Here’s some wonderful screenwriting inspiration and pointers from Jeff Lyons, Joe Stinson, Michael Tabb, Brian Price, Claudia Hunter Johnson, Loren-Paul Caplin, Martie Cook, and Alan C. Hueth.
Above photo by Peter Kasprzyk | petetakesphotos.de
8 Essential Screenwriting Tips for Filmmakers
“Write what you want to see.”
~Jeff Lyons
“Write scripts that move you emotionally. Chances are your audience will also be moved.”
~Joe Stinson
“Here is a huge gap in content availability created by Covid. What are you waiting for? Make your own project! Equipment is more accessible than ever. You have a better chance at getting picked up now that there are more content outlets than ever in the history of the medium. That said, it must be fantastic as possible. Nobody wants his or her name on a bad film. So, surround yourself with people far more talented (ego-less) craftsmen than you and learn from them every day. Put in the time, make it great, and if your film never gets picked up, you just paid for the best and most powerful film school a filmmaker can have – real experience.”
~Michael Tabb
“Write from your own unique, personal truth. Students are always asking me to help them choose which of their fabulous ideas to develop, asking “Which one do you think is most likely to sell?” I tell them that not only do we have no way of knowing that, it’s a futile waste of time and thought. If there was a way to know what someone else is going to want to read three years down the road when the script is ready, everyone would be writing that same story. You have to write the story that only YOU can write. That means your question should never be, “What will someone want to read?” but rather, “What is it that I need to say?”
~Brian Price
“Stories are patterns of significant human change, created by significant moments of change—discoveries and decisions the main character makes that make a difference and move the story forward. A story/screenplay is an energy system that starts with the inciting incident and ends at the climax, the moment when the outcome of the story is known.”
~Claudia Hunter Johnson
“Conflicts and tension are more dynamic than static conversation. Strive to find or create tension within the dialogue. Aside from actual arguments, or being in the presence of potential violence, characters can toss up all sorts of obstacles in a conversation that causes tension, which are more fun and compelling to listen to. For example, if you ask your friend to hand you a glass of water and she says ‘no,’ the process of finding out why can open up all sorts of revealing possibilities. It can be as simple and benign as ‘because the last time I gave you a glass of water, you didn’t drink it,’ or more seriously, ‘because I first need to get something off my chest.’ And this type of ‘tension-creating’ interplay can transpire within your scene, even when it’s about something else entirely.”
~Loren-Paul Caplin
“Complex character relationships are the primary reason producers and audiences will invest in a script. So, when creating characters, don’t just make a list of quirky characters. Connect the dots. Ask yourself, what are the character relationships? What are their backstories? What significant events happened to these characters individually and collectively that make their relationships what they are today?”
~Martie Cook
“Get your work produced and show that your work stands out from others. Most people who need screenwriters will want to see your past work(s) — something that has been produced before they hire you. And if it’s a good project, be sure to enter it into a film/television festival. If your work gets into a festival, it stands out from other films/TV shows. And if you win an award at a festival, that gives you even a better shot to get your foot in the door. Finally, it’s very important to make sure that you don’t violate any legal and ethical laws and guidelines in your script.”
~Alan C. Hueth
