✍️Screenwriting I Unit 15 – Final Project – Writing a Short Screenplay

Key Concepts and Terminology

• Short screenplay a concise, self-contained story typically ranging from 5 to 30 pages in length
• Logline a one to two sentence summary of the screenplay's central conflict and main character's goal
• Beat a small unit of action or moment within a scene that propels the story forward
• Protagonist the main character of the story whose journey and transformation the audience follows
• Antagonist the character or force that opposes the protagonist and creates conflict
• Character arc the internal journey and transformation a character undergoes throughout the story
  • Positive arc the character learns, grows, and becomes a better version of themselves
  • Negative arc the character's flaws or weaknesses lead to their downfall or failure
• Theme the central message or underlying meaning conveyed through the story's events and character journeys

Story Development Process

• Brainstorming generating multiple story ideas through techniques like freewriting, mind mapping, or "what if" scenarios
• Outlining creating a structured blueprint of the story's key events, turning points, and character arcs
  • Beat sheet a high-level outline focusing on the major story beats and emotional moments
  • Scene-by-scene outline a more detailed breakdown of each individual scene in chronological order
• Research gathering information on relevant topics, settings, or character backgrounds to enhance the story's authenticity
• Treatment crafting a prose summary (usually 2-10 pages) of the story's main plot points, characters, and themes
• Scriptment a hybrid format combining elements of a treatment and a screenplay, often used in the early development stages
• Feedback seeking input from trusted readers (peers, mentors, or industry professionals) to identify strengths and areas for improvement
• Revision making changes and refinements to the story based on feedback and personal insights

Character Creation and Arc

• Character profile a detailed description of a character's background, personality, motivations, and physical attributes
• Backstory the character's history and life experiences prior to the story's main events
• Goal the character's primary objective or desire that drives their actions throughout the story
• Motivation the underlying reasons or psychological needs that fuel the character's goal and choices
  • External motivation tangible, plot-related goals (getting a promotion, winning a competition)
  • Internal motivation emotional or personal desires (seeking approval, overcoming fear)
• Conflict the obstacles or opposing forces that challenge the character's pursuit of their goal
  • External conflict challenges from outside sources (other characters, societal norms, physical barriers)
  • Internal conflict the character's own doubts, fears, or moral dilemmas
• Stakes the consequences or potential losses the character faces if they fail to achieve their goal
• Character development the process of revealing and evolving the character's traits, beliefs, and relationships over the course of the story

Screenplay Structure and Format

• Three-act structure a traditional storytelling framework dividing the narrative into setup, confrontation, and resolution
  • Act One (setup) introduces the main characters, their world, and the inciting incident that sets the story in motion
  • Act Two (confrontation) escalates the conflict as the protagonist faces obstacles and makes crucial decisions
  • Act Three (resolution) features the climax, the protagonist's final struggle, and the story's denouement
• Inciting incident the event that disrupts the protagonist's status quo and launches them into the main conflict
• Plot point a significant story event that spins the narrative in a new direction and propels the character into the next act
• Midpoint the story's central turning point, often marked by a major revelation, reversal, or point of no return
• Climax the story's highest point of tension, where the protagonist faces the ultimate test or confrontation
• Denouement the brief period after the climax where loose ends are tied up and a new status quo is established
• Screenplay format the industry-standard layout and style guidelines for writing a screenplay
  • Scene heading (slugline) indicates the location and time of day for each new scene
  • Action (description) describes the characters' actions, settings, and key visual elements
  • Character name identifies the speaking character, centered above their dialogue
  • Dialogue the spoken words of characters, indented below their name
  • Parenthetical (wryly) brief notes that clarify a character's tone, action, or intention
  • Transition (FADE OUT.) indicates a change in time, location, or storytelling device

Dialogue and Scene Writing

• Subtext the underlying meaning or emotion beneath the surface of a character's words or actions
• Exposition dialogue that conveys background information or context to the audience
• Conflict dialogue that highlights the tensions, disagreements, or power dynamics between characters
• Revelation dialogue that exposes a character's true feelings, motivations, or secrets
• Characterization using dialogue to reveal a character's personality, background, or unique voice
• Pacing the rhythm and flow of dialogue, balancing short and long speeches, pauses, and interruptions
• Scene purpose ensuring each scene advances the plot, reveals character, or explores the story's themes
• Scene structure crafting a clear beginning, middle, and end for each scene, with a mini-arc of rising and falling tension
• Scene transitions using visual or dialogue cues to smoothly connect one scene to the next

Visual Storytelling Techniques

• Show, don't tell conveying information, emotion, and subtext through visual actions and images rather than expository dialogue
• Imagery using vivid, sensory details to create a strong mental picture for the reader
• Symbolism employing objects, colors, or settings to represent abstract ideas or themes
• Foreshadowing hinting at future events or revelations through subtle clues or visual motifs
• Juxtaposition placing contrasting images, characters, or scenes side by side to highlight their differences or similarities
• Mise-en-scène the overall visual design of a scene, including set decoration, lighting, and character placement
• Camera angles and movement using specific shot types (close-up, wide shot) or camera techniques (pan, zoom) to convey emotion or guide the audience's attention
• Montage a series of brief scenes or images edited together to compress time, convey a lot of information, or create a specific emotional effect

Revision and Feedback

• Rewriting the process of refining, tightening, and polishing the screenplay through multiple drafts
• Peer review seeking feedback from classmates or writing group members to gain fresh perspectives and identify areas for improvement
• Instructor feedback receiving guidance and critique from the course instructor to help shape the screenplay's development
• Script coverage a professional assessment of a screenplay's strengths, weaknesses, and potential, often used in the film industry
• Table read gathering actors to perform the screenplay aloud, allowing the writer to hear the dialogue and pacing in real-time
• Addressing notes making targeted changes and revisions based on the feedback received from various sources
• Streamlining identifying and eliminating unnecessary scenes, characters, or dialogue that don't serve the story's central narrative or themes
• Enhancing visual storytelling finding opportunities to replace expository dialogue with visual actions or images that convey the same information more effectively

Final Polish and Submission

• Proofreading carefully reviewing the screenplay for grammatical errors, typos, and formatting inconsistencies
• Consistency check ensuring character names, locations, and key details remain consistent throughout the script
• Formatting review verifying that the screenplay adheres to industry-standard formatting guidelines (margins, font, page numbers)
• Title page creating a professional title page that includes the screenplay's name, writer's name, and contact information
• Pagination ensuring that the script's pages are numbered correctly and the page count falls within the assignment's requirements
• PDF conversion exporting the final screenplay as a PDF file to ensure consistent formatting across different devices and software
• Submission guidelines following the instructor's specific instructions for submitting the final screenplay (file format, naming convention, due date)
• Reflection and self-assessment taking time to evaluate personal growth, challenges overcome, and lessons learned throughout the screenwriting process