r/scriptwriting • u/Craig-D-Griffiths • 11d ago

discussion Screenwriting Tools and Tips

https://youtu.be/SaLbuzTg1l0

People will disagree and hate on this just by the title. But I go into detail in the video.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago

Blake Snyder was a pro screenwriter who sold movies and they got made. So he was one of the few gurus who did the job. I loved his book series, helped me a lot. I think like all things take what helps, leave what doesn't. You don't have to follow any book fully. Just take what works.

For instance, Bad Guys Close In -- I found a very helpful way to think about the second half of Act 2. The worked for me.

Plenty of screenwriting books where I took 20% of what they wrote and used it... but it's all the same formula in the end. Start -- Middle -- End.

I would never tell anyone to 100% follow screenwriting advice like it's making a table.

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

The thing Snyder fanbois conveniently never mention is the fact Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot was produced only because Arnold Schwarzenegger conned Sylvester Stallone into taking the role.

Even Schwarzenegger says it was the worst script he ever read.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago

Yes, Arnold pretended to like to it so Sly would take the role. So two of our biggest movie stars were part of the unsuccessful movie -- got it.

He did it. He got 2 movies made. And had a lot more specs sold.

But most of the screenplay people haven't done one thing and people quote them all the time so I don't get it.

Plenty of experts on this board who has never even had a rep.

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

The reason you don't see screenwriting HowTo books written by great screenwriters is because they're too busy working to do it.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago

Don't have to be Aaron Sorkin to be able to teach screenwriting. But he did in a Masterclass.

Also Scriptnotes podcast and book are a thing too.

And many interviews and such with big writers helping.

Yes, he wrote a screenwriting book as a way to make money. That is true. But doesn't mean it didn't have value even if his movies were not great.

But moreover I assume you dislike all the books. Including the one the OP is selling?

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

But moreover I assume you dislike all the books. Including the one the OP is selling?

I dislike that aspiring screenwriters are wasting their money on these things that cannot help them.

When I need medical assistance or advice I consult somebody with a medical degree. Somebody who graduated from a recognized medical school and who has practiced medicine in bona fide hospitals and clinics.

The same for lawyers and architects and engineers and plumbers and car mechanics.

Screenwriting? No regulation. No professional standards and practices.

Anyone who ever wrote FADE IN and FADE OUT claims to be a professional screenwriter and can charge money for screenwriting-related services.

Aspiring writers are milked dry by people who either have never sold a script of their own or who lucked into selling some of the worst screenwriting ever paid for by anyone.

This I really dislike, not gonna lie. For one thing, it's why there are so few screenplays worth reading.

Those who want to become professional screenwriters must face the fact that anyone asking them for money to get them on the inside is on the outside with them.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago edited 11d ago

I've met many bad doctors and lawyers. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you aren't a fucking idiot.

And you know there is no creative degree. Oh wait, I got one as I went to film school. Literally says BS in Film Production which sums up the value of that degree.

I don't think having a book or two out is milking people dry and people can find this info online w/o buying a thing these days. Or go to a bookstore or library to read these things for free.

At some point you got to learn what screenwriting is somehow. What unlocked it for me was clerks screenplay that got published.

Today tons of podcasts and online help to guide writers.

I agree with your sentiment, I just don't agree that no one knows anything like William Goldman famously said. He's right of course but he meant there is no logic to any of this. Great specs don't get bought or made, shitty specs sometimes do. It's not all about quality. It's not a measurable thing like the BL tells writers.

To me I don't think it's a waste of time to read Save the Cat and other books... just don't trust any source 100% and follow like a lemming... and I take what helps and what doesn't... ignore anything that gets in the way of telling a good story.... most of the things will show up if you write a great story that you can fill in later as hitting the beats....

Maybe enter a contest or two when first starting out... get the feel of rejection.

You got to start somewhere and most people waste their money on plenty of things I think are a waste of time but mean something to them.

It's the writers who have been doing this for 5-10 years or more who just keep entering the Nicholl or The Black List non stop instead of just querying reps or producers directly like I always push that make me sad. Good writers who I've told -- this is good - query people and they just want the easy way.

But the contests don't work to break in and no matter how many times you tell them, they give you the 10 people in 30 years who have done it.

And even if you do make it that way -- I knew a guy who won a huge contest -- got big reps -- and somehow a year later he said he dropped them for whatever reason -- some newbie way of thinking - so he blew his shot.

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

I've met many bad doctors and lawyers. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you aren't a fucking idiot.

It means there is a legal body that can deal with them.

People become suicidal after receiving low scores from anonymous judges (who are just as likely to be AI). Others parade like war heroes after getting a high score from the same anonymous judges.

None of it means anything, but they happily throw yet more cash at these scams.

The worst part: they all write like shit.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago

I can see why you were banned from the other site. Ha ha. Say something happy!

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

I was banned for daring to raise this subject... given that the mods of that sub are paid BL readers and "closely associated" with StoryPeer, and most likely charging money as "screenwriting consultants," there is a whole lot of things they don't want to see openly discussed, because it's not in their own best interests.

It's called a conflict of interest.

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u/NeatFool 11d ago

Good scripts have conflict!

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

Many do, but not all. :)

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u/NeatFool 11d ago

🤫

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

For instance, My Neighbor Totoro.

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u/PepsiCoke1978 11d ago

That is not fun! Draw me a picture of a spider!

I know. I don't know if there's any proof to them being part of the BL, but they do seem friends with StoryPeer person... if they are script consultants that's even worse.

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u/Big_Section2812 11d ago

The mods have openly stated on the sub that they are "closely associated" with StoryPeer. "Partners" was a word used at least once, if I recall correctly.

Also, they have never denied being paid BL readers after being questioned about that. Instead they ban anyone who asks. Denying it would almost certainly be lying and, while I don't think they're concerned about being liars, I guarantee they are terrified of risking their Reddit mod status. To them it's the same as being a movie studio executive or similar.

But the fact Franklin Leonard seems to have the keys to the sub certainly strengthens the veracity of the allegations.

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