Message Board

Forgive me for sounding like a know it all, but I have just returned from the Zoetrope site and I can’t believe how little these writers seem to know about how to tell a story. I want to scream. BEGINNING. MIDDLE. END. That would be a good place to start. And what about creating a main character who wins our sympathy in the first ten pages? These writers don’t even seem to know what a main character is.

Ever hear of the Page One factor? Do you know why Page One should stand out? Do you know what elements make it stand out?

Plot twists. Wouldn’t it be nice if they were actually part of the natural story flow? Last Zoetrope script I read had a guy pull a gun on his father on page 25. The scene ended. So did the battle and it never came up again. What the heck was that about?

I could go on all day, but I need to take a long walk and think more pleasant thoughts. If it weren’t for the fact that I want to review a particular beginner script I’ve read about on the internet, I wouldn’t be on Zoetrope. But since I want to read this script, I have to shuffle my way through the garbage first. Woe is me. But at least I’m pretty sure my work will get to the screen before most of these writers. (I am currently in pre-production on a comedy.)

What about your work? Do you know what you’re doing? Or do you contribute to the reason most agents and producers don’t want to hear from unknowns?

For all those kind, wise, patient mentors that I have met on AZ and Moviebytes, I truly thank you for your constructive criticism and thoughtful reviews.

We are all BEGINNERS at the beginning. It is wonderful when others take the time and effort to help us learn to better ourselves and find our voice, tell our stories in a way that will reach other people.

I hope when I am past these beginner hurdles that I can pass on the torch and help others struggle to become better writers.

It's a journey, not a race.

Miriam

HEY LENNON-LIME!!!

What tastes bad to you is exactly what clogs the arteries leading to the agents, the studios and the prod/co's.

The trick is to rise above it and go with what makes you happy. If reading drivel to eventually get to what may or may not be what you expected, seems a little bit of a time waster.

If you're in such a hurry to "beat" everyone, maybe you might pass some opportunity that takes years to come to fruition?

Keep an open mind and remember that Zoetrope is a workshop and is meant to help each other with technique as well as STORY. AZ has yet to buy or option anything yet but MGM just signed a 10 picture deal for production and distribution with them so who knows?

Guessing by the caliber of many movies that are actually made today, that one where the kid pulls the gun on the dad on p.25 might just get made!!!

Hope mine do too!

Good Luck on your current project. I hope it pans out all glittery and financially!!!

GO IN PIECES IF YOU MUST!!!D.G.

I couldn't believe it when I saw this topic heading. I opened thinking "that must be a joke".

Alas, it was not. Another screenwriter who thinks that we're all racing each other. That in order for his/her stuff to be considered good then other people's stuff must be considered bad.

You know, if no one mentioned it before, there's room for everyone. You'll drive yourself crazy competing with people who DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU.

Just keep writing your stuff. Worry about your scripts being good and let everyone else worry about their own scripts -- because there's always so much to learn about screenwriting, so many things to be tried, so many rules to be bent.

If bad writing bothers you, don't read it (I have a feeling, though, that you get a secret little thrill out of trashing people's work, so if it makes you happy, keep doing it).

E.C.

Well said Eleanor.

It is so easy to destroy, yet so hard to build.

Writing isn't easy. Writing something good is pretty damn hard.

Let's give everyone who's giving it a try, a round of applause.

Because the critics and pessimists won't lift a finger.

That's my wise utterings for this year. Too bad I blew it all on this message.

Oh, well.

Keep writing and have fun.

Doug

Guys, you know something? Feeling incensed, I was about to write something flame-worthy here, as I feel Mr. Lennon's tone is inappropriate. But others have said it--this is not a competition, we're not in a race, we don't know each other, and there's room for every opinion out there.

I just didn't want to waste the time or emotion on it. We are all beginners here--that's why we hang around here, asking opinions and questions. Go figure.

John

I wasn't going to respond to the "why I'll..." message, but C.J's words wouldn't get out of my head. I've been struggling at this screenwriting hobby for awhile, now. While I wish I had been able to sit down at a computer and whip out my first draft of my first screenplay and sell it within a week for 2 million dollars, it just isn't so. The truth is, my first one was awful. My second one was awful. But, luckily, those first people who read my dribble never told me their kindergartner was writing better stuff. They would find positive things to say, and believe me, this took effort. Between writing scripts I read books, other scripts, studied movies, and took seminars. And I always premised everything I wrote with "this is just a hobby - it's fun." You don't have to be good at a hobby, in fact you can down right suck, as long as you enjoy it.

As far as contests go. You pay your money and you get your chance. I feel sorry for the people who have to read poor scripts. I apologize sincerely to those readers who read my first, second, third, and so on, attempts. But I am convinced that at some point I won't have to apologize. At some point I hope to give a reader the goose bumps, or the racing heart, or the streaming tears that they go to work everyday hoping to find.

My point is, very few people receive an Oscar on their first attempt. And for a writer to ever get to that point they need to pay their dues, (as embarrassing as that may be at times)and hope for the same kind souls I've met along the way.

I wasn't going to respond to the "why I'll..." message, but C.J's words wouldn't get out of my head. I've been struggling at this screenwriting hobby for awhile, now. While I wish I had been able to sit down at a computer and whip out my first draft of my first screenplay and sell it within a week for 2 million dollars, it just isn't so. The truth is, my first one was awful. My second one was awful. But, luckily, those first people who read my dribble never told me their kindergartner was writing better stuff. They would find positive things to say, and believe me, this took effort. Between writing scripts I read books, other scripts, studied movies, and took seminars. And I always premised everything I wrote with "this is just a hobby - it's fun." You don't have to be good at a hobby, in fact you can down right suck, as long as you enjoy it.

As far as contests go. You pay your money and you get your chance. I feel sorry for the people who have to read poor scripts. I apologize sincerely to those readers who read my first, second, third, and so on, attempts. But I am convinced that at some point I won't have to apologize. At some point I hope to give a reader the goose bumps, or the racing heart, or the streaming tears that they go to work everyday hoping to find.

My point is, very few people receive an Oscar on their first attempt. And for a writer to ever get to that point they need to pay their dues, (as embarrassing as that may be at times)and hope for the same kind souls I've met along the way.

HEY-HEY-PAULA!!!

Redundancy fits you like a cyberglove!!!

It's good to be reminded that fairer heads prevail!!!

GOT BONK BONKED!!!D.G.