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Back-To-Basics Screenwriting With Snappy
Published: 2012-09-14 15:57:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 12113; Favourites: 578; Downloads: 1589
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A DD!! I'd like to thank you all sincerely for embracing my inner asshole and I hope it serves you well. I may not be able to get back to everyone who faves it, but seriously, BIG HUG. Full Title: Back-To-Basics Screenwriting With Snappy (Or, Why The Biz Might Not Be For You)
Written because the Deviantart Scripts & Screenplays section makes me want to put my head through a wall. Repeatedly.
Hope this helps you, minions. If you have any more questions, feel free to let me know.
Ironically, I wasn't going to upload a PDF to facilitate viewing, but then I remembered DA's upload system sucks and I didn't want to reformat the dialogue, so, you get a PDF anyway.
For anyone who's actually interested in film school, I highly recommend the Vancouver Film School's Writing for Film & Television program. All my props come from there.
Ps. Please let me know about any typos; I admit I uploaded this hastily and PDFs are annoying to change.
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Comments: 213
i'm in the process writing my own screenplay one day and this one made my day.Β
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I remember reading this a few years back (presumably when it got its DD), at which time I found it interesting, informative, and basically irrelevant, because screenwriting wasn't something I had any immediate interest in doing. Today I hunted it down again (with surprising difficulty!) because I'm considering using the format for a quick fun mini-project and wanted to get it right. Thank you for putting this out there: it's clear, funny, and infinitely helpful. The memory of it has stuck with me these past few years, and in fact was the main reason that I'm considering formatting this as a proper screenplay: it's amazing how inspirational a simple tutorial can be.
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That made my day. Thank you! 
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I just wanna say, I've been studying screenwriting for three years at a film school now, and this is still by far the best article I've read on screenwriting: period. Β Everyone who asks me how I learned to format screenplays: I refer them to this article. Β I have it saved on my hard drive. Β Thanks for this!
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Sorry I never replied this, I haven't been keeping up with my comments. But thank you, that means so much!Β
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Absolutely.
The only difference is you need to be more detailed in how you want things drawn/ more physical description of characters and places. Also, avoid using any figurative language, because if you aren't the one who's drawing the cartoon, the artist is probably going to take the script literally.Β
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Sorry I was wondering what about switching back and forth to a different location? Does it workΒ the same with going back and forth with crowds
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Thanks. Feel free to ask if you come up with any issues that aren't addressed here.
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I applaud you, good sir, for providing such invaluable information for the many, many uneducated wannabe screenwriters here on DA. I say this as somebody who took classes on the form and learned the 'proper' way to do it. If even a few aspiring film students read this, it means less agony for me when I have to see my less-experienced peers get their 'writing' read.Β
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Thanks very much! It is one of my pet peeves when I see a script that isn't properly formatted. You already have to win a reader over with your story and writing style; if your format is so off it's distracting, what's the point? Β
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Wow! This is very helpful! (It brought a lot of things to my attention!) Thanks
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Thanks so much! Glad it helped you out.
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Congrats on DD! 
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this is really good I like your realistic narration its almost like anyone can be able to understand and relate to this. I read your bio section how did you get to the position you are in now with regards to screenwriting? because that is what I want to get into...eventually if I am good enough lol
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Thanks much! I got my current gig with the help of someone who was in my class at film school -- he became the head of development of this company and thought of me for this script. So it was a bit of luck. I'd recommend just making industry connections and possibly going out for some internships (that's how my friend got his development position).
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ohhh wow yeah it is amazing how much luck is actually a contributing factor in getting into the industry lol ahh I have tried I have some links but it seems to be a waiting game. I am supposed to have my first book due for publication but everything gets delayed too many external factors lol just having a bit of trouble at the moment thats why I thought I would talk to you you seem like you would understand lol
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I gotcha, it's hard to do anything while you're waiting for something to happen. There's loads of waiting in the script development process. Exciting you're having a book published though! That'll be some good cred for sure.
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yeah I know just so irritating but the struggle is the best part they say lol whoever they are and ahh I know its only a poetry book I am working on a science fiction drama which I want to change the world!!ambitious I know lool how are your projects going?
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yeah I know just so irritating but the struggle is the best part they say
Pssssh, yeah, right.
That's all cool! Best of luck to you.
I'm currently just focusing on this script right now, it's hopefully in one of its final drafts so I can get paid eventually. I have a number of other scripts in various states, but no time to go over and edit them.
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thank you best of luck to you too 
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The only scripts I've written are for comics, but I still feel like this is gonna help me out a lot. I'm one of the idiots whose been using Word to write scripts. XD Thank you for mentioning the software, and congrats on the DD!!
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I mentioned to someone else that we were actually taught a correct Comic format, and I was going to attempt to dig that up again (I myself am not really a comic writer)... If I can find the assignment, I'll show it to you as well.
Thank you!
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Thank you! I hope you find it. I've always looked around for comic scripts, but it seems like every artists does it differently. And I'm always looking for a way to write a script that doesn't wind up in hectic, disorganized pages. Somehow when I write dialogue for not only different pages but different panels, it winds up really messy, maybe because I used Word. I pressed tab some many times that 2 comics pages take up 4 pages of script. XD
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This could come in very handy. You're doing anyone who wants to write scripts for any purpose a great service.
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Mr.Snapperz, you said "Written because the Deviantart Scripts & Screenplays section makes me want to..." could you perhaps provide me a link to this section? I've never heard of it u until now and I did try searching for this section but no dice. Two thumbs up on rule #2.
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[link]
It's under Literature.
Thanks.
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Very good intro man.
So many people don't know how to format a script.
I hope they don't stop here. There are tons of other stuff that goes with writing a screenplay that wasn't covered here. Like doing an Outline and getting the beats of the story together and much more. Plus the even more difficult task of getting your scripted read or sold.
Seriously to all the new writers who see this.
Do you research, if you want go to a school, just make sure you learn the craft and learn it right.
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True that. I might do a sequel at some point to cover beat sheets, outlines, treatments, stuff like that. But a lot of writers who learn them choose to forego them anyway because they don't work for their process, so I guess it's each to his own. I like to be thorough though. Treatments are boss.
Thanks, mate!
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LOL! Over 1 out of every 4 viewers downloaded this.
Having searched for screenwriting format guides online before, I will say yours is not only the most thorough but also the most entertaining. Thanks!
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Thanks very much! Glad you liked it.
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You know? It called my attention to see something like this as a DD. I actually studied script writing and IΒ΄m trying to win a scholarship for VancouverΒ΄s Film SchoolΒ΄s Writing for Film and Television.
Is the program really that good? IΒ΄m kinda nervous because I donΒ΄t know what IΒ΄m gonna deal with if I win said scholarship.
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Also, the program is really excellent if you apply yourself. They give you all the tools and access to people you need -- if you use them correctly and put in effort, you'll have a blast.
And I see you're from Mexico. I don't know why, but there are always LOADS of people from Mexico at VFS. You'll do just fine.
I hope you end up going! Best of luck.
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IΒ΄m applying for the latin american scholarship, IΒ΄m really nervous, the winners will be announced this month. I hoped there wouldnΒ΄t be much competition, but now that you tell me there are lots of mexicans there, IΒ΄m getting nervous haha.
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Ah, I'm not sure about that one then.
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Glad to help! Thanks much.
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This might be the most interesting piece of literature I've read on dA so far, even though it's a Screenwriting Tutorial.
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Seriously, I'm flattered. Thanks so much!
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Mostly fanfiction, but it sort of gives me this lingering question in my head "Now what can I do?" "How is this productive to the series or for the reader?"
I can consider myself a Socratic person, but with this I feel like moving everything aside and just writing a screenplay
You're very welcome ^^
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Heh, that's an interesting way of looking at fanfiction. I've never thought of it like that before. 
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Yeah I've been called weird for having a different perspective of things T.T But yes definitely I will! I want to be an animator and I should be able to write a script properly for my voice actors
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WHOA!!! thank you so much!! this is insanely helpful. i have a friend who wants to make her own sort of Doctor Who spinoff series - long story - but i volunteered to help and didn't know crap about screenwriting, and then i read this... i think i'll be using this an awful lot!!
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That sounds interesting. Will that be like a series of fanfic shorts or something? Good luck with that.
Thanks very much for the comment!
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