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    How To Write A Screenplay
    How To Write A Screenplay
    How To Write A Screenplay
    Ebook98 pages59 minutes

    How To Write A Screenplay

    By Dorian Scott Cole

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    About this ebook

    Writers Workshop basic guide, Edition 3. Designed as a fun, basic guide to get writers writing their screenplays immediately. This covers the basics of plot, characters, dialogue, and screenplay format. It was designed by Dorian Scott Cole, a development analyst, for Writers Workshop, L.A. in their program for high schools, with printing assistance from the American Film Institute. It is not intended to teach writing theory, but to be an addition to existing curriculum.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherDorian Scott Cole
    Release dateDec 29, 2015
    ISBN9781310212963
    How To Write A Screenplay
    Author

    Dorian Scott Cole

    Dorian Scott Cole is a professional communicator, with education and experience in writing, engineering technology, psychology, religion, radio announcing, acting, and movie and TV production, having had full careers in several fields. He worked as a senior development analyst for Writers Workshop, L.A. He teaches writing and acting in independent settings, and has written VisualWriter.com since 1996. He is the author of several Web sites, and produces entertainment videos through his company, Movie Stream Productions. His production series, STL Comedy, included 22 professional actors, and 10 writers. Dorian lives near St. Louis.

    Read more from Dorian Scott Cole

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    Book preview

    How To Write A Screenplay - Dorian Scott Cole

    HOW TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY

    A Basic Guide

    By Dorian Scott Cole

    Copyright 1994 Dorian Scott Cole

    Edition 3, 2016

    Published by Dorian Scott Cole at Smashwords

    ISBN: 9781310212963

    Smashwords Edition License Notes

    This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. See school copying permissions under About.

    Table of Contents

    Hit & Run - The Quick Start

    Dramatic structure: brief descriptions and links to in-depth information

    Getting started - detailed information

    What to write

    Writing methods

    Making fascinating characters

    Prom Date: story illustration

    Screenplay Fundamentals

    Characterization

    Plot

    Scene

    Dialogue

    Set-ups for short scripts

    Characters for short scripts

    Format

    Rewriting the best kept secret in Hollywood

    Helpful Things

    Stolen Property Statement

    Teacher's Information

    Resources

    About Writers Workshop (Historic)

    Script Doctor Tips

    About Dorian

    Other books by Dorian

    Connect with Dorian

    Acknowledgments

    Funds for printing the original guide were provided to National Writers Workshop by The American Film Institute, partly because of the nonprofit nature of National Writers Workshop and its assistance to screenwriters. The AFI does not endorse (or not endorse) this guide nor did it contribute financially in any other way. The author is not compensated in any way for this guide.

    Disclaimer

    This is an original work. Any similarities to any person, living or dead, or any organization, or any other literary work, are strictly coincidental.

    Images

    Cover images licensed from Microsoft Word clipart and MorgueFile.com

    Cover: Original design with Microsoft Word clipart and MorgueFile.com images, by Dorian Scott Cole

    Hit and Run - Quick Start

    Everyone likes to jump right in and start writing, and that's good. Use this Quick Start to begin creating your screenplay right away. Keep in mind that screenplays look nothing like novels and plays. They have their own way of doing things. So you probably should look at Format.

    Use this Quick Start for a handy reference to detailed information as you write. Have a great time and good luck!

    Format Example

    INT. CHRIS’ HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY

    (Slugline: INT = Interior, EXT = exterior)

    Description of the scene, and the characters in the scene when it starts. The first time characters appear, their names are in ALL CAPS, and this is followed by their description.

    (Action style.)

    Example: CHRIS, 50ish, holds a hot dog stick in a fireplace, and wears a cowboy hat. NICKY, late twenties, sits on a chair watching him.

    CHARACTER NAME

    (INSTRUCTION or PARENTHETICAL [usually not used])

    Dialogue. (3 inches)

    More scene information. (Style: Action)

    The font for the entire script is Courier or Courier New, size 12.

    Note that the exact format can't be formatted correctly in an ebook.

    Get in-depth information

    What To Write

    Write about what interests you. It will be more fun and if it interests you it is more likely to interest others. It's also best to know something about what you are writing about, or have the ability to research it first hand, or through others, or by finding information.

    The following would be helpful to write about:

    Unusual things and surprises really get attention (but don't get too radical).

    Humor can be a helpful element in any story, but too much humor spoils it.

    Careful: if the outcome of the story is predictable, readers will go, ho-hum.

    One page equals about one minute of screen time, so shoot for ten to thirty pages, which is typically about three to thirty scenes. Hint: it's easier in some ways to write thirty pages than ten because shorter stories require more intensity.

    Get in-depth information

    Writing Methods

    Many people like to just start writing. Others like to write parts of the story that they find exciting, and then go back and write the rest. Others like to write a synopis. Many use a combination of all of these methods.

    Use the method best suited to you - just get started. At some early point you should write out the plot or story line so you don't waste time writing stuff that doesn't belong. If you are in a writing class, your teacher may want you to focus on a specific method.

    Get in-depth information

    Making Fascinating Characters

    Creating characters who have real wants and needs is a great place to start. Often the best stories come straight from the characters.

    Create your main character and an opposing character, then a couple of friends. Throw them together in a situation where they're struggling for something they want, and there

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