Posted by Jim Shady at h-64-236-224-52.twi.com on September 11, 2001 at 07:38:52:
In Reply to: HELP posted by gabrielconroy on September 11, 2001 at 07:14:11:
: What I need to do, for myself and the rest of the world, is to write movies. I don't know much about the direction side, or even how to
write movies. All I have at this point are some very good ideas, some even on paper. Is there any advice or suggestion you could offer to help me out? I know you must have gotten your start somehow.
There are plenty of books out there on scriptwriting, and they deal with all the aspects you'd need to know about - plot development, etc. Buy scripts as well, or got to Drew's Script-o-rama, where there are masses online.
If you want advice on directing, watch all the films you can. See how the director uses angles or editing to achieve a certain effect. You'll also be able to study the dialogue as well.
Kevin got his start by maxing out his credit cards and going it alone. A cheaper idea for you would be to invest in a video camera and make something very cheap and easy from your own script. You'll make mistakes, but they'll be cheap mistakes - Kevin would have been twenty seven grand in hock if Clerks hadn't done what it did.
Best advice I ever heard for a writer - write.
Jim