It’s been said that everyone has a screenplay in them. In Southern California it’s standard procedure to have a literary agent pitching a screenplay in Hollywood, at all times. But, just writing a screenplay isn’t enough. You must write it right. Film audiences are much more sophisticated, today, than they were in years past. Exposure to a broad venue of brilliantly written features has polished their observational skills, honing their perception of “story” to a place of refinement. Even kids can give a concise, point-by-point definition of why a movie is great or why it “stinks.”
What is that magic formula for success in film? It’s as close as your library or bookstore. The Writers Journey, Mythic Structure for Writers by Christopher Vogler is one brilliant resource. It takes you through the Hero’s Journey, step-by-step, while describing how and when to introduce a host of support characters and villains. Story by Robert McKee, not only defines story structure but gives examples of screenplays that worked and didn’t work, so you can review them as part of your read. Write Screenplays that Sell, by Hal Ackerman, takes you from plot-point to plot-point, from inception through the inciting event, sharing professional secrets not taught in film schools. And, Lew Hunter’s Screenwriting 434 is a brilliant synopsis of his internationally famous film class at UCLA. (He also hosts a screenwriting colony several times a year. Get info. by email at lew1@windstream.net) Hunter helped found the American Screenwriters Association and has been inducted into its Hall of Fame.
There you go. All the information you need to craft a brilliant screenplay is in these books. Read them and use their tips to fashion a screenplay that will “pop” on the silver screen!
No comments:
Post a Comment