13 Steps to Follow As a Passionate Scriptwriter
You feel like you are capable enough to portray your ideas in a movie, such a nice choice of career. Making a film, whether that is commercial or non-commercial is very sensitive work. In Nepal, we are backward in scriptwriting trends. Previously we lacked proper script in our industry however, the trend is changing now, the need for a proper script is what our industry is craving for, a good script is what it takes to make a better film. A script is a blueprint for making a good cinema. Scriptwriting is the form of arts which later on became another form of art that is cinema. This art is only complete when it communicates to the audience. While having a history of more than 50 years, we have not been able to reach our potential and have a lot more to offer at the international level. But, we are lacking somewhere and one of the main reasons is the lack of proper scriptwriting culture. We need to develop the culture of giving priority to scriptwriting as a profession, in order to grow our industry to the next level. It is the responsibility of the new generation to change the scenario in our Nepali film industry.
If you are dreaming of following your passion as a writer, then you need to know what is the importance of script in any film. The script is the written form of film where a writer must describe what he/she is going to show on the screen as an audiovisual form. It includes dialogues, characters, camera angles, and actions. These all forms must be properly explained in the script as you are having a conversation with someone.
Being scriptwriting and movie enthusiast, I would like to share some important tips to commence scriptwriting as a career in Nepali film industry.
Tips
1. Start writing:
There is no perfect time to start, start from today. You are angry, write it down, you feel happy, write it down, you feel sad, write it, write every emotion. Writing helps you to balance your emotion and it is a great way of practice. I suggest you write in the language that you feel comfortable. Writing is the way of expressing your powerful feelings. Feelings that are expressed from your heart is only the pure form of art. And this is possible if only you make yourself comfortable.
2. Work under your mentor:
A mentor is helpful in guiding and providing you with the suggestions that may be useful in your writing. Unless you are judged with critical comments in your writing, you will never improve. Hence, an individual must work under the mentor especially in this industry. If you want to jump in the sea, you must know the depth of it. Working under your mentor is like calculating the depth of struggle in the Nepali film industry.
3. Educate yourself:
“A mind needs books like a sword needs a whetstone.” – Tyrion Lannister
A good education always guides you positively. Scriptwriting is a sincere form of art. Cinema being a form of art, it is the mirror of the society. Films have the capacity to change society. Thus, read, collect the ideas, gain knowledge.
4. Watch as many movies:
Watch as much as you can, without any boundary. You have chosen scriptwriting as your career then you must watch Nepali films as well as movies from different geography, culture, language etc. Try to find out /observe the variation in script writing in all these films, the effects of the scripts is what you have to analyse and realize. Find out the differences, similarities, extract the scripts from everywhere, try to figure out how they did the awesome work.
5. Read Scripts
A good reader is the good writer. So, to be a scriptwriter you must read lots and lots of good scripts. Here, my experience says never go through the bad script. It never helps you in your writing, rather creates confusion in the choice of your career. To find a good script is to read more.
6. Write the scripts of the films you have watched
Watching films only will not help you to achieve your goal as a successful scriptwriter. You must write what you have watched.
7. Get updated with Political News
Being a scriptwriter if you are null in politics, it lacks your creativity in writing political film, so in others. Having knowledge of all these makes you an all-rounder.
8. Travel
Characterization is another important chapter in scriptwriting. The character from society makes your story original. In order to avoid cliché presentation of characters you must travel. As a writer, always choose new destinations to travel and study the different characters of society.
9. Terminate yourself from unnecessary gadgets/social media:
Very often, gadgets distract you. With gadgets, there come social media like; Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc which may swing your mood and stops you from writing. That’s why my suggestion to all the scriptwriters is to avoid using unnecessary gadgets/social media.
10. Meditate yourself:
If you easily get distracted, then meditate. Yoga or meditation helps you to get focus. This is my personal experience. Trust me. Five minutes is more than enough.
11. Hire yourself in the film industry in any position:
Never wait for the opportunity, seize it. Hire yourself in any position in the film industry, build your professional relationships, and just throw the stone when it seems possible in the sea. Not everyone will, but out of 100, it is more than enough if a single person loves your work.
12. Discuss movies every time in your circle after watching:
Make a gathering with the people who are fond of films. With the cup of coffee discuss a film. It helps you in improving your writing.
13. Challenge yourself:
It is fun to work with new characters every time. So challenge yourself and create new characters in your every new work. This makes you different from others and it’s okay to be different.
Finally, success matters a lot, and eventually, your hard work will pay off and you will achieve it. What matters is satisfaction in your work, never compromise here.
