i want to make a short film but i suck at writing. i have the whole movie in my head but i cant get it down on paper. do you have any tips? - Thimo
I only started writing about five years ago, so it still feels new and not very natural to me. There are so many great people who can tell you how to write, and so many many scripts to read. Honestly, that’s the best way to learn. For me, I never start to write the actual screenplay before having a concept, a poster, a beat sheet and doing some research. But always give yourself:
A big restraint. Because a blank page can look fucking terrifying. For me, the best restraint is always the theme. What do I actually want to say? It limits the endless possibilities and makes that big empty page feel less intimidating.
The post-its. There’s this great quote from Lynch: “If you want to make a feature film, get ideas for 70 scenes. Put them on 3-by-5 cards. As soon as you have 70, you have a feature film.” And it’s sounds so simple but it’s really true.
Fun shit. This one sounds dumb, but it matters. Write down the fun shit. What you want to see or try out, the scenes that make you laugh, cry or feel ashamed. The weird goofy stuff. In the end they are really really important. Because filmmaking is a long and tedious process and these scenes will motivate you every step of the way. They are the spirit of the film. They are you.
Music. The tone is really important when writing (and directing) and… I cannot write without music. I’m constantly adding new tunes to the film’s playlist, that fit the general mood of the story / characters.
The poster. This one’s personal, but I always start with a poster before I write. The pure essence of the film captured in one image. Then I print it and hang it above my desk. That poster keeps me motivated to turn the idea into reality.
Anyway, those are a few things that work for me. But it really helps to read something from one of the greats. And I recommend writing the ugly bare-bones version first, before you try to make it look like a proper cool screenplay.
Posters above my desk (2022)
