Screenwriters check in!

[Emboldened Chimp]

Where are you, what genre(s) do you write in, and what are a few of your favorite movies? I'll go first...

I'm in LA
I've written two heist/thrillers, a political satire, ensemble drama, and a few others I'd rather not mention...
My top three movies: Network, JFK, and The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.

[luxpara]

1. I need a screenwriting enema...

I feel it in me, but I can't seem to get the damn thing out. I'm a very frustrated newbie.

[Emboldened Chimp]

6. The best advice i've ever heard was...

...put your ass in a chair every day and write.

Try this exercise: sit down every day and write X amount of pages (say 5) of anything in screenplay format. Don't worry about story, characters, plotting, etc. Just write 5 pages a day of, basically, jibberish. When you reach 120 pages, write THE END. That helped me get over the daunting task of writing something that long. It might help unleash whatever stories you've got brewing inside.

[luxpara]

7. Thanks!!! Do you personally handwrite, type

or use the formatting software?

PS - your idea sounds fantastic, might be just the thing!

edited for gratitude

[Emboldened Chimp]

10. I use an older screenwriting software that's now out-of-date..

It's called ScriptThing, which was bought by Movie Magic. Don't know why I've stuck with it, despite having the latest versions of MM and Final Draft. I just like it.

You can write in whatever you feel most comfortable with, though I would recommend using one of the formatting programs. They're easy to use and you'll get the feeling of what your screenplay will look like right away. If you're not adverse to using LimeWire, I'd find a good crack of FD (I did, actually).

[Bolo Boffin]

13. What a fantastic piece of advice.

Thanks much, EC.

I'm a newbie too - gone a couple of years to the Tennessee Screenwriters Association here in Nashville. It's not like a lot of writer's groups. It focuses on professional output for the American film industry. We're trying to master the classical narrative structure and make it our own.

My favorite three movies: Brazil, ET, and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, in that order.

[petgoat]

35. "Just write 5 pages a day of, basically, jibberish."

If you're like me you'll wind up with fragments of five or six
screenplays rather than one coherent work, but it's a good place to
start.

The other way, of course, is to get your outline in order before you
start drafting. But you can freewrite your way to an outline, too.

[dogmastomper]

2. Only one completed

for a screenwriting class...it is a black comedy...I want to write another one, but I've had severe block as of late.
Favorite Movies...hmmmm...that's sorta hard there are too many great ones to name.

[luxpara]

4. favorite movies...

Auntie Mame
Desperate Living/Female Troubles
Blazing Saddles
Dangerous Liaisons


loved the storyline/direction but not necessarily a fav:
Moulin Rouge
Requiem for a Dream
Fight Club
Heathers
Trainspotting

Oh there's so many

[soleft]

3. I'm in NYC

My screenplays tend to be more psychological thrillers, tho I've written comedy for the stage and my last screenplay was a romantic comedy - but unfortunately my agent is a boutique agency and she doesn't have the resources to market material that doesn't have a male action lead.

Three of my specs got as far as the studio and I sold an option on one a couple of years ago. Hoping to crank out something that will meet the markets and my creative needs sometime before I die. A good friend of mine just sold the highest paid script of all time, so that was pretty inspiring.

[luxpara]

5. Any books or tips for us newbies?

Do you just jump in? Or take it slow and methodical?

[Emboldened Chimp]

9. I've read all the standards...

Syd Field, William Goldman, William Froug, et al., but the best book I've come across is "Alternative Screenwriting", by Ken Dancyger and Jeff Rush. But imo, all those books basically tell you the same thing. If you're worried about formatting, read actual scripts. There's a bunch to choose from on this site: http://www.script-o-rama.com. He's got a bunch on PDF.

But don't just read about screenwriting; I've noticed people have a tendency to think that they can write screenplays without being generally well-read. Read everything, and read often. It's necessary for me to be continually reading, whether books, newspapers, magazines, etc., in order to write effectively.

[soleft]

11. I suggest reading all the scripts by Cameron Crowe

He's not only a great screenwriter, he's a great writer. William Goldman, James Brooks, I love to compare what's written on the page to what gets on film and I think you can learn a lot when you see instances where what finally showed up on screen had it's seeds in the screenplay.

Sometimes I'm disappointed when I found out a great screen moment was just ho hum when it was still on paper, then it's kudos to the actors and the director. In a lot of cases that's when the script is actually written by the director, because he or she knows in his head what he wants to do and just has to get the dialogue down. I think you need more when you're trying to sell a spec.

[petgoat]

36. Robert McKee's "Story" I thought was very coherent and insightful

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0060391685/002-8227962-8468017?v=glance

The funny thing is that somebody who knows so much about it apparently
can't write a screenplay himself.

[henslee]

18. Dramatists toolkit by Jeffery Sweet is brilliant and concise.....

It is actually for playwrghts but is very applicable. My favorite take is... "a composer wouldn't be expected to write a symphony without writing a measure... so why do screenwriters/playwrights start a screenplay without mastering writing a scene?" He explains why he thinks journalists and actors have an easier transitions to playwriting than novelists. Lots of good stuff. My own copy is dog eared.
Here's a link to google groups where his book is discussed.

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=dramatists++toolkit&hl=en&btnG=Google+Search

Also, a free online resource from the sci-fi author/physicist RudyRucker is terrific. He has generously outlined his work habits and creative strategies like.... keeping a page/word count, always backing up, keeping a notes document and working in it when the juices aren't flowing, keeping a TARGET SCENES document. Really worth a look... link... (he does not like to get scan spammed so here is the address for his writer's toolkit (coincidently similarly named to Rosen's book) You can figure it out and type in in manually.

wwww.mathcs dot sjsu dot edu/faculty/rucker/writerstoolkit dot pdf

[Emboldened Chimp]

8. I'm about to shop for an agent with the thriller i've got now...

I'll use the western as my back up, when they ask, "so, what else do you have?"

A couple friends of mine just got signed on to do a sequel to a feature (won't say what...contract not final). They've been pushing hard for years. I'm happy beyond words for them.

[Pale Blue Dot]

12. I'm working on my first screenplay now.

I describe it as a quirky romantic comedy with a twist.

I love the films of Atom Eqoyan and PT Anderson, and this year I have drawn particular inspiration from the film "Garden State".

While volunteering for the Kerry campaign, I met another aspiring screenwriter from LA, and the parents of the man who wrote "The Usual Suspects". I'm taking it as Karma.

[derbstyron]

14. Pretty much a newbie

I'm a Creative Writing major at Eckerd College in St.Pete, FL. As part of the degree you have to take a class in various genres. I took the screenwriting class and loved it. Not surprising I should have guessed considering my love of movies.

I have written one script, which I am polishing. Starting on a second.

A few favorites (although they tend to change and rotate):

anything by John Sayles (esp. City of Hope; Lone Star; Passion Fish)
Harold and Maude
Network (just watched it again tonight on video; waiting for the dvd)
The Hospital
Chinatown
Body Heat
film noir

[MrBenchley]

15. Hello from NJ

I write comedy, and have had two projects optioned (but have yet to see a dime).

Currently at work on a comedy about an extraterrerstrial stranded on earth, and racing this weekend to finish an entry for the Scriptapalooza TV Pilot contest.

My top three movies: 2001: A Space Odyssey, Bringing Up Baby, It's A Gift.

[soleft]

16. I entered the Bravo sitcom contest - I keep kept checking the website

But it doesn't have any updates about winners, or next rounds, or anything.

[MrBenchley]

17. As did I

We'll have to see what comes of that.

Are you entering the Scriptapaloozza TV contest? The deadline on that is coming up Monday...

http://www.scriptapalooza.com/

[soleft]

19. I didn't I'll check out the link, thanks

[MrBenchley]

20. Hope you enter

It's pretty much the Bravo Sitcom requirements, plus loglines for six to 12 further episodes...

[hyphenate]

21. Hello

I'm in Boston, after spending 15 years in L.A. (couldn't wait to get the hell out of there!). I have one finished original screenplay in contemporary fiction, and once submitted a screenplay to Quantum Leap years ago. (It wasn't chosen)

My favorite movies include:

Blazing Saddles
The Man Who Would Be King
The Sting
The LOTR Trilogy
Stir of Echoes

There are more, but I can't think of any right off.

[pen dragon]

22. I'm a member of the Done Deal screenwriters board

http://p068.ezboard.com/bdonedeal

Good reference resource , plus there are good many of us, both republican and liberal who argue politics daily in the One on One pay forum. Always an interesting and entertaining way to procrastinate.

I currently have three screenplay ideas outlined, but haven't written much since I got obsessed with following the election. Was hoping to get back to writing after Bush was ejected.

Damn.

[JaneGat]

33. Done Deal is a great resource

It helped me a lot when I wrote my first screenplay.

[Cadence]

23. Hi everyone!

I finished my first screenplay which is a drama/comedy based on a true story. I'm in Colorado though and making the contacts to try to get it sold is the tricky part. Not that it's not hard for everybody.

I've started my second and third screenplays, still working on them. The second is also a drama (kind of) but the third is sci-fi.
I'm always writing in my head and have been since I was a little kid. I think up little scenarios and dialog to entertain myself. In fact I can't NOT be telling little stories in my head that's how I finally figured out ....hmmm...I think...yep..yep..I'm pretty sure I'm a screenwriter.
I've also always been a huge book fanatic. I think my love of reading actually made it difficult for me to see that I want to be a writer but now that I have the two are very complimentary. I agree with your statement about keeping yourself informed and well read.

[Zynx]

24. Fledgling screenwriter here.

One of the two members of my family that use the "Zynx" account. I'm a military, current politics and science expert, as well as the writer, the other guy is finance, econ, and an election buff. Smart pair of brothers, us.

I currently live in Delafield, WI. Plans are to head out to LA sometime next summer.

Been doing this seriously for about six months. I've written a Romeo and Juliet-style spy saga set in 1987 Vienna (120 pages) a LoTR-type fantasy epic (126 pages) and a rather dark and nasty vampire horror (107 pages). Currently working on a second horror, then have a couple comedy ideas for a dramatic change of pace.

First script ever (spy) made top 15% at Nichol Fellowship, on its first submission anywhere. Fantasy script made top 25% at the Screenwriting Expo contest (its first submission).

[MrBenchley]

25. Scriptapalooza Deadline is April 15, 2005

It's an excellent way to get attention by professionals. Find out more here...

http://www.scriptapalooza.com/

Let me also add that the Santa Fe Screenwriters Conference is June 1 - June 5, 2005...an excellent way to learn and even pitch to film producers and agents.

http://www.scsfe.com/

[TexasBushwhacker]

28. Nicholl Fellowship deadline is May 1st

Up to five $30K Fellowships to screenwriters

http://www.oscars.org/nicholl/



I believe the deadline for the Austin Film Festival is around the same time. The Screenwriter's Conference for next year will be Oct. 20 - 23. The associated film festival is Oct. 20 - 27.

http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/welcome.htm



The Sundance Screenwriter's Labs have an application period from February 1 through April 30th for the labs to take place in 2006.

http://institute.sundance.org/jsps/site.jsp?resource=pag_ex_home



Anyone know what happened to Chesterfield? It seems to have died.

[MrBenchley]

30. Thanks!

The Nicholls fellowship program seems very interesting.

[soleft]

32. Wow - I made the quarterfinals

And I didn't even submit it, my partner did!

[Milo_Bloom]

26. Checking in...

Been writing screenplays since 94.

I have completed 7 full length scripts. (2 Psychologial thrillers, 4 Comedies, 1 coming of age story)

I had 2 optioned and was hired to write one feature and a pilot for a TV show and I was also semi-finalist in the writer's network competition some years ago.

I also did some work as a reader for Fox, CAA and some other smaller film companies and had my own script consulting company for a while.

I took the last 2 years off from writing, because I was just spinning my wheels... listening to the wrong producer who thought he knew the market, but in reality was just behind the wave everytine. He was one of those people who read the hollywood report, looked at what was #1 that week and said, we need to get a film in THIS genre. When I would try to explain to him that by the time the script is written, the genre would be over, it fell on deaf ears. I was writing the most hack garbage of my life!

I am now sitting back down and outlining two scripts, one is a dark thriller and the other is, well, I guess fantasy/drama is the best way to describe it.

[TexasBushwhacker]

27. Hello from Austin

:hi: Just moved to Texas' little liberal haven from soul sucking Houston two months ago. I'm writing more than I have in years. Of course, I'm without a day job right now!

Finished - One romantic comedy

Works in Progress - two dramas, one of which has a strong musical element (but not musical).

[Abelman]

29. Newbie style

I've been interested in trying on the screenwriting hat and have written about two screenplays which I doubt I will ever even solicit.

I have no idea how to even sell screenplays or anything like that.

[RagingInMiami]

31. Wrote a screenplay with a friend of mine

That we used to apply for a fellowship sponsored by ABC/Walt Disney. It's called Deadline and it's a very cynical look at the newspaper biz through the eyes of four reporters.
I'm trying to start another one, but I have yet to get past the first scene. What I really need is a plot.

[JaneGat]

34. Checking in

I'm in New Mexico

I've written about historical events and Hollywood's Golden Age.

Top three movies: The Moderns, Hopscotch, and Peter Ibbetson

I have a meeting this month...not nervous or anything remotely like that
:yoiks:

[Shipwack]

37. I'll throw my hat into this revived thread...

I'm temporarily in Bahrain, though normally I reside in Florida.

I have one screenplay, 90% done. It's basically a science fiction "B" movie. It will likely stay at 90% done because it needs to be reformatted, I can't see it ever being produced, and I want to put my effort into something that might actually see the light of day sometime.

There are two possible TV series I want to get down on virtual paper: one a space academy type series, and the other a light drama set on board a submarine. However, I get the impression that TV series are even harder to sell than movies, so I'll probably save those plots for short stories or novels.

At the risk of completely exposing my utter lack of taste or knowledge of cinema, I liked "Princess Bride", the "On the Road..." movies, and "Casablanca" (which I know I don't have to apologize for....)