Hi everyone.
Something's been bothering me. I'd really like to share it with you, the Stage 32 community.
It's a question about the development of a screenwriter from beginner to professional.
Should you watch more movies than you write, or should you write more than you watch?
This is a very relevant question!
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I think you should always consume more than you create.
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write than you watch
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if you love movies, it’s tough to write more than you watch. Reading screenplays of viewed movies is just a valuable.
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Mr. Alex SilverScript I really appreciate your opinion on this theory. However, writing rather than looking wouldn't hinder inspiration? We are today that it is the greatest productions of incredible films like Netflix or Amazon Prime which influences certain screenwriters today.
I am particularly inspired by these prestigious productions!
Always take notes when watching movies you love. What works & why? What holds your attention? What questions does the plot raise in your mind? Are the characters and dialogue believable? Then transfer the qualities that work into your own stories. Learn from others. Adapt and grow .
I think to become a professional screenwriter, you need to have a portfolio of works. And to get a portfolio, you need to learn how to write scripts for other people. If you want to make films based on your ideas, you don't need talent, but only one friend, a banker, who will give you a budget for filming.
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Harold Ferré I think it’s less about choosing one over the other and more about how intentionally you do both.
Watching films helps you absorb rhythm, tone, and structure but writing is where you actually build the skill. Without writing, everything you watch stays theoretical.
For me, it’s about balance: watching with
awareness and then applying that understanding on the page. Sometimes I’ll notice something in a film like how a scene reveals character with very little dialogue and then try to explore that in my own writing.
So I’d say you need both, but writing has to be the priority. That’s where the real growth happens.
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I think the best way to learn the craft is by reading screenplays. The more you read the better your own screenwriting will become. And to write brilliant movies I think you also have to love films - so it would be weird to not be watching them too!