Movie script writing

MadeInOz · Nov 27, 2004

I had to write a short film script for a university class, and I found that it annoyed me too much by having to kind of justify visually a lot of the description... where as I like to be more free flowing with my prose writing.

JBSU2 · Nov 28, 2004

indeep said:
I had to write a short film script for a university class, and I found that it annoyed me too much by having to kind of justify visually a lot of the description... where as I like to be more free flowing with my prose writing.

Hey! What are you studying?
Actually, (as I know it) script writing doesn't need absolutly to describe every things. You just have to write what you see ONLY if it is important for the story.

FireRock · Jun 12, 2005

Yeah, for real...the only time you need to talk about what everything looks like is in the beginning of the scene, so the actors can get a feel of where all the characters are at. Or is that just the way I do it??

The thing I like about script writing is that it gives the director a lot of freedom in determining what things look like and where things are. Of course things that characters interact with need to be a certain color or in a certain position, but there's so much freedom in writing a script.

(I've done both writing and directing, btw...and there's both visual pressure and visual freedom on both sides it seems. Oh how I love writing and filming!!!)

Ringu · Jun 12, 2005

Gosh I am surprised that this thread is still alive.

Well I have a question to everyone. What makes a good war movie? Is is the story? The action? The moral? The hero? (A logical answer is probably, all of the above). But my question is, what is it in your opinion? And what are your favorite war movies?

FireRock · Jun 13, 2005

I really like "Saving Private Ryan" because of the characters and the way it was filmed made it seem...I don't know...different and realistic I guess, fo lack of better words.

I actually liked "Gods and Generals" a lot more than I thought I would. I think it was mainly the characters and how they were played, but it was a lot the story in that one as well. Something that I'd only read in textbooks as a child now had emotion and personalities to it. The whole thing about the South fighting for/in the name of God and then losing was really interesting as well.

Those are the two war movies that stick out in my mind right now. If I think of others, I'll let you know. I haven't watched many, especially recently because nothing out there really peaks my interest.

What do I think makes a good war movie? The story and the characters, definitely...hands down...no question. To me, a filmmaker can blow up all the stuff he wants and la-dee-da, but if can't get the audience to connect some way so they're sitting in the middle of all that action and feeling it, it doesn't matter if stuff gets blown up or not.

IMHO

Captain_Tripp · Jun 14, 2005

my storys r kinda like that.c?-

bob-hiya alyssa!
alyssa-hey.wanna go 1 the movies?
bob-sure.lets go.
both-*gets in car*

thats how mine r!thats not in any of my storys though!*smiles bigly*

FireRock · Jun 14, 2005

*wipes tear away from laughing* That was great! I can even see how that would look being filmed...

"Okay, let's get the Bob and Alyssa characters over here standing together. Quiet! Action!" *three lines are said* "Excellent! Let's get ready for the car scene. Bring our two stars over here. Okay, get ready to get in the car and drive away. Quiet! Action!" *characters get in car and drive away* "Cut! Perfect! That's a wrap! Nice job people, nice job! I think I'm smelling a little Academy Award in this one! Now everyone go home and get some rest. We'll screen it in the morning."

Oh golly, that's too funny! The mental images just add so much!!

Captain_Tripp · Jun 14, 2005

FireRock said:
*wipes tear away from laughing* That was great! I can even see how that would look being filmed...

"Okay, let's get the Bob and Alyssa characters over here standing together. Quiet! Action!" *three lines are said* "Excellent! Let's get ready for the car scene. Bring our two stars over here. Okay, get ready to get in the car and drive away. Quiet! Action!" *characters get in car and drive away* "Cut! Perfect! That's a wrap! Nice job people, nice job! I think I'm smelling a little Academy Award in this one! Now everyone go home and get some rest. We'll screen it in the morning."

Oh golly, that's too funny! The mental images just add so much!!

okay!nice.that was gd.i guess.

FireRock · Jun 14, 2005

Seriously though, munkey_gurl, have you done any script writing or filming? I mean, more than five lines long??

If you have, what were your stories about?

Captain_Tripp · Jun 14, 2005

yeah.my longest story was written on 35 full sheets of paper!my storys r about everything.u name it i might have written a story on that topic.(maybe. )

Ringu · Jun 14, 2005

Anyway. I see you guys are enjoying a discussion.
I'm thinking about making a script. I am doing some sketches for a plot right now, and doing a little research about history so the story would be believable. I base the plot on a book by Antoine de Saint-Exuperi. It's a story of a fighter pilot in the World War II. In my observation a great war movie is a combination of 4 main things:
- The plot
- The character
- Action
- Realism
My concern right now is the plot and the character.
And I'm thinking... you know, the war. What happens with the soldier during the war times. Romance? There's no romance in the battlefield or in the battle sky. It's memories of home, re-evaluating life, and values, trying to survive in order to come back home and see mother nad father and sisters and brothers if they are alive. It is going through hardhips and suffering, losses and pain. Not always. It's friendship and brothers in arms. It's a long abstenance from sex. It's going crazy. Not always. Is it adventure? Maybe a little bit to a little number of people. I just don't know, it does not seem to me like an adventure. It's pride. And it's home or death.
So I was thinking, how can you show this in one movie? Probably you can't. Or only a little bit of some of these things.
Also, I was thinking about how can you display the contrasts that are there, such as:
- love vs hate (towards the enemy)
- home land vs enemy land (or just foreign land)
- morals vs moral decay
- life vs death
- comradeship vs traitors
- violence vs mercy (even to the enemy)
- self sacrifice vs sacrificing others
- youth (young soldiers) vs old age (all the old people in the villages)
etc.

Ringu · Jun 14, 2005

munkey_gurl said:
yeah.my longest story was written on 35 full sheets of paper!my storys r about everything.u name it i might have written a story on that topic.(maybe. )

can you share one of your stories?

Ringu · Jun 14, 2005

OK, I have a question.

You know like there are some war (and not only war) movies that are built based on
1) a continous chain of events (i.e. what's going on NOW) mixed with flashbacks of the past (usually memories) which help understand the character (i.e. Thin Red Line), or
2) just a continuous chain of events without flashbacks (i.e. Saving Private Ryan, Apocalypse Today etc.)

Which of these kinds do you like better and why?

FireRock · Jun 15, 2005

Yes, munkey_gurl, please share a couple of the scripts you've written. What was the 35-page one about?

Hmmm...with flashbacks or without flashbacks? I guess it depends on the story and the theme of the story. If the main character is reminicing abouthome and everything he misses, then I would see flahbacks as very good. If it's more about what's happening where the main character is at and about the relationships with his commerades, then flashbacks would be pretty pointless.
IMHO

Sword-In-Hand · Jun 27, 2005

Here is my advice about script writing. I've written a full story screenplay, and even sent it to Sundance, but it wasn't accepted. No big deal, after looking over it, the story wasn't that good, but it was my first ever fully finished screenplay. Since then I've written a novel, now I'm working on a book about Obedience.

Anyway, for screen writing, always remember format, format, format. This is information mainly for when you would like to see if an agent will buy it or something of those sorts. If a screenplay is not written in exact format, agents or contests will immediately toss it, so I would recommend learning format through and through.

Such format things are always us Courier--Size 12 Font. Dialogue goes in the middle of the paper, capitilize important nouns, always start with FADE IN at the beginning and FADE OUT at the end. You can buy programs such as Final Draft that helps with this. You should have a surprise or something that makes the story immediately leap off the page on about page 10. Have your first plot point on page 30, your second on page 60, then 90 and have a good close around page 120. Screenplays are usually no longer than 120 pages.

You may already know all of this, but if not, I hope it helps. Screenplays are tedious, but also rewarding. I hope this project turns out well, even if its just for your pleasure or you want to do something more with it.

The Ascetic Crusader · Jun 27, 2005

Elohir said:
I've written scripts for skits and miniature plays before, for my church, drama group, and even when I was back in Boy Scouts. They seemed to be taken really well.

What kind of stuff do you write about ? Any favorites ?

The Ascetic Crusader · Jun 27, 2005

Ringu said:
And what are your favorite war movies?

The Patriot , Full Metal Jacket , SPRyan , Three Kings ( interesting portrayal of GW I ) , The Pianist

The Ascetic Crusader · Jun 27, 2005

Sword-In-Hand said:
Important format things are :

-always use Courier--Size 12 Font.
-Dialogue goes in the middle of the paper,
-capitilize important nouns,
-always start with FADE IN at the beginning
-FADE OUT at the end.
-You can buy programs such as Final Draft that helps with this.
-The story must leap off the page on about page 10.
-Have your first plot point on page 30,
-your second on page 60,
-then 90 and have a good close around page 120.
-Screenplays are usually no longer than 120 pages.

Fantastic advice Sword ! Your list is firmly taped on my laptop cover !

Just a couple of questions Sword :

- How much did it cost you ($) to get your screenplay into Sundance ?
- How are stageplays different from screenplays, format wise ?
- Which is easier to write ?

Sword-In-Hand · Jun 27, 2005

The Ascetic Crusader said:
Fantastic advice ! Your list is firmly taped on my laptop cover !

Just a couple of question :

- How much did it cost you ($) to get your screenplay into Sundance ?
- How are plays different from screenplays in their format ?
- Which one is easier to write ?

What I sent to Sundace, which was about 3 years ago, cost 40 dollars, I think. May have been a little less.

The only plays I've written are church plays, so I didn't pay too much to format, but for purposes of sending it in, a play has many differences. Actions should be in italics with character names put in bold italics. Character names should be put in bold before the dialogue begins. One space after colons instead of two. Really there aren't any simularities with a play format and a screenplay format. I'm going to attach an example of a play in proper format (at least for Lifeway standards). I'll try to attach a screenplay example later.

Which one is easier? I would have to say a play, simply because it's shorter, but if you have a screenwriting program, then writing screenplays aren't hard at all. If you just use Word, you'll want to pull your hair out like I did before I got a program.

http://www.geocities.com/brandon_abney/playexample.doc play example

The Ascetic Crusader · Jun 27, 2005

Ringu said:
hi, is there anyone here with an interest in movie script writing? or someone who has experience already?

I ´ve written a couple of short screenplays (+-25 pg). An adaptation of Kafka´s
"The Penal Colony" and a short about rock and roll dreams gone bad called "Greatest Hits".

I am currently working on a treatment called " The Battle of Elah " . It´s about
a warrior in Saul´s Israeli army who witnesses the slaying of Goliath at the hands of a teen shepherd (David of course). IMHO, the action sequence I´ve managed to get on paper is phenomenal.

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