Monthly Archives: October 2009

Rewriting

At this point in my “screenwriting career” I find I really like the rewriting process.  When I first started to write SP’s, I hated to rewrite, and defended  my first draft through a LOT of query rejections.

And, now I’m going to contradict myself and say that I ”hate” the rewriting process.

Because it is so damn hard to figure out what is wrong. 

Do you have a “nagging feeling” that something is just not right with your script?   That’s  probably because there’s something wrong with your script!   The challenge is figuring out what that “something” is!

In my reference library, there is the book “The Screenwriter’s Problem Solver” by Syd Field.   This book has been a huge help to me.  Mr. Field addresses problems of plot, character and structure.    And the beauty of the book is it’s available in paperback so it doesn’t cost a fortune.

Rewriting.  Love it or hate it, it’s with us to stay. 

Writing is rewriting.  Someone said that…  Don’t know who.

So, when are we through rewriting a project?     To me, there are three times when a writer can stop with the rewriting!

  1. When the story shows up on the silver screen! 
  2. When you can think of nothing more to change to  make it better!
  3. When you are just flat out sick of it.

During the last two months of this year, I will continue to rewrite existing projects.  Then in January, I’m going to start a new screenplay.   So, right now, it’s time to go rewrite something!  Today,  I’m working on “Revenge”.  When I’m done, I’ll upload some samples for you to peruse!

My Screenwriting Goals (Why I Write)

I got to thinking about my “screenwriting goals” yesterday.  A couple of years ago, it was easy.  Write my SP and sell it!  Oh, for that innocence again…

Now my goal is to have a movie made from one of my screenplays by the time I’m 85 years old.  A reasonable goal, but is it attainable?

This is a tough business.  It’s tough to be good at it, it’s tough to break into it.

If you don’t break into “the business” does that mean you’re not good?   I don’t think so.  I truly believe that the most gifted screenwriter of all time, might go through his or her life and never be recognized.  Kind of scary, isn’t it?  “Ain’t enough to just be good at what you do!”

I don’t have the answers.  Getting an agent/manager seems next-to-impossible.   Getting a production company to look at my screenplay seems next-to-impossible.   Why?  Could be bad timing … whoever opened my email or letter was in a crappy mood that day.  Could be my letter did not grab their attention.   Could be they’re just not taking on new clients.  Could be any numer of things.

The thing is, if I spend a lot of time “marketing”, then I’m not writing.

I have read that we should hone our pitching skills.   So, this tells me that just writing a great screenplay isn’t enough.   Sure, creating a logline or synopsis or treatment is attainable…

but being able to “pitch” my story during an elevator ride?   Well, you first have to be in the elevator…  And then you have to be in an elevator with the “right” person.  I live in a small town in Pennsylvania, and I can’t envision being in an elevator anytime soon with a director or producer!

What I have come to believe, rightly or wrongly, is that  my goal has to be to write the best I can, to learn as much as I can, and to get my work in front of as many people as I can.

Until I find an agent, director, producer, or manager who is interested in my writing, I will continue to be active on screenwriting sites such as MoviePoet, Zoetrope, and  TriggerStreet. 

When I have the money and inclination, I  will enter contests, if the contest is “right” for me.  Right now I gravitate towards contests that provide feedback.  Figure at least I’m getting something for my money!

I am “happy” when I’m creating.    If I were to never make a nickel writing screenplays, I would probably still do this.  The whole agonizing process of creating just makes me feel good.

I have an on-line friend who is a screenwriter.  This screenwriter is going to “give up” if not successful within three years.   In my opinion,  this writer is writing for the wrong reasons.

But I’m not going to lie, when I hear about a screenwriter selling a script for six or seven figures …  well, I’d sure like that to happen to me.  But, for me, that’s a secondary goal.   My primary goal is to write, to write the best I can, and to get my writing in front of as many people as I can.

Showing Time Passage

I was thinking about how to show the passage of time in screenplays so I put on my ”thinking cap”.   The first idea I had was to show a watch or a clock but that “tool” is so overused I would stay away from it if at all possible.

First thing to know is “how much time” is going to pass?   Are we talking a half hour or a half century?

Short amounts of time passage might include  night changing to dusk or a a full coffee cup that becomes empty. 

Longer time passages… A baby is born and in the next scene the baby is seven years old.     A brand new car morphs into an old car.   A child enters grade school and, in the next scene, he/she graduates high school.

Here’s a short list of what I come up with while brainstorming for just a few minutes… 

Changing seasons:   heat of summer to colorful falls leaves … snow to spring tulips.

A progression of holidays … Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, July 4th.

A clean kitchen.     The spotless cook, now covered with flour.

Climbing a ladder … falling off a roof.

Entering a club (sober).  Leaving a club (drunk).

Hair is black … hair is gray.

Boarding a plane.  The plane in the sky.   Departing  the plane.

Building a fire.   The fire, almost out, a few embers glow.

Put on your thinking cap.  Think about how to SHOW the passing of time.  Make a list!

Bluecat Screenplay Competition

I decided yesterday that I’m going to enter the next “Bluecat Screenplay Competition”.   Bluecat will begin accepting entries on November 1st. The final deadline to enter is April 1, 2010.

The beauty of entering on November 1st is I will receive their “analysis” within ten days and then I can submit the SP again after I rewrite (if I choose to do so) at a reduced fee.

I’d like to enter more contests but most  have entry fees (and this one is no different). So, I look for contests that offer feedback.   That way, at least I get something for my money, even if I don’t “place”.

The Bluecat Screenplay Competition comes recommended by many of my online writing friends. I’ll keep you posted on what I think.

The HORROR Genre

During October, members of MoviePoet spent time reading and reviewing over 50 five-page horror SP’s. Mine is among them. We get to see the reviews on November 1st. The assignment, “Deadly is the Female”, was to “Weave a tale of horror, but make sure your killer or monster is female.”

There has been an interesting and spirited debate going on at MP about “horror”. Specifically, what exactly constitutes horror… The thing I have noticed, one person’s “horror” is something else to someone else.

Sure, we are all afraid of serial killers but some people find them interesting! So is a story about a serial killer “horror” or is it something else? I get the impression that many people think: if there’s gore, there’s horror. Personally, if I have to watch a movie through open fingers, then I think it’s horror.

David Trottier talks about horror in “The Screenwriter’s Bible”: “… the oposition is a monster, or a monster-like human. This genre leans heavily on shock and surprise.” Trottier goes on to explain that if focus is “on suspense more than on action” then it is a thriller.

To me, “horror” is something that happens inside your head. Gore can go along with it but it doesn’t have to be there. I also think that a “horror” can also be a “thriller”.

Remember when you were a kid? “Horror” was having to turn out the lights at night because the scarry things that lurk in the shadows come out with the darkness.

If you’re a pregnant woman, “horror” might be an exagerated fear about the baby. Perhaps a vivid memory about the night of conception.

What are YOU afraid of? Getting fat? Losing your limbs? Forgetting who you are? Being alone with no friends? Waking up in a buried casket? Not having your screenplay ever made into a movie?

Of course, horror is often linked to death but if you have deep spiritual beliefs, you might not be afraid of death.

I have heard that pornography is almost impossible to define, that we know it when we see it.

I think the same thing can be said about horror… we know it when we FEEL it.