K here!
After finishing my first draft of my first (solo) screenplay, I've decided to take a break from rewriting, and begin a new screenplay.
I've actually edited my first screenplay before, but I still consider it part of the first draft. I'm not really sure why.
I had ideas (and outlines) for at least 2 more screenplays, but I didn't feel like writing them. I feel like I will write them in the future, just not now. This next screenplay I'm soo ready to write.
Today I'm going to crank out the outline, and perhaps tomorrow or Monday I'll begin writing.
In other news, I finished the first 5 pages of my script for Scriptwriting class. I'm not too happy with it--not because it's "bad" perse, but because I don't feel like there's a point. I basically made the story up as I wrote along, and I hate doing that, because I can get easily distracted. Hopefully I'll get back some good notes from the class.
Showing posts with label screenplay. Show all posts
Showing posts with label screenplay. Show all posts
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Writing a Screenplay that we can READ
K here.
We received a packet of short scripts, for which we need to review and make notes. Tuesday, we're going to go over them in class, but I need to get a few frustrations off of my chest.
1. If students turn in another script in anything other than 12-point Courier, I will not read it. I used to laugh when people said it was hard to read a script in anything other than the normal, but really--not only is it hard--it's annoying. It's not hard, if you do your script in MS Word, to scroll up to the fonts and click on "Courier New", and set the size at "12". I read a script where it was obvious that the guy had fiddled with the font size. I never thought it would be easy to see--but it's glaringly obvious. I'm not trying to be a jerk--but in other classes, when you turn in a paper, it has to be Times New Roman, 12. I would never turn in a paper in Comic Sans MS font 20. That's insulting.
2. Parenthetical should never be used--I really don't care who you are. And if you need to use a parenthetical, please keep it to one or two. One script I read had parenthetical as a replacement for action. I mean, it literally read like:
DAVE
(picking up paper)
What's this?
SUSAN
(leaning over to Dave)
Oh, that's just my report.
DAVE
(turning back to Susan)
You always do so well.
No!
3. Talking Heads. Enough said.
4. The scene never ended: I'm glad I've gotten to see what unended scenes look like, because I really never understood the concept before. We were supposed to write 5 pages (some people wrote less, others wrote more) of a scene or series of scenes...and some people just didn't get that just because you make a new slugline, your previous scene is ended. It's kind of frustrating, because you know exactly what they were trying to do...
5. Lack of voice. I have no idea how to explain this, but you could tell who did and who didn't have a voice--and a "voice" is necessary for the story we're all trying to tell.
I know I'm just venting now, but it almost feels like they just don't care because most of them are going to end up working on other people's films, or in editing, or they thought it would just be "a fun class". Eugh!
We received a packet of short scripts, for which we need to review and make notes. Tuesday, we're going to go over them in class, but I need to get a few frustrations off of my chest.
1. If students turn in another script in anything other than 12-point Courier, I will not read it. I used to laugh when people said it was hard to read a script in anything other than the normal, but really--not only is it hard--it's annoying. It's not hard, if you do your script in MS Word, to scroll up to the fonts and click on "Courier New", and set the size at "12". I read a script where it was obvious that the guy had fiddled with the font size. I never thought it would be easy to see--but it's glaringly obvious. I'm not trying to be a jerk--but in other classes, when you turn in a paper, it has to be Times New Roman, 12. I would never turn in a paper in Comic Sans MS font 20. That's insulting.
2. Parenthetical should never be used--I really don't care who you are. And if you need to use a parenthetical, please keep it to one or two. One script I read had parenthetical as a replacement for action. I mean, it literally read like:
DAVE
(picking up paper)
What's this?
SUSAN
(leaning over to Dave)
Oh, that's just my report.
DAVE
(turning back to Susan)
You always do so well.
No!
3. Talking Heads. Enough said.
4. The scene never ended: I'm glad I've gotten to see what unended scenes look like, because I really never understood the concept before. We were supposed to write 5 pages (some people wrote less, others wrote more) of a scene or series of scenes...and some people just didn't get that just because you make a new slugline, your previous scene is ended. It's kind of frustrating, because you know exactly what they were trying to do...
5. Lack of voice. I have no idea how to explain this, but you could tell who did and who didn't have a voice--and a "voice" is necessary for the story we're all trying to tell.
I know I'm just venting now, but it almost feels like they just don't care because most of them are going to end up working on other people's films, or in editing, or they thought it would just be "a fun class". Eugh!
Friday, August 31, 2007
KarmaCritic gets a makeover
K here.
Looks like KarmaCritic has a new look, and I like it, a lot! It's much lighter than the older version, and it's easier to read, which I'm sure everyone else loves, too.SUBLIM, the screenplay contest held by the good folks at KarmaCritic, seems to be getting a fair number of scripts, but from the loglines, I wonder how distinct they will be from one another? So far, we've got a couple of romances, some comedies, some fantasy, and (at least) 2 supernatural screenplays.
Interesting. At any rate, neither M nor I have joined KarmaCritic, but I'm going to try to join today or sometime soon when I get the chance to get everything together.
The deadline is October 2007. I wonder if more people are going to wait until then to submit? They won't get very many votes, though.
Looks like KarmaCritic has a new look, and I like it, a lot! It's much lighter than the older version, and it's easier to read, which I'm sure everyone else loves, too.SUBLIM, the screenplay contest held by the good folks at KarmaCritic, seems to be getting a fair number of scripts, but from the loglines, I wonder how distinct they will be from one another? So far, we've got a couple of romances, some comedies, some fantasy, and (at least) 2 supernatural screenplays.
Interesting. At any rate, neither M nor I have joined KarmaCritic, but I'm going to try to join today or sometime soon when I get the chance to get everything together.
The deadline is October 2007. I wonder if more people are going to wait until then to submit? They won't get very many votes, though.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
"On the Lot" members Move Out
K. here.
It seems we weren't the only ones disappointed with the way "On the Lot" has turned out. The disgruntled-ness (is that even a word?) has spilled on to the forums, where a secret friend of another secret friend informs us (and other Zoe members) that there have been mass "...deleting or editing of our blogs, our posts, film comments...", with a deactivation list that reads "like a who's who ".
Enter KarmaCritic, a website created by filmmakers that got together in the "On the Lot" online community.
Also, from the website:
"This is KarmaCritic's 1st Annual Screenwriting Development Contest. Round 1 starts with a simple 1-page synopsis and the first 5 pages of your screenplay. Round 2 moves on to a treatment and the first 30 pages, round 3 is the full feature-length script. Judges are high powered hollywood producer Tova Laiter (Die Hard 3, Glory, Evita, etc), Jon Brown (represents De Souza, Orr, T.J Scott and Kevin Lund), as well as a special figure too high to disclose publicly at this time. The prize is a professional relationship with them!"
Cheesy references to a high up "mystery judge" aside, it sounds like a really good venture, should you be interested.
The only drawback to this "community" is that only filmmakers--that is, people who have already made a film--are allowed to join.
I wasn't aware that screenwriters weren't a part of the filmmaking industry, but however they want to run it, that's cool.
Funny enough, there's a screenwriting competition: SUBLIM. Check it out.
It seems we weren't the only ones disappointed with the way "On the Lot" has turned out. The disgruntled-ness (is that even a word?) has spilled on to the forums, where a secret friend of another secret friend informs us (and other Zoe members) that there have been mass "...deleting or editing of our blogs, our posts, film comments...", with a deactivation list that reads "like a who's who ".
Enter KarmaCritic, a website created by filmmakers that got together in the "On the Lot" online community.
Also, from the website:
"This is KarmaCritic's 1st Annual Screenwriting Development Contest. Round 1 starts with a simple 1-page synopsis and the first 5 pages of your screenplay. Round 2 moves on to a treatment and the first 30 pages, round 3 is the full feature-length script. Judges are high powered hollywood producer Tova Laiter (Die Hard 3, Glory, Evita, etc), Jon Brown (represents De Souza, Orr, T.J Scott and Kevin Lund), as well as a special figure too high to disclose publicly at this time. The prize is a professional relationship with them!"
Cheesy references to a high up "mystery judge" aside, it sounds like a really good venture, should you be interested.
The only drawback to this "community" is that only filmmakers--that is, people who have already made a film--are allowed to join.
I wasn't aware that screenwriters weren't a part of the filmmaking industry, but however they want to run it, that's cool.
Funny enough, there's a screenwriting competition: SUBLIM. Check it out.
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