Movie Outline Screenwriting Blog

PHILADELPHIA, PA – The Dysfunctional Screenwriters Society has teamed with UK technology company Nuvotech, publisher of popular screenwriting software Movie Outline 3, to award winners of Power of the Pitch 3 copies of their story outlining and movie script formatting software Script It!

Power of the Pitch 3 will be held from 6pm-9pm on October 19th 2011, at the Free Library of Philadelphia.

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. Script It! is based on the same innovative writing methodology of “step-outlining” that has proved so popular with users of Movie Outline. This “sequence” approach allows you to plan the structure of your screen story and professionally format your screenplay step by step.

The Dysfunctional Screenwriters Society was started in 2009 by screenwriter, Keith Chamberlain for the purpose of providing aspiring screenwriters in the Philadelphia area, the opportunity to meet, network, and critique works in progress with other aspiring screenwriters. The Dysfunctional Screenwriters Society has amassed a membership of over 150 screenwriters in the Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware area and its group of participating individuals meet monthly to discuss ideas and exchange professional advice. Power of the Pitch is a biannual event designed to educate screenwriters how to pitch their respective television, film or web projects to directors and producers. The first two Power of the Pitches drew an estimated attendance of 75 people from all over the Tri-State area.

If you would like to attend this event or  join the DSS mailing list please visit The Dysfunctional Screenwriters Society.

To receive more information about Nuvotech products and services please visit Nuvotech.

You might be desperate to get your screenwriting ideas noted down and formed into a completed work. After all, if you are successful, you may reap considerable rewards both financially and in terms of your levels of personal fulfilment.

But as with most things in life, the process is not straightforward. It takes a considerable amount of time and effort to complete screenplays, usually including many drafts of your work before you’re happy with it. Of course, there are ways of making the task easier. For example, you can invest in reputable screenplay writing software. This software makes structuring your ideas much more straightforward and means you will not veer away from the accepted industry format.

However, there is more to screenwriting than this. One way in which you can increase the chances that your creation will be completed is by ensuring you get into a routine. It is no good simply waiting until you feel inspired and energized before you sit down in front of your computer.

Instead, you must be disciplined and organized and have a routine in place that you rarely deviate from. It is only by operating in a structured fashion like this that most people find they are able to push ahead with the project.

It takes a certain kind of single-mindedness to be a success in the screenwriting field and you must not consistently let procrastination get in the way of your work – although let’s face it – we all do it sometimes!

So, once you have your screenplay writing software installed and clear ideas in your mind about your creative direction, you might well benefit from developing and sticking to a firm schedule.

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…

Screenwriting can be very rewarding. It enables you to have fun and explore ideas you find interesting.

However, creating a good outline for a film is not as easy as sitting at your desk and reeling off ideas.

It is vital that you hone your screenwriting skills by first watching and analyzing films.

Just as novelists do not tend to rise to the top of their game without being well-versed in other works, you will have to immerse yourself in the world of films and learn as much as you possibly can before you achieve success.

While you should avoid stealing ideas from other people, you can use the material to sharpen your own style. It is also possible to see what can go wrong when making movies, so you can try to avoid falling victim to the same mistakes.

And you should not necessarily stick to the genre of films that you like the most.

By expanding your horizons in this way, you will come into contact with a broader range of ideas and techniques, all of which will be useful when you sit down with your script writing software to begin your own screenplay.

And as your career progresses, you will obviously have to remain in touch with the latest advances in the field, so the learning process never really stops.

So, if you are lacking inspiration when you settle down in front of your script writing software or feel your style could do with a little tweaking, take a break and watch a film. You can learn just as much from ones you hate as ones you love.

You may have a natural flair for screenwriting, yet you may have struggled to successfully place a script with a studio or agency.

Unfortunately, the film industry is many things but fair isn’t necessarily one of them. This means that being very good at what you do and working hard may not be enough to guarantee you success.

Many of those with a long list of screenwriting triumphs behind them would admit their careers have been blessed with a certain amount of luck. However, there is no reason to believe that this cannot happen for you.

Rather, you should use the competitive nature of the industry to spur you on to produce the best script that you can.

And there are ways to help give your profile a boost.

One of these is to ensure that when you sit down with your script writing software, you try to generate ideas that will get people’s attention. Many great movies stand out from the crowd because they are different, and have a certain quality that other films lack.

For example, the Big Lebowski, starring Jeff Bridges, John Goodman and Julianne Moore, has become a classic since its release in 1998. And this certainly does not feature a traditional or familiar narrative. What makes it stand out is its distinctive voice. Nobody but Joel and Ethan Coen could have made that film.

So, while it is important to know the rules of traditional structure and techniques when using your script writing software, you should also be willing to try something new.

Many people have an idea for a film, yet very few will actually get around to making something of it. Whether it is a lack of confidence or they have no idea how screenwriting works, most people will never try writing a screenplay

For those that will try, simply having this inner drive is not enough. You must combine this enthusiasm with detailed knowledge of how to write a strong, saleable script.

One of the most important things when screenwriting is the strength of the characters you have created. Whether they love or loathe your creations, your audience needs to feel some form of connection to them.

Also, there should be something at stake in the story. When screenwriting, you should ensure that you generate an element of escalating suspense that keeps people interested.

Those who know how to write a script also typically introduce a level of conflict (both internal and external) or obstacles that the protagonists have to overcome. This provides the audience with their much needed sense of drama.

It also helps to write about a field you have experience in, whether as a theme, event or setting, as your understanding of the topic will shine through. However, if you are determined to cover an area that you have little or no direct experience in, you will need to undertake sufficient research.

By investing plenty of time in this before settling down in front of your keyboard, you will reap the rewards in the end.