Painful, isn't it? Makes me agree with the witty advice of Flannery O'Connor who when asked to give advice to new young writers on how to write she replied 'don't.'
I just read my first screenplay I wrote when I was 18, or maybe 17. This was before I took any sort of screenwriting class or workshop. Anyway, it's 130 pages of drivel. I actually got stomach pains from reading it. It doesn't make me too nervous now. I know most filmmakers can't stand to look at their early work. I'm quite happy with the stuff I am doing now, but man, that first one was pretty god damn bad.
Interested in hearing about writing techniques of you guys, how long it takes you to write. (Spike Lee is one of the fastest screenwriters I know, writes one in about 10-12 days) I have learned to do heavy rewriting and workshoping, taking many Dr. Pepper breaks while listening to music really really loud.
My last writing teacher gave us some good advice for novice screenwriters.
1. Write what you know. Hollywood has enough people writing jewel heist movies. If you live in a wooden shack behind an abandoned Pizza Hut, write about that.
2. Try to keep specific camera shots out of the script, even if you sware it is detrimental to the story-line and the only way you can get a specific moment across is through a hyper-speed dolly shot, just make a separate note somewhere else.
3. Don't be too gimicky. Young writers too often fill their scripts with 'cool' camera angles and dialogue, all style and no substance.
4. Ask yourself what you want the audience to get from your work.
There are more, but they are more specific. These are the basic ones he told us. My take on it is that everyone is different. There is no right or wrong way really. I would just try a bunch of different stuff and see what works for you. One good way to get started is to write short scenes, 7 or 8 pages, just to work on dialogue and making sure blatant exposition is no where to be found. Once you do a couple of those you should get in the groove.
well im 20 and a couple of years back i found my first screenplay, which i wrote when i was 15. it was 200 pages of corrupt cop crap. man did it suck.
but its cool that i wrote it, cause if id have written THAT at 18, then i wouldnt be where i am now (experience-wise) until like 25 or something.
so i think its good to write at a young age. you start getting experience. and its fun to laugh at what you thought would make a "cool movie" back then.
Quote from: cecil b. dementedwell im 20.
Dear God.
what the hells THAT supposed to mean?
Quote from: cecil b. dementedwhat the hells THAT supposed to mean?
You express your 15yr-old thoughts like a 15yr-old, dude.
fine. nobody should write until theyre 30.
I've been writing scripts since I was about seven, but the first time I ever wrote one that managed to be feature length (i.e. over 90 pages) was when I was seventeen. And I went way over 90 pages...I think it was somewhere around 150.
I looked over it again recently, and was surprised to see that it wasn't THAT bad. Just too long, overly descriptive.
Now, the script I wrote when I was thirteen immediately after seeing 'Pulp Fiction'....now THAT'S bad. It even has a fast food monologue! Argghh. Live and learn. And get original.
My first script was written in Fifth grade. After writing 2 or 3 stage plays (that our "gifted and talented" class actually performed) in 4th grade, I decided I was ready for the big time.
"Cave-In" was everything a movie written by a 5th grader should be. Shitty, unsuspenseful, humorous only in a campy sense, and most of all - incomplete.
My big plan was to finish it, sell it, and take the money I made from the script and run away from home with the hottest girl in 5th grade, Kristin Lewis. None of which ever happened.
You know, I'll bet that my true story above reads better than some of those Lifetime made for TV Movie treatments do.
Quote from: NewtronQuote from: cecil b. dementedwell im 20.
Dear God.
I'm going to defend Cecil. We all know you're under 20, Newtron. Remember the helicopter game? Yes, exactly, that's what I thought.
I wrote a "novel" when I was 13. Worst thing I have read. Worst thing ever.
Quote from: Jeremy Blackman
I'm going to defend Cecil. We all know you're under 20, Newtron. Remember the helicopter game? Yes, exactly, that's what I thought.
I wrote a "novel" when I was 13. Worst thing I have read. Worst thing ever.
Since when does liking an addictive video game make one less responsible? it's called fun. I stand by my reaction to Cecil's age, the "argument" between him and me was over with his sarcastic overreactionary statement that no one should write till they're 30. If you wanna take this outside, bitch, bring it on.
Quote from: NewtronI stand by my reaction to Cecil's age,
i still dont understand why my age merits such a reaction from you though
Quote from: Newtronsarcastic overreactionary statement
heh heh
thats me
Quote from: cecil b. dementedi still dont understand why my age merits such a reaction from you though
it's probably because he realized once he's that age he'll (still) be a cranky professional fanboy critic with nothing accomplished still working at the local video store.
Quote from: Jake_82
it's probably because he realized once he's that age he'll (still) be a cranky professional fanboy critic with nothing accomplished still working at the local video store.
for your information jake, im a stock boy. not a video store clerk. sometimes i feel you hardly know me. :roll:
My first screenplay was an ambitious (piece of shit) rip-off of Magnolia without the originality and genius of Magnolia. I wrote that when I was 16/17 (I'm 19 now, almost 20). I think it was good for me to actually sit down and write it out, though, even though the only thing I'll probably use from the whole experience is the title. Since that time I've learned so much more. I've also learned to aim my sights a little lower at this time. Now I'm working on a couple of scripts for short films instead of rushing right into a feature-length screenplay.
Quote from: life_boyI'm 19 now, almost 20
Dear God
Quote from: NewtronIf you wanna take this outside, bitch, bring it on.
Now that's some funny shit.
I am the one "dear godding".
Only because I am such an old fart.
Quote from: NewtronSince when does liking an addictive video game make one less responsible? it's called fun . . . If you wanna take this outside, bitch, bring it on.
Nothing's wrong with video games, I just have a dillusional assumption, on a personal level, that a person can eventually grow out of them. That said, I accept the title of "bitch" with open arms.
I wrote my first original feature length screenplay when I was twelve. It was a little cliche as you can expect and too chock full of guns and FBI rubbish than it needed, but I can still look back upon it and find parts of it that are very fluent, very me, and very good. Sure, in that first screenplay the majority of it needs work, but still, some very good parts littered throughout.
I actually wrote three features in 2000 and I haven't revisited any of them [although a piece I am currently writing would have never come about were it not for my second screenplay and my third is something that I want to draft and perhaps shoot one day]. My fourth came out in early 2001 and my fifth at the end of 2001 [and that one got produced in Canada]. I have only written shorts since then, mainly due to time constraints, but I started feature number six in December. As a result of school I will not be able to finish it until Easter.
Anyway, I am completey with Cecil on this. If I had put off writing my first screenplay because I was twelve years old I would have never written it, and I would be now where I was then; churning out guns and FBI agents and computer codes. So pick up that pen! Plug in your keyboard! Write! Write like the day God made you!
I wrote my first screenplay at 15. It was as John Pierson calls in his book Spike, Mike, Slackers, and Dykes a "Sons of Mean Streets" film, coincidentally during the post-pulp fiction broo-ha-ha of the mid-to-late 90s, full of cliched dialogue and dark humor that was trying to be funny when it was just depravity. it actually read like the boondock saints.
i've made enemies now, i know.