The Screenplay (Script)

Screenplay WritingBasicsSettings- Where is this story happening?Character- Whos the story about?Plot- Whats happening?Back Story- What happened before, to create this situation?Detail- What specifically do we need to know?

SettingsWhereWhenSoundsSight SmellsParis 1900Where? Paris, FranceWhen? 1900sSounds? What are the sounds of the city during this era?Sights? What does the city look like at this time? Is there electricity?Smells? As odd as it may seem to think about smells, you must, because your characters will react to that smell. SettingsSettings can lead you to the idea of the plot ahead of time. Cabin in the woods?Las Vegas buried under a sand storm?Small Village in Europe?New York City?CharactersRealistic - Flaws/contradictions/goalsPotential

CharactersRealistic Characters: Rick: Walking DeadCaptain Jack Sparrow: Pirates of the CaribbeanPotential: People who need to grow and change. People who have the strength to change.

CharactersAppearanceDialogueActionsAppearanceManner of DressHygienePropsAppearanceManner of Dress, Hygiene, and props are also directly connected to the plot.EX:Spartacus - SpartacusRick Walking DeadBilbo Baggins The Hobbit

Dialoguegrammar: Does your character speak the Queens English? Or does he use more colloquial language?vocabulary: Does your character have a large vocabulary, or small? Does she use a lot of slang or jargon?humor: Does your character frequently make puns, jokes, or double entendres?attitude: Does your character verbally attack others? Or react defensively, always insisting, "I didnt do it!"? Or tend to get confused easily, often asking whats going on? Or apologize a lot?

The Screenplay (Script)A brief note about dialogue:

Read it out loud, it is meant to be heard, not read like a book.Book dialogues is not often very good or convincing when read out loudBasically remember that you are working in a visual media so..

Show.Dont.Tell

I usually write as much dialogue as I like then go through the script and try to lose about 1/3 immediatelyActionChoicesBehavior PlotPlot doesn't just tell what happened; it tell why it happenedBeginnings MiddlesEndsThis is also known as the 3 act structure

The Screenplays Core Story: Act 1 BeginningsAct 1 to the screenplay has these Critical Events:The Opening Scene (or Hook) which should capture the readers interest & attention.The Catalyst which should occur early on; it is intended to upset the initial balance of the Hero, giving him/her a new problem, need, goal or mission to accomplish.And finally, the Big Event, which should close Act 1. The Big Event is something that changes your characters life in a monumental way. The Screenplays Core Story:Act 2Act 2 to the screenplay has these Critical Events:The Escalating Conflict between your Hero and Villain.The Pinch which occurs about half-way through Act 2; it is the point of no return for the Hero, when his/her motivation becomes crystal clear.And the Crisis which ends Act 2. The Conflict has become so intense that it has reached life-or-death proportions for the Hero. The Screenplays Core Story:Act 3Act 3 to the screenplay has these Critical Events:The Climax (or Showdown) between the Hero and the Villain. The Climax should follow directly on the heels of the Crisisand everything is on the line for the Hero; it is the Biggest Event in the screenplay.And immediately following the Climax, Self- Discovery (psychic growth) within the Hero. The central character has been through a crucible, has shown great courage, and should now be changed in some fashion.

The Screenplays Core Story:Act 3The resolution: The ending to your stories problem. Your story must end, this doesnt mean that it has to be a happy ending. Stories that just end must be left open ended where there are a plethora of possibilities to their future. Plot - Complexitiesreversals Characters should find themselves going from good fortune to bad, and back again, etc.discoveries Aristotle said that characters should make discoveries, especially about themselves. These discoveries may be about their pasts, their flaws, or even their own motivations. complications Something should stand between the protagonist and his objective.

Plot - Complexitiescatastrophe It neednt be an earthquake or a mass murder; it might be an emotional catastrophe, completely internal to your characters psyche. But no plot will be interesting if things go too smoothly. Bad things should happen, even to good people. Its how your characters deal with catastrophe that produces plot.resolution The plot should reach some satisfactory conclusion that continues logically from the events of the story.3 common plot structuresHeros JourneyCall to AdventureJourney to UnfamiliarSupreme ordealRewardReturn

3 common plot structuresThe Mountain PlotStory BeginsFirs complicationOvercomes repeatsClimaxConclusion

3 common plot structuresThe W plot1st Barrier1st Barrier Reversal2nd Barrier2nd Barrier ReversalResolution