How To Effortlessly Find Movie Ideas & Write Screenplays

You’re a writer or a filmmaker. Or someone who aspires to become one. You want to come up with an idea that excites you. Or maybe you already have an idea?

You also know filmmaking is not about finding perfect ideas. Its about execution. And finding the right idea for YOU. An idea that makes your specific life experience come to use. And brings a unique perspective to the story.

But where do you go from here?

In this article, I wanted to share my process of gathering and shaping my ideas. A method that helped me write eight short films, one novel and a one hour long theatre monologue.

After reading this article. You´ll know the key concepts used by professional writers.

Gathering Movie Ideas

Rarely do script ideas or movie concepts appear in a finished form.

For most screenwriters, they appear as fragments. As a puzzle, waiting for you to piece together. 

My experience is that there are two types of writers. When it comes to generating new ideas.

• The architects

• The archaeologists

The architects are writers who know where there story will go beforehand. They even know what story-beats they are aiming for and how the story will end.

They have written many stories and hav years of experience to draw from.

The archaeologists are usually less experienced writers. But experienced writers also belong to this category. These people dont fully know where they are going, and discover the story as they write.

I belong to the second category.

I cant even say if the idea will become a short story, a novel or a short film. Nor do I want to!

Sometimes I dont even know if its a thriller or a family drama. And I don’t want to know! That would take away my joy.

• The point is to not expect a clear idea. Fragments are the only clue you need!

Once was writing a cheerful family drama. And thought I had a very clear idea about where I wanted to go. But ended up in a post-apocalyptic world, in the end.

Your starting point

Do you start with a situation that you have experienced?

Or maybe you have a character in mind that you love?

Congratulations in that case! Because characters tend to make it a lot easier to find a story. At least in a character-driven narrative. 

A vague idea like; “I want to create something about a football competition“.

Or..

“Its something about a vacation trip to Hawaii.”

It doesnt really matter where you start. Your idea will transform many times. And grow as you connect your idea with new ideas. (More about that later).

The Creative Process Begins in Chaos

Some of you may think. But “I want to write with a clear intention!” And thats fine.

Im not against having a clear intention.

All Im saying is, if you want your process to feel more effortless. You should discover what is naturally grabbing your attention.

A relaxed relationship with ideas. Means holding them as if they where butterflies.

If you hold them too tight, – you crush them. And if you hold them too softly, – they fly away!

As with any creative expression. Writing begins in a certain degree of chaos. And that’s how its supposed to be!

Ideas might seem stereotypical. Plots might seem predictable. The character might seem strange and not resonate with you. 

The journey is about going from chaos to order.

How fast you are able to move through this process depends on:

• Your experience as a writer

• Your writing style

• How difficult the idea is to write

• How far away the fiction is from your personal life experience, (the further away the more research you need)

• How disciplined you are

We are all different in this area.

Some writers/filmmakers have tons of ideas for pouring through them on a daily basis. And also manage to write their screenplays very quickly. (which doesnt necessarily make them better).

Others need years to ruminate and process their ideas. And new ideas dont come to them very often.

Both types of writers will be able to produce a great movie in the end. 

Personally, Im very quick to find new ideas. And I have a good dose of imagination. This helps me in the beginning phase of writing. 

However, I have a harder time structuring my ideas. Which makes the last 20% of the script really hard for me.

If you are more structured in your writing. It might be the other way around for you.

Where do Movie Ideas Come From?

The world is full of fascinating stories, tragical events, amazing performances.

Talk to a random person on the subway and ask them about their life. And you will find many things to write about.

The problem isn’t a lack of stories to tell. It’s tuning up your antenna for noticing and paying attention when they show up.

You do this by learning to observe and honoring your curious. And valuing the impressions coming your way. 

Many writer find great ideas in newspapers. Or even just by reading news headlines!

They are filled with important social issues and changes in society. Often with high-stakes and colorful characters from society. 

Its like walking into a candy shop for filmmakers where everything is free to steal!

Others, like myself. Use their own personal experiences, family relationships and friendships. As a source of inspiration. I look at my writing as a form of self discovery. And I love movies that explore personal themes connected to identity and family. 

But in the end. ANY source of inspiration can be used to write an engaging story. 

The key is to notice what resonates with you. What makes you laugh? What makes you cry? What makes you angry?

I recommend that you create a “box of ideas”.

Your Box of ideas

Many writers, including myself, have folders that I call “box of ideas”. They can be digital or physical. 

As place for storing fragments and sometimes longer pieces of text. With ideas. Quotes. Impressions. Plot descriptions. Memories.

Basically, anything you can write that that eventually could be part of a screenplay.

They point with having a “box of ideas”. Is that you have an easy way of writing your ideas down when they come to you.

• Make sure you have easy and quick access to you folder. That’s very important.

If it takes too long for you to access the folder, you might find reasons not to write your ideas down.

You also don't want to judge your ideas when they appear. Deciding if the idea is good or not, comes at a later stage. 

“Collecting” ideas From The box

When you take out ideas from your toolbox. You will look at your them with new eyes, a new perspective.

Especially if they’ve been there for a long time. 

Most likely you will find something that still carries energy within you.

Meaning that it still gets you going in one way or the other. This is great, its a sign that there’s something of value here!

Story Ideas Coupled + Imagination = Stories

After finding and deciding that you have an idea you’d like to try out. You will start asking questions connected to your idea. 

Examples of questions for idea development:

• “What happened before this situation?”

• “What if I follow my character to the grocery store, what would happen there?”

• “Why is the core issue in my storyline?” (Could reveal your theme)

This will lead you to connect your ideas – to new ideas.

THIS is how a story develops.

By connecting ideas you create a snowball effect. And put your story fragments into context. 

But it’s essential, that you write your idea on paper.

Dont try to fool yourself into thinking you can somehow evaluate your ideas in your head.

Because writing them down. Is the only way to truly see what you have! So you can decide how to progress with the story. 

Organizing Your Ideas

Great movie ideas need a few different elements in order to feel complete.

I order my screenplay ideas into these five categories:

• The storyline

• The characters

• The underlying theme

• The cinematic visuals / cinematography

• The dialogue

They make it easy to see what you have. And what you are missing.

Some writers are really good at writing and imagining characters.

So they start from there.

Personally I gravitate towards storylines and visuals. It could be an image of a man walking over a beach with an umbrella. Which then makes me ask questions. Who is he? Why is he walking with an umbrella in the sun?

Writer who like storylines usually like action. They like the idea of interesting people doing interesting things.

Other writer are driven by political motives. Injustice, identity issues or their anger towards corruption and greed. 

It doesn’t matter where you start.

Why? Because everything is connected!

Meaning; if you start by exploring a theme like; corruption.

Eventually you will stumble on a character, whos involved in the situation.

If you start exploring a character, you will sooner or later find a theme through you character. That eventually leads to a genre, etc. 

Because, once again, everything is connected!

Nothing exists as an island isolated from the rest of the world.

Everything is affected by something. 

But you want to start connecting you ideas. While still letting them be fluid. 

And this is where the concept of index cards is really useful:

The Index Card Approach

Ideas rarely appear fully developed.

Therefore, its important to find a way to explore your idea before you are ready to write it all down in detail.

Many beginner writer, including myself. Have started writing their ideas in script format…

Only to find that we are writing something that doesn’t have a clear sense of direction!

Resulting in a lack of motivation and maybe leaving the idea all together. 

THIS, is where Index Cards come into great use. As a way to get your creative juices flowing. And spark your imagination. Without having to spend time on unnecessary details.

Screenwriting is more about developing a story that has a clear flow and movement. Your perfect scene descriptions cant be filmed anyway.

I always buy index cards in different colors. One color could be for the romantic scenes, another color for childhood memories, etc. 

You might have separate colors for your research. What are the traits of people with autism? What is the first thing the police do when they arrive at a murder scene?

Your mind will make connections.

Once again, the creative process is about moving from chaos to order. And you mind will start finding connections. Even if you tried to resist. 

This is simply how your mind works. Its looking for connections & patterns, to make sense of reality.

This is why the index card approach is so great.

Because you assist your mind. So it can organize and play around with your ideas more easily.

And its really easy to move your card around. Eventually you will find the structure for your story.

While you don’t force yourself into writing something in detail before you are ready to do so. 

Film treatments are used in the same way. You can use AI to assist you writing treatments.

A Process of Least Resistance

Discipline is a trait needed to persist as a writer.

This is not a surprise to anyone.

It requires a lot to sit by yourself in a room for hours. To spend time with an idea, that only lives on your computer.

But I think people over empathise discipline.

I´ve notice that people have a dystopian way of looking at creativity and writing. Believeing in the idea of the “Suffering artist”. But I know this isn’t true.

I´ve been able to create a career for myself as an actor and filmmaker and I also happen to be pretty happy! Most of the time..

By using; The Box of Ideas and the Index Card Method. You can follow your ideas, instead of forcing them in a certain direction.

For me. These tools are a way to move from discipline and “hard work”.

To exploration and creative expression.

It´s a way to get inspired by your writing. Without feeling like its a heavy burden you have to carry up a hill. 

Make Your Story Unfold 

This lets your story emerge naturally. And will at times make you feel, like you are just uncovering and exploring.

You are simply a witness, writing down the information which presented to you. 

Now a days, I find the challenge being more about letting go of my initial idea.

To unlock myself from my initial vision. Because what appears when we loose control of our imagination. Is usually far better then what where where able to imagine at the start.

Conclusion & Final Words About Idea Generation

Regardless of the genre or style you are writing in. If its a short film, feature film, an exciting heist or futuristic astronaut movie.

You can make your writing process in to a love story in itself. By allowing your own writing style to emerge naturally from who you are as a creative. 

This is how you become consistent. Because when you love doing something, you want to go back and do it all over again. 

In film school, I remember people talking about writer’s block.

But thats something Ive never experienced. And I belive its because I make sure Im attentive to my ideas. And who I am as a person & writer. 

In the end, if you want to write a compelling short film or a novel taking place in a fascinating fantasy world. It can only be compelling, if its compelling to you.