it makes some sense.
Jun 10, 2015 yeah lol i knew i was f----- and wouldnt make it past round 1 with that bs but it was fun essentially imagining a short film for younger kids (cant say children cause there is that one risque scene in the RV and a few passionate kisses throughout lmao)
Jun 12, 2015 I'd probably do some planning before writing. write a character bible. write every detail imaginable about your characters. Where they grew up, their parents jobs, childhood pets, first car, birthday, best friends, school experience, traits, skills, habits, basically anything you can to give your character background. Most of it will be irrelevant to the script but it will help you establish your characters as characters and not just plot devices.
Jun 12, 2015 I can pay up to 10 likes a month with a 3 likes signing bonus, what can I say? I'm not Koolo with a big budget to work with here. @LasiK good idea since it's always important to care about the characters. I definitely am less interested in a movie when I don't find the characters interesting. Unfortunately so far I only really have 3 characters and only 1 is really a main character..I should probably do some more pre planning.
