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Sep 1, 2019 · Understanding how to write a movie script, also known as a screenplay, can seem daunting at first, but once you understand script format and structure you can then focus on your creativity. We’ll take you through the process of writing a screenplay so that you can begin building that great movie idea into a professional script.
- Lay The Groundwork
- Flesh Out The Story
- Write The Script
- Wrap Things Up
1. Know what a script is
If this is your first time creating movie magic, you might be wondering what a script actually is. Well, it can be an original story, straight from your brain. Or it can be based on a true story, or something that someone else wrote – like a novel, theatre production, or newspaper article. A movie script details all the parts – audio, visual, behaviour, dialogue – that you need to tell a visual story, in a movie or on TV. It's usually a team effort, going through oodles of revisions and rewri...
2. Read some scripts
The first step to stellar screenwriting is to read some great scripts – as many as you can stomach. It’s an especially good idea to read some in the genre that your script is going to be in, so you can get the lay of the land. If you’re writing a comedy, try searching for ‘50 best comedy scripts’ and starting from there. Lots of scripts are available for free online.
3. Read some scriptwriting books
It's also helpful to read books that go into the craft of writing a script. There are tonnes out there, but we've listed a few corkers below to get you started. 1. Your Screenplay Sucks!– William M. Akers 2. The Coffee Break Screenwriter– Pilar Alessandra 3. The 21st Century Screenplay– Linda Aronson 4. The Nutshell Technique– Jill Chamberlain 5. The Art of Dramatic Writing– Lajos Egri 6. Screenplay– Syd Field 7. The Sequence Approach– Paul Joseph Gulino 8. Writing Screenplays That Sell– Mich...
5. Write a logline
You're likely to be pretty jazzed about writing your script after watching all those cinematic classics. But before you dive into writing the script, we've got a little more work to do. First up, you need to write a ‘logline'. It's got nothing to do with trees. Instead, it's a tiny summary of your story – usually one sentence – that describes your protagonist (hero) and their goal, as well as your antagonist (villain) and their conflict. Your logline should set out the basic idea of your stor...
6. Write a treatment
Once your logline's in the bag, it's time to write your treatment. It's a slightly beefier summary that includes your script's title, the logline, a list of your main characters, and a mini synopsis. A treatment is a useful thing to show to producers – they might read it to decide whether they want to invest time in reading your entire script. Most importantly, your treatment needs to include your name and contact details. Your synopsis should give a good picture of your story, including the...
7. Develop your characters
What's the central question of your story? What's it all about? Character development means taking your characters on a transformational journey so that they can answer this question. You might find it helpful to complete a character profile worksheet when you're starting to flesh out your characters (you can find these for free online). Whoever your characters are, the most important thing is that your audience wants to get to know them, and can empathise with them. Even the villain!
9. Know the basics
Before you start cooking up the first draft of your script, it's good to know how to do the basics. Put simply, your script should be a printed document that's: 1. 90-120 pages long 2. Written in 12-point Courier font 3. Printed on 8.5" x 11", white, three-hole-punched paper Font fans might balk at using Courier over their beloved Futura or Comic Sans. However, it's a non-negotiable when you write a script. The film industry's love of Courier isn't purely stylistic – it's functional, too. One...
10. Write the first page
Using script formattingprogrammes means you no longer need to know the industry standard when it comes to margins and indents. That said, it’s good to know how to set up your script in the right way. 1. The top, bottom and right margins of a screenplay are 1" 2. The left margin is 1.5" (the extra half-inch of white space on the left of a script page lets you bind your script with brads, but still makes the document feel balanced in terms of the amount of text on the page) 3. The entire docume...
11. Format your script
Here’s a big ol’ list of items that you’ll need in your script, and how to indent them properly. Your script-writing software will handle this for you, but learning’s fun, right? Scene heading The scene heading is where you include a one-line description of the location and time of day of a scene. This is also called a ‘slugline’. It should always be in caps. Example: ‘EXT. BAKERY - NIGHT’ tells you that the action happens outside the bakery during the nighttime. Subheader When you don’t need...
19. Write final draft
After you've made notes and gathered feedback, it's time to climb back into the weeds and work towards your final draft. Keep making edits until you're happy. If you need to make changes to the story or characters, do those first as they might help fix larger problems in the script. Create each new draft in a new document so you can transfer parts you like from old scripts into the new one. Drill into the details, but don't get so bogged down in small things that you can't finish a draft. And...
20. Presentation and binding
There are rules for everything when writing a script. Even how you bind the thing. Buckle up! 1. The first page is the title page, which should be written in – you guessed it! – 12-point Courier font 2. The title page must include the title of your script, with ‘written by’ and your name in the middle of the page 3. Put your contact information in the lower left-hand or right-hand corner 4. You can also put Registered, WGA or a copyright notification in the lower left-hand or right-hand corne...
Aug 13, 2021 · Step 1: Read Everything You Can Get Your Hands On. The first step in gaining any new skill is immersing yourself in it fully, and script-writing is no different. Whatever type of script you’re trying to write, it’s time to read dozens—at a minimum—of examples of it until you eat, sleep, and breathe the format.
Apr 19, 2024 · Writing a script is a great way to stretch your creativity by making a short film, movie, or TV show. Each script starts with a good premise and plot that takes your characters on a life-changing adventure.
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- How do I start writing a script?Everything starts with an idea. Make sure you know what your idea is, what you want to write about. Have a character and focus on what the characte...
- What is a good script writing software to download? Preferably free.Websites and software such as WriterDuet and Celtx are great programs that are free to use with the option to upgrade. If you want to try paid scre...
- What is the length of a TV pilot script (not the duration of the actual program)TV pilots are usually around 30-35 pages for a 30-minute show and 60-70 pages for a 60-minute show.
- Do Some Homework and Play to Your Strengths. Write to your strengths. Like any new craft, scriptwriting will come with some fresh creative lessons. Through the process of your first draft, you will learn how to build a script from an infant idea to a finished product, all while becoming familiar with the formatting and terminology along the way.
- Try to Read Some Scripts. Many of our most beloved films have their original scripts available online and are easily accessible for us to read and analyze.
- Watch Your Favorite Films. Okay, so let’s say you want to write a movie script, then start by reflecting on why you love some movies and why you hate others.
- Learn How to Write a Script From a Single Sentence. You have an awesome idea, and you know what you want to do with your characters, but are you still wondering how your script will actually get written?
May 9, 2023 · Step #1: Get Screenwriting Software. Step #2: Come Up With A Great Story Idea. Step #3: Write a Logline. Step #4: Develop Your Characters. Midway Break: Script Title, Research, and Story Visualization. Step #5: Write a Treatment. Step #6: Create an Outline. Step #7: Write the First Draft. Step #8: Take a Writing Break. Step #9: Rewrite.
Jun 7, 2021 · Learn how to write a screenplay with proper formatting and structure. A screenplay is a script with minimal notes about camera angles, lighting, and direction.
