introduction to screenplay
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
THE ART AND TECHNIQUES OF STORYTELLING
THERE ARE NO RULES. THERE ARE AS MANY
WAYS TO MAKE A FILM
DISREGARD THE “RULES” THAT YOU ARE PRESENTLY READING
AND INSTEAD CONSIDER
THEM “NOTES” TO SELF.
WRITING IS
HARD
DON’T BE
AFRAID TO
MAKE MISTAKES
STORY CATALYSTS
ARTS MUSICPEOPLE
LIFE EXPERIENCES
INSPIRATIONIMAGINATION
PERSPIRATION
TRUST THE
PROCESS.NEVER DOUBT
GETTING STARTED:
CHARACTER
CHARACTER SKETCHING:SLUMBOOK
CHEESE
WHAT ARE THEY TRYING TO
SAY? WHAT DO THEY WANT?
WHAT DO THEY NEED, AND HOW WILL THEY GET IT?
2 TYPES OF CHARACTERS:
“PROTAGONIST”“ANTAGONIST”
DEVELOPING YOUR CHARACTERS:
PLANT AND PAY-OFFREWARD AND PUNISHMENT
QUICKLY GO BEHIND YOUR CHARACTER, AND
SET UP THE
DILEMMA
CREATE THE
CHARACTER’SENVIRONMENT
TIME-SPACE STORY FORMULA
THE “NORMAL” STORY STRUCTURE:
B-M-EBEGINNING-MIDDLE-END
WRITER’S BLOCK?
DRINK PLENTY OF WATER, KID!
SERIOUSLY,
YOU CAN ALWAYS START IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SCENE, YOU DON’T HAVE TO INTRODUCE EVERYONE IMMEDIATELY; THE AUDIENCE IS SMART ENOUGH; THEY CAN CATCH
UP.
WRITER’S BLOCK AGAIN?
EAT FRUITS AND VEGETABLES!
AGAIN SERIOUSLY,LET’S TRY TO PUT IT THIS WAY:
NOTHING IS ORIGINAL.STEAL FROM ANYWHERE THAT RESONATES WITH
INSPIRATIONS OR FUELS YOUR IMAGINATION.
SELECT ONLY THINGS TO STEAL FROM
THAT SPEAK DIRECTLY TO YOUR SOUL. IF YOU DO THIS,
YOUR WORK (AND THEFT) WILL BE AUTHENTIC.
AUTHENTICITY IS
INVALUABLE; ORIGINALITY IS NONEXISTENT.
AND DON’T BOTHER CONCEALING YOUR THIEVERY- CELEBRATE IF
YOU FEEL LIKE IT.
ELEMENTS OF A
SCREENPLAY
DIALOGUECAMERA DIRECTION
LOCATION
TIMESET DESCRIPTION
PROPSCOSTUMES
A SCRIPT IS NOT ONLY A
STORYTELLING TOOL; IT’S ALSO A
PLANNING TOOL
A SCRIPT IS NOT ONLY A
STORYTELLING TOOL; IT’S ALSO A
PLANNING TOOL
BOTTOMLINE:
PAY ATTENTION
TO DETAILS
THE
SCRIPT
SLUGLINEACTION LINE / DESCRIPTION LINE
CHARACTER HEADINGDIALOGUE
TRANSITION LINE
A TESTED SCRIPT FORMULA:PAGE MARGINS: 1.0” WITH 1.5” LEFT
FONT: 11-12 POINT COURIER NEW
1 PAGE = 1 MINUTE OF FILM
YOU CAN MAKE A BAD FILM
FROM A GOOD SCRIPT, BUT
YOU CAN’T MAKE A GOOD FILM
FROM A BAD SCRIPT
BIG IDEA;THINK OUTSIDE
THE BOX