Ask A Hack
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writing
Answer from Ask a Hack: A class? One class - you took one fragging class and think you know enough to write a screenplay? I've been in school since the Nixon Administration and I'm just now getting to FADE IN.
Find a workshop-type class and let the members of the workshop and the teacher help you. It's more than just outlining - there's a thousand factors to consider. The process is complex and ever-evolving; one class just can't cover it.
Mark Sevi (who is answering this question for you) teaches at IVC through their continuing education department. Mark has 18 produced movies and thinks he knows a lot about screenwriting. His classes are a combination of lecture and workshop with students activily putting together projects throughout the semester. Students benefit from his input and the input of students who understand a great deal about the process.
Find Mark's classes here: http://www.123getsmart.com/commed/Activities/Activities.asp?SCheck=64521...
Good luck.
Hack
Facebook
Dear Music Lover,
No one wants to hear about how intimate your knowledge of "Air Supply" lyrics is. But if you insist on making us vomit, putting music (and lyrics) into a script is okay but if it's crucial to the plot then you might get in trouble. The song might not be available or might be too expensive for the rights. Of course, why should you worry - who's gonna buy your material anyway, right? Ed Wood is dead.
By the way, an actor can read lyrics in a movie for free but as soon as they sing those lyrics, the production company gets charged - a lot.
This fact is almost as fascinating as your shower rendition of "The Krankies" hits. Don't ask me how I know what your shower renditions sound like - there are some questions I just won't answer.
Hack
Dear Curious,
Of course, I could be obvious and say something about McDonald's but instead I'll just recommend you look up Alfred Hitchcock (no, not "Hancock", you dim bulb) and learn something by working for it instead of always asking me.
You might discover that Hitchcock coined the phrase "McGuffin" (MacGuffin) to describe what drives the plot - what everyone wants. For instance, in "The Maltese Falcon," the statue is the McGuffin and propels the plot forward.
But do the research yourself. I'm already tired of answering questions here.
Hack
how to
Dear Space Case,
In this instance, INT. YOUR BRAIN - NIGHT would accomplish the same thing as INT. SPACE - NIGHT -- but I digress.
Are you writing about a location in outer space that you will use again or just outer space where an event is taking place like a space battle that happens in space?
If the location is just a one-of outer space and all its glory then just a general OUTER SPACE in the slug would suffice. If there is a particular place in outer space then I'd call it out like:
INT. NEAR SPACE STATION - NIGHT; or INT. ASTEROID BELT - NIGHT; or INT. OFF SATURN'S RINGS - NIGHT
This gives the reader and/or director a visual cue but also a head's up that we're going to be using this location again.
It's similar to using the generic INT. STREET - DAY -- if we're going to be visiting this location again or it has a special meaning in the script then we need to give it a specific street location like INT. 14th STREET - DAY.
Now take off, space cadet and get some writing done.
Hack (always in outer space)
Q: Are treatments necessary? I'm getting mixed responses to this question. I'm meeting with an agent shortly and I don't know if I should have a treatment, as well as the finished product (the script is finished)Thank you
Dear Quick,
Is that electroshock treatment you're talking about? In your case, it probably is necessary. But if you really think I know anything worthwhile about mental illness and its treatment then I'll thank you to not talk to my mom anymore and -
Wait - you mean movie treatment. Oh. Well, yes and no. How's that? Thanks for coming, Goodnight.
I've sold a lot of films and I've never once needed a treatment. A synopsis, yes - treatment no. Treatments are more for film execs, those bastions of mental midgetry, to see where a story is going before it's written - like after you've pitched a concept that they might want to buy. Once the script is already written then they can read the synopsis to see the overall structure and concept and the script to get every thing else.
Can it hurt to have one ready? Probably not. But in my opinion it's really a waste of time. A 1-2 page synopsis and the script should be all you'll need.
Hack
P.S. When meeting with an agent remember to carry your garlic, a cross and a stake and don't look directly in their eyes or you'll turn to stone.
Dear Just,
Define "good." Sure, I know that's a trick question for you. I doubt you even typed the original question yourself, right - so going as far as defining something...never mind.
All right, Final Draft is the gold standard. It does more, better than just about any other scriptwriting software out there. It's also pretty much the industry standard. It costs a decent amount of money but it's totally worth it. There is this slight, continuing display problem with Final Draft so I just don't like it as well as the others and it doesn't seem quite as flexible. But when I get ready to deliver my masterpiece to the prodco that's the format I use.
Movie Magic Screenwriter was one of my favs - I was a fanboy back when it was ScriptThing and they gave away cool t-shirt with every purchase. But they just didn't keep up well with the market. I'd love to see them kick some major tail with a newer, more intuitive version at some point. Good stuff, it is, says Yoda. But it usually costs more than Final Draft, unfortunately.
Celtx is free and it's good - unreal actually for a free product. And until you actually sell something (hahahahaha - sorry - I'm sure that's gonna happen soon) you should consider using it since it does all the critical stuff and more. And did I mention? It's free.
There's other alternatives floating around including a Word macro (shudder) - but really, what do I know? I mostly use WordPerfect to create my material. Yes, WordPerfect and it's fine so take that attitude and put it where the sun don't go.
Hack
technical
Dear Cheap,
OMG, if one more person says that this is okay to do I'm going to continue to drink myself into a drunken stupor every day. So basically, I'm pretty much guaranteed to be always wasted before breakfast.
NO! NO! NO! (do you get it?) - you CANNOT mail yourself a copy of your script and have any legal copyright coverage. Think about it, idiot. How easy is it to mess with any envelope and slip in a new version of your script? Even if you're just plain stupid you can manage to defeat any tape job - and besides that, there's no proof (proof being the operative word here) that the way you currently have the envelope is the way you received it. It's just your word.
But, Hack, it has an "official" postmark and date cancelled stamp on it. That's proof.
Shut up now and I won't kill you.
Just trust me on this - there is no legal coverage (NONE!) of copyright when you mail yourself something. It's called the "Poorman's Copyright" and it's worth just that - nothing.
But as with all things legal, check with an attorney - don't take the word of a wasted a-hole like me.
Hack
