So you wanna be a screenwriter

We get a lot of calls and emails at the Northern Ontario Film Studios and Hideaway Pictures for script submissions.

Like blueprints for a building, a script is the initial road map to what will eventually be seen on the screen. Here are some quick tips if you have a great idea and think it will make a great film.

Have a Great Idea. It all starts with that one true spark of genius no one has ever thought of before. Or, it could be a unique twist on an old tale. An original idea will intrigue viewers right from the start. This also goes for the titles. “Sharktopus” — who doesn’t want to see that!

Structure. A great screenplay has a beginning, middle and end. In the beginning, you start with setting up your story and your characters (especially your hero), pull in the audience’s attention and finally set up your conflict. In the middle, you lead your audience on a journey to fix the hero’s conflict. Keep in mind, it’s not always that easy. The end is where you give your audience a “payoff” by resolving the conflict. If you follow the structure, it will help you when you get stuck.

Learn the lingo. What’s the different between a montage and a flashback, between MOS and SUPER? There are a lot of good how-to books out there. Syd Fields’s “Screenplay,” comes to mind or David Trottier’s “The Screenwriter’s Bible.” Both are excellent manuals for teaching what’s expected in every script. If you’re on a budget, there’s a wealth of information available online. Other people have come before you – seek out their knowledge.

Format. This is the first thing a producer will look at. If I have 20 scripts to read in a week, I’ll usually pick the ones that look how a script should look. If it looks unprofessional, chances are a producer won’t read a word. These days, script writing programs like Final Draft format the whole thing for you in one easy step. Also, if the format is right, you’ll know how long the movie will be. The general principle is every formatted page equals one minute of screen time, so please keep it between 90 - 100 pages.

Watch a ton of movies, especially the classics. They are called classics for a reason. The tools you’ll be picking up in the books and blogs will be there, present, on screen. Once you start visualizing what you are writing on paper, the words will come a lot easier.

Write. I don’t care what you write. You’ll never get good at anything until you do it. Ray Bradbury said, “Your first million words don’t count.”
So, you better get started.

Think you got a great script? Go to facebook.com/hideawaypictures. Like our page and keep an eye out for our summer script writing contest.

David Joseph Anselmo is President of Production of Hideaway Pictures and Northern Ontario Film Studios.