British Actress Blog

Five Screen Writing Tips

Review: Unfortunately many Hollywood studios have created many very expensive fails at the box office recently. Studios seem to have forgotten what makes a good movie. They are hyper obsessed with explosions, lens flares, slow motion, and lots of sex. What we really want is a good story. Something that pulls us out of are miserable lives and draws us into a whole new world to explore, at least for two hours. Below are some helpful tips to capturing the attention of your target audience.

Warning Spoilers Ahead!

Understand the Outline

Your act one should show us who the main protagonist and the main antagonist are. We should see their beliefs, associates, and their special skills if they have any. Their skills should have something to do with the story. All of which should be shown to us in the first act.

In the movie The Recruit (2003) with Al Pacino and Colin Farrell, James Clayton, played by Colin Farrell is a computer hacker who is recruited into the CIA. His computer ability combined with his boxing skills, and athleticism has given him something to rely on throughout the whole film. This makes the movie watchable and consistent. This also makes James a worthy protagonist.

Who are the Knights of Ren? Is that really Rian Johnson’s fault? As a critic I would say that this information was supposed to be in the first film The Force Awakens (2015). The first act should have showed us who they are, what they are capable of, and if they are good or bad. Diverting them to another movie was NEVER a good idea.

Use Set Up and Pay Off

This is what connects the story together and leaves a much better impression on the audience. Using set up and pay off properly allows the story to organically flow instead of the typical “ex machina” that just happens to cheaply save the day. This is lazy writing and something you should stay away from if you want anyone to take your writing seriously.

Remove Non Relevant Scenes and Information

From films like Jupiter Ascending (2015) to Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), the number one problem I see after critiquing hundreds of film is the famous “red herring” style of non relevant information in movies today. This makes film unnecessarily long like the movie Star Wars: The Last Jedi (2017). The audience usually does not take well to this. They would like a more consistent and streamlined story in a more comfortable amount of time.

Scrutinize Your Work

Really audit your work from the audience’s perspective. I know this sounds like common sense but so many writers and directors make content in the form of TV shows and movies that have horrific fan backlash that really destroys the fan base and causes a fandom war. Worst yet the ratings take a major hit. The money spent on a movie’s production is not made back and TV shows tend to get canceled.

Practice Making Stories and Publish Them

How do you become a good writer? Practice! Yes keep writing. Some of the most popular writers ever write many stories and hone their skills. Don’t be afraid to ask for constructive criticism. If you have your own blog let your fan base know that you are trying to become a better writer and that you are practicing. Take the constructive criticism light heartedly and understand in your mind that you are constantly in the process of getting better.

In Conclusion

Pay attention to what the audience is saying about other films and TV shows. There will be a period of non scripted TV on networks and a period of scripted TV on networks. Make sure your story is streamlined, consistent, and story based. This is the kind of screenplay is that pulls the audience into your story. Focus on the story and the world your characters live in. Thank you for reading and check back with us for more screen writing tips. Check out the links below for more tips on how to write a good screen play.

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