Ashley Said:

How to write a movie script?

We Answered:

The Overview:
1. figure out your basic plotline...make a timeline of events that happen...the dialogue just gets filled in later.
---a story, no matter how short, should have a beginning, a middle, and an end. sounds simple, right? not always. in a short film, you want to get straight to the point.
in the beginning, introduce the characters and the conflict (all stories must have a conflict of some kind...whether it's human vs. human, human vs. self, human vs. nature, etc.)
in the middle, they are fighting or moving toward fighting their conflict. the climax needs to happen just before the ending.
in the end, make sure your conflict is resolved. whether the character wins or loses, the conflict must be resolved. even "audience decides" endings have a measure of resolution.
2. create your characters. don't just think of them in the script, though. write out their life. what is his job? what are his relationships? what does he like/dislike? where does he live? how does he feel about life and people around him? how does he feel about himself? what do other people think of him? etc.
3. write dialogue with each character in mind. make the words come from him. they should be something he would say based on the questions you answered above.

as far as format, you don't really have to worry about that if you are just making this with your friends. but here's a link to everything screenwriting: http://www.screenwriting.info/

most important rule of film: show, don't tell. whenever it is possible to show something through action, location, anything, do it rather than rely on a character to explain it in words.

Oscar Said:

How do you write a movie script?

We Answered:

If you want to be a screenwriter, you've got to know how to write a screenplay - formatting and structure

Screenplays are written in a very specific format. The entire document is divided into scenes, and the scenes are structured to be a slug line (the heading of the scene telling you whether the scene is inside or outside, a location identifier, and what time of day it is that the scene is taking place), description (or action) and dialogue.

My first recommendation is to read screenplays. You can do this here:

www.script-o-rama.com
www.simplyscripts.com
www.imsdb.com

You'll also need a good book on formatting. For that, I recommend the Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier. He explains all the terms and gives examples. It's a great book. You can pick it up cheapest on Amazon.com

You'll also need formatting software. There's the professional software packages: Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft. MMS is the industry standard, and - of the two - I find that it's the easiest to use. There's also the free software. It's not a standard, but it's certainly the cheapest way to get going. The software package Celtx is probably the best out there. You can get it here:

www.celtx.com

The next thing you'll need to know is how to structure a screenplay. While the story is always up to the writer, it's important to know that virtually every story is the Monomyth. If you include the plot points outlined in Hero With A thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, you'll be well on your way towards having a marketable screenplay. Joseph Campbell's book is a great reference, but really dry reading. For now, read (and understand) Vogler's breakdown, which was a memo written awhile ago. It's very concise and hits the high points you need to know to create a good story. You can read it here:

www.skepticfiles.org/atheist2/hero.htm

A screenplay is between 90 and 120 pages for a movie.

Ralph Said:

How do you write a movie script? CAN ANYONE TEACH ME HOW TO WRITE A SCRIPT?

We Answered:

First, it's important to know that virtually every story is written the same way (there. I've just ruined movies for you forever. You're welcome). Read up on the Monomyth (Joseph Campbell's Hero With A Thousand Faces is a great book). You can do this here:

http://www.skepticfiles.org/atheist2/her…

Next, learn proper screenplay format. There's an EXCELLENT book for this, called the Screenwriter's Bible by David Trottier. Dave's site is:

http://www.keepwriting.com

You do NOT include film techniques or camera instructions EVER. You are the writer, not the director. You're just like an architect who designs blueprints for houses; architects don't tell the homeowners how to decorate them.

You should also read as many scripts as you can. This will teach you formatting, how a screenwriter communicates ideas, and the necessary brevity you need in both dialogue and description.

You can read screenplays here:

www.script-o-rama.com
www.imsdb.com
www.simplyscripts.com

Once you've done your homework, you're ready to write.

There are various software packages available.

You can use celtx - which is free, and available here:

www.celtx.com

The proper and professional way, however, is to use either Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter. These are industry standard formatting programs. I've used both, and I prefer Movie Magic Screenwriter.

You can get these programs here:

www.screenplay.com
www.finaldraft.com

Once you've written your masterpiece, you need to register it (professional screenwriters register rather than copyright; the production company you sell your screenplay to will do that). You can register your screenplay here:

www.wgawregistry.org

Purchase a copy of the Hollywood Representation Directory, and find an agent or a manager that represents the type/genre of screenplay you write. These people will work for you and get your screenplay sold. Remember that they work for YOU, not the other way around.

Write a query letter to get the agent/manager. Once you've done that, you give them the screenplay and they shop it.

Lucy Said:

How can I write a movie script?

We Answered:

If you want to be a film director, you don't need to learn how to write a screenplay. You need to know how to read a screenplay and translate the words on the page to pictures on the screen.

Directing is different that screenwriting. It's like being the guy who builds the house, rather than the architect that designs the plans.

That being said...

If you want to be a screenwriter, you've got to know how to write a screenplay - formatting and structure.

Screenplays are written in a very specific format. The entire document is divided into scenes, and the scenes are structured to be a slug line (the heading of the scene telling you whether the scene is inside or outside, a location identifier, and what time of day it is that the scene is taking place), description (or action) and dialogue.

My first recommendation is to read screenplays. You can do this here:

www.script-o-rama.com
www.simplyscripts.com
www.imsdb.com

You'll also need a good book on formatting. For that, I recommend the Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier. He explains all the terms and gives examples. It's a great book. You can pick it up cheapest on Amazon.com

You'll also need formatting software. There's the professional software packages: Movie Magic Screenwriter and Final Draft. MMS is the industry standard, and - of the two - I find that it's the easiest to use. There's also the free software. It's not a standard, but it's certainly the cheapest way to get going. The software package Celtx is probably the best out there. You can get it here:

www.celtx.com

The next thing you'll need to know is how to structure a screenplay. While the story is always up to the writer, it's important to know that virtually every story is the Monomyth. If you include the plot points outlined in Hero With A thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell, you'll be well on your way towards having a marketable screenplay. Joseph Campbell's book is a great reference, but really dry reading. For now, read (and understand) Vogler's breakdown, which was a memo written awhile ago. It's very concise and hits the high points you need to know to create a good story. You can read it here:

http://www.skepticfiles.org/atheist2/her…

A screenplay is between 90 and 120 pages for a movie. A TV show is 22 pages for 1/2 hour show or 46 pages for a 1 hr show. Every page of a screenplay equals 1 minute of screen time.

Once you've finished your screenplay, you'll need to protect it and find someone to sell it for you - an agent or a manager.

You register your work through the Writers Guild of America West:

www.wgawregistry.org

And you get an agent or a manager by picking up a copy of the Hollywood Representation Directory and compiling a list of every agent or manager that represents writers in the genre you write in. Then you send them all query letters (you don't send your screenplays). Interview the ones that respond, and pick the one that you believe will work the best for you and be the best fit. Remember that the agent or manager you pick works for YOU, not the other way around. This person will then shop your work for you.

Howard Said:

How to write a movie Script?

We Answered:

If you want to be a screenwriter, you write. You write every day. Writing is a passion and a discipline. You have to want to write. It is a solitary vocation. You need dedication and - more importantly - you need an imagination. Without an imagination ... you'll end up sitting around in your underwear on Y!A telling aspiring screenwriters to become novelists.

There are screenwriting classes offered at technical schools. I always recommend that someone that's never taken a screenwriting class take one. Then drop out. You'll have learned everything you can possibly learn in one semester.

You have to understand formatting. Read screenplays. They're available online here:

www.script-o-rama.com
www.simplyscripts.com
www.imsdb.com

Pick up a copy of the Screenwriters Bible by David Trottier, it'll answer the questions you have.

Learn the Monomyth. It's the basis of virtually every story ever written, and was extensively written about in The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell. There are two ways to shortcut HWATF: read the Vogler memo here:

www.skepticfiles.org/atheist2/hero.htm

And get a copy of Chris Vogler's book A Writers Journey. You'll learn story arc, and start to get a handle on pacing.

I'd recommend getting a copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter. It's the de-facto standard software package for formatting screenplays. It's also pricey. If you're not ready to make the few hundred dollar leap, then get a copy of celtx, it's free and it's a pretty good package. You can get it here:

www.celtx.com

You now have all the tools you need to be a screenwriter: you know format, you know Monomyth, you know pacing, and you've got the software to help you get everything down on paper.

A screenplay is between 90 and 120 pages.