Writing a Screenplay - Any advice?

[worsleyweb]

You need a good strong character, someone who is wealthy but not so good on the looks side of things. He needs to be on his third wife, always works that, at least one of the previous wives has gone lesbian, adds a little spice does that. He must have a few kids as well just to weigh him down.
As for a storyline? How about 3rd wife is always shopping whilst he slobs around the house drinking and farting, one day he sees his arse and strangles her. He buries her body in the foundations of an apartment block he is building in the city centre. No one suspects a thing until he blabs off his mush to an online forum full of weirdos, ne'r do wells and drunks. They laugh then shop him to der Dibble ?

What do you reckon ?

Bloody hell that is almost me but I am good looking.

 

[chedlee]

This is a good book to read whatever you are planning to write. I am writing non-fiction but the guidance in the book equally applies.

 

[Blue Mist]

Bloody hell that is almost me but I am good looking.

Can you act ? I will direct, Two Gun Bob or what ever Taxi is called now can be camera man, BMR can do the lighting and Kaz can be the fluffer We just need a lesbian, a dwarf and a baby elephant.
I will start writing my acceptance speech now,

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

A script for what? A play, a TV programme, a film?

One suggestion is to try and find a book that actually includes exercises to help you actually get it down. I remember Graham Linehan recommending this book, which is more of an exercise book that you can work through. Basically they asked loads of professional screenwriters to contribute one exercise to help people learn and then compiled them into a book. I haven't done much myself, but from what I've heard, just getting it down is the main thing, and then you can start developing it. The first stage would be a script outline though, where you basically outline what you want to happen in each scene. It can be useful as a beginner to have a template like the one from Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, which while formulaic, gets you to think about the purpose of each scene. As they say, you have to know the rules before you can consciously break the rules.

In terms of reading, you might actually be better off reading more actual scripts, and then analyse how the scripts you enjoy differ from the supposed formulas in the books you've read (nothing happens in Rocky for about 40 minutes, for example, despite all of these gurus insisting that your inciting incident needs to be within X pages). The other thing that might be useful is some sort of writing group, even if it's just other amateurs, so that you have motivation to get something down and people to give you feedback.

On a side note, Chris Morris was on Adam Buxton's podcast the other week and described scriptwriting guru Robert McKee as a snake oil salesman after him and Charlie Brooker went to one of his sessions and found out that he basically couldn't justify any of his points and got angry with anyone who questioned him.

Thanks mate, really helpful advice. I'll pick up a copy of Now Write, that's exactly what I had in mind. I'll also look in to Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, I have been trying to write ahe outline but wasn't sure if I was going about it the right way.

I have downloaded quite a few different scripts which I'm working my way through at the moment, hoping for inspiration!

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

This is a good book to read whatever you are planning to write. I am writing non-fiction but the guidance in the book equally applies.

It's fiction I'm writing but that looks good, I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[Blue Mist]

Thanks mate, really helpful advice. I'll pick up a copy of Now Write, that's exactly what I had in mind. I'll also look in to Blake Snyder's Save the Cat, I have been trying to write ahe outline but wasn't sure if I was going about it the right way.

I have downloaded quite a few different scripts which I'm working my way through at the moment, hoping for inspiration!

Sod him, what about my story line ? If you nick it I will see you in court.

 

[feedmpenzaandhewillscore]

Time travelling robots that want to destroy mankind could be a winner?

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

Sod him, what about my story line ? If you nick it I will see you in court.

Looks like you've got it sorted mate, you can thank me for starting this thread when you win your Oscar.

 

[chedlee]

It's fiction I'm writing but that looks good, I'll check it out. Thanks!

Yeah sorry I should have written that the book is intended for fiction writers but it works for my writing as well. It's about how you take the reader on a journey through your writing.

Good luck with it.

 

[discopop]

Jamie Paradise is the man to be asking