Screenwriting Tips from Hollywood Professionals

[@Brandon-vy6uw]

James Gunn says it the best “Finish what you write weather you think it sucks or not. Just finish it”

[@joeygonzo]

whether . Finish it and re-write it.

[@ScoobyandShaggy5554]

Yep I think that’s a great idea to write a story however forget the rules then go back and heavily revise.

[@spfccsmft]

"Just finish writing that tweet, no matter what."

[@romans8024]

Completed project (or a deed for that matter) is what counts. You can take the most from your experience when it has begining and end.. in one box. Psychologically, it's as valuable as life will ever get. Just think about it in the terms of what you really deny for yourself when you're using an excuse not to finish your crap.

[@mylifeinjoylike8445]

Xxx

[@ScottGuinn]

For me, it's really hard to write and feel accomplished on a consistent basis. Some days everything makes sense and you feel incredibly inspired. Other days you feel like the worst writer in the world and forget how to bring a page to life. I will improve though - thanks for the tips!!!

[@the-seed-sower761]

Man, you ain't lyin'

[@CluelessIndianGamer]

This is so fuckin' relatable!

[@jeffwatch2314]

This ^^

[@iv0rysh0es39]

Only advise I got in film school screenplay writing classes: Every word needs a purpose. It needs to either promote the plot, further development, but it needs to have a function. Don't have any "car park" scenes to linger. Oh, and "count down your word count, it's too long"...

[@mopurinowshad1475]

Screw words! It's all about images

[@kheshwankolah9935]

The Big LeeBowski good advice very practical

[@homer_thompson5090]

Co-writer of BlackkKlansman: "Quantity, not quality matters. Show it early and often" ... Co-writer of BlackkKlansman: "Take a lot of time to get the concept right first before you dive in to actually start writing it"

[@themediaangel7413]

The duality of man

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

That second one didn't actually make any sense, but yin yang writing partners sounds like fun, even though they'd probably get the job done after their employers naturally become one with the world.

[@ckrug32]

These actually aren't diametrically opposed ideas. One writer is saying make sure you outline or write treatments or bullet points or whatever you need to do to ensure that you've got the concept of your movie down. Then, and only then, start churning pages out. The other writer says churning pages out is about quantity -- write through the entire scene you've outlined, even if it feels shitty because you will need to come back and revise anyway -- and not quality, because there's no use in trying to make it "perfect" on your first try, ...you will need to come back and revise anyway. These ideas go hand in hand.

[@ckrug32]

Ocean Blue you’re talking about the “quantity over quality” guy right? If so, I understand what you’re saying but I don’t think he meant that at all. He means write many scripts and many drafts of each of these scripts, so that you continually receive feedback and continually revise them to make them better. I think he’s trying to warn new writers about perfectionism, and how many of us can get stuck on a script for months or years because we just want to make it perfect before someone else sees it. But the reality is, while you were toiling away at your one “masterpiece” someone else has written ten scripts and has gotten an agent and is now working professionally as a writer because they showed their work, got feedback, and revised.

[@ckrug32]

Ocean Blue it is absolutely about what he meant. I understood it clearly and I’m trying to clarify it for you Peace out ✌️

[@filmtoppings]

0:03 "You Are My Friend" is now known as A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood btw

[@pingupangu1]

3:36 - just skip to this, Ashleigh Powell gives the most encouraging tip that every writer can relate to

[@tatakae3840]

Not gonna lie, that's the most honest and relatable advice I've ever heard. I went straight to the comment to see if anyone noticed it..

[@fatastrophe9854]

i always feel that you should show yourself truly on your work, whether it be through characters, setting, etc. you shouldn’t be uptight and embrace your flaws, even write about them, maybe someone will resonate with them.

[@w.iraheta3769]

Kyle Thornhill very true.

[@charlievega3978]

I had to replay this video because it was so inspirational. Everyone's advice is so true and I'm glad I watched this. Being a writer starting out and this has got to be the best video I could've clicked to watch. Praying for each and everyone of these people, God bless them for sharing their advice with me.

[@mackenziediaz8780]

This is great. I want to be Screenwriter when I graduate and I really needed this!!

I loved the last tip. When you feel like it and the ideas are coming, just write you ass off!!!!!

[@falconawesomeness1141]

Don’t hide from your truth and don’t deny the truth of others either. There’s a great story in both.

[@ellengreenberg9179]

Write through the suck. Love it. Thanks.

[@1muzikmania]

I loved Christy Hall's DADDIO script. Made me feel at ease about my own simple-ass script.

[@saiashwin26]

her get home safe is absolute trash though

[@fatastrophe9854]

the script can be as simple as you want it to be, it’s what comes after your script that you want to put style and what not into

[@samwri3330]

It's just a shame she ruined it with Get Home Safe.

[@Reymei]

I think that David guy never once blinked.

[@gabrielpalacios624]

These tips sound genuinely true, thank you guys, you gave me some motivation to continue

[@fixedfocusfilm3068]

Thank you for this gem, Variety.

[@paradisecolors]

I love what Christy Hall said :)

[@Bvideo105]

Love this. Thanks for making this video, Variety.

[@ozymandias5449]

The last lady really helped me out

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

Only way that makes sense, to me anyway, is under serious time constraints, which no matter the reason, do not bode well with proper art. Every word you write defines the next step you take. Crap will bring forth more crap. Surely you gotta love everything you write, otherwise why on Earth would you write it down. Maybe she meant putting down something that's not quite perfect and not actually writing down something you just know is bad.

[@thelast1163]

Props to all but the last one was exactly what I needed to hear.

[@LordMacc]

This gives me the complete motivation to start my own animation movies and any movie subject to just write thank you i’ll see you in Hollywood.

[@johnnycaper_]

it's hard to just write a full script from scratch, like just sit down and write a whole movie. Even tho you want it, but it never really happens. Usually it's just bunch of ideas, bunch of that, lil bit of that, some random quotes, random monologues and just in total random madness. It takes a time to come up with a story from all that, but everything that you write leads you to the ultimate story. It all really adds up sooner or later. I still haven't written a single script, but god damn I have so much pages of text lol. I don't know, I guess the madness and chaos is just a part of it. It's beautiful, it's frustrating, it's scary, it's fun. Overall it's fucking art, don't expect to it all just pop up like a candy in a story/resupply :D

[@amol997279]

This is inspirational and I hope I will do something with this.

[@JB-bq2qj]

Where’s the screenwriter of Pixels???

[@jameslatimer4968]

Jonathan Bartholomew masterpiece

[@joshuamckenzie93]

He was indisposed, too busy writing Goodfellas 3.

[@Skinniest_Kween]

Too busy to be amongst these mere mortal amateurs.

[@sahrn1783]

Thanks. I needed this more then anything

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

Best. Advice. EVER!!! "Write through the Suck."

[@michaelsix9684]

plan on doing lots of rewriting, it might take several drafts to get it right

[@noemietarrade2423]

Please do this with directors and actors PLEASE

[@Sweet_Karma]

Much obliged 🤠

[@rishikamath6718]

Christy Hall 2:04 is a dead ringer for Bonnie from How to Get Away with Murder!

[@hanselmadeabeat9200]

This was actually a wonderful video for me.

[@garyleeheard3434]

Read your favorite movies and learn from those guidelines. And never write in camera direction unless you plan to film and direct the film your self . Write as much as you can long as it helps the story go into the right direction. Learn ,be good then get better . Love your choice of career .every career has it's ups and downs .

[@67Dio]

I thought this things only happened to me, thank you guys for sharing your thoughts!!!!!!

[@Horror-Man]

1:54 She looks like Paris from Gilmore Girls.

[@iamsyrex]

Paris from Gilmore Girls looks like Summer Smith from Rick & Morty.

[@TARUJI]

Needed this.

[@arpitsrivstva]

ya me too:)

[@megamoviez]

I've been writing short films for a while but after this I'm really going to crack down on this!

[@ameerahtoyfunreview9674]

How is it going.

[@s.s5933]

Good luck bud! I have ideas but haven't even put a dent in actually writing. Just pages of plots and ideas. I'm motivated to start writing. I'm kinda scared but I'll try 😓

[@burgesssam]

It's not fair that Elizabeth Chomko is that beautiful and that intelligent :O

[@homer_thompson5090]

She's a woman? Huh. All right, if you say so.

[@Macmittens411]

2:00 - She is so beautiful!

[@kheshwankolah9935]

In a good screenplay words match images. They can be jumbled but all dialogue results in imagery and vice versa. Or it’s an unbalanced outcome and leaves ppl dissatisfied. Thoughts cannot be seen or heard. Ppl have to say or do things. It’s like ❤️ u can’t think it u express and feel in front of ur lover. Same here.

[@Floppa-Wirecard-Shareholder]

Yes

[@steve_negrin]

nice, really helpful thanks

[@AxelFoley-sb5re]

All great advice!

[@speedone1509]

Thanks for this

[@m.mishra9133]

Quantity over quality. I think i 100% agree with that. Atleast when you're starting out.

[@moviesovermatterproductions]

I absolutely loved this! 👏🏾🌹🥰

[@Not.Geno.]

i had to watch this as homework. 👍

[@yupppp_]

Hallöchen

[@Not.Geno.]

@@yupppp_ moin

[@ryannixon4138]

Great vid thanks

[@jeffescanto]

for me its about the story... if you have your story and you know where your story needs to go. and you have your characters and know them very well. then writing is easy. i dont just write blind, i know the end of my story and the fun is getting the characters and moving the plot to that end. and as for writers block. how i deal with that is just forget about the work and do something else. and then go and sleep. and when i wake up i am unblocked and it flows again. as for writing through the block like one of the ladies said. you can try that, but you might loose your natural voice if you go that route, and your story might take a different direction from where you were originally going. which may be fine, but i'll bet the natural story which you were telling without forcing your way through it, would have been 10 times better than what you finally have when you force it

[@ineverswag]

Christy 😍😍😍😍

[@Oli_The_HouseCat]

Imagine we got advice from Elizabeth Banks or writers of spoof movies

[@davemckay4359]

These advice s are top notch

[@KeitumetseVincenciaKgaabi]

My question is how did you guys succeed in getting your Screenplays on screen? What is the procedure?

[@just-simplymarvelous]

i like to get introduced to a manager to view my script.

[@alexispapageorgiou72]

I think you're covered with this ...

[@just-simplymarvelous]

@@alexispapageorgiou72 that's a cool thing to say. I appreciate it.

[@ryannixon4138]

Great advice

[@mopurinowshad1475]

My tip Readmore Day dream

[@tillwiesmann3144]

Junge wegen dir muss ich mir das in englisch geben

[@maximreichert5491]

Is so du kek

[@dailylifelng9404]

Ja mannnn alter fuckt voll ab

[@temme_sh7]

Hahaha ich auch

[@joedits1065]

Ich auch😆🤣

[@noxy-]

Wer guckt das freiwillig

[@jasoncoladonato1034]

first person's advice I'll never forget

[@TheYBFamily]

Last one is speaking the truth

[@scottslotterbeck3796]

OMG...No, none of my stuff is a masterpiece! No problem with that!

[@johnvargas2880]

Need to know what 2 do w an idea for a SCREENWRITER.

[@gooddog20002]

Don't worry about what worked in the past and don't worry about what would be a hit. Just write what you want to see. That is how WALL-E, ALIEN, ALIENS, ET and BLADE RUNNER was written.

[@Spiderstan727]

Chomko gave the best here

[@jameslatimer4968]

Need tips from Tarantino

[@dumbguy5949]

Dankmemeulous change history into something impossible, curse a lot and repeat 10 times.

[@filmtoppings]

"INCLUDE AS MANY CURSE WORDS AND SLURS AS POSSIBLE"

[@corrupt_insomniac]

Make white guys say nigger lol

[@chrissystewart6268]

What made screenwriters begin their career?

[@michaelcavanaugh]

I want to hear from Noah!

[@ozymandias5449]

Beyond anything let’s argue that this video is genuinely helpful

[@ellie.b]

As someone who is striving to be a screenwriter, this video is so helpful. Love ❤️

[@sorrybabyx]

Where are D and D?

[@MartimusDecimusMeridius]

Any help please on how to format a script. Any books that are best for that

[@SpaceBoiii69]

U could use softwares for formatting the Screenplay writing.

[@MartimusDecimusMeridius]

@@SpaceBoiii69 do you know what software is best suited please.

[@SpaceBoiii69]

@@MartimusDecimusMeridius There are many videos regarding the softwares!!! I personally use CeltX.

[@MartimusDecimusMeridius]

@@SpaceBoiii69 I shall take a good look this week. Thank you for your time and reply. Merry Christmas to you and your family. Hope you have a great day.

[@BingeOnThisChannel]

Hey David... easy on the lens with that stare.

[@rajarajanmanoharan]

I clicked for the hot chick in the thumbnail but stayed for the nuggets of wisdom.

[@nyranstanton203]

these people and screenplay writers in general don't get enough credit outside just the inside industry people.

[@jaxchan9033]

Funny how they dont take their own advise at times

[@itsadamwells]

jax chan how so?

[@jaxchan9033]

@@itsadamwells in terms that there is good advise here,but if you look at some films from the past couple of year. It doesn't seem like they took it

[@jaxchan9033]

@@itsadamwells I'm not hating on them, I understand the difficulty that comes with a job like that

[@alexanderford3831]

Not to mention that the screenplay doesn't go straight from the page, onto the screen. Directors, producers, and even the actors themselves will slice, dice, and reinterpret the writers intent. For better or worse.

[@NatalieMarte]

I would love to collage with some people. If there are any writers here who would like to write an easy 2 character story for a short film, let me know. I want to make amazing shorts but I need an amazing story!! ;)

[@creatorcuesinc]

Natalie Marte yeah, let’s do it

[@creatorcuesinc]

What’s your email address?

[@AyushNishad]

May be what you saw to like ....is more important of screenwriting

[@jamesrogers9056]

Christy Hall shakes her head 'No' while smiling

[@thatdudeuhate6649]

The Ultimate Screenwriting Tip: Know the right people. 😂

[@Mehhu]

More, please!

[@RSousa-ru7xi]

And still, Hollywood give us things like skywalker ascension.

[@randomguy6679]

Not every writer in Hollywood is perfect, but there's still gold every now and then.

[@churchillosimbo]

I love how they're alot of women.

[@sampsonraysimon]

As a collaborative artist, I absolutely HATE screenwriting. But I’m such a weird guy, that if I don’t write roles for myself, I ain’t finna get cast. So ya gotta do whatcha gotta do.

[@bluerabbit1236]

Sampson Ray Simon Who the fuck ever uses finna in a sentence anyway?

[@Madbandit77]

@@bluerabbit1236 Definitely NOT a writer...:/

[@강민탁-m6k]

Nice

[@churchillosimbo]

More color tho

[@VikingFitness00]

agreed where were the Asians and latinos?

[@josephdocherty7919]

@@VikingFitness00 Race doesn't matter. Why are we judging their writing capability based entirely on their ethnicity?

[@s.s5933]

@@josephdocherty7919 it's not judging their capabilities. It's just asking for more diversity. You know Spike Lee, Tyler Perry, Ryan Coogler?

[@josephdocherty7919]

I know that, but you think they could get multi million directors / writers in a KZbin video? You know how much it would cost to get Spike Lee in this?

[@josephdocherty7919]

@@s.s5933 Not only that, but they got the writer of BlackKklansman in it. Isn't that good enough?

[@devol4444]

Anyone from England wanna help with my movie?

[@davidadams5388]

Help writing ?

[@SavageSoftware]

Help how?

[@devol4444]

@@davidadams5388 sorry I don't know why I wasn't specific help writing it.

[@devol4444]

@@SavageSoftware sorry I don't know why I wasn't specific help writing it.

[@SavageSoftware]

@@devol4444 have you written anything before?

[@guerillawhite3083]

ah yes im interested in advice from the people who wrote uncle drew

[@dyslexicstoner2408]

that movie was fucking abominable. doing my taxes is less boring than that movie.

[@kgthompson5814]

@@dyslexicstoner2408 😄 🤣

[@RottenDoctorGonzo]

Years of trying but still I can't get a good structure going. 🤷

[@sandycheekz4692]

Find the central question your story revolves around. Then, try writing an outline and organize it into three acts. Act One: Pose the question Act Two: Explore/exploit the question Act Three: Answer the question. I'm just a student but these tips have helped me IMMENSELY with pulling my stories together.

[@RottenDoctorGonzo]

@@sandycheekz4692 Thank you so much for the tips. I'm going to try them out.

[@PCIMPOSSIBLE]

I'm not a Hollywood pro, and I'm not going to become one. Ever. My scripts must include, but are not limited to, LOVE AND RIGHTEOUSNESS, or there will be no script at all. Ever.

[@codrobert6269]

Lost bouu

[@sh-max1316]

Not so good!

[@deebee6390]

LOVE the diversity of writers here guys

[@maxinewest1326]

I have idea for a movie. It would be called Duck and Hide the Evidence. It would be about government officials who is in with the mobster and framing a woman over her own painting that she painted. They delete videos camera footage and paying people to lie in order to help the mob,. This movie would be about a huge cover up.

[@TheSunshinefee]

where is the diversity? how about older screenwriters, black/brown/asian/latino screenwriters ? you know they do exist

[@bilalbabal-jahannam6754]

Maybe you could link to some of the writers you find interesting?

[@juniorberns]

writers are and screenplay is...

[@sportgottkonstantin7264]

Junge voll unnötig die Aufgabe

[@jp_produces]

Hey its that House Hunter's Screenwriter loved that episode lol

[@BygoneT]

Oh so this is where I need to come when I need examples of what not to do

[@dxrkitachi5762]

Pls aof deutsch

[@LyndenLegault]

Hollywood Professionals My Ass

[@michaelsix9684]

read lots of screenplays

[@minco997]

⚠️