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FAQ (Frequently asked questions & home of Drake the screenwriting penguin)Listed are a few of the frequently asked questions of screenwriting. Every so often the questions and answers will change so check back for more. Table of Contents
How do I get started in screenwriting?Take a class, seminar, workshop, read books, read scripts, watch quality movies, log on to screenwriting related web sites and much more to learn the art of screenwriting. Remember, there are a million and one ways to learn about screenwriting from all sorts of teachers, authors, books and the others. You need to start somewhere, gain as much information as you can and develop your own style while also remembering the industry standards when writing your script. For a list of some links, you may enter our web site's Screenwriting Links area or go to Suggested Reading for books on the subject. For classes, enter our on location (in San Francisco.) Are you ready to start? Back to Top
Where can I find someone who can teach me?If you are fortunate to live in Southern California, then some of the best schools are there. UCLA, USC, Chapman College, etc. For those living in other parts of the world, you have to do some research. The Learning Annex is a company that offers industry related seminars in major cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, etc. Junior or 4 year colleges may also offer related classes either on location or on line. There are also on line classes that screenwriting publications, instructors and others may offer. What you need to do is find them, go forth and learn. Instructors of these classes and workshops come from all backgrounds and levels of experience. You will have to determine if the instructor and class is for you. Some instructors are previously and presently working screenwriters in the industry and others are simply just teachers that happen to teach screenwriting. Just because an instructor has not sold a script does not mean that they do not know just as much or more than someone who has. It is your decision on which instructor and class to take and what is best for you. Are you ready to get started? For classes, enter our on location in San Francisco. Have you found your classes yet? Back to Top
Why does almost everyone want to be a screenwriter?Most people have a story to tell so why not in a movie. Or how many times have you seen a movie and say to yourself that you can do better? Some see screenwriting as an overnight success topped with fame and mass fortune, but the reality of it is that this does not happen in one shot. No one writes a perfect script their first time. It all takes time to nurture and perfect. Rewrite and more rewrites to get the satisfactory product you strive for prior to releasing it to the open market for sale. If you are looking for the fame and fortune you might as well try something else. If you love to write, want to learn the correct way of writing a screenplay, will dedicate your time and efforts into producing a good product for the open market, then you can be a screenwriter. Screenwriting is an art. Don't compromise it. It is either for the fame and fortune or pleasure of creating a screenplay that one is a screenwriter. What is your reason? Is there another reason you may have? Let's hear about it. Write to us at: Lauren@we-penguins.com. Back to Top
Who is responsible for protecting your screenplay?YOU ARE! The BEST protection is to copyright your work with the Library of Congress. You can log on to their web site www.loc.gov and download the forms. Be sure to use the proper forms which should be the application for Performing Arts. Back to Top
What about contests?There are an assortment of contests out today. You are the one who must research through these and decide which is best for you. Do not enter every screenwriting contest you see for it can be very costly. Some contests have an entrance fee from zero up to the hundreds. Check the rules of the contest to see if you qualify. What are the prizes? Will this contest have a panel of judges who represent a studio to be able to consider purchasing the winning script? Are there any monetary prizes or just products involved? Does a contest promise that your script will be pitched to a studio? Whatever the prizes are, you must see if this is what you are looking for. Remember to fill out the applications properly for this along with non compliance of rules immediately disqualifies you. You can log on to our Screenwriting Links area to view some of the contests offered. Is your script ready for a contest? Back to Top
When is screenwriting format important?ALWAYS! You must have your screenplay in industry format. If you do not know what that is, there are books to help you. If you have not seen an actual script you can order one on line or check with a bookstore. The best scripts to read are ones in script format and NOT those included in books. You can also view scripts on web sites, but those may not include page numbers which are important to the writer in format and structure. One of the mistakes of the new screenwriter is not using proper format. Whether you are submitting your script to a contest, manager, studio, etc. the readers always look for proper formatting as a priority. There are an assortment of screenwriting software products on the market today. One of the best that we recommend is Movie Magic Screenwriter 2000. You may have the best screenplay ever, but if it is not in proper industry standard format it will not be read. Is your screenplay in the proper format? If not we can help at Jade King Productions. Back to Top
Is there really writer's block? You have heard of people complaining that they have "writer's block" which prevents them from putting words to paper. I, personally do not believe in "writer's block," but only the blockage of time that prevents one from writing their thoughts down. Many use the term "writer's block" to describe the moments when they do not want to or know how to write. As a writer there are a myriad of sources from where to gain information and ideas to write about. Some may take more research than others. The daily news articles or a personal experience may spark the first page of your story. Time is most important to start this writing process and continue it. As for the time to write, you must restructure your life to do this act if you wish to get to your next goal in writing. You must also evaluate your life's goals to see if this is the road (screenwriting) you wish to venture on. Some people are afraid to write for fear of rejection, others feel procrastination comes first in their lives while others do have situations that arise which prevent the use of time to write. There are many reasons why time has been blocked that you are not able to write, but you must be able to work around this if you wish to focus on your writing. Writing one page is one step ahead of where you were last. This is a good start. Or is it that you are not able to develop a schedule to write? Are there times of the day or night where your creative powers are most active? Do you need a few suggestions on how to put a writing schedule together? You may wish to read Ken Atchity's A Writers Time or Viki King's How to Write a Movie in 21 Days. Both authors have their own style of suggestions for the writer to use in order to write your screenplay. Both these books you may purchase by clicking on the titles. Is it time or life that is holding you back or is it you? Back to Top
No one likes rejection and how do you handle it? With screenwriting, rejection may come from your teacher, manager, agent, production company, etc. No matter where or how it comes about, you must find the reasons why and go forth to the next step. REWRITE! Unless your story is definitely not marketable, your rewriting skills now come into play. Find out why the studio rejected your script. Is it due to the main character being too aggressive without any change? Could it be about alien dogs from Pluto taking over the world? Whatever it may be, do some research and rewrite to make your story better to present the next time. If your present project is really not working, try changing a character or two, a situation, the title, the time period, your name. When all else fails, work on another story and go back to this first one later or not at all. Don't let this discourage you from working on your next project. Don't look at rejection as being personal. We, as writers have our "pet projects" and want so badly to have it sold and produced. We look at these projects as the greatest, but others may not. Remember, this is still a business and not a situation where you are trying to gain personal approval from others. What Hollywood looks for are projects that can make them money. Hopefully, some of them want good stories also. When you are at a level such as George Lucas, then you can produce your own "pet projects" with satisfaction. Oh, no! Another rejection notice. You should be happy. Think of how many scripts come across a reader's desk each day. At least someone took the time to read your script to form an opinion of your story. Some scripts are not even read and put in to the "pile" to take care of at a later date. Whatever "take care of" means to them. If you do have a slight setback with rejection, do something good for yourself. A small treat of sorts such as an outing with friends, take a long scenic drive, put your photo album together, etc. Do something that will put a smile on your face and in the good mood to continue with writing or rewriting. Do something that will clear your head to continue with your writing and not something mind contorting or damaging. Now, are you ready for another rewrite?
Why should we care about the authenticity of ethnic characters? As you view movies, read books, surf the web you will see the standard 'stereotyped ethnic character.' We, as writers of any medium should be aware that it is up to us to educated and inform the public as to the 'real thing.' How many of you like to eat veggie burgers? Not to say that are not good in taste or good for you, but many of us do not like substitutes. We want the 'real thing' which should also apply to characters in our stories. Take a look around you at all there is in America. Then the world. What a melting pot of ingredients to gather from. We need to bring out the differences and show the assortment of cultures we have at hand on this earth. Why are Mexicans different from Cubans? Why are Russian Jews different from American Jews? Why are Brazilians and Portuguese different, but speak Portuguese? What is the difference between Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Vietnamese? Who are the blacks of America and those of Somalia? Why do you question a 'white' person if they say they are South African? These and many more questions rise in some people's minds and it is up to us to bring answers to them in our writing. Where do we look for information? There is a myriad of sources these days starting with the internet. Don't forget to get back into the 'old fashioned' ways with a library. The larger the library the more information. Try a library in a university or large city. Research, interviews, read, read and do more reading. A never ending task, but worth the information it holds. Back to Top
ASK DRAKE: Are there questions that you would like answered? You can submit your questions below. Just click on Drake the penguin of Ask Drake your question. Drake will get some answers and post them on this site.
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