I don't know about y'all, but I absolutely love advice that tells you to ignore most advice:
http://nofilmschool.com/2017/05/why-screenwriting-rules-are-myth
I mean, if working so hard just to be correct, normal, less risky, less scary would mean success, then it'd be a norm for the average person to become outstanding.
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Screenwriters writing on spec can do whatever they want because nobody is paying them.
ZZzzzzz, skimmed the article. the Writer fails to say that most of his example scripts were assignment gigs.
Dan M. The article was written by someone that has been writing screenplays for 25 years and worked himself all the way up to being a script consultant.I tell people to go ahead and break the rules because I don't need the competition plus they aren't going to listen to me if I tell them the more the more break the so-rules the chance they have.They can do whatever they want and succeed but the odds are so bad why take that chance. I never ever heard anyone say someone passed on their script because they followed the rules. Also the guy that wrote that article doesn't seem to know the difference between structure and formatting a screenplay. I love reading these types of articles though.
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Yup,...I had an upcoming meeting with an exec., and my buddy, who refuses to take any classes, read screenplays or book selections from the pros because "it'll ruin my originality and creativity", he says, wanted me to back pocket his script in case the executive asked if I had any other dramas. I read the first 10 pages of his script and main character description -- "She is beautiful with green eyes and long flowing hair" -- and tossed his originality and creativity into the trash can. I call this ignorance and egoic stubborness.
People tend to dismiss you as arrogant if you know wtf you're doing. The true arrogance is just what you said: Thinking anyone can do anything if they just really, really want to.
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I think most people in this thread know my thoughts on following formula. Most crap writers have no structure, bad descriptions overly long and pointless action descriptions. So giving these people "rules" will help them. They will improve to the bland & bad status. From there hopefully they will learn to write and not need the rules. For people that know how to write they can be restrictive.
PS didn't read the article. There are millions of these.
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It's actually a decent article, despite the fact that there are a lot of similar ones out there. You see so many with their lists of Golden Rules that it's nice to see an article like this once in a while - kind of boosts the old self-confidence.
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When it comes to following rules that is a personal choice. Some screenwriters feel they don’t need to follow the so-called rules while others feel you are doomed if you don’t.
My philosophy is if you are going to break the so-called rules don’t overdo it. Producers don’t normally give a rat’s rectum but some nit-picky Reader might not give your script the consideration it deserves if they see you are breaking a lot of the rules throughout your screenplay.
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I have absolutely done a 180 on this topic. On my current screenplay, MAD MOUNTAIN, I'm breaking every rule in the book. I'm sick and tired of reading those clunky slug lines. For a new style that engages the reader, doesn't confuse anyone, and still satisfies the suits, look-out for MAD MOUNTAIN in July. My disclaimer: I have everyone I need in my corner from the money down. The only person I have to impress now is me.... AND my coach, DANNY MANUS... Mostly Danny Manus. Can't forget about coach!
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Agree with Dan G, and .what's.the saying... everything in moderation... especially rules ;-)
Shawn - you can break every rule, you aren't writing a spec script. Intrigued by the 'new style', care to share a bit?
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Damn, Anthony. I forgot that! Thank you for reminding me about my new stripes. Happy Friday!
Of course, I'll share... it's the simple things on the slugs that make it impossible for a smooth read. Instead of: INT. BUS (MOVING) I now use INSIDE THE MOVING BUS.... too simple right... EXT. BUS (MOVING) is now OUTSIDE THE MOVING BUS.... My team reads aloud in meetings for 10 plus hours a week now that we're polishing MAD MOUNTAIN and we want to have fun reading our story. All the rules make a clunky read. My goal is to make EVERY SENTENCE SING. Making the read more palatable. This new style also came about from reading THE WAY OF THE GUN, HELL OR HIGH WATER, and DEADPOOL. Those writers did what they wanted to do. I'm just following my mentors. They just know they're my mentors. Have a great day, Anthony. My man!
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Whatever works for you Shawn, as I said it's not a spec so you don't have to conform, and the way you've done it is certainly clear enough!
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Learning the rules before you break them is what's up. I should have said that for the people who don't know me. I was obsessed with rules. Screenwriting, storytelling and genre.
Yeah, knowing "The Rules" is key - especially since, as someone else noted, you're writing for the readers and not the production team. They get hundreds, if not thousands, of scripts each week and those that don't follow proper formatting, etc., are slushed out-of-hand.
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I was a Reader. Just wanted interesting concepts that my Bosses would like. They didn't do urban, children, women heroes, comedies, horror. So all those scripts went into the trash. And the scripts I had to read, I would always look for reasons not to read completely. Very few had weird format or typos. They were all repped WGA writers. The few that went against the grain- narrative book prose writing- they were the ones I remember. Still a Pass though.
I read three versions of Freddy vs. Jason by three different writers/teams and passed on them all. If I had read what made it to screen, I definitely would have gone with one of the others! One had Jason fall asleep and Freddy became the "Boogeyman:" They fought inside Jason's nose, replete with snot references, etc.
... True story.
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One of the easiest ways to sell a screenplays is to have a WGA Agent. If you don't follow the rules good luck getting one.
Be creative but don't abandon the tools you have. Equated to painting it would be like saying "I'm not going to paint on a canvas with paint. I'm going to paint on a brick wall with bodily fluids. Hey it's art! Wanna buy it? BTW I don't own the wall." Art is subjective but it isn't all marketable. At the end of the day, if you want to get paid, you are absolutely writing with someone else in mind. The person with the $$$.
Might as well write a script in Pig Latin just to be "creative" and then try to sell it. "Why won't anyone read it or buy my creative vision?"
Be creative but use the tools and keep in mind if you want someone else to read it you're going to have to give them a strong reason to and minimize the reasons NOT to.
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When I read articles like these, to me it translates to: learn how to use writing tools and devices effectively. Create from a place of discovery, not from a place of restriction. Perhaps it's simply a slight shift in perspective: don't just follow, instead utilize to your advantage. And that does not mean ignoring or tossing common practices aside. Not at all. It just means: learn the craft. And know it well. 'Cause at the end of the day, it really comes down to how the writing evokes on the page. Good writing versus bad writing. And if it is lifeless, it will not engage. Creating an intangible quality to your work is much much harder than simple "rule following." You can follow all "the rules," tick all those prescribed boxes, and still end up with a bad, lifeless screenplay. Anyway, my two cents, and from what I have learned from various professional mentors: it's striking a balance; show you know the craft, give the reader confidence in what they are reading, that they are in good hands, and then wow them with style and voice. Sounds easy, right? NOT! Lol! :) Anyhoo, happy writing!
After observing this screenwriting thread and its next door cousin thread, "I'm writing a script and don't plan on introducing my main character until after page 10" by Theresa Drew, which spawned a lot of rule-based switchbacks via some winding turns of opinion and advice, I think this is an adequate thread summary that considers most everyone's input. Well done, Beth.