WRITING A SCRIPT
the steps to making a publishable screenplay
FORMATTING
This is something that many people don't understand to be as important as it really is. Submission scripts need to look a certain way if you expect them to even be considered for producing. Even if you want to produce your movie by yourself, your actors, directors, and cameramen will be used to the normal scripting format. The script should be written in the font Courier (if you live in the US). You can also use Prestige Pica. It also must be 12-point. Below are a few website with the specifics of script formatting:
Writing the Script
The first step to writing a screenplay is understanding what makes a good one. A script shows absolutely everything that happens on screen. Every sound effect, every song, every look the character gives, and all the actions an actor does. A common problem people have is that they try to show their character's thoughts. A screenplay is not a book. You do not hear or see thoughts on a screen. They have to be said, or shown by an emotion the actor has, or left out.
Another problem people have is making their script worth producing. For that, the screenplay has just got to be great. Think about all you favorite movies, and all the qualities it has. Your movie should have those, too.
The characters should be people you get attached to, and people who are believable. They have to seem real and relatable. Your antagonist can't be all bad. There have to be some redeeming qualities. There's no such thing as somebody who is totally and all-bad. Most people aren't perfect either, and as much as you may want him or her to be, your protagonist shouldn't be.
There also needs to be an obvious climax, and a strong storyline. I have never seen a good movie where there isn't one. Nobody wants to see a screenplay where there is no action or where nothing ever happens. The climax should be dramatic. A tragedy that breaks her heart, or him being kidnapped by spies. The villain becoming stronger, or the protagonist losing everything he has. Then, it needs to be resolved (though you should remember, resolutions don't always mean happy endings.)
Another problem people have is making their script worth producing. For that, the screenplay has just got to be great. Think about all you favorite movies, and all the qualities it has. Your movie should have those, too.
The characters should be people you get attached to, and people who are believable. They have to seem real and relatable. Your antagonist can't be all bad. There have to be some redeeming qualities. There's no such thing as somebody who is totally and all-bad. Most people aren't perfect either, and as much as you may want him or her to be, your protagonist shouldn't be.
There also needs to be an obvious climax, and a strong storyline. I have never seen a good movie where there isn't one. Nobody wants to see a screenplay where there is no action or where nothing ever happens. The climax should be dramatic. A tragedy that breaks her heart, or him being kidnapped by spies. The villain becoming stronger, or the protagonist losing everything he has. Then, it needs to be resolved (though you should remember, resolutions don't always mean happy endings.)
Getting it Published
First, proofread it and make sure there are no errors. Producers won't take you seriously if something is misspelled in the first few pages. Your movie needs a log line. This is a sentence that sums up the basis of your story. You also need to prepare a synopsis. (5-10 pages telling your movie's story, mentioning all major plot points.)
To find a company to produce it, look for movies with your genre. While the credits are rolling, pay attention to who made it. You can find most company's contact information online, and talk to them. Another way to find a producer is to attend film festivals for opportunities to meet them and offer up your ideas. You can also find virtual pitch services to give your script to. Some websites even guarantee a response, though the websites are usually paid. If you register your script with WGA (Writer's Guild of America) you will have a huge advantage over screenplays that aren't. Writing competitions can make your script look better to producer's as well, and you could win a huge cash prize!
To find a company to produce it, look for movies with your genre. While the credits are rolling, pay attention to who made it. You can find most company's contact information online, and talk to them. Another way to find a producer is to attend film festivals for opportunities to meet them and offer up your ideas. You can also find virtual pitch services to give your script to. Some websites even guarantee a response, though the websites are usually paid. If you register your script with WGA (Writer's Guild of America) you will have a huge advantage over screenplays that aren't. Writing competitions can make your script look better to producer's as well, and you could win a huge cash prize!
BIBLIOGRAPHY
- Hose, Carl. "How to Get a Movie Script Produced." EHow. Demand Media, 05 June 2009. Web. 17 May 2013. <http://www.ehow.com/how_5073486_movie-script-produced.html>.