OSCAR NOMINATED SCRIPT TIPS!

These Script Tips use this year's Oscar Nominees as examples and cover a variety of subjects, from character creation to story chronology. We began this year with two weeks of new Script Tips, and there are more to come!


SLUMDOG and Visual Goals

THE VISITOR and Character Moments

IRONMAN and Second Chapter First

SLUMDOG and Non-Chron Structures

IN BRUGES and Conflicted Characters

PRINCE CASPIAN and Emotional Openings


* * *

THE WRESTLER and Character Driven Screenplays

FROST/NIXON and MAN ON WIRE and Casting Story In Genre

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Script Secrets

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SCRIPT SECRETS STORE - time to monkey around!

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Did you think SEVEN POUNDS was the prequel to JERRY MAGUIRE? Wish you'd just said "no" to YES MAN? Did the AUSTRALIA! movie make you want to see NEW ZEALAND! and VANCOUVER! and BURBANK! and re-see that Connery movie CUBA? Be heard: Movie Discussion!



The new CDs are available now!

POST OSCAR SALE! $5 OFF!

CLASSES ON CD! Five Classes are ready to ship on audio CD: GUERRILLA MARKETING YOUR SCRIPT: NO AGENT? NO PROBLEM!, WRITING HORROR, WRITING THRILLERS (2 CD set), WRITING INDIES and IDEAS & CREATIVITY. Classes on CD - Click Here!

WRITING HORROR - The essentials of a horror screenplay - what do ROSEMARY'S BABY, NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, THE EXORCIST, BRIDE OF FRANKENSTEIN, THE OTHERS and OPEN WATER have in common? This class will tell you! All of the critical elements necessary to write a script that scares the pants off the audience. Writing Horror is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H).

IDEAS AND CREATIVITY - 80 minute CD packed with information. Tools to find ideas that are both personal *and* commercial. Hollywood wants scripts with High Concept stories... but not stupid scripts. Developing *intelligent* high concept ideas. How to turn your personal story into a blockbuster - or find your personal story in a high concept idea. Brainstorming and being creative. Ideas and Creativity is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H)

WRITING INDIES - Writing an Indie film? This class covers everything you need to know - from Central Locations to Confined Cameos. Using examples from SWINGERS, THE COOLER, STATION AGENT and others, this 80 minute CD is packed with information. How Indoe films challenge the audience (while mainstream films reassure the audience). Structures, using BOYS DON'T CRY, RUN LOLA RUN, HILARY & JACKIE, and others as example. Writing for a budget, writing for non-actors, getting the most production value out of your budget. Writing Indies is $10.00 (plus $5 S&H)

Click here for more information on CLASS CDs!





Movie Magic 6

MOVIE MAGIC SCREENWRITER software

This is the program that I use. Very simple - I still haven't read the instruction book. When I first bought the program, I had sold a script and got an assignment - and decided to go from my macro to an actual screenwriting program. I went into The Writer's Store and asked for the easiest to use program they had, and that was MM. I started writing that assignment without ever reading the instruction book! One key stroke does *everything*. Automatically formats your script, putting character names, scene headings, and action in the appropriate places. It also has a character name list, so you only have to hit the first letter of any character's name and it automatically fills it in. The other great thing (at least for me) is that Movie Magic also makes the most used programs for budgeting and scheduling films - and all a producer has to do is import your script to the budgeting program! Makes it easier if your script is actually being produced. If you're looking for a screenwriting program, this is the one I recommend. Buy It!


Naked Class

The NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS!

The 2001 London Class on 8 CDs! Recorded *live* the morning after the Raindance Film Festival wrapped. The two day class on 8 CDs, plus a workbook, plus a bonus CD with over 450 screenplay PDFs - all 3 BOURNE movies, all 3 MATRIX movies, all 4 Indiana Jones movies, plus all kinds of action and thriller and scripts from Hitchcock films. Most of the 2008 Black List scripts. Yeah, I threw in some Charlie Kauffman and rom-com scripts and some National Lampoon Vacation movie scripts, too. Plus, an orginal brochure for the class. All for one reasonable price: $99.95.

(If you had taken the class in London it would have cost you $450... plus airfare, plus hotel, plus you'd have to eat "mushy peas" for dinner.)

THE TENTH DISK! - The Next 3 People To Order Will Get A SECOND Bonus Disk - The Classic Movie HIS GIRL FRIDAY on DVD! A Lesson In Dialogue And Banter. Cary Grant & Roz Russell Star In This Romantic Comedy. Yours FREE!

For more information about NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS on CD - 8 CDs + Bonus CD with over 450 scripts on PDF + Bonus DVD!

copyright 2009 by William C. Martell

CLASSES ON CD

Class CDs CLASSES ON CD! Take a class on CD! GUERRILLA MARKETING - NO AGENT? NO PROBLEM! and WRITING THRILLERS (2 CDs). Full length classes on CD. Now Available: IDEAS & CREATIVITY, WRITING HORROR, WRITING INDIE FILMS, more!
Take classes on CD!

MESSAGE BOARDS

A great way to avoid writing!
MESSAGE BOARDS
Ask questions, discuss screenplays and films, or play one of our cool new interactive games. It's fun! Producers can post Scripts Wanted ads free! Ask a screenwriting question!

BILL'S CORNER

My nineteen produced films, interviews with me in magazines, several sample scripts, my available scripts list... And MORE!
...............................BILL'S CORNER


Available Scripts

BOOKLETS & PRODUCTS

bluebook FIRST STRIKE BLUE BOOKS
Each Blue Book is 48 pages and focuses on a different aspect of screenwriting. Dialogue. Visual Storytelling. Your First Ten Pages. Act 2 Booster. Protagonists. Great Endings.
Seventeen Blue Books now available!

THE SECRETS OF ACTION SCREENWRITING OUT OF PRINT!

SCRIPT SECRET SEMINARS

Like the website? Take the class!
SCRIPT SECRETS SEMINAR
New class: CHARACTER FIRST!

Bill's Big 2 day London class comes to:
* Hong Kong! - 2009!
Hundreds of techniques to improve your writing, focusing on theme, character, creativity, ideas, pacing... more!

MY OTHER SITES

B MOVIE WORLD
Cult Films, Exploitation, Bikers & Women In Prison, Monster Movies. NEW INTERVIEW!

FIRST STRIKE PRODUCTIONS
Producing my own scripts, investment possibilities, pipe dreams.

SCRIPT LIBRARY

Thriller and Action Script Headquarters!
THE SCRIPT LIBRARY
Ever wonder what the scene looks like on the page? Read the script and find out!

TRAILER PARK
The latest coming attractions from films new and old!

BOOKSTORE

Every screenwriting book in the world!
SCREENWRITER'S BOOKSTORE
In Association With Amazon.com
From the latest screenwriting book to guides for finding agents and producers... all with at the Amazon.com discount!

SCRIPT SECRETS STORE

Script Secret Store SCRIPT SECRETS STORE From Typing Monkey coffee cups to messenger bags to T shirts - everything a screenwriter needs to look sharp while working on that Oscar nomination! Get your Script Secrets Coffee Cup today!

LECTURE SCHEDULE

Where can I catch Bill Martell in person?
LECTURES & EVENTS
For some reason film festivals keep inviting me to lecture on screenwriting. Dates and locations of where I'll be, plus a calendar of film festivals and writers conferences.
SCRIPT SECRETS SEMINARS - Like the website? Take the two day class!

SCREENWRITING LINKS

One stop shopping for screenwriting resources!
SCREENWRITING LINKS
From the WGA to Copyright to other great sites like WordPlay - If it's on the web, we'll take you there! Plus research links! Need a Space Shuttle schematic?

NAKED SCREENWRITING CDs

Naked Class NEW! The NAKED SCREENWRITING CLASS ON CD! The 2001 London Class on 8 CDs! Recorded *live* the morning after the Raindance Film Festival wrapped. The two day class on 8CDs, plus a workbook, plus a bonus CD with 300 screenplay PDFs.
The 2 Day Class on CD!