The Complete Online Filmmaking Reference - Film Distribution ...

No one in Hollywood wants to find himself or herself in a copyright lawsuit. They know it's hard work to write a
good screenplay and they don't want to do it themselves or pay someone else to write your idea into a screenplay
if you've already done it and they can just pay you.
It takes a lot of people to make a movie. The sooner you start getting people involved the better. You want to
pitch your idea to other people to see if you get a good reaction.
Get over worrying about someone stealing your screenplay story idea. First, let's find out if it really is Great, then
let's turn it into a Great screenplay you can copyright so it can't be stolen.
Test your Great Story Idea
Write out your screenplay story idea on a sheet of paper in the format in the box. It should sound original,
interesting and most of all it needs to evoke emotion. Try to get it down to two sentences at the most. I've
provided some examples.
(This exercise is about building your "pitch". You'll need it later when you're trying to get people involved in your
movie so don't skip this exercise.)
(Your story name) is a (genre) about a (description of your hero) who, after (something big happens to them), wants to (what is
the solution the hero seeks?) by (what is the hero's plan?). This become increasingly difficult because (what obstacles and
complications happen?).
Examples:
The Fugitive is a drama about an innocent doctor who after being wrongly sentenced to be executed for killing
his wife manages to escape and needs to clear himself by finding the real murderer. This becomes increasingly
difficult because a determined police detective is hot on his trail.
Some Like it Hot is a comedy about two carefree, single musicians who, after witnessing a gang murder want to
save themselves by dressing up as women and joining an all-girl band. This becomes increasingly difficult
because they find themselves becoming romantically involved in awkward ways but don't dare reveal who they
really are or risk death.
Rear Window is a thriller about a photographer who is convalescing in a wheelchair after a serious accident who,
after thinking he has witnessed a murder, wants to learn the truth by investigating the suspected neighbor. This
becomes increasingly difficult when the neighbor learns what he is up to and decides to silence the helpless
photographer.
Now write out your idea just like these examples. Do it in your word processor and keep redoing it until it sounds
as exciting as you can make it.
Test 1 Read your idea and ask yourself honestly if this really sounds as exciting as my examples. Copy my
examples and paste them, along with your idea, into your word processor. Print them out on a single sheet of
paper and read them all.
If my examples are different genres than your idea then pick your favorite movies from your genre and write at
least two of them out in the same format. (This is good practice. Just do it.)
Does your idea really sound as simple, original and emotionally exciting as the others? If so then go to the next
step.
Test 2 Now show it to a couple of good friends who like the same movies you like. Don't tell them it's your
idea. Tell them it's a new movie you heard is coming out soon. Do they want to know more about it? You should
be able to see them get visibly excited.
When you have passed Test 2 by your friends getting excited about your idea move on to Test 3.
Test 3 Now find some people who are not relatives or close buddies but see a lot of movies or, better yet,
read a lot of novels.
Show them your idea printed out on the a sheet of paper along with the other examples. Ask them to read these
descriptions and rank them by which one sounds the most interesting down to the one that sounds the least
interesting. Listen honestly to their opinions and reasons.
If your idea doesn't rank well then you still haven't developed it enough, don't know how to write it out in a
compelling way or it's just not a good idea.
Not everyone likes every movie idea, and some people never like a new idea no matter how good it is. You'll