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Back-To-Basics Screenwriting With Snappy
Published: 2012-09-14 15:57:53 +0000 UTC; Views: 12170; 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
This is quite useful. I'm studying for a film major (and potentially a computer science minor), and this'll be useful to refer to when I may need to write for a short film. I may even show this to my teacher. He should get a kick out of it.
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Haha, I'd like to see that.
And it'll be good for you to get ahead of the game, while all your classmates are still trying to figure things out. 
Thank you!
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Thanks for writing it down. Never I tried to write a script, but many times I wondered how do they look like... Maybe some time, when I feel ready, I'll write a script for fun, or just to see how one of my books might look like as a script.
BTW, do you know any convenient programs for book templates?
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It can be quite handy to adapt your own work into different forms -- gives you a different perspective so you can see what's working and what's not.
What do you mean by books? Most manuscripts for novels, etc, are just written in Microsoft Word with double spacing and such and then the publisher will format them as they see fit.
Thanks for the comment!
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I thought maybe there are, like this one for scripts, you named. When I just started typing, I straggled with "word" to create a uniform format for all the text and spent hours on arranging it with illustrations I drew.
Now the big question is the publisher... Everybody scares me by saying how impossibly difficult and expensive to publish a book, it is... It almost demotivating, but I love what I do so much, that I keep believing in future success, once I finish the writing and self-editing. Do you have any tips on that subject as well? Or it's not your area of specialization?
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I have only had short stories published -- and if you're interested in that, I suggest Duotropes.com
For longer works and publishing in general, *SadisticIceCream has like, all the reigning knowledge of that around here. 
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Thank you for finding the time to reply and provide helpful information, I am going to read it thoughtfully for more guidance!!!
I sure hope, one day, to be a lucky person and have my works published... I have a dream.
BTW, I was thinking about the scripts and your information. If there is some importance of the surroundings of a particular place or scene, like a building, a landscape, a city... How do you describe it in the script (while abiding the laws)?
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Sorry to have taken so long to reply.
If the surroundings are important, by all means, describe them! Just use precise language and keep it to four-line paragraphs. Especially important for animation, because the animators have to know EXACTLY what to draw. It also also best not to describe through metaphors or anything, because they tend to send those scripts off to animators in like, Korea, who will take your script WORD FOR WORD.
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It's ironic that just yesterday I went and grabbed Final Draft so I could map out this graphic novel dialogue. Ironically convenient, of course.
Awesome stuff. Straight to the point, too. Congrats on the DD! 
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Oooo, lookit you. Lemme know if you need to figure out how to use it at all (though it's pretty self-explanatory). 
Thanks, mate!
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Good! Still at uni, so things are a bit crazy. Switched to interdisciplinary science for a while, because I did pretty bad on one of the math modules; but I'll switch back in 2 years. And I keep drawing a lot of stuff and never finishing it. Got a few little moleskines I'm using to draw random people on TV for face study and that cosplay picture I need to finish for Halloween. I seem more active on tumblr than DA these days >:
Somehow I just don't seem to have enough time to finish stuff and put it up here. D:
How are things with you? <3
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Ahhh the curse of Tumblr! Lucky I have not yet set foot there. My life would be zero. Seemingly, it already is -- I don't even have time to reply to these comments from weeks ago! 
It would be awesome if you uploaded stuff again though!
I have been crazy busy the last couple of weeks with my script gig, doing a new draft. Casting is meant to happen soon, so it's all very exciting. I finally sent off the draft so that's why I have time for replies now.
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Yeah. I've actually started using pinterest instead, and that's even worse for eating your time.
I'm going to upload 1 of the pages I've done - not entirely finished, because the way I work can only be described as 'WTF?'. I mean, I sort of draw and half finish then move onto a new page. Apparently all those years of sharpie-coloring whole pages of A4 has made me realize that doing the same on a 300dpi digital A4 page is something to avoid.
Ah! How's the UK treating you? We've had some weird weather going on just lately >: Sounds like you've been really productive. 
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I've seen pinterest, I don't quite get it.. You just put things on like a virtual bulletin board or what? Too complicated for me to get hooked on.
Haha, I never worked in paper sizes with digital art, but A4 is gigantic on a screen, 300 dpi or not! You are very brave. 
UK has been good lately, though the rain is starting to aggravate me. I still feel like summer never happened, but whatever. I got some sun when I went back to Canada for awhile. I'm currently stressing out about monies because I'm doing all this work crap and not getting paid for it
Yes, the Twitter is my friend lately as well!
And you should catch up on Dexter, woman! 
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Yeah, I think. I mean, some guy could pin my art, then I could re-pin it, or a billion people could pin nyan cat all at once. It really is just a big bulletin board, but it's pretty cool for keeping track of all those bizarre things you find on the interwebz
I didn't realize until I was already in too deep; and I figure since it has to be 300dpi for print, if I ever want to make it an A4 comic or something, at least I can. I have no idea what size comics are supposed to be. Hell, I don't even know what font size I'm supposed to use on a page this big! I normally use 10pt, but CP12 gives me massive options, and 10px looks like spider scrawl.
Woah. A00? Do I even want to know how huge that is? I always thought it was stupid that the size decreases as it goes up. I mean, who's going to try and make A986? But I might want A(-50)! Y'know, if I want to cover a small island in paper.
Yeah. I know, right? And now it's all bitter and on-the-verge of frosting over...It's kinda cold. I don't know how I handled -11ΒΊC last year. (LOL. I sound like a total weakling, but my thermoregulation sucks.)
Ohgod. >: Really? D: Yeah. It's pricey all right. I've never understood how people from N.A get uberly ripped off when they live here, yet if you ditch your country and sneak in at the last minute from Eurasia, you get a mansion. The universe is upside down here. 
Yes! I might try and get up to speed at the weekend. I must have what, 3, 4 episodes now?
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I'm sure it's addictive... but I just don't see how. 
Hmmm, maybe just print out fonts on a sheet of normal paper in different sizes to check? I bet 12 would be too big.
A00 is really THAT big if you think of it in poster sizes. A1/A0 is sort of standard for those A-frames you see out in the street advertising crap... A00 is kind of just like a big poster. I think our shop actually went up to A0000, but I never saw one of those. 
Do it do it! I always wanted to be one of those people, but yeah, I'm just too slow, plus I don't draw anymore. But you should totally learn.
Are you caught up yet?
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Nah, it's the reposting that eats your time. I found a photo I loved as someone's gallery icon, and I really wanted to repin, but the folder was HUGE. So I spent about 2 hours going through this folder, and in the end I just gave up; but by that time I'd repinned like, 50 other things I saw. It's very time-eating.
Yeah, that's what I was thinking. I usually use 10pt for writing my novel, so I might try that out for now.
Yeah. It's not the cold that bothers me as such, I think it's more the strong wind that comes with it? I mean, I've been walking around in shorts and a top with no sleeves (totally pretending it's still summer) and it hasn't bothered me much. But it's been quite still so far, when it's not raining.
Oh god, no. I had chemistry this week. Chemistry! I hate chem. And my mac is all 'I want attention! Fix my hard drive!" So between that, and playing with my new iPhone 5, it's been absolutely mad this weekend. But I have all of thursday and friday off (with the exception of like, an hour of assignment-planning), so I definitely know what I'm going to be doing with the time.
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I never tried to write a screenplay and I'll probably never write one, but that was so entertining that i couldn't stop reading it!
Great work btw!
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Btw, holy crap, how did you do those laser eyes in your signature?
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A letter that has a weird bug and does this "laser" effect :3
You need to copy this letter and google it
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Google told me it was too long to search! That's crazy. I also tried to save it in a Notepad document but it wouldn't let me. How did you even find it?!
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[link]
A Polish trolling site
And ofc some research in the internet :>
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Thank you, mate! 
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Holy crap, you are on a streak of pure win! Buy me a lottery ticket?
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Looks like I might have to. 
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Before this, I had only a passing understanding of screenwriting. Now I feel like I could actually put some of those thoughts in my head into a proper format and feel good about having someone else look at it.
Not only was this an immensely informative essay, but the voice you wrote it in practically begged to be read aloud. Which I did. In my southie accent. Loud enough that my roommate came in and wondered what I was doing. It was a little embarrassing.
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Thanks so much! I'm happy it was of use to you.
And I wish I could have heard that! Sounds like a riot. I guess your roomie must have been a little worried.
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Seriously, the cut-and-dry description of sluglines alone saved me so much headache.
I don't really write screenplays (I prefer writing comic books), but such a basic approach to storyboarding could save a lot of effort in any medium. Especially in visual medias where you're writing something that someone else will have to interpret later. Only presenting the essential visual and aural material will free up the artist/director to do what they do best and tell stories with pictures.
As to my read, my roommate was a little weirded out, but not worried. It's a well-practiced accent, and one she hears pretty frequently from me.
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I love this. I write scripts myself on a semi professional basis and it is a struggle to find well written scripts here. There are a few, but you really do have to dig about!
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Thanks so much. It doesn't even cover the content, but obviously there are some really excellent writers on DA, and I'm sure a few of them try their hands at scripts, and it just doesn't look good for them if they haven't bothered to learn the correct format first. I have faith in peoples' abilities, I just need them to try!
Can I ask what/who you've written scripts for?
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I write theatre scripts on commission; mostly for theatre companies with specific requirements and have also written for bigger projects and presented several workshops on the subject.
I think a lot of people don't realise that format is just as essential as the creative writing aspects; in fact it is a more technical form of writing that needs a bit of study and research before you write.
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That sounds fun. I don't think I've written a stage play before (at least not a serious one). How did you get into that?
If it's something you want to do professionally, it's as basic as making sure you have your contact info and name at the top of your CV and making it look as neat and concise as possible. I had an entire class dedicated to Format before we even moved on to anything creative.
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I studied performing arts when I was younger and realised I was more interested in wiring and directing than I was acting (and better too!) so when I went to university I studied creative writing and theatre together, got to know my scriptwriting lecturer well (he taught Sarah Kane and had interviewed Arthur Miller ffs!) and he directed me to some workshops outside of uni and so forth. I also teach performing arts (thought currently not so much), meaning you make some good connections that way
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WAH. THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE DD!! 
Sounds like a quality university! It's always good to befriend instructors. The first directors I sent scripts to were all recommended to me by my Format/Editing teacher, Kat. She was definitely a lifesaver. And by you teaching, I guess that means you get to scope out all the new talent.
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This has enlightened my sense of enlightenmentness (I have that word trademarked, it'll cost ten cents for people to use it. I'm a terrible liar, by the way~
There's a couple of parts in one of my scripts that I picture as somewhat slowed down. Do I put "SLOW-MO," or just let it be?
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You could always write something hokey like "Time seems to slow," or talk about the molecules of sweat flying through the air or whatever it is you're focusing on. I was skimming through The Matrix script and the writer mostly just describes the fight sequences as they are. Slow-Mo was probably a director move. If it's a convention like in Sherlock Holmes (can't find the script, atm), you could probably use your own format as long as it's clear and consistent, maybe something like
SLOW TIME SEQUENCE
Action action action.
END SLOW TIME SEQUENCE.
Hope that helps.
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That helped massively~
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And, I just uploaded the script (WIP) in question.
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Dude, why are you so angry? I feel like the people this is aimed at are novices. I mean, you've even said it's aimed at people who haven't attended a film school. I'm a theater major, but I'm probably going to get a Dramatic Writing MFA if I can (working my ass off to get into NYU or USC), and I realize the conventions are different for film writing than play writing.
I've read screenplays before, but I wanted to check out your article to see if there were some helpful tips, and I got bitched at. I got bitched at for wanting to learn. Look, you know what programs to use and what a slugline is. Good for you. That doesn't actually make you a better person or even a better writer than anyone else, so just, take a deep breath for a minute.
People aren't born knowing things. They have to learn them. Sometimes from a school, sometimes online. I really hope you're never in a position where you're paid to teach people things, though, because I'd hate to be a student in such a hostile environment. Ignorance is not a crime, especially if one is trying to gain knowledge, so to berate and insult people when they're trying to learn helps no one.
I hope you choose your words more carefully next time.
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Sorry to have offended you. I was trying to be comedic. I have seen many similar tutorials (many of them dry, and I wasn't interested in reproducing one of them... I could have just send everyone a link otherwise) and wanted to do something in character, where I was being the soulless Hollywood exec people should expect to deal with in the real world (obviously satirized). I've dealt with a number of directors/producers and these are the simple rules that will get your script chucked without having the first five pages read. I would never "yell" are someone like that in real life. I myself am rather meek.
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I figured you wouldn't be so aggressive in person, that's why I was surprised
Just, be aware of your target audience. I think the people who find this funny are the people who already know a lot about screenwriting, and are similarly frustrated with noobs, so they appreciate the rant. But the novices who you seem to be directing the piece at aren't the ones laughing.
That being said, there is a lot of useful information in here, and I might be a step ahead the next time I write a screenplay for a portfolio. So, thanks for putting it out there.
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To be fair, I'm used to dealing with people who HAVE been to film school and should know better, but they go out of their way to ignore what their instructors have taught them and that really aggravates me. Like, are you intentionally going out of your way to be ignorant? Also, my development guy regularly tells me when I'm doing something that is considered unprofessional so I feel it's imperative I/people don't repeat my mistakes, because I believe writers deserve a shot at having their work read, if it means having perfect format. It kills me when I read scripts say, on DA, where people are proven good writers, have well developed characters and plot lines, yet haven't done an inkling of research into format, because that is the first thing professionals see. So people do have a shot, but it's like they don't put the full effort in to cover the basics, and that's what really gets me. So it started as me channeling some frustration towards those people, but I really was genuinely trying to give people legitimate advice on how not to have their scripts thrown out immediately.
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This is excellent and I appreciate it a lot. When I can be bothered to maybe perhaps consider doing something more serious with my pile of scripts, then 'thanks for this' simply won't cover it.
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Thank you, bruv.
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Two I actually like, one in the making, plus one yet to be written because I am a lazy bastard. Really need to get some writing done again today. Uni work has kind of overtaken it all. I have until Tuesday to get stuff done that will otherwise NEVER get done.
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