h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hey Irving... I don't really know who the people are who were giving you advice or what they actually do or have studied, but I got tired of siffting through some pretty usless advice... The only smart thing I read was someone telling you to go out and by Syd Field's book, the one you should get is called SCREENPLAY.

Also pick up Aristotle's Poetic's (no, I'm not kidding -- everything you ever wanted to know about story and structure in a dramatic format goes back to that one book) and The Art of Dramatic Writing by Lajos Egri.

There is a store in L.A. called Script City, you can get pretty much any script you want from them mailed to you... why do this? Reading scripts is the best way to learn format. And not 30 year old scripts or ones by people like Kubrik who could have gotten a stick figure he drew on a napkin produced if he had wanted to.... ask for recent films that fit your genre because format trends change from year to year...

Your job as a screenwriter is to descibe the action not direct the film... do not clutter your script with "CUT TO'S" and "CAMERA FOLLOWS" this is not your job. If you want a scene to be moody describe a moody scene... but keep it moving, short & sweet -- John Updike need not apply, think Hemingway.

And buy Final Draft software for your computer. it cost about 289.00, but it's all worth it -- formats all there, no more tabbing.

Hope some of this helps, if you have more specific questions you can e-mail me at [email protected]

Who am I? I'm a screenwriter/Assistant Director who lives in L.A....

Talk to ya later

Thank you very much! I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you on this, but I've been in San Francisco for the past couple of days and hadn't gotten a chance to get online. I've been conversing lately with a friend who recieved a scholarship to (I think) UCLA's Film School (He also got a scholarship to Stanford, where he's decided to do his undergrad work, but he DID get the Film scholarship). He and I may go over some basics during the break. It's nice to hear from someone who is already in the field, though. Thanks for the note, I hope to see you around.

~Irving