Any screenwriters around?

Duke-Leto · 11-04-2009, 10:27 AM

I have 4 ideas I am working on and have been browsing software to help write some of these scripts. I ran across Celtx and was curious if anyone here used it. I ask because unlike all the others, this one is FREE. Seems to work well from the little I played with it but I did not want to put everything in Celtx and then find out it is lacking something later on.

Justin · 11-04-2009, 10:36 AM

Use Celtx - it has all you will likely need.

Duke-Leto · 11-04-2009, 10:40 AM

Sweet, thx for the reply. I am still working on the ideas so not quite ready for the script part yet but I will be ready by years end to get this stuff on paper I hope, at least 2 of the 4 anyway. going to copyright the ideas once I polish them a little first, then do scripts and then copyright those as well just to make sure I don't lose my work to some thief.

**Frizzo the Clown** · 11-04-2009, 10:40 AM

I primarily use Final Draft, but I have used Celtx. For a free program, its pretty damn good.

Duke-Leto · 11-04-2009, 10:59 AM

You guys copyright everything? I am new so I was not sure how that process went. Copyright the idea and then the script seperately or just the final script?

MasterChief117 · 11-04-2009, 11:22 AM

Moviebuff801 and I use Final Draft 7,it's great but expensive.

**Frizzo the Clown** · 11-04-2009, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke-Leto

You guys copyright everything? I am new so I was not sure how that process went. Copyright the idea and then the script seperately or just the final script?

Technically, you can't copyright an idea, only the specific way an idea is expressed, i.e the script itself.

Justin · 11-04-2009, 11:38 AM

Exactly.

Duke-Leto · 11-04-2009, 01:20 PM

Ahh, so I will begin work on that asap I guess. I suck at writing, wish I had a more creative side, or someone I could trust to help with the writing. I am great at ideas and scenes but the filler, conversations and small talk just escape me.

MasterChief117 · 11-04-2009, 01:41 PM

You should probably go to your nearest book store and pick up some screen writing books. It helps especially if you struggle with some of the beginning stuff.

Justin · 11-04-2009, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke-Leto

Ahh, so I will begin work on that asap I guess. I suck at writing, wish I had a more creative side, or someone I could trust to help with the writing. I am great at ideas and scenes but the filler, conversations and small talk just escape me.

Well, technically there should be no "small talk or filler" in a script. It's not really a novel, so it should move at a fluid pace (there should be less room to meander in a script). Anything that bogs a script down should be removed - I think, anyway. Otherwise it feels pretty extraneous.

Personally, I think the best book for the basics of screenwriting would have to be "Story: Substance, Structure, Style and The Principles of Screenwriting" by Robert Mckee. But you should still do some research - it never hurts.

**JBond** · 11-04-2009, 02:53 PM

And anything by Syd Field.

Justin · 11-04-2009, 02:53 PM

Definitely.

**Frizzo the Clown** · 11-04-2009, 03:29 PM

I've also found it helpful to look at screenplays of some movies you like, and see how they're written.

**JBond** · 11-04-2009, 04:53 PM

Yeah. Not to mention how much better some were on paper.

Duke-Leto · 11-04-2009, 05:51 PM

Thanks for the info guys. I will check out a book or two and see if that helps. As far as filler goes, I didnt really mean filler in that sense, more like I can picture several scenes in my head but piecing those together into one full movie is my issue, lots of stuff to connect. I also like the idea about reading screenplays to some of my fav movies. I will be doing that just for fun, thanks for the idea!

**JBond** · 11-04-2009, 06:45 PM

I know exactly what you mean. The story is always easier than the plot.

Nice screen name, btw.

docstop · 11-04-2009, 10:09 PM

i use Final Draft seems to get the job done.

krushgroove19 · 11-05-2009, 01:36 AM

Final Draft is all I've ever used, as well. Never read McKee's book, but I can also vouch for Syd Field. And as far as reading some screenplays, I like to use Drew's Script-O-Rama. Seems like he's got just about everything, and it's really helpful for researching and getting a feel for how to actually write the damn thing.

docstop · 11-06-2009, 03:17 PM

Syd Field is good to ref from. I also really liked this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Great-.../dp/0028615557

Doesn't get really technical but good to ignite the spirit to start writing movies. Actually liked the plot as a roller coaster metaphor, found in this book, more than major plot points having to come within a certain number of pages which Field uses effectively.

Duke-Leto · 11-06-2009, 03:27 PM

Well I will be hitting a book store or two this weekend so I will be sure to browse the ones you guys mentioned. I would like to get a couple of my ideas on paper and then into a script so maybe sometime next year I could start trying to send them out to potential buyers, see if my ideas or writing are any good. I am not a film maker so writing is all I am trying to do.

**Frizzo the Clown** · 11-06-2009, 08:55 PM

You should have a number of people read them first, those with screenwriting experience and without, and get lots of feedback before shopping them around.

IanTheCool · 11-07-2009, 06:27 PM

This has been very informative.

kangas · 11-08-2009, 04:37 AM

I gotta disagree about the Syd Field books. I think they will convince you that structure is so much more important than other things. Story by McKee is MUCH better.

Final Draft is what I use, but I used Scriptware way back in the day.

Duke-Leto · 11-08-2009, 01:18 PM

Maybe once I get something down and copyrighted I might post some stuff here for review, see what kind of reaction I get.

11-04-2009, 10:27 AM	#1
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Any screenwriters around? I have 4 ideas I am working on and have been browsing software to help write some of these scripts. I ran across Celtx and was curious if anyone here used it. I ask because unlike all the others, this one is FREE. Seems to work well from the little I played with it but I did not want to put everything in Celtx and then find out it is lacking something later on.

11-04-2009, 11:22 AM	#6
MasterChief117 Believe 7-2 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PBS Posts: 8,249	Moviebuff801 and I use Final Draft 7,it's great but expensive. __________________ "Everyone looks up to you, they listen to you, if you tell them to fight, they'll fight. But they need to be inspired and lets face it, Superman, the last time you really inspired someone was...When you were dead" - Batman (Editted for ALIEN, :))

11-04-2009, 01:41 PM	#10
MasterChief117 Believe 7-2 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: PBS Posts: 8,249	You should probably go to your nearest book store and pick up some screen writing books. It helps especially if you struggle with some of the beginning stuff. __________________ "Everyone looks up to you, they listen to you, if you tell them to fight, they'll fight. But they need to be inspired and lets face it, Superman, the last time you really inspired someone was...When you were dead" - Batman (Editted for ALIEN, :))

11-04-2009, 02:53 PM	#12
JBond Stop exploding, you cowards! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Nimbus 1729 Posts: 54,655	And anything by Syd Field. __________________ The due date for Round 61 of the CS Film Club is Monday, November 16th, 2009. 34 out of 60 Hugo Award winners completed.

11-04-2009, 04:53 PM	#15
JBond Stop exploding, you cowards! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Nimbus 1729 Posts: 54,655	Yeah. Not to mention how much better some were on paper. __________________ The due date for Round 61 of the CS Film Club is Monday, November 16th, 2009. 34 out of 60 Hugo Award winners completed.

11-04-2009, 10:36 AM	#2
Justin Executive Producer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 7,779	Use Celtx - it has all you will likely need.

11-04-2009, 10:40 AM	#3
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Sweet, thx for the reply. I am still working on the ideas so not quite ready for the script part yet but I will be ready by years end to get this stuff on paper I hope, at least 2 of the 4 anyway. going to copyright the ideas once I polish them a little first, then do scripts and then copyright those as well just to make sure I don't lose my work to some thief.

11-04-2009, 10:40 AM	#4
Frizzo the Clown Tastes Like Chicken! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mining for nose goblins Posts: 35,828	I primarily use Final Draft, but I have used Celtx. For a free program, its pretty damn good.

11-04-2009, 10:59 AM	#5
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	You guys copyright everything? I am new so I was not sure how that process went. Copyright the idea and then the script seperately or just the final script?

11-04-2009, 11:38 AM	#8
Justin Executive Producer Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: New York City Posts: 7,779	Exactly.

11-04-2009, 01:20 PM	#9
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Ahh, so I will begin work on that asap I guess. I suck at writing, wish I had a more creative side, or someone I could trust to help with the writing. I am great at ideas and scenes but the filler, conversations and small talk just escape me.

11-04-2009, 03:29 PM	#14
Frizzo the Clown Tastes Like Chicken! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mining for nose goblins Posts: 35,828	I've also found it helpful to look at screenplays of some movies you like, and see how they're written.

11-04-2009, 05:51 PM	#16
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Thanks for the info guys. I will check out a book or two and see if that helps. As far as filler goes, I didnt really mean filler in that sense, more like I can picture several scenes in my head but piecing those together into one full movie is my issue, lots of stuff to connect. I also like the idea about reading screenplays to some of my fav movies. I will be doing that just for fun, thanks for the idea!

11-04-2009, 06:45 PM	#17
JBond Stop exploding, you cowards! Join Date: May 2000 Location: Nimbus 1729 Posts: 54,655	I know exactly what you mean. The story is always easier than the plot. Nice screen name, btw. __________________ The due date for Round 61 of the CS Film Club is Monday, November 16th, 2009. 34 out of 60 Hugo Award winners completed.

11-04-2009, 10:09 PM	#18
docstop Executive Producer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Among the hockey gods Posts: 433	i use Final Draft seems to get the job done. __________________ Never deprive anyone of hope... it may be all they have.

11-05-2009, 01:36 AM	#19
krushgroove19 Don't Eat the Yellow Snow Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: America Posts: 5,872	Final Draft is all I've ever used, as well. Never read McKee's book, but I can also vouch for Syd Field. And as far as reading some screenplays, I like to use Drew's Script-O-Rama. Seems like he's got just about everything, and it's really helpful for researching and getting a feel for how to actually write the damn thing. __________________ "It has never mattered to me that thirty million people might thing I'm 'wrong.' The number of people who thought Hitler was 'right' did not make him 'right.'... Why do you necessarily have to be wrong just becuse a few million people think you are?" - Frank Vincent Zappa Villainy, Inc. Podcast: Pretty Much Just Magic in Podcast Form

11-06-2009, 03:17 PM	#20
docstop Executive Producer Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Among the hockey gods Posts: 433	Syd Field is good to ref from. I also really liked this book: http://www.amazon.com/Writing-Great-.../dp/0028615557 Doesn't get really technical but good to ignite the spirit to start writing movies. Actually liked the plot as a roller coaster metaphor, found in this book, more than major plot points having to come within a certain number of pages which Field uses effectively. __________________ Never deprive anyone of hope... it may be all they have.

11-06-2009, 03:27 PM	#21
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Well I will be hitting a book store or two this weekend so I will be sure to browse the ones you guys mentioned. I would like to get a couple of my ideas on paper and then into a script so maybe sometime next year I could start trying to send them out to potential buyers, see if my ideas or writing are any good. I am not a film maker so writing is all I am trying to do.

11-06-2009, 08:55 PM	#22
Frizzo the Clown Tastes Like Chicken! Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Mining for nose goblins Posts: 35,828	You should have a number of people read them first, those with screenwriting experience and without, and get lots of feedback before shopping them around.

11-07-2009, 06:27 PM	#23
IanTheCool Executive Lego Producer Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Canada Posts: 8,641	This has been very informative. __________________ Add your vote to the Battle of the DVDs http://forums.comingsoon.net/showthr...=52304&page=58 Last edited by IanTheCool; 11-07-2009 at 06:37 PM.

11-08-2009, 04:37 AM	#24
kangas Key Grip Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 36	I gotta disagree about the Syd Field books. I think they will convince you that structure is so much more important than other things. Story by McKee is MUCH better. Final Draft is what I use, but I used Scriptware way back in the day. __________________ --Kangas http://www.kangaskahnfilms.com/blogs.htm

11-08-2009, 01:18 PM	#25
Duke-Leto Boom Operator Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Albany, Ga Posts: 67	Maybe once I get something down and copyrighted I might post some stuff here for review, see what kind of reaction I get.