January 28, 2003

I feel like hitting my head against a wall. I feel like I've already hit my head against a wall.

For those who don't know, I took a screenwriting class late last year, and now I am attempting to finish a screenplay.

The only problem is, I don't know how it will end.

And, that means I don't know how it should begin. Which also means I don't know how it should...middle?

Screenwriting is a very limiting writing format. Not only are there rules one must follow in formatting, spacing, and notations, but there are also restrictions on dialogue and description.

You only have about 120 pages to work with, which isn't as much as it sounds. You might be able to cram a short story in there. Maybe.

So no extraneous dialogue or setup. If it doesn't advance two of either plot, character, and theme, chuck it. No "flavor" text. No description for description sake, and the dialogue must serve a purpose. No chit chat.

No clich�s, but it must be accessable to a mass market. Show them right away what they should expect, be it the self-sacrificing hero, or the mad villian, but do it with originality. Make your characters' personalities recognizable right away, but be subtle about it.

And last, but not least, pitch the movie with an original hook, but remember to compare it to other movies to show how similar they are.

So my train wreck of a screenplay is like the plotting of Eliminators with the sense of X.