Screenwriting

A Screenplay differs from most other forms of creative writing. Primarily because as a screenwriter you are not the focus.

Novels, short stories, travel diaries, editorials and even reviews , most of the time, are bought and sold on the strength of the writer.

However, not many people could identify the writers responsible for some of the most successful Hollywood films.

For example most people know who wrote the Harry Potter books. But who wrote the films?

Novels vs. ScreenplaysNovels will include vast amounts of

description and detail. Screenplays are economical with description.

Novels can break out into their own structures and rhythms. Screenplays are meticulous in their structure.

Novels are written for the public. Screenplays are written for the studio/network.

Screenplays can be difficult for creative writers.

“Good writing is about a thought process or an abstract image or an internal monologue, none of which works on screen”

- David Nicholls

He rolls onto his stomach, pulling the pillow tight around his head, blocking out the sharp arrows of sun that pierce through the window. Morning is not a good time for him. Too many details crowd his mind. Brush his teeth first? Wash his face? What pants should he wear? What shirt? The small seed of despair cracks open and sends experimental tendrils upward to the fragile skin of calm holding him together.

-Ordinary People by Judith Guest

INT. BEDROOM - DAY

Conrad groans awake. The bright light hits his face so he rolls onto his stomach and places a pillow over his head.

Here’s another example:

EXT. SPACE – NIGHT The Orion-III spacecraft is in flight away from earth,

200 miles altitude.

INT. ORION – NIGHTDr. Heywood Floyd is the only passenger in the elegant cabin designed for 30 people. He is asleep.

There are many types of scripts:

The Reading Script (screenplay) the first stage of the screenplay.

The Shooting Script. Mostly written by the director and cinematographer and will contain some shots, scene numbers and transitions.

The main difference between the screenplay and the shooting script is that the screenplay is a means of selling a story, whereas the shooting script is blueprint for a production.

As well as narrative structure (which we will be covering) a script must adhere to a specific layout. Failure to comply with this layout will mean your script will not be read. Even if it's a shoe in for an Oscar nomination.

Many electronic submission processes, such as Amazon Studio, have algorithms which scan the work and if it doesn't recognise the layout, it doesn't pass on the script.

Screenplay Do’s

Keep it interesting • Describe things that can be

seen• Use an active voice• Proper screenplay format

Screenplay No-No’s

Camera angles“We see” Passive voiceLarge blocks of descriptionTrivial action

ACTIVE VOICE & PASSIVE VOICE EXAMPLES

Emma rides the motorcycle.  [active]  The motorcycle is ridden by Emma.  [passive]

David downs a shot of vodka  [active]  A shot of Vodka is downed by David.  [passive]

Chris does the laundry.  [active]    The laundry is done by Chris.  [passive]

the sentence is active.

Describe in 3

• Describe a new location or character in no more than three sentences.

• Be creative and clever• Get all pertinent information across

quickly (what do you want the reader to know?)

• Dialogue also describes character

Let’s practice!

In three sentences or less, describe the room in which you are sitting.

Your mission:

Spend half an hour in four different locations around the university and, in the style of a screenplay:

•Describe each location•Describe a character from each location•Write an action of the character

Remember.. Use an ACTIVE voice.

“People have forgotten how to tell a story.

Stories Don't have a middle or an end any more. They usually have a beginning that never stops beginning.”

- Stephen Spielberg

In narrative theory terms theorist, Tzvetan Todorov, describes this three part structure as:

Equilibrium:

Where the protagonist’s world is balanced.

Disequilibrium: Here and event or crisis disrupts that equilibrium.

New Equilibrium:

The resolution of the crisis forming a NEW equilibrium. The narrative can never restore the original equilibrium as the crisis or event will have changed them as a person.

The Pitch

The pitch is the screenwriters opportunity to verbally sell their ideas to studios/networks/producers.

For your pitch to be successful it needs to explain your idea concisely. This means turning a 90 minute script into one or two lines of encapsulating description.

Logline:

A logline is a one-sentence summary of your script which summarises what your movie is about. It's what should excite the interest of your audience.

For example:

A young boy discovers magical skills which he uses to defend his boarding school for wizards.

A college graduate, home for the summer, has an affair with the wife of his father's business partner, then falls in love with his daughter.