Freelance Screenwriting – Learn About the Process In Order To Hire the Best Writer

In order to find the absolute best person to write your screenplay, it is important to learn a bit about the process of freelance screenwriting and screenplay format. This will allow you to get an idea of what sorts of constraints the writers are working with and will, therefore, help you communicate your ideas in a way that will get results. It also will give you a better understanding the qualities of a professional screenplay writer. You will be able to notice red flags more easily and see if the person you hired for the job is either excelling or coming up short in certain parts of the screenwriting process.

One of the most important parts of successful screenwriting is the format. It is very different than traditional forms of writing, like novels or articles, and must be adhered to very strictly. A crucial piece of information to know is that one page of written text translates to approximately one minute of on-screen time. This means that if you wish your movie to fit into the typical 90 minute length, the screenplay should run about 80 to 100 pages in length. However, there are other details about freelance screenwriting that you should know as well.

The screenplay format needs to be written much more visually than other pieces of work. Freelance screenwriting is all about showing instead of telling. This means that a great deal of the text will be dealing with setting the scene. Movies use the actual visual representations instead of just describing them. Therefore, the majority of the story is not even being told via the dialogue. However, the actual dialogue that does exist needs to be written very directly and to the point. This will help keep the movie moving at a good pace, instead of dragging on unnecessarily.

Another very important aspect to consider when it comes to screenwriting is what kind of rating you will want for your movie. Whether you choose, G, PG-13, or R, it is a good idea to decide what your target audience is and then select a suitable rating. The right one will maximize the amount of people that your movie will attract. To get the desired rating, you will need to learn what sorts of language and imagery can and cannot be included in each category, so as to make sure your screenplay fits the rules. By learning about the actual process of writing a screenplay, you can be sure that you are selecting the best person for the freelance screenwriting process.

Freelance Screenwriting – Myths That You Should Know When Hiring Someone to Write Your Screenplay

Freelance screenwriting is a very specific genre of writing. Different a great deal from novel or article writing, creating screenplays takes a great bit of technical skill and specific knowledge. Whereas a traditional writer can work successfully with many different topics and formats, writing a film manuscript is a medium to which is not so easily adapted. For this reason, although many think that any kind of writer is suitable, hiring someone with specific screenplay experience is the only real way to ensure that your script gets written correctly. The fallacy that anyone with writing ability can write a movie manuscript will not serve you well when you go to sell your project.

Although there is quite a bit of strategy involved, it is not always true that your screenwriter has to be the most creative one. Without a good idea, all the writing talent in the world will not make the story come to life. Although creativity will never hurt, do not assume that those doing freelance screenwriting need to come across as the most creative people. If you do not hire someone because they do not seem artistic enough, you may be passing up a great writer. In this sort of writing, strategy is much more important. Therefore, their creativity might come through in a different way than you might initially imagine.

Another myth when it comes to freelance screenwriting is that the writer should adhere to your particular vision one-hundred percent. While getting a sense of the story you want to create is important, the screenwriter knows how to best adapt it to a screenplay format. People grow very attached to specific ideas they have for their project and, therefore, sometimes do not see where a story is lacking or overly-detailed. Because of this, it is important to trust your screenwriter’s experience. They know how to best enhance your story, whether through additions, deletions, or changes.

It can be a scary prospect to leave the fate of your screenplay in someone else’s hands. We all hold a very specific perspective when it comes to our own work and ideas and leaving another person to make your project a reality can lead many people to make false assumptions. However, doing so will not help to create a screenplay of which you are proud to promote. Therefore, it is important to put aside any myths about freelance screenwriting and those who do it so that you can find the perfect person for the job.

Templates for Screenwriting: Hero’s Journey

The screenwriting template called for Hero’s Journey is a template many successful and diverse screenwriters have used to give birth to blockbuster movies like Scarface (1983), Raging Bull (1980), Million Dollar Baby (2004) and Gladiator (2000).

Below you can take a look at a simplified deconstruction of the movie Million Dollar Baby which won the Academy Award as Best Film in 2005.

Adventure’s Calling: Maggie requests for a coaching from Frankie.

Rejecting Adventure: Frankie says no, saying such adventure does not suit Maggie’s age.

Threshold Number One: At the gym, Maggie shows that she is not giving up on her dream. She does not think she can go back, even if Frankie is not with her.

Belly of the Whale – Separation: Frankie finds himself being made redundant following Willie’s departure. He finally let himself become Maggie’s teacher.

Road of Trials – Transformation (x3): Maggie grows as a boxer and ascends in the league. She makes the good decision of not abandoning Frankie and beats the champion from Britain, as well as getting a new name for herself, Machusla.

The Taking of the Sword: Maggie make a purchase of a family house and Frankie starts to delight in the idea of being a father, of getting a daughter.

Death and Rebirth: Danger, who is the victim of a gym bully, is saved by Eddie.

Atonement with the Father: Maggie faces the Blue Bear.

Apotheosis: Maggie learns a lesson – protecting yourself is first and foremost.

Ultimate Boon: Maggie finds a father and Frankie acquires a daughter; a new family for both of them.

The Rejection toward Returning: Frankie says no to returning to the gym.

Magic Flight: Frankie looks for the best doctors and gets Maggie away from the desert hospital.

Rescue from Without: The appearance of Maggie’s family; the reappearance of old challenges brought by said family.

Another Threshold – Crossing the Return: Maggie’s legs are taken from her. She makes another request to Frankie, she wants him to kill her.

Master of the Two Worlds: Frankie talks to the priest and decided to grant Maggie’s request; she wants to die as what she has been.

Freedom to Live: Frankie never looks back, nor goes back to the gym.

Successful Screenwriting: Top 3 Ways of Marketing Your Script

For some people the sole act of writing a movie script is the reward on its own. The process is so enjoyable that the lack of monetary reward is not a big deal. To a number of writers, seeing their work come to live in feature films is more than enough. Whether or not you are looking for financial returns, writing for television shows and movies require having an screenwriting agent.

Thing may still fall into place without an agent but it takes a great dose of luck and the right connections to see that happen. Don’t be intimidated by the phrase acquiring an agent, it is not at all that difficult. It simply takes proper presentation, for both yourself and your script.

1. Sending A Script To An Agent

Most agents welcome unsolicited work via postal service. It is good practice to get a professional to proof read your script before you send it to agents. A professional proofreader will alert you spelling, structure or format mistakes and help you with such problems.
When this is done, move on to something else. Write another script to prepare for the eventuality of a call back from an agent. When this happens it is more than likely the agent will ask to see other work you have, be it another script or a treatment.
Remember to include correct and complete contact details. It is amazing to see the sheer number of people who forget this. Include a Stamped and Adressed Envelope to get your script back at the event of rejection. If the agent is a nice one, you might even find useful feedback scribbled on your script.

2. Networking With Other Screenwriters

Meeting and making connections with other screenwriters are other ways to placing your script in the hands of an agent. Try joining into online forums and writing classes, as well as attending film festivals. Having friends within the industry will give you a lot of options and recommendations when it comes to agent.

3. Contacting Producers Directly

Producers find movies to produce and arrange for financial back up. It is standard practice for producers to ask agents for new scripts but as they are always on the look out for fresh script, why not send yours directly to the producers?
If your script is good enough, agents will find their way to your front door. In a business where reputation is a big thing, having the ear of a producer is a strong push forward. Addresses for film production companies are easily researched; you can find them online or look for them in some movie-related magazines.

Having a screenwriting agent is still your best bet to see success and large cash working as a screenplay writer. An agent takes some of the work off your shoulder and will help you build your portfolio, attracting work so that you can fully concentrating on developing your next ideas and writing, instead of going out there to try and promote yourself.

Signing up into a site dedicated for screenwriting helps tremendously in your networking efforts. Add to that the ability to find information and perhaps discount on classes run by respected screen writers. With some luck, you may even run into screenwriting agents in these forums – they are also out there to try and find new and fresh talents.

Collaborative Screenwriting: The Top 5 Tips

The filmmaking and screenwriting world is by its very nature collaborative. Each person on set brings his skills to bear on the production in order to make the best film possible. Quite often this collaborative mentality extends back into the writing phase of a film, where two or three writers may work on a screenplay. Team writing in TV shows is almost the norm now, especially in America.

It is the nature of film producing to be collaborative. Everyone involved brings to the table nonexchangeable skills or talent without which the completion of the movie is impossible. It is not unusual to find this culture of collaboration very early in the stage of production, the screen writing process, that is.

Collaboration is a style of work a lot of people enjoy doing. It is rare anyway to complete the whole process on one’s own as many agree to the idea that two heads are far better than just one. If this is something you agree to and collaborative screenwriting seems like your thing, these are five things you need to keep in mind before you make your move.

1) Make sure you collaborate with someone trustworthy. Screenwriting is hard work that takes grit and commitment. You need to know your partner will have your back and work as hard as you do.

2) Work with someone you respect, someone who also respects you. No exchange of ideas will happen, not to mention work if you try working with someone who has no appreciation of your job. Lack of respect also leads to no communication where your partner may not bother letting you know how they feel about your work. This can only spell disaster to the future of your project.
It is equally important that you respect your chosen partner. Never take up an amateur friend simply because they want to give it a try. Same levels of skills are needed to create a successful collaboration otherwise resentment might kick in as one feels like he’s doing all the work.

3) Search for someone who sees and shares your vision. It is entirely possible that they have different reasons, approaches and methods about how to work and produce a screenplay. That is perfectly alright because as long as the vision of the end result is the same as yours, you should go for it.

4) Your partner needs to complement you in terms of skills and writing styles. Find someone who is good at dialogue if you are better at plotting and your dialogue is simply rubbish. If you are good at writing dialogue but produces awkward sequence of scenes, fine someone who is good at stringing actions together.

5) Ease back and know that partnership doesn’t call for 100% agreement at all times. Flitting praises back and forth and challenging nobody leave something to be desired. Constantly inspiring each other to work harder and try different things is the best way to create the best screenplay the two or three of you are capable of producing.

Egos get killed in the whole process of collaborative writing and yet the possibilities of producing the best screenplay increase significantly, a different kind of success from that which you may achieve by writing on your own. Successful collaborations generate a richer, more complex and colorful work compared to that written by just one person.

Screenwriting Tip – The Importance of a Complete Storyline

With your interest and ability in writing it is probably safe to assume that at one point you have looked into the possibilities of becoming a screenplay writer. So why write a movie script? What’s the appeal? Well, there is the glamorous part of rubbing shoulder with the Hollywood crowd, finding yourself on the famous people list and of course, the possibility of a large paycheck.

Still, wonderful as it is, it is not for the weak of hearts. There may well be years in between before you see said large paycheck. Possibilities are high too that you might not get paid at all. Do you feel it is still worth it? If you say yes, then there is one very important thing you need to remember: make sure your storyline is well figured out before you start the writing process of your screenplay.

The majority of new writers in the business get started by studying the correct structure of a screenplay. This is usually followed by some tweaking on the word processor of their choice to further ease the process of writing the The Next Big Script. Then it is on to the writing, racing with time or deadline that they set for themselves, thinking it is possible to rush a perfect, well written screenplay.

Do you rush headlong into writing your screenplay without knowing how your script will turn out? Are you one of those screenwriters who purchased screenwriting software? If so, do accept my sympathy. Such software is not at all necessary in the writing of a screenplay when garden variety word processor can do the job just as well. Great storyline is what makes a script great.

A storyline that is whole and devoid of loopholes is the only thing necessary in the completion of a script. Barring a solid storyline, the screenplay you created will never be marketable. Now, the essential elements of a marketable screenplay are a treatment and a final outline. No need to start writing even the first page of your script if you don’t know or have any of the two.

Nothing is as important as the storyline. It must be so astounding no studios will be able to resist it. That translates to a near-perfect script. Is it possible to achieve such? As a matter of fact, the answer is yes. All you need to do is invest in some hard work on your part.

The only sure way to get your story written is to sit down and write it. Stay sparse on the description and just tell your story. Make sure the storyline does not exceed three or four pages. Remember to keep details minimum. When the general layout of your story has taken shape, beginning, middle and end it is time to sort out the scene sequences and make things flow logically. With only three or four pages of a solid story, you will have less difficulties in editing.

So you have been tweaking and editing a story for some time, perhaps about a couple of months or perhaps longer than that. Complete the storyline and execute any necessary changes and then you are ready to start writing an outline. An outline needs to be well-structured, organized and most importantly, simple.

Once you are finished with the treatment and outline, take another look and be as critical as you can. Send them round to fellow writers for critique, ask for the most honest and straightforward opinions. Consider the feedbacks and add the last changes to your story.

The writing of the script is actually the last step in the process of screenwriting. Remember to closely follow the proper structure and format of a screenplay. Keep in mind that a lot of people need your screenplay to guide them in doing their job – people like the actors, director, the director of photography, practically everybody who is involved in the producing of the movie.

A writer’s group is a great place to find help with your screenplay writing. It is easy to find such group, both online and offline. Here’s to success!

Screenwriting – Write Yourself Into a Movie

A career in screenplay writing is a good choice for a large number of people. There was a time when only the best writers were found and recognized or able to access the small, incestuous world that was Hollywood. These days though, research and education make it possible for just about anybody to try and become a screenwriter.

Screenwriting is a also a favorable choice due to the convenience and freedom it gives in that you can be creative in developing the stories, set your own schedule and do your work from home. What’s more, you can always write about your own life for a TV show or a movie, provided it is sufficiently intriguing.

A film scenarion that is based on your own life is likely to become a relatively successful project. This is something you really know about and everybody knows that the secret to successful writing is to write what you know. There is authenticity when you write about your own life, characters which are believable and relatable while you can always throw in some fictional twists and turns to liven things up.

It will be careless to say that anybody can do screenwriting, even if the story is based on one’s own life. Still, commitment and willingness to learn from screenwriting books and various creative writing courses and classes can go a long way down the path of success.

Writing for movies and generally working in the entertainment industry is considered a glamorous job and one where one experiences a lot of excitement. These days access to such job is more widely open because it is easier to access the information and sources needed to train oneself and/or improve existing skills and talent.

Having said that, two things aspiring screenwriters need to remember always are these: be faithful to the idea of writing about topics you are familiar with and, when you are stuck, you can resort to using your own life as materials to be developed into a screenplay.

As stated before, neither movies nor TV screenwriting is an easy thing to do. Choosing a familiar topic makes things easier for you as you try to finish the writing and come up with a polished script. As for writing about your boring life, don’t be so quick to have such opinion about your life. Many people are fascinated by the detailed account of someone else’s life, they enjoy the story telling that is involved.

Writing a screenplay gives you a chance to express yourself, to speak your mind as well as pushing yourself forward into the world. And when you work well and work smart, you just might find yourself in the path of glory and wealth.

Successful Screenwriting – How to Introduce Characters

Questions need to be answered and problems need to be solved as you go about writing a screenplay. One thing that can be passed over is the ways of which characters are introduced in relation to the flow of your story. After all, entrances and exits are what make or break a career in the business of entertainment. How a character makes an entrance into a story or a stage is how strong it is going to be perceived for the rest of the story. The importance of first impression is just the same in screen writing as it is in life. Similarly, an exit needs to be just as memorable so as to leave a lasting impression in people’s mind.

Screenwriting example for introducing characters:
Seinfeld, a sit-com with one of the biggest success in TV history, has plenty of strong examples of entrances and exits. The most outstanding example is of course the character Kramer who always boldly enters the scene and exits it in such drama that equals his entrances, the very things that factor heavily in the amount of laugh he generated. Study the re-runs of the show and scrutinize the ways he entered a scene, as well as exited same. They leave quite an impression while further underlining his character. This should give you an idea of how important character introduction is.

Just to simplify, we shall discuss two ways of character introduction. One is what we shall call the obvious introduction and the other is indeed, the not so obvious introduction. For the example we are going to use an old, classic story; the butler did it.

* If you have the butler as the one who did it, giving him a strong entrance is not suggested. You don’t want the audience to pay too much attention to this character if you want to keep the mystery alive and the guy under the radar as viewers start ticking off suspect list.
* It is considered the usual practice for the butler to be introduced as a person in the background where audience gives the least attention. For a strong introduction to work on the actual criminal, it has to be done in a misleading way. Perhaps by introducing him as another victim or the only one who actually suffers a loss from the crime. This will keep the audience from guessing too early and accurately the fact that the butler is actually the perpetrator of the crime.

How you introduce characters into the story needs to fall in line with the genre of your story as well. In screenwriting, this is an important element in producing a well-written script. It needn’t be said that research, appropriate formatting and proper story structure are equally essential. Books on screenwriting are available and not too expensive which can be used to further improve your writing and prepare you for the market. Keep in mind that you need to choose those which were written by reputable professionals.

Successful Screenplay Team Writing: Choosing a Protagonist

No screenplay works without a protagonist, someone whose story needs to be told, and also the one we called the main character. So are there any differences between the main character and a protagonist? Are they not the same, supposed to be one person?

A number of novels and movies do have a protagonist that also serves as the main character. They are both commonly known as the hero. There are also plenty of stories out there where you can see that the protagonist and the main character are two different things. The protagonist is someone who makes it possible for the story to move forward while the main character is the person whose point of view is shared to the audience.

One perfect example is the novels of Sherlock Holmes but Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. Nobody can deny that it is the great detective who pushes the story forward. It is about him, his journey, the crimes that is his puzzle to solve. Still, we all know what is going on by relying on what Dr Watson saw, observed and opined. Described as Holmes faithful sidekick, Dr Watson related the adventure of the much celebrated detective in first person.

To Kill a Mockingbird the movie sees the story unfold from the point of view of the daughter of Atticus, Scout. The tomboy young woman narrated the story and served as the main character. The whole story however revolves around the fight his father, the lawyer, had to endure in his quest to defend a man innocent of the crime of which he was accused.

One of the many decisions made in the early stage of team-writing a screenplay is deciding on the protagonist as well as determining if he or she should also be the main character. Writers Jack Rosseau and James Collins confirmed that the two topics were the first discussion they had during the writing of Greek Island.

The story basically tells of a woman living in a small, relatively unknown Greek island who has just heard the good news that her only grandson is returning to get married. The young man left the island 11 years ago and has never returned, until now. Grandma’s happiness is put on hold when the startling discovery is made and she finds out that her future ‘granddaughter-in-law’ turns out to be a man.

Who should be the protagonist? The engaged young man or his grandmother? Who moves the story forward? Who has a story to tell? Which one of them should be the main character? Or should someone else entirely fill that position?

Initially it looks as if the protagonist should be the grandson. After all it is his wedding. He’s the one who comes home with his groom. He is the one with a goal – to get married, that is. His marriage is also the one that causes controversy among family and the community, thus making this a story about gay rights. And it is a story about gay rights.

Still, the question remains. Should it be his story or the grandmother story? Rosseau told of the back and forth emails discussing this which ended in Collins making the bold choice of choosing the grandmother as the protagonist. The conflict is hers to create as she strives to stop the marriage at all cost. She insists that her grandson is merely influenced by the evil society in the USA and that he is not really gay.

As soon as they knew that was how they wanted to tell the story, it was clear that the grandmother is the one who pushes the story forward. It is definitely a challenge because the leading character now is not someone who can be played by Matt Damon, but a woman who is no longer young, someone who is more difficult to cast.

Successful Screenwriting: The Important Factors

Visual people are those who should consider screenwriting. After all, the core idea of movies are showing, instead of telling. As you compose the script, you need to remember that the conversation needs to be straightforward, a part of your story-telling. If you hope to be a successful, money making movie writer, being passionate about the story is extremely important. The story will not turn out well if you lack enthusiasm about it.

Success in screenwriting depends quite a lot on selling your ideas. This is where the phrase ‘it is who you know’ really stings into the reality of some shy writers. You need to find the right person to whom you can sell or trust the selling of your scripts. Don’t let the sheer numbers of competition intimidate you. A lot of them are not going to do everything they can to realize their dreams as screen writers thus leaving the door wide open for you to walk in.

It takes persistence and the willingness to commit to be a film writer. Are you doing anything to improve your skills? How many screenplays have you been reading and studying? Have you tried contributing to a team of screenwriters? Have you subscribed to screenwriting publications? How many screenwriting-related classes have you enrolled and completed? Just as you do research for the topics you want to writer about, you need to research the many ways you can improve and hone you skills as a screenwriter.

James Cameron, Oscar winning director, gave one of the best advice when it comes to being a screenwriter. Cameron said, “…write a bad screenplay first then go back and write a great one.” What is more important is to actually finish your first script. How many writers you know, screenplay or others, who have never finish their project? Most people are in love with the idea of writing they are never going to actually produce a script or a novel. Ask yourself the question. Do you actually want to finish the project and produce a script and later sell it? Do you enjoy the notion of having something to write but don’t really see yourself finishing it? Be honest and find out right now to keep yourself from losing precious time on something that is not going to be finished, something that is going to cost you and other people as well.