Screenwriting : Actor Bait by Vanessa Schell

Hard to commit unless I read the script. I have found you need a good script, followed by good actors, then a good cinematographer. A director that know what he or she wants to see and shoot and a greatmusic score. Just my thought?????

I love that book. And yes, it's a fantastic piece of advice. Whatever your budget or level of professionalism, you're always going to want actors just over the bar of what you're worthy of. Whether it's "names", or just the best-of-the-best local talent, you want great actors to REALLY WANT to do this. And anyway, if you're always writing As If you're trying to cast A-list talent, it's going to up your game with the writing even if you're just casting your buddies from the coffee shop. Great book, great advice.

Good thoughts! I plan on many revisions before any actors sees it, and due to the low budget nature of the story, I'll most likely be cinematographer too, unless I find someone I can really trust! (I'm picky about camera shots)

It is a great book! I've only read a portion of it so far, but it's been very handy. Broke me out of horrible writer's block and got me thinking on a lot of things. My script is dialogue heavy so the actors really need to be top notch as I can get, and I want them to passionate about the story too.

Agree.

Good Luck.

Actors should always be passionate about the story, their role and the interaction with others. If not, you don't have much of a film.

Get the book Rewrite by Paul Chitlik it will definitely help improve the areas where your script needs attention. And use the following book You can ACT by D.W. Brown to really get into your characters in order to produce and get the great action and dialogue that you want. Some of my characters I sometimes have trouble with, but if you tend to act it out with some of following books as guidelines the action and speech seems to come out of no where, much improved.

Change your thinking. Think and write only in actions and sounds. Don't tell me verbatim that Jack is mad at Jill. -- Have him bang on the wall. Slam on the gas pedal, or launch her keys out the window of a five story building. That's showing the emotion you want to write about. You're not writing a novel, you're choreographing a story with sound and actions. -- And never repeat information you've already given.

Vanessa – on writing actor bait: We all do it but you have to be careful because a well portrayed character needs a well skilled actor and well skilled actors can change colors like a chameleon. You need to read the actor during the audition – that’s why I always want the writer to attend the auditions. Still, when I write, I have certain characters/actors in mind because I’ve seen them play similar characters. It’s called type casting. My advice is to raise the bar a little higher – write Oscar bait. (It’s very hard!)

Hollywood actors either like money or complex characters -- ideally both, but often those two bait bags don't come together in the same package. That's why it's not unusual to see name performers in character-centered indie productions, working for far less than their typical studio fees, and that's especially true for female performers where studio films tend to offer a much narrower range of characters in terms of age and complexity.

Wow! Everyone has given me really great advice. Thank you. I probably wouldn't have thought of some these otherwise. My script is still in the first draft. I know there's a lot of work ahead till it's worthy! :)

Aim high Vanessa; best wishes for your success.

I think the aim of most any writer is to get a great actor attached! That's the person you are going to have to trust to bring your baby to life. A great actor can make a good script amazing. A crappy actor can turn, even the best script into rubbish. That being said, there are "tricks" you can use to make your script actor bait. The first thing an actor reads is their character's description and intro - so make it awesome! If the character is strong, make their intro and their action strong. If it's a comedy, make that character do/look/or say something funny. Geoffrey Rush signed onto Shakespeare In Love after reading the first 3 pages of his character - he didn't even read the whole script. Make your character descriptions irresistible.

I think that's true.