If you want to actually sell your screenplay, as opposed to writing it for you own entertainment, you can increase the chances of success if you use these tips:
CREATE A COMPELLING LOGLINE - A logline is a one or two sentence description of your story. Most Hollywood execs are extremely busy. If you want to sell your screenplay, you need to quickly convey to them what your story is about. Hence the need for the logline. At it's most basic level, the logline should indicate who the protagonist is. what they want and who stands in their way.
START THE STORY QUICKLY - You must interest the reader quickly. If you don't have them interested within the first 10 pages, they will stop reading and move on to the next screenplay in the pile. Often, faster than this.
KEEP DESCRIPTIONS SHORT - Screenwriting is lean writing. Write short descriptions of the setting and action.
KEEP DIALOGUE SHORT - All dialogue must move the story forward in some way and it must be much shorter than is typical in most novels.
USE SHORT PARAGRAPHS AND SENTENCES - Hollywood readers like to see a lots of white space on the page. Long sections of text are difficult to read and sometimes intimidating. Make the task of reading your script look easy and inviting.
KEEP SCENES SHORT - Today's movies tend to have short scenes, which increases the pacing of the story.
REVEAL INFORMATION SLOWLY - Give the Hollywood reader only enough information to understand the situation, who the characters are and what they are doing. One big mistake of beginning screenwriters is to reveal too much information too soon. When you dribble it out in small amounts, it can help to create a sense of mystery. It makes the reader want to keep turning the pages to learn more.
LEAVE DIRECTING TO THE DIRECTORS - One annoying tendency of many novice screenwriters is to want to call camera angles and suggest particular songs to play in the background. They also want to indicate how the actors should deliver their lines. Let the experts do their jobs. It is insulting for you to tell professionals how to do them. It also turns people off and marks you as an amateur.
CREATE A COMPELLING LOGLINE - A logline is a one or two sentence description of your story. Most Hollywood execs are extremely busy. If you want to sell your screenplay, you need to quickly convey to them what your story is about. Hence the need for the logline. At it's most basic level, the logline should indicate who the protagonist is. what they want and who stands in their way.
START THE STORY QUICKLY - You must interest the reader quickly. If you don't have them interested within the first 10 pages, they will stop reading and move on to the next screenplay in the pile. Often, faster than this.
KEEP DESCRIPTIONS SHORT - Screenwriting is lean writing. Write short descriptions of the setting and action.
KEEP DIALOGUE SHORT - All dialogue must move the story forward in some way and it must be much shorter than is typical in most novels.
USE SHORT PARAGRAPHS AND SENTENCES - Hollywood readers like to see a lots of white space on the page. Long sections of text are difficult to read and sometimes intimidating. Make the task of reading your script look easy and inviting.
KEEP SCENES SHORT - Today's movies tend to have short scenes, which increases the pacing of the story.
REVEAL INFORMATION SLOWLY - Give the Hollywood reader only enough information to understand the situation, who the characters are and what they are doing. One big mistake of beginning screenwriters is to reveal too much information too soon. When you dribble it out in small amounts, it can help to create a sense of mystery. It makes the reader want to keep turning the pages to learn more.
LEAVE DIRECTING TO THE DIRECTORS - One annoying tendency of many novice screenwriters is to want to call camera angles and suggest particular songs to play in the background. They also want to indicate how the actors should deliver their lines. Let the experts do their jobs. It is insulting for you to tell professionals how to do them. It also turns people off and marks you as an amateur.
About the Author:
Danek S. Kaus is a produced screenwriter with another film in development. Several of his screenplays have been optioned by movie production companies. He can help with your screenplay or adapt your book into a movie. He also offers professional script analysis and coaching.
