Exploring the Script Frenzy Cameo Archive

I just finished pulling out some highlights from the Script Frenzy cameo archive and I must say, it got me pretty excited to start working on my script. When Tim, the OLL office captain, asked me to go through the cameo archive and make a list of tweetable one-liners, I thought reading all that advice at once was going to give me an anxiety attack, but it was surprisingly comforting.

I noticed that almost all the contributing scriptwriters had some form of the same advice: "Just sit down and write. You'll probably hate your first draft but that's what first drafts are for." Knowing that I'm not the only one that's continually dissatisfied with my first drafts is a huge relief. And it's especially nice to hear when it's coming from accomplished screenwriters, playwrights, and graphic novelists. Frustrations with first drafts seem to be a common complaint across experience levels, and keeping that in mind makes the idea of embarking on a first draft a little less fearsome.[[MORE]]

While a lot of the advice I came across was practical and useful, like how to create realistic characters, write dialogue, structure a plot etc., it was the advice about imagining the fun extras that got me most eager to start writing. In many cameos, writers suggested designing the movie poster, creating a soundtrack, or casting characters with real actors. They argued that this is a great way to get excited about your project and visualize the finished product. As a newbie, I know I don't really have any authority to agree or disagree but it sounds like great advice to me. I think imagining a close up of Bill Murray's face on a billboard for my movie is just the boost I need to get working.

What's gets you excited about writing? Do you tackle the big picture first or do you get carried away with the smaller fun stuff?

- Jessie

Photo by Flickr user pedrosimoes7