Script Writing

[Deleted]

hey guys

im currently in the process of writing my main script for my new film
and i keep getting stuck how to carry the storyline and keep the story going
...basically like writers block i guess


i know the story in my head, ive wrote a breif storyline and draft notes
and how it should all look to help when writing the script
like character profiles, specific scenes and cinematography

i think dialogue is the problem
which to be honest, is an important part!!

i was just wondering if anyone had any tips as to how to develop a script
and the best way to approach it

cheers all the best

Andy

[halfpint]

I too am struggling a bit right now.

I think your best bet is to work your way through it to the end, just getting something down is important, even if it's a bit rubbish to start with, no matter how unhappy you are with the initial dialogue, plough through it.

Once you're done, you've got the skeleton of the script, and know exactly how things are going to pan out...so you can then go back and work on perfecting the dialogue you were initially unsure about.

I should really take my own advice I suppose.

[Gareth]

also don't get bogged down in making the dialogue realistic if your having trouble at first, I sometimes just right completley on the nose dialogue then go back in and polish it later

[Tom]

If you're struggling with dialogue, do as Gareth says and literally just scrawl blunt dialogue to go from the previous scene to the next. You'll understand it better later, and it may be that you're trying to write in a style. I would suggest that you just aim for info for now.

Another thing I always do when things aren't flowing is jump to the parts that I'm confident in. It'll get the wheels going again and will make things easier when you come back to the unwritten parts.

One other good thing you may want to try is to speak the words aloud as you write. Obviously, it's better if the house is empty! But it lets you hear the words and you'll know when you have the natural flow.

If you are 100% on the back story of all the characters and you know their motivations and intentions, it will make the gaps easier. You don't have to reference something from their past or what they want next, but how they respond to what is being said WILL be based on history and aspirations. If they are a naturally defensive person, you can afford them a little misstep and take a little off course. If they're an aggressor, you can get some conflict in there. Fleshing out the ideas of who they are and what they want will make the dialogue easier.

Tom.

[jimmy975]

Here's a way to get past writers block:

Give all your characters a detailed history by doing a character sketch on all of them.

Then try and come up with the main themes for your story i.e. what topic/s is your story mainly about, link the history of the characters to the themes of your story and you'll find that the dialogue flows. If you havent got a full story figured out then it'll work itself out as you write. Anyway that is what i do and it works for me.

[Tom]

jimmy975 said:

Here's a way to get past writers block:

Give all your characters a detailed history by doing a character sketch on all of them.

Then try and come up with the main themes for your story i.e. what topic/s is your story mainly about, link the history of the characters to the themes of your story and you'll find that the dialogue flows. If you havent got a full story figured out then it'll work itself out as you write. Anyway that is what i do and it works for me.

Glad to see someone who also sees it that way.

[Deleted]

wow thanks chaps
some really good help there! cheers

ye when i start to write a script i tend to be able to write a good opening SEQ
but then the main body of the script seems to halt soon after!

the story of the film is Horror
but it isnt just a slasher, kill, kill type affair
the characters play an important part with flashbacks and back stories
some SEQ come really easily, whereas others seem to drift away..

ye i like to do a similar thing where i give each character a detailed history
i find that really helps build atmosphere when writing for each character
and also sketches of them to get a sense of their appearances

i just dont want to get too overly complicated with the script
and try and keep it as natural as possible
if i spend too long on it and it comes to shooting, i dont want to be too anal and be like -

"do this, say that now, move your hand there........etc, etc"

i want the actors to know the script, and improvise.




also is it worth writing out all the camera angles and positions when writing the script?
like Close Up, High Angle to Xtreme Close Up..........etc
i do do this but it sometimes distracts me from the actual writing.



thanks for all the help guys
back to the script i go!!!!

Andy

[Tom]

andrew said:

also is it worth writing out all the camera angles and positions when writing the script?
like Close Up, High Angle to Xtreme Close Up..........etc
i do do this but it sometimes distracts me from the actual writing.



thanks for all the help guys
back to the script i go!!!!

Andy

Save all the camera stuff for when you plan the shoot. The only reason to put that stuff in is if it's massively integral to the story (and I mean to the point of the reader can't envision it unless you walk them through it). Otherwise, you're loading it with details that don't matter. And you'll add camera moves in pencil to a printed script.

If you're ad libbing it also, you should think about getting some actors to workshop it with you before you re-draft anything. It'll let you move it around. And the actors don't have to be people that will be in the film. It'll just let it breathe a little.

Tom.

[Deleted]

ye im glad you agree
i tend to spend more time worrying about angles than dialogue
which sounds so stupid but it happens!

cheers

[jimmy975]

If you are gonna play with images in your head make sure you read your finished rough draft and this might sound crazy....do some counting. Count some beats while you read the script and imagine the shots, this will let you figure out where the pauses are, this helps the shots fall into place in your mind, where the close ups, the zooms etc should be and it also sorts out where everything should cut, then you can edit your script more effectively. Honestly this really works. You will know yourself how many beats you should use in each scene once you are editing your second draft.

[jimmy975]

Or you can do it Quentin Tarantino style and listen to music while you write or listen to music before you work out your storyboard of camera shots.

[Tom]

jimmy975 said:

Or you can do it Quentin Tarantino style and listen to music while you write or listen to music before you work out your storyboard of camera shots.

I always write to music. I create a playlist for every script. Good advice.

[jimmy975]

Thanks Tom but i find it isn't good for the gritty stuff.

[Tom]

I don't know. I actually had Johnny Cash's Hurt on the Icharus' playlist CD. Did the job perfectly for me, and Baz Bamigboye (The Daily Mail) actually called my film a 'gritty drama'... Guess you gotta make strong selections for what you wanna write.

[jimmy975]

LOL, it affects my concentration when i'm doing the gritty stuff but i find listening to music is great for opening scenes and montages. I do the counting for the dark stuff, however i found listening to 'She's So Heavy' by the Beatles would be perfect for a dark scene.