The Year of Screenplay

By Christina Hamlett

Movies. No matter their theme, budget, or cast, they all start out in pretty much the same way. They start out with dreamers—just like you—sitting in darkened theaters around the world and imagining what it would be like to see their names scrolling up the credits after the words, “Screenplay Written By…”

What brings us to this wishful state is the whisper of an idea that won’t let go, a nudge of inspiration prompted by a favorite book, an item in a magazine, an eavesdropped conversation in a cafeteria, a moment in history that left us indelibly inspired, or even an episode of personal catharsis that begs to be shared. Then your heart is quick to recognize, “Hey, this could make an interesting film!” 

What comes next is a blur of scriptwriting software, a few consultations with a screenwriting doctor, taking a weekend class or two to listen to the “insiders” tell you how it’s really done. All the while your grand idea languishes, hopefully as a good red wine, while the paper in your printer remains blank.

For many, the dream goes no farther than the role of spectator, leaving them to pursue less daunting avenues of expression. For those whose Muse refuses to be silenced or diverted, however, the reality is that the only obstacle between imagination and cinema success is the distance between one’s fingertips and the nearest keyboard.

Is there a movie inside of you that’s been yearning to get out but didn’t know where to begin?

The good news is that 21st century technology and the proliferation of independent film studios have increased the newcomer’s accessibility to the bright lights of Hollywood.  Chat rooms, film camps, on-line classes, local access stations, and trade magazines abound with insider tips, techniques, and hands-on opportunities that were previously the purview of a select community. 

The bad news, of course, is that the competition has escalated as well, demanding that untested writers not only be savvy about consumer trends and aggressive marketing but that they pen dynamic scripts that will knock the socks off of industry decision makers.  The people who hold your creative life in their hands wonder not only about the artistic and commercial merits of your work but also where to find the investors who are willing to put up serious money to make your vision a reality.

So how do you know if your concept is worth developing into a full-fledged script? Or, for that matter, how do you know whether film could be a comfortable fit for your own creative vision? You start by remembering that this is a medium in which even your unique vision must conform to a standardized format…and your boundary-breaking plot must still resonate with the fundamental value system of the audience who will watch it.  The thousands of films made every year throughout the world display a kaleidoscope of universes, themes, environments, characters and relationships, but while you have all the colors you can imagine to create your script, you still have to color within a very well defined set of lines of format, plot, character development, and dialogue.  

The bottom line, of course, is that you’ll never know if your idea could take flight unless you firmly commit to giving it wings. If one of your resolutions for 2005 is to type FADE IN and see where your characters take you, there is no shortage of resources available in today’s market or fellow scripticians in chat rooms throughout the world to give you the encouragement you need to see your project through to FADE OUT.

So as you gather your wits, gird your resolve, and hit the keyboard with tomorrow’s next Oscar, the following bookmarks will become your best friends.

InkTip (Formerly Writers Script Network)
www.inktip.com

Want to make sure your feature length screenplay or short gets maximum exposure at a modest price?  Then check out the InkTip website, which allows you to post your script for 6 months at the cost of only $40.  InkTip is not only password-protected but allows you to see how many “hits” your bio, synopsis, treatment and script receive from agents, directors and producers.  Signup for the InkTip newsletter as well and you’ll receive “scripts wanted” bulletins and advice from industry pros on how to navigate your way through the Hollywood system.

Scripts must be WGA-registered prior to electronic registration. You will also be required to fill out a detailed questionnaire regarding the particulars of your script.  This component of the site is what allows prospective film people to define what they’re looking for (i.e., political thriller, female lead, set in China) and receive a list of those projects which meet the parameters.

U.S. Copyright Office
www.copyright.gov

When William Shakespeare wrote HAMLET or Louisa Mae Alcott wrote LITTLE WOMEN, neither one was concerned about someone coming along and turning their plots into movies.  In the first place, movies hadn’t been invented yet.  Nor, for that matter, was there a regulatory agency to assign and monitor subsidiary rights.

Creative works that have fallen into what is called “public domain” are a gold mine for screenwriters who want to try their hand at modifying someone else’s material.  Specifically, the term applies to those works which were either published prior to 1923 or those which were published between 1923 and 1963 and were not renewed.  Today’s copyright laws, by comparison, protect the work for the life of the author plus 70 years or until December 2047, whichever is greater. For collaborative works, this term is measured by whichever author lives longer.  In addition, the United States has reciprocal copyright relations with most countries of the world.

If all of this sounds downright baffling, then you’ll want to visit the U.S. Copyright Office website, a center that allows you to download forms and circulars, ask questions, and learn how to research whether a property you want to adapt for the screen is legally available.

MovieBytes
www.moviebytes.com

MovieBytes is one of the best screenwriting sites I’ve found in terms of market news content and screenplay competitions.  Updated monthly, it provides visitors with information on U.S. and foreign production companies and talent management agencies seeking new material, a free newsletter, and a comprehensive listing of every possible screenplay contest you can imagine.  Readers can also subscribe to “Who’s Buying What” ($20/6 months or $30/one year) and receive unlimited access to an extensive database of industry contacts, script sales information and discounts for contests and film product vendors.  Screenwriting contests on this site are categorized by cost, locale, genre, film/TV, festivals, special interest, etc.  Of particular value is a feature called the contest report card, which allows you to read what contestants have had to say about the various competitions and how they were operated.  There is also a bulletin board whereby you can post questions and concerns to fellow scripticians as well as share your success stories.

The Official Movie Plot Generator
www.movieplotgenerator.com

An adorable panda cub raises a baby in this heartwarming animated adventure.

A ruthless Mafia kingpin comes out of the closet in the heart of Amish country.

A macho NFL quarterback becomes a nanny for a conservative aristocratic family in the feel-good comedy of the year.

Okay, so maybe these aren’t the most compelling plots you’ve ever read but the 27,000 possibilities contained in “The Official Movie Plot Generator” by Justin and Jason Heimberg are sure to kickstart your imagination and give you a great summer laugh.  This wacky pair’s interactive website provides a sampling of their hilarious approach to storytelling.  It also provided me with a funny flashback to “The Barefoot Executive,” a Kurt Russell movie from 1971 in which a chimp proves instrumental in helping his human companion determine winning programming for the network.  As Russell’s character explains it, everyone loves stories about Abraham Lincoln, stories about doctors, and stories about dogs.  Thus, a plot involving Abraham Lincoln’s doctor’s dog would be a guaranteed hit.  And so is this gem of an idea-starter book!

The Movie Spoiler
www.moviespoiler.com

Let’s face it: Movie tickets are expensive. In order to stay on top of every blockbuster feature that opens each week, you’d have to work a second job and take out a loan. To make matters worse, you can’t even get a refund for all the ones that turn out to fall short of the media hype.  The solution?  A visit to The Movie Spoiler will keep you in the know of what everyone else is chattering about at the water cooler on Mondays. Between the new releases and the site’s archives, you can have the scene-by-scene scoop and all of the “you’ll-never-guess-the-surprise-endings” and decide for yourself which ones are actually worth seeing.  (In my ongoing quest to ruin Tom Cruise movies for two of my die-hard Cruise fan associates, I always sneak a peek so I can casually say, “Oh yeah, that’s the one where he dies at the end.”  They really hate that.)

Upcoming Movies
http://movies.yahoo.com/upcoming/bytitle/

Want the latest buzz on what’s currently in the works in Tinseltown?  An entrepreneurial guy named Greg has set up a great website that divulges casting and production news of upcoming films, as well as reviews based on insider screenings. Did you know, for instance, that the batch of new films we’ll be seeing include BEWITCHED (with Nicole Kidman), INDIAN JONES IV (isn’t he getting a little long in the tooth for this?), FANTASTIC FOUR (more comic capers), and Tim Burton’s THE CORPSE BRIDE?   The production chronology that accompanies each film listing is especially interesting, revealing such information as problems and shooting delays on the set, friction among the actors, calls for rewrites of the scripts, etc.

Movie Mistakes
www.movie-mistakes.com

Ah, movies!  Much as we love them and appreciate how much hard work has gone into their production, the reality—gasp!—is that they’re rarely perfect.  Even with continuity editors on board to watch for things like phantom props and modern shoes, a lot of things still manage to make it to the final edition. This website will not only give you some good laughs but sharpen your observations kills the next time you enjoy a favorite flick.

Some of our favorites:

STAR WARS:  When the stormtroopers break into the control room, watch very carefully and you will be able to see a storm trooper nearly render himself unconscious by smacking his head off a door frame.

GLADIATOR:  After the battle with the Germanians, the next morning after the tavern, he is walking in the army camp and he feeds a horse a piece of apple. If you look closely between Maximus and the horse, there is a crewman wearing a pair of blue jeans.

TITANIC:  The lake that Jack told Rose he went ice fishing on when she was threatening to jump is Lake Wissota, a man-made lake in Wisconsin near Chippewa Falls (where Jack grew up). The lake was only filled with water in 1918 when a power company built a dam on the Chippewa River, six years after the Titanic sank.

SPIDER-MAN:  In the scene where Mary Jane is being mugged by four men, Spider-Man throws two of the men into two windows behind Mary Jane. Then the camera goes back to Spider-Man beating up the other two guys. When the camera goes back to Mary Jane the two windows are intact.

RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK:  While Indy and Marion are in the Well of the Souls, and they encounter the snakes, Indy falls to the ground only to get confronted by a Cobra rearing its head and hissing. Look carefully and you'll see the reflection of the snake on the safety glass between it and Indy. Briefly you can also see the torch's reflection while he's waving it around.

Jump the Shark
www.jumptheshark.com

What do weddings, babies and Very Special Episodes have in common? They often spell the doom of a television series by introducing scenarios that break an existing pattern of plausibility and/or sexual tension. The “Jump the Shark” title of this website refers to the episode of HAPPY DAYS in which Fonzie decided to jump over a shark tank on his motorcycle. The series went downhill shortly thereafter. The most common occurrence of shark-jumping, of course, is when the characters that we have been hoping will finally realize they are perfect for each other make this same astonishing discovery themselves and either end up in bed or at the alter. While a series may continue to limp along until the second biggest faux pas of giving birth, it never recaptures the charm and the chemistry that attracted us in the first place.

Young Filmmakers Academy
www.youngfilmmakers.org

How come there weren’t cool opportunities like Young Filmmakers Academy back when I was in high school? The reason is that it took someone like Executive Director Shannon Gardner to develop the concept and make it available to teens who want to experience personal growth and creative teamwork through the medium of cinema.  The Academy’s innovative filmmaking curriculum, which is targeted to youth between the ages of 9 and 19, has been designed and structured to not only awaken the students’ imaginations but to provide their parents with an opportunity to celebrate the resultant achievements as manifested in greater self-awareness, confidence and personal responsibility. The expansion of YFA’s workshops throughout the United States and overseas adds an additional level of enrichment by providing a regional and cultural exchange that heightens the students’ appreciation of their membership and participation in the global community.  Whether or not the graduates decide to pursue a professional career in the film industry, the leadership and communication skills they take with them from YFA programs are applicable to whatever challenges they will face throughout their lives.  In addition, its scholarship programs enable YFA to make these experiences accessible to those who meet the requirements of intellectual accomplishment, creative curiosity and demonstrated enthusiasm, regardless of financial circumstances.

Sonnyboo
www.sonnyboo.com

Stymied by the right format to use for screenplays or the specific language to incorporate in a deferred pay contract or a location agreement? Peter John Ross of Sonnyboo Productions has an easy to navigate website that allows you to download Word templates for every conceivable situation related to the writing, budgeting, sale, production and distribution of intellectual property.  If it’s a dark and stormy night and you’ve already seen every video on your shelf, Ross also offers a mini-movie mall of short films, behind the scenes explanations, and a message board for exchanging cinema chat with fellow artistes.

Former actress and director Christina Hamlett is an award winning author and script coverage consultant whose credits include 21 books, 115 plays and musicals, 4 optioned feature films, and articles that appear throughout the US, UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.  Her latest book, COULD IT BE A MOVIE, is now available on Amazon or directly from her publisher at www.mwp.com.