Screenwriting : Quick Question by Ray Anthony Martinez

I usually come up the title after the whole screenplay has been written (or at least have a working title throughout the writing process so that you can change it in the end). Then I brainstorm titles, sometimes with friends telling them the general concept and development, write down many of my favorites, and then ask other friends which title they like best. Then I compare their suggestions to which one I like the most, and go from there! Hope that helped a little :)

I do have a working title, but it was used once in 1983.

Hmm... that sucks. I had the same problem recently. A screenplay I'm writing has a title which is an object that the whole story is based around. Turns out it's a copyrighted name, and so I had to change the Title and whenever it was mentioned in the story. It sucked, because I loved my title. But sometimes we have to settle on a different one, even though it might not be our favorite, but it still works well. Do you have any other titles in mind?

Not yet, still finishing the first draft.

I usually look to the girl I'm banging at the time. The female lead will always carry her name or one close to it and the title is usually inspired by something she says.

@Laura: You cannot copyright a title in the US. Perhaps you meant trademarked?

@Sam: Yes, sorry it's trademarked. :)

Yeah, that doesnt work for me Jason Elia. What I do or recommend is writing the Title and making a prototype book jacket to place over any book. It is a muse for your manuscript to be complete and then trademark your title. Now as far as finding out if your Title is available I would ask your publisher. I use a lot of visual muses, even a single flower can inspire!

I usually try to find something pivotal in the story on which to base the title.

I usually mull over it for a day or two and it comes to me in a dream.

I'm sorry Christina. But like any true self indulgence prick who by the grace of the heavens manages to keeping himself afloat smithing the words... the people I love even for the short amounts of time are my muses. As crude as it may sound to your ears I'm grateful and eternally love every woman fucks me up enough to write something. And so I immortalized them the only way I can; with the written word. It's my process and probably also my downfall.

What inspired the story, that's usually where the title comes from with me. Almost everything I write comes from my dreams. It's usually something powerful and captivating that leads me to the story, so I use that as the starting point for my title.

I've found that the most memorable titles tend to be either the name/title of the most important character (not necessarily the lead --cf. "The Lord of the Rings"), the main location (especially if the story begins with someone arriving and ends with them leaving --cf. "District 9"), or the main event/macguffin that pulls the plot together (cf. "Star Wars," "The Andromeda Strain," etc).

Excellent ideas. Thanks you everyone!

Unique, simple and easy to remember the name

Usually have a working title and then when things start to come around I pick a short word chain from the script that seems to catch the concept/story fairly concisely.

My current project is based on a book by a woman who was forced into prostitution at age 15. After each night of being pimped out to dozens and dozens of men, she would go home and soak in the tub. She said that this helped to cleanse her body and her soul. Therefor, when I started a screenplay project inspired by the book (The Slave Across the Street, by Theresa L. Flores) I decided to call it 'The Cleansing.' It's simple, and it sounds a bit more positive than my original plan to call it 'The Slave.'

I absolutely love the title that you came up with and had to post it. Perfect and powerful, made me feel for her even more...Much success to you on your project! Robert

Great title. When you come up with a really good title, it is often a good idea to buy the URL if you can, ie: thecleansing.com. If you are lucky enough to sell the script and get it made, that URL can be a real plus.

Thanks for all of your comments! Now I'm more confused than before!!! Just kidding! You all have been very helpful!

Titles are the last thing I think about. Start writing your script. Finish the rough. Set the script aside for several months. Re-write. Polish. Let others have a read. Then start all over again. If you have spent the time creating a marketable, quality story with great characters and awesome arcs on paper, clever plot, sub plot with consistent plot points in a valid three act form, with solid dialogue; you will come up with plenty of titles. Logline becomes easy. Synopsis is like poetry off thy tongue. TITLES ARE THE LAST THING ONE SHOULD THINK ABOUT. If the script is good, and bought, those that buy will do what they do. All about money and marketing at that point. Just use 'working titles'.

Thanks Don. I'm actually shooting it myself. I was just seeing what others do for titles.

Title name in the beginning of film making is concentrated about the theme of a story, and before the completion of the films probably do an accurate story of the name of the combination.

It almost seems like the title falls out of the story,or a song,By the pictures you see in your head,But then you have to twist it a little to make it catchy and marketable for what ever crowed your targeting,One word can mean many different things,To many People..It will come to you Ray !!