My interview with Tariq Hager, co-director of the Prague Film School…
Prague Film School: An International Melting Pot for Filmmakers
Knocking on Hollywood’s door not only means also using the doorbell, it means knowing how to find the right representation and companies for your screenplay. And, without question, your screenplay must be the absolute best it can be before you submit it for consideration.
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Whether you’re writing a feature-length film or a short film, good dialogue will enhance your characters and bring life to your screenplay. Want to grab the attention of film executives? Write good dialogue!
Characters’ voices must be distinctive and not interchangeable with other characters. Readers must be able to identify who is speaking without needing to look at your character headings. Characters’ speech patterns, idiosyncratic phrases, staccato responses, and even their pauses, will enrich their dialogue and make each character identifiable. Keep in mind less is often more — the less said can prove more poignant.
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I am a huge proponent of writing short screenplays, particularly if your future goals are to direct and/or produce feature-length films. Writing short films gives writers the opportunity to hone in on their skills by conveying an attention-grabbing story in just a few minutes. A short film also offers the chance to actually get a film made, as its length, financial and logistical constraints are minimized.
I began my filmmaking career by writing and collaborating on six short films — and this experience was invaluable. On a creative level, it taught me how to hone in my writing skills by conveying a compelling narrative (even though these films were categorized as experimental narratives) in 20 minutes or less. I learned how to craft each word of dialogue (or text) for a viewing audience and not just for the page. Visual storytelling, music cues, genre, and more, were all vital elements that I grew more confident in with each film.
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Breaking into the Biz –
Now that you’ve got that diploma, what do you do with it to make those screenwriting dreams a reality?
You are about to don your cap and gown and receive your hard-earned diploma. A bright and exciting future awaits you. It’s time to step outside of the college/university bubble in which you have been protected and venture out into the business world, otherwise known as the film industry. Are you ready?
Tips for recent film and screenwriting graduates or those interested in breaking into the film biz…
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Debra Eckerling interviews Susan Kouguell
READ INTERVIEW:
http://writeononline.com/2012/04/03/author-qa-susan-kouguell-savvy-characters-sell-screenplays/
SAVVY CHARACTERS SELL SCREENPLAYS!
My workshop on March 31:
1E: How Do I Get My Screenplay Noticed and Into the Right Hands? with Susan Kouguell
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