Today’s warm up: Write down each of the three phases of the production process. List 2 to 4 things that must be done in each phase.

You will turn this warm up in.

Introduction to Writing a Screenplay

(TEKS 11ci & 11cii) The student is expected to: -Identify the key elements required in video scripts.-Apply writing skills to develop a video script.

What is a Screenplay?

A screenplay is an instructional manual for the production of a film including dialogue and descriptions of characters, action, and sets.

What is a Screenplay?

Screenplays can be original works (original screenplay) or adaptations from existing pieces of writing (adapted screenplay).

An adapted screenplay may be based on a book, play, poem, etc.

Visual Storytelling

Film and video are visual mediums. You don’t tell the story, you show the story.

You must learn to write a screenplay VISUALLY. Write what they will SEE and what they will HEAR.

Script Length

The average feature screenplay, traditionally, is between 95 and 125 pages long.

In Hollywood these days scripts generally don't run longer than 114 pages. Comedy scripts are typically shorter, dramas longer.

What Makes a Great Screenplay?

What do you think makes a good screenplay?

What makes a good story?Does the story need to be

unpredictable?How important are interesting

characters to a good screenplay?How important is conflict in a film?How do we, as filmmakers, come up

with ideas for movies.

Let’s learn a little about screenwriting from Film Riot and Full Sail University.

Coming up with ideas

Lets look at some way of coming up with story ideas…

Change it up

Take an existing story and change it up Change the gender of the main

character – male/female/other Change the location of the story – earth

to space/space to under the sea Change the time period of the story

1800s to 2300s

Die Hard becomes the Channel Tunnel story

Change it up

Take an existing story and change it up Change the gender of the main

character – male/female/other Change the location of the story – earth

to space/space to under the sea Change the time period of the story

1800s to 2300s In your production teams, select a

story and change it up. Be prepared to share you new story.

What if…?

Ask the question “What if…?”The Demon Pool

What if the legend of the Fountain of Youth was not due the magical properties of the water, but the result of a powerful demon who, when he possessed someone, could keep them alive for 130, 140, 150 years; but, he always returned the to the pool before they died. He was afraid of being dispossessed in the air and being sent to “the pit” – the place where the worst of the demons are being held for final judgement.

In your production teams, decide on an existing story and change it up

What if…?

Ask the question “What if…?”Come up with an original “What

if…?” story idea.Write out your story idea and be

prepared to share it with the class.