Screenplay writing Art or Commerce?
When was the last time you heard someone state that they could write a better screenplay than the one they just saw?
The truth is that just about everyone does have a story worth telling. Unfortunately most do NOT know how to write a screenplay.
Most artists are particular about their tools and the quality. Writers are no different, they need structure and they need the right screenplay writing software
If you are writing a novel, you CAN take the time to ramble and develop your descriptive talents. A screenwriter cannot!
The talent of a writer has to be nurtured through discipline. All the great writers set aside fixed times during which they would sit at their work place. Even if they didn't know what they would write, merely by providing that set time every day 'something' would happen. Stephen King calls it "being in the zone". Unlike a novelist, you do not have the luxury of allowing your script to develop into 300 plus pages. It will not get read if it does not conform to an industry standard of around 110 pages.
The structure of most contemporary screenplays: 1) Establish the character and general situation, 2) force them up a tree and throw rocks at him and 3) get the hero down again.
Firstly, you get the audience to know something about the character and his situation.
Secondly, a situation must be created that goes against your characters comfort zone. He must have a nemesis trying to destroy everything he stands for. This bad guy takes pleasure putting your hero up that tree and making it as uncomfortable as possible.
Thirdly, our hero needs to overcome all odds and payoff' the bad guy.
So why isn't everyone you know a screenwriter. It's because most people have not understood that it is a craft and not as simple as it appears.
So take the time to develop your storyline. Flesh out your main characters with real hopes and dreams. Now introduce conflict! The more conflict you have, the clearer your characters will be defined.
So how do you go about becoming a screenwriter? Like the road to Carnegie Hall - you practice! Each day you become sharper in your telling of the story. Each day you improve your writing skills. Each day you look back and see how far you have come. A major pool of resources for any writer can be found at summer acting camps where the writer can test his material WITH real actors.
So how does your screenplay rise above the sea of scripts waiting to be read? Follow up! It isn't because your script isn't good that it hasn't been read and responded to. That is the very last consideration. Any producer that is worth his salt has a groaning desk of submissions. Yours is simply ONE of those. So follow up - but politely. It may well be the most important thing in your life but to any producer it simply just ANOTHER screenplay. There are a million legitimate reasons why Hollywood should not immediately fall at your feet but YOU are going to overcome this. If you do not believe this, then do not even attempt to learn how to write a screenplay! If you DO believe in yourself, then hey why shouldnt you be the one that gets lucky?!
So yes, learning how to write a screenplay isnt so difficult. The difficult part comes AFTER you have written the screenplay.
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About the Author
Richard Patton has been in the movie business for more than 20 years, working on some major shows as well as thousands of commercials. He reveals how writers can get their screenplay pitches in front of LA producers without even traveling to Hollywood.
