I have compiled some extra help in formatting your movie scripts. There is a whole bunch of free script writing software available. The great thing about screenwriting software is that it will sort out the formatting for you – leaving you to concentrate on your writing.
Some have more extra features than others. If you need these extra features, then great. If not, then they can become a distraction.
Some of these free script writing softwares are run online, and some are used offline, and you need to install them on your PC.
Here’s a run down of some of the best free screen writing software:
Trelby
Trelby is totally free and has some really cool features. Interestingly it has a name database that contains over 200,000 character names from various countries. Now there’s no excuse to naming your lead action character “Max Payne”!
Plotbot
PlotBot is a free online script writing software tool, so there’s nothing to install. You can write scripts solo, or allow friends to edit and work on them. If you do collaborate and don’t like what they did, you can easily return to an older version.
RawScripts
RawScripts is another free online screenwriting software. You need to sign in with your Google or Yahoo ID.
Page2Stage
This simple script writing software used to be paid, but is now available free. You need a login and a password to unlock it. Both are given on the website.
ScriptBuddy
You can sign up for a free version of ScriptBuddy. If you like it, there’s the option of upgrading to the pro version.
Celtx
Not only does Celtx format your movie script, it has many other tools such as story-boarding, organising notes, organising shooting, scheduling, budgeting etc. The down side to having so many features is that is takes a longer to learn how to use it.
Showing posts with label Coaching. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Coaching. Show all posts
Saturday, March 25, 2017
HOW TO FORMAT A NOLLYWOOD SCRIPT
How to correctly format a Nollywood script is one thing that seems to put off prospective scriptwriters more than anything else. There are basically two ways to do this. Either buy a piece of script-writing software which does the bulk of the work for you (I recommend Final Draft) or you learn how to do it yourself and use a typewriter or programme like Microsoft Word.
If a Nollywood executive comes across a script with poor formatting then he will instantly dismiss it as the work of an amateur and not bother reading it. The script could be a sure fire box office smash but without correct format it will probably never even be read.
The script that you are trying to sell is known as a spec script. This is because it’s written under the speculation it will be optioned later. At this stage it is important to avoid adding camera angles, editing directions, or anything technical unless absolutely necessary. You might have read some movie scripts littered with these but that’s because they are writer/directors.
If you’re selling your first script it is a lot easier to do purely as a scriptwriter rather than writer/director. Nollywood producer are a lot more likely to take a risk on an unknown writer than an unknown writer-director.
Take a look at the sample script below to have an idea. You can as well go through the numerous movie scripts on this site.
Click the links below to see what's more:
Free Scriptwriting Software
Basic Script Formatting
Script Presentation
Formatting Directions
Formatting Scene Headings (Includes montages and flashbacks)
Formatting Dialogue In A Foreign Language
Formatting Character Details
Formatting Electronic Dialogue(Television, radio, telephone, computers)
Writing And Formatting Effective Description
If a Nollywood executive comes across a script with poor formatting then he will instantly dismiss it as the work of an amateur and not bother reading it. The script could be a sure fire box office smash but without correct format it will probably never even be read.
The script that you are trying to sell is known as a spec script. This is because it’s written under the speculation it will be optioned later. At this stage it is important to avoid adding camera angles, editing directions, or anything technical unless absolutely necessary. You might have read some movie scripts littered with these but that’s because they are writer/directors.
If you’re selling your first script it is a lot easier to do purely as a scriptwriter rather than writer/director. Nollywood producer are a lot more likely to take a risk on an unknown writer than an unknown writer-director.
Take a look at the sample script below to have an idea. You can as well go through the numerous movie scripts on this site.
Free Scriptwriting Software
Basic Script Formatting
Script Presentation
Formatting Directions
Formatting Scene Headings (Includes montages and flashbacks)
Formatting Dialogue In A Foreign Language
Formatting Character Details
Formatting Electronic Dialogue(Television, radio, telephone, computers)
Writing And Formatting Effective Description
HOW TO COPYRIGHT YOUR NOLLYWOOD MOVIE SCRIPT
One of the biggest fears for any scriptwriter is their work falling into the wrong hands and being horribly plagiarized. However, if you copyright your script with the Nigerian Copyright Commission (NCC) then this need not be a worry.
There are certain things that you cannot copyright: ideas, titles, plots, phrases and basically anything that isn’t written down. You can though copyright your original spec script.
As current copyright law currently stands, as soon as you write your script you already own the copyright to it. The problem with this though is that you have no proof of copyright date. To rectify this problem you will need to register your script with the Copyright Office. They have a website which can be found at http://www.copyright.gov.ng/. The process is straightforward and inexpensive.
When you have gone through the procedure of copyrighting your work you will need to put notice of this somewhere on your script, preferably the cover page. It should look like this:
Copyright 2008 Greg Afamah
Or
© 2008 Greg Afamah.
To make sure your copyright is respected worldwide you want to add the phrase “All Rights Reserved” when registering with the Nigerian Copyright Commission Office.
Despite this all being very simple most scriptwriters do not copyright their script. This is mainly because once the script has been sold the production company will own the copyright to the script anyway. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t copyright your script though. Copyrighting your script gives you the best protection possible and also provides you with the peace of mind to begin circulating your script.
Other Ways to Protect Your Script
There are a few other ways to protect your script other than copyrighting it. If you give copies to people you trust and get them to read it then they can testify that you have written the script and when they read it.
One method that it already quite well known is “Poor Man’s Copyright”. This entails posting your script to yourself via registered mail and keeping it somewhere safe, without opening it. Because the date should be stamped on the envelope this proves when you wrote the script. However there is no guarantee that this method would hold up in a court of law.
There are certain things that you cannot copyright: ideas, titles, plots, phrases and basically anything that isn’t written down. You can though copyright your original spec script.
As current copyright law currently stands, as soon as you write your script you already own the copyright to it. The problem with this though is that you have no proof of copyright date. To rectify this problem you will need to register your script with the Copyright Office. They have a website which can be found at http://www.copyright.gov.ng/. The process is straightforward and inexpensive.
When you have gone through the procedure of copyrighting your work you will need to put notice of this somewhere on your script, preferably the cover page. It should look like this:
Copyright 2008 Greg Afamah
Or
© 2008 Greg Afamah.
To make sure your copyright is respected worldwide you want to add the phrase “All Rights Reserved” when registering with the Nigerian Copyright Commission Office.
Despite this all being very simple most scriptwriters do not copyright their script. This is mainly because once the script has been sold the production company will own the copyright to the script anyway. This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t copyright your script though. Copyrighting your script gives you the best protection possible and also provides you with the peace of mind to begin circulating your script.
Other Ways to Protect Your Script
There are a few other ways to protect your script other than copyrighting it. If you give copies to people you trust and get them to read it then they can testify that you have written the script and when they read it.
One method that it already quite well known is “Poor Man’s Copyright”. This entails posting your script to yourself via registered mail and keeping it somewhere safe, without opening it. Because the date should be stamped on the envelope this proves when you wrote the script. However there is no guarantee that this method would hold up in a court of law.
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From here you can find nearly all Hollywood movie scripts of your favorite movies available to read on the internet, free. Note: Some scrip...
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How to correctly format a Nollywood script is one thing that seems to put off prospective scriptwriters more than anything else. There are b...
