Ever wonder how to write the perfect screenplay? You know, that great script that’ll sell for a million bucks, get produced, earn billions worldwide, win you an Oscar, and ensure your place in the annals of Hollywood lore…at least until the next hot writer comes along. Sure, it’s an extremely difficult and daunting undertaking, but luckily for you, I’ve whipped up this extraordinarily insightful list of tips that’ll get you started on your journey to screenplay superstardom.
- Give your hero impossible choices! If your hero isn’t making tough decisions, he probably belongs in a contemporary European film.
- Know your characters better than you know your friends! This isn’t as far-fetched as it may seem since most writers have no friends.
- Quit making excuses! Laundry, yoga, and sleep can wait.
- Do your research! Despite the assertions of recent Korean action/fantasy films, dinosaurs did not coexist with rocket launchers in the 16th century.
- Read your screenplay out loud! There’s no better way to learn how bad your dialogue really is than hearing it spoken.
- Keep your screenplay visual! You’re not writing for radio. Talking heads are boring … unless you’re referring to the ‘80s band.
- Get feedback! Writers are blind to their mistakes. Yes, writers make mistakes. No, you are not an exception.
- Don’t underestimate your audience! Contrary to strong indications otherwise, many audience members are not complete idiots.
- Proofread your screenplay! Theirs nuthing worss then a skript with badd speling grammer punkchooayshun and sintacks.
- Keep rewriting! Your first draft will suck. Get over it.
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