Script Frenzy: Writing a screenplay in April
Like many people, I’ve had an idea for a screenplay knocking around in my brain for quite a while. Despite the best of intentions, I’ve never committed it to paper. Cue Script Frenzy. Like its sister event, NaNoWriMo, its reason for being is to inspire novice writers to produce an entire draft by setting an arbitrary deadline and time constraint. Script Frenzy participants are challenged and encouraged to produce a 100 page draft of their screenplay, teleplay or stage play between April 1 and April 30. The website also provides helpful tips and basic instruction, such as this introduction to screenwriting or this guide to the basics of screenplay formating.
For mostly superstitious reasons, I’m reluctant to share the basis for my screenplay, but I will represent that it’s based on a true (though relatively unknown) story, has memorable characters, and might make a great movie. If someone can ever get it written, that is.
Wish me luck. Anyone else want to join me?
Posted on March 31, 2008, in Calendar, Film. Bookmark the permalink. 8 Comments.
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NaNoWriMo was extremely fun and painful. To me, Script Frenzy sounds just as fun but less intense (I’m probably just being naive, but what the hell). I’m in, if we can get a working computer sometime in the next week or so.
For those who want help with formatting, here are two online screenplay writing tools:
Scripped
Zhura
I need to stop blogging and start writing.
Not broadcasting your idea over the internet (at the very least until your script is registered with the WGA) is very smart.
Final Draft is the industry standard and does your formatting for you. I highly recommend it. If you want something comparable for free, try Celtx. You can write screenplays, plus some other extra stuff.
John K. Thanks for the tip on Celtx. I’ve downloaded it, and it seems to be fairly intuitive. (Thanks for your suggestions as well, Wm.)
Eight pages in, only 92 more to go.
Is anybody else here doing this besides me and Greg?
Script Frenzy update. As of last night (April 10), I had written 33 1/3 pages of screenplay, meaning that I’m exactly on pace. I’m not saying it’s all good stuff, but I seem to be accomplishing my goal of putting together a first draft.
It’s been tremendously helpful that I already knew my story, and had done a bit of background research, before I started.
Screen writing is a lot different than other types of writing. I’m glad I’m attempting it. I see a lot of re-writes in my future, but for now, I’ll press on toward the 100 pp. goalposts.
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