Writing screenplays isn’t as tough as most people would think. Though the number of screenplays being turned into movies are not at the highest rate, the chances are still great if you have the basic tools need to draft up a dazzling Screenplay, with great dialog, smooth pacing, and a great plot.

Get Ready

To start off with, make sure that you are really ready to start the endeavor of writing a movie screenplay. There are lots of tips, and bits of information to remember, though they are all fairly easy to accomplish and master.

1. What’s the Story?

Ask yourself the question, “What story am I to write about?” Remember that there is no difference between the story and the plot. Both give the reader an idea of what they are going to be reading. There are many plots, and some of them have turned into blockbusters. For example, there was a plot about killer sharks swimming at the local beach. Another plot consisted of a an alien coming to Earth, and befriending a young boy, only to be discovered from hiding. Yet another is of a man who has blackouts as a child, and realizes later on in life that he can go back in time… then change things. Whatever plot or story that you come up with, make sure it’s a really good one, as well.

2. You Must Have a Hero and a Villain

A story would not be a complete story without a hero and a villain. The wonderful thing about stories, and imagination, is that a hero could be anything, a person, a group of people, all fighting for a something or someone. Just as well, the villain could be an organization, animal, or someone not even human. It could be a ghost! The reason why both of these people are key ingredients for a great story is because the hero is someone that the moviegoer relates to. They have to have a reason to sit through almost two hours of a movie, and the hero must provide that, along with the plot. Also, the villain must be there to throw off the progress of your hero. Remember both your hero and villian must each have something that they want to achieve, and the villain must be there to stop the hero in any way, shape, form, or fashion. This builds drama and suspense, both wonderful ingredients for an entertaining story.

3. You Must Have Conflict

Conflict, drama, or obstacles must constantly be in your hero’s way. For this, you must turn to your villain, and give them a reason to stop your hero from getting what he/she most desires. At the same time, you don’t want to outwit your hero so much that the audience feels absolutely no hope. People want to see ordinary people succeed, because they consider themselves ordinary, as well. Look at J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, The Lord of the Rings. Frodo, the hero, and small hobbit was a mere three feet tall, and managed to take the precious ring to Mount Doom, even after being stabbed by a sword, a giant spider, and having his finger bitten off. Lots of obstacles were present, but with a fair amount of successes to boot.

4. Focus on Pacing

The pacing of your screenplay must be smooth, not too slow, and not too fast.

Risk of being too slow-

Needless to say, if your screenplay’s pacing is slow, people will get bored to death. The one thing you don’t want your audience, of a slush pile reader for that matter, is walking out on your story. You want to constantly keep them entertained by giving new plot information with each scene, and a wonderful climax at the end.

Risk of being too fast-

Going too fast can, sometimes, confuse the audience, or the reader. Try to evenly pace your story, a slow scene followed behind a fast action packed one. The balance should be so smooth and graceful in order that the reader or audience will crave for more, or feel blissfully satisfied after the climax and resolution scenes.

5. Please, No More Than 120 Pages!

Your screenplay should come in at no more than 120 pages. Now, if you believe your movie can only be told in over 120 pages, then go right ahead. However, it’s not a good idea to push the page count over 150; at that point, your “masterpiece” mayl be directly rejected. Slush pile readers have many, sometimes, hundreds of other screenplays to read, and they want the shortest ones with the most potential.

Follow your instincts when it creating the story you wish to tell, but follow these tips, and make sure you put them into memory, because they are screenwriting law, especially if you wish to get work as a screenwriter. You can also view this mind map for graphics, notes, and more info on molding a sellable, and wonderful screenplay.

There was a time when Hollywood evaded comic properties like the epidemic.  With average interpretations of classic personalities like the Punisher, Captain America, and even the Fantastic Four – the latter two being worse that they ended up as straight-to-video releases – Hollywood has grasped the notion that comic properties do not order an audience that is large enough to guarantee a blockbuster.

In 2000, a comic book-adapted film altered such a perception.

Bryan Singer got comic book’s main franchise, the X-Men, and made an excellent film out of the same.  The result is a trilogy that gathered billions of dollars in earning.

The X-Men flicks are largely recognized as the flicks that opened the gateways of Hollywood for highly victorious superhero movies that followed – Spider-Man, Blade, Daredevil, the two Fantastic Four movies, and even the reboot of Batman and the return of Superman to the big screen.

The X-Men trilogy, however, has completed its course.

However, followers should not worry as Marvel Comics and 20th Century Fox are scheduling a sequence of movies focusing on the genesis of the mutants we have developed to like.

First of these flicks is X-Men Origins: Wolverine, planned for a May 1, 2009 release.  Hugh Jackman will reprise his role as the titular character, though, the movie will be set some 17 years prior to the occurrences of the first X-men movie.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine conveys the tale of Logan’s unearthing of his mutant powers, his addition to the Weapon X program, his dealings with William Stryker, and his falling out with the said organization.

X-Men Origins: Wolverine will present a slew of new mutants straight from the comic series, such as the motor mouth killer, Dead Pool – portrayed by the popular Ryan Reynolds – and the furious Cajun, Gambit – portrayed by Taylor Kitsch.  Sabretooth, certainly, will play a crucial role in the movie, being a main figure in the Wolverine saga.

One of the highlights of the film is the surprise that the Weapon X code doesn’t mean the letter X, but, it refers to the number “ten,” with Wolverine being the tenth administration project made for mass annihilation.  The finale of X-Men Origins will pit Wolverine against the new edition of the program, Weapon XI. Look out for this being one of the new movies on dvd.

It’s going to be slobber knocker!

Here’s the thing…you can essentially augment your moving-going experience by the time you chose to go. Consider these movie situations:

Kid’s Movies : If you are trying to take a small child to a kid’s flick it may be best to go on a Saturday afternoon. Whilst the reasoning might be self-evident to you it dawned on me one evening when I was making an attempt to take my 4 years old to the most recent Pixar flick. You see, four year olds are rather antsy and talkative (especially mine) and when you take them to a kid’s picture where there are mostly adults in the audience - well the simile of water and oil is good one.

I don’t wish to ruin somebody else’s movie experience but I don’t wish to have a good time without me constantly having to fix him through a picture. Therefore , I have discovered that it’s a far better thing to take a small child to the theater on Sat. afternoon. In this time the theater is totally full of other small children babbling and fidgeting. And the remainder of the crowd is far more comfortable (and tolerant) with the children in this developmental stage. Conversely, if you are an adult who wants to see a kids movie with at least childish distractions go to the flick any time but Saturday afternoon - weekday evenings are best.

Date Night Movies: I am a big proponent of continuing so far your spouse after wedding. the film any time together is a good thing too. So date night movies should be planned with care. That is, if feasible schedule a movie around a bundle of activities planned For the date. Are you planning dinner, roller-blading, drinks with friends, other activities? Traditionally, date nights are Friday and Saturday evening but if you can break away, any time is a fun time for a date. (Hint: want to see how your drinks with children? Take them to a kid’s movie on Saturday afternoon (above).) 

Creature Features: I don’t care what you say horror films just don’t have the same effect when you exit the theater before 10:00 p.m. If wish to be spookier its best to go to that horror flick late-night, mid-week. Rationale: it’s just creepier to leave that late when there aren’t as many people around. Also, its better if it’s a bit cooler out. It leaves a better opportunity to snuggle if it happens to be date night *wink*.

If you enjoy watching movie trailers and preview movies before seeing it at the theater, visit cinemarv.com for more movie trailers and view the top movies for each genre. You might also want to check out movie trailer.