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Have you ever read a movie script? For those who haven't and don't really plan to, let me fill you in on a few things. A screenplay is written differently than a novel. Unlike fiction, with movie scripts you only write what can be seen or heard on the big screen. In other words, you try to stay out of characters' heads. Remember that no one is going to have the script in-hand while viewing the film. If you can't see or hear it up there, it should be left out. It's all about being concise and descriptive at the same time. Think short powerful lines. Obviously you want to suck the reader in and hold their attention. The professionals who read screenplays regularly will toss them aside if they stink or are written poorly. They don't have time to waste on this. So format and grammatical issues are crucial. This is why several drafts are written before you actually pitch a movie script to a production company.
Check out a little website known as simplyscripts.com. This is my favorite, because it tends to have the particular movie script I'm looking for. Since I write screenplays myself, I like to get a feel for the ways other writers craft their scripts. This is a great exercise for anyone who is serious about screenwriting. If you want to see how a professional movie script is written, you should pay attention to the pros who've actually sold them. However, keep in mind that you're writing a spec script. You should leave out camera angles and such. This is a job for the director. He/she will make those changes if you successfully sell your work. It helps to take a class on screenwriting prior to beginning, or at least reading a reputable book.
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