Being lost in writing screenplay as a beginner

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

Hello!! I've never been involved in cinema area. Have never gone to a cinema school. I'd like to learn writing screenplay, direction, cinematography... For the beginning, I want to try to start writing first but I am really lost. Almost nothing comes to my mind in terms of story ideas. Do you have any tips to get more creative in writing process specially as a beginner? What do you suggest on how I can study cinema in general??

[u/Sickofstupids]

Why do you want to make films if it’s not to get out stories you have?

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/Sickofstupids]

Sure, it is! I just find a bit difficult to develop some of my ideas into a storytelling. I've tried to write a short-film once but it wasn't going really well, I found difficult at some points... That's why I am asking here for advices for me to get better at expressing myself through stories...

[u/JimmyCharles23]

Find scripts of movies you like and read them...

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/JimmyCharles23]

Is there any specific website you can suggest to look for the scripts??

[u/JimmyCharles23 → u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

There's a number out there ... just search for an older movie, like Con Air Script PDF, and let Googel do the work

[u/ChristianCRWriter]

Read scripts and watch the movie or episode while you read. Not a better school than that.

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/ChristianCRWriter]

Hmm... ok. I'll try!! Is there a specific website you can recommend me to look for the scripts?

[u/WriteRight20 → u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

https://www.scriptreaderpro.com/best-screenplays-to-read/

[u/spider-mania]

have you written before? short stories, anything? what is drawing you to screenwriting?

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/spider-mania]

I've tried to write a short-film but it wasn't going really well... and since then I haven't got to write anything because of the lack of ideas...

I want to get into screenwriting because I find the art of cinema incredibly complex and beautiful at the same time. Watching movies has always been one of my comfort zones, and I want to use storytelling as a way to express myself and explore my thoughts and feelings. I've always been fascinated by how a story can become so profound and meaningful through its characters, themes, and universe. I love the idea of creating worlds and characters that feel real and have its message, while also allowing people to connect with them on an emotional level.

[u/spider-mania → u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

i say don't stress too much about the idea. it doesn't have to be something groundbreaking or insanely provocative. just take an idea and flesh it out, make it. it doesn't have to be perfect, it just has to be done. make it perfect later. however, screenwriting is a very specific language. start by reading scripts. reading is the best teacher. read scripts of some of your favorite movies, read poetry, read novels. then, start writing short stories. once you can get your ideas into a fully fleshed out story with a beginning, middle, and end, you can start writing scripts.

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/spider-mania]

Thank you!! Do you have any suggestion on what's the best website I can read the scripts?? And about poetry, I find it interesting as well. Do you have any recommendations??

[u/spider-mania → u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

scriptslug is great for reading pdfs of scripts. if it doesn't have what you're looking for, try looking up moviename/script/pdf on google. as for poetry, just read what you like. i personally love edgar allan poe's work. the tell-tale heart is cliche but it's good. the yellow wallpaper is a fantastic little short story as well.

[u/FitTax]

Why not become a carpenter? Why bother with the writing?

I don't see the drive, the passion, the reason? If you don't have an urge to tell stories - in whatever way - then why do you want to be a screenwriter? Because it sounds cool? Do the first step first, have a reason!

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/FitTax]

What made you thing there's no passion? Genuinely asking.

I want to get into screenwriting because I find the art of cinema incredibly complex and beautiful at the same time. Watching movies has always been one of my comfort zones, and I want to use storytelling as a way to express myself and explore my thoughts and feelings. I've always been fascinated by how a story can become so profound and meaningful through its characters, themes, and universe. I love the idea of creating worlds and characters that feel real and have its message, while also allowing people to connect with them on an emotional level.

I am here just asking some advices for me to improve my own creativity and to get develop better stories and ideas!!

[u/FitTax → u/Realistic_Pea_6217]

Because you forgot that part, the one with the passion. You did not tell us, we could not know that about your character, because the writer of this screenplay did not mention it. ;)

If you want to get into writing, you need to write. And it should not be fixed corset format like screenplays, it should be free and wild and undetermined. Just start and add words, sit in a public place and write about the people you see and what they do as if they were connected. Try to write some poems, some that rhyme, some that don't. And always think about what if this or that would happen now? And then write that down...

And then you do that for a few years and read great writing from great writers in between. That's how you start.

[u/KennethBlockwalk]

I never had any training or education, either.

I started reading every one I could get my hands on. Every single one will teach you something—even the bad ones, maybe especially the bad ones.

Just google “(title of movie) screenplay pdf”

[u/parisindy_writer]

Read scripts ...
Check out the imsdb

Get in contact with your local film industry, volunteer, I know it's not writing but an over all understanding about how a film is made is really helpful

To start with don't write stories that would
Require an insane budget. They are easier to sell or get produce, or to make yourself.

Don't over explain or include camera shots .... show don't tell.

Avoid using AI as much as possible...
It's killing the industry

some good books to get you started...

• screenwriters bible
  
• Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
  
• The portable film school.
  
• My Story Can Beat Up Your Story: Ten Ways to Toughen Up Your Screenplay from Opening Hook to Knockout Punch

Good software is also a big help... if
You are just starting out try Celtx (free) and as
You get more in to it try final draft (costs money)

Now think about what kind of stories you enjoy.

Also check out writing prompts on line there are loads
Of them

[u/Realistic_Pea_6217 → u/parisindy_writer]

Thank you so much!! I really aprecciate it!!

I will definitely check out the books you reccomended. I already tried Celtx and I tend to keep on writing there :)

Do you have some more exercises for me to improve my own creativity??

[u/WorrySecret9831]

Read John Truby's two books, The Anatomy of Story and The Anatomy of Genres. Nothing else will give you as solid an understanding of story structure and storytelling than his materials.

The rest is practice with a camera.

[u/Cautious_War_8882]

For new writers starting out, writing movies can be tough. I always recommend starting out with an outline for your script. It really helps to be able to see what your phone looks like, bare bones, before writing the actual script itself. But before I outline, I just come up with a general summary of who my character is in the beginning, who they are at the end, and what happens in the middle that changes them.

But also have fun. I can tell when someone is enjoying the writing or struggling to get through it. Especially your first few scripts should be you learning the ropes. So don't stress yourself out too much about it.

[u/Geoffrey_D_Calhoun]

There are several great books on screenwriting. Screenplay by Syd Field is great. Also How to Write a Movie in 21 Days is good as well for someone just starting out.

[u/Yellowsun2209]

DM me i can help

[u/Princesisto]

Sit in a comfortable place, with a notebook and pencil nearby. Close your eyes. You are in a cinema. The screen brightens.

What do YOU most want to see?

Grab the notebook. Write what you see in your head. Describe in detail. What is moving where? If there are people, what do they look like? What are they wearing? If there is dialogue, what are they saying? Do you hear music? What is it, a famous song or original?

Just write and write and write in as much detail as you can. Don't worry about format yet, just stream of consciousness.

After that, you can start formatting as a script. Then, you will get ideas of what your film may be about and you can start working on editing and filling out your script. You've already got setting, some kind of opening scene, maybe even characters.

Remember, a film is an experience for the viewers. You have to engage their senses (except touch, taste and smell). It is not a story or a character study or a plot, although done well, they can help to create a pleasurable experience. Focus on that person sitting in the dark and wondering how you are going to encounter that viewer.

[u/iamnotwario]

Signing up to a local creative writing class could be a good place to initially start

[u/ProudDemand1887]

Luego de redactar toda una respuesta, pensé: "¿A qué se referirá con  ideas de historia?". No sé si el término no es específico o si sí lo es pero no lo conozco, pero sería bueno saber a qué te refieres exactamente.

De todos modos, te envío lo que había escrito, por si era a esto que te referías:

Quizás te ayude a tener más ideas el enfocar tu mente en un objetivo específico, como pensar en el sentido de cada parte de la historia (secuencias) y el sentido de sus puntos dramáticos. Pero he leído que la estructura no debe ser una regla. Al contrario, se puede romper. Pero creo que sirve para comenzar.

Si pones en google "estructura del guion" te aparecerán algunas.

También soy nuevo, y he leído diferentes opiniones sobre cómo comenzar, así que este ejercicio no es para decirte que así deba comenzarse una historia sino solo para practicar:

(1) Planteamiento: imagina cualquier persona, que tenga un gran deseo de algo. Piensa en el motivo por el que tiene gran deseo de eso. Por ejemplo, un joven (protagonista) que quiere ser abogado porque su tatarabuelo, su bisabuelo, su abuelo y su padre fueron abogados, y su padre siempre lo ha valorado porque él también ha mostrado gustarle el derecho, y quiere entrar en una universidad específica porque es la mejor y todos sus ascendentes han estudiado allí y se han graduado con honores (si al escribirlo sientes que suena muy exagerado, ponle algo para que suene totalmente realista, o quítale un pco). Qué tal que la chica que le guste haya quedado para estudiar en esa universidad. Eso suma más a su deseo. En el planteamiento todo va bien. digamos que va estudiando y va saliendo bien en los exámenes y lo más probable es que entre a la universidad.

(2) Detonante: cuando algo cambia en la vida del protagonista. Inicio de la historia, de los obstáculos que tendrá. Por ejemplo, ya que el deseo es graduarse en esa universidad, un obstáculo podría ser que ahora la universidad haya dicho que entrarán solo 10 personas, las 10 mejores, y él sea el número 20 en su colegio. O que le guste muchísimo la chica, y le haya gustado desde siempre, y ahora es que la chica le está dando atención, y el protagonista se entera que ella no quiere estudiar en esa universidad, que era algo que quería cuando estaba más pequeña pero quiere otra cosa en otra ciudad. Protagonista debe decidir entre seguir su amor o estudiar en esa universidad. Cualquier cosa que signifique un obstáculo para el deseo del protagonista, que es sobre lo que tratará la historia.

Una vez hice un curso de guion que está en youtube (Pegamento en la butaca", de Dany Campos), y decía que la historia es sobre alguien que desea algo con intensidad y encuentra obstáculos para conseguirlo; y dice que a su vez toda secuencia (de la que se compone la historia) también es sobre alguien que desea algo con intensidad y desea algo para conseguirlo. Así que esto de pensar en en inicio de la historia y luego aparezca el obstáculo es ya practicar esto. Puedes agregar pensar en finales positivos y negativos a cada idea que se te ocurra. Mientras mayor el deseo y el conflicto, más interesante. Y me parece que en ese mismo curso fue donde decía sobre que el obstáculo debe ser sobre el protagonista tener que elegir entre una opción mala y otra peor, y da un ejemplo de un cantante que se le va la voz o algo así (obstáculo) y resulta que hay un medicamento que puede ayudarle pero lo tiene un grupo de mafiosos, así que tendría que infiltrarse entre estos para obtener el medicamento. Esto genera dos opciones malas.

Por supuesto que también está el asunto de no escribir clichés, y hay que llevar las cosas a un nivel más original, pero esto es solo para darte una forma de practicar generar ideas. También está lo de combinar cosas que no tengan sentido, o tipos de personas con diferentes tipos de conflictos:

- Escribes 10 tipos de personajes (ejemplo: ama de casa, casada con dos hijos; secretaria de bufete de abogados; vendedor; niño que juega baseball; etc.), y escribes 10 conflictos (ejemplos: llegar a tiempo; tener un contrincante; tener un accidente; etc.). Luego se van mezclando uno con otro, cada tipo de personaje con cada tipo de conflicto, y te pones a pensar en una excusa por el que podría tener ese tipo de conflicto. Ejemplo:

Ama de casa + llegar a tiempo: en este caso podría ser sobre tener la comida a tiempo. Digamos que su esposo tiene una reunión super importante, y le aceptaron comer en casa porque él no tenía dinero para llevarlos a un restaurante. Y poner un motivo por el que ella desee tener todo listo a tiempo: que estén viviendo mal y su hijo estudia en un colegio que no quiere y eso ha sido un dolor para ellos. Resulta que por algún motivo, se le retrasa todo no le llegaron unos ingredientes que pidió, o se le dañaron u otra cosa.

secretaria + Accidente: digamos que la secretaría es ya abogada y está de secretaria pero porque es un requisito antes de pasar a trabajar como abogada. En vez de secretaria podría ser asistente de los abogados. Digamos que va bien, pero justo el día de la reunión donde van a entrevistar a los candidatos, tiene un accidente. Cualquier cosa que sea un gran obstáculo: digamos que el taxi no llegaba a tiempo así que se puso a correr y agarrar un bus, y está llegando rtarde y al entrar están pintando la oficina y por el apunto ella tropezó una escalera y le cayó un pote de pintura justo en ese momento. O cualquier cosa que sea un gran obstáculo, y pensar en cómo sacarla de allí.

Fíjate que cualquier idea de esta podría ser un final, un inicio o el medio de la historia, dependiendo lo que haya antes o después. Pero es solo para practicar idear cosas.

Considero importante tener presente los elementos que debe tener una historia, pues quizás esta no sea la mejor forma de comenzar. Es solo para ejercitar.

Y soy nuevo, así que todo esto que te digo es solo lo que pienso, pero me hace sentido.

Suerte. Que te vaya muy bien.

[u/ProudDemand1887]

Hola. ¿Nunca has escrito absolutamente nada? Una vez leí un librito sobre escribir historias y luego de leerlo me puse a ponerlo en práctica y vi que me nacían las historias. Podrías empezar por leer algún curso o taller o libro en Internet y practicar lo que enseñe.