Quote: billwill @ September 27 2008, 1:04 PM BSTHow naive, any producer reading your kind of script is simply likely to think " Hah a rank amateur wanna-be scriptwriter who hasn't bothered to find out what we want".
Then he chucks it on the reject pile.
My kind of scripts that have been BAFTA, RTS and Golden Rose nominated you mean?
Told you that Marc P was a proper "luvvie" didn't I! 
Quote: Marc P @ September 27 2008, 2:40 PM BSTMy kind of scripts that have been BAFTA, RTS and Golden Rose nominated you mean?
Oooooo! 
*saves picture for future use as it's often needed*
Yes, you're right there!
Quote: Marc P @ September 27 2008, 2:40 PM BSTMy kind of scripts that have been BAFTA, RTS and Golden Rose nominated you mean?
As an established "name", it probably doesn't apply to you any more. Your stuff will get read through anyway.
And I didn't really mean your own scripts, but scripts written in the manner you described, which 'sounded' like scripts should be written a bit like a novel.
Saying as I did above, that a script is not a story, didn't mean that it doesn't CONTAIN a story, of course. Just that it should not be written as a story. A script contains descriptions of what the audience can SEE and HEAR, essentially nothing else, so all the background stuff, especially thoughts of characters etc, are not present.
And certainly AFAIAA, fudging the SLUGLINE to trick the first READER is amateurish.
Nice backpedal.
Quote: David Bussell @ September 27 2008, 4:21 PM BSTNice backpedal.
I'd call it a clarification...
Quote: billwill @ September 27 2008, 4:11 PM BSTAs an established "name", it probably doesn't apply to you any more. Your stuff will get read through anyway.
And I didn't really mean your own scripts, but scripts written in the manner you described, which 'sounded' like scripts should be written a bit like a novel.
Saying as I did above, that a script is not a story, didn't mean that it doesn't CONTAIN a story, of course. Just that it should not be written as a story. A script contains descriptions of what the audience can SEE and HEAR, essentially nothing else, so all the background stuff, especially thoughts of characters etc, are not present.
And certainly AFAIAA, fudging the SLUGLINE to trick the first READER is amateurish.
Bill do yourself a favour and read what I actually said. And I do know the difference between a screenplay and a novel surprisingly enough.
http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=944355&l=91284&id=606468976
Quote: Marc P @ September 28 2008, 9:32 AM BSTBill do yourself a favour and read what I actually said. And I do know the difference between a screenplay and a novel surprisingly enough.
http://www.new.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=944355&l=91284&id=606468976
That's a
if ever I saw one...
And I'm the poor bloody ref in the middle. Who threw that BAFTA?
If people state categorically that A is alway the case and is the hard and fast rule throughout the industry then you'll always find someone who'll disagree with you and then the discussion just gets unhelpful as people try not to lose face. If you state opinion then it's easier to say your bit without hassle and the need to be SEEN to be right.
I suspect there is no perfect way to do something. Preferred script format seems to vary from company to company. I could probably offer a safe bet that the same script offered to 30 or 40 producers will be picked up by all of them on some area of format that is peculiar to their own mindset. David is in the situation where he will listen to the debate then choose the format that seems right to him.
There is, I suspect, no perfect format that would get universal approval although I did hear a rumour that Sid Little once stole said golden format from the desk of Alan Yentob. He ground it up and swallowed it and has been cursed with everlasting priapism since. I think they based Raiders of the Lost Ark on that tale.
Marc, neat book, will have to get it.
So do we know what the answer is yet?
Avoid the issue by writing for radio.
Quote: Griff @ September 29 2008, 10:51 AM BSTAvoid the issue by writing for radio.
I prefer writing for radio anyway. It's a purer form where you have more control. Nice to see Marc P showing a bit of hubris, though.
Quote: Graham Bandage @ September 29 2008, 10:49 AM BSTSo do we know what the answer is yet?
Refer to William Goldman's favourite answer:
"Nobody knows anything."