The hardest thing about writing a screenplay is doing it without knowing anything about camera set-ups, acting, editing, music and sound dubbing etc. The worst produced screenplays in the world look like they were written without any plan for that stuff.
Thanks for this comment, David! It's true that the writer needs to understand the basic limits of budgets so as not to write an unproducible screenplay. Aside from that, the convention in screenplays nowadays is to write only dialog and very minimal action, with no indication of camera setups or notes on acting, editing, or music.
Hello Scott! I hope you are doing well and in good health! I’m wondering if you can recommend some books or other resources to help a beginner like me write screenplays? Good basics, advice and what to avoid. Thank you for your posts! Really appreciate them. David
There are so many! I recommend reading as many as you can and gleaning what you can from each. But most importantly, write screenplays quickly, get feedback on each, and write one after the other so you can get to your number 13 asap. My favorite books: The Nutshell Technique, Save the Cat, 500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader, and Writing for Emotional Impact. Good luck, Dave! Let me know how it goes.
The hardest thing about writing a screenplay is doing it without knowing anything about camera set-ups, acting, editing, music and sound dubbing etc. The worst produced screenplays in the world look like they were written without any plan for that stuff.
Thanks for this comment, David! It's true that the writer needs to understand the basic limits of budgets so as not to write an unproducible screenplay. Aside from that, the convention in screenplays nowadays is to write only dialog and very minimal action, with no indication of camera setups or notes on acting, editing, or music.
So they just leave that stuff to the people who do them full-time.
That's right!
Hello Scott! I hope you are doing well and in good health! I’m wondering if you can recommend some books or other resources to help a beginner like me write screenplays? Good basics, advice and what to avoid. Thank you for your posts! Really appreciate them. David
There are so many! I recommend reading as many as you can and gleaning what you can from each. But most importantly, write screenplays quickly, get feedback on each, and write one after the other so you can get to your number 13 asap. My favorite books: The Nutshell Technique, Save the Cat, 500 Ways to Beat the Hollywood Script Reader, and Writing for Emotional Impact. Good luck, Dave! Let me know how it goes.
Wow! Thanks so much for your great advice!!