Today I studied for more than two hours at Third Place Books. Grabbed about ten books on screenwriting, set up camp in a comfy leather chair, scanned the stack of paperbacks for bits of guidance and instruction that resonated with me (a total beginner in the beginning stage of the screenwriting process), took seven pages of notes, generated some ideas for structure and storytelling along the way, and purchased nothing.
I learned a lot! Got a handle on some of the basics (including the three-act structure and plot points as explained by Syd Field vs. “rising action” as endorsed by Tom Lazarus, and the importance of near endless re-writes) as well as the nuances of screenwriting (phone conversations and voiceovers are generally no-no’s, especially for beginners). Practical how-to stuff was also gleened, including how to do background sketches for main characters, which helps ward off the temptation to use flashbacks, and use of 3×5 cards in digital or physical format to allow reshuffling of scenes. A concrete list of action items is forming in regards to the writing process, which is great.
The books from which I stole most of the knowledge gained today include:
Screenplay: The Foundation of Screenwriting by Syd Field
Secrets of Film Writing by Tom Lazarus
The Screenwriter Within: How to Turn the Movie in Your Head into a Salable Screenplay by D.B. Gilles.
The Compete Idiot’s Guide to Screenwriting, Second Edition
Rewriting Secrets for Screenwriters: Seven Strategies to Improve and Sell Your Work by Tom Lazarus
Screenwriters’ Masterclass: Screenwriters Talk About Their Greatest Movies by Kevin Conroy Scott (Editor)
Screenwriting for Dummies by Laura Schellhardt (Author), John Logan (Foreword)
Perhaps most importantly, my initial study session gave me an idea of what I don’t know. Which is a lot. But somehow I’m still confident about my screenplay’s premise, characters, plot and sub-plot. And my ability to bring it all together (with a serious investment of time, energy and determination). I remain energized and excited. Assuming I’m at least somewhat in touch with reality, that’s got to be a good sign.
