Fellow students, submitted as a review guide... 1. Starting in the wrong place (2:39) 2. Not grounding the reader (3:49) 3. Not setting the tone (4:44) 4. Bad character introductions (5:47) 5. No unique writer voice (7:16) 6. Bad grammar (8:49) 7. Bad format (9:39) 8. Camera directions in the script (10:10) 9. Scene numbers (10:59) 10. No reason to turn page (12:21) 11. Too dense (13:37) 12. No conflict (14:41)
Great advice, #10 about giving the reader a reason to turn page 1 is a really good one. I remember the first time I submitted a screenplay to a coverage service one of the pieces of feedback I got was that there was too much white space in my screenplay and so I tried to have as little white space as possible going forward and then learned through the years the advice they gave was the exact opposite of what I should be doing.
There are differences between scripts to be read and scripts to be shot. If no one has paid you? Your script is one that's meant to be read, so make sure it's a good read. Which means, yeah, white space, and all that goes with it. Sorry you learned the hard way.
Thanks for the check list. I'm in the query trenches at the moment, getting my debut novel rejected on a daily basis and suffering severe imposter syndrome. After checking your list, I find that I've aced my manuscripts first page. Obviously, the rejections are the fault of these high and mighty pretentious, snobby, postmodern, crybaby woke literary agents. The same narrow-minded, shallow people who are making TikTok videos bragging about how they're disowning their family for voting Trump. Thanks again for your video. It helped hammer home what I already know, which is that my manuscript is spectacular. My book is entitled THE YEAR OF THE CAT. Keep an eye out for it. It'll be published soon, whether I aquire a stupid agent or not.
Without coin, connections, crews, clout, computer code, control, corporate communities, and opulent opportunities... trust me, your script ain't goin' ANYWHERE. 😂🤣😂 Doesn't matter what's on the pages, and every industry insider knows it. They're just--you know--not supposed to reveal it to the masses. Obviously. 💪😎✌️ 💵🇱🇷💵
If it's too short, it more than likely doesn't have enough obstacles for the main character, so the 2nd act is too slim, which is where the story really resides. ...at least, that's my guess without having read it.
Good advice in general but : including camera directions, a widely debated topic from non-current and non working writers, just isn't real. I'm a working repped writer, most of my friends are -- they've sold and worked on A -list TV shows and movies, like Rings of Power, Chicago Fire, ect -- and most include scene directions when they need it. The idea that a reader will hate camera directions, is only real in the world of crappy writing contests with armature readers. Because -- aspiring writers judging scripts keep hearing this idea from screenwriting books and youtube writing gurus. It's just not how most of the industry actually works. If I need to start close on something, then pull back to do a reveal properly, then that's what I'm going to do. And so should any writer, and not play a bunch of weird writing games trying to figure out how to avoid this. It's silly. That said, yes -- lots of camera directions, especially from a writer who doesn't understand the terms, will be distracting. But it's just not a hard and fast rule.
Yeah, that's the thing. New writers don't always successfully apply nuance, so I tend to err on the side of "don't do" things that can cause issues. You're absolutely right, though, in that you can IF it isn't distracting to the read. But if I were to write something like, her eyes go wide, nostrils flare... only way to show that is an ECU, so you don't have to write it. You can imply the camera directions all day long, which is more sophisticated. Thanks for your comment!
Amateurs have *no* idea how the real world works. It's obvious and apparent as soon as you watch one of their videos or read one of their "tips" regarding the industry. And to be clear, professional storytelling isn't necessarily congruent with budgetary concerns, deadlines, production teams, etc. Ultimately, it's about whether you can get the job DONE. Else... peace off, suckah! 😂
Fellow students, submitted as a review guide...
1. Starting in the wrong place (2:39)
2. Not grounding the reader (3:49)
3. Not setting the tone (4:44)
4. Bad character introductions (5:47)
5. No unique writer voice (7:16)
6. Bad grammar (8:49)
7. Bad format (9:39)
8. Camera directions in the script (10:10)
9. Scene numbers (10:59)
10. No reason to turn page (12:21)
11. Too dense (13:37)
12. No conflict (14:41)
Great advice, #10 about giving the reader a reason to turn page 1 is a really good one.
I remember the first time I submitted a screenplay to a coverage service one of the pieces of feedback I got was that there was too much white space in my screenplay and so I tried to have as little white space as possible going forward and then learned through the years the advice they gave was the exact opposite of what I should be doing.
There are differences between scripts to be read and scripts to be shot. If no one has paid you? Your script is one that's meant to be read, so make sure it's a good read. Which means, yeah, white space, and all that goes with it. Sorry you learned the hard way.
@@BigRedStripe I think you misread his comment. He said that DID include a lot of white space and the coverage service said that there was TOO MUCH.
Best writing video online I've seen in quite some time, thank you for taking the time...
You're welcome! Thanks for the kudos.
Thanks for the check list. I'm in the query trenches at the moment, getting my debut novel rejected on a daily basis and suffering severe imposter syndrome.
After checking your list, I find that I've aced my manuscripts first page. Obviously, the rejections are the fault of these high and mighty pretentious, snobby, postmodern, crybaby woke literary agents. The same narrow-minded, shallow people who are making TikTok videos bragging about how they're disowning their family for voting Trump.
Thanks again for your video. It helped hammer home what I already know, which is that my manuscript is spectacular. My book is entitled THE YEAR OF THE CAT. Keep an eye out for it. It'll be published soon, whether I aquire a stupid agent or not.
Funny... Because I'm constantly told to add camera angles.
Without coin, connections, crews, clout, computer code, control, corporate communities, and opulent opportunities... trust me, your script ain't goin' ANYWHERE. 😂🤣😂 Doesn't matter what's on the pages, and every industry insider knows it. They're just--you know--not supposed to reveal it to the masses. Obviously. 💪😎✌️ 💵🇱🇷💵
my script is not too long but too short any tipps ?
If it's too short, it more than likely doesn't have enough obstacles for the main character, so the 2nd act is too slim, which is where the story really resides. ...at least, that's my guess without having read it.
Good advice in general but : including camera directions, a widely debated topic from non-current and non working writers, just isn't real. I'm a working repped writer, most of my friends are -- they've sold and worked on A -list TV shows and movies, like Rings of Power, Chicago Fire, ect -- and most include scene directions when they need it. The idea that a reader will hate camera directions, is only real in the world of crappy writing contests with armature readers. Because -- aspiring writers judging scripts keep hearing this idea from screenwriting books and youtube writing gurus. It's just not how most of the industry actually works. If I need to start close on something, then pull back to do a reveal properly, then that's what I'm going to do. And so should any writer, and not play a bunch of weird writing games trying to figure out how to avoid this. It's silly. That said, yes -- lots of camera directions, especially from a writer who doesn't understand the terms, will be distracting. But it's just not a hard and fast rule.
Yeah, that's the thing. New writers don't always successfully apply nuance, so I tend to err on the side of "don't do" things that can cause issues. You're absolutely right, though, in that you can IF it isn't distracting to the read. But if I were to write something like, her eyes go wide, nostrils flare... only way to show that is an ECU, so you don't have to write it. You can imply the camera directions all day long, which is more sophisticated.
Thanks for your comment!
Amateurs have *no* idea how the real world works. It's obvious and apparent as soon as you watch one of their videos or read one of their "tips" regarding the industry. And to be clear, professional storytelling isn't necessarily congruent with budgetary concerns, deadlines, production teams, etc. Ultimately, it's about whether you can get the job DONE. Else... peace off, suckah! 😂
Dude you can't even spell amateur correctly 😂😂 get out of here poser.