Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A scriptwriting tip from ScriptShadow

What I learned: Once you have your gimmick down, once you have your hook, forget about it. Forget about how you’re going to sell the thing. Switch your focus over to the story and the characters. Make them the best they can possibly be. I think that’s the problem with a lot of today’s writers. Is they rely too much on their premise. They think that that’s going to do all the work for them. It’s a casualty of movies like “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up” doing well. Because so much of the joke is implied in the title and the marketing, that writers assume if they get that part squared away, their job is over. But Executive Search goes back to a time where writers still cared about their characters. You need to do the same thing in your rom com.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

hot topic: should ScriptShadow stop?

The community is on fire: a script analyst who owns a website called ScriptShadow publishes unproduced scripts online and writes an analysis. Wired Magazine and John August already posted articles against this habit of our secret guy.

I myself only discovered him after reading those articles. I find this website a real treasure, but I also understand the problems it creates. No writer would want an unfinished script of his to be published. And criticized!
But since the ones who are enjoying the site are not often the ones who are getting hurt by it - lets just have fun without thinking of the politics of it all.

Friday, January 8, 2010

The Scriptwriter's Guide

As a struggling scriptwriter myself, it is sometimes funny to meet other scriptwriters on the street and find that they are looking to get some ideas from me for how to make it into the industry. It is funny but totally understandable. In this business it seems like anybody who got one script produced is a very successful writer. Perhaps it is so, but it is not the kind of success you feel every day, not that kind that makes you feel like you can talk about it with others. Most chances this thing of yours that got produced was written long time ago, and you feel like Tina Turner that 30 years after still performs with "private dancer".


But, anyways, I won't play the role of the suffering scriptwriter. I actually DO have some tips for the novice screenwriter, and I include myself in that group as well.

Tips for the novice scriptwriter

Breaking in the industry

  • With every script you write and send, also those small copy-tests of a scene or so, attach a cover page that has your phone and email on it.
  • Don't underestimate the power of old contacts. With today's social networks on the internet, you can feel not-too-weird contacting old acquaintances or colleagues.
  • Call production companies, broadcasters etc. for a copy-test (a writing sample made for their needs).
  • Try to write an episode for a TV series you know well. Better one that is not to long on TV already, maybe had a season or two. Call the channel and ask to whom you should send it. In case he says you shouldn't, send it to the script editor and the producer.

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