by Manuel Marino | Movies, Writings
Photo by johninnit
This is the third article in a series discussing the mistakes commonly made by beginning screenwriters, even if they have experience as novelists. If you haven’t read the previous two articles, this one can stand alone. Here are some more screenwriting errors to avoid:
TOO MUCH INFO TOO SOON – One common mistake is starting the screenplay with an excessive amount of background information. While this might work in a novel, it is fatal and boring in a screenplay. Provide just enough information to pique our interest and to understand what is happening. Then reveal more information as the story unfolds and as we need to know it. Skilled screenwriters often find ways to tantalize the reader, making them eager to learn more, which keeps them engaged and turning the pages.
LONG SCENES – Scenes in modern movies need to be concise, typically lasting 2 to 4 pages, although key scenes can and often should be longer. The preference for shorter scenes is influenced in part by the impact of music videos with their quick-cut visuals and shorter time frames.
ON-THE-NOSE – This term describes dialogue that is overly obvious and lacks creativity. For example, saying “She … ...Read the rest.
“Screenwriting for Authors – Common Mistakes You Must Avoid Part 3”
by Manuel Marino | Movies, Writings
Photo by uniondocs
Hopefully, you have read my initial post on errors that authors make in their early attempts, and often in later ones, at adapting their books into screenplays. If you haven’t, that’s alright. Each of these articles can be understood on its own. So, let’s get started.
FAILURE TO CAPITALIZE CHARACTER NAMES – When introducing a character for the first time, their name should be ENTIRELY IN CAPITAL LETTERS, like JOHN SMITH. After that, use standard capitalization.
OVERLY SPECIFIC CHARACTER DESCRIPTIONS – Many novice screenwriters try to envision their characters as specific individuals, like a George Clooney or Salma Hayek type. This can make casting particularly challenging, especially if you cannot secure those stars for your film. Instead, keep character descriptions more general, such as “athletic, in their early 30s.”
ATTEMPTING TO DIRECT THE SCRIPT – Some modern writers include camera angles and background music in their scripts. AVOID DOING THIS. It can label you as an amateur.
LONG, COMPLEX SENTENCES – Use simple sentences in your descriptive passages so that the producer does not have to pause and decipher your meaning. It’s a great way to avoid having them discard your script and move on to the … ...Read the rest.
“Screenwriting for Authors – Avoid These Newbie Mistakes Part 2”
by Manuel Marino | Movies, Writings
Photo by Meredith_Farmer
Screenwriting differs greatly from writing a novel or a non-fiction book. It is a distinct medium and should be approached accordingly. It is a challenging form that even talented writers can master.
With this in mind, here are some common mistakes made by aspiring screenwriters. Hopefully, this article will help you avoid them and make your script or book more appealing to Hollywood.
STARTING TOO LATE – Novels often begin at a leisurely pace, with detailed scene descriptions and character backgrounds. However, because screenplays typically span a maximum of 120 pages, with much of it being white space, a screenplay needs to engage the audience early on.
UNNECESSARY DESCRIPTION – Screenplay descriptions should be minimal, providing enough information to convey the setting and overall tone. Leave the finer details to the director and/or creative team.
STATING THE OBVIOUS – One mistake novice screenwriters make is having characters explicitly state what the audience can already see on the screen. For example, if we are watching a track meet and John crosses the finish line first, it is unnecessary and dull to have a character say, “John won the race.”
FORMAT – Screenplays adhere to a strict structure. The … ...Read the rest.
“Screenwriting for Authors – Don’t Make These Common Mistakes”
Manuel is a passionate, driven, and techsavvy AV technician, 
Recent Comments