Did you see how he was talking about Muse's & how they Give you creative abilitys but you have to be open to them.... I have a friend who makes music . he's a undergound no name but he's very talented. I once asked him how does he do it. He replied " it comes from a place.. A source like something is puttind the words in my head & my body is the vessel flows threw."
"The writing down is the thinking of it". So true. The amount of times I've had the outline all settled in my head, and then as soon as I start putting it down it morphs and takes on unexpected turns.
What of the best quotes I've heard is "writing is rewriting" Always remember your first draft is shit. Most hollywood screenplays are rewritten up to 50 times.
Yeah, what I did for my web series is make different characters, scenarios, plots, and direction. I kept the premise. What did I get? I got four main characters I love. Others coming in later. The plot that makes it all tie together. Scenes that I can't wait to shoot. I'd say I rewrote my story many, many times. And wow. I amazed myself with the twist and turns. Things I never thought I'd actually think of! I usually sit down and try to tear down an idea rather than praise it. But if it isn't torn down or isn't that bad? I'll keep it.
You should write a good enough outline or treatment so that your first draft of the script is pretty good. A crappy script with 50 rewrites is a crappy script with 50 layers of bandages.
And often it is exactly BECAUSE Hollywood tend to bring in multiple screenwriters to go over the same screenplay 50 times that a film ends up being "MEH". I'm not saying the first drafts are masterpieces, they rarely are. But a lot of Hollywood scripts are rewritten way too many times, removing the organic heart and realism the original author brought to the table - the very reason somebody stopped and loved the early draft to begin with. Sometimes too many producers and stars etc have opinions on the script, so fifty different people work on the script to make EVERYBODY happy, and in the process removing the X factor. Something that might have been perfect, with a real EDGE, ends up so-so with no edges because they end up making a film that is mildly entertaining to 80%, when maybe the early draft would have made a film extremely entertaining to 70%. The sad part is that a lot of producers would much rather have 80% be mildly entertained, than have 70% get blown away by what they consider a perfect film.
I'm more into writing novels than screenplays, but what he is saying is very interesting, and very insightful. I especially like the part where he says it's better to not plot the entire story first. Instead just write, and while writing, trust your creative mind. The story will develop itself in unexpected and interesting ways. Thank you very much!
He is right about mainstream film losing is the art of mystery because they want as little risk as possible. As much as Hollywood is not necessarily original that doesn't mean rehashing the same story/plot from random 80's blockbusters. I don't expect reinvention of the wheel of an 100 year old institution, yet even within conventions of whatever genre the film I'm viewing- I should not be able to predict the ending of the film or worse know that the best part of the film(s) is in the trailer/tv spot.
+blackwell008 I love mystery. My web series has a lot of questions, raises more as it goes on alongside answering some questions but two more spawn. I don't know why people think making a story is hard. I find it easy.
That is how I learned that I would like to write screenplays because they are like poetry, their main goal is to elicit emotions, Richard's words of wisdom sound like music to my ears.
You're great sir. Thank you for the advice and pointers based on your experience. I'm a young, black, cuban guy and after hearing you I feel like I would love to hang out with you. Now imagine that. A young Cuban and an old jew hanging out. You and Larry David. Love him also. Thanks again.
lmjf991 Here's our full interview with Professor Walter if you ever want more Essentials of Screenwriting - Complete Film Courage Interview with UCLA Professor Richard Walter
Your comment makes us realize that we need some videos on screenwriting dialogue. We are trying to schedule a screenwriter currently. If it goes through, we may pose your comment to the guest.
Let me recommend something you could implement right away. It's called "get to the scene as late as possible". I assume you have an outline, so you know what needs to be accomplished, so have the characters' personalities come out in dialogue, along with plot. Also, using items or commenting on something within the scene, rather than talking about things that happened off screen, usually help with dialogue.
Have a dialogue with your best friend. You see how conversations pour out without any effort when you're speaking with him/her? Try to have the characters do the same.
That's cool that he says, "You don't have to make people feel good--you just have to make them feel." He is so right! Many times I've left the movie upset by what I had seen, but appreciated it tons more than when I see a brainless non-provocative film.
Mine is about a futuristic amusement park where dinosaurs are brought to life through advanced cloning techniques. I call it "Billy and the Cloneasaurus.''
Terrible idea. Don't go through with it. I should know because I'm this totally knowledgeable incredibly credible dude. I'm also the kind of guy that tells people their ideas are terrible and then steals them and calls them his own, so, yep.
multigeekmedia no actually i wrote a script on my experience in Vietnam. The year was 1968. We were on recon in a steaming Mekong delta. An overheated private removed his flack jacket, revealing a T-shirt with an ironed-on sporting the MAD slogan "Up with Mini-skirts!". Well, we all had a good laugh, even though I didn't quite understand it. But our momentary lapse of concentration allowed "Charlie" to get the drop on us. I spent the next three years in a POW camp, forced to subsist on a thin stew made of fish, vegetables, prawns, coconut milk, and four kinds of rice. I came close to madness trying to find it here in the States, but they just can't get the spices right!
GeneralSherman64 Well, I say this because it seems like you have some passion for writing. Your first 2-3 screenplays will be terrible. Mine were, my partner's were, it's just a fact. Move on to a new project. Are you working on anything now?
Writing is a waste of time, unless you're in their little Hollywood club. Nobody worthwhile will read your script, even if you enter all these so-called "screenplay contests". It's all a con these days to make money off of desperate people.
zuneslave If you don't try then the "Hollywood club" people would eventually lose all their people, also some people just enjoy writing, not wanting to have a good time
zuneslave In a monetary sense, yeah you could say writing is a waste of time if you're not getting paid for it right away by an agent or a producer because you have no money to show for all the time you spent writing. Beyond the financial concern, I would never consider writing a waste of time because it takes time to put together a work of art in written form that you can be proud of and excited about. I do agree with you though on the scam artists trying to make money off desperate artists. That can be a problem at times and kills your creative mood from focusing on the story you're writing to worrying about having money in your account to cover daily rising expenses which is kind of sad.
Falcy Chead The industry can seem like a scam in itself given the financial struggles of getting in and staying in, but I don't think that's a reason to not write. If your motivation is just to make money, you'll stop because it's moving to slow or you're hitting too many brick walls. If your motivation is to just unleash your creativity as best you can regardless of the financial gain then you'll keep at it and keep finding new ways to refine yourself as a writer no matter what because you enjoy it and want to put the best product out there as possible.
+Falcy Chead I always hate it when people just say you're making excuses when people say totally true things. I mean he's wrong but not in the way you mean, you probably will never get your script sold, but nowadays it's possible to go independent rather well, so it depends on what you are writing. But his pessimism isn't misplaced.
exactly, I call what you and I do the flow system. We just let what comes out come out and then go from there. many writers want to edit too quickly and get bogged down.
I have a idea for a movie that was like a gritty and brutal crime-drama mixed with a bone-chilling and atmospheric murder-mystery thriller! Something like The Departed meets Se7en.The story centered around two female protagonists both between the ages of 28-33. One woman is a straight-laced, dedicated and brilliant FBI agent, who has helped both the FBI and CIA catch some of the world's most dangerous criminals, is assigned to partner up with a veteran FBI agent, who was close friends and worked with her late father who was also a FBI agent/Navy Veteran, to recruit and lead an elite team of special agents to track down and capture a cunning yet highly-intelligent serial killer/domestic terrorist who starts to target her and her team when they get too close to his tail. The other woman is a hard-edged, street-wise and unorthodox DEA agent who goes rogue by going outside her assigned case to infiltrate a notorious crime-boss' organization who operates a sex/drug/gun-trafficking ring and is associated with a corrupt mayor running for governor, who is also tied with the Greek mafia. She begins to use illegal and unethical methods and tactics to destroy his empire including igniting a war between his gang and the other crime-families/street gangs of the city. Her ultimate goal his to kill him and his crew to avenge her late son's murder which she believes he's responsible for. Eventually the two young women's lives and investigations collide and get tangled up together which make them begin to realize that their investigations are somehow connected. The working title for now is called "The City" and the list of directors I could see directing the film is Martin Scorsese, Michael Mann, David Fincher, David Cronenberg, The Coen Brothers, Paul Greengrass, Brian Helgelund, Christopher Nolan, Clint Eastwood, Ben Affleck, Kathryn Bigalow, Oliver Stone, or Francis Ford Coppola. I have in mind of Jennifer Lawrence as the vengeful DEA agent and Rooney Mara as the determined FBI agent for now. What do you think? Do you think it's a good idea? Do you think it would be both commercially and critically successful?
Pack man it sounds like every crime drama tv/movie i've seen. unless theres a twist or very engaging dialogue or character development, i wouldnt watch it. also, i find neither female believable as authoritative. just the baby-facedness alone. maybe if they went charlize theron like.
Just write is bad advice. You can sit your but in the chair and start without a plan, than you run the risk of hitting a dead end, or you'll run into mistakes that are way too deep in the foundation which can't be fixed with editing and re-writes and you'll have to start the whole thing again. This is why some studios demand outlines for professional level writers.
James Cameron's treatment for Avatar is more than 100 pages long. Paddy Chayefsky said he didn't start writing the script until he could tell the story for 45 minutes.
I totally understand of what he's saying..... I see it as letting your characters talk among themselves in your head - and just write it down - and start up something between them - then let it age like a good Mead. BUT first, go out and live life to experience interesting things to spice up your writing. I've been a long-time songwriter but just started writing scripts - Cheers!
The outline should be a living document. When you have a problem with the script, change the outline and then the script. There should be a numbered point in the outline for every numbered slug line in the script. Keep them in sync.
At 162 pages, yes it is quite possible. While normally, I would say page count doesn’t matter (and it really doesn’t, depending on the quality of the story, and how well one might be immersed) but if you find yourself at 162 pages and feeling like it would be better as a series, then it may well be. What is the pacing like? Are character arcs fully developed? Are plots fulfilled? Try splitting it up in parts, see for yourself if it works in such a way, if the story still flows - restructure, rewrite, rewrite, and rewrite - is all I can say. From one writer to another ;)
I love these interviews! I really appreciate the fact that the interviewer doesn't interrupt to summarize what they say or try to assist them get the words out, she just lets them talk and sometimes it gets messy but it's raw and truthful.
My son read a book I wrote 5 yrs ago that Im rewriting. He said the guy in the closet! Now THATS a memorable character. If you remember this guy five years after reading it then you've got a great character.
I love listening to this guy...I could listen to him for days.... He is not only giving useful info, but he is so animated and interesting... A real person with a great personality!!!!
I've been ready for years. but I have a large problem. I am handicapped I can't read or write. I Record all my stories with a microphone. you can see where this will make it hard for me to write my stories on paper . right now I'm using the Google mic to write this message.I am mostly write science fiction.and comedy and comedy drama. I need help. I need people who can listen to my story to tell me if they suck.when they dont suck or have a possibility of a decent.I have been looking for a cool rider but I haven't had any luck. xman77
I'd be happy to read some of your work and offer feedback. I'm not an industry professional, but rather an amateur enthusiast if you will. I see you haven't had any replies to this, but if you're still looking for someone respond and I'll be glad to help.
Agree 100 % the character speaks to us and they guide us they make us (the writer) mad , sad, frustrated is amazing. I'm constantly amazed. Thanks for this posting and thanks Richard Walter.
I find it most helpful to sketch out an outline WHILE I'm writing my first draft. That way you have that balance between structure and organic story-telling that's tricky for many writers to pin down.
Last time I "let it go" my main character was dead on page 47. Not good advice. Know your story. Start with a logline that describes the main idea. Then write one paragraph that expounds on that logline. Then write three pages expanding further. Then I write 15 pages with important scenes and snippets of dialogue that have come to me and left an impression. You should have a decent plot line/story after 15 pages. Next, I start following the 15 pages onto notecards, each card = one scene. If I have 36-45 notecards, I know I have what I need to move to screenwriting. The inciting incident, plot twists and climax are all represented on a card. After draft one, I re-read and then make scene adjustments where necessary. It's much easier to get a first draft finished with a complete set of notecards based on your outline.
+Dave Karner Damn that's hard. But when I wrote my script for my web series it was easy. Took me just a week to construct the characters and story. Alongside the locations and setting. Having a main character is boring, having a compelling story that can continue without one person carrying it is an amazing writer. George RR Martin. No main character and Game of Thrones is so damn good. It inspired me for my web series. Add so much depth into characters that you don't neglect a single one. Writing for just one person is too easy. Writing for a lot of people in a story and you are a genius.
In my opinion you are not writing a story then, you're constructing one and I think often it lacks the sincerity of storytelling. It needs to develop and certainly you can't see the outcome of it before you are done. It's like writing your first draft and publish it. Walter also describes in one of his books how you need to explore differend paths your story could go. If your protagonist dies at an early stage of the story and you're not happy with that path, at least you explored it and know that it doesn't work. On the other hand maybe you are totally amazed by that, because you didn't expect it in the first place and now there are multiple choices occuring in front of you and are shaping a story that engages you even more than the one before. I think for a writer writing is all about the process and not the result, it's about exploring your inner sub- or unconscious self, a journey to your heart. If you base writing on a strict plan it might work and you get a movie or book out of it, but I can promise you almost certainly that you won't feel as fulfilled when you want to be the guide of your story as if you are being guided by it.
Dave Karner you should go with it... dead by 47 should be the title.. the remaining hundreds of pages could be his life getting to that critical page 47 point... that also made me laugh out loud btw.. but only the conjuring of the protagonist building his character in the mind of the reader, becoming well established and then... dead.
Shows professors don't know everything, if they know much of anything. Fact is, the story is not about butt in the chair and hands on the keys. That is a reactionist beginner's view. So much of story - true, deep, magical story - is composition through notes and brainstorming and storyboarding and research and discovery. Sit and write when you have a story. When you don't have a story, all of your writing will inevitably reflect that.
The Pre-Visualization stage of Screenwriting is the most important stage of writing, this is before you put fingers to the Typewriter keys. The complete Screenplay is Visualized in your mind first, then you start putting words on pages, don't care about the grammar, choosing the perfect words, just vomit it on the page first, then rewrite and revise it later like a diamond in the rough. Writing is Rewriting. Get into your own head, and write what only you can write. There's nobody like you, therefore, you have no competition, but your self.
IM am the only one who caught that !!!!!!! Go back and watch what he said about the Muse!. Mythical beings also in Christianity. They're purpose is to inspire artist of all trades
Richard wrote the Original Draft of American Graffiti while at USC film school. And you? The Screenwriting professionals who have come through the UCLA screenwriting department are everywhere in Hollywood. Largely because of him and Lew Hunter's guidance. It's funny when people complain about screenwriting videos, it never fails that they all end up the same way.
If you look up his bio,its funny.Hes written a lot of stuff just nothing good.Hes a studio hack.Probably get hired on the spot if you copy his style knowing studios.
. . . my creative writing process is like making a pot out of clay, the words are my clay, once I have a glob of clay in front of me I slowly begin to shape it . . .
Unlike other language artforms like poems or novels, screenwriting has a more ambiguous stature, the film as a collaborative end result both absorbing & radiating the script it consumes. In mind via current treatment-pitch (Alien Anonymous) 'A wry high-concept Hollywood-insider global social commentary comic thriller sci-fi'. Have plot-drive, now need character-drive. Rep x Chutzpahductions. A.A will sweep 2015 Oscars! A-List Directors, i.e., Peter Weir, Ron Howard, etc~reachme @ArtistGeneral
But the industry is playing safe to often and its frankly boring... Originality is more intriguing That's the way to go playas :) u get a full experience. For example I'm a big fan of the director christopher Nolan for his originality, and will avoid seeing any information on his lastest films because at the end of the day I know I will watch them and hopefully enjoy it (Ive seen all of his full production films and in my opinion Dark Knight Rises was the worst and Inceptin the best.
Is that a real question? Is certainty not sexy? Good grief!!! You need to observe real people! The bored housewife with the perfectly reliable husband who is always home at 7 PM slowly eyes the dark and mysterious stranger she sees outside the supermarket. The young man who has pledged his heart to the pure-hearted girl he's known since school can't stop thinking of the dangerous bad-girl figure. There is a REASON we use these kinds of things! YES uncertainty is sexy!
Most won't read far enough to see what's revealed. As Zero said, too much black -- way too much description, way too much dialogue. One glance will tell the reader it's not professional, and will take too much effort to wade through. Could be an intriguing story, but you must be far more sparing in your scene description and dialogue. Read a lot of professional scripts online, get a feel for how it's done. And as for dialogue -- listen to how people really talk. Make it natural, not a speech.
He talks like an artist who doesn't want to be controlled. Sure, a script can develop into different things IF YOU LET IT. If you have a good outline and know the story you want to tell and plan it properly, there is no reason you can't follow your outline related to the major events. There are many versions that a story can become. Guys like this get off on "discovering" a story accidentally...like your imagination has a life of it's own. That's just silly and will more often than not cause you to waste a lot of time. You will write bad stuff and then have to keep rewriting. If you know where you want to go..you can write great stuff while headed in that direction...and just clean it up or rewrite sections later.
I'm a musician but I have an immense passion for films and filmmaking. Related to screenwriting, I always read that the best thing is to write everyday. I have never written anything in my life. How should I start? What do I write about everyday? Do I write in a script format already or just a Word sort of format with nothing but "words"?
Just started screen writing/using Final Draft 8 for my channel yesterday (I took drama classes in high school, but never learned how to write a legitimate screenplay. ANyways I agree with his thoughts on going to the theatre, I personally don't watch trailers for films im really excited for to not spoil anything and try to expect the least amount possible. lols I woke up like 20 mins ago with a bunch of ideas to change what I wrote yesterday, So here I am :)
Playing to the gallery of the mainstream of mediocrity is the only sin for any artist. But how many want to be artists, they just want fame and fortune the worst reason to create but Hollywood has been doing only that.
TODAY WHEN I WASN'T EVEN LOOKING FOR IT OR EVEN KNEW I SHOULD BE I FOUND OUT YOUR NAME. NOTION IS IT THAT INTANGIBLE TANGIBLE PASSERBY SO STRONG LIKE THE WIND SOMETIMES OR GENTLE CRY SOMETIMES FALSE SOMETIMES TRUE SOMETIMES HAPPY SOMETIMES BLUE NOTION COUSINS WITH SIBLINGS PERCEPTION & CONCEPTION ITS SO NICE TO FINALLY KNOW THE VOICE HAS A NAME NOT MINE
Further to my previous comment concerning your scene description -- look up this video here on RU-vid: "Write better scene description." Very helpful and practical. Also, I read some more about your story. I greatly admire that you've taken the time and great effort to write something so personal. My son has experienced much of what you've been through, for the same reason -- simply because of who he is. Don't give up. Keep working at it, make some changes, tighten it up. And good luck.
" You have to be available its never easy to get into & you have to own that ! " Muse exist and they inspire everyday but you have to be willing to open your self to them
Great vid! I'm not sure about the "no planning" suggestion, though. Sometimes it depends on the kind of story you're writing, and I think people should just do what works for them. There seems to be this idea that planning takes the authenticity and spontaneity out of writing, but think it depends on how you do it. Planning out a story shouldn't be thought of as something absolute and immutable. It's more like just creating a guideline to start from in case you get stuck. It's important to leave room for growth during the writing process. The outline /plan is just the beginning, and the story will inevitably change and grow in unexpected ways with each draft. Planning an outline doesn't have to be tedious and analytical, you can go by the same intuition and gut instincts you go by when writing on the fly. Only difference is, you're doing it in your head instead of on paper. For me, it's like watching different cuts of the same movie and I never know what's going to happen until it happens, then I gather my favorite scenes /ideas from each of my favorite "versions" and put together an outline to start from.
completely agree with you, although I'm one of those who get too stressed out with all the planning, but I know many who benefit from it. it all depends on the person really, as you stated.
