writting....

[cow]

how do you guys beggin writting scripts? whats the longest you have ever written? do you make your scripts into movies, or just write them?

[Mankato]

I have written a script that is 96 pages. I have not made a script into a movie so far, because i'm not yet old enough. How do i begin? I think of an idea, and just write it. I write outlines for the script and just develop it into an entire screenplay. Are you stuck with one?

[Joe Bob Jim]

First I think up of a basic plot for a movie. Like the characters, the problem, and the end. Then I create a script for the first few scenes of the story. Make a couple different scripts and pickt the best on to go on and finish it. By the way, did you ever finish the one you started at my house? Or did you forget about it? Of course, my problem is usaully step 1, thinkinhg of an idea.... :P

[cow]

i am stuck thinking of an idea. Joe Bob, i never finished it, because i had nothing to fuel it /ubb/frown.gif i just cant come up with an idea!! GRRRR!!!!

[retardinAz]

Then again, thinking of the plot isn't the hardest thing. Probably my best idea that I have had(which I will not reveal:P) I can't seem to put into a screenplay. So I just decided to make it a book. I think that the toughest part of making a script is putting in all the elements to make it great. I have had stories where the plots were great, but to fit in the plot to two hours, I had to shave the character development a little bit. It's all about time. How long of a movie you want is a big step to think of when you begin.

[Silent Bob]

i once made a script, but it sucked big time. it was about this rebel dood and he kicked a glass door in at his school, and then after that, it showed how he got in trouble at school and home. it was really boring. then, he starts to smoke dope and then he just falls into a hole of depression and stuff.

[Tuukka]

It's also pretty important to know how to format a script. The structure, the balance of different aspects etc. There is a guy called Syd Field who has written about 3-4 books about screenwriting. I think they are very good. They also give you ideas of how to prevent the fatal "writers block". Of course, they talk only about full lenght films. Writing a short movie is a whole different thing.

[Tuukka]

...I have written only synopsis for a few full lenght films. The storylines are 2-3 pages long. I format them to three acts and make an overall structure with build ups and pay offs. I use the structure information I have learned from the books of Syd Mead. Here is the basic structure that he teaches:

A film of 120 minutes:

ACT 1:

0-30 minutes: We get to know the characters and the basic setup of the film.

30 minutes: Plot point 1. A big change, which will take storyline to a totally new direction. The end of act 1.

ACT 2:

30-60 minutes: The story evolves... There should be one scene called "the pinch" which will be the structural centre of these 30 minutes.

60 minutes: The Midpoint. Another big turn in the story, which will take it to a new direction. But it's not such a big turn as in the ends of act 1 or act 2.

60-90 minutes: The story evolves... There should be one scene called "the pinch" which will be the structural centre of these 30 minutes.

90 minutes: Plotpoint 2. Once again story takes a big turn to a new direction. This is the end of act 2 and it also gives us the basic setup which will lead to the final confrontation of the story.

ACT 3

90-120 minutes: The final build up and the pay-off of the story.

...So basically this is the three act play, which they already used in the Greece 2500 years ago. 95 percent of movies today are still using it. They are using it because it works. Mead only added the so-called midpoint in the 60 minutes, and the two pinches. It's a really clear structure and I like to use it. Of course this is a very simplified version of his writings in the book.

[This message has been edited by Tuukka (edited 07-31-2000).]

[kerryanne]

I'm writing a book,(King is my idol).

[Scarface]

Tuuka that is a very good breakdown of what the average movie should be. I, myself, would hate to follow something like that. I am interested in making original films that are kinda unorthodox in the way it is told. I like telling stories in different ways. Not just a plot with an exposition, problem, rising action, climax, and denouement. I look for interesting and different ways to tell the stories and go to different characters and how they interact. But if you make films or write scripts in the average Hollywood format then that is a great way of writing them.

[Matthew_P_Scott]

does anyone know how old you have to be to publish your script and where i can do it.
Thankz
Matthew

[Scarface]

You don't have to be any age. The youngest kid to make a movie was 13. It was called "something the Wonder Dog" or something like that. He produced, wrote, directed, and starred in it.

[DarkLight]

The outline of writing a script is laid out very well as Tuukka showed in his post. This is in fact a very good plan to follow when trying to put together a whole film by improvisation. That is, when you begin writing a script without any idea of where its heading or what you plan to cover. Of course, you won't get a film like Pulp Fiction out of this exercise, but it could nevertheless be as original as any other movie out there.

The way I tend to write scripts is to have sort of an idea bin, containing scenes and parts of the story that could be used in any film. I then peruse through this mass of ideas and pick out the bits I want to include in a particular movie. This way, you get some great scenes throughout the movie. The bit that takes the most work is working out a suitable order so that the scenes are linked intelligently.

Another good technique is to have a brainstorming session where you draw up spider diagrams that show the many alternative directions the story could take. Good ideas aren't really hard to come by. Just sit down and brainstorm. You'll be amazed with what you can come up with if you focus yourself.

DL

[Tuukka]

I prefer to use a tight three act structure, because it helps to prevent writer's block and it allows me go keep things focused. It's a lot harder to write something, that breaks the traditional structure. You easily end up creating something unfocused and messy.

Pulp Fiction is a good example of a film, which succesfully breaks the rules. But most original alternative / avant garde films play by the old rules. For example think about Being John Malchowich, it's highly original but has a very tight, traditional three act structure.

...But anyway, I'm definitely not saying anyone what the SHOULD do. Evereone founds their own way, which suits them the best. I guess I'm having a problem with keeping things focused (A very ordinary problem, I think). That's why I have learned a lot from Syd Mead's books.

[This message has been edited by Tuukka (edited 07-31-2000).]

[Joe Bob Jim]

Send me what ya got, maybe i could give it a start i hopes to turn on then creative process. /ubb/smile.gif

[Silent Bob]

I'm trying to write a comedy now, and I think that it might be good. I like the charecter's I have developed and it's about how they are messed up in the head.

[Crynot]

I've been writing scripts for a while now and I have about 7 scripts - but only one is finished. The reason for this is because I didn't think of a beginning, middle, and most importantly an end.

In my opinion you have to have an end to your script before you can start it.

Crynot

[Tuukka]

I definitely agree. You should have the beginning and the ending. If you don't have those, you end up with a writers block very quickly.