Archive for the ‘Resources’ Category

The Three Dimensions of Character: Going Deep and Wide to Create Compelling Heroes and Villains – by Larry Brooks of StoryFix

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Larry Brooks’s latest book The Three Dimensions of Character: Going Deep and Wide to Create Compelling Heroes and Villains is a valuable resource for learning how to effectively develop characters. Though designed for fiction authors, Brooks’s observations, insights, and advice can be applied equally to screenwriting. A successful author, screenwriter, and writing coach, Brooks presents the material with his usual warmth, charm, and wit; reading The Three Dimensions is like having your own screenwriting mentor sitting across the table sharing his expertise.

JUST THE FACTS MA’AM – AND NO FLUFF

Brooks skips the obvious “make your characters rich, deep, and compelling” and actually tells you how to put all the pieces together to create dynamic characters – not just in theory, but in practice. The author reveals:

* How to integrate the three dimensions of character
* The elements of good character
* The seven variables that communicate character
* The six core competencies of successful storytelling
* Understanding character motivation
* Interior vs. exterior conflict

If you’re looking for the real tools you need to construct engaging heroes and villains then pick up a copy of The Three Dimensions of Character (note: not an affiliate link).

Friday Q&A: Tracking Boards

Q: I keep hearing about “tracking boards”. What is a tracking board and should I care?

A: Thanks for your question. Tracking Boards are online sites used by film executives and script readers to track spec scripts, and share and discuss information. Tracking boards may help screenwriters by providing more exposure for their work however, a screenplay that receives negative feedback may hurt the writer and the script’s chances for sale. Access to tracking boards was once exclusive to the industry, but today screenwriters have the opportunity to follow boards, such as TrackingB ($79/year) and The Tracking Board ($49/year).

Friday Q&A: Joining the WGA

Q: What does the WGA do and who can join?

A: Thanks for your question. The Writers Guild of America (WGA) is a labor union that represents writers. The WGA has created a collective bargaining agreement that signatories adhere to when working with and contracting writers. The WGA allows writers to register intellectual properties, enforces credits, compensation, and creative rights, hosts special events (including the annual Writers Guild Awards), and publishes Written By, a magazine on the art, craft, and business of writing in Hollywood. Among other things, the WGA also archives scripts through the Writers Guild Foundation’s Library.

Membership is open to writers who have sold material to, or have been employed by, a signatory (a company that has signed the collective bargaining agreement). Writers living east of the Mississippi belong to the WGA East and writers residing west of the Mississippi belong to the WGA West. The WGA allows non-members to register their work, attend certain events, peruse the Guild Agency Signatory List, and subscribe to Written By (or view it online).

Friday Q&A: Free Screenwriting Software

Q: I’m not ready to invest in Final Draft or Movie Magic Screenwriter software. Is screenwriting software really necessary?

A: Thanks for your question. Screenplays have been written for decades without the use of screenwriting software. However, there’s no doubt that the built-in formatting of screenwriting software makes the process much easier. Using The Hollywood Standard: The Complete & Authoritative Guide to Script Format and Style by Christopher Riley, you can format your script using a basic word processing software program, such as MS Word. There are also several free screenwriting software programs available worth considering: Scripped, Zhura, Celtx, and MindStar’s Script Editor.

Resources for Screenwriters

MAGAZINES & ONLINE PUBLICATIONS

Creative Screenwriting

Fade In

Filmmaker Magazine

The Hollywood Reporter

Hollywood Scriptwriter

Inside Film Magazine

MovieMaker Magazine

Scr(i)pt

Variety

Written By

COMMUNITY SITES, FORUMS, AND DIRECTORIES

Absolute Write – industry articles, agent listings, competitions, message boards

Done Deal – script sales, directory of agents, attorneys, and production companies, message boards

FilmTracker – lists films in development

Hollywood Creative Directory – listing of studios, production companies, and executives

Hollywood Representation Directory – listing of agents and manager

Internet Movie Database Pro – production charts, representation listings

Moviebytes – screenwriting competitions, industry articles, and “Who’s Buying What”

StoryLink – articles, screenwriter interviews, message boards

Who Represents – directory of talent representatives

ORGANIZATIONS & ASSOCIATIONS

American Film Institute

Film Independent

Scriptwriter’s Network

Women In Film

Writers Guild of America, West

SCRIPTS (Free)

Daily Script

Drew’s Script-O-Rama

Internet Movie Script Database

My PDF Scripts

Script Collector

ScriptCrawler

Simply Scripts