Screenwriting

If you want to be a screenwriter then you should also be reading quality books.

SUMMER NIGHT, WINTER MOON by Jane Huxley

is probably one of the most exciting books of this year.  Get it and read it!  I've already got it and am writing the screenplay for it (well, the publisher is a former student of ours :-)!

If you want to get the BEST book on Screenwriting, then it should be Adaptations by Ronald Harwood.  It is the ONLY book on the subject to have been written by someone who has won as Oscar for screenwriting (The Pianist).  I have learnt so much from not only his book but from Ronnie himself who is such a charming and witty man.  Ronnie also won a BAFTA for his screenplay of The Diving Bell and the Butterfly.

In addition to this, there are other useful books and many useful websites if you are interested in writing.  In particular, you should sign on at writers-join@shootingpeople.org for a daily download of this extremely useful and essential noticeboard.With regard to writing software, there are several professional systems available.
The most popular is Final Draft 7 and you can download a free demo fromWeb site: www.finaldraft.com and our students can purchase it from us at special rates.  Note: the full version is only available as a boxed version with CD and manual and not as a download. Updates are available online, however, the latest being 7.13.
Another system is Screenwriter 2000 and is available fromWeb site www.screenplay.com.  This was the original programme produced by Movie Magic to work in conjuction with their other programmes Movie Magic Scheduling and Movie Magic Budgeting, two essential production management tools which are now both available from www.creativeplanet.com on an annual licence.  It should be noted that Final Draft is also fully compatible with MM Scheduling and Budgeting.

If writing treatments go direct to www.wordplayer.com/columns/wp37.Proper.Treatment.html

For advice on writing Treatments which you'll find at web site www.wordplayer.com

For selling screenplays try web site wwwscriptsales.com