Writing A Movie Script

How To Write A Movie With Tom Hanks

Nia Vardalos loves a free lunch. In fact, it was at a birthday party for Gary Goetzman, a well-known Hollywood producer, that Tom Hanks pulled Vardalos aside and pitched her his idea for a new film. Five years later, the script became “Larry Crowne,” a romantic comedy that Hanks co-wrote, stars in and directed.

“Tom was telling his agent and Gary about the idea and they were talking about writers and the door to Tom’s office opened and it was a complete ‘that girl’ moment. He was like ‘Nia, do you want to write a movie with me?’ and my head snapped back and I was like, ‘wow, I’m just here for the free lunch for Gary’s birthday but sure, sure Tom,’” said Vardalos, who broke into Hollywood as the writer/actor in “My Big Fat Greek Weeding.”

On that brisk November day in Los Angeles — no contract, no agents — Hanks and Vardalos sat down in Hanks’ side office at Playtone “and he told me the entire idea from beginning to end. It was very clearly drawn out what kind of movie he wanted to make, he wanted to make a simple charming European movie, he didn’t want to pander to critics and he didn’t want to pander to the audience. He wanted to make a grown up movie about a simple linear story.”

Vardalos argues that’s just what they did. Beginning in late 2005, the pair began meeting at Playtone, taking more days than she could remember to write. Story arcs came and went, but the perception of “this is reality” grounded the experience.

“Which is why Larry doesn’t suddenly get called back to big box at the end. It’s why Larry doesn’t get a better job, dang it. It’s a hopeful movie but he’s on a new path.”

For Vardalos, there’s more to writing with Hanks than just the writing.

“This one day I got there and I was downstairs talking – there are about 11 staff members there and everyone’s presence is equal and of value. Tom was standing up in the lunch room where everyone eats lunch together and looking down at me, there’s a bit of a balcony and he looked down at me and went, ‘Hey Nia, do you want to see the walk?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah.’ And he loped along as Larry would lope, happy-go-lucky down the stairs.”

That was at 10:30 a.m. Then, they simply went back upstairs and closed the door. Hanks pulled out a white board, Vardalos, a yellow legal pad.

“I remember that day Tom saying ‘I really don’t think he should have a family to turn to, I don’t think he should have any moral or physical financial support.’ I was like, ‘great.’ Boom, family’s gone. And it’s all white boarded. We had Mercedes Tainot coming in much later. But Tom’s point was, if we want to write a great part for Julia Roberts she has to be as present in the movie. ‘Ok, great. Let’s have her appearing sooner.’ And then it was Tom’s idea to make her struggling with alcohol consumption and just give her some loose edges and be damaged.

Steps to Writing a Good Movie Script | Film Making Mastery

Before you should think about ever becoming a good scriptwriter, there is one basic requirement that you should develop early on; that is to practice writing about whatever it is that you have in mind.  It is true that scriptwriting is one of the most fundamental tasks in making movies.  In fact, before a director could come to work or even before the cast is assembled, as story and a script should first be created and prepared respectively.  Apparently, the jobs of the director and the actors rely much on what is written in the script.  However, nobody is born a scriptwriter.  Therefore, you should not expect to be an award-winning one with your very first project.

The key to becoming a talented writer is practicing on a regular basis.  You may wonder how you would be able to write very often without any particular topic in mind.  That is actually the challenge.  A prolific writer does not wait for inspiration; he looks for it.  For as long as he has senses and, of course, the brain to process everything that he sees, hears, tastes, touches, and smells, he would always have something to write.  Once you feel that you can already begin trying your hand at scripts, watch plenty of movies, especially those known for good screenplay. Observe how the dialogues are made. Put your focus on the lines of the actors.

Since it is the skill in scriptwriting that you want to develop, seek inspiration as to what story you should have in mind from others.  You may even a movie already as an inspiration.  Afterwards, try to develop your own script on a scene-by-scene basis.  You may try to refer to a scene to an old movie and make your own screenplay for it.  Just like other forms of writing, a script is communication that is best appreciated by other people and not the scriptwriter himself.  Therefore, let someone read it and be open to criticisms.  Better still; ask a few friends to actually deliver the lines and find out if what you have written is not awkward when actually spoken.

Even during the reading of the script, be ready to introduce changes if these mean making the screenplay more effective and realistic.  It is actually when the script is read or delivered that you would find out if these are natural and not too formal.  Remember that main difference between writing a short story or a novel to movie script is that that latter is more conversational and natural.  Unless you are trying to make a Shakespearean film adaptation, avoid being too formal in the dialogues.

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