Q&A for How to Write a Screenplay Synopsis

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  • Question
    How do you start writing a screenplay?
    Melessa Sargent
    Professional Writer
    Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020.
    Professional Writer
    Expert Answer
    I recommend making sure you know your idea. Write exactly what you want to your script to be about, and really understand your characters as well. To start, write everything out in paragraph form, noting things such as locations that you would like to include. Once you've written it all out, you can start to to transfer your ideas and and put them on paper using the correct formatting.
  • Question
    What software can I use to write a screenplay?
    Melessa Sargent
    Professional Writer
    Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020.
    Professional Writer
    Expert Answer
    I recommend using Final Draft, because they are always up to date and have great customer service. The software is also industry standard and very easy to use.
  • Question
    What is a spec script?
    Melessa Sargent
    Professional Writer
    Melessa Sargent is the President of Scriptwriters Network, a non-profit organization that brings in entertainment professionals to teach the art and business of script writing for TV, features and new media. The Network serves its members by providing educational programming, developing access and opportunity through alliances with industry professionals, and furthering the cause and quality of writing in the entertainment industry. Under Melessa's leadership, SWN has won numbers awards including the Los Angeles Award from 2014 through 2021, and the Innovation & Excellence award in 2020.
    Professional Writer
    Expert Answer
    Writing a spec script involves writing a new episode to a television show that is already on TV. The process requires understanding all of the characters and their individual voices so that you can carry on the show from where it left off. Many screenwriters have a couple of specs written, as they can help with your own original writing.
  • Question
    What makes a successful director?
    Sajid Khan
    Community Answer
    A person who can control the audience's emotions, and gives them pleasure through his creation.
  • Question
    Why is a director so important?
    Community Answer
    The job of a director is to oversee all aspects of production. They make all the creative (and sometimes business) decisions to end up with the result based on his or her vision. Imagine the cast, crew, and everything as the canvas and the paintbrush and the director is the painter/artist.
  • Question
    What is the best free script-writing software for screenwriters?
    Community Answer
    Any script-writing software will work. Some examples are Celtx, Rawscripts, Dubscript and Writer Duet.
  • Question
    How can I tell if my screenplay is any good?
    Community Answer
    Get other people to read it. Other people's opinions are good, especially if they don't at first know what the story is about.
  • Question
    There is a possibility of stealing the idea when we submit the synopsis to a director or a producer. How can we protect our idea if the Director says it's not good after stealing that idea from a story?
    Community Answer
    Register your synopsis with the US Patent and Copyright office through a company such as Legal Zoom. Although your creative work is copyrighted at the time of writing, enforcement of a copyright infringement will require an attorney. Registering will allow the author to recover legal costs.
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