Totally new to the site and wanted to say hello to all you creative people! I have done much of my work in theater, but have concentrated the past few years promoting my published novels and children's book. I've been in the arts since moving to New York 25 years ago (even toured the country as a Ninja Turtle in the early 90s). I now run an arts center on a college campus and continue to try and write as much as I can. Naturally I've always thought of having a novel turned into a screenplay, but honestly - the thought of doing it scares me to death. (Somehow it seems so different from being a novelist and playwright.) Look forward to meeting more people in film, TV and theater on this site! So great to find all of you in this one place.
Introduce Yourself : Hello from Cold Northeast by Gregory G. Allen
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If you can write novels, you can definitely write screenplays. You'll like it once you give it a chance. :) Welcome to Stage32!
Thanks, Tiffy. I'm going to have to spend some time working on it. ;-)
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Welcome Gregory! The biggest difference in technique between writing for a screenplay is the visual element. That may seem obvious, but embracing it will allow you to write for the screen in a much more natural way. Writing for the stage or novel are both forgiving in that area. But on film, you're not able tot tell your audience what is happening. You must show them with action. There is another creative element that's a lot different, and that is your creative control over the finished movie. While the writer has great control over a stage production, the director, actors, DP, editors and all of the other creative people add their creativity to the movie, thus diluting your creative input.
Jay that is great information. Thanks so much for sharing it with me. And it does make complete sense too!
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I agree with James... sometimes you have to push through that fear and just do it. I am in that same place of pushing myself. I have dabbled in many areas of the arts for years... love each one... Scared of one...finishing my books and publishing. Got about five in the works and the audience waiting for them. Ah the pressure. Your screenplay is talking to you Gregory... Listen and let your fingers do the talking... best of luck.
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Our local 'disco' had a visit for the 'Ninja turtles' lol.... it might have even been you.. I agree with the others, you never know unless you try it. Download Final Draft as a trial and see how you like it, or there are other programs out there for free. Celtx is quite good. Read as much as you can, learn as much as you can, the web is full of places to go. www.talentville.com is a good place to check out different 'new' writers scripts and to learn from reading up on reviews too. The process might seem daunting, but you'll love it when you start.