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low budget screenplay

5 Reasons Dialogue Is Overrated

Dialogue, dialogue, dialogue … I see writers obsessing over this element of screenwriting all the time. Yet the reality is, this the least important element of your spec script. Don’t believe it? Here’s 5 reasons why: 5. Structure & character is where it’s at. When I’m writing script reports, there are two things I report on, again and again and again: structure and character. Why? Because these two elements are the most important of your spec script. Good structure is paramount in keeping the reader’s (and thus the potential audience’s) interest – and character motivation is key in achieving this; it… Read More »5 Reasons Dialogue Is Overrated

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Stuck In A Rut: 7 Ways You’re Sabotaging Yourself (And 1 Thing That Will Set You Free!)

Stuck In A Rut Is your writing stuck in a rut? You’re not alone. It’s  been a week since I posted *that* post about avoiding low budget depressing drama & high budget science fiction/fantasy spec scripts if you want to stand out from the crowd … And what a week! Some writers have been expressing: AMAZEBALLS! I TOTALLY GET IT! INVEST IN IDEAS! YAAAY! Others have been decidedly lukewarm: *Grumble grumble* MY SCRIPT IS ONE OF THOSE AND I HAVEN’T GOT ANY LEADS SO I “SPOSE” YOU “COULD” BE RIGHT *Grumble* … And others have said, point-blank: YOU’RE TOTALLY WRONG, GET… Read More »Stuck In A Rut: 7 Ways You’re Sabotaging Yourself (And 1 Thing That Will Set You Free!)

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Want To Get Noticed? Then Don’t Write These Type Of Screenplays

Updated Previously titled, ‘Want To Get Noticed? Don’t Write Low Budget Depressing Drama or High Budget Science Fiction/Fantasy Spec Scripts‘, this post will outline why trying to get out of the submissions pile with a low budget drama or a high budget sci fi TV pilot like a gazilion other writers (probably) ain’t gonna work for you. Strap yourself in and suck it up, peeps … Cliches + Stereotypes = BORING When I started script reading, everyone was writing very “worthy”, very personal psychological dramas where generally everybody died or was at least miserable as Hell and in the grip of addiction,… Read More »Want To Get Noticed? Then Don’t Write These Type Of Screenplays

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Please Hold …

… As of tomorrow, I am at London Screenwriters Festival 2012! If you want updates live from the event, follow me on Twitter, or join the Facebook page, here. Please note I will respond to emails when I get back – thanks! If you’re  at the fest right now on Pitching Thursday, good luck! This year I am running The LSWF’s Script Labs Scheme again, so say Hi if you see me! I will also be moderating the session Why You Need To Embrace Social Media, on the Saturday. If it’s your usual daily dose of writery goodness you’re looking… Read More »Please Hold …

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6 Ways To Make The Most Of Low Budget Visual Effects

Thinking about writing a low budget feature? Ever imagined that you might be able to stuff it full of visual effects…? I’d currently define myself as VFX-curious – I’m interested but inexpert. Most writers and editors know very little about the VFX world. But earlier this year my virtual mind was blown by two fab workshops led by experts in the field as part of our Cross Channel Film Lab preparations. Here are some of their top tips for embedding lower cost VFX in your screenplay: 1. Keep the monsters under the bed Don’t show us your monsters. Even Jurassic… Read More »6 Ways To Make The Most Of Low Budget Visual Effects

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How To Maximise Your Screenplay Portfolio

Script Leads What’s in a screenwriter’s portfolio is very important. Most screenwriters know this, especially when they ask me for script leads. But there is usually a disconnect. The screenwriters often have the vain hope they MIGHT have *something* that magically ‘matches up’ with what producers and directors are looking for. Of course, 9 times out of 10 they haven’t. The writers in question will have written simply what they wanted to write. They won’t have done any research on target audiences, budgets, what’s in demand etc. In other words, they are throwing spaghetti at the wall. Sure, some might… Read More »How To Maximise Your Screenplay Portfolio

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Writing The Low Budget Screenplay: Part 2

Carrying on from yesterday’s post about genre, locations and characters in the low budget screenplay, here are some other factors you may want to consider when planning out and writing your low budget masterpiece. Enjoy! Star Appeal. Great writing attracts great actors – and of course NAMES attract sales agents. Think of the Names you would like to target with your hot script… Can you write a role with them in mind (why not – if that Talent attaches, it may gain you a Director or Producer, plenty of films have done it that way round)? So… What is your… Read More »Writing The Low Budget Screenplay: Part 2

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Writing The Low Budget Screenplay

Seems to me there’s two ways of doing this scriptwriting thing: 1) The Sample Route and 2) The Making Route. Writers following Route 1? WRITE A SCRIPT. That’s it. Of course it has to be ace and they have to have a strategy (“TV/ Radio/Film + stacks of networking” in the very least) but the story CAN be anything: high budget, low budget, whatever. The name of the game is IMPRESSING someone with your writing enough to take you on to SOMETHING. People following Route 1 will typically wait a good while before their own ideas are made. In comparison,… Read More »Writing The Low Budget Screenplay

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I’ve Written A Screenplay. Now What?

Updated So, You’ve Written A Screenplay ‘I’ve written a screenplay, now what?’ is one of the top Google searches that leads writers to this blog. Plus Bang2writers write to me, asking me for ideas on what to do / where to send scripts they’ve written, so I thought it was time I put my thoughts on this in one place, once and for all … Enjoy!  1) Get Some Screenplay Feedback i) Getting it – do peer review You don’t have to pay for this, though you can if you want to.  Alternatively, you can do peer review aka a… Read More »I’ve Written A Screenplay. Now What?

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