Shooting People's Film Of The Month

Just a friendly reminder to head on over to Shooting People, watch Sam Morrison's 5 minute film, Greetings, and, if you're a member, LIKE it so it can win film of the month! Sam will buy you a pint.*

It's neck and neck the last time I looked. So tense! So, if you like the film (and why wouldn't you? it's GENIUS) and are a SP member, be sure to LIKE!



*A virtual one.

** UPDATE 20TH OCT 2011 ** DESPITE GETTING MOST LIKES AND VIEWS, SAM DID NOT WIN, REPEAT, DID NOT WIN FILM OF THE MONTH. GAH, IT'S A FIX, HOW CAN THAT BE? THE NOODLES ARE BOILING! MATT GROENING DID SEND SOME LOVELY FEEDBACK, THOUGH. SWEET **

Screenwriting Bullet #13: Format

Format is really the number one screenwriting fundamental yet it continuously gets disregarded by new (and occasionally not so new) writers. Essentially, if a script looks and feels like a script, with Courier Pt12 font, suitable left and right margins, appropriate tabs for characters' names and dialogue, then it's job done. If a script is written in Times New Roman in a Word document, with everything centred, or centred and all in capitals, then it just shouts AMATEUR.*

Stick to the basics. Invest in Final Draft software, and let the pre-programmed format do the work for you. Final Draft is widely considered as the industry standard, and many TV programmes will work to existing formats within the specific software (EastEnders included). There is free software available, such as Celtx, and files can easily be transferred into a PDF format, which is now the common document in which to send and receive scripts.

So, no more excuses. Scripts in proper script format. No more coloured fonts, screaming capitals**, or centred action. If you're going to look like a pro, you're going to have to start writing like one.


* Photo from Script Nurse

** The BBC Script Smart format for sitcom scripts do put everything in capitals, with the description on the right hand side of the page. This type of format developed when normal scripts were transferred into production drafts, so that the director and other departments could make notes on the left hand side of the page. It has become an acceptable way to format scripts, mainly in the sitcom genre, and should have a page count of around 50-60 pages.

UK Scriptwriters podcast: Dialogue

The latest UK Scriptwriters podcast with me and Tim Clague is all about dialogue: what is good dialogue, how do you write good dialogue, what are the four main functions of dialogue, etc?

Plus, there's news on the London Screenwriters' Festival. If you're going but haven't bought your ticket yet, get £30 off with discount code SCRIPTWRITINGUK (all caps).

Listen to the podcast via the embed below, or the main site, or subscribe via iTunes. You can email us with any suggestions or feedback (or just say hello!). Find us on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Cheers!

Thanks, as ever, to Industrial Scripts for their ongoing support to make the podcast happen.

Sam Morrison: Greetings

Some of you may be aware that I do some regular co-writing with Sam Morrison (animator/writer/director/Everton fan). Crikey, ever since 2000 in fact, when I script edited a pilot he was doing for Channel 4.

Since then, we've adapted Conrad's War, an award-winning children's book by Andrew Davies ("the script perfectly captures the spirit of the book"), written our much-loved Aliens FC as a script AND a book (getting close to production, publication and awards on numerous occasions), and also written many pilots for various production companies that have been awesome but sadly never been made or gone to series.

If you want to know why I love working with Sam so much, then you simply must check out his latest 5 minute animated short, Greetings. It's about a neurotic card designer who has a rather unorthodox idea for a greetings card, which suitably represents his ever-growing disillusionment with life. Voiced brilliantly by Michael Rosen!

Greetings is up for Shooting People's Film Of The Month so if you're a SP member, please do watch and *LIKE* it to help it win.

Go on, it'll cheer him up. He supports Everton, remember.

London Screenwriters Festival: Discount!

Going to this year's London Screenwriters' Festival? (Friday 28th October-Sunday 30th October 2011)

Want £30 off the ticket price?

Then use my discount code SCRIPTWRITINGUK (all caps).

Looks like another great line-up so snap up your ticket while you can.

Liquid Lunch: Omnibus Video!

If you missed any of Liquid Lunch, my recent comedy web series, here's all of the episodes in one handy 12 minute video!

Personally, I think it's interesting to watch the series in this cohesive chunk as you get to see how the characters and story develop from what is essentially just two blokes talking within a deliberate proscenium* visual style. For example, a lot of story happens off screen to ensure the required pace and banter from episode to episode. An interesting exercise in exposition and time jumps! (It also shows how I should have got the actors to drink their pints from time to time!)

Check out the 'How I Made A Web Series' posts for the inside info on why, what, where and how it all came about. Here's a behind the scenes vid that shows the t̶o̶r̶t̶u̶r̶e̶ fun on the set.

And here's some outtakes!



* A fancy word I learned from some of the feedback I received.