Writing a script for a film?

Question:I have a story that I think would make a great film. I am currently writing it as a novel, however would like to try my hand to turn it into a script. Any tips?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I have a story that I think would make a great film. I am currently writing it as a novel, however would like to try my hand to turn it into a script. Any tips?

First finish the novel. Don't let the idea of turning it into a script derail the process you've already committed to. This is one of those tricks you play on yourself that can result in not finishing a blasted thing. Seriously. Finish the novel.

While you are writing your novel, read some scripts in proper script format (even if you already have, read more). This site hosts quite a few: http://www.imsdb.com/scripts/ and more and more properly formatted scriptbooks are becoming widely available. This will help you get a feel for the differences in prose style and get a handle on formatting whether or not you decide to get professional scriptwriting software.

Take a screenwriting class, if a good one is available.

As for scriptwriting handbooks, it's a matter of opinion, but Syd Field is not so much in fashion at the moment. Using his books as guidelines, while not wrong, isn't necessarily going to lead to the kind of script a producer is going to get excited about. (The books stick around on college reading lists because they've been there for twenty years.)

Robert McKee's Story is more durable, since it is more flexible (dealing with unconventional story types as well as classical). Save the Cat! was all the rage a year ago. Nothing has really caught on like it did lately, to the best of my knowledge, but really the thing that will tell you the most about what types of screenplays a given producer wants is looking at what they've bought recently. So if your screenplay is high budget and suits a particular company or group of companies study their films.

Having said that, the ideal approach (especially if your idea can be realized in the low-mid budget range) is just to write the script that is closest to your heart. Find scripts from movies that you personally love and that you feel are somewhat close in genre, tone and pacing to what you want to do and study them. Break them down and look at what each scene does. Read interviews with their writers. (The Screenwriting Expo people sell dvds of some of their past seminars http://www.screenwritingexpo.com/ just on the off chance some of your faves have spoken there)

Then start writing. Keep writing. Finish the movie script just like you finished the novel.

If that's what you want, then do it. Write a script. It isn't all that difficult as long as you can write and, as long as you can write, then get on it. You don't mention what your novel is about nor about the type of script you wish to undertake. One thing is certain principally, know your characters, and don't confuse yourself by trying to write without notes. If you have a lap top or a home computer you will be better off in keep sets of personal notes and references as to who and what you wish to write about in your script, i.e. such as people and how to make them believable and locations and sight and sounds of areas as to where you want to make your script go in viability. Good luck. Remember, follow your heart. Who knows, I may go see a movie wish you as being the script writer to that movie. I believe in you, but you have to believe in yourself because you will have too many people who will tell you this and that, but only you will learn through trial and error on your own.

The program Final Draft is a word program that's customized to writing in script form. With each hit of the "Tab" button, it scrolls through all your page parts

<center>"Scene # - Scene Description"</center>

Scene notes

<center>CHARACTER 1
Character dialogue la la la
la la la la la la la la la lala la la

CHARACTER 2
Well, la la la la la lat to you, too!</center>

[smash to black]

[main titles]

[scene 2 - scene description somewhere else]

etc
etc
etc

Once you can visualize all the scenes around your book in a three dimentional way (you'll need to be able to do this to write a film script regardless), you can start breaking your novel down into scenes.

Final Draft is available online for a nominal fee for download.

Buy any screenwriting book by Syd Field. He's considered the expert and his books are used for college courses on screenwriting. He considers the movie "China Town" (with Jack Nicholson & Faye Dunaway) to be an expert screenplay along with "Three Days of the Condor" (with Robert Redford). Watch these movies and others referenced in screenwriting manuals. Just like writers need to read great books, screenwriters need to watch great films and read great screenplays.