Please guys, check out these screenplay excerpts and criticise...

Hi Sholay, well done for writing and keep on doing it. Something that will help you out will be scriptwritng software. Personally I use Final Draft but if you can't get that yet Celtx is a 'free' scriptwriting software. A proper screenplay format will make your scripts much easier to read.

tnx ....cityboi...lol

sholay2011: tnx ....cityboi...lol

You're very welcome, I hope you find the info to be a bit useful. Lol I be proper Village sombori!

yeah...av registered wiv celtx to use it for my scripts but pls expatiate more on using it...

sholay2011: yeah...av registered wiv celtx to use it for my scripts but pls expatiate more on using it...

Hiya. Glad to hear you have Celtx now. I've only used it once because a short film we were making was written with it so I can't really comment on it - I just mentioned it here because it's free and you'll be able to format your scripts correctly. I use Final Draft. But I'm pretty sure like all scriptwriting software Celtx should be easy to get the hang of... have a play around with it.

villageboi...pls, av written some gud scripts (at least in my opinion), do u knw hw i can sell dem? cos frm ur previous.posts, u ve shot a short film before. tnx

sholay2011: villageboi...pls, av written some gud scripts (at least in my opinion), do u knw hw i can sell dem? cos frm ur previous.posts, u ve shot a short film before. tnx

Where you are based and what is your market? If you are in Nigeria then 'Nollywood' is the place to look at... try to find and have a conversation with producers where you are. They are far better placed to help you out.
Also are you talking about shorts or features? If 'shorts' - no one buys shorts. People generally make shorts as a learning experience before they try shooting a feature also as a 'calling-card', some even make a short version of a feature they want to raise funds for and other reasons. I also forgot to mention if you were talking about TV scripts?

You know what form you are/have written for go out and network with people in that field; this sort of thing will most probably not happen via the Internet. If you are in Lagos there are so many producers, production outfits and so on. You want it hard enough? Go out there and hunt for it and if your work is good enough you'll make it. In my opinion 'Nollywood' seriously needs GOOD writers.

tnx v much. u re on point. i reside in Nigeria sha. tnx

villageboi, cud u giv me ur e-mail so i can send one of my scripts to you for correction...?

sholay2011: villageboi, cud u giv me ur e-mail so i can send one of my scripts to you for correction...?

If you right-click on my username you'll be able to find out more about me. I'll be honest with you here. I can give you advice but I wouldn't accept or correct a script at the moment. I just wouldn't have the time for it - I did see your thread - 'Scene 2 Of My Screenplay'. 90 pages of that would simply drive me mad.

Take things one step at a time; as Briareos mentioned and what we've spoken about here - first learn to format your scripts properly - There is a reason for that; it makes it easier to read. Squished up really hurts the eyes. Also with correct formatting one can immediately identify two main things 'Action/Dialogue' ratios which gives an idea of the pacing.

The first 3 shorts I made were complete rubbish but I learnt so much from making those mistakes and I was so proud of them. And as a filmmaker I am still learning; I will never stop learning. The growth should never end.

Use Google - find and download as many screenplays as possible - read them, learn the format (which is pretty easy), understand the pacing, try to see how realistic the 'dialogue' is... notice how much 'showing' VS 'telling' there is.
There is so much good information out there just type in any query and things will pop up.

Another BIG thing is every single day you go out with friends or meet people do this excercise - (Eavesdropping 101) - Listen to conversations and notice how people speak - kind of the same right? But the more you do it you'll realise each person actually speaks differently... that's when you find the Character Voice. By the time you add in distinguishable Character Traits and other things you'll have characters that are believable.

I'm not a writer but I am learning how to write and hopefully oneday I'll be able to write 'well'. Writing shorts and writing features are so different. With shorts there isn't time for full 'character development' so it all comes down to the 'twist' with features there is enough time to fully develop your characters and take them on a journey of 'change'.

Seriously just keep on learning, researching and practising. You CAN do it.

I'll leave you with a few of shorts; all very different and they all have mistakes in them but I learnt a lot.

Sweet Sixteen - https://vimeo.com/36224825

Une Clope - https://vimeo.com/13021482

Don't Rock the Boat - https://vimeo.com/5893159


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