Apart from the well-known exception of the screenplay Basic Instinct that Joe Eszterhas wrote in a long weekend, it usually takes a screenwriter between 6 and 18 months to write and rewrite a movie script.
And it usually takes a reader 10 minutes to toss most of them. Because of basic flaws.
Don't let it happen to YOUR script!
Whether you are new to screenwriting or not, you may want to check that your movie script does not "suffer" from one of these basic and fatal flaws:
All of these flaws have the power to "kill" your screenplay and send it to the dustbin.
Whether you identified one of these flaws in your screenplay and wonder how to fix it, or want to increase your skills in the areas of story, structure, dialogue, format and/or characters, you came to the right place.
We make available on this website the"source code" of screenwriting so that you don't have to spend months and years finding out how to structure a screenplay, format it and write great dialogues.
For example:
Blablator, our dialogue expert, shares the tricks of the trade in a series of articles packed with examples and videos so that you can easily apply these 13 rules to your own screenplay.
For example rule #7 shows you with a quiz how knowing your characters makes it easier to have them talk; and rule #9 deals with subtext, the other side of "on the nose" dialogue.
Blablator rules! Totally! Such insightful and practical views on dialogue.
I use these rules now as a checklist when writing.
J.Williams, Los Angeles, CA.
And spice your own dialogues with them. For example:
I love the "twist". Having the characters speak is awesome. Together with the pictures and the script extracts, it makes it easier for me to learn the screenwriting craft.
C. Johnson, New York, NY.
Remember the Colonel Jessep who became famous for his line "You can't handle the truth" in "A Few Good Men" from Aaron Sorkin?
Well, he talks about the 5 functions of dialogue and shares examples from his own "life" to illustrate each of them.
Who said acquiring knowledge had to be boring? I learn so much - and have an awful lot of fun.
B. Wilcox, London, UK.
An interview with Neil Perry and General Maximus about screenplay structure.
The result? The structure of the screenplays Dead Poets Society written by Tom Schulman and Gladiator written by David Franzoni and John Logan, explained in detail and illustrated with 11 pictures.
This site is great pleasure for me, who is new to script writing. Thank you.
A. Tanaka, Tokyo, Japan.
And get the reader to focus on your story instead of the formatting "rules" you broke.
What a script! and what a gift you spent all this time to allow us to learn from your experience. Thank you for your spirit.
V.Gupta, Mumbai, India.
For example:
And Jason Bourne from the "The Bourne Identity" written by Tony Gilroy tells us why he is a compelling character.
OMG. I just re-read Good Will Hunting. So different from the first time. I "saw" all the dialogue techniques and functions, the structure turning points, etc... Truly amazing the difference Whatascript! makes in my capacity to learn the craft. Keep up the good work!
S. Anderson, Austin, TX.
Our selection includes classics - like The Godfather and Fight Club - and recent award winners or nominees - like Argo, Django unchained or Silver Linings Playbook.
This is a great opportunity to study how the masters did it.
You'll find all the information you need to make an easy choice (e.g. screenwriter, genre, IMDB link, trailer, and related articles on this site).
Don't miss our 21 powerful tips to max out your reading of a screenplay.
They tell you what to look at and you get to apply this knowledge to your own movie script.
We had the opportunity to read many screenplays.
And in some cases, there was this magic moment at the end when we paused and said to ourselves:
Wow, what a script!
This website is dedicated to all the screenwriters who caused this emotional response.
To YOUR writing a "what a script!" screenplay!
and the team.
Follow the example of J.Williams in LA, C.Johnson in New York, B.Wilcox in London UK, A.Tanaka in Tokyo and V.Gupta in Mumbai and let us know:
Thanks for your contribution.
* Defiance, screenplay written by Clayton Frohman and Edward Zwick
Would you like to share your knowledge about screenplay? Contribute to www.whatascript.com!
