
Just creating amazing characters in a memorable world who are struggling to obtain a goal(s) and writing the story with an original voicestill isn’t enough to start a screenplay. A novel, maybe, but not a script. The prose writer has freedom to use anything, go anywhere, use any tense, and explore any point of view. The screenwriter, however, is bound by form – not formula.
Screenplays have a very specific form, and if you ignore that form, it will not serve you, your story, or your audience, and it will definitely not help your screenplay. In fact, disregarding form will inevitably snuff out your script. And it will be a slow, painful death, essentially guiding the reader not to read.
So what’s the lesson learned? If you’re going to do something, do it right. Screenplay form is distinct and precise, and a script lacking this form almost always finds a home… right in the trash.
Screenwriting is essentially filmmaking on paper. It is a visual storytelling after all, and the screenwriter must write in PRESENT TENSE – only what the audience can SEE and HEAR. The screenwriter must always use the Three C’s: being CLEAR and CONCISE, yet still CREATIVE. Both in description and dialogue, creative brevity is the screenwriter’s steadfast ally and most powerful weapon.
The screenwriter does not have time to explore the story through long-winded, soul searching monologues, and the script can’t be bogged down with the subtle intricacies of every little detail. There is no time for that, and the screenwriter must be concerned with time – Always! When writing a script, you only have between 90 and 120 minutes to tell your story. That’s not a lot of time, so script economy becomes something the screenwriter must strive for. If it does not illustrate character or moving the story forward, kill it.
In this section, you will learn how to be more economical with your scenes as well as to avoid common pitfalls such as directing on the page. You will see the importance of the white space, learning to steer away from “I” pages and block pages. And detailed templates for film features, TV dramas, and sitcoms are provided to help you demonstrate the practical use of the many different elements of proper screenplay form. – thescriptlab.com
Terms and Concepts
- Create a blog post titled, Screenwriting Operation and Control
- Create headings for:
- Summary
- Timeline
- Project Skills Evidence
- What I Learned
- Create headings for:
- Create a blog post Character Archetypes
- Link to the Character Archetypes (PDF)
- Take notes
- Create a blog post Trope Talk
- Embed Trope Talk: Beginnings!
- Take notes
- Create a blog post What is Arch Plot and Classic Design?
- Embed the Arch Plot Diagram image
- Cite your source as What is Arch Plot and Classic Design? by Ingrid Sundberg
- Read What is Arch Plot and Classic Design?
- Link to the article
- Take notes
- Embed the Arch Plot Diagram image
- Create a blog post titled Every Story is The Same
- Embed Every Story is the Same
- Embed the Every Story is the Same Story Builder Template, too
- Take notes
- Create a blog post titled Screenplay and Story Form
- Link to Sample Screenplay Template (PDF)
- Link to Screenplay Form
- Take notes
- Link David Mamet’s Three Magic Questions
- Take notes
- Embed Screenplay Format Pt 2 – Action
- Take notes
- Create a blog post titled Screenplay Structure: The Five Plot Points
- Embed video Screenplay Structure: The Five Plot Points
- Take notes
- Embed video Screenplay Structure: The Five Plot Points
- Create a blog post titled Screenplay Structure: Sequences
- Embed Screenplay Structure: Sequences
- Take notes
- Embed Screenplay Structure: Sequence One
- Take notes
- Embed Screenplay Structure: Sequence Two
- Take notes
- Embed Screenplay Structure: Sequences
- Create a blog post titled Script Tip: Five Essential Elements
- Embed Script Tip: Your First 10 Pages – Five Essential Elements
- Take notes
- Embed Script Tip: Your First 10 Pages – Five Essential Elements
- Create a blog post titled Script Tip: Creating An Unforgettable Protagonist
- Embed Script Tip: Creating An Unforgettable Protagonist
- Take notes
- Embed Script Tip: Creating An Unforgettable Protagonist
- Create a blog post titled The Dark Knight — Creating the Ultimate Antagonist
- Embed The Dark Knight — Creating the Ultimate Antagonist
- Take notes
- Embed The Dark Knight — Creating the Ultimate Antagonist
- Create a blog post titled American Beauty – The Art of Character
- Embed American Beauty – The Art of Character
- Take notes
- Embed American Beauty – The Art of Character
- Create a blog post titled American Beauty (Part 2) — The Missing 27 Pages
- Embed American Beauty (Part 2) — The Missing 27 Pages
- Take notes
- Embed American Beauty (Part 2) — The Missing 27 Pages
- Create a blog post titled Whiplash vs. Black Swan — The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist
- Embed Whiplash vs. Black Swan — The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist
- Take notes
- Embed Whiplash vs. Black Swan — The Anatomy of the Obsessed Artist
- Create a blog post titled What Makes A Good Story?
- Embed What Makes A Good Story?
- Take notes
- Embed What Makes A Good Story?
- Review formatting for a script
- Watch an overview of Adobe Story – Writing a Simple Script – Free Version
- Write a script for a film about basic story structure operations include all terms and concepts to be included in your short film
- The point of the film is to demonstrate what you have learned about blocking operations as a reference for yourself in your blog
- Mark the screenplay
- Use the Marking The Shooting Script (PDF) as a inspiration and a template for format of your marked script
- Storyboard each shot
- Block each shot
- Create the shot list for the project
- Create an equipment list
- Practice each shot, update script, as needed
- Gather equipment; camera, lens, shotgun mic, lights, bounce, diffuser, etc.
- Create a shot log
- Shoot each scene
- Catalog shots
- Edit shots in Adobe Premiere
Resources
- Getting Started with Adobe Story Part 1 – Creating a Script – Free Version
- Getting Started with Adobe Story Part 2 – Format a Script – Free Version
- More Detailed Overview of Adobe Story – Writing a Simple Script – Free Version
- What is Story? – This is the non-free Plus Version – We use the free version
- Encyclopedia of ScreenwritingSample Screenplay Template (PDF)
- The Script Lab Encyclopedia of Screenwriting (PDF)
- writersstore.com
Tools
- Adobe Story
- This tool with guide you through the screenplay development process and has extra features for commenting and collaboration
- Celtx.com (Free)
- This program also manages the whole film making process, including screenplay development
- Each person on the production team tracks their work within the system so the producer can manage the project
- This program also manages the whole film making process, including screenplay development
- Free Word Document for two column AV format