NaNo Announcement: Script Frenzy

For those of you who love NaNoWriMo and who enjoyed screenwriting month at Writing Forward, you will be excited to learn that April is Script Frenzy month. Hosted by the NaNoWriMo folks, Script Frenzy is an event in which you challenge yourself to write a script in just 30 days.

For Script Frenzy, the goal is to write a movie, play, graphic novel script, comic book script, or a collection of TV shows or shorts in 30 days. You can even do a screenplay adaptation of your NaNoWriMo novel!

Script Frenzy’s finish line is 100 pages, and it has the same raucous energy and unpretentious atmosphere as NaNoWriMo. ScriptFrenzy.org is also home to the legendary Plot Machine, which issues all visitors a free, guaranteed Oscar-winning plot for their scripts.

If you’ve ever wanted to write a script of any kind, here’s your chance! Almost 5000 hopefuls have already signed up. It’s completely free, of course, and operates similarly to NaNoWriMo. Plus, there’s a Young Writers Program especially for young writers who want to take on the challenge.

Are you up for it?

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The Treatment Exercise

Screenwriting month on Writing Forward comes to a close today, and this final exercise looks at a basic component of screenwriting: the treatment.

There are two types of film treatments that screenwriters deal with. One is mandatory, the other is optional. The optional one is called an original draft treatment, and is written before or during the screenwriting process, usually between putting together an outline or creating scene cards (similar to storyboarding) and writing the first draft. It’s mostly used by the writer as a reference point while writing the screenplay itself.

The mandatory treatment is called a presentation draft treatment, and this is the one that will be presented to potential buyers (producers, directors, studio execs) when the screenplay is complete and ready to be sold. It will also be used by producers, directors, agents, and actors who working on preproduction.

If you’ve already finished your screenplay, go right ahead and write that presentation treatment. Everyone else, let’s take a closer look at the original treatment.

This is not at all unlike a short story. Treatments can be up to 40 pages, but this is creative writing, so you bet they can run a lot shorter or longer, depending on the writer and the screenplay itself. No, I’m not going to ask you to write a 40 page treatment, though you’re welcome to write one if you’d like. We’re just going to dip our toes in the water.

From what I gather, a treatment is written in prose style (similar to a short story) and includes the following elements:

• Author bio
• Cast of characters with descriptions
• Locations
• Title of screenplay
• A one-paragraph summary/synopsis/hook

After that, the treatment goes into a detailed summary of script itself, detailing the entire story line. For today’s exercise, try writing a mini-treatment. Include the elements listed above, and a brief summary of the plot.

I realize this exercise could double for novelists. That’s o.k. Many halfway decent screenplays came from novels, so the two are closely related. If you’d rather try this one with a novel in mind, go right ahead. And as always, feel free to post your exercises in the comments, or send them to me.

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How to Become a Screenwriter in Ten Easy Steps

photo credit: julianrod (PBUH)

Here’s a fun, quick list of things ten you need to do to become a screenwriter. Who knew it was so easy?

1. Watch a LOT of movies. Watch award winning movies, and watch B movies, made for television movies, old movies, new movies. Watch them all and pay attention to what works. What makes one film better than another? Was it something in the script or did the director do it?
2. Learn and memorize proper screenplay formatting. This is not optional. Most other items on this list are.
3. Read screenplays. Sounds kind of boring, but screenplays are very quick reads. You can get through a screenplay in about two hours. The more you read them, the more ingrained that formula will be, and the better you’ll understand the relationship between the screenplay and the final production.
4. Write a treatment. Use this to test out your ideas. Once you’ve finished brainstorming or outlining a screenplay idea, draft a treatment and see how your idea pans out in prose. This will tell you if the concept works, and will be a useful reference for you while writing the screenplay itself, and later on, the presentation treatment.
5. Get some software. There’s plenty of screenwriting software out there. You could always use Word or some other regular word processing application, but why would you do that when there are plenty of software options that will save you hours of formatting? Those hours would be better spent on developing your characters and plot!
6. Use that software to write your screenplay! Make sure you read tons of books on screenwriting, and visit every screenwriting site on the Web. Study character and dialog, plot, and setting. Make it work, make it good, and get it written.
7. Edit, proof, revise. Repeat. Repeat again. And again. One more time… It doesn’t matter if you’ve written the great American novel, an article for the tabloids, or a term paper. You should always review your work carefully over and over again.
8. Get coverage. Coverage is when you have someone review and critique your screenplay, and this someone should be well versed in screenplays (as opposed to other types of writing). This also often involves the use of a form and it will rate different aspects of your script (character, plot), and include a log line, summary, and analysis.
9. Write the presentation treatment. You’ll use this to sell your screenplay, so make sure it’s tight. While you’re at it, come up with your 30-second elevator pitch and then practice that on everyone you know until it’s perfect. You’ll be ready when you run into Steven Spielberg on an escalator.
10. Start pitching. Once your screenplay is polished and shiny, start shopping it around. Note that you can actually shop around an idea for a screenplay using a treatment but it needs to be just as polished. Consider entering some screenwriting contests and reach out to agents. If you have any connections in Hollywood at all, call in a favor.

Next, all you have to do is get real lucky. And sell your screenplay.Congratulations! After all that, you’re now officially a screenwriter. Good job! And you did it all in ten easy steps. Impressive!

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Eleven Buzzworthy Online Screenwriting Resources

If you’d like to explore the world of screenwriting without buying a book, take a look at some of these resources. I sought out a good mix of online resources for screenwriters, which can be used for film research, learning the craft of screenwriting, and getting familiar with what it’s like to be a professional screenwriter.

1. Internet Movie Database (IMDB): Your one stop shop for all things film. This is the go-to site for looking up movie titles, actors, directors, and of course, writers. There’s tons of trivia too, plus message boards, and this site comes in handy umpteen million ways for conducting research about the movie industry.
2. Simply Scripts: This is not the easiest site in the world to navigate, but you can find free copies of TV and movie scripts, so it’s a great resource for learning the format, and seeing what a real screenplay actually looks like.
3. Screenwriting for Hollywood: A relatively new blog that provides tips and insight to screenwriting and life in Hollywood when you’re trying to break in as a screenwriter. Also offers various screenwriting services such as coverage and consultations.
4. Wikipedia: You can look up anything on Wikipedia, including movie titles and screenwriters. I find that some articles on movies will address the writing process and include interesting trivia and great links. A lot of the film articles also provide insight about the difference between the original screenplay and the final product (i.e. cut scenes before and after filming).
5. United Hollywood: This blog was launched in order for the WGA writers to address the recent strike in a public forum, and it’s slated to continue addressing screenwriting and screenwriters even though the strike is over. A great place to learn about issues that affect screenwriters and get a sense of the screenwriting community.
6. Wordplayer: Promises screenwriting secrets from working screenwriters and includes a couple of forums for movies and screenwriting. The navigation isn’t that great (screenwriters don’t seem to be web design savvy), but if you check out the site map, you can find some useful screenwriting information and advice.
7. Creative Screenwriting: A magazine targeted toward screenwriters with mostly clips from the print magazine’s articles, but a good place to go to figure out if you’d like to subscribe to a useful screenwriting mag.
8. The Unknown Screenwriter: If you’re into screenwriting and you like blogs, you’ll want to subscribe. Tons of links and resources, insider tips, plus opinions from a writer whose identity remains unknown, but who seems to have considerable experience in the industry.
9. Screenwriting.info: This is more of an online book, which explains the entire process of screenwriting. Sub-titled “How to Write a Screenplay,” this gets more into the nitty gritty of screenwriting and will help familiarize you with some of the jargon that film makers use.
10. Writers Guild of America East and West: Once you become a screenwriter, you’ll be expected to join the guild, so you might want to start learning about it. This union helps writers stay organized and as we’ve recently seen, assists screenwriters in ensuring that they earn fair compensation for their work.
11. Syd Field: He’s the guru of screenwriting and he has his own web site, which includes free articles, online courses, and various products for screenwriters.

Got any links you want to add to this list? If you know of a useful screenwriting resource on the Web, leave a comment and share it with us!

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Eight Decades of Oscar Winning Screenplays

Ten years ago, when Oscar turned seventy years old, I was working at a video store, and was tasked to set up a display called “70 years of Oscar.” It featured every single film that had won best picture. It was a fun project, and I watched a bunch of those movies, earning myself a bit of an education in Academy Award winning films.

Tomorrow, the Oscars turn eighty years old. That means a lot of screenwriters have walked away with the golden statue. If you’re a screenwriter, or even remotely interested in screenwriting, watching the films that have won an Oscar in a writing category, and reading the screenplays would be beneficial. Watching these films and reading the screenplays is a study in screenwriting mastery. It’s also a good idea to read the books on which the adapted screenplays are based. I reviewed all the winners over the past eighty years and put together a list showcasing my favorite screenplays from each decade.

The 1920s - 1930s

The very first Academy Awards ceremony was held in 1929. Ten years later, Gone with the Wind screenplay writer Sidney Howard took home the award for best screenplay. I’m glad this one is first on the list because it is one of my all time favorite movies and books. When I was growing up, there were two movies that you watched whenever they were on: Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz. Gone with the Wind is also one of the few movies that’s just as good as the book, although it deviates from it quite a bit.

The 1940s

I had to watch Citizen Kane for a film studies class I took back in college, and I loved it. This is one of the earliest well known movies to explore the brain twister plot. As Charles Foster Kane dies, he utters one last word: “Rosebud.” This film tells the story of a reporter who embarks on a quest to find out what “Rosebud” meant to Kane. The ending is unforgettable. It’s no wonder this film won best screenplay in 1941. There has been much speculation that this film portrays the life of William Hearst. Citizen Kane was Orson Welles’ directorial debut. He co-wrote the film with Herman J. Mankiewicz, and he also starred in it.

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The 1950s

There’s that famous scene, right on the cover of the DVD packaging. If you ever see footage showing a man and woman rolling around in a suggestive way on the shore, being lapped by the waves (and each other), you’re either seeing a scene from the movie From Here to Eternity. This scene has been copied in films, videos, and commercials. Even if you’ve never heard of the movie, you’ll probaby recognize that one snippet of the film. Daniel Taradash took home the Oscar for best screenplay in 1953.

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The 1960s

It amazes me that just forty years ago, a movie depicting an interracial marriage caused such a fuss. But interracial marriage actually used to be illegal in the United States. In fact, it was still illegal in 17 (southern) states until the same year this film came out, just as the civil rights movement was drawing to a close in those parts. With a stellar cast and a controversial topic, this film is a must see, for its historical relevance, a great yet simple story, and incredible acting. Screenwriter William Rose won the golden statue for Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner in 1967.

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The 1970s

Often, when a screenplay is adapted from a book, the filmmakers destroy the integrity of the original story, but Lawrence Hauben and Bo Goldman didn’t do that to One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. Then again, how can you go wrong when you’ve got Jack Nicholson in the lead role? This one took home the Academy Award for best screenplay adapted from other material in 1975. I read the book first, as a senior in high school, and was impressed with how well all the actors brought the characters to life on the screen. In fact, this may be one of the most perfect representations of a piece of literature translated to the big screen. I’m a huge fan. But then again, I have a penchant for stories set in psychological institutions. Read the book, watch the movie, and question your sanity!

Note: I think it’s sheer travesty that George Lucas didn’t win for Star Wars.

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The 1980s

It’s difficult for me to choose a favorite screenplay from the 80s, because this marks an era in which I have seen almost all the winning films. In fact, I remember seeing some of these screenwriters accept their awards on TV during the televised ceremony. Plus, this is my favorite decade for movies and music. I decided to choose Moonstruck, because it’s refreshing to see the Academy award a screenplay that’s a little more lighthearted. Historically, comedies and science fiction or fantasy films don’t get a whole lot of love from Oscar. But in 1987, John Patrick Shanley proved it could be done with this quirky love story.

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The 1990s

I think the 90s produced even better films than the 80s. This was by far the hardest choice, which is why we have a tie. Pulp Fiction was immediately heralded as a cult classic, both for its screenplay by Quentin Tarantino and for the innovative way that it was directed and produced. This movie enjoyed a killer cast and some original stories woven together in a way that was both entertaining and at the time, somewhat shocking. Tarantino took home the golden statue in 1994.

Another killer film from the 90s that simply must be mentioned is The Usual Suspects. I will never forget the first time I saw this movie. As the final credits started to scroll, I said, “Wow, who wrote that?” The answer is Christopher McQuarrie, and he got gold for his screenplay in 1995. If you don’t know who Keyser Söze is, then you absolutely must watch this film. But be forewarned, it’s one of those movies that loses almost all its impact if anyone tells you about the ending.

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The Last Eight Years

I have to honest here. I don’t think the past eight years have been Hollywood’s best. The difficulty in choosing a film from the 2000s is that I didn’t feel any of them were up to the standards of previous decades. I chose Crash because the screenplay is brilliant in showing that we don’t always know ourselves as well as we think we do. Although this film takes a hard look at attitudes about race in America, the deeper implications represent the way individuals experience conflict between how they feel and how they conduct themselves in society. It won the Oscar in 2005 for original screenplay by Paul Haggis and Bobby Moresco, and story by Paul Haggis.

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Honorable Mention

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention my own personal favorite. People have literally laughed in my face when I’ve said that The Breakfast Club is my favorite movie of all time, but consider this: John Hughes wrote the screenplay in just two days. The film boasts a cast of just seven actors, plus a just a couple of very minor roles and cameos during the opening sequence. The whole movie takes place in just eight hours inside one high school, and was filmed entirely in sequence. Plus, this movie will be relevant as long as there are cliques in high schools and class divisions in society. I watched this movie so many times when I was fourteen years old, that I could literally recite every single line from memory. That’s love.

Links

To check out Oscar awards, nominees, and winners, past and present, visit awardsdatabase.oscars.org.

To purchase television and motion picture scripts, visit www.simplyscripts.com.

What are some of your favorite movies? Do you differentiate from movies that originated with excellent scripts and movies that were carried out well? Have you ever seen a movie and thought that was a great screenplay, but the director and producer really botched it?

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