Parc Entertainment - A Video Production Company - Birmingham, AL

“It’s all about the story.” That’s the statement you see on the banner for Celtx, a complete media pre-production application. I haven’t used Celtx for any of my scripts; I’ve always used Final Draft, but I have to admit that Celtx does sound pretty impressive. When you visit their website you can get a complete overview of the software, which handles everything you need to see your project through the pre-production process.

There are tools to help jump start the writing process. There are several different writing editors (screenplays, A/V scripts, theatrical plays, and plain text) available when you start putting your script together. There are also tools that allow you to budget and schedule your production; interactive tools allow for group collaboration; and storyboarding tools allow you to visualize the entire production beforehand.

Over the past few weeks I’ve been hearing more and more about Celtx, although it’s been around for a few years. You can find several reviews online in various blogs. Just visit Filmmaker.com and type “celtx” into their search engine. You will see several articles related to the software.

It seems that when anyone is faced with a project, the hardest part is simply getting started. Many screenwriters also find this to be true. They have a great idea in their heads, but when it comes time to actually put the words down on paper, they can’t quite seem to get it out.

Aspiring novelist Steven Till posted a good article on his blog about how to be a more efficient writer. Basically it comes down to one thing - time. Everyday you have to set aside a fixed amount of time just for writing. Head on over to his site for the full article. His point is applicable whether you are a novelist, poet, or screenwriter. Writers write. Skilled athletes practice on a regular basis. So should writers. Here are a couple of other points to consider when trying to tackle that screenplay.

1. Try WRITING rather than TYPING. You may type faster than you write (like me), but there is something intimate about physically writing your thoughts down on paper. Plus, it’s an excellent memorization tool. I find that I often remember things better when I write versus typing. It helps me keep track of character studies, plot, story outlines, etc.

2. Just WRITE, without stopping to correct yourself. In the film Finding Forrester, Sean Connery’s character is a brilliant author who takes on the challenge of mentoring a young student. In teaching him how to come up with the first draft, Connery’s character insists that he just write. Don’t even think about it. Just put it down. As you struggle to overcome writer’s block, simply write your thoughts as they come. Even if you are writing “I don’t know what to write,” just keep your pen moving. You will be surprised at the creative break-throughs you will achieve.

Writing is an exhaustive process, and yet one that is very self-satisfying. It’s a wonderful feeling to know that you have created a new world on paper for others to enjoy. Okay, so why are you still reading. It’s time to start writing.

John August, acclaimed Hollywood screenwriter of such films as Go and Big Fish, posted a humorous article a while back on his blog about how writers overuse air ducts as a vehicle for their heroes to sneak around. Worth a read.

While working on my latest feature-length screenplay, I decided to go to the library just to browse around at some of the screenwriting resources that are available. Many of the titles that popped up in the search engine were unfortunately not available at the particular branch in which I was looking. However I did find a great book entitled The Screenwriter’s Bible by David Trottier. I posted it in my “Recommended Reading” section in the sidebar. The Screenwriter’s Bible is 350 pages of diverse information related to the writing process. It’s divided into separate sections, or “books” that cover information from getting started to finding an agent and selling your work. It’s a great resource to have in an aspiring writer’s library.

In a previous post I shared some tips on how to develop a strong, simple story for a documentary film. Once you have a nice, tight, compelling story in place, it’s time to write your proposal. This document will summarize major points within your film and can be used in an effort to get support and funding for your project. Through it all, however, you must be able to communicate how your idea differs from other films with the same, or similar subject matter. Your proposal should have the following elements:

1. SUMMARY - In one or two sentences, describe your film’s content.

2. EXPLANATION OF SUBJECT MATTER - Here is where you define your subject for readers who might be unfamiliar with certain terms, issues, and/or events. Should you wish to produce a documentary on stem cell research, you would need to educate your readers on the stem cell issue, from the current morality debate to key items of legislation.

3. GOAL OF THE FILM - Simple enough. What do you wish to accomplish with this project?

4. EXPLANATION OF THE NARRATIVE STRUCTURE - This is where you outline the course your film will take. How will it progress? How will you get from point “A” to point “B?” How do you plan to tell the story? Some documentaries have a definite chronological order. Others are more ambiguous and rely heavily on the editing process to tell a compelling story.

5. RATIONALE FOR MAKING THE FILM - In this section you must define for your potential investor why making this film is important. For example, if you have an idea to produce a documentary about a young musical prodigy in your city, your rationale for making this film might be centered on the publicity your city and state will receive as a result of producing the project. You reasoning for wanting to produce such a documentary might also be to heighten public awareness regarding the need for liberal arts programs in our nation’s schools.

6. DISTRIBUTION - Sometimes you might find a wealthy family member or friend who is willing to support your film financially. A majority of the time, however, potential investors want to know how they can make money from this particular film. So, do some research. Find out which TV networks run programs similar to your subject matter. Investigate film festivals, DVD distribution, online sales, anything.

Sometimes, getting the idea is easy, but it will take research, preparation, and hard work to see your film through to completion.

Everyone has a great idea for a movie. Whether it be the next blockbuster action-packed thriller, the next artistic love story, or the next great political documentary, everyone feels that he or she can make their story into silver screen reality. Dreams can be enormous. Practical application of those dreams can be a struggle.

I’ve met with some people over the last year who wanted to discuss their documentary ideas with me, and get my opinion on what it would take to make it happen. In every one of these meetings, there was one constant. These individuals had an idea, but they didn’t know what to do with it. I’ve met with some exicted individuals who talked endlessly for at least ten minutes before getting to the bottom line. So, if you have an idea for the next great documentary film, let me share with you a few tips that will help narrow your focus and get your proposal off the ground.

1. FIND THE CENTRAL STORY - Remember English class term papers? Remember how your teacher always reminded you to come up with a concise thesis statement? The same holds true with your documentary. You must find the central story on which your film will hinge. Documentary subjects can be incredibly broad, so you must find a way to simplify those subjects into a concise story.

2. FIND A COMPELLING REASON FOR US TO WATCH - The story you come up with for your film has to be one that will actively engage the viewer. As you write your ideas, always ask yourself, “Why should people watch this film?” Some documentaries call the viewer to action. Some simply want to make the viewer aware of certain issues. Others want to pay tribute to an individual’s life. Whatever your angle, it must be interesting. I remember screening a documentary for the Sidewalk Moving Picture Festival last year about two middle-aged women who went on a cruise. That was it. These ladies simply took their home movie of an Alaskan cruise, added some music and titles, and submitted it as a documentary.

As you continue to brainstorm, write your thoughts down in a central location. I like to keep a notebook handy in which I write down all of my narrative and documentary ideas. That keeps everything organized and I am able to revisit my notes months and years later. Some may become scripts. Others may be revised, rewritten, and then assembled into a script. In the next post, I will talk about organizing your documentary proposal.

Clint Till, President of Parc Entertainment Video Productions, Inc. has won first place in the Writer’s Digest 75^th Annual Writing Competition for his feature-length screenplay “Wait It Out.” Till’s script was selected for the top prize out of more than 600 entries in the screenplay category. Prize earnings include $1,000 cash, $100 worth of merchandise from Writer’s Digest, and a manuscript critique from a top screenwriter.

The Writer’s Digest Annual Writing Competition accepts submissions in 10 different literary categories. Screenplays were judged by Chad Gervich and Warren Littlefield. Gervich has worked in TV development and production at NBC Studios, 20^th Century Fox, and Paramount Television. He’s the producer of Style Network’s hit show “Foody Call,” as well as a produced playwright; he’s currently writing “Dirty Laundry,” a new soap for Fox TV Studios.
Littlefield spent 10 years as president of NBC Entertainment, where he was responsible for the development of such shows as “Seinfeld,” “Friends,” “Will & Grace,” and “ER.” He currently heads the Littlefield Company, where he’s produced “Do Over” (WB), “Keen
Eddie” (Fox), “Like Family” (WB), and “Love, Inc.” (UPN).

A listing of winners in each of the 10 categories can be found in the November/December issue of Writer’s Digest, or online at writersdigest.com/contests. Parc Entertainment specializes in providing value to businesses and non-profit groups through marketing and sales videos. You can visit them on the web at www.ParcEntertainment.com.

A collection of useful resources for anyone interested in screenwriting (scriptwriting):

Screenwriting 101

Richard Krevolin, University of Southern California cinema and TV professor, answers readers’ questions on screenwriting.

Q & A with Richard Krevolin

To become a great writer one must do two things: read other works and practice their craft. The same is true in screenwriting. You must write, and write often. You must also watch films to see what works and what doesn’t. We’ve all seen our share of great movies, and we’ve all seen our share of horrific movies. But can you explain why a particular movie was good or bad? Often the answer lies in the structure of the story itself.

Believe it or not, good films follow a certain structure. There are, of course, exceptions to this structure (Pulp Fiction, Memento), but a majority of movies hold to this pattern. Even if you have no interest in screenwriting, try analyzing the structure of the next movie you watch. Don’t simply sit back and turn off your brain as you watch. See if you can uncover why it works or doesn’t. In the following example I will be using examples from the recent film Firewall, starring Harrison Ford. Don’t worry, there will be NO SPOILERS in the article, only visual cues to help you see the structure, should you decide to see the movie.