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  ;D

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.  :)

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.

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.)

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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

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

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?

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

Thanks, Glenn. Yes, I'll post mine within the next week or so. Henry.

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? :)

Quoted from Stumpzian Thanks, Glenn. Yes, I'll post mine within the next week or so. Henry.

I'll keep an eye out and try give it a read ;)

Quoted from pale yellow IMO of course. And who am I?

Judging by your website (I had a little look. Hope you don't mind) you seem to be quite successful at what you do :)

Thanks for the advice  ;D

The reason I write the 45 scenes/plotlines is because I've learned that, for me, it's the easiest way for me to "see" the entire story in one easy glance. That is hardest thing for me.

But, Dena is right, everyone has to find their own way. What works best for them. I've tried all kinds of different ways, but this seems to work best for me.  :)

It's wise to outline IMO.

I like to do something similar to what Pia does in terms of doing sort of a bullet point kind of outline. Very brief, just do scene by scene, note inciting incident, end of Act 1, etc. Then I'll complete a rough draft of a more detailed outline, include any dialogue that I had in mind, etc. Meanwhile, further fleshing out characters.

After the rough draft of the detailed outline (if I'm satisfied with it), I'll begin the actual script. As I write the rough draft of the script, I often find myself going back and redrafting both outlines, depending on where the characters take the story or if I think of something better than the scene I had outlined.

I used to wing it, but even after winging it, I would go back and change a lot in future drafts. But that also took up a whole lot more time than if I had planned better before starting the script. Everyone has their own methods, though, it's whatever works best for you.

-- Michael

Everyone's different. I think your best bet is to get through your first feature, whatever way you want, and learn from it. See what works for you and what doesn't.

I've written two features. The first was just after reading Save The Cat. So I copied the beat sheet, filled it out and started writing.  It didn't work. I got about thirty pages in before ripping it up and just following my gut. That didn't work either. I did eventually finish it, but it took me almost a year and the end result was far from good.

With the second, I took the time to write a proper outline. I didn't know what every scene would be, but I knew all the main plot points and where they needed to happen. And also jotted down a few key scenes and bits of dialogue. I found this a lot easier and much quicker. The script turned out completely different from the outline but it did help to know roughly where I was going.

Your first feature will always be the hardest to finish. Most people get stuck into it and bail when it gets tough. Either give up altogether or get a 'better idea' and start on that. My advice is stick at it, it's an achievement in itself just finishing a feature, even if it's not necessarily brilliant.  

Good luck.

@ Glenn - sorry late reply to your question... yes I'll be posting it, but not until after 2nd draft at least...