So, You Have an Idea for a Movie, Huh?
Let's start with the basics, a film is shot based upon a script, also known as a screenplay. The screenplay is an organized telling of the story written in both storytelling and film terms to express what should be seen and heard on screen. While films and television shows are structured defiantly the underlying format is essentially the same. If you choose to set out on this adventure alone you may want to purchase screenwriting software such as Final Draft or Movie Magic to assist you. It will make the logistics of proper formatting much simpler so you can spend more time on the story itself.
Alright, so you have an idea. One of the first things you'll need to decide is if you want to write this yourself, have someone else write it for you or simply try to go "pitch" and sell the idea. While the last option may sound the best it is also the most difficult if you have no contacts to do so. Pitching, involves gong into an executive's office and giving a quick "sales pitch" of you movie idea. You'll have two or so minutes to really grab their attention and get them to wrap their heads around your concept. This is an art in itself. There are plenty of terrific writers who fall apart in pitch meetings.
The opposite is also common, great sales men who don't know the first things about how to develop a character and escalate conflict. If you have the contact necessary to just make a call and set a meeting with an executive you choose good for you. If you don't you should just stick to the old fashioned way and prove your worth because in the long run you'll probably garner a lot more respect that way anyhow.
So, do you write it yourself or hire someone else? There are positive and negative aspects to both. It depends on your writing skills, time and money. If you are that great of a writer or know nothing about writing it would be best to hire someone else if you can afford to. If you're low on cash you might try finding a student studying screenwriting who would be willing to write for low pay or a share of profits. If you want to try your hand at it and see what happens but know nothing about the format and structure of screenwriting get ready to start reading.
There are numerous books on screenwriting that you can read as well as seminars you can attend if you're not the book type. The best seminar I can recommend is given by a screenwriter named Blake Snyder. He knows what he's talking about. But what's more is the way he breaks things down, he makes it simpler to figure out how to best tell your story. Not mention he's a really nice guy. Go to blakesnyder.com for more information about his weekend workshops and seminars. You can also read his book Save The Cat. The sequel, Save The Cat Goes To The Movies will be out soon.
So that's just a starting ground for your ventures, if you have an idea run with it. You never know what will happen and even if nothing ever does the adventure alone is worth it all.
Published by Writing Pro
I love writing. I write about anything and everything, basically whatever is on my mind at the time and sometimes it can be very emotionally charged.... View profile
- Premonition To See or Not to See?Premonition is what it is a movie that confuses, like the word itself does, until the end comes and bring all the pieces together and maybe you'll love the big picture and maybe you won't.
Top 10 Reasons Oscar's Ten 'Best Picture' Nominations is the Worst Idea...Ten Oscar nominations for "Best Picture" is five too many. This Top 10 list reveals why.- Michael Bay's "Transformers" Cliff Notes ScriptA condensed script of Michael Bay's "Transformers" that pokes fun at the plot, characters, and inconsistencies.
- Uncle Bob Secrets Child Molester Dont Want You to KnowUntil my youngest daughter was 9 I could not wash any of my children below the neck. I was so afraid all those years that BOB lived within me.
Movie Review of Unrest I finally got hold of another film from the 8 films to die for collection. I've been obsessing about seeing each and every one of them, even though some of the ones I have alrea...
- Stranger: Chapter I
- Novel. Wherever You May Be Searching. Chapter 4. The 99% Man.
- How to Think of Ideas for Your Web Video
- Quit Smoking in 2009 - 5 Step Process that Won't Cost You a Dime
- Five Tips For Freelance Writers
- Tips and Tricks for Surviving Saigon City Traffic on a Motorcycle
- Picking a Domain Name You Can Live With
- There is software that will help you format and structure your script properly.
- Hiring a screenwriter to write your story will be more expensive but they do know what they're doing
- If you write it yourself attend a seminar or read a screenwriting book first, these will help.
14 Comments
Post a Commentthe lovely bones reminded me of my cousins death. i would like for her story to be heard and seen. She was a 15 year old hispanic girl who was raised in a "ghetto" neighborhood. she always woke up to her dad "my uncle" injectiong drugs, passing out or beating her mom...she was the only child and never was given attention. we rarely went to visit and everytime i saw her, her body was bruised up, yet she smiled. we gave her a nick-name...bless. im sure anyone would understand why if they wouldve met her. my uncles friend was a perve...i always new he was. he actually got caught sevral times talking to minors and having them in his room alone. since he was a gangster they had so much respect for him. But bless didnt like him. i knew he was the one that did it. i was constantly having dreams of her a couple of months after i had gone bak home from visiting her. it was killing me. i would hear me call my name for no reason...at least thats what i thought...i found out la
mama me-ya the movie its about Mario and Luigi and a mega star power up but when Waluigi and Wario get in they have to get past and get the star
my movie idea came from a dream.the movie would be scary,it would be about this teenager dat skipped skool like any other day , but than they did not got a ride home back .... so it was getting darck and they passed through some apartments where teenagers where whiled and crazy .. the skippig teenager decided to stay there for a sleep over ..... but the manager warn them there was danger dat night becouse ther was this misterys creature ,animal,person that killed at night verry very fast .... so the manager told the teens to close the windows at night and to sleep together bcuz the thing has to kill 10 ppl at list every night.... the theme of the story would be dat the teens would regret to go skipping n would want to come back home with there parents !!
OBAMA'S CONSPIRACY
YouTube Videos
Video 1
"Elections 2012 : Obama's #1 secret"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvG4nLRn4PI
Video 2
"Elections 2010 : left-wing conspiracy"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qgCOzGZ9H0k
Obama fired co-conspiraтор Rahm Emanuel to cover himself up.
Next - Hillary Clinton. And if she resists ?
A Movie Blockbuster, just 2 words "PINK FLOYD" What an incredible story. The history of the most famous hard rock band ever. The Pink Floyd Story needs to be told with all it's twists and turns. It is such a amazing saga!!!!
Its a mix of american me and blood in blood out but from my doorstep
It starts with a 6 yr old boy waking up off a sweet dream just to open his eyes up to reality, his reality. He gets up from bed and walks down the hall just to start crying before he sees but he knows mommy and daddy are fighting again. He opens the back door to catch his dad grabbing his mom from the hair back and fourth....look this is not a story of only abuse but trials and trebulations that lead to where he gets to but in a hispanic version.
and over a long period of time becomes a different person because of his need to kill him.
it cut me off for some reason when i was typing before
I have an idea about a fantasy sort of movie that includes a evil guy who in order to take over the world turns himself into a demon and someone in his own army has a personal grudge against him and
goddess of Fate, smiles upon Fauvel and appoints him leader of the house. Subsequently, Church and secular leaders from many places make pilgrimages to see him, and bow to him in servitude, symbolizing Church and state rulers quickly bowing to Sin and corruption.
Upon receiving Dame Fortune's smile, Fauvel travels to Macrocosmos and asks for her hand in marriage. She denies him, but in her stead she proposes he wed Lady Vainglory. Fauvel agrees, and the wedding takes place, with such guests present as Flirtation, Adultery, Carnal Lust, and Venus, in a technique similar to that of the Morality plays of the 15′th and 16′th centuries.
Finally, Dame Fortune reveals that Fauvel's role in the world is to give birth to more iniquitious rulers like himself, and to be the follower of the Antichrist, eventually to bring about the end of the world.