Learning Tips For Writing Screenplay

Best Books For Scripwriting Helpful For Beginners

 

“To make a great film you need three things – the script, the script, and the script.”

                                                                                                              – Alfred Hitchcock

Congratulations! As you have decided to write scripts, BUT...

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You have ideas! But no experience of how to convert it into a script. I am sure you must have searched for books to read and learn. I am not shocked as you must have come across hundreds and thousands of search results, adding confusion about which book to select and trust. 

I have listed a few methods and books which are not only my personal favourites, but also are highly recommended by many senior, professional, national and international screenwriters. 

1) Do not begin with books 

Yes, you read that right. Till now you must have watched many movies. But, watching a movie is completely different than reading a screenplay. So, start reading screenplays now. 

This will help you understand the format of how screenplay looks and the way it is written. Try reading minimum 25 screenplays. 

You can find many screenplays online, for free

https://www.imsdb.com/

https://www.simplyscripts.com/

https://sfy.ru/

2) Screenplay transcription

Screenplay transcription means, to watch a movie and simultaneously write a screenplay of it. After reading 25 screenplays, now you know how the format is. So, watch a scene, pause and write about it in screenplay format. Follow this for the whole film and you will have a transcript of a screenplay in hand.   

I suggest, transcript 5 different genre movies.

3) Now, which books to read?

Yes, now is the best time to read books as you know how to format a screenplay. But you still have to learn how to write it with the idea you have. You have to learn to evolve your ideas to fit in the structure of screenplay.

Therefore, the books by some of the experts will be useful.

A. Story by Robert Mckee 

This is a bible. An in depth and in detail explanation from idea to premise to characters to their three-dimensional approach, character growth, archetypes, three act structure, ample of movie examples, movie genre, and so many micro elements of script writing are elaborated for explanation.

Robert Mckee, is an internationally famous and reputed name for his script writing and coaching expertise. Also, he organises a lot of paid webinars on various aspects of screenplay writing.

B. Save the Cat by Blake Snyder

“Save the Cat” is the screenwriting rule that says: “The hero has to do something when we meet him so that we like him and want him to win.” 

In the movie Sholay, though Dharam and Veeru are conman, we start liking them as they decide to help Thakur in his revenge against a dacoit named Gabbar. 

They immediately do not withdraw the traits of conman. We as an audience enjoy their transformation. Something within them changes that makes them likable.

The ways to design various situations where our protagonist is challenged and tested is aptly discussed in this book. 

C. Read all books by Syd Field

Once you finish reading all his books I can assure, you will have your screenplay in hand if you do the tasks mentioned in the book.

• Screenplay, the foundations of screenwriting.

• The screenwriter’s workbook

• Four screenplays

• The screenwriter’s problem solver

4) This should be enough

These many books will be sufficient. And it will be a fantastic feeling to be a screenplay writer of your first movie by the time you finish reading all the books.

 

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It will take time. Have patience. Enjoy the process. All the best for your journey ahead!

So, which is the first screenplay you are reading? Answer this in comment section and will be more than glad to discuss more on this.

Also, let me know in comment section if this was helpful and leave your feedback. Follow me by clicking follow on the right hand side above, we can connect and read and discuss more interesting things on sciptwriting.

Next, I plan to write about best books and practices for playwriting for beginners. 

See you again, Thank you!