Screenwriting is never easy. Sometimes an idea will come to you that seems that way, but when you put it on paper, unpacking it gets a little murky. That's why I try to seek out the advice of the best of us to see how they'd put these things in play. While looking for some inspiration to crack my latest spec screenplay, I stumbled upon this video, hosted by our very own Jo Light, where she talks to director James Mangold about his best screenwriting advice. Naturally, I thought this would be a great thing to unpack here. Let's dive in. James Mangold's Screenwriting Advice I have to say James Mangold is one of the filmmakers I most admire working in Hollywood. I feel like he really understands the kinds of movies he's making, and his work on the page reflects these tones and ideas. Let's unpack some of his best advice. Minimize Filmmaking JargonMangold cautions against littering scripts with technical filmmaking terms. He believes this can obstruct the storytelling flow, forcing people out of the world you've been building. Instead of dictating camera angles, he suggests describing the scene in a way that naturally implies the shot you have in your mind. For instance, describing the vastness of clouds over a house hints at a wide shot, whereas detailing flaring nostrils inherently suggests a close-up.Write for the "Blind Person" This piece of advice is going on a post-it note for my wall. The whole thing is to imagine describing the...
Published By: NoFilmSchool - Today