How To Write A Screenplay

As someone who always dreamed of penning the next Pulp Fiction, I got into the world of screenwriting pretty early on -- World might be a stretch, my first project was a two page piece written in pencil in the back of study hall. But at that time I had no idea about screenwriting rules. I had no idea about margins, about Courier, about any of it.

I just knew I wanted to write movies.

When I turned 19, I had an idea with enough depth that pushed me to sit down and actually write the thing. And then I learned about screenplays. Like, actual screenplays. I didn't even know that concept existed. I was so naive; I just thought writers wrote down the movie scenes in any way they wanted.

So, of course, I began my dive into the world of screenwriting dos and don'ts, and, let me tell you, I came out with a lot of questions on how to format my scripts. And, I don’t mean formatting in the sense of structure (although that’s part of it) but rather on?styling?the script. I had a friend in high school who was obsessed with the idea that good art will always sell; that if the product is good enough, no matter how bad the presentation is, sheep will always flock.

This is sadly not the case.

I don’t mean that it can’t be done, that your script?can’t?be good enough to be bought purely based on the story, but it’s not the wager you should be making. From what I’ve gathered from trying to break into the industry myself (unfortunately, to no success) is that how the script is written, its style, has a huge impact on whether or not it is procured by a studio.

Again, it's mostly about your writing (i.e., the plot) but how your script is packaged has a huge impact on whether or not it gets optioned or bought.

For example, if you write your script in any other font other than some variation of Courier, it’ll most likely end up in the trash. It’s just the way the system works. The real tragedy is that a lot of this information, or these unspoken rules, are not given over by the people expecting their cooperation.

That’s why I created?screenplayrules.com

The sites main attraction (that is, because I haven't gotten around to adding other components yet) is a screentour - a guide on how to format the nicest screenplay.

With over 20 sections, it includes all the information to get the amateur out of amateur screenplay, and is given over in (if I don’t say so myself, although I may be biased) a very enjoyable way. From slugs to transitions to montages. It’s all in the screentour.

Now, I admit that these rules were made by me, and as for why you should listen to them when I haven't even sold a script yet? You don't need to. Also, how did you know I haven't sold a script yet -- who told you!?

Don't blindly listen to everything I say, or any of it even. Just use this as a reference point. Keep the things you like and ditch the things you don't. It's pretty simple.

As I get feedback, and as I mature as a writer, I update the screentour and its contents. The point of establishing these screenplay rules was not to be some kind of founder, but to let the people decide which rules they like and which they don’t. To create a cohesive feel in the amateur/spec screenwriting world.

Right now screenplayrules is just a personal project, my goal is for the site to become a hub for exchanging screenwriting ideas. Like Stack Overflow for Hollywood hopefuls.

Now get to work!