The Screenplay: The Heart of The Film
Written by Nicole Goldstein
We as aspiring filmmakers have to realize that without certain elements, our final product might not come out as we wanted it to be. One of the most important elements that a filmmaker needs is a story. What is a film without the story? That is the same thing as asking what is a hamburger without the meat or the two pieces of bread keeping it all together.
I took a Screenplay class this past spring and I found a lot of the information very useful and hope to pass on some helpful tips to all of the aspiring storytellers and writers inside all of us. Writing, I believe, is an essential credential for any filmmaker to have; if you can develop a good story, you will have the ability to follow through all of the details and tie up the loose ends that you might run into when production comes around.
Using Syd Fields book, “Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting”, here are several short tips on how to develop your writing skills and how to develop a good screenplay:
1. The Three Acts
A beginning, middle and end; this set up can be referred to as a paradigm. In screenwriting terms, the beginning, middle and end is referred to as the set-up, confrontation and resolution. A typical screenplay is shown as 120 pages, each section being divided into 30 pages; one page is usually representative of one minute of screen time (120 pages = 120 minute movie). There are also two Plot Points, which helps bring the action from one act to another, or the inciting incident. These points occur at page 30 and page 90, which means as the 30 minute and the 90 minute mark of the motion picture, an inciting incident to help move the plot along will occur. This is the basic formula for a screenplay but modern screenwriters have been able to bend and break the rules. This model only serves as a basis to follow for your story but as you become more experienced with the rules, you can bend them and create your own rules.
2. KNOW YOUR SUBJECT!
I was told many times in my class that if you do not know your subject inside and out, then it would be hard to develop your characters and your story. A subject is also made up of two main aspects: action and character. The action refers to the physical and the emotional action that the character either undergoes or they pursues. Their character is defined by their actions and their need that they are pursuing throughout the story: their main motivation. Your subject, as well as your other character(s) in the story need to be fully sketched out. What do your characters physically look like? What happened throughout their life from birth until the present day? Emotional hardships that they faced? Everything that is needed to know about a character for the story to be effective must be underlined in the character’s persona.
3. Show; Don’t Tell
Dialogue is not as impactful as description: This was a hard point for me to get because I love what the characters in film have to say. We have heard so many great one liners and monologues but what makes that character and those words pop off the page are in what surrounds them. The descriptive paragraphs in most screenplays paint a mental picture for those reading the screenplay and help them figure out the situation and setting for the scene that follows. Focus more on the wording of your descriptions by keeping it both cinematic and concise. *Quick Tip: White space on the page is important. The more white space, the more clean and crisp the screenplay will appear.
4. Don’t Get Technical
Camera directions are not important for your screenplay. The director and cinematographers will deal with that. Remember, you are trying to be cinematic in your storytelling, not technical.
5. Look to the World
For your story, be inspired by the world around you. Have a look around; write anything that gives you excitement or joy to learn more about. Who knows if it will make a good story idea. If you found an idea that you wish to write about, do as much research as you can to give off a realistic telling of your story.
Here are just a few tips that I can share with you about writing a screenplay. One of the best ways to work on these skills and master the craft of screenwriting is to practice. Write up a script drafts; always practice writing and you can even submit your work for review if you want to put your work out there. A great application that I have used is called Celtx. It has the entire format for screenplays and the templates needed for drafting your own screenplays. If you are interested, check that out.
So as you progress forward in your film careers, always remember that before the cameras roll and before the cast and crews are assembled, the story is the main motivation behind every film. With these few tips, you could be on your way to writing many wonderful stories and crafting wondrous stories for the big screen.
