Story. Screenplay. Sale.
Improve your format & style and get ready to write ‘FADE IN’.
Everybody always says it. The one surefire way to break into the industry is to write a great script. “All you have to do is write a great script,” they say. “Ohhhh,” you reply, “That’s it? “That’s all I had to do all this time?? Was write a great script? Well why didn’t you say … Read more
Naturally, everyone knows you must keep your action lines in the present tense and use active verbs because you are in the moment with the characters as you are watching a film. But what are other qualities that would characterize the timid screenwriter? (continued from Part 1) I thought of 10 or so qualities. 1) … Read more
As I write this I’m knee-deep in dirty words. No, not the four-letter variety, although I may mouth off a few if I don’t meet my self-imposed deadline this weekend and finish a first draft of a script. And therein lies the rub. If I write dirty I can meet even the most supernaturally tight … Read more
Mystery Man left us some time before 5 June of this year. The Story Department continues to republish his best articles on Monday. Here, you’ll also be informed about the posthumous release of his screenwriting book. “Let’s go back to New York City. Consider this monolog, called, I’m a Type. In a perfect world, this … Read more
The first step is asking this very question: how detailed should it be? Next you decide what is important for the understanding of the scene and what should be left to the design team. Finally: stay close to the 1 page per minute rule. The first step may seem a bit lame but it really … Read more