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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    Discussion of...     General Chat  ›  Writer's write - Director's --- Moderators: bert
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  Author    Writer's write - Director's ---  (currently 2214 views)
DustinBowcot
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 3:14am Report to Moderator
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The director is the main man... simple as that. If he's shit, so will your film be. A good director will make the best out of anything bad. He will be able to come up with creative solutions to unsolvable problems.

But... that's on set.

When writing a script we really shoud throw in some direction, even using camera shots if it helps serve the story. Definitely direct actors... because we're not really directing anybody, we're just giving a better indication of what our character is doing for the reader. We write for readers... I don't mean pro readers, although we write for them too... we write for anyone that happens to be reading, so we make it good for them. A director or an actor are free to change whatever later on if what we've written doesn't work as well on set as it does in one's imagination.
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DustinBowcot
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 3:50am Report to Moderator
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Frank made a good point. The only reason that 'rule' is there is to prevent new writers from overdoing it. It should only be done if it serves the story. If you can find a better way of doing it then do so. Sometimes parentheses can serve as an extra tool for conveying information quickly and not just to underline something. They're not necessarily about direction.
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AnthonyCawood
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 4:28am Report to Moderator
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I think we may be generalising a little here.

Outside of feedback on here, I think I've only had a Producer comment on any of the subjects touched on once (wrylies). Much of what we're talking about is not direct experience, at least not for me.

Ultimately, every filmmaker is different, so trying to find some sort of one size fits all formula is never going to work.

One may hate asides, one may love the spice they CAN add, one may be okay with wrylies, one may be an ex actor and hate them.

Write your best script and crack on.




Anthony Cawood - Award winning screenwriter
Available Short screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/short-scripts
Available Feature screenplays - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/feature-film-scripts/
Screenwriting articles - http://www.anthonycawood.co.uk/articles
IMDB Link - http://www.imdb.com/name/nm6495672/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
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Warren
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 5:42am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from AnthonyCawood


Write your best script and crack on.




Excellent advise


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eldave1
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 11:33am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from AnthonyCawood
I think we may be generalising a little here.

Outside of feedback on here, I think I've only had a Producer comment on any of the subjects touched on once (wrylies). Much of what we're talking about is not direct experience, at least not for me.


Feedback here and on every other writing site and blog on the planet. That's my point. I'd love to never here it again and instead here whether or not what the writer did works read wise and story wise - not role wise.

If I had a dollar for every time I read something akin to "that's the director's job" - I could fund my own film.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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eldave1
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 11:33am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
The director is the main man... simple as that. If he's shit, so will your film be. A good director will make the best out of anything bad. He will be able to come up with creative solutions to unsolvable problems.

But... that's on set.

When writing a script we really shoud throw in some direction, even using camera shots if it helps serve the story. Definitely direct actors... because we're not really directing anybody, we're just giving a better indication of what our character is doing for the reader. We write for readers... I don't mean pro readers, although we write for them too... we write for anyone that happens to be reading, so we make it good for them. A director or an actor are free to change whatever later on if what we've written doesn't work as well on set as it does in one's imagination.


Agree


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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eldave1
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 11:50am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from DustinBowcot
Frank made a good point. The only reason that 'rule' is there is to prevent new writers from overdoing it. It should only be done if it serves the story. If you can find a better way of doing it then do so. Sometimes parentheses can serve as an extra tool for conveying information quickly and not just to underline something. They're not necessarily about direction.


Yep - as is the case with most rules. To beat a dead horse, I have no problem with someone saying this aside, or parenthetical, or camera direction, etc. etc. hurts the read because .....

And that because has something to with clarity, tone, pace - etc. etc.

I hate it when the because is - that's the Director's job.


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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jwent6688
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 2:36pm Report to Moderator
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Write however you please, but as Pia mentioned, I think all writers should pick up the camera at some point in their careers and see what it’s like for themselves. You think directors write badly?  Not much different than writers who’ve only sat behind a keyboard giving camera angles. Especially when you’re not on the actual set or have seen the location in person.

I use parentheticals sparingly. If the context of the story explains how to emote, I can see actors looking at that and being like “duh, captain obvious.  Thanks for the tip”

Assume that your script is heading to the hands of a pro team. They don’t need your extra input and it can only serve to make you look a bit silly. My two cents.

James


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ajr
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 3:48pm Report to Moderator
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Here's some irony - I was attracted to this thread about writers because the words writers and directors should be plural, not possessive... (0:

IMO I'm afraid your revolution will fail, Dave. We are increasingly moving toward visual and audio mediums. Directors and actors need not script every word. More actors than ever are writing material for themselves. I fear we're coming to a day where the script will be obsolete - concept, as conveyed visually, will be King, and the script will be ad-libbed.

Our only prayer comes from an article I read where millennials are reporting that they feel "overwhelmed"... with too many choices. Too much variety. Too much to consume and too much pressure to consume it quickly. I'm hoping that leads to a rejection of ubiquitous content and thus brings about the revolution you seek... we shall see. But I'm not that hopeful...

AJR


Click HERE to read JOHN LENNON'S HEAVEN https://preview.tinyurl.com/John-Lennon-s-Heaven-110-pgs/
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Night_Writer
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 3:52pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from eldave1

Directors don't just direct - they write. Actors don't just act - they write. At least in my experience, they had no qualms about changing the writing, deleting scenes, adding scenes, etc, etc.. Why are their roles so sacrosanct and we ain't shit?


Added to that indignity... how many times have I read a movie review containing a line reminiscent of "director so-and-so and his/her actors do what they can, but are ultimately unable to overcome the problems inherent on the screenplay level."  


Quoted from Dustin

When writing a script we really shoud throw in some direction, even using camera shots if it helps serve the story. Definitely direct actors... because we're not really directing anybody, we're just giving a better indication of what our character is doing for the reader. We write for readers... I don't mean pro readers, although we write for them too... we write for anyone that happens to be reading, so we make it good for them. A director or an actor are free to change whatever later on if what we've written doesn't work as well on set as it does in one's imagination.


Exactly.  I've always thought this was the only way to approach it.

--Mike


Drama Feature Screenplay:  The Rising
https://www.simplyscripts.com/scripts/therising.pdf
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eldave1
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 4:06pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from ajr
Here's some irony - I was attracted to this thread about writers because the words writers and directors should be plural, not possessive... (0:

IMO I'm afraid your revolution will fail, Dave. We are increasingly moving toward visual and audio mediums. Directors and actors need not script every word. More actors than ever are writing material for themselves. I fear we're coming to a day where the script will be obsolete - concept, as conveyed visually, will be King, and the script will be ad-libbed.

Our only prayer comes from an article I read where millennials are reporting that they feel "overwhelmed"... with too many choices. Too much variety. Too much to consume and too much pressure to consume it quickly. I'm hoping that leads to a rejection of ubiquitous content and thus brings about the revolution you seek... we shall see. But I'm not that hopeful...

AJR


Poignant thoughts.  Hope you're wrong


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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eldave1
Posted: July 13th, 2019, 4:07pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Night_Writer


Added to that indignity... how many times have I read a movie review containing a line reminiscent of "director so-and-so and his/her actors do what they can, but are ultimately unable to overcome the problems inherent on the screenplay level."  



Exactly.  I've always thought this was the only way to approach it.

--Mike


Indeed!


My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: July 14th, 2019, 2:06am Report to Moderator
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You're asking for a revolution that already exists.


If your concern is to see your story realised exactly as you write it you do one of two things:


1. Write a novel.
2. Film it yourself.


In the professional world pressure may be exerted to change it even then.

Which is where Independent film comes in and you can do whatever you like...Self publishing, or self distribution.


Scripts to film change for all sorts of reasons: Logistical (scene doesn't work in the location you have to work in) , psychological (actors losing the ability to connect truthfully with the words as written after multiple takes) financial (need to cut scenes), mechanical (failure of equipment etc) artistic (trying to tease out a deeper meaning from the written word, different interpretations, or improvisation for more natural dialogue).

Filmmaking is an order of magnitude more difficult than writing. You're usually limited to a set time, a set budget and a set of circumstances. You usually get one shot to get it right and there's a million things that can go wrong at any moment.

A talented filmmaker will also often option a script not because they think the script is perfect, but that they think the script has potential..if they can find a way to get it right. The thing they love most about a script might only be a tiny part of the actual script..a theme, an idea etc
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Anon
Posted: July 14th, 2019, 5:30am Report to Moderator
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The best way in my experience so far is a good relationship with the director. Preferably for them to be involved with you in some of the development. When you, the director and sometimes a third party - be that producer or editor - can hammer things out everyone’s vision can be respected.

This doesn’t seem uncommon here in the UK. Hollywood  not so much perhaps.. Your product is far more often handed to the director as a tool for them to play with. I think this leads to more fuck ups than not - but that’s guess work. Proper collaboration is the best way - if you’re not a writer/director.
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Grandma Bear
Posted: July 14th, 2019, 7:10am Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Scar Tissue Films
You're asking for a revolution that already exists.


If your concern is to see your story realised exactly as you write it you do one of two things:


1. Write a novel.
2. Film it yourself.


In the professional world pressure may be exerted to change it even then.

Which is where Independent film comes in and you can do whatever you like...Self publishing, or self distribution.


Scripts to film change for all sorts of reasons: Logistical (scene doesn't work in the location you have to work in) , psychological (actors losing the ability to connect truthfully with the words as written after multiple takes) financial (need to cut scenes), mechanical (failure of equipment etc) artistic (trying to tease out a deeper meaning from the written word, different interpretations, or improvisation for more natural dialogue).

Filmmaking is an order of magnitude more difficult than writing. You're usually limited to a set time, a set budget and a set of circumstances. You usually get one shot to get it right and there's a million things that can go wrong at any moment.

A talented filmmaker will also often option a script not because they think the script is perfect, but that they think the script has potential..if they can find a way to get it right. The thing they love most about a script might only be a tiny part of the actual script..a theme, an idea etc

Agree 100%. If I was smarter, I would have put it just like that!  


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