I'm getting all my resources together to start writing my first feature screenplay. I've been good with writing short scripts, but writing a feature has always been a hurdle I've been afraid to jump. Does anyone have advice for hunkering down and getting over that hurdle?
Screenwriting : Shorts are one thing, features are another... by Brett Allen
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Good thinking music, but make sure the music genre matches the feel of the movie and has as few lyrics as possible, some cocoa or chocolate milk, and salty snack plan the arcs, plan the scenes then write. Don't try to 'pants' it, it will never work.
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Depends on the type of script! I would be happy to chat about it. DM me!
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Get a piece of theme music that fits the script and play it over and over as you write. Be patient with yourself. Finish it first fully knowing that it'll change drastically after you're done. Be OK with that while being overjoyed that you finished it. Before you do any of that...outline!
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I will assume that you are ready. You have enough craft to get started.
There is a few things I have in a small mental checklist.
Is the story big enough. Is there enough emotional meat on the bones for a 2 hour story?
What do I know about the main character? This isn’t everything I will ever know. I will learn more as I go. But do I know enough to start. If someone stole their parking space. Does he huff or scream inside his care or does he get out and kill them.
How am I going to tell the story. What is the premise that kicks it off. This isn’t always the inciting incident. It is often something to do with a change in the world which forces the incident.
How will it end. I need a destination to be walking towards.
I then start making dot points (an outline). If these start flowing free I know I have a story.
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The first question, to me, is if there is enough meat in the concept for a feature length screenplay? If you feel there is, start blocking out your primary story line as well as one or two subplots. I usually find that once I have the first 20% of a story firmly established, the rest of the pieces start falling into place. There is always the danger of Act 2 doldrums, were a story can lag. But if you make sure there's always some level of conflict in every scene, and that you're always moving the plot forward, this shouldn't be a major issue. The other thing is, just do it. The first draft provides you the skeleton. You can then start putting the meat on the bones during the second and third (fifth?) go around.
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When you think you're done writing for the day, write 2 more sentences. And not lazy sentences.
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I suggest reading "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder, it highly suggested to read in film school because it breaks down story structure to help you write out those beats into a complete outline.
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Write every day. Some days you will creat a brilliant scene, some days you'll add a comma, but you are alwyas going forward and it can keep you focused. Good luck.
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Start with one page a day, then do two, and before you know it, you'll be writing 10 pages a day. It's all about making it a part of your daily routine. If I don't write for two days in a row, I feel like I'm missing something.
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Brett Allen Hi Brett, first of all I'd say you need to address that fear, because even if you write a page or two a day, that fear is going to lurk in the shadows and at the first opportunity - during maybe when you doubt this is going well - it will jump out and say "Told you so!"
And reading endless 'how to' tomes won't help either, it will probably just fill your head with the glue of rules. Remember, story dictates structure, not the other way around.
Sit yourself down with a pen and paper and write a list of the things you are afraid of in writing a feature length screenplay. It may be a short list or a long one, but either way you have something you can work on, and if you need someone to work though it with you, I'm here for you. Just drop me a line. Cheers!
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Don't over think it. Just write it. I always say that ideas come from ideas. Start with your initial thoughts as notes, then build on that. If you keep thinking you can't do it, then you won't. Change your thought pattern to 'can'. I'm sure you know this already, but first of all, give your characters a life, a past, a possible future, imagine them as though they're your family or friends so that you can develop them as though you know them. Good luck.
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Write what you have. Don't need to start at the beginning. Write one scene and build around it.
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You have any of those shorts filmed? If so, just linger it up...successful shorts turned features were game changers for many now world class filmmakers...