What is the best way to learn about screenwriting?
The other answers cover the bases pretty well but I would add one more crucial yet for some reason rarely discussed or mentioned element needed to learn about screenwriting which is how to write a good scene. How to make a scene work. You can read entire screenwriting “how to” books and spend hours watching relevant YouTube videos and not get much concrete information on what makes a great scene work.You will hear and read all about character, and character flaws, and the hero’s journey, structure, dialogue, etc., etc. yet somehow there won’t be a chapter on how to structure and execute a great scene. It’s a good thing I’m here to chime in not that I have any credentials to hang my hat on, I don’t, I haven’t made films or won a screenwriting contest (although I had two “good” ratings on an action script in Nicholl in 2016 although not quite good enough to make the quarterfinals, still, for an action script that is a good sign, I’ll take it).I read an article a long time ago in Writer’s Digest magazine, of all places, that basically said for each scene the writer should establish what the protag wants and then frustrate that goal creating tension. The article also explained both ascending and descending action, if I recall correctly, although that may have been a different article. So, for example, your protag needs to find the gun. That is his/her goal. Well, instead of finding the gun he will find a map to the pirates hang out and have only 12 hours to get back or else the world ends. The protag wants XYZ but gets ABC or learns something moving the story forward. I am probably not explaining this well. I’ll close by saying movies are made up of scenes so if you can’t make a scene work, you probably will not be able to write a great spec script. What makes movies compelling is the interesting, creative and fun ways writers think of to screw with their characters before the resolution. We ride along. We share the journey along the character arc.
What are the best screenwriting blogs?
There are couple of great screenwriting blogs. John August's blog is definitely one of them. Here are another 3 good screenwriting blogs. Go Into The Story - http://www.gointothestory.com/ScriptShadow (reviews of un-produced black listed screenplays) - http://scriptshadow.blogspot.com/The Bitter Script Reader - http://thebitterscriptreader.blo...You can also check blog post about 60 Best Blogs for Aspiring Screenwriters here - http://www.bachelorsdegree.org/2...
Which are the movies with the best screenplay?
The screenplay is usually among the last things I think about when I watch a movie. But earlier this week, I was browsing Netflix with the intention of watching a movie that might offer insights into plot and story.The premise of Nightcrawler seemed interesting, so I watched it while placing unusual attention on the structure, on scene and beat and changes in character values – stuff I read about in Story by Robert McKee.OMG. That is a really freaky context in which to watch Nightcrawler. I had to ask myself: Are movies just a hundred times better when you pay attention to the writing? Or, did I happen to pick a movie with a timeless, timely, original, elegant, well-paced, totally amazing script?Apparently, the latter. Dan Gilroy’s screenplay either won or was nominated for: The Academy Awards, Writers Guild of America Awards, British Academy Film Awards, Critics' Choice Movie Awards, Online Film & Television Association Awards, St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association, Houston Film Critics Society, Austin Film Critics Association, San Diego Film Critics Society, Satellite Awards, Independent Spirit Awards.Unfortunately, per the usual in Hollywood, Gilroy is now working on something called “Kong: Skull Island”LISTS:I usually notice story and screenplay when no scene feels wasted. My favorites:Gladiator, Good Will Hunting, Moneyball, Major League, Notting Hill, UnforgivenLegendary as stylistic touchstones:Toy Story, Pretty Woman, Die HardFrequently referenced as best-ever or especially instructive screenplays:Chinatown, Tender Mercies, Forrest Gump, Kramer vs. Kramer, Dangerous Liaisons, Terms of Endearment, Amadeus, A Fish Called Wanda, The Accidental Tourist, The Crying Game, FargoFor dazzle/ ingenuity:Being John Malkovich, Pulp Fiction, Inception, MementoFor more examples, I find The Writers Guild awards a little more reliable than the Oscars:Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted ScreenplayWriters Guild of America Award for Best Original Screenplay
What is the best screenwriting software?
Microsoft Word is the WORST program you could use. If you want to be truly professional, get a copy of Movie Magic Screenwriter, it's the de-facto standard. Final Draft is good. Celtx (www.celtx.com) is free.
What is the best screenwriting book that you have read?
I'm going to the store tomorrow and I want to know if anyone has a few in mind that I should look for. I'm looking online to see what they have...I assume the Screenwriting for Dummies is good...I'm going to get a Ferret one as well. Just to make sure I am doing everything right. The vet said I am, but I want to read about it anyway. Anything else besides the "for Dummies" books?
Which movie screenplay is best to read for learning screenwriting?
Screenwriter is mainly a concept of the factory system of Hollywood/Bollywood where a lot of guys are engaged each for a super-specialised job. You may notice that the films of auteurs like Bergman, Fellini, Satyajit Ray, Antonioni have a ‘Written and directed by’ credit, whereas in the factory system of filmmaking, we have a concept/idea generator, story writer, screenplay writer, dialogue writer and sometimes even things like creative head etc. in case of Indian daily soaps….Give this video a watch as well:Screenwriting has changed a lot over the last 10 years. In some ways it has become a lot more competitive and tougher to break into. There’s more money in it than ever and anyone with a keyboard can sit in their room and type up a script.However as methods improve we’re seeing a lot of last generations screen writers fall behind. Combine that with the ever driving demand for entertainment fueled by services like Netflix and we have more openings than ever.But if you’re getting started with screen writing you need to seperate yourself from the rest of the pack. If you haven’t seen it already this looks at the change in methods and gives you the audiobook of Save the Cat which has been the ‘must have’ for screenwriters over the last 15 years: How Young Guns in Screenwriting are Winning. – Talz Mag – Medium
What are the best screenwriting courses online?
We have an online screenwriting training system called Write Movies Right! so of course I believe that is the best set of courses. You can find it at WriteMoviesRight!Also, if you complete the introduction, you get the first two classes, Idea and Genre, and The Rundown Grabber (Grabber is the first 10 minutes of a screenplay or movies, meant to grab the audience and hold them in their seats) free. It is an automated system that will generate a coupon for you once you have completed each part.I’m biased, but I do feel ours is best, because it is designed to function like I’m your tutor, walking every step beside you, so you can duplicate actions you’ll learn and write your own script, while learning from completed films.“Try it, you’ll like it!”
What is the best screenwriting software out there?
I want to start writing more screenplays and TV scripts and with screenwriting software, it will be a much smoother process than using Word templates and I will know that it is all formatted correctly. I do use Celtx which I think is very good for screenplays but it doesn't have a television script format option and I was wondering if anyone out there knew which was the best screenwriting software out there to invest my money in? Any insight and advice would be very much appreciated. Thanks!
Which are the best screenwriting competitions?
Many screenplay contests and fellowships are associated with premier film festivals, universities, studios or networks, and these tend help winners more than the others. Here would be my top ten:Walt Disney Studios & ABC Entertainment Fellowship ProgramSundance Screenwriter's LabWarner Bros. Writer's WorkshopWalt Disney Studios & ABC Entertainment Fellowship ProgramFox Entertainment Group Diversity DevelopmentThe UCLA Extension Screenplay CompetitionAmerican ZoetropeAustin Film FestivalFinal Draft’s Big Break International Screenwriting CompetitionNicholl FellowshipsThe key is to be picky. Many contests are scams and offer little or nothing to the winners. If the contest is associated with a bigger festival, university, studio or organization, it's a better bet. Also, even if you don't win, many contests offer feedback on your screenplay, and the opportunity to connect with other filmmakers and screenwriters, which has value in and of itself.EDIT: I'd argue that any way you can distinguish yourself or your script is beneficial when beginning a screenwriting career. It's not that winning an award will bring you fame and fortune, or even get your movie made. It's that every producer, agent, or manager has a massive pile of scripts on his or her desk. A prize or award may help you get your script closer to the top of that pile.