WHAT MAKES A GOOD SCRIPT.

[king13]

I HAVE JUST TURNED MY HAND TO WRITING AND WAS WONDERING WHAT OTHER PEOPLE THOUGHT WERE THE QUALITIES OF A GOOD SCRIPT I.E (DIOLOUGE, ATTENTION TO DETAILS, CAMERA DIRECTIONS) IF ANYBODY HAS ANYTHING TO SAY PLEASE FEEL FREE AS ANY ADVICE IS MORE THAN WELCOME

[ilpostino]

Unless it's a script for your eyes only then don't bother with camera directions like Wide angle, zoom in, push in, pan left, all that stuff.

You just need to tell em what the camera see's. If your going to write and not direct then this is very important. You'll need to learn how to format a script properly, try Syd Fields book Screenplay.

A good script also has well developed charecters, it's got to be a good story with an interesting plot. Just read as much as you can, screenplays etc search the web for advice from the pro's. Everyone wants to write a good script, a good script is the key to a sucsessful film, you can turn a good script into a bad film but you can't turn a bad script into a good film!

[N. Foster Tyler]

Fuck all that Syd Field/Irwin Blacker bullshit.

The best advice for directing also applies to writing: Just tell a good story.

What constitutes a good story? Well, that is up to you.

[king13]

nice reply Foster, less of the bollocks more of the substance, I think the industry needs more people with that attitutude, people that will get up and do it rather than just read about it.

[ilpostino]

It was just some friendly advice from someone who read a book and thought it useful, my main concern in my reply was formatting.

As for less of the bollocks more of the substance, what exaclty was the substance of your reply King13 other than bollocks???!!!

[This message has been edited by ilpostino (edited May 09, 2001).]

[his Dudeness]

Read 'Story' by Robert McKee.

It explains all the technical aspects of screenplay writing (such as beats, acts, scenes), as well as breaking down famous films into elements and examining them.

Its a very complex book, so maybe spend a while reading it.

However...I am a firm believer of 'Those who can, do, and those who can't teach', and I've never actually seen or heard of a film by the author of the book, so I take everything with a pinch of salt.

I think the reason everyone likes reading Rebel Without a Crew is that it is a book on how to be successful filmmaker, written by a successful filmmaker.

A lot of other books seem to be written by unsuccessful film-makers, who have resorted to writing books to make money, having made none from film.

I think a prime example of this is 'The Guerrila Film-Makers Handbook'. Whilst it is very comprehensive, and the contracts and everything are useful and the interviews interesting, you have to take it with a pinch of salt as, at the end of the day, the film-makers who wrote it admit they've barely made any money from films.

All I'm saying, would you read a book on sewing if you wanted to learn carpentry?

No, which is why I don't like reading books on how to be a successful film-maker by unsuccessful film-makers.

Oh, I seem to have drifted off into a rant there...read Story anyway to tell you the technical details.

As Robert Rodriguez says 'No one can teach you to tell a good story'.

Otherwise...well, everyone would be doing it.................over and out

[marti-c]

When dealing with any scene I CHEAT. Thats right i cheat. Nearly all scenarios have been done already so just adapt your script to fit into the run of the mill shots that have worked for years. I reckon after doing a few run of the mill stuff you will branch into the individuality of your own style and way of working. Of course this does nothing to address the actual writing of the story itself but watching lots of films and watching how the story develops should give you a starting point. Lets face it , it's been researched that there only exist something like a variation of 7 plot lines ever in every movie made.
So my advice is dont try and invent the wheel as it's already been invented!

marti

[ch4321_99]

"The best advice for directing also applies to writing: Just tell a good story."

How is "Just tell a good story" the best advice for directing? It is a vague statement that offers no practical help at all.

[N. Foster Tyler]

Meaning the written material should dictate how you approach it as a director. Plain and simple.

[hairbrain]

Yeah and there's only two types of people on this planet (men & women). There's no point in generalising. My film's never been made before, and the way I shoot it has never been done before either. Any old monkey can take cues on how to shoot, where to point the camera, when to cut the shot. Why don't you just squeeze ketchup onto BigMacs and put yourself out of misery.

Come on where's the spirit! We're in it to win it. And don't come at me with that crap about me being deluded if I think I'm gonna be some Spielberg. Delusion is the game, I'm deluded, I believe in myself, my flics rock, and it's that kind of faith which is needed to pull anything cool off. If you don't know how to direct and you're directing stuff from the book, waiting for inspiration to hit, then you're just getting in my way. Get out of that seat... I'll do it!