The single-word definition of "moment" is importance.Įach and every "scene" you write has to be a moment. For any great script, you don't want scenes - you want moments. Most screenwriters make the mistake of getting into the habit of perceiving a screenplay as merely a collection of scenes that tell a story. With every few pages, you need to up the stakes and throw more and more conflict at your characters. That is what every script needs - within the context of a great concept - but it's especially necessary for spec scripts because it will keep the reader engaged and turning the page. You need to force your characters up a figurative tree with a figurative hungry Grizzly waiting for them below, then set it on fire, and figure out how they are going to survive. The stakes have to be high and you have to inject your script with conflict - trials and tribulations galore. Note: We hope all of your protagonists have some form of character arc, but we're trying to make a point. You can write a protagonist with next to no character arc - as evident in many iterations of characters like Indiana Jones and James Bond - but if you put such characters through hell and back, audiences will eat it up. It's the essential element to every great spec script. The script reader wants to read something compelling - something engaging that they haven't seen before. The concept evolves when we learn that a family must survive the threat in near silence as they deal with the guilt of losing a child to the aliens and raising a newborn amongst them.Ĭoncept is everything. The concept evolves when things go awry, and a select group of characters is stuck within that park as the dinosaurs wreak havoc.Ī world full of sound-engaged terrorizing aliens isn't enough. The concept evolves when three very different characters are brought together to hunt down and destroy that shark.Ī park full of dinosaurs isn't enough. The concept is the plan or intention wrapped around that gimmick to create a compelling story.Ī shark attacking people isn't enough. And these concepts - often referred to as high concept - usually encompass a gimmick paired well with a compelling concept.Ī gimmick is a situation, character, or idea that instantly captures the interest of the script reader. When you're trying to sell a spec or use one to get noticed in Hollywood, you need to have a concept that engages the powers that be within twenty-five words or less (give or take). Those types of scripts generally belong in the indie world where you can partner with local filmmakers and get them made - or direct them yourself (easier said than done, mind you).Īssess which screenwriting path is best for you - and then take it! That's often why quirky dramas, quirky comedies, and small character-driven pieces just don't sell - with any exceptions few and far between. Yes, they want talented writers that can tell great stories and conjure amazing characters, but when it comes to spec scripts, if you don't have a clear and concise concept to sell, it's just not going to happen. Fluid Pacing and Uncomplicated Aesthetics.Read More: How to Watch a TV Show You Want to Write a Spec Script For Here we feature five essential elements that all spec scripts should have to capture the attention of that script reader. They crave to find that glowing original and unique script that stands out amongst the rest. And that script reader has a stack of scripts on their desk or in their computer folder. When you write on spec, you're not writing for a niche or grand audience - you're writing for the script reader. But the majority of the spec scripts out in the world today are written by unknown screenwriters looking to draw interest in their work. They even manage to sell their spec scripts from time to time. They are your own original concepts that you choose to write in hopes of selling or using as calling cards for representation and consideration for writing assignments.Įstablished Hollywood screenwriters can certainly write on spec. When we're talking about spec scripts we are referring to those written under speculation that they will be sold, meaning that no one is paying you to write them. Did you know that there are important elements that can help every spec script get noticed by Hollywood?
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |