Fred’s Film School

The same grit that made Fred “The Hammer” Williamson a standout on the gridiron launched his career as an indie film producer. Never one to keep a good thing to himself, Hammer lays down the basics for getting a movie made. Don’t forget him when you’re on stage thanking the academy. – The Editors

Part 1 - Script & Story
Production always begins with a script and story.  The story comes from life - sometimes your own, sometimes others - or maybe a combination of life along with your imagination.  There is no specific formula for putting together your story, but when I have a story in mind I usually write down the beginning, then I write the ending.  This way I know where I’m going, I just need to figure out how I’m going to get there.

The middle usually comes to me while driving, or in the shower, just someplace where I’m alone and uninterrupted.  I make notes, think some more, make more notes, and I get to a place where I’m satisfied.  Usually I don’t have time to write the complete script, so I’ll hire two or three writers to give me their interpretation of my story.  I like to hire new writers trying to make it in the industry, so I pay them a fee for their scripts based on my story.  I’ll take the ideas I like best from each script, then adapt them to my story, rewriting until I have a satisfactory screenplay.  It’s always easier to rewrite than to write.  And many times their new ideas can inspire new ideas from me.

If I’ve already got an entire story in mind, one that has a beginning, middle and end, I’ll write the whole thing down in three or four pages. Then I’ll expand, a little at a time.  Ideas change, one good thought breeds another, and pretty soon I’ll have an entire screenplay.

If your plan is to write a screenplay that can be turned into a film, it is very important you decide who your “target market” will be.  Who are you writing for?  Who do you want to come and see your film? Do you want them to laugh or cry? Is it action, horror, a love story, a drama... ?  You must be clear as to the audience you want to attract, because if you combine too many of these elements, the film will not be successful.

In today’s market your film can also include the lifestyles of various ethnic groups, unlike years past where it was seldom acceptable to go beyond issues in white society.  But be careful here, because you don’t want to exclude any potential market.  Remember, money is green.

There is nothing that will say to you that you’ve written a great screenplay, it’s nothing but toilet paper until is it made into a film that makes money.  If people like it, it’s good. If they don’t, try again because you’ve missed your target market.

Another thing to remember is that the market for films is worldwide.  Many young writers, especially Black writers, tend to focus on the U.S. market, and forget about the rest of the world.  If you can expand your ideas and your locations, your film will sell worldwide.  But remember, what’s funny in the U.S. is not always funny overseas, and vice versa.  Great comics that were successful across the globe were usually physical comics that counted on doing something funny - not saying something funny.  Jerry Lewis, revered around the world, is a great example.

As for me, I stick to action.  A foot in the mouth needs no translation.  It’s the same around the world -- “ouch” in any language.

Okay, now you’ve got a script and you need money to make the project.  We’ll talk more about financing in another segment, but first let’s cover some “do’s” and “don’t’s” about your screenplay.

What’s your next step?  To be continued...

Photo by Isaac Sutton/EBONY Archives