Screenwriting and storyboarding

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Hedgewitch final draft

Screenwriting style

• Keep action and dialogue to the point• Present tense• Keep it VISUAL (& remember sound!)• Show (don’t tell) through character’s action • Its script to tell the story (action) – Avoid

camera direction- for actors & funders• Storyboard is for camera & crew

Basic Rules

• 1 page of script = 1 min screentime• 12 point courier font• Cover page always• Scene headings – when new scene occurs• Description /action • Dialogue

Scene Headings

• WRITTEN IN CAPS• INT. OR EXT. (Interior or Exterior)• LOCATION• DAY OR NIGHTe.g.:INT. LECTURE HALL - DAYorEXT. CYCLE PATH - NIGHT

Description or Action

• Brief and precise• Lots of white space• Break into small blocks, 5 lines approx –

new camera focus or action focus• CHARACTERS in capitals first time• Present tense – picks up, not is picking

up • Show emotions through actions• All SOUND in caps

Dialogue

• Centred on page• CHARACTER’S NAME IN CAPS• Dialogue indented• (O.S.) indicates off screen• (V.O.) indicates voiceover

Think about…

• Who’s story is it?• Key action points • Key Themes• Key emotions to get across – through action &

visuals• Each shot or scene should have a

function/give us info/build the story/create meaning

Storyboarding

• Who is it for?• DOP, director, pitching the idea,

editor, sound, producer, design• Indicates how film will look – style• Also how it will cut together/flow• Like a paper edit – needs to work!

What is the function of a storyboard?

• What elements should be included?

• Camera angles, shot size, action, movement (of actors and camera), framing, lighting, duration

• Sound- dialogue, sfx, atmos, music• Order of shots – remember to number!

• How does a storyboard relate to shot list?

• Pictorial representation vs list of shots

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvQV21hkMjI

Taxi Driver Dir: Martin Scorsese(1976)

Indiana jones Dir: Steven Spielberg (

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CiG5V0rTXyc