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101 Secret Tips for Screenwriters: Blasting Down the GateKeepers Doors!
A Gift from: www.davidhohl.com And www.horrormovieschool.com Copyright 2012 by Hohlographic Productions, LLC

Welcome to a book that could very well change your career. Within these pages are
secret tips that, if understood and implemented, will help put your script into the top 10% pile of the Hollywood GateKeepers (GKs). That is the goal of the school I created, the Kick@$$ Screenplay School. These tips are just the tip of the iceberg, of the complete Screenplay course, but even these, if used, will boost your screenwriting to a new level. This is my gift to you for many reasons. First of all, I am a consultant, and read scripts all the time. I would love to read good scripts, so maybe this will help me get more. Ive also worked on an exclusive screenwriting system for over a decade for my private students. They convinced me to bring it out to a wider audience, so Ill do so for a limited time. I have seen every screenplay class and seminar out there and if I didnt believe this was the best on-line course in the world, I wouldnt have wasted my time creating it. These 101 tips are each a powerhouse that will help you blast down the doors of those who stand between you and a sale The Gate Keeper. These professionals are jaded readers who put their career on the line if they recommend a screenplay that fails. Therefore, it is easier for them to pass on a script and continue with their job. They sometimes look for any reason to Pass, and if they have the power to do so, may not even read it if they arent thrilled immediately. However, even with this negative attitude, if a script is so good, they cant ignore it. If its something they know will be picked up because of the quality, then they will start thinking that if someone else buys it and their boss asks why they passed, then their butt is on
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TM

the line. So, the bottom line is this: Your script goes in with odds stacked against it, but if you can propel it into the top 10% pile of the GK, then your success chances SKYROCKET! That is our goal at the Kick@$$ screenplay school, and also the Kick@$$ Anatomy of Horror Master course at www.horrormovieschool.com This tip guide is a gold mine of information to bring you in that direction and just a taste of what is in the complete Kick@$$TM Screenplay course and the Anatomy of Horror Master Course at horrormovieschool.com. Each tip is written to give you something to apply to your writing and to spark some thoughts, possibly even leading you to a breakthrough. Our complete audio seminar on this book goes over each tip in detail with explanations and examples. If you want the exciting audio seminar with in-depth detail, go to www.davidhohl.com and subscribe to the newsletter for updates and free tips and you will get the audio course when its ready. Its great for listening at your leisure during a drive, at the gym, or whenever. Also, if you got this book from a friend or other outside source, please go subscribe to our newsletter: www.davidhohl.com and now

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The Tips
1- Write! And Write more. Even if its just writing in a journal, do it daily.

2- Dont start a screenplay till you have an outline.

3- Dont start an outline till you have a killer logline!

4- When possible, show action Dont explain it in dialogue.

5- Avoid scenes on the telephone, text, or computer.

6-When writing your scene, ask yourself what the clich is. How have you seen it done usually, then do it differently!

7-Dont describe characters in minute detail, but more of a type and feeling. Dont say 22 year old beauty of 58. What if the star reading it is 30 and 52?
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8- Give us white space. A huge block of text makes a readers head explode. It really makes them want to toss it down and hit the beach.

9- Take an hour to learn proper format. If your format looks bad, it shows you arent serious on learning your craft.

10- Speaking of formatdont send a shooting script to a company as a spec.

11- Your first page should set the tone for the entire script. If its a horror film, dont have us laughing on the first page.

12- Master the Genre you are writing. Be known for it! Market yourself as the one to go to for that genre.

13- Dont write Director comments in your script. There is nothing that drives a reader crazy more than seeing: Camera Cranes up and we Angle on Joe with a Medium shot. Arrgghhh! Dont direct - write.
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14- Direct when you write. Ha. Just do it in a hidden way so the reader doesnt realize it.

15- Research your topics but dont hit us over the head with your research. Use it carefully and sparsely.

16- Avoid characters with the same first letter of names. Albert and Alan are easier to confuse than Alan and David.

17- Focus on one genre till you master it. Then you can move on if desired.

18- Take as many screenwriting courses as you can, but dont allow that to stop you from writing.

19- Every character should sound different. Do they all sound like you?

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20- At a minimum, every reel of your script should have a big exciting event. If a horror film, someone should die, melt, or explode. If a comedy, a big laugh out loud scene.

21- Make your protagonists goal very clear. Do you know how many times Ive been told the characters goal is enlightenment, understanding, wisdom, happiness, success, etc.?

22- Dont preach. Become a pastor if you want to do that.

23- If your logline is unclear, your script will be too.

24- If your logline is unclear, you wont get anyone to read your script.

25- Its easier to write your script in eight short sequences (reels) rather than three big acts. IMHO.

26- Dont repeat! If you have a scene of something happening, dont have another scene of someone explaining what just happened.
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27- Try to always have

28- Suspense.

29- Start your scenes late and leave early.

30- Page turners: Make every page end incomplete.

31- Write in the present

32- Write actionits called a MOVIE for a reason.

33- Use economy of words.

34- Dont have a character start or try to do something. Have them do it.
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35- Dont write real dialogue. Write what sounds like real dialogue.

36- Dont re-write as you go.

37- Watch a romantic comedy and see what happens in the exact middle of the movie. I bet the couple has sex, or has their first magical kiss. Why? This is the point of no return, when stakes are raised, and there is no turning back. A new level of urgency or importance is made.

38- In Dialogue, use contractions often.

39- Dont even think about putting a cast list in your script, and no graphics either!

40- If your villain (antagonist) is weak, your character will not shine.

41- Before you fight a fish and reel it to shore, you have to HOOK it!

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42- The REEL Outline technique makes writing easy by breaking it into bite sized pieces.

43- What does your audience (or reader) remember most? Your opening Hook, and your ending.

44- Cant think of a story? Just look at the news one day and youll get at least three ideas.

45- Dont write for budgetunless its for a specific paid assignment.

46- Dont make your villains all bad.

47- Know your genre.

48- Every Reel should have a bang.

49- Combine characters to reduce the number.

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50- Give even minor characters uniqueness.

51- Dont confuse your characters inner need with his/her outer goal.

52- If your character has no outer goal, they will never reach it and well never know what to desire. If you have no goal, youll never finish a script.

53- Can you do a depressing ending where the character dies? Sure, but how many people like to be depressed?

54- Movies are 80% Art, and 120% business.

55- Describe a character with an attitude or feeling, not with boring detail of clothing and hair color.

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56- Dont write anything to take the reader out of the story. Shane Black can do it, but unless youre him, stay away from it.

57- Give the audience what they want, but in a way they dont expect.

58- Keep a journal for writing and put in any story idea, dialogue, or scenes that you think of. You may come back to it in ten years for a script idea.

59- Think of a movie as a group of sequences, or reels.

60- Beatscenesequenceactstoryfrom seed to Oak.

61- You can write a story with an actor in your mind, but dont describe it so only that actor can play it.

62- Study people talking. Not everything is Question, Answerthere are interruptions, off track statements, confusions, etc. Study the many methods on your own or in the Kick@$$ course.
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63- Surprises cant be such a surprise that we say WTF!! They must be foreshadowed.

64- You must read scripts, watch videos, and go to the theatre for films.

65- You cant only write, a screenwriter must be a networker, communicator, and salesperson to be successful. If you arent good at those things, you better get people on your team.

66- Whats in a title? Having a bad title might make someone refuse to read your script, regardless of how good it is. The title is the first bait. The logline the hook.

67- A good read is when someone cant stop turning the pages. This is primarily a sign of good pacing.

68- Write screenplays for joy, not for money.

69- Get a personal mentor if possible.

70- There is a saying in life that a persons real character is seen in what they do when they are alone or when they think there are no witnesses. This can be used in your writing.

71- Bring a journal or voice recorder with you to the mall, school, convention, or anyplace that has the type of people you are writing about. Listen to what they talk about and how they speak. Make notes. You will get a goldmine of dialogue ideas.

72- Always make sure you have at least one virgin in your script.

73- Movies used to be projected in film Reels of 10-15 minutes each or so. Think of your movie as several sequences, or reels, each with its own beginning, middle and end. All of these reels combine to make the entire 100-120 minutes movie.

74- The only purpose of a movie is to illicit a specific emotion.

75- Magic Formula - IMP: Hook/Impact, Maintain Interest with SEW, Active Participation.

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76- The three ways to get interest- SEW: Sex, Emotion, Wonder.

77- Whenever I ask my wife what a movie was about, she always says, Love! Shes almost always rightwatch for yourself.

78- A reader hates nothing more than turning a page to see a solid black wall. White space is your friend.

79- Have your characters exhaust normal ways out of a problem.

80- A character must be LOCKED IN to the story by the end of Act I, or Reel 2.

81- Write for a high school student, not an English professor.

82- There are no new ideas, but there are 1- Forgotten ones, and 2- new spins on old ones.

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83- Always start your character in their status quo. We want to see them move from their normal world to a new, exciting one.

84- Start your outline with the BIG plot points, and then move to fill in the rest. These will be guideposts during your journey.

85- Never send a script to someone without getting permission first. Im still amazed about how many people still dont know this. Surely not you!

86- We dont really want to read your biographysorry. Unless of course, you are on the top ten FBI list, or perhaps an alien hybrid.

87- You can write something you find meaning in AND have it be commercial. Its not a one or the other thing.

88- You already have succeeded as a screenwriter if you enjoy doing it.

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89- Having trouble thinking of an idea? Take another movie and change parts of it: time, genre, etc. Example: Take Pretty Woman, and make it a Sci-Fi, and with gender roles switched. Take Witness, and make it aliens instead of Amish.

90- Dont outdo yourself too early. A story must have RISING tension.

91- Remember peaks and valleys. An audience and characters must have time to regroup after an intense or emotional scene, whether it be funny, action, thrills, etc.

92- Sometimes characters need mirrors to see themselves. Another similar character can show change or stagnation in our protagonist.

93- Its always better to do, than say. Show, dont tell.

94- Symbolic backdrops. A happy relationship with bright flowers on the table, as the relationship dies, so do the flowers.

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95- Echos- the character is in a similar scene multiple times and reacts differently each time, showing change. See Groundhog Day and the bum scenes.

96- Take any clich scene and make sure not to do it the way you think it is usually done. How do you imagine a guy getting fired from his job?

97- Your idea is better than the one you just saw on the screen? Great, but can it be better AFTER the development execs get through with it?

98- Put your children up for adoption: Even if you love a scene, if the movie does not need it to move forward, throw it out. Write the idea in your writing journal and perhaps find a future use.

99- Every scene must have conflict, tension, or whatever you want to call it. If everyone wants the same thing, its called boring.

100- Always get a professional outside opinion on your script before sending it to market. Use a good Script Doctor, or screenplay consultant. Avoid the ones where you dont know who is

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analyzing your work. A company can farm the work out to college students, or whoever. Go with a company whose owner does the work and you know their name.

101- Re-write! Professional Feedback rewrite again.

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We hope these tips will help you during your career. Wed also like remind you about the audio seminar that goes over each tip in detail with an explanation and examples. You can get your complete copy soon. Sign up for the newsletter at www.davidhohl.com to be on the list. The REEL OUTLINE System was developed as part of the Kick@$$
TM TM

Screenplay Course and gives you the ability to easily write your script in bites, using an easy template, instead of getting stuck in act two like so many people do. It also gives you the elite secrets to help get your script into the top 10% pile. More on this system is available in the complete course. For a limited time, the Kick@$$ Screenplay Course and REEL Outline secrets and
TM

techniques are part of the Anatomy of Horror Master Course at www.horrormovieschool.com This way you get the complete Master of Horror course and the Kick@$$ Screenplay
TM

Course for one price instead of two. Do it the Write Way!

David
Copyright 2012 by Hohlographic Productions, LLC Kick@$$TM Screenplay Course & The Anatomy of Horror Master Course TM [email protected]

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