If you're a filmmaker who has a concept and an entire film emblazoned in neon lights within your brain but you can't write, then you need to find someone who can. If writers are a dime a dozen, than this should be a piece of cake. Or is it? With so many writers to choose from who have experience ranging from amateur to pro, it's crucial to find someone who can clearly envision your concept.

O Writer, Where Art Thou?

Word of mouth is one way to find a writer, especially in Hollywood where everything is about “so-and-so.” So-and-so wrote that script so maybe she can write this one. So-and-so couldn't finish his last script so he's not a good choice. If you're a filmmaker with a huge budget, then chances are you'll have no trouble finding a number of reputable writers. If you're an amateur just getting started, you may have to take your chances on a first-timer.

Dealing with Adaptations

If you do want to try writing your own script without starting from scratch, you may want to write an adaptation. Adaptations are screenplays that are written from an existing piece of literature, including books and short stories. Before you ever consider writing or filming a script based on a novel, you must ascertain whether the film rights to that book are available. If they're available, the rights must be optioned. Films like the Lord of the Rings trilogy, Out of Africa, The Color Purple, Patriot Games, The Shining, The Princess Bride, The Hunt for Red October, and Jurassic Park are all examples of adaptations.

Short stories are also adapted to screenplay format. The Shawshank Redemption was based on a short story, “Rita Hayworth and the Shawshank Redemption,” written by Stephen King. It was then adapted and directed by Frank Darabont, and was nominated for Best Picture in 1994.

Writing an adaptation script does have its plus side in terms of security and marketability. After all, a publisher did invest in the book, and if it sold well then a film should have a head start. Of course, if it's a bizarre bit of literature that only a handful of people read, a screenplay adaptation may have limited appeal unless you can find a producer or financial backer who loved the book.

Registering Your Masterpiece

Once you've finished penning your pièce de résistance, you definitely want to get it registered. This can easily be done online at the Writers Guild of America, West, or the Writers Guild of America, East (www.writersguild.org and www.wga.org). While registering your work doesn't constitute an official copyright, it does establish the date on which the script was completed, which may prove significant if someone writes something very similar to your work after that date.