Comments on: Common Screenwriting Mistakes… Part 3 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/ Sat, 04 Sep 2010 23:06:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Unknown Screenwriter http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-30 Unknown Screenwriter Mon, 10 Jul 2006 20:08:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-30 OH I BELIEVE! I used to read and critique screenplays at Zoetrope... I stopped doing that about a year and a half ago because I just couldn't go through any more screenplays like the ones I kept getting... Characters with 3 pages of dialogue and the dialogue was OBVIOUSLY part of the writer's agenda. LOL. Wrong fonts used all the time. NO STRUCTURE. In one of my comments to the writer, I said, there's no structure... He replied back, "Structure? What the hell is that?" Quite a few screenplays I read there slipped in and out of proper format and on to short story format and then back again. I know some outstanding screenplays exist on Zoetrope but I sure as hell never read any... LOL. And no, I never uploaded a script to them and I never would and here's why... There's always someone out there who can write better than YOU. Why take the chance of putting your concept into someone like that's hands? I take an entire month to tweak one of my concepts. I research for another 3 months. I write the first draft in a month an a half. The last thing I need is for some really good screenwriter to read my screenplay and realize the potential of its concept and whip out a draft before I have mine in shape. And, unless this screenwriter copies everything i.e., the structure, the characters, etc., he or she did nothing wrong... All I did was give them the concept i.e., the idea they've been looking for to write their next screenplay. I don't think so... Reading scripts on TriggerStreet and Zoetrope is fine... I recommend it but "I" would never upload one of my own. Unk OH I BELIEVE! I used to read and critique screenplays at Zoetrope… I stopped doing that about a year and a half ago because I just couldn’t go through any more screenplays like the ones I kept getting… Characters with 3 pages of dialogue and the dialogue was OBVIOUSLY part of the writer’s agenda. LOL. Wrong fonts used all the time. NO STRUCTURE. In one of my comments to the writer, I said, there’s no structure… He replied back, “Structure? What the hell is that?” Quite a few screenplays I read there slipped in and out of proper format and on to short story format and then back again.

I know some outstanding screenplays exist on Zoetrope but I sure as hell never read any… LOL.

And no, I never uploaded a script to them and I never would and here’s why…

There’s always someone out there who can write better than YOU. Why take the chance of putting your concept into someone like that’s hands?

I take an entire month to tweak one of my concepts. I research for another 3 months. I write the first draft in a month an a half.

The last thing I need is for some really good screenwriter to read my screenplay and realize the potential of its concept and whip out a draft before I have mine in shape. And, unless this screenwriter copies everything i.e., the structure, the characters, etc., he or she did nothing wrong… All I did was give them the concept i.e., the idea they’ve been looking for to write their next screenplay.

I don’t think so… Reading scripts on TriggerStreet and Zoetrope is fine… I recommend it but “I” would never upload one of my own.

Unk

]]> By: The Moviequill http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-29 The Moviequill Mon, 10 Jul 2006 10:08:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-29 I guess just as long as we don't do something groundbreaking and radical like write all dialogue in haiku, or god forbid, do a whole script without sluglines at all (can you believe I saw a thread on this somewhere) I guess just as long as we don’t do something groundbreaking and radical like write all dialogue in haiku, or god forbid, do a whole script without sluglines at all (can you believe I saw a thread on this somewhere)

]]> By: Unknown Screenwriter http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-28 Unknown Screenwriter Sun, 09 Jul 2006 22:46:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-28 For a SPEC... NEVER number the scenes. After you've sold the SPEC and (hopefully) finish the rewrite, go ahead and number scenes if you want but realistically? I'd never do it. That's somebody else's job anyway. When you're already having meetings, definitely number the scenes if that's what the meetings are about i.e., the script's been sold. On my current SPEC rewrite, I'll actually be handing in two versions... One with numbered scenes -- one without. Why? Because they asked me to... LOL. Unk For a SPEC…

NEVER number the scenes. After you’ve sold the SPEC and (hopefully) finish the rewrite, go ahead and number scenes if you want but realistically? I’d never do it. That’s somebody else’s job anyway.

When you’re already having meetings, definitely number the scenes if that’s what the meetings are about i.e., the script’s been sold.

On my current SPEC rewrite, I’ll actually be handing in two versions… One with numbered scenes — one without.

Why?

Because they asked me to… LOL.

Unk

]]> By: wcdixon http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-27 wcdixon Sun, 09 Jul 2006 21:02:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-27 What's your take or the 'new movement's' take on numbering scenes in a spec? I always was told to refrain from doing so --- or at least until its very close to becoming locked and going into production. On the other hand, I've had story/notes meeting on a early draft and heard a lot of annoyed sighs as the note giver tried to find scene they had notes for, but had to say the pg. number or 'that scene right after the big bar fight'...we always found it but felt like it might have been an easier process if a scene could be referred to by number. What’s your take or the ‘new movement’s’ take on numbering scenes in a spec? I always was told to refrain from doing so — or at least until its very close to becoming locked and going into production.

On the other hand, I’ve had story/notes meeting on a early draft and heard a lot of annoyed sighs as the note giver tried to find scene they had notes for, but had to say the pg. number or ‘that scene right after the big bar fight’…we always found it but felt like it might have been an easier process if a scene could be referred to by number.

]]> By: Unknown Screenwriter http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-26 Unknown Screenwriter Sun, 09 Jul 2006 17:00:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-26 Yeah, the "new movement" of less is more is to NOT use the (CONT'D) or (cont'd) when action breaks the dialogue of a continuing character. It's one of those things that most people reading a screenplay have learned to ignore anyway so I think it's okay to go either way. I personally like it because it does seem to keep me ON TRACK. When I see (CONT'D), I absorb the fact that only the one character is speaking. Gotta tell ya... What is so interesting about all this is how the fucking rules change so drastically once you've been produced. LOL. When reading screenplays of produced writers, even SPECs, you see it all and nobody cares because everybody's looking for the next great screenplay. Unk Yeah, the “new movement” of less is more is to NOT use the (CONT’D) or (cont’d) when action breaks the dialogue of a continuing character. It’s one of those things that most people reading a screenplay have learned to ignore anyway so I think it’s okay to go either way.

I personally like it because it does seem to keep me ON TRACK. When I see (CONT’D), I absorb the fact that only the one character is speaking.

Gotta tell ya… What is so interesting about all this is how the fucking rules change so drastically once you’ve been produced. LOL. When reading screenplays of produced writers, even SPECs, you see it all and nobody cares because everybody’s looking for the next great screenplay.

Unk

]]> By: The Moviequill http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/common-screenwriting-mistakes-part-3/screenwriting/mistakes/2006/07/08/comment-page-1/#comment-25 The Moviequill Sun, 09 Jul 2006 12:49:00 +0000 http://www.unknownscreenwriter.com/?p=21#comment-25 Format: when a character speaks, then is interrupted by action, and I continue with his dialogue (the software inserts (cont'd) automatically). I see some are not using the cont'd anymore, what do you think? I guess if someone is to submit a screenplay using the tried and true "old style" of format, it is juts as good as the "hip modern" ones? Format: when a character speaks, then is interrupted by action, and I continue with his dialogue (the software inserts (cont’d) automatically). I see some are not using the cont’d anymore, what do you think? I guess if someone is to submit a screenplay using the tried and true “old style” of format, it is juts as good as the “hip modern” ones?

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