The Screenwriter Job Description
There are many techniques, tips, and tricks that I will discuss later on in the scriptwriting section, but before that, I think you should look inside yourself and see if you have what it takes to become a professional screenwriter. Looking at all the writers who succeeded, one can see several standard features to all. I will try to review some of them here.
Creativity and originality in script writing
Scriptwriting is all about being original and creative. Now I’m not talking about re-inventing the wheel here. Take Pulp Fiction or Memento. For example, They both tell a pretty simple story- Memento is an ex-insurance investigator who tries to find his wife’s murderer, and Pulp fiction is about two hitmen trying to get a stolen bag back to their boss. In both cases, the stories are not that original, but the way the stories are told- the structure of those films, the characters, and the dialogs are unique.
As a beginner screenwriter, though, it is crucial to be original and stand out. I will write about inspiration and creativity later on in the blog, but the essential thing to understand is that you have to be affected by life and not TV or the other movies you’ve seen. You can not know where inspiration will come, so you should be ready all the time. It will also help if you surround yourself with creative people, but, on the other hand, don’t be affected by them too. Allow yourself to be alone from time to time and figure out what to say to the world.
Read about finding your own voice
"You see things; and you say, 'Why?' But I dream things that never were; and I say, 'Why not'?"
Flexibility with the script writing
Scriptwriting is not an art that stands on its own. A massive group of people produces a film and lots of money is invested. You will be required to be flexible and compromise with your story. You don’t need to sell your soul to the devil, and you need to know how to balance with what the producers want and what you want. I recommend reading the Make low budget film article to understand what the producer looks at in the script when he plans the budget. Sometimes you will find yourself changing your first idea to a totally different one.
Commitment to your script
The main thing to remember in script writing is – Do not give up no matter what! When You start working on your first script, it will be something like this – you sit in front of the blank page in a notebook or on a computer and stare at it. It could be an hour, two hours, or a full day. You do it every day. Never Give Up. Take a notebook everywhere you write down scenes in every spare moment you got. Some apps allow you to work on your script anytime and anywhere.
There are different ways of writing – One is starting with just writing the scenes for the idea of the movie without thinking about the script. Other writers like to start with a general outline; others will try to limit themselves with time, for example, writing the first draft in two weeks. You need to practice different tactics and see what works best for you. The best way (again, not for everyone) is writing at the same hours- that will force you to sit and write even if you do not feel like it.
After you finish writing the first draft of the script, you will still be required to do many rewrites. Keep doing that until you have something that you, the director, and the producer are happy with.
You also need to build good writing habits that work for you. If you can’t write ten pages a day, write 4. Don’t push yourself too hard. Don’t judge yourself, especially at the beginning. The most important thing to do when you start to write a script is to write. don’t think if it’s good enough or not- at the first stage, simply write
Courage to be in the business of scriptwriting
If you believe you can make a living, only from your brain, either you crazy, or you have great courage. This scriptwriting business is a bit tough to do in the evenings after work (although that is not impossible). If you’re committed to the script, you’ll have to sit on it for days, and that means no day job. It is essential to ask yourself, are you able to do it. You will also need to be able to do these things:
- Know how to speak – It’s sucks, but you will need to know how to sell yourself and your script. There is a thing called Pitch – the scriptwriter has something like a minute and a half to present his story to producers and to convince them that he is the person to tell this story. We will deal with this issue later on in the scriptwriting section of the blog, although I think it’s the least important thing. At least not as important as knowing to write.
- Knowing how to look – To be good writers, you should turn off your autopilot and start to be present. Start paying attention to what is happening around you and start asking questions about what is happening. Stop hanging out with headphones in your ears and listen to the conversation around you and ask questions about what you see- what this guy story? Why does this mother yell at her children in the mall? What’s her problem? Take a small notebook and write anything interesting you see, even if at the moment it does not look like something suitable for the film.
- Be able to deal with criticism – Perhaps the hardest part of the profession of script writing is the criticism. You worked on the scene all night. Suddenly there was a breakthrough, you ask a friend to read it, and he doesn’t understand what you wrote. The trick is to know who to listen to and how. If a friend did not like the script, you do not have to run out immediately and change everything. Try to figure out what he did not like and, most importantly, show the script to more people and see whether they think the same way. Be open-minded to new ideas when you get criticism on your writing, and don’t be stubborn, but don’t change the script just to fit others’ opinions.
And most important: Passion for writing
If you do not have a strong need for writing, you might want to give up the idea. This scriptwriting business is a complicated process, which can cost many frustrations and anger. If you do not need to do this, you should never start. Writing is something that burns inside of you, and you have to let it out. Most professional screenwriters say that, even when they are not working on a screenplay, they are writing every day. They just must. The most crucial thing in writing the screenplay for a movie is to love movies. Writing a screenplay is a process completely different from writing a novel. You have to love the field of film and to know how to express yourself adequately in this medium. Watch as many movies and read many scripts, to learn the tricks screenwriters made there. So now you see that you have everything you need, you can go in and start learning how you can write the script of your life.
