| Wouldn't it be nice to come up with a formula | | | | odds for success are severely limited. There just |
| that you could use to write, sell and get your | | | | aren't enough movies made each year to match |
| screenplays produced? Well, guess what? There is | | | | the number of screenwriters and screenplays out |
| a formula. A- list screenwriters use it all the time. | | | | there. Just check with the Writer's Guild of |
| That's one reason they are A-list writers. | | | | America if you don't believe me. Check with |
| The formula resides in the genre of film they are | | | | productions companies, agencies and managers. |
| writing. There are several steps they follow. | | | | So, you should make a conscious decision before |
| Some say there are twelve steps. Others say it | | | | you begin writing about whether you want to |
| depends upon the genre to determine how many | | | | write a formula screenplay, or go your own way |
| steps you use. The fine point of it is, if you can | | | | and simply write a screenplay. If you decide that |
| figure out the steps and execute them in your | | | | you want to write a formula screenplay, then, |
| screenplay, selling and getting it produced | | | | you have to follow a formula. |
| becomes easier. | | | | If you follow a formula, then you must know |
| How do you do this? There are some people who | | | | what genre you're writing in before you begin. |
| write and sell screenwriting programs that outline | | | | Once you determine these things, in lieu of buying |
| steps writers can take to follow the formula of | | | | the expensive screenwriting program, take that |
| their chosen genre. They charge prices many | | | | one movie, or those movies you found that |
| screenwriters cannot afford. Other screenwriters | | | | parallel your movie idea, and study them. Try to |
| might not be able to afford them, so they go in | | | | find others that are similar and study them. |
| hock to buy them. Other screenwriters with day | | | | Outline them scene-by-scene. Compare what you |
| jobs can afford to buy them, so they do. If | | | | are discovering with each movie that you're |
| you're one of those who cannot afford them, | | | | dissecting. FIND THE FORMULA for your chosen |
| then there is another way to figure out the genre | | | | genre. It's there. |
| formulas. | | | | Once you accomplish this, then you can outline |
| The first step is to make sure the genre you | | | | your screenplay using this formula, and begin |
| have chosen for your screenplay fits the | | | | writing your screenplay. |
| characters and storyline. The way you do this is | | | | Sound simple? Try it. I did that with THE CROWN |
| to think about movies that you have seen or that | | | | BORN TO WIN, an action/adventure feature I |
| you want to see. Consider if your movie idea | | | | wrote and sold that was produced last year. I |
| parallels any of these movies. If you find one that | | | | studied BLACK STALLION and outlined it |
| does, you're on your way. If you find more than | | | | scene-by-scene. I did the same thing with several |
| one, even better. | | | | other movies of the same genre that contained |
| The next thing you have to determine is if you | | | | elements of what I wanted to write. Dialogue. |
| want to write a screenplay that bears the | | | | Visuals. Action. Description. Characters. Story. |
| potential of becoming a blockbuster. If you do, | | | | Even story beats. What I learned about the action |
| then you have to plug into a formula for writing it. | | | | adventure formula by doing that was all the |
| If you don't, the odds that you can write, sell and | | | | difference between getting my screenplay |
| get your screenplay produced substantially | | | | written, sold and produced and failing at it. |
| decreases. | | | | So, if you want to write, sell, and get your |
| You have to realize that by writing screenplays, | | | | screenplays produced, you might want to try this. |
| you have placed yourself in a situation where the | | | | It works. |