Sharon A. Fox – 10 Minute Recipe For A Perfect Screenplay
April 72010
Top 7 books I recommend to write the perfect screenplay.
I have been mentoring film makers for years (some whom have gone on to receive Academy and Emmy Award nominations…and also have worked with Academy Award winning writers to help them re-structure their screenplays) and this video shares my list of what I feel is the short list of some of the most important books you need to guide you on your journey to write great screenplays.
First lesson: There’s No such thing as a perfect screenplay…
Second Lesson: Nobody in Hollywood knows anything…
In the words of one of the great screenplay writers, William Golden, “Nobody knows anything.” He meant, nobody in Hollywood knows anything. And he’s right.
So my recipe is going to be different than someone else’s …I am not an expert…because there is no such thing…and there is no such thing as a perfect screenplay…but you can come close if you know some ancient secrets.
There is a big difference between perfection and excellence.
This recipe is the same list I give out to film makers I mentor.
People say its who you know that is going to make you a success… I say if you write a great screenplay that could be the cornerstone for a great film…the people you need to know will find you.
Creating a great screenplay from an idea you have in your head is like taking a lump of coal and refining it into a diamond.
That diamond has many facets and those facets represent not only the steps in your journey to find the treasure at the end of your screenplay…but the steps you take to transform an untruth you are holding about yourself and the world.
A great screenplay is just the map you pass onto others about a successful personal internal adventure you wish to share with the world.
Storytelling is your birthright.
Storytelling began around the camp fire thousands of years ago…it is time to bring storytelling back to your neighborhood…where ever that neighborhood is in the world.
Writing a great screenplay is not just about “writing” a great story…it’s about “living” a great story.
We all need to share our stories if we are going to create the compassion, empathy and understanding which is necessary to create a peaceful planet.
Tell your truth and you set the world free.
Write On!
Wishing You A Great Journey!
Peace and Blessings,
Sharon A. Fox
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Duration : 0:9:59
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April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
What a wonderful …
What a wonderful video and a wonderful reading list. Read “The Hero’s Journey” first!
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thank you, you’re …
Thank you, you’re very inspiring.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Wow. Fantastic …
Wow. Fantastic video. You are truly an inspiration.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
nice video:D i am …
nice video:D i am just wondering one thing. lets just say someone made something that is great, he goes sends it to some festivals and you win some awards .. then what happends next it feels like nothing unless you are gonna get hunting some ” hollywood folks” im talking about short films of 10 mins
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thank you, …
Thank you, wonderful video! I enjoy the conversational tone, and your good cheer put me in a wonderfully productive mood! Brain food is such a wonderful weapon against the blank page.
Also, sorry to hear about your dad. My condolences. Keep smiling and laughing, it is an honor to those who’ve passed.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
you’ve done …
you’ve done everything I hope to do, I want to ask you so much, but for now I’ll just thank you for giving me some steps to creating a masterpiece. MY masterpiece.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
waha. so good. true …
waha. so good. true, true. best advice i’ve heard about the entire process. koods.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thank you for your …
Thank you for your wonderful insight. I especially liked your quote:
“We all need great stories to inspire us”
You could also name this vid “How to poop out a golden egg” Lol
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I don’t know if I …
I don’t know if I iike the idea that a character always has to transform. That’s a Hollywood notion. That’s candy-coated. I sometimes like to see a character sink tragically into oblivion with all his flaws exposed. Ironwood, Babenco’s movie about homeless alcoholics, starring Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep. She dies. He visits his family after being gone for many years and just can’t readapt and winds up leaving. It’s a beautiful movie. Some transformation here and there, not much.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Hi again Sharon
…
Hi again Sharon
Thank you! I am a huge believer in karma and reaping what you sow. If I was a blessing to mum it’s because she was a blessing to me. I’m sure you know exactly what I mean!
At 46 I am a complete newbie at screenwriting and am currently reading number two on your list, Hero with a thousand faces(Thanks to you!)
My sincerest thanks to you as I find it wonderful that industry experts devote so much time to us newbies.
Enough of my rambling.
If you ever need to talk
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Also want to add… …
Also want to add…what a blessing you were to your mom. I’m sure her spirit is watching over you.
Best of luck to you.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thank you so much …
Thank you so much for your kind words…God Bless You.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Hi Sharon,
I am so …
Hi Sharon,
I am so sorry to read that about your dad. I went through the same recently with my mum.
As absurd as it sounds try to see the positive and it will help you cope. See that you had the opportunity to care for him, that you could tell him you loved him, that he passed away knowing he was loved and so on. Many people don’t have those opportunities so there are positives.
Once again I am so sorry and am thinking of you.
Bruce
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
So happy to hear …
So happy to hear from you. I’ve been very sporadic posting videos this year because my dad has been ill and just passed. His funeral is Friday. With my attention on his care I’ve been unable to watch and make many videos. Although I’ve not had the time to follow your wonderful creative growth…from the very beginning it was obvious that you are headed in the right direction with your talents.
I expect great success from you. You are a great Renaissance man and you have service in your heart.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Good stuff. I’m …
Good stuff. I’m listening to you and Mr. McKee
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thanks!
Thanks!
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
oh thank u
oh thank u
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I believe a script …
I believe a script can be a short, a television script, a number of different projects but a screenplay is for the big screen.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
sry but can u help …
sry but can u help me pleezz, wats the diffrence between a script & a screenplay r they the same thing??
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
I am on my 4th …
I am on my 4th screenplay and I know my scripts are great but where do I start? Like getting an agent? Do I send a query? Do they really read those? Is there a book you can recommend on getting your script to the right person that will read it? I just keep writing but my stuff is ready for the next level.
Thanks,
Sherilyn
p.s. What about women in film? would joining that group help?
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Hey Sharon I like …
Hey Sharon I like the cut of your gib
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thanks Tamie. My …
Thanks Tamie. My dad just got out of the hospital so I’m in overwhelm taking care of him and mom (She had a stroke as in a wheelchair. I’ve been her 24/7 caretaker for 4 years)…so the best place to reach me is either by phone.
Since I don’t type…(it’s painful and doctors have asked me to stop typing…but I cheat and peck here and there)…phone is best communication tool.
I don’t deal with TV pilots so I can’t answer too many questions on that one. Love to see you when I can breath again.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Thanks Sharon! I …
Thanks Sharon! I love this. I have all those books and have tried the 21 day thing but haven’t completed it. Yet.
But I am doing some writing but what about TV pilots? Those are the hardest thing ever, and I am doing my best and studying the pilots of some shows but … argh.
I left you a message on Friday, I think. Hope to see you soon!
love Tammie
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
Although some …
Although some people say that they should be no longer than 20 pages double spaced…rules are meant to be broken and often are…just use common sense.
I know many writers that do very short treatments and others who have gone far beyond the normal 20 pages.
When Academy Award winning writer, Stirling Silliphant, pitched my production company 12 different projects his treatments ranged from 3 pages to15 pages.
I only liked one of his projects…but we were looking for finished scripts.
April 7th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
sorry another thing …
sorry another thing i meant to ask was how long should a treatment be for a film. I know its going to be shorter than the script because its an outline but wasn’t sure what i should realistically be looking at.