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Is "Brother Jones" black, and is his friend who refers to him as coal white?
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Nov 12, 2012 21:41
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Golden Bee posted:Is "Brother Jones" black, and is his friend who refers to him as coal white? Yes he is. I could make it clearer if it wasn't clear enough.
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Nov 12, 2012 22:28
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What is the point of that scene?
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Nov 12, 2012 22:50
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NeuroticErotica posted:What is the point of that scene? To get something worth illustrating as a test. Basically I'm asking if you'd want to read more about the two characters.
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Nov 13, 2012 00:14
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They seem like your average kooky black characters as written by a really white person.
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Nov 13, 2012 01:07
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pastorrich posted:Yes he is. I could make it clearer if it wasn't clear enough. It was plenty clear.
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Nov 13, 2012 04:59
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pastorrich posted:To get something worth illustrating as a test. Basically I'm asking if you'd want to read more about the two characters. If there's no point to the scene then there's no point in reading it. Something has to happen. Regardless if it was a test.
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Nov 13, 2012 09:15
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pastorrich posted:To get something worth illustrating as a test. Basically I'm asking if you'd want to read more about the two characters. What's the story behind the two? Besides being gay hobos about to go back out on the streets during a cold night? If you have a friend that's willing to draw what you write, get crazy with it. You can be as absurd as you want on a small-scale level.
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Nov 13, 2012 09:26
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How's everybody's projects going? I'm about 40 pages in the full length screenplay #3. If you're looking for some scripts to read, the studios have released 28 (so far) for awards season. http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/12/more-2012-movie-scripts-available-online-free-and-legal-2.html
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Dec 13, 2012 14:57
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Working on developing sitcom constellations and settings at the moment. Anyone have any experience with this and care to give me some pointers to maximize the potential funny?
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Dec 13, 2012 17:56
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Sporadic posted:How's everybody's projects going? I'm about ready to start a draft 1.5 rewrite of a script that I just finished earlier this month. I say 1.5 because of the fact that I'm not happy with the way that the first turned out and want to do a total rewrite reusing some of the characters. God, I hope this works.
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Dec 13, 2012 22:04
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Hey screenwriting goons, looking to take up screenwriting as a sort of a hobby and maybe take a few classes. I just read "Adventures in the Screen Trade" by William Goldman and although it is in no way a bible to screenwriting I found myself substantially intrigued. I was wondering what major changes, if any, have occurred in the last 25 years to the process and style of screenwriting? Also if you have any recommendations to screenwriting books that helped you get started it would be much appreciated.
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Jan 23, 2013 05:55
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The Complete Screenwriter's Manual is the most useful guide to format I've seen so far. Nothing about storytelling, just 200 pages of format. Robert McKee's STORY is about the only other screenwriting book I've read that I didn't find to be a waste. By no means have I read all of them, though.
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Jan 23, 2013 06:22
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Slight tangent, but McKee's seminar is one of the coolest things you can do. I don't necessarily agree with a lot of his mandates (that said, they're usually good guidelines), but it's a great tool. I especially find it's good to take it if you're in the middle of a project -- as he speaks, you can't help but dissect your own project in meaningful ways. Too bad it's pretty loving expensive. I'd still try to figure out a way to take it before he dies, though. There's really nothing else like it. And this is coming from someone who had a negatively biased view of McKee prior to the seminar (mostly thanks to Adaptation).
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Jan 23, 2013 06:42
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STORY is pretty much the only thing you absolutely have to read. Other than that, I mainly read dramaturgical analyses of other films. If you speak German, there's a book named "Drehbuch Reloaded" I found to be pretty cool. Basically it's a dramaturgical analysis of films like Amores Perros or Eternal Sunshine. But then again I'm a sucker for structure tables. Might not be your beef. Also, read scripts. Get started here: https://sites.google.com/site/tvwriting/home.
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Jan 23, 2013 12:01
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Published screenplays are a big help- if you read a lot of them you can get a sense of what's accepted within the bounds of the screenplay format, and what small variations there are on style. A bunch of them are shooting scripts which is less useful (since they have camera angles and you don't write those), but there are enough that aren't that you can get a good idea of how people convey information within the right boundaries.
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Jan 23, 2013 15:20
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Hellwuzzat posted:Also, gonna say that purchasing Complete Screenwriter's Manual : A Comprehensive Reference of Format and Style is a good idea. 200+ pages of formatty goodness that you won't get from the "How to Write a Story/Musical/Porn" books. http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Screenwriters-Manual-Comprehensive-Reference/dp/0321397932 This is pretty much the most helpful book a beginner screenwriter can get. You can't use it like a bible since some of the technical stuff mentioned isn't actually used by real screenwriters but it will give you a good jumping off point. Beyond that, read actual scripts. There are hundreds of them online on various grey sites. If you want them legally, keep an eye out during awards season. This year, the studios released 30 scripts For Your Consideration http://gointothestory.blcklst.com/2012/12/more-2012-movie-scripts-available-online-free-and-legal-2.html Reading real scripts also give you a barometer of what you can/can't do in your scripts and what formatting is/isn't needed. It's a million times better than listening to other people tell you "YOU CAN'T EVER DO THAT! NEVER EVER! AND ACT 2 NEEDS TO END ON PAGE X" Another book I remember enjoying is Writing In Pictures by Joseph Mcbride. I only read part of it but it seemed like he was more focused on getting you started and allowing you to discover how an existing story works instead of just going RULES. http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Pictures-Screenwriting-Painless-Original/dp/030774292X quote:Introduction: Who Needs Another Book on Screenwriting? Call Me Charlie fucked around with this message at 21:23 on Jan 23, 2013 |
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Jan 23, 2013 19:16
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Has anyone read Making Meaning? Is it good stuff?
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Jan 23, 2013 21:19
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I'm not familiar with Making Meaning. Just about every studio exec I know has read Save the Cat by Blake Snyder. Edit: \/\/\/\/ Not giving it an endorsement. Just saying that it's a popular book. Zypher fucked around with this message at 23:53 on Jan 23, 2013 |
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Jan 23, 2013 22:20
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Please, please, please throw away your copy of Save The Cat. It will only hurt you. I like "On Filmmaking" by Alexander Mackendrick... It's by a guy who 1. Made Movies 2. Started the CalArts program that's given you every pixar director and several more people you can name. Not a fan of books on screenwriting by people who didn't make movies or made just one.
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Jan 23, 2013 22:56
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Save The Cat is fascinating, as it lays out the formula of lots of lovely 80s and 90s movie. It won't necessarily help you write good movies though.
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Jan 24, 2013 04:05
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I have a weird problem. I'm trying to read a lot of scripts to get better. But so far I've only read scripts of movies I've seen. I don't want to read scripts that have been produced that I haven't seen since I might see them some day. I guess what this is boiling down to, is there some way to read unproduced screenplays? Other than joining the black list pay site thing. I don't think I know what I'm doing enough to give notes like some people graciously do in here.
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Jan 30, 2013 03:56
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Ask 6 people at any starbucks between huntington beach and Van Nuys, you'll get 4.
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Jan 30, 2013 04:52
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There's some unproduced screenplay awards, maybe you can find some of those screenplays on google. Seriously, though, read a screenplay and then watch the movie. It's more fun than you think - it's like reading a book and then watching the film, only they didn't leave out any of your favourite parts. Alternatively, you could read a TV script and then watch the show.
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Jan 30, 2013 06:58
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http://www.therobotard8000.com/BALLS%20OUT_WEB.pdf Here's an unproduced screenplay. Probably not the best to learn from, though.
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Jan 30, 2013 07:34
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By the way, not sure if this was posted yet: http://www.filmbuffonline.com/FBOLNewsreel/wordpress/2013/01/02/read-30-2012-oscar-hopeful-screenplays/ Oscar-nominated screenplays.
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Jan 30, 2013 09:47
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I wanted to quickly recommend the book "Backwards & Forwards: A Technical Manual for Reading Plays" for any screenwriter. Yes, it is about how to analyze plays, but it will make you take a second look at your own work. It changed the way I think about the narrative structure and I highly recommend it.
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Jan 30, 2013 17:25
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Hey screenwriting goons, I got a question for all of you. I am currently outlining a new script. It's going good and is basically a rewrite of another on that I wasn't happy with, so I figured why not rewrite it and call it a 1.5 draft. So anyway, I got another idea today and it's coming out pretty strong, well at least part of it anyway. I really want to start planning out this one too, but I really want to finish the one that I am currently working on. Is smart to work on two scripts at once or am I crazy for doing so?
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Feb 2, 2013 02:37
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It's generally unwise. It's like when you have too many things on a to-do list, you'll end up accomplishing nothing.
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Feb 2, 2013 11:24
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If it was editing or minor rewrites, outside of your normal writing time, I would tell you to go for it. But trying to write two scripts at once is asking for trouble. Once you run into issues with one, you can escape into the other one. That's not a good thing if you're lacking that eureka moment that comes from batting around ideas when you're stuck. The worst thing that could happen is that you'll leave a wake of unfinished screenplays behind you as you go | Juggle two scripts at once -> Fall behind on the old one -> Scrap it -> New idea -> Juggle two scripts at once (repeat forever) Make a choice. If the concept of the old screenplay isn't up to snuff and you're trying to rewrite it because you feel obligated to try to make it work, don't be afraid to scrap it. If you actually believe in it, put the new idea on hold, buckle down and finish the old one. That exciting new idea will still be there when you're done. Call Me Charlie fucked around with this message at 18:15 on Feb 2, 2013 |
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Feb 2, 2013 18:06
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Sporadic posted:If it was editing or minor rewrites, outside of your normal writing time, I would tell you to go for it. Thank you sir. I will keep this I mind.
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Feb 2, 2013 18:50
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I've been doing the on-and-off, scrap-and-reboot thing with one story for six years, and now there's an adaptation I want to write. Above posts are helpful. Looks like it's best to plow through the adaptation, which shouldn't take as long, so it's not there to distract me later.
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Feb 3, 2013 07:17
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Interesting article I saw over at DDPRay Morton posted:Professional script readers will often claim that they can tell if a screenplay is going to be good or not after reading just a few pages. This is true – for me, anyway. http://www.scriptmag.com/features/meet-the-reader-12-signs-of-promising-spec-script?et_mid=601960&rid=232876190 Makes me feel good about what I'm currently writing. I'm on course with all of them. Anybody else trying to get done in time for screenplay contest season?
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Feb 14, 2013 19:01
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Good advice, but on an unrelated note:quote:but those films are usually the result of self-indulgent directors abusing their right to final cut gently caress you. Very few directors actually have final cut, and long movies are not bad. You shouldn't submit long scripts, sure, I get that. But gently caress you.
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Feb 15, 2013 00:22
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The long script thing isn't because it's overwritten - it's because everybody in this town hates to read. Even professional readers.
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Feb 15, 2013 01:03
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I have yet to read a well-written script over 130 pages.
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Feb 15, 2013 01:36
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Zypher posted:I have yet to read a well-written script over 130 pages. You should probably check out The Social Network, Pulp Fiction, North by Northwest, and Magnolia to start.
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Feb 15, 2013 01:49
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Which one do you recommend I read first? I meant by an aspiring screenwriter, but, ya know, continue on.
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Feb 15, 2013 02:21
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If you're gonna do it for a living, make time for all of them. Very few specs sell north of 130 pages. A great majority of scripts submitted to readers are lovely or unusable, and shouldn't be submitted.
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Feb 15, 2013 04:59
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Screenplay competition season, eh? When is that, usually? Are there many that take adaptations?
Great Horny Toads! fucked around with this message at 07:00 on Feb 15, 2013 |
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Feb 15, 2013 06:57
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