The Beginning…
I became interested in screenwriting when a friend told me Disney
was launching a satellite for a cable channel. At the time, I was
an aspiring writer. I told him I didn’t know anything about
screenwriting. He said, “Well, teach yourself how to write
screenplays.”
So, I went to a bookstore and bought every screenwriting book
on the shelf. There were 7, at the time. I studied the books. I
wrote a screenplay in two weeks. In two weeks after that I had
found an agent. And he took the script to Disney.
First Introduction to Film
I’ve always been interested in film. When we were boys, my twin brother
and I always went to a double feature at the local theater on
Saturday afternoons. Then, we come home and recreated one
of the movies by playing it out. If it were a western, we’d filch Mom’s
brooms, and pretend they were horses.
Screenwriting Skill Set
The skill set for screenwriting is to have, or to develop the ability
to write visually. Film is a visual medium, so one has to write
with that in mind. Next, one must be emotionally strong.
Screenwriting is competitive. One can possess the best
screenwriting talent of anyone, but that doesn’t guarantee them
succes because there are so many variables that go along with
screenwriting. Timing. Genre. Networking. Marketing. Mental
strength. Competition. The uncertainty of executives being able
to make up their minds whether your screenplay will work for
them or not. Unless, one is born into wealth, the willingness to
sit with dead bodies at mortuaries, or being a chauffeur, or
working as a brewery worker, or working as a liquor store clerk, etc.
usually comes with screenwriting until you sell their first
screenplay for a reasonable sum of money.
Dancing and Screenwriting
Also, someone once said that if you can’t dance, you can’t write
screenplays. So, what that person meant was that screenwriting
requires a certain kind rhythm. And each screenplay requires a
different or varying kind of rhythm. That rhythm comes from inside
the screenwriter. It cannot be developed. When one begins
writing a screenplay is when the rhythm for the screenplay should
be nailed down on the first page of the screenplay. Showing a
metaphor for the movie, introducing the main character, and
establishing the location, amongst other things, all should be
written on the first page of most screenplays. As the screenwriter
sorts their way through this jungle of screenwriting, a rhythm for
the entire screenplay should be developing. If it is not, then
it could be a signal that this kind of story needs more of the
screenwriter’s “mentalness”to make it work.
Vital Screenwriting Tools
Material that is vital to the screenwriter is a screenwriting
program like Final Draft, Movie Magic, or a host of others.
The screenwriter should also have “Standard Script Formats –
Part I – Screenplay” by Cole/Haag. This book is the industry
standard. It not only helps with formatting, but also gives out
a host of other information. Viki King’s “How to Write a Movie
in 21 Days” is an excellent book to have at your fingertips
as well, and anything written by Linda Seeger. Anything
by John Truby should be on your desk. And Robert McKee’s
“Story” is vital to any screenwriter who is intent on succeeding
in Hollywood. Story is everything in Hollywood, while
character-driven pieces are usually produced by independent
producers and Mr. McKee knows story.
This odyssey of mine has resulted in having written, directed and
produced an award-winning film that won 3 best film festival
awards, being cataloged into the Smithsonian, being cataloged
into 42 Tribal College Libraries, several colleges and
universities and museums. I have also acted as a writer/consultant
for MGM and a host of independent production companies, writers,
producers and directors. I have also written and published
over 500 screenwriting articles and a couple of e-books. I also
have this blog here. I am presently directing and managing a t. v.
animation series. I am also editing a screenplay for a Russian
screenwriter.
Conclusion
The fine point of this piece is to show how perseverance, study,
practice, a love for screenwriting, belief in oneself, patience
and plain hard work has led me to screenwriting success. You can
do it as well. Hang your hat on this: Above all else in my
screenwriting odyssey, perseverance played the biggest role
in leading me through screenwriting jungle to screenwriting
success. Now, what is next?
So, a brief journey into a “life” of screenwriting.
Donald L. Vasicek
Olympus Films+, LLC
The Zen of Writing & Screenwriting
http://michaelc.nextmp.net/wordpress
dvasicek@earthlink.net
