Screenwriting : Screenwriting by Bardi Osobuanomola Catherine

Read a lot of scripts good and even bad scripts you can learn from both.And write as much as possible even if you just write a individual scene.Get on Youtube and watch some of the lectures from the best screenwriters and consultants.And if possible get a copy of Blake Snyder's Save The Cat it in my opinion the easiest screenplay structure to understand and use when you're starting out.And it's a business so get to know people in it and listen to them producers,directors and actors are saying what they're saying to you for a reason not that they're always right.

make your own movies

Like anything else, practice. Read good scripts. You just really need to know the basics which you can find all over the internet, various books. Ther are screenwriting YT channels, etc.

Learn storytelling, story structure, read scripts, learn psychology (what makes people tick, why people do things the way they do), and write. Writer a lot. Solicit feedback from others. And write more ...

Thank you all

Keep writing.

Keep reading screenplays.

Study screenplays and movies (ie: try to figure out how they work and why they do what they did). One of the many things that I did was to time movies - how long is this scene? How long between exciting scenes? Before Joel Silver talked about "whammies" within every ten pages, I was already doing that based on what I had learned by timing movies. Hey, I got some reads from them early on. I also looked at how (and why) things were written on the page. One of the cool things that I noticed in THE MATRIX (saw it at a WB screening) was how the agents character descriptions were all using computer terms. The idea of word choice being critical to description on a subliminal level. There are a million things to learn through studying. Taking apart a script to see how it ticks.

Learn about the business side - that is half of a screenwriter's job. Also think about the practical side of production. A couple of days ago was Gregory Harrison's birthday, he starred in a TV movie I wrote for Warner's. One of the reasons that script sold was that it could be made at a price - a production manager read it and realized that it was written to a shooting schedule (it was) and would be easy to make... and handed it to his contact - which is why that movie has the Warner's logo in front of the film. If you write something that makes sense from a production standpoint, that's a plus.

There is all kinds of information out there online. All kinds of screenplays to read in PDF. Not like when I was starting out and screenplays were only paper available by mail order.

Mostly - write.

Good luck!

I started out with reading books on screenwriting. Then I read hundreds of scripts. If I'm writing a crime/drama, I read screenplays on that genre. If a romantic comedy then I read screenplays on that genre, etc. I don't write for one particular genre either. I write whatever story comes to mind. I don't care what anyone says : )

First comes spelling; there's a big difference between an armature and an amature. It takes lots of learnin' and practacin' over years.

Kinda like spelling "my apologies" versus "my Apollo, geez" ;-)

Those of you who are pointing out her spelling error, please respond in Yoruba or one of the other languages spoken in Nigeria, since that is where she is from.

Nigeria is, I believe, the third largest producer of films in the world.

The internet is International. People from all over the world. English may not be their primary language.

If you want to correct somebody's spelling, start with Quentin Tarantino who misspells words in his titles... as well as throughout the rest of his screenplays. That tells you how important spelling is in screenwriting.

When people say write, it feels like the most unless advice. But if you do it an aim to improve and not reinforce bad habits. You will feel it. You’ll suddenly think of story in a different way.

It may be tomorrow or in two years time. But when that happens you know you are a writer. It is a bit like falling in love, you just know when it happens. There is no checklist, or qualifying time.

A hint is when you watch a movie or tv show and you can feel the structure. Which is always exciting and sad the first time it happens. You know exactly what is about to happen.

Which some would say is an indication of bad writing. Which may be true. But non-writers don’t see it.

Thank you all for your advice.

So I got a book titled "Save the Cat" I'll be reading that for the mean time, while reading screenplays. Then when I understand the structure or what is needed to do from the book, I'll start writing. Is that ok?

That is great.

Thanks

Also, try and google the year blacklist scripts, and read them. They are the best-unproduced scripts in Hollywood. Some even turn into Hollywood Oscar winners... Go place to start.

As usual, Dan MaxXx has the most to say, in the fewest words.

I'll add my own - if making your own, is unfeasible, then work on as many as you can. Get on set, see how the words on the page affect the filmmaking process, and how the finished film compares to the words.

It's not so easy to "get on set". Some people don't have that luxury of living close to production but if you do, go on IMDBpro and see what's in production in your area and send your resume or call the production office and tell them that you're interested in working as a Production Assistant. Maybe even offer to work for free a couple hours a week just to get some experience. Send the resume to the Assistant Production Office Coordinator or Production Manager. Get their names. The cool thing about working as a PA is that you have to communicate with everyone on set.

If this is not feasible then do what John says but of course, from home. Watch the movie then read the script or vice versa.

Hey Bardi Osobuanomola Catherine great to have you here! The bests advice I received was from a producer who had been in the business for a very long time. When I was a college student he said, "Are you writing every day?"

I lied and said, "Yes."

He said, "Good. Write every single day. The stuff you are writing now is probably not that good. But it will get better the more you do it."

So I would say, write every single day. Then make sure that you have really solid people you trust reading and giving you honest criticism. And then - this is the hardest part - take the notes with an open mind without being critical of them or yourself. And then start rewriting.

I've read all your advices and I'll choose what works better for me. Thanks

Right now I'm not living close to any production house but I'll probably move after I graduate. So I'll try writing everyday, alongside ready scripts and textbooks

Another spin on Jason's last post - "Are you a writer or are you just writing?"

I want to be a writer