05 Jan 2010, Posted by Asher Emmanuel in Articles,Drama,Screenwriting, 0 Comments

Gold for Screenwriters: Part 2

My initial interest in screenwriting was sparked at the beginning of last year, and I have since found blogs/websites/books that have helped clarify the often mysterious process. I want to continue to suggest resources to aspiring screenwriters that have benefited me. Perhaps this will become a weekly feature. Please feel free to comment and share resources or insider tidbits that have helped you. I am not a guru or expert in the field, but would love to learn what you know.

Any screenwriting forum worth its salt will tell you that the best way to becomes a screenwriter is to write. Write, write, write. The second thing they will tell you is to read screenplays. Pick a movie that you love and know inside-and-out, chances are the screenplay is available online for free. You will quickly learn the ‘language’ of the screenplay format, and can begin to discern how something on the screen was translated from the page.

What is the best way to find screenplays you ask?

You can ‘google search’ a movie or you can go to these screenplay sites below. They of course have movie scripts, but also other types of dramatic screenplays. Know a website that isn’t listed here? Post it.

SimplyScripts

Script-O-Rama

SFY

Movie Scripts

Additionally, I am planning on reviewing books that many screenwriters give credit for instructing them on the craft of story structure and the substance of storytelling. Namely Aristotle, Campbell, and McKee. We will begin by looking at The Power of Myth by Campbell first. Any additional suggestions are appreciated.