I wrote my first movie script now what?

[themovieguru]

I have my first movie script draft completed, now what should I do with it? write another, edit it, tell myself good job and just table it and check it off as one of th things I wanted to accomplish in my life. Personally I don't think its all that great but hey I did it, I guess thats what counts. It took me almost a year and half to write this thing to. Just thought I share.

[benedict]

Congrads!

[PS: are you keeping the plot quiet in case Boatdrinks is reading? [;)]]

[Groucho]

There's a guy here named themovieguru. You should email him since, as a guru, he'll know what to do.

[themovieguru]

who is boatdrinks?

[Matthew Zolton]

First thing, I would go to Borders and buy the newest "Writers Market" book. I think that there is one specifically for screenplays and the like. That should begin to lead you in the right direction. In the meantime, take a look at this website:

http://www.hatrack.com/writingclass/index.shtml

There are a couple of writing lessons... most of which mean nothing to you, but a couple have to deal with getting into the business, even these sections are more catered to novels (my interest), but might be helpful.

Also, do a few google searchs, I personally found a lot of stuff about novels/short stories, so there is probably just as much about screenplays, just make sure your looking at a reputable site (the one mentioned above is Orson Scott Cards website).

Hope that helps, good luck!
Matthew Zolton

[benedict]

who is boatdrinks?

http://www.dvdtalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=393014&page=1&pp=25

[bishop2knight]

Hand it off to a professional editor. It's key that you have it read by an unbiased individual to get constructive criticism. I know there are several editors on the board (myself included).

[starseed1981]

Congrats!

Follow what Mr.Zolton said.

[TimeandTide]

I have my first movie script draft completed, now what should I do with it? write another, edit it, tell myself good job and just table it and check it off as one of th things I wanted to accomplish in my life. Personally I don't think its all that great but hey I did it, I guess thats what counts. It took me almost a year and half to write this thing to. Just thought I share.

At the VERY least, consider entering it some of the many, many screenwriting contests out there. I've entered a few and won some cool loot in the process.

And some advice I got from a screenwriting friend: Invite some friends over and do a reading. HEARING the dialogue and getting constructive criticism from people you trust is very helpful, I've found.

Good luck!

[djmont]

If you don't think it's very good, you're probably better off just throwing it away.

Let's face it: if an author isn't enthusiastic about his own work, nobody else will be.

But still, it's cool that you finished something. It's more than more would-be writers do.

[Cameron]

some people say your first two screenplays should just be put away and not thought of again....but nuts to that.

as for ^djmont^ wasn't it steven king who tossed Carrie because it sucked, and his wife took it out of the trash and sent it in...then he got his deal....sometimes when you live with a story so long, it has little to no meaning for you...let someone unbiased read it.

[calhoun07]

Let's face it: if an author isn't enthusiastic about his own work, nobody else will be.


As somebody creative myself, I have to disagree with this. It has been my personal experience that just about everything I create that I think is great, people hardly notice, but the stuff that I make that I think is the worst of the lot, that's the stuff I get the most positive feedback on. Sometimes, we can be our worst critics and not even recognize when we have something others may genuinely enjoy.

If a movie like Lucky can get made (and I know somebody locally who personally knows the screenwriter on that, so I know the backstory to an extent on how that got from script to screen) then I think you have a very good chance. (Not comparing your work to Lucky, of couse! I am sure your work has to be better than that!)

[Carcaridon]

I have my first movie script draft completed, now what should I do with it? write another, edit it, tell myself good job and just table it and check it off as one of th things I wanted to accomplish in my life. Personally I don't think its all that great but hey I did it, I guess thats what counts. It took me almost a year and half to write this thing to. Just thought I share.

Having written a few myself, I'd toss it in a safe place for a couple of weeks and then come back to it when it's out of your mind and read it fresh. Then start draft #2. "Nothing great is written, it's re-written." Words to live by.

Also, grab one of the many books out there on the subject, if you don't have them already.

Screenwriter's Bible
How NOT to write a screenplay

Just a couple there. There's a ton of them on the market.

[themovieguru]

Thanks for the feedback guys. I am not quite sure what to do with this now. When I first started out, I did it just to see if I could do it and finish, it was odd how freely it flowed when I did set and write it at times. Who knows maybe I will go back do some editing and then submit it or just write a new one. I have tried writing novels but just can't seem to write them as easily as a screenplay, screenplays to me seem easier. I see each frame in my head and the people, action, and dialogue. The title of my screenplay is "The First War" Without much detail, it takes place in such areas as Area 51, Atlantis, Space, Easter Island, America, and Europe.

[TimeandTide]

The title of my screenplay is "The First War" Without much detail, it takes place in such areas as Area 51, Atlantis, Space, Easter Island, America, and Europe.

You might be better off just shelving it then...but not because it's not a fantastic idea. Studios are typically loathe to buy scripts--especially from unknowns--that would cost outrageous amounts to produce. Consider potential budget limitations when revising or drafting your next script.

[themovieguru]

This one would probably need a Terminator 3 or Star Wars 3 type budget to produce. I never thought about writeing screenplays with budgets in mind, I will have to take that into consideration next time.

TimeTide I see your in California, are you involved in the movies at all? Just asking.

[The Bus]

guru: There's not as much of a limitation as there was before. Look at many of the Star Wars fan movies or the Matrix fan-made movies.

Also, imagine the movie done with zero special effects. Does it still work? If it doesn't, it's time to go back to the drawing board.

[lordwow]

Enter it in competitions or anything that it can be seen.

Meanwhile, start writing again.

[TimeandTide]

TimeTide I see your in California, are you involved in the movies at all? Just asking.

No, but I've a few friends who are either in the industry in some capacity or are trying to break in as either actors or writers. (Plenty of those types in Southern CA.)

If you're near a Borders or B&N, you might try looking at some of the screenwriting mags. I think it's Screenwriting magazine that includes a list of scripts sold, to whom (studio) and for how much. Pretty useful if you want to gauge trends (for example, if Westerns become hot again, you'll see studios gobbling up Western-themed stories).

The new "hot" trend seems to be self-financing projects, like Saw II and The Hostel. Find someone with some spare cash (okay, a lot of spare cash) and make your movie yourself (enabling full creative control and a lion's share of the profits).

[mdc3000]

The title of my screenplay is "The First War" Without much detail, it takes place in such areas as Area 51, Atlantis, Space, Easter Island, America, and Europe.

Ah, so it's an arty 2 hander... good job! I myself have complete a few screenplays and am not quite sure about the "what next"...although, the main problem I have is that I intended to DIRECT these, not try to just sell it off to someone else...and the student loan from film school is still looming over my head so most budgets at the moment seem insurmountable...

MATT

[themovieguru]

Whats an arty 2 hander mean? I decided to table this one for now and move on to writing a second screenplay. This one I am going to go with advice of keeping a low budget in mind. I live next to a university and when I am done I may try to find an art student who is willing to do some storyboards for me, pack it all up and send it in to some one. I wonder what Bruckheimer is doing these days.

[TimeandTide]

Whats an arty 2 hander mean? I decided to table this one for now and move on to writing a second screenplay. This one I am going to go with advice of keeping a low budget in mind. I live next to a university and when I am done I may try to find an art student who is willing to do some storyboards for me, pack it all up and send it in to some one. I wonder what Bruckheimer is doing these days.

FWIW, the studios do the storyboarding. If the script ever sold, you'll probably be well out of the loop before the storyboarding stage. You might consider instead channeling your energies into the formatting, editing and submitting of the script.

[lordwow]

FWIW, the studios do the storyboarding. If the script ever sold, you'll probably be well out of the loop before the storyboarding stage. You might consider instead channeling your energies into the formatting, editing and submitting of the script.

This is a sad fact of the industry. If you're looking to SELL your script, you're going to lose almost all control over the project. This is why many people, such as myself, look to get into the production side of things so that we are Producing our own scripts, rather than selling them, and thus retaining some creative control.

[themovieguru]

Goerge Lucas had a bunch of storyboards made up when he initially pitched Star Wars to people. That was what I was getting at.

[djmont]

George Lucas was an established director, not an uknown writer, when he pitched Star Wars. (And, of course, he still got turned down all over town.)

There are a few screenwriter blogs around written by pros in the industry that have a lot of great advice on how to work in the industry. I recommend finding them, reading and learning.

[themovieguru]

The stark reality of all this is though I think I have a better shot at winning the lotto then ever getting anyone to read, buy, shoot or anything that I write into production. Hell I live in Michigan which is about as far removed from Hollywood as you can get plus, all I have is a word processor, blank screen, no contacts, and not even the first clue about the movie industry. Its nice to dream and BS on the message boards though. That is the reality of it all. Reality is harsh and it sucks.

[RocShemp]

Ever tried http://www.TriggerStreet.com ?

[TimeandTide]

The stark reality of all this is though I think I have a better shot at winning the lotto then ever getting anyone to read, buy, shoot or anything that I write into production. Hell I live in Michigan which is about as far removed from Hollywood as you can get plus, all I have is a word processor, blank screen, no contacts, and not even the first clue about the movie industry. Its nice to dream and BS on the message boards though. That is the reality of it all. Reality is harsh and it sucks.

Well, with that attitude, you're right, you probably have a better shot at the lotto.

You should Google "Shane Black," the guy that wrote Long Kiss Goodnight. Fascinating story of a rise and fall in Hollywood screenwriting circles. Started from nothing, like most of us, and wrote what was considered at the time the best action script ever.

[NatrlBornThrllr]

Well, with that attitude, you're right, you probably have a better shot at the lotto.

You should Google "Shane Black," the guy that wrote Long Kiss Goodnight. Fascinating story of a rise and fall in Hollywood screenwriting circles. Started from nothing, like most of us, and wrote what was considered at the time the best action script ever.

I don't know that I'd classify Shane Black's story as "rise and fall," with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang getting such acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike. That's not to say that he's going to have a lasting or particularly successful career in the future...just to say that in the past year he managed to write and direct a really great and well-received film (albeit one that not many people saw). I think a more fitting description of his story might be "rise, hiatus, and brilliantly understated return." For a better look at a rise-and-fall tale set in Hollywood, check out the documentary "Overnight" about Boondock Saints writer/director Troy Duffy.

On a side note, this topic motivated me to start work on a novel. I never intend to push it toward publication...it's just something I'm doing for fun. You know, one of those life-goals that people set for themselves. Visit Europe, own a house, skydive, write a novel. I just want to see if I'm capable of writing something worth reading. I'm going for that wandering, repetitive Palahniuk style. The story is thin, so I think it'll take me quite sometime before I have something worth writing, but I've started putting ideas into paragraphs...and I must say, it's an enthralling and exciting process.

-JP

[TimeandTide]

I don't know that I'd classify Shane Black's story as "rise and fall," with Kiss Kiss Bang Bang getting such acclaim from reviewers and audiences alike. That's not to say that he's going to have a lasting or particularly successful career in the future...just to say that in the past year he managed to write and direct a really great and well-received film (albeit one that not many people saw). I think a more fitting description of his story might be "rise, hiatus, and brilliantly understated return." For a better look at a rise-and-fall tale set in Hollywood, check out the documentary "Overnight" about Boondock Saints writer/director Troy Duffy.

On a side note, this topic motivated me to start work on a novel. I never intend to push it toward publication...it's just something I'm doing for fun. You know, one of those life-goals that people set for themselves. Visit Europe, own a house, skydive, write a novel. I just want to see if I'm capable of writing something worth reading. I'm going for that wandering, repetitive Palahniuk style. The story is thin, so I think it'll take me quite sometime before I have something worth writing, but I've started putting ideas into paragraphs...and I must say, it's an enthralling and exciting process.

-JP

You're right about Shane Black. The "fall" would be more a reference to his disappearing for awhile after scribing some of Hollywood's most talked-about films. Haven't seen "Kiss, Kiss" but have heard great things.

Will look into the "Overnight" doc. Sounds interesting.

For aspiring screenwriters, here's a humorous site mentioned in today's L.A. Times about query letters for script proposals: Query Letters Blog (http://www.queryletters.blogspot.com/)

My favorite: "Logline: A street racer uncovers a broken artifact while working in a museum warehouse, which releases a banished ninja spirit into his body. They must learn to work together in order to prevent a ninja sorcerer from unleashing an ancient demon plague upon humanity."

themovieguru, how would you summarize YOUR script in a sentence? All this talk has made me curious!

And NatrlBornThrllr, good luck with the novel. Keep us updated on your progress?

[NatrlBornThrllr]

And NatrlBornThrllr, good luck with the novel. Keep us updated on your progress?

Will do, as long as you promise to fill me in with your thoughts on "Overnight" once you get around to seeing it.

I got some more material down last night. Right now it makes up chapter two, but I can, and need to, expand it into at least a couple chapters in and of itself. I also came up with an ending that I think will work pretty well.

-JP

[Fincher Fan]

Shelve it and write another. Review it again in six months and see how you feel. From your description alone it will never sell. The reason, as others have stated, is that it would be too expensive.

[naughty jonny]

Shelve it and write another. Review it again in six months and see how you feel. From your description alone it will never sell. The reason, as others have stated, is that it would be too expensive.

Would be my approach too. If you can shelve it for a year, do it. Write some other stuff and then come back to it in 12 months time and see what you think of it.

Best case scenario: you'll think it's as good as you do now and then you can try and sell it, or your writing will have improved and you'll be able to fix the holes that you've now identified.

Worst case scenario: you'll think/realise it won't sell and while that might be the case, has given you an awful lot of insight into how you should write/structure your future projects.

Good writing doesn't normally just happen (although sometimes it does). Like everything, it's a skill and you get better with time and experience.

[themovieguru]

Wow I can't believe this thread is still alive! I have shelved my first script. I never said it was good. To expensive to make yes it would be. It make for one hell of a movie though if it was fleshed out more I think, at least the backdrops would be cool. To sum it up, think Stephen Kings the Stand meets ID4 with Jung theory as a base.

Anyway I have started on a second one. Thirteen pages so far. I have my outline all done this time. Thats been a big help. Its a serial murder mystery with several creative twist. Just might send this one in, and I am considering looking into finding another writer to collabarate with. Who knows!

[William Fuld]

Anyway I have started on a second one. Thirteen pages so far. I have my outline all done this time. Thats been a big help. Its a serial murder mystery with several creative twist.

Let me guess: the killer, the girl, and the cop are all the same person!

[NatrlBornThrllr]

It's like a battle between motors and horses. Like technology vs. horse.

-JP