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In this inspiring interview with Film Courage, Gordy Hoffman, founder and judge of the BlueCat Screenplay Competition, answers THE question every screenwriter wants the solution to – “How Do I Write A Screenplay?”
Gordy’s response is simple and straightforward, “Start writing it.”
Aspiring writers are often taught that you have to learn the rules before you can break them.
However, once these rules are learned, many writers get so hung up on perfecting the structure and format, that they never actually start writing. They overthink the process and their emotional engagement suffers. Over the years, Gordy has found that the students who don’t know anything about the technical aspects of screenwriting, tend to have more original, authentic and succinct stories.
When you find yourself overwhelmed with “getting it right” Gordy advises, “Do not care about doing anything wrong. Spill your guts. Tell us the movie.”
Whether you’re starting a new script or finishing up your passion project, try not to get bogged down in the formula. Instead, try focusing on the emotional truth of your ideas and characters. And, at the end of the day,
“Keep your voice. That’s the most important thing. Don’t lose your instincts, your childlike instincts, for telling stories.” – Gordy Hoffman
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Love this! Makes me think fondly on my first screenplay where I did exactly what you say: I sat down at a computer, no fancy software, no knowledge of structure, and just wrote a story that delighted me. Hopefully as I’ve learned about structure, formatting, etc., I’ve managed to retain my voice and the emotional connection still comes through.