All of us, at some point in our lives, have said, "I have an idea that would make a great movie!" No matter how good or bad a movie is, it always started with a simple idea. If you've ever uttered this phrase, then you're well on your way to becoming a screenwriter. All it takes is an idea. Making your idea a reality is the hard part, and there are some things you should know before you dive in with both feet.
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.
When you're done and comfortable with your treatment, it's time to begin the real writing process. Stick with your treatment as best you can to avoid getting lost in the story. Don't get excited and start adding "cool" or "exciting" elements where they don't really belong. Keep your dialogue grounded as best you can. You can accomplish this by acting out the scenes in your head and saying the lines as you would say them. Try to keep it from feeling too artificial. Also, keep in mind that the more you add, the more money it'll take to create the screenplay. The budget it something a producer is going to take into consideration, so try and keep it as low as possible. You can accomplish this by avoiding length action or stunt sequences, keeping the locations and characters to a minimum, and cutting out any unnecessary scenes. You also want to make sure you get your screenplay registered with the Writer's Guild of America. This will ensure your work is protected, so make sure you include the WGA number on your 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.
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.
When you're done and comfortable with your treatment, it's time to begin the real writing process. Stick with your treatment as best you can to avoid getting lost in the story. Don't get excited and start adding "cool" or "exciting" elements where they don't really belong. Keep your dialogue grounded as best you can. You can accomplish this by acting out the scenes in your head and saying the lines as you would say them. Try to keep it from feeling too artificial. Also, keep in mind that the more you add, the more money it'll take to create the screenplay. The budget it something a producer is going to take into consideration, so try and keep it as low as possible. You can accomplish this by avoiding length action or stunt sequences, keeping the locations and characters to a minimum, and cutting out any unnecessary scenes. You also want to make sure you get your screenplay registered with the Writer's Guild of America. This will ensure your work is protected, so make sure you include the WGA number on your 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.
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