If you’re considering becoming a screenwriter…stop. No I don’t mean that you shouldn’t try and be a screenwriter. I mean stop considering and start doing. The difference between a screenwriter and a non-writer is just the decision to write. The difference between a great screenwriter and average screenwriter can be found in these three tips.
If you are an indie producer, director, or screen writer, you absolutely have to understand the power of options. It’s rare that movies get made these days without the script first being optioned.
I visit alot of message boards, and I’m always surprised at how often I see: “Hey, do I need permision to use…”. The answer is always the same…yes Billy, you do need permission to show the poster for El Mariachi in the background of your movie. And of course, this anonymous person who I’ve called Billy for no apparenet reason then asks, “But it isn’t for profit do I still need permission?”
After reading countless screenwriting books I constantly come across the same mantra:Write what you know. Its both good advice and the stupidest advice you can give someone. Frankly, if I watch one more movie about a struggling filmmaker trying to get his movie produced, I may just have to hurt someone. The fact of the matter is you can create interesting stories about things with which you have no direct experience…its just that the trick to making it work involves writing what you know.
Welcome to Cinema Advanced, a website dedicated to the creation of digital independent cinema. Here you'll find advice, tutorials, and tips on how to make your own digital films, as well as some of my own creations.
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