As screenwriters, we get so wrapped up in our story, that we sometimes forget the first part of the collaboration process: a well-formatted script that everyone can use as a road map. Just like you expect the camera operator to know where the “on switch” is, they expect you to know how to write a “scene heading”. I tell you this dramatized true story for a few very simple and clear reasons. What made it worse, I was still credited as the “screenwriter”. That’s when I vowed to NEVER allow a story of mine be tossed or mocked, simply because it wasn’t formatted correctly. The production quality was excellent but the story was butchered, lacking any sort of flow or story sense. Part of our grade was to turn in an industry formatted script, and here I was, a pretend screenwriter, who couldn’t even format a 10 page script in Hollywood.ģ weeks later the project was made. There was nothing I could do but watch (after all, I didn’t know how to format a script). I sat there and watched my classmates, who played the role of the “Producer”, “DP”, and “Production Designer”, as they combed through my script, making severe edits, taking out key characters, and adding in new ones. I was invited, but only invited to order the pizza and beer we would need to get through the rest of the night. Not because of the storyline, but because the entire script was formatted in a “word doc”, written more like a stage play.īecause there wasn’t any time left to elect a new screenwriter who could format a script properly, they formed a late night meet-up at one of our apartment’s. I sat towards the back of the room, sipping on my coffee, waiting to marvel over their amazement.īut to my amazement, they were NOT amazed. The next morning I presented my fellow group members my 10 page short. I’ve been sitting on ideas for years and here was my chance to shine. It didn’t take me 48 hours to churn a story into a script, it took me less than 24 hours, and it was golden. I had 48 hours to turnaround a screenplay. So just like on any production, the class project had to start with a script (and we were already given Final Draft software). I remember, actually, going down to Coffee Bean on Sunset & Vine (which is no longer there) and buying a ‘Financial Times’ newspaper to read during the class. Because I was ONLY 21… young, naive, and a “know-it-all” at the time, I totally disregarded the entire lesson plan that focused on formatting. Not because I possessed any sort of super-hero traits as a screenwriter, but the majority of people who attend “film schools” prefer the technical aspect of film-making. It was no trouble convincing my group that I would be the screenwriter. We were put in groups of 5-6 people, and everybody had to be a “department head”. It was my second month of college and we were producing our first “real” short film. It always struck me as odd that during my entire time in film school we only had ONE (1) day that was dedicated towards screenplay formatting. (Introduction by Screenwriting StaffingFounder, Jacob N.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |