✍️Intro to Screenwriting Unit 1 – Introduction to Screenwriting

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Screenplay is a written work that outlines every auditory, visual, behavioral, and lingual element required to tell a story
• Treatment summarizes the story, characters, and plot in a brief document used to pitch the screenplay to producers and executives
• Logline concisely conveys the central conflict and plot of the screenplay in one or two sentences (When a giant shark terrorizes a beach community, a police chief, a marine biologist, and a fisherman must hunt it down before it strikes again)
• Protagonist drives the story forward as the main character whose journey the audience follows
• Antagonist opposes or stands in the way of the protagonist's goals, creating conflict and tension
• Three-act structure divides the story into setup (Act One), confrontation (Act Two), and resolution (Act Three)
• Inciting incident disrupts the protagonist's world and sets the story in motion, usually occurring at the end of Act One
• Climax represents the highest point of tension in the story where the protagonist faces the ultimate challenge or makes a critical decision

Elements of a Screenplay

• Scene heading indicates the location and time of day for each scene, written in all caps (EXT. CENTRAL PARK - DAY)
• Action describes the visual elements of the scene, including character actions, settings, and any necessary background information
• Character name appears in all caps the first time a character is introduced in the action, and subsequently, whenever a character speaks dialogue
• Dialogue conveys the spoken words of characters, with each character's lines preceded by their name in all caps
• Parentheticals provide brief descriptions of a character's action or tone within dialogue, appearing in parentheses beneath the character's name (whispers, sarcastically)
• Transitions indicate how one scene flows into the next, such as CUT TO, FADE IN, or DISSOLVE TO
• Slug lines specify a change in location or time within a scene, helping to maintain clarity and pacing (LATER, MEANWHILE)
• Subtext refers to the underlying meaning or emotion beneath the dialogue, often conveyed through action, tone, or visual cues

Story Structure and Plot Development

• The three-act structure consists of setup, confrontation, and resolution, providing a framework for organizing the story's events and character arcs
  • Act One (Setup) introduces the characters, their world, and the inciting incident that sets the story in motion (typically 25-30 pages)
  • Act Two (Confrontation) presents obstacles and challenges for the protagonist as they pursue their goal, leading to a midpoint and a low point (typically 50-60 pages)
  • Act Three (Resolution) depicts the protagonist's final push to overcome the central conflict, leading to the climax and denouement (typically 25-30 pages)
• Plot points are significant events that propel the story forward and alter the protagonist's journey, often occurring at the end of each act
• Subplots involve secondary characters and their storylines, which intersect with and support the main plot
• Rising action refers to the increasing tension and challenges the protagonist faces as the story progresses towards the climax
• Denouement follows the climax and ties up loose ends, showing the consequences of the story's events and the characters' decisions

Character Creation and Development

• Backstory reveals a character's history, motivations, and formative experiences that shape their personality and behavior
• Character arc depicts the internal transformation a character undergoes throughout the story as a result of their experiences and decisions
• Motivation drives a character's actions and decisions, often stemming from their desires, fears, or beliefs
• Flaws and weaknesses make characters more relatable and human, creating opportunities for growth and conflict
• Relationships between characters add depth and complexity to the story, influencing their actions and emotional journeys
• Casting considerations involve describing characters' physical attributes, age, and ethnicity to guide the casting process
• Character introduction scenes establish a character's personality, goals, and role in the story, often through action or dialogue that reveals their essence

Dialogue Writing Techniques

• Subtext conveys characters' underlying thoughts, emotions, or intentions beneath the surface of their spoken words
• Revealing character through dialogue involves using speech patterns, word choice, and tone to convey personality, background, and emotional states
• Avoiding exposition dumps in dialogue ensures that characters don't unnaturally state information for the audience's benefit, instead revealing information organically
• Crafting unique character voices helps distinguish characters from one another and makes their dialogue more memorable and authentic
• Using dialogue to advance the plot means that conversations should serve a purpose in moving the story forward or revealing crucial information
• Balancing dialogue with action ensures that scenes don't rely too heavily on dialogue, maintaining visual interest and pacing
• Cutting unnecessary dialogue helps maintain a brisk pace and keeps the story focused on essential information and character development

Formatting and Industry Standards

• Font and font size for screenplays are typically 12-point Courier, which is a fixed-pitch font that allows for consistent page count and formatting
• Page margins for screenplays are typically 1.5 inches on the left, 1 inch on the right, and 1 inch on the top and bottom
• Page numbers appear in the top right corner of each page, except for the title page
• Scene headings (sluglines) are written in all caps and include the location, whether it's interior (INT.) or exterior (EXT.), and the time of day (DAY or NIGHT)
• Character names appear in all caps when first introduced in the action and subsequently whenever they speak dialogue
• Dialogue is centered on the page, with the character's name in all caps above their speech
• Parentheticals are used sparingly to indicate a character's action or tone within dialogue and appear in parentheses beneath the character's name
• Transitions are used to indicate how one scene flows into the next and are typically written in all caps, such as FADE IN, CUT TO, or DISSOLVE TO

Writing Exercises and Practices

• Freewriting involves writing continuously for a set period without editing or censoring, helping to generate ideas and overcome writer's block
• Character development exercises include creating character profiles, writing backstories, and exploring characters' motivations and flaws
• Dialogue exercises focus on crafting authentic, subtext-rich conversations and developing unique character voices
• Scene writing exercises help writers practice formatting, visual storytelling, and creating compelling moments of action or emotion
• Outlining involves creating a structured overview of the story's key events, character arcs, and themes before writing the full screenplay
• Rewriting and revising are essential parts of the screenwriting process, allowing writers to refine their work and incorporate feedback
• Seeking feedback from peers, mentors, or industry professionals can provide valuable insights and help writers improve their craft

Analysis of Successful Screenplays

• Studying story structure in successful screenplays helps writers understand how to effectively organize and pace their own stories
• Analyzing character development in well-known screenplays provides insights into creating compelling, multi-dimensional characters
• Examining dialogue in acclaimed screenplays helps writers learn techniques for crafting authentic, subtext-rich conversations
• Identifying themes and motifs in successful screenplays demonstrates how writers can weave meaningful ideas and messages into their stories
• Assessing visual storytelling in effective screenplays teaches writers how to convey action, emotion, and setting through descriptive, cinematic writing
• Evaluating pacing and tension in successful screenplays helps writers understand how to keep audiences engaged and invested in the story
• Studying adaptation techniques in screenplays based on existing works (novels, plays, true stories) provides insights into the process of translating a story from one medium to another