Screenwriting Lessons: Main Character Development

My  favorite Dick Van Dyke movie is FITZWILLY.  (1967)


When Miss Vicki's father dies, she becomes the world's greatest philanthropist. Unfortunately, she is flat broke! Her loyal butler, Claude Fitzwilliam, leads the household staff to rob from various businesses by charging goods to various wealthy people and misdirecting the shipments, all to keep Miss Vicki's standard of living. After Fitzwilly's mother died Miss Vicki helped raise him and he loves her like a mother and would do anything for her. With Fitzwilly's encouragement, Miss Vicki writes a "Dictionary for Dopes" which contains all possible phonetic spellings of a word, and gives the reader the correct one, and for that she needs a secretary. Juliet is the one who is hired, soon she is caught up in the intrigue and falls in love with Fitzwilly. They agree to carry out one more caper before they get married, to keep Miss Vicki comfortable for the rest of her days.

What I like so much about the movie is the character development for Fitzwilly. He is so complex and hooking. Cloude Fitzwilliam is devoted, charming, caring, scheming, devious, and romantic. He is the perfect protagonist/antagonist/sympathetic villain. You absolutely love him, and, I must add, Dick Van Dyke did an excellent job portraying him.

I strongly suggest a writer of scripts of novels to watch the movie and pay special attention the to the character Cloude Fitzwilliam, Fitzwilly. He is the perfect example for creating a complex character.

I so much want the screenplay to this movie, but I can’t find it anywhere. So instead click on the link below to watch the full movie.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGGIbQa3bKY


Also while watching the movie pay close attention to the following points:

-Story pace (its fast)
-Dialog(to the point and moves the plot)
-First 10 minutes (the first 10 mins. Of a movie equals the first 10 pages of a script. Here the first 10 must Hook the reader/viewer; tell the plot and direction; introduce main characters; have inciting incident)
-Quick scenes (they are simple)
-Story logic

Discount On Writer's Market 2014

Do you need a list of literary agents?

Getting Published Writer's Market 2014 I'm always getting asked, "Where should I send my novel to get a book deal?" The first place you should look is Writer's Market. It's an easy-to-use guide that not only explains the publishing process and your part as the writer, but it also offers thousands of listings of agents and publishers looking for new authors (and includes the all-important HOW TO CONTACT information for every agent and publisher in the book-the valuable information every writer needs). Order Writer's Market Here >>  (Use code FALL13PICKS and save 20%) If you plan to enter your script in a screenplay contest and would like to have your script proofread or critique by a fresh pair of eyes, I am offering a discount on my  service:  Edits: $43.00   Contest discount Critiques: $53.00   Contest discount Edit and Critique Combo: $ 65.00   Contest discount If you are interested in my services, feel free to contact me at ahicks4298@q.com or call at (360) 696 - 4298 I will be happy to work with you.                                                    Screenplay Service Film Scripts Service Edit and Critique combos: $75.00 discount flat fee. Edit - covers proper formatting, grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure. Critique - cover the follow:  -Introduction - Development  -Climax  -Conclusion  -Character development  -Mid point development Turnaround time is 3 weeks Edits and Critiques will continue to be offered separately if a writer just wants one or the other. Edits: $48.00 flat fee - covers proper formatting, grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure. Turnaround time 2 weeks Critique: $58.00 flat fee -Introduction - Development  -Climax  -Conclusion  -Character development  -Mid point development Turnaround time 2 weeks Query letter Service I provide query letter writing service for scripts and books. Query Letter: $28.00 flat fee Turnaround time 2 weeks Book Consulting Service I only provide Critique service for fiction novels. Why fiction only? Because fiction is my strong point. Critique: $87.00 flat fee Turnaround time 3.5 weeks(depending on book length) I do not edit books. I only critique them. Editing books requires a lot of time consuming detail. Payment Payments are made by Paypal. If you do not have a Paypal account, payments may be made as cashier checks or money orders by postal mail. If you are interested in my services, feel free to contact me at ahicks4298@q.com or call at (360) 696 - 4298 I will be happy to work with you. *********************************************** Film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting services, coverage service, screenplay formatting margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, Search terms: screenplays, screenwriting service, edit and critique service, writing screenplays, screenplay format, loglines, query letter, film scripts, movie scripts, screenplay format, screenplay synopsis, script synopsis, treatment, proofreading service for writers, novels, writing services, fiction writing, film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting service, coverage service, screenplay critique service, screenplay format margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, free writing tutorials,   script consultant, screenwriting jobs, film production companies

A Screenwriter’s Tragedy

     This is a very sad story. I want to share it with you. This past spring a client, a new writer, had contracted an agent for one of his many screenplays. Before the agent could begin marketing the script, he reviewed it and made a list of things for the writer to work on.

     The writer contacted me for help. I agreed. I read what the agent wrote. To my surprise it was a list of the very things I had written in the critique for the writer’s very some script. I read the script and found that the writer had not made the changes I had suggested in my critique. If he had, he would not have had to do the work on the script required by the agent.

     I contacted the writer and told him to do everything the agent said to do. I even wrote out the scene ideas and stated where to put them in the script. Well, a week ago I got a crying email from the writer stating that the agent decided not to represent the script. The writer wants me to read the new version he had written, “I can’t understand why he rejected it.”

     I read the script. I see why the agent decided to turn it down. The writer did not do everything the agent and I said.

     Let this be a lesson to a writer of screenplays and books. The agent knows best. The agent knows the market and what readers and produces want. So when they tell you, the writer, what to do, do it. Don’t be proud. A virtue of a writer is to listen to criticism, take criticism, and have the ability to write exactly what agents and producers want, not just what you want. 

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Film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting services, coverage service, screenplay formatting margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, Search terms: screenplays, screenwriting service, edit and critique service, writing screenplays, screenplay format, loglines, query letter, film scripts, movie scripts, screenplay format, screenplay synopsis, script synopsis, treatment, proofreading service for writers, novels, writing services, fiction writing, film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting service, coverage service, screenplay critique service, screenplay format margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, free writing tutorials,   script consultant, screenwriting jobs, film production companies

Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Screenwriter?

ARTICLES:

Screenwriting Careers: The Biggest Tragedy of All by Corey Mandell Why are some writers able to achieve careers while most aren’t After three decades of research into what separates those who are able to achieve creative success from those who aren’t, Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck believes the answer is rooted in a person’s mindset. According to Dweck, those who believe they were born with all the talent they’re ever going to have approach life with a “fixed-mind set.” Those who believe their abilities can expand over time have a “growth-mind set.” And it’s the people with a growth-mind set who go on to success. Read More

Hint: The fastest way to becoming a good writer is by writing, but classes don't hurt.

Do You Really Want To Become A Screenwriter by Michael Hauge Almost every writer and every serious film fan at one time or another has at least considered writing a screenplay. Lured by the power of the big (or small) screen, and by stories of all the fame, success, awards and big, big money that other screenwriters have achieved, they get seduced by the fantasy of Hollywood. Now no doubt some of you reading these words have already achieved a career in the industry. But my guess is that most of you are still at the 'breaking in' stage and are wondering if writing for movies or television is a silly pipe dream -- or is truly worth considering. I'd like to help you answer that question by discussing some of the realities of the movie and television business and offering both the right and the wrong motives for pursuing Hollywood. Do You Have What It Takes To Be A Screenwriter? Read More

Screenwriting is creation. It gives ordinary people the opportunity to dig into the deepest region of their imagination and find interesting things to share with the world. http://www.screenwritinghq.com/

Building Your Screenwriting Career by Lee Jessup Making it as a screenwriter is possible – but it’s not going to be easy. People ask me why I remain optimistic about a writer’s ability to break into the industry, and it boils down to this: I see people, friends, clients and colleagues, break in every day. But those who break in had to work at it, to stick to it in good and bad times, and keep working towards their goals. The more prolific you are, the better your chances. While you may have every faith that your first script is as good as it’s going to get, the one consistent common thread that I found between all the writers I know who broke in is this: All of them wrote all the time, produced new content on an ongoing basis, be those feature scripts, TV pilots, short stories or graphic novels. The more you write, the more opportunities you will have to hook fans and make a case for your future career. Approach your career professionally. Read More

 If you plan to enter your script in a screenplay contest and would like to have your script proofread or critique by a fresh pair of eyes, I am offering a discount on my  service: 

Edits: $43.00   Contest discount

Critiques: $53.00   Contest discount

Edit and Critique Combo: $ 65.00   Contest discount

If you are interested in my services, feel free to contact me at

ahicks4298@q.com or call at (360) 696 - 4298


I will be happy to work with you.

                                                   Screenplay Service

Film Scripts Service Edit and Critique combos: $75.00 discount flat fee.

Edit - covers proper formatting, grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure.

Critique - cover the follow:
 -Introduction
- Development
 -Climax
 -Conclusion
 -Character development
 -Mid point development

Turnaround time is 3 weeks

Edits and Critiques will continue to be offered separately if a writer just wants one or the other.

Edits: $48.00 flat fee
- covers proper formatting, grammar, spelling, punctuation, sentence structure.

Turnaround time 2 weeks

Critique: $58.00 flat fee
-Introduction
- Development
 -Climax
 -Conclusion
 -Character development
 -Mid point development

Turnaround time 2 weeks

Query letter Service

I provide query letter writing service for scripts and books.

Query Letter: $28.00 flat fee

Turnaround time 2 weeks

Book Consulting Service

I only provide Critique service for fiction novels. Why fiction only? Because fiction is my strong point.

Critique: $87.00 flat fee

Turnaround time 3.5 weeks(depending on book length)


I do not edit books. I only critique them. Editing books requires a lot of time consuming detail.

Payment

Payments are made by Paypal. If you do not have a Paypal account, payments may be made as cashier checks or money orders by postalmail.

If you are interested in my services, feel free to contact me at

ahicks4298@q.com or call at (360) 696 - 4298


I will be happy to work with you.

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Film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting services, coverage service, screenplay formatting margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, Search terms: screenplays, screenwriting service, edit and critique service, writing screenplays, screenplay format, loglines, query letter, film scripts, movie scripts, screenplay format, screenplay synopsis, script synopsis, treatment, proofreading service for writers, novels, writing services, fiction writing, film script format, writing film scripts, screenwriting service, coverage service, screenplay critique service, screenplay format margins, screenplay writing, screenplay format example, free writing tutorials,   script consultant, screenwriting jobs, film production companies