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SCREENWRITERS RESOURCES

C

caseyhein

I have looked through this site for a couple days now and haven't found a thread like this.

There is a lot of working writers/aspiring writers floating around in the ether of the site. I think that there should be a central place for those seeking technical advise in story/character development/format/structure or anything that makes the extremely difficult task of bringing a story to a feature length script easier.
(HOLY RUN ON SENTENCES BATMAN)

WEBSITES that I find interesting
http://www.angelfire.com/movies/coolscreenwriter/
http://www.inktip.com/
http://developmentheaven.com/?sec=developmenttools
http://www.writersstore.com/
http://www.donedealpro.com/default.aspx
http://screenwritersutopia.com/
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/search/screenwriting/

SCRIPTS ONLINE(read as many as you possibly can, I read 3 per day. Read at least one per day!)
http://www.simplyscripts.com/
http://weeklyscript.com/
http://www.joblo.com/moviescripts.php
http://www.script-o-rama.com/snazzy/dircut.html
http://www.imsdb.com/



BOOKS(ones I have red and would suggest for others to read and take advise from)
Writing the Thriller Film: The Terror Within
by Neill D. Hicks

The 101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters : Insider's Secrets from Hollywood's Top Writers
by Karl Iglesias, Lew Hunter

How Not to Write a Screenplay: 101 Common Mistakes Most Screenwriters Make
by Denny Martin Flinn

The Screenwriter's Workbook
by Syd Field

Screenplay: fundamentals of screenwriting
by Syd Field

The Screenwriter's Bible
by David Trottier

Horror Screenwriting: The Nature of Fear
by Devin Watson

DVD'S
http://thedialogueseries.com/ Netflix these, or buy them, either way they are an invaluable look inside the biz

SOFTWARE
CELTX free formatting software, works great for me. http://celtx.com/download.html

CONTESTS
Nicholl Fellowship- $30.00 entry fee, may 1 deadline http://www.oscars.org/awards/nicholl/index.html

Zoetrope Virtual Studio- $30.00 early entry 50.00 late entry http://www.zoetrope.com/contests/index.cgi?show=faq

Slamdance- $30.00 early $40.00 late http://www.slamdance.com/writing/feature.html

Austin Film Fest- $40.00 early $50.00 late http://www.austinfilmfestival.com/new/submission

Final Draft Big Break contest $50.00 entry fee http://www.finaldraft.com/products-and-services/big-break/prizes.php

Nantucket film festival- $50.00 http://www.nantucketfilmfestival.org/Submissions.php


I have found that Screenwriters are generally very willing to help their fellow writers, so come on everyone, lets help each other out. Please enter any other useful information that you can think of.

I would love to see better films made, and the first step is flooding the system with great screenplays!

If I broke any rules in this post I appologize, but please let me know what I have to fix as opposed to deleting the post.


-Casey
 
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Nice list of links there. Very handy.

I think FilmJumper compiled a comprehensive list a while back that blew my mind. I don't have it BM'd on this computer, but it was crazily awesome.

Hello, btw. :)
 
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What a great list, although I must confess I wasn't crazy about The Screenwriter's Bible. I've been meaning to get another book. I'm just not sure if I actually need one (my problems have more to do with format and stuff like that) and if I do then which one to go for.

Again great list.
 
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caseyhein said:
Good find Filmy.

And the screenwriters bible was my first book I bought. Before I wrote a word, haven't read it since.
Click to expand...

Hi,
I actually thought of purchasing script bible but now I have second thoughts.
My problem is I tell more than show and my voice is the same .That I have no other go
being based in India the only assess I have is Indian English the poor cousin of Victoria English .
I read a lot of books like Nora Roberts , Daniella steel and many others .
I want to know which book will be more suitable for me to be a better script writer .
padma
 
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I recommend visiting Bill Martell's www.scriptsecrets.net. he changes on tip evey day. and it is for free.

I can't say much on books as there are softwares that address the formatting issues.

I an not being an asshole as I say this but the things I have learnt about screenwriting are
1. reading screenplays of movies made and then watching the movies, it helps more if you do this when you are directing.
2. writing screenplays.

LIFE IS A LESSON YOU'LL LEARN IT WHEN YOU'RE THROUGH.

ACE.INC1
 
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Badass link.

Thanks!

Without sounding like too much of an asskisser, by the way, I'd also venture to put out there that Indietalk is a pretty damn good resource as well. I've probably mentioned it to a couple dozen people over the last couple of years.
 
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@ Casey: Nice links & helpful post!

Also try

www.wordplayer.com

www.johnaugust.com

http://thebusinessofshowinstitute.com/

@ Padma: If you're in India & want to write screenplays, I suggest checking out the above links, but also READ LOTS OF PROFESSIONAL SCRIPTS!! That's the best way to learn. You can find tons of pro scripts online at

http://www.script-o-rama.com/table.shtml

http://www.scriptcrawler.net/

http://www.dailyscript.com/movie.html

http://www.screenwritersutopia.com/scriptdb/index.php?action=screenplay_browse

http://www.mypdfscripts.com/

Search out scripts that are like the ones you'd like to write.

And the Screenwriter's Bible is not perfect, but still a good foundation of knowledge to build upon. I highly recommend you pick up the book "Save the Cat" by Blake Snyder, it is the unofficial industry guide to story structure. Also check out "Screenplay" by Syd Field and "101 Habits of Highly Successful Screenwriters" by Karl Iglesias. If these books are hard to find in your community, try ordering them online from Amazon.com or The Writer's Store.com
Since filmmaking in any country really comes down to a business of "relationships", may I also suggest you start locally - seek out local filmmakers, t.v. studios, etc. See if you can get a job anywhere, just to learn the ropes. Once your writing is up to snuff, you can start asking those you've built relationships with to read your stuff. If they like it, you're on your way. If they don't, ask for advice on how to improve your craft. Best of Luck, an East Indian writing screenplays in the U.S.

Oh, also check out MY screenwriting blog! Confessions of a Dangerous Screenwriter @
www.monkeyversuskeyboard.blogspot.com
 
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These links are great. I'll definitely check them out. You're right. We new writers have to stick together and take all the help we can get. I've been struggling with what and what not to write in a screenplay. I finally had a friend of mine, who works in the business. read one of my screenplays. He gave me the advice I needed. So far, I feel I'm on the right direction with the rewrite.

Good thread.
 
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Anybody out there heard of the website Screenplay2sell? It's only $25 for lifetime membership. Opinions? Do it? Don't do it? I saw the link on Screenwriter's Utopia. If it's there, it must be legit.
 
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I think that S2S is pretty new, on a previous SU podcast, they said it was created by the same guy. I assume its legit, as screenwriters utopia is. I wouldn't say its effective, but if you have an extra 25 bones, that you don't mind throwing away, than nothing is lost. I'm not familiar with what exactly the goal of the site is, I think its probably just another possibility to have your work read.

I will look more into it.
 
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