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SimplyScripts Screenwriting Discussion Board    General Boards    Questions or Comments  ›  Script Prep
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IamGlenn
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 1:39pm Report to Moderator
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Hey people, how are you all?

I'm a little curious about something so thought I'd just hop on and ask y'all for any advice and tips you'd be oh so kind to share with me.

Here it is...

I'm about to start on my first feature length script and have just started the planning stages. Basically I have a story I'd like to tell and one I think would translate well onto the big screen (here's hoping).

Anyway, I have basic outlines of important scenes wrote out, character outlines and names and the general story. These are all planned out before I start writing the script.

The question is, what are your methods of script preparation and planning? What do you do before the FADE IN? Some detailed planning or just wing it as you go along?

Pretty new to writing a feature and pretty new to writing in general so it would be great for me and others to get some handy tips on how to plan out the story before the actual script writing begins.

Cheers and hope you're having a nice day  


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Grandma Bear
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 1:50pm Report to Moderator
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I used to just wing it...and it showed.

Nowadays. I do an outline. Not treatments and stuff. Just simple. I type a list numbered 1-45. That's pretty much how many scenes a 90-100 page script contains. I then fill out a simple sentence for each one of those scenes. What happens in this scene? What plotpoint? What new info are we given? and so on. This also ensures that you have something interesting happening every two pages or so, which is hugely important. If you don't, your audience will get bored and reach for the remote and that may be sad to some people, but that's how distributors look at it and that's how they decide if your film will be released by them or not. Filmmakers know this so they are also looking for films that move along.  


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IamGlenn
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 1:59pm Report to Moderator
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Quoted from Angry Bear
I type a list numbered 1-45


Yeah that's pretty much what I have done. Basic character outlines too, like what kind of people I want them to be. Just so I know what kind of people I'm trying to portray.


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eldave1
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 2:18pm Report to Moderator
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I do something similar as what Angry Bear described. I use an Excel spreadsheet and add columns with the following information for each scene:

A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SCENE
TIME AND PLACE
WHAT CHARACTERS ARE IN THE SCENE
A NOTE INDICATING IF THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THE CHARACTER (S) WAS INTRODUCED
WHAT OTHER SCENES DOES THIS SCENE PARTICULARITY RELATE TO OR DEPEND ON
WHAT THE SCENE DOES (e.g., establishes theme, catalyst, reversal, character background, etc.)





My Scripts can all be seen here:

http://dlambertson.wix.com/scripts
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Scar Tissue Films
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 2:20pm Report to Moderator
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I usually do the same as Pia.

Sometimes I do it backwards as well...work out the ending and each scene that has to be before it is usually fairly obvious.
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DustinBowcot
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 2:50pm Report to Moderator
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I never prep and I do OK... well, that's a lie. I write plot points in my head for quite some time before writing anything down. However, I don't need 40 before I begin writing. It depends on the concept. I did plot point once and didn't follow it anyway.
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Leegion
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 3:26pm Report to Moderator
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The last thing I need is an instruction manual on how to write a story I came up with.

I should already know what happens, when it happens, to whom it happens and why it happens.  As the architect of the concept, it's my job to know how it functions.

Basically, I improvise the entire thing from start to finish and it comes out better than it would if I planned it piece at a time.  I know this, because I planned once... ONCE, and the planned version was worse than the improvised version.

Vendetta = Planned (people didn't get it) and Shadow Games = Improvised (superior).
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IamGlenn
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 4:34pm Report to Moderator
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Yeah I was thinking the same thing. It's my story and I'll know how to write it. Have never planned for short scripts.

But as I sat in college today, all these ideas just came to me. I was afraid I'd forget some so start writing it all down and how I envision the story going.

I don't see it as a manual or even strict guide. Just a rough guide to keep me on track. It's my first feature so I guess I'll see how it turns out.


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Demento
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 6:01pm Report to Moderator
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I'm new to this. But I'm on my fourth feature this year and for the most part I just wing it.

I usually come up with an idea, think of a good ending first then I sit down and write, build up to it. To me it's just important to get words on a page, so I try to get about 20 pages in a day if I can. I write the whole script in less then two weeks. I don't care how bad it is. I read it and improve, see what doesn't click, what needs to taken out, and improve on it.

I find it much easier to work with something on a page then in my head. And usually as I write the ideas start flowing.

I don't outline anything, I just write down ideas if they come at random.
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Stumpzian
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 6:11pm Report to Moderator
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My first script ever was a feature. I had no intention of writing it myself because I had no idea how to write a script. I figured I'd write a treatment and try to sell it. That was boring. I finally decided to learn what I could about screenwriting and try to write the script myself.

That was one year ago. I finished the script this month after many, many, many revisions and rewrites.  I am still tinkering with things, such as slugs, but am generally pleased with the result

I knew my story, so I just followed my instincts about how best to tell it while staying within the parameters of the three-act structure, etc. Everybody's different, though. Some need a structured plan, some don't.

Henry




Revision History (1 edits)
Stumpzian  -  January 22nd, 2015, 1:53pm
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AnthonyCawood
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 6:45pm Report to Moderator
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I've literally just finished the first draft of my first feature, and I did get some index card and plan it out using this method http://screenwriting.io/how-do-screenwriters-use-index-cards/

Kinda worked and I was happy with the way it all worked together...

Then I started writing and EVERY character got swapped out for a better one, many of the key incidents are now totally different and the ending is different too

It's still the same story but it eveolved as I wrote, I'll probably do away with the cards next time!

Anthony


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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IamGlenn
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 6:54pm Report to Moderator
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Interesting Stump and Anthony.

The index cards seem probably a bit too much but I see how they could work for some.

And you're both just finished your first features, congrats! Will they be on here any time soon?


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Mr.Ripley
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 7:20pm Report to Moderator
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I come up with an outline. Write based off that online. As I'm writing I come up with new shit that seems to better than I originally wrote. Incorporate that. And the cycle continues until I'm done with a draft lol.

The important is to get a first draft done.

Gabe


Just Murdered by Sean Elwood (Zombie Sean) and Gabriel Moronta (Mr. Ripley) - (Dark Comedy, Horror) All is fair in love and war. A hopeless romantic gay man resorts to bloodshed to win the coveted position of Bridesmaid. 99 pages.
https://www.simplyscripts.net/cgi-bin/Blah/Blah.pl?b-comedy/m-1624410571/
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Stumpzian
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 7:28pm Report to Moderator
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Thanks, Glenn. Yes, I'll post mine within the next week or so. Henry.



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Pale Yellow
Posted: January 21st, 2015, 7:32pm Report to Moderator
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I believe everybody works differently. I am about to start a new feature and I've been thinking about it for about two weeks. I first toy with the title...because in my stuff, title always comes first. Then a logline... I will print it out sometimes I make a quick poster with the logline on it and print it and put it in front of my computer so that I will stay focused. OFten, winging it, I forget what is this story about...the true concept and when you get unfocused well, things start to feel or read like filler and you can't have really one line of filler IMO. I don't really do an outline but I do know my turning points. Sometimes they change though as the story unfolds ...and even though I try to know my characters up front...this is something I'm working on doing better. BUT warning...do not get so set on a character that you pin them in this little box you have planned out. Allow your characters to grow and develop outside of the thing you have created. Concept Concept Concept is key... IMO of course. And who am I?
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