Filmmaking - Getting Started Writing
Filmmaking - Scriptwriting
My thanks to Rodney of Marietta GA, who writes me this letter:
Hey Sam, 
…Yeah, I’m pretty new and want to start actually, in the writing area first. I like to use my imagination, but still haven’t written my first screen play. The formatting gives me fear, and procrastination stalls, but my goal for the next couple of years is to move to L.A.
- Rodney
Dear Rodney,
At least you’ve identified the problem!
“Procrastination is the thief of time.”
– Edward Young (1683-1765)
No excuses. You’re smart and young, the problem is thinking you have a lot of time. The fact is, none of us knows how much time we have, only that it’s going away every second. Get going!
Screenplay work is the easiest work there is, and among the highest-paying, if you work at it. All you need is a pencil and paper. Let somebody else type it in, or you can, of course. The good thing is, you work when you want to.
The bad thing is, most persons (including writers) don’t want to, and they spend a whole lot of time “getting ready.”
Moving to LA is nice, but it’s even better to have a job ready for you when you get there, or at least something to sell. That means start writing NOW.
You can write from anywhere. When your scripts are done, all it takes to get them to people who buy scripts is some stamps.
Formatting? No problem. Get software. I use Final Draft, but just as good (and FREE) for any computer is celtx. Download it, install it, and write something. Anything. If you write a word, I guarantee you’ll write some more.
The only way to learn to write, is to WRITE! Classes and books are good, (for people selling classes and books), but reading is reading, talking is talking, thinking is thinking, and only “writing” is writing. It’s the only thing that makes you a better writer, too.
If you must have a book, spend $10 measley dollars, and buy my friend Viki King’s book, “How To Write A Screenplay In 21 Days.” It’s good, and it really works.
I write from an outline. I jot down scenes and lines I see and hear in my head, and then sort out the order they happen in, later.
I spend the most time getting the story to work, before I write any scenes or dialogue, I put that part off as long as possible.
When I finally start writing what people do and say, it bursts forth in a flood, and I write as fast as I can, until it’s done. I don’t write any better slowly.
Don’t ever re-write until you’re done with the whole thing, or you’ll never finish. Re-writing is a trap to avoid. So is “getting ready.”
Good luck! Write any time, I’m your friend in Hollywood.
Best to you,
Sam Longoria
© 2007 Sam Longoria, All Rights Reserved
Filed Under
Exclusive, IndyCine, Movies
Loading ...
12 Responses to “Filmmaking - Getting Started Writing”
Leave a Reply
(Ref smilies)
Our Comments Policy : The following kinds of comments are troll capped, blocked and/or commenter's identity reported publicly: Verbal abuse, personal attacks, hate statements, spam, trolls, advertising. Please assist us in keeping the comments clean. Use the contact form to let us know if you find unwarranted comments on PFC. Thank you.
- The Secret Grain, The Page Turner and Notes from director Abdellatif Kechiche
- Scarface - 25 Years
- Has the Indian script arrived? The Indian Screenwriters’ Conference 2008
- Storytelling Jeopardy!
- Pal Bhar Ke Liye..stuff you thought, but Shashant had other things in mind..
- ISC 2008 - Indian Screenwriters' Conference
- Bollywood in the 90
- Storytelling Jeop
- Pal Bhar Ke Liye..stuff you thought, but Shashant had other things in m
- Oye Lucky Lucky Oye Dibakar Banerjee Blogs on the m
Recent Posts:
Hottest Today:
Gem of an advice… write for better writing… and what a co-incidence… was browsing most of the evening yesterday at Barnes & Nobles at the Grove going through tons of screenwriting books… and now reading this 24 hours later.
@ Sam…^:)^^:)^^:)^
This was the perfect time for me to read your article, cause i was going through more or less same questions haunting me for a few days. Thank you.
‘Classes and books are good, (for people selling classes and books)”
:)):)) Hillarious….
“Don
Don’t worry about it making sense yet. I know that sounds counterproductive, but it really works.
Trust your Unconscious Mind do the heavy work, it’s really the “one” doing the writing.
Don’t let your Conscious mind do any editing, until you have the whole thing committed to paper.
On your second pass through the material, you’ll be amazed how much sense it makes now, and what needs to be changed. It will be a surprisingly small amount.
anurag should read this.. your words echoed exactly his from what he said two weeks ago. “stop thinking, start writing. just bloody write.”
truer words were never spoken. thanks for this push sam! and also for suggesting your friend’s book. will definitely invest in it.
Sam, Got a good piece of advice from your article. Was not able to go beyond a particular pt in a script coz was getting alternatives for already written part. Now will try to finish the treatment, which originally came to my mind and then play around with it!
Could also share your views on RED Camera. Written an article on it:-
http://passionforcinema.com/a-promising-new-hope-for-independent-film-makers-digital-cinema-by-red-camera/#comment-23654
I know you strongly support Film, but isn’t a decent enough tool, which could be afforded by many dreaming of making a movie:)
I love the idea of the Red Camera, (enough to buy one), and what I or anyone has seen of its design. Lightweight, easy to use, very high quality image, built around existing lenses and their existing camera mounts.
Red is essentially the next level, past HD. (4k of resolution - compare to HD’s 2k, or 35mm film’s 10k.)
Its technical superiority makes it the one to beat in this brave new digital word.
Unfortunately, that new 4k level is still unrealized (imaginary). It still lacks a workflow model, and will require an as-yet unrealized (HUGE) system of data management, that - for all its purported superiority - does not in fact, alas, exist.
Nobody is set up to produce in 4k yet, and it’ll take some years to set up a support structure.
It will happen. Whether it happens soon, (enough to be useful), is conjecture. I doubt it will be happening this next 10 years, (my useful filmmaking life), when I will be shooting my movies…on 35mm film.
I have a 1938 Mitchell 35mm studio camera. It worked great in 1938. It works better now, because the available 35mm film is better, and there is a whole industry that can process and print and store that film.
Even if there is a Red Camera, and it’s cheap and good, there is no system (yet) for huge-scale digital manipulation and archival storage, the digital analog (if you will) of labs and printers and vaults.
That’s why it’s film for me. Practicality. No other reason. Oh, and it looks better. And there’s less to go wrong. And…
Sam : Thanks a lot for this article and raising curtain from the inertia which often captures the minds of potential writers.
Thanks for the mentioning the name of the book on screenplay writing.
and thanks for this puzzle solving which Manjeet had produced between Digital Vs Film.:)
Good advice on the writing front Sam. I too use Final Draft (7.0) and it basically does all the formatting itself. I just write.
I also agree that doing an outline totally helps in structuring your writing. I personally just open an excell file and type in randon plot points and important scenes (as they come to mind). Then I start rearranging them, picturing the film in my head. As I’m doing so, I cut (actually, usually combine) scenes so I can say more in less, and I find that the narrative arc starts to build itself. You can always tweak later.
Once I have enough to build from, I just start writing (most outlines act as skeletons, the screenplay fills everything in).
Another good screenplay guide book is “The Art of Screenplay Writing”. Very straightforward.
One more thing: Get to know your characters as you write (this applies to fiction of course). I usually start with the basics of my characters and don’t try to “create” nuances or habits for them beforehand. I find if I do so then it gets fake (or I usually end up changing those aspects anyhow). Its more fun to “pick up” on these nuances as you write (you start visualizing little details while writing out your scenes).
If your really into what your writing, and your having fun with it, so will your readers/viewers.
thanks a lot
i needed this
Sam: The most expensive part in making a movie using RED is gonna be the making of 35mm print part. Comparing the process to the digital intermediate it lacks the process of scanning the negative. The color correction part n 35mm print remains. I am trying to figure out the cost of making 35mm prints @ 2k. As you said its not that easy, The techonology is there@2k but is still expensive. The 4k tech can not be afforded by independent film makers.
Even if I could get a 2k print at a reasonable cost(less than 10000$) for the first print I wud be happy.
Can u provide a rough estimate for color correction n making a 35mm print @2k or even 1.5k.
I have posted the same on reduser forum, got some replies but still awaiting a satisfactory answer.
Dear Manjeet,
It is pointless for me to give you a price, unless I am actually the one providing you the “filmout” service.
I suggest, rather than ask consumers, (who are only interested in kicking tires and never buying a car), you contact filmout transfer houses, who actually do the work, and ask what they charge.
Here is a list of them.
They will give you a retail quote, which is somewhere to start. Never pay retail! Offer a lower price, and if they need the business, they will accept your offer.
Do your best haggling, and get the price to where you both can live with it.
I refer you to Angela Taylor’s excellent article,
“Filmmaking - Never Pay Rate Card”
Best to you,
Sam
Viki King