Part IV: Learn How to Write By Reading Scripts!
Geno Scala
Former Director/Official of Academy Awards Show; Founder of The Script Mentor Screenwriting Program; Creator of The 20-Day Screenplay Video Series; "GHOSTWRITER TO THE STARS".
One of the more celebrated platitudes disguised as “screenwriting advice” is the suggestion to “read all of the scripts you can, and learn what TO do and what NOT to do!”
I am not aware of a single script ever written that tells you HOW or HOW NOT to write a spec screenplay. The fact that a particular screenplay was successful, in and of itself, means nothing in the final analysis. There are just too many elements that go into creating a successful screenplay – including luck – that, to limit it to one rule or even a series of rules is folly.
Undoubtedly, a fellow screenwriter who believes he or she knows more than the rest of us, or one of those dangerously self-proclaimed “gurus” will suggest something along the lines of the following:
“You want to learn how to write a screenplay? Read “Chinatown” until your eyes bleed! THAT’S how you write a screenplay!”
“You write comedy? Read ‘The Hangover’. That’s the direction comedy is going these days.”
“So you think you write horror? Better be like the “Saw” franchise. Better yet, make it a found footage horror. They’re hot right now!”
You’ve all been told the screenplays – Casablanca, The Godfather, Annie Hall, Network…the list goes on and on. Then, the untrained, uneducated, unlearned spec screenwriter takes all the little tricks and traits that make those screenplays among the best ever written, and writes their masterpiece.
How could they possibly go wrong?
Maybe by including the actor cue, “INTENSE BEAT”; I can see and here the director now- "Tom, the script calls for an 'INTENSE BEAT', not just a regular 'BEAT'. Give me more intensity!"
Let's not only include it, but…here it comes, now…let's put it in the SCENE DESCRIPTION!
And, because you saw it in a Woody Allen script, why not include CAMERA RAMP TO CLOSE UP OF MAN’S CROTCH? It worked for him, why not me?
How about three full pages of script dedicated to the credit roll and subsequent background graphics, not to mention a song list and YouTube links of suggested dance numbers?
Sounds ridiculous? I just read that screenplay. I saw it all- just a few weeks ago.
The point is, my friends, that the large majority of the scripts you’ll find on line and read, supposedly to "learn" how to write a proper screenplay, are from produced movies, written by extremely talented, professional, working screenwriters.
They are not "spec" scripts. They're probably not even the final drafts of the scripts submitted to the production company. Most of those found online are 10-20 drafts AFTER the final draft that was submitted, and more likely than not (probably 95%), they are shooting scripts. Shooting scripts are far different than the initial final draft screenplay. Writing a screenplay at the direction and behest of a producer (usually as a paid writing assignment) are far different than the ordinary spec script- or should be.
These shooting scripts do not at all resemble the format and appearance of a spec screenplay, written by YOU- the as-of-yet undiscovered screenwriter.
Learn the format rules as they apply to the SPEC screenplay.
You can read all the produced screenplays you want; your favorite movies; your favorite screenwriter. I do. I just don’t use them as examples of how my script should look or how it should be written.
If you do, you’re shooting yourself in the foot even before you step onto the dance floor.
Read them for enjoyment.
Read them for inspiration.
Read them for ideas.
Read them because you’re stuck on a plane on the tarmac while they’re spending two hours de-icing the wings.
Read them to pass the time in traffic court as you wait to plead “not guilty” to your speeding ticket.
Read them at Starbucks, pretending to be someone important.
Just don’t read them to learn how to write a screenplay. Instead...
- Take a class; ( In my opinion, ScreenwritingU does NOT teach you screenwriting);
- Read "The Screenwriter's Bible";
- Sign up for a seminar or webinar;
- Take a college course;
- Get a mentor.
WRITER'S BIO: Mr. Scala spent 22-plus years in the Hollywood community, and was the Executive Director for the 72nd Annual Academy Awards, as well as The Soul Train Awards, The Grammys, The Blockbuster Video Awards Show and The Saturn Award Show.
His company is currently working on their thirty-ninth (39) novel-to-screenplay adaptation for clients, and he counts many celebrities and household names among his vast clientele. His TV project, "Bad Priest", is in development with a cable network, where one executive said the following: "This pilot is compelling and clear and offers just enough to tease us with where these stories and characters might go. It begs for a full season..."
Today, he and his writing team are actively working on several ghostwriting projects for his celebrity clientele as well, including the adapting the novel "Making Broken Beautiful" by Pamela Millican-Hartnoll; a tragic story of excessive abuse and redemptive success; and biopics of early rock pioneer Jimmie F. Rodgers and iconic folk star Harry Chapin- all while continuing to mentor new writers and self-published authors.
Geno has two screenplays produced into feature films;
"Assassin 33 A.D."
https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0861X8RPJ/ref=atv_hm_hom_1_c_iEgOEZ_2_1
"The Tombs"
Both are currently available on Amazon Prime.
Former Federal Agent and SWAT Sniper Turned Screenwriter
4 年Excellent advice. Most big movies were not spec scripts. They were assignments. Everyone involved knew the movie was getting made. Also, movies from many years ago took longer to develop. Try a Rocky today or a Exorcist as a spec, with the main story taking all the way to the middle of the movie to get going, and see what happens.
Screenwriter, Ghostwriter, Script Consultant
4 年This reminds me a great deal of my experience early on learning about screenwriting and there was a definite learning curve. I would read scripts and think, "Mine doesn't look like that, am I doing something wrong?" It was the difference between a shooting script and a spec script. I even read a book that went as far as to say if the camera needs to travel on tracks in this shot, you need to say "tracking shot". Then I read a Kubrick script and thought, "This isn't even grammatically correct!" (It was Kubrick, it didn't need to be.) Finally I realized I just need to write the story.
Published Author at Amazon / Environmental and Animal Rights advocate.
4 年Nice !! Thank you for sharing... Best.
Film Director/Cinematographer/Acting Coach Hypnotist at Creative Awakenings
4 年Thank you Geno. I like your approach. Quick question. What are the major differences between a spec script and a shooting script? I've shot lots of movies and written a few myself. When I write, I write for my own movies and that has me writing a shooting script from the get-go. I don't know too much about writing a spec script. There are a lot of people throwing advice out there. Thank you again for a bit of sanity. BTW, I like those kids at SrcreenwritingU. Be well.
Freelance writer/author/screenwriter and martial arts/combat survival writer.
4 年Another great read, Geno. Reading other writers' scripts is much the same as reading other authors' books; if the story doesn't grab you, you put it down and try to find the time to read another. We all have the tools: Screenwriter's Bible, Save the Cat, etc., but "story" is the key. Thank you.