reading, interpreting, and visualizing

[hot sticky white goo]

an argument can be made that the best screenwriters never fail at filling your head with all the lush visuals that the author intended.

well, thats an opinion. and im willing to bet that if you wanted to conduct a thorough scientific experiment, this opinion would be proven completely untrue.

but the belief lives on. many writers aspire to do this (which we should, as long as we realize it wont always happen) and some use the expression when giving advice and feedback on scripts.

the only truth is that SOME people who read scripts are able to vividly visualize written material. one must therefore agree that its not just the writer, but the reader.

how many different varieties of directors exist out there? there are infinite ways to interpret any given script. and any given script, with nothing changed and absolutely no improvisation can yield 2 completely different films.

so. the same goes with how someone who reads your script reacts. they might say, this'll make a great film. others might say it will not. some might say it is funny, others may not.

there is nothing groundbreaking about what im writing. but, if you think as i do, youre probably realizing that writing a script leaves something to be desired. and also that you may be selective in who you allow to read your script.

if you give it to someone who does not think like you and whos tastes are completely different than your own, is it worth both your time?

there is also a school of thought that says this is the unfortunate world of the screenwriter - once youve written it, kiss it goodbye because its no longer in your hands. its a shame that people actually think like that because it most certainly doesnt have to be that way, especially these days as independent filmmaking becomes increasingly practical. or, if writing is all youve got, then why not toughen up and make it clear as to the the destination of your blood sweat and tears.

unless you dont take your script seriously and dont care what the end result is as long as the check clears.

theres a "sell your soul to the devil" mentality to professional screenwriting that suggest you better dive into the first door that opens for you.

why is that? why settle for the first opportunity?

what if you dont wait for someone to open the door for you - either open the door yourself, or, better yet, build the house in which others compete to open the door to meet you.

im expecting some juicy responses by those who are established and laugh at my naivete.

:lol

edited to add::lol

[JoanEasley]

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio often talk about these issues on Wordplayer.com. Ted says few people are skilled at visualizing a movie from a screenplay, so he tries to write in such a way that it is as easy as possible for the person reading the script to experience the movie unfolding seemlessly, feeling all the enotions as she goes along.

Especially if you're an unknown writer without a proven track record like t & t, the reader, and the reader's boss, must feel this is a movie that HAS to be made -- they can't wait to experience it again on the big screen. That's the test we all have to pass to have our movies made by others.

It's also true that even if they felt all the wonderful emotion when they read your screenplay and saw the visuals exactly as you described, and even if they do make your movie, there will be all kinds of people involved who want to change the script for all kinds of reasons. Once they buy it, it is theirs.

Terry says we should make our own films instead of waiting to be discovered. Like many of us, I'm trying to do both --
writing reader-friendly screenplays, and joining up with talented people to make short films where we have more control.

[greyghost]

Very good post

"Terry says we should make our own films instead of waiting to be discovered."

This is exactly the conclusion I reached some time ago.
If it takes years and enormous effort to get a screenplay
optioned only to have it never made or creatively destroyed, WHY NOT SPEND THOSE YEARS GETTING IT MADE INTO YOUR OWN VISION OF A MOVIE?

If it's a good story, there will be many around you wanting to participate in your vision, your project and your success.

Technology has now arrived to put movie making in the hands of the masses. The evolution of high definition video cameras and editing equipment has brought us all tremendous power. There are many very talented actors and crew available to us within our own communities.

Hollywood still controls theater access but even the major studios are using cinema more and more as marketing venues for DVD sales. If we can make DVD's, we can market them directly to the consumer for his or her own enjoyment in his/her own home theaters. I know of DVD distribution opportunities now becoming available to us without the need of Hollywood's involvement or blessing.

The bottom is beginning to fall out from under the Hollywood monopoly. The old movie making model is changing right before our eyes. You don't have to be much of a visionary to see this happening. Rather than waste time trying to fit into the dying system, we ought to spend our valuable time adapting to the new one.

There is considerable insider fear of this, and of everything else, but the world of entertainment will be much improved for it. The people making the most money are threatened but the masses of creative people who are making no money at all now have a world of opportunity before them.

Screenwriters and other talent outside of Hollywood will benefit. The consumer will also benefit from greater variety.

[Zeicon]

Re: Very good post

just visualize your movie using CG

www.brokensaints.com is a good example as to how to share a good story. It is not even complex animation... more comic-book like...

they have just released their entire series on DVD
they have a comic book series in the making by Dark Horse Entertainment as well as a feature movie (also Dark Horse)... they even have a video game in the making.

They were 3 guys... amazing

[Winter in New York]

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio often talk about these issues on Wordplayer.com. Ted says few people are skilled at visualizing a movie from a screenplay, so he tries to write in such a way that it is as easy as possible for the person reading the script to experience the movie unfolding seamlessly, feeling all the emotions as she goes along.

Yeah, Ted and Terry rock.

A script has to be READ before it's filmed. And if the reader can't 'see' the film when they're reading it...chances are it'll not get to the filming stage...

Winter in New York

[Deus Ex Machine]

Ted Elliott and Terry Rossio often talk about these issues on Wordplayer.com. Ted says few people are skilled at visualizing a movie from a screenplay, so he tries to write in such a way that it is as easy as possible for the person reading the script to experience the movie unfolding seamlessly, feeling all the emotions as she goes along.

It's not just T&T. Great script writers don't just write for themselves, they write a script so that is will allow a person who is not particularly imaginative to be able to see the movie as they read the script.

Obviously there is no magic formula that will make all people appreciate and visualize your script exactly as you do, but there is a lot a writer can do to maximize the accessibility of their script so even those who are not particularly imaginative or creative will be able to visualize the unfolding story as they read it so they come to the conclusion that what you have written is not only a good sotry but it would make a good movie.

I think that is the fundamental difference between script writers who get it and script writers who don't. Those who get it understand they are not just writing a good story, they are writing a good movie, and employ all the tools at their disposal to write "cinematically" and give the reader a "filmic" experience.