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Finishing That First Screenplay?

I was greatly encouraged last night when Kevin Jackson - screenwriting instructor extraordinaire - mentioned that "the first screenplay is the one most people are emotionally attached to.  It's difficult to reconcile the emotion for the project with the realities of what it takes to write a screenplay."   He reminded me that I may never finish my FIRST screenplay, or I may finish it next year or in five years.

I had mentioned that I was losing inspiration after my umpteenth change to characters and situations.  It has definitely gotten harder to write!  He added that the unspoken understanding in Hollywood is that most writers write 8 to 10 screenplays before they write a good one.  What's important is to keep learning the lessons.  Keep applying the ideas and concepts.  And work on it as much as I can.

I guess those are good ideas for anyone learning any profession or skill with a significant learning curve.  I saw my travails in a new light and decided to keep at it!  No giving up now!

If you've ever attempted to write a screenplay or a play, and you're reading this now, please share your own comments on what it was like that first screenplay.  Did you get discouraged?  Was it any good when you finished?  Did you finish?  What have you done since the first? I'd like to hear from you!

Watching "Atonement" With Script in Hand

I watched "Atonement" last night with the script in front of me.  This is one of my favorite films ever, and it was totally awesome to watch it with the film script right there.  I get a different appreciation for the writing (as well as the acting) when I can see the words in print, and see on screen how the actors delivered them.

What you don't see is how the script writer (Christopher Hampton) adopted the screenplay from the novel by Ian McEwan. I read the novel after seeing the movie in 2008, and I think Mr. Hampton did a great job.  Of course, Robbie Turner is supposed to be big and tall, but I am so happy that description was ignored and James McAvoy was cast instead.  I think the role was perfect for him.

At any rate, watching Atonement was part of this week's assignment for my screenwriting class.  Part of the re-write for my own script includes updating my period from the 1860's to the early 1900's, so my instructor wanted me to see how a romance/mystery/period piece looks on the page, and get a feel for the language. I also saw how to make notes for stage instructions.  I see I need a lot more description in my own writing. I'm sure I'll be referring back to it over and over as I proceed with my own writing...

Anybody else have an experience of seeing the words in print for the first time, and how it broadened your perspective?

Anna and Thomas Sequence One

My homework for my screenwriting master class is to have Sequence 1 ready to share at the next class.  Is every window necessary and compelling?

I started this screenplay last September or October, and it seemed to flow so easily.  Somewhere along the way it got hard.  My job is to have it be fun and easy again.  I keep going back to, I design my life.  Why am I designing it that writing is hard?  That's not very fun!

The screenwriting class is pretty awesome.  We are learning how to ask questions of our script to see what does make a scene compelling. What works? What doesn't?  Why or why not?  Is this scene consistent with my theme? My main character's behavior?  The genre?  It's interesting to watch movies now, having the distinctions I learn from this.

If you're reading this and you have ever written a screenplay, or are thinking of writing one, or have taken classes, I'd like to hear from you.  What did you do to keep the ideas flowing freely?