Movie Outline Screenwriting Blog

Many people will tell you they have a book or a movie script in them somewhere, but that they just never get around to putting it down on paper. Writing a screenplay takes real determination, not to mention a story telling verve and imagination. The reality is that it can be a long and difficult process, especially if you attempt to simply write everything down in a word processing document.

No agent or production company is going to accept anything that isn’t well constructed and presented in the correct format which visualizes each idea and setting. Therefore, any aspiring script writers should consider using screenwriting software.

Here at Movie Outline we understand the importance of a professionally formatted script, which is why we’ve created the ultimate script writing software to give any new writers a head start when it comes to drafting their screenplays. This software was created by the successful script writer Dan Bronzite, and can be installed on either PC or Mac computer.

Not only does this scriptwriting software allow aspiring writers to present their final script professionally, but it also provides plenty of functionality to develop themes and ideas along the way. After all, developing a movie script isn’t a straightforward linear process, moving from point A to point B. It takes craft, vision and invention, and needs the right tools to help give structure to a writer’s scattergun creativity.

Movie Outline’s script writing software has helped thousands of would-be writers by giving them the confidence and the platform to draft and manage their ideas. Anyone who wants to break into screenwriting and realize their life’s ambition would do well to invest in this program.

4 March, 2011 (London, UK) — UK technology company Nuvotech, publisher of popular screenwriting software Movie Outline 3 and Script It!, today launched its new range of screenplay development services for screenwriters from its screenwriter resource and cloud service  site HollywoodScriptExpress.com operated from Los Angeles, California.

“By offering studio style coverage reports, in-depth story notes and proofreading to our clients we can help them get their script into the best shape it can be before they use our printing and shipping service to send it to agents, managers, producers and contests” states Dan Bronzite, Nuvotech CEO.  “We’ve also updated our site to include a new ‘Quick Quote’ button at the top of each page so you can check the pricing of a script shipment without having to create an order.”

Script Coverage

A professional industry style report that includes a logline and synopsis, typically created for studio and production company execs and producers.

Story Notes

An in-depth analysis of your screen story and its viability as a motion picture project that includes 2-4 pages of page specific notes.

Proofreading

We’ll edit your original document and return it free of typos, grammatical errors & formatting mistakes so you can make the best first impression.

Delivery Time:

The usual turnaround time is 2-3 weeks but you can choose to have your report delivered within one week or within 3 days for an extra fee.

Our Analysts Have Worked For:

• ITC Entertainment
• I. R. S. Media
• DIC Entertainment
• Showscan Films
• Gordon/Rosson Agency
• Jack Scagnetti Agency
• Lynch/Frost Productions
• Ralph Edwards/Stu Billett Productions
• Film/Publishing Group
• Writer’s Society of America

Learn more about Hollywood Script Express’ full range of screenwriter tools.

Sign up for a free acoount.

About Hollywood Script Express

Hollywood Script Express allows you to print, bind and ship your script to agents, producers and contests, and also provides industry standard screenplay coverage, in-depth story notes, proofreading and a suite of powerful submission tracking tools which include contact management, follow-up reminders, feedback compilation, response stats and copyright protection.

About Nuvotech

Nuvotech is a software and Web 2.0 services company based in London, England. It was founded in 1999 by produced screenwriter Dan Bronzite to publish innovative software and services for the creative industry. Its most recognized brands are Movie Outline a cross-platform screenplay development application and Hollywood Script Express a script copying and delivery service in Los Angeles.

A lot of talented writers make the mistake of giving up on a career in screenwriting before they even get started. Much of this lack of belief stems from the numerous myths surrounding the world of screenwriting, which discourage people from chasing their dreams.

The majority of these myths are completely baseless or outdated, as the world of screenplay writing could well be more open than you think:

-    You don’t have to be famous or already working in the movie industry to get a screenplay noticed. Production companies and television networks are constantly on the lookout for new talent with fresh ideas and perspectives. Plenty of successful movies were conceived and developed by new writers without any prior industry affiliation.

-    It doesn’t matter if you struggle to come up with completely new and unique ideas. The truth is that a one of a kind concept is extremely rare and seldom necessary. Many exciting and successful screenplays have been based on works of literature, TV shows and even other movies. As long as your screenplay is well-written and has a coherent storyline it has every chance of getting industry recognition.

-    Don’t worry if you’ve never written a script before. Everyone has to start somewhere, and as with any new activity, the best way to improve your technique is through assisted practice. Even if you don’t know exactly how a screenplay should be set out, there are many useful tools that can help you. Screenwriting software can guide you on those first steps towards writing a structured story that meets industry requirements.

18 February, 2011 (London, UK) — UK technology company Nuvotech announced today that its new cross-platform creative writing package Script It!^™ for Mac and PC is now available on the Mac App Store. This coincides with the full boxed retail release of the software, allowing customers to have flexible purchasing options via multiple channels.

“We are delighted to launch Script It! on the Mac App Store since this gives Mac OS X users instant access to the software and instils consumer confidence in our company and products by its association with the Apple brand”, commented Evelyne Kennedy, Product Manager for Nuvotech.

Key Features

• Fully integrated step-outlining and scene organization
• Industry standard script formatting with auto-pagination and auto-complete
• Script writing glossary with over 250 filmmaking terms and definitions
• Character name generator categorized by origin, gender and meaning
• Includes scene by scene story and analysis of Ghost, Spider-Man and Scream
• Scratch Pad to manage script snippets, research, character notes and plot ideas.
• Keyboard shortcuts for quick editing and auto-convert/auto-capitalization as you type
• Export outline, script and notes to plain text, rich text, html and PDF files
• Auto-backup, auto-save and unlimited undo/redo
• 100% cross-platform – easily exchange files between Mac and PC

“Script It! helps you organize your thoughts and build your story and screenplay beat by beat, making the process of writing a script less daunting and more intuitive, especially for first-timers learning the craft.”
– Professor Richard Walter
Chairman of the UCLA Screenwriting Program.

Pricing

Script It! will initially be available on the Mac App Store at a discounted price of $49.99 for a limited time before it returns to its full MSRP of $79.95.

About Nuvotech

Nuvotech Limited is a software and Web 2.0 services company based in London, England. It was founded in 1999 by produced screenwriter and director Dan Bronzite to publish innovative software and services for the creative industry. Its most recognized brands are Movie Outline a cross-platform screenplay development application and Hollywood Script Express a script copying, copyright and delivery service in Los Angeles.

Successfully transferring your sense of humor from speech and actions to script can be one of the more difficult skills to develop when pursuing a career in screenwriting. The key to comedy is timing, and anyone who’s ever tried to tell a joke or amusing anecdote knows that if you drift off on a tangent or deliver the punch line too early, you’re likely to lose your audience’s interest and the moment can pass without so much as a smile – not so good if you’re trying to write a hit sitcom!

The pressure to get it right is doubled when screenwriting comedy. Agents, producers and creative executives can be unforgiving, so you need to show them you can be funny while telling a coherent story right from the first page.

A major sticking point for most unsuccessful comedies is the plot. Regardless of how many jokes you cram into a scene, without a compelling storyline it’s highly unlikely that the person reading will make it to the end. Laughs can be added later as long as there is a strong story to build on.

It can also be a good idea to find at least one other person to write with, or at least bounce ideas around with. The combination of a technically skilled, conscientious writer, and an off the wall joker, with a gift for one-liners, can reap dividends when screenwriting comedy.

Finally, you need to discover your genre. Are you better suited to writing a laugh-a-minute sitcom, such as 30 Rock, Seinfeld or Frasier, or is your style more drama but with the occasional laugh, similar to shows like Glee and Entourage? Figuring this out will help you to learn how hard and often you need to push a joke in order to get the comedy blend just right.

For newcomers to the industry, it’s always worthwhile investing in screenplay writing software. Knowing how the write a script properly can make life so much easier, especially for inexperienced comedy writers. Screenwriting can be a challenging process, and using screenplay writing software to help structure your plot can make it much easier to work out where best to place your biggest laughs.

February 11, 2011  (London, UK) — UK technology company Nuvotech, known for its professional screenwriting software Movie Outline^® and innovative cloud service for script copying and shipping Hollywood Script Express, today announced the availability of the much anticipated boxed version of its popular cross-platform creative writing package Script It!^™ for Mac and PC.

This retail ready update also includes three scene by scene story breakdowns and analyses of Hollywood blockbusters Ghost, Spider-Man and Scream, and will be available both as a download and through retail stores and dot coms across North America, and – as a result of a new distribution deal – now also in the UK.

“Script It! was developed to help writers of any discipline organize their ideas and plan their story with ease, whether it be a novel, screenplay, stage play, pitch or presentation ”, commented Dan Bronzite, CEO of Nuvotech. “While designed for the formats of stage and screen, the software is extremely versatile and the tools included will aid any kind of creative writing.”

Key Features

• Fully integrated step-outlining and scene organization
• Industry standard script formatting with auto-pagination and auto-complete
• Script writing glossary with over 250 filmmaking terms and definitions
• Character name generator categorized by origin, gender and meaning
• Includes scene by scene story and analysis of Ghost, Spider-Man and Scream
• Scratch Pad to manage script snippets, research, character notes and plot ideas.

View features comparison between Script It! and Movie Outline 3 and download a free trial.

Educational Solutions

Script It! is ideal for students learning screenwriting because of its intuitive and structured approach to story development, which can easily be tailored into modules for teaching. The software is already being adopted by schools and universities, and Nuvotech strongly support this through affordable academic pricing for individual licenses and multiple seats for writing labs.

“Script It! helps you organize your thoughts and build your story and screenplay beat by beat, making the process of writing a script less daunting and more intuitive, especially for first-timers learning the craft.”

–- Professor Richard Walter, Chairman of the UCLA Screenwriting Program.

Pricing & Availability

Script It! is currently available from Nuvotech’s online software store, and will roll out across major retail and independent resellers over the coming months. The suggested retail price is $79.95.

About Nuvotech

Nuvotech Limited is a software and Web 2.0 services company based in London, England. It was founded in 1999 by produced screenwriter and director Dan Bronzite to publish innovative software and services for the creative industry. Its most recognized brands are Movie Outline a cross-platform screenplay development application and Hollywood Script Express a script copying, copyright and delivery service in Los Angeles.

Writing a script is a dream for many people. You might be an excellent writer who has come up with an innovative concept, but have no idea where to start. With research and practice it’s possible to learn how to write a professional-quality script. Here are some tips to get you started:

- Before putting pen to paper, you should read as many screenplays as you possibly can. This will help you to pick up basic screenwriting skills, such as how scripts are constructed, the kind of language that is used and how directions are written. As a general rule, you should only include as much detail as is absolutely necessary.

- Read every book and reliable online resource on screenwriting techniques you can find. Books are particularly useful for learning how other screenwriters work and what the nuances of a successful screenplay are. Make sure that when looking online for information, you opt for advice from reputable sources as otherwise you may find bad advice which can hinder your progress. We have a great resource section packed with useful articles to help you along your screenwriting journey. These articles and other advice could also give you the inspiration and belief needed to take the first steps on your screenwriting journey.

- Before beginning work on your final script, you should learn how to write an outline of your story, as this will make it easier to keep the dialogue flowing naturally throughout. By taking time to map out the direction of your plot, you’ll find it easier to write a script that is exciting, fast paced and interesting.

- Invest in some screenwriting software. Producers and agents are unlikely to even look at a screenplay that isn’t correctly formatted, and screenplay writing software will help you get it right. Screenwriting software will also aid your attempts at producing original dialogue and developing three-dimensional characters.

If you want to learn how to write a script, you are probably already aware that you will be up against stiff competition in the writing industry. However, while there may be thousands of aspiring screenwriters out there, it does not mean your screenplay won’t stand out from the crowd. There are numerous things you can do to ensure you prove to industry experts that you have the talent and professionalism to have your screenplay produced.

Start by reading screenplays. As you do this, you will find that you become more familiar with the format and language of professional screenplays. Screenplays are always written in the present tense, unlike novels and short stories, which can use a variety of tenses. They also use sparse description to create an image as economically as possible.

To make it in the movie business, you have to use proper screenplay formatting. If you want your script to look its best, use screenwriting software to format your scripts. This will be a vital investment which could give your career a major boost. Readers in the industry are used to screenplays which follow an accepted format and layout.

Another technique many screenwriters use is to outline your stories. Script writing software allows you to do this in an easily organized manner, instead of the traditional index card method. Outlining will let you play around with your scenes, and find the best timeline for your story. Then you can use script writing software to develop it further, and craft a professional screenplay.

All too often writers, especially experienced writers, get lazy. They get comfortable in their own writing shoes with their tried and tested screenwriting habits and while this makes knocking out a screenplay a hell of a lot easier than it was when they first started writing.. back in the day, it also sometimes leads to stale material and obvious choices, whether that be for dialogue, characterizations or plot.

So the next time you sit down in front of your computer, take this advice, if you want to know how to write a script: Don’t take the obvious option! If it’s easy to come up with then chances are maybe the audience would have expected it too.

For dialogue, acknowledge your initial idea for a witty retort then step back, chew it over and play around with a few more by turning the dialogue on its head and experimenting with something you would not normally write or that particular character would not typically say. Even if it doesn’t work at first the process will get you thinking and open your mind up to new ideas to make the dialogue fresh and less “on the nose”.

And for plots, instead of surging from one chase scene to an action-packed confrontation between the hero and villain, why not insert something unexpected into the mix? Or create a surprising chain of events and progression of scenes that keep ‘em guessing! In short: lead the audience down a familiar route and then turn your story 180 degrees. If you do this your script will be less predictable and it will leave your audience begging for more…

Getting to the top in the movie world can be tough, but you can rest assured that all your hard work will be worth it once your screenplay is in the hands of the right people. However, writers should strive to learn more, read more and take all the help they can get along the way in order to develop their skills and acheive their dream.

If you are a scriptwriter, there are plenty of things you can do to make life a little easier. You may want to look into working methods of top scriptwriters, which may give you some ideas to improve your work. You may also want to try screenwriting software, which is used by many successful professional scriptwriters.

Right from your first try, scriptwriting software can make a huge difference. Why? Its simple. If you fail to send your scripts in the recognized format, you might be finished before you even start. All that hard work will be lost. There is a fair chance that you already know how to write a script, but this may not be enough if you want to make it in the movie world.