screenplays?

hi, all. sorry for the lengthy absence, there. i'm optimistic i'll be posting more regularly and hopefully with more substantive entries. not that i'll be researching to great depth; i'm here to introduce, to pique interest--i'll leave the heavy lifting to someone wearing a brace. call me a flirt, it's okay.

a friend of mine currently working on her doctorate in media studies suggested i take a closer look at screenplays, that those who write using strong visuals can often adapt their style to successful screenwriting. i've never really given screenplays a shot; the few times i've tried to read one i'm too distracted by the jumping between stage direction and dialogue and setting description to fall into the story. but i agreed to give it a new try. she suggested several strong screenplays to read, one of which i link to here: http://www.dailyscript.com/scripts/alien_early.html .

she also suggested screenplays for "the verdict", "jerry maguire", "casablanca", "pretty woman", "adaptation" . . . and several more, but i'm forgetting her list right now. (don't worry, she's emailing me the complete information later.)

in addition to reading actual screenplays, she recommended the book "and the best screenplay goes to . . . " by linda seger. the book works more like an interactive workbook than a text, analyzing award-winning screenplays scene by scene to bring specific lessons to bear for the reader.
link: http://www.amazon.com/Best-Screenplay-Goes-Learning-Winners/dp/1932907386/ref=pd_rhf_p_t_1
i'm actually a little excited about finding and reading this book; that whole window-into-a-new-world phenomenon thing.

i'm open to the idea of screenwriting for a few reasons:

one, i love movies and visual media. i grew up on tv and film, and have experienced powerful moments from both (the kind that leave you on the verge of jumping onto the roof and shouting out your new epiphanies to the neighbors.) while we use our eyes to interpret typewritten words on the page so our brains can understand the message (and all the wonderful storytelling elements that accompany it), i do think visual images may be a more direct path to the brain, evoking as strong a reaction to story but without the added steps of translation--images transcend language in many ways.

two, i like the idea of developing competence with handling a story full-circle: conception, articulation, adaptation. the very idea of composing and then adapting one of my stories for the screen is thrilling--as thrilling as the tantalizing idea of seeing one of my stories published and bound, sitting on the bookstore shelf (ooh! or even better, cradled in the arms of a loving reader.) and part of me thinks learning about this aspect of storytelling will help me with my more traditional forms, as well--learning how to stage action for greatest impact, how to create more natural rhythms in dialogue and character interaction, how to set scenes in the mind's eye so the reader can follow me exactly where i'd like him to go. i can see all sorts of pros to adding to my writing toolbelt.

three, screenwriting is foreign to me. i have no history with stagecraft or theater, or film--although i spent several feverish months as a teen with my nose in fx manuals written by tom savini (specifically, this one: http://www.amazon.com/Bizarro-Tom-Savini/dp/0517553198/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1272600351&sr=1-4 .) i was convinced i'd work in protheses someday for the movie industry. heh.
but back to the point: i never did get any closer to tv or film, other than my fierce love of the magic of storytelling regardless of which form it takes. i'm curious about this huge chunk of entertainment/artistic expression so far untouched by my fumbling efforts. why haven't i ever jumped in? time to find out, i think.

so, i'll be fiddling for a little while, exploring. i may start with an adaptation of one of my flash fictions for practice, as i continue slogging along with the novels. (i'm beginning to wonder if novels are my medium, if i'm not designed for that kind of storytelling architecture or am just struggling with the first novel blues.) maybe i'm hoping for a spark either way.

any experienced dual-medium writers out there who can offer me some advice and/or insight?