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Screenwriting refers to the art and craft of writing screenplays.
Screenwriting is potentially one of the most glamorous and highly-paid careers available to a writer, but it is also one of the most oversubscribed. However, the key word here is "potentially", since historically, screenwriters have had a low social position in the film industry. Directors frequently get full credit for their films. The situation has improved dramatically in the past few years due to news of multi-million dollar screenplay deals and a plethora of books and software dedicated to the art of screenwriting. It is extremely difficult to break into the world of the Hollywood screenwriter, but that does not stop thousands of people from trying every year. The chances of becoming a successful screenwriter are almost vanishingly thin, and yet it is not impossible for a complete unknown with no contacts whatever within the movie industry to forge a high-level career simply by sitting down and writing a wonderful screenplay.
Writing a screenplay
Writing a screenplay is notoriously difficult. It takes most people months to finish a screenplay, considering all of the rules you must follow. Many of them are outlined below, as well as a convenient (albeit expensive) alternative.
Screenplay Format
Why follow screenplay format? Just one word: Producers. Producers have the incredible ability to take one look at a screenplay and judge its quality.
Example of Screenplay Format
INT. WARE HOUSE - DAY
Four criminals are smoking cigarettes. CRIMINAL ONE takes his out.
CRIMINAL ONE
(wryly)
When's the big raid?
Elements of the Screenplay
Screenplays are not art. Art is the film itself. The screenplay is just the blueprint. With that in mind, don't bother with flowery language, just tell the basic action. Don't say, for example, "Jon ran like god and was a ghost in terms of sound." Write, "Jon runs quickly through the hall." That's one of the most important things to remember: everything you write (with the exception of dialogue) is in the present tense.
Title Page
The title page of your screenplay is the first clue to a producer that you're either a professional or an amateur. The title should be about 25 lines down in Courier New font. The title should be either underlined or in quotation marks. Two lines down, in the same font, should be the words "Written By", "Adapted From (insert title here) By, or just plain "By". Two lines down, put the names of the authors in the same font as before. In the bottom corners, put copyright and contact information, but that's optional. Do not put graphics on your cover or use any font other than Courier New.
Scene Headings
Scene headings have a margin of 1.5 inches to the left, 1 inch to the right. The bigger left margin is to make sure there is room for the hole punch. Head every scene with either "INT." if the scene is inside or "EXT." if the scene is outdoors. After writing that, put the place in capitals, such as "BOB'S PLACE". Finally, put a space, then a hyphen, then another space, and then the time of day. For instance, "- DAY, - NIGHT, - EVENING, etc." The finished heading should read something like "INT. HOUSE - DAY". In a film set in a different time period, try "INT. HOUSE - 1842 - DAY", but this is rarely done.
Action
After writing the heading, go down two lines. The margins are the same for action. Action is always in the present tense. When introducing a character, put their name in all caps. Afterwards, just write the name the regular way.
Dialogue
"Cue" the character with a margin of 4.2 inches to the right. The name should be in all caps in cues. Place the dialogue below the cue. The margin for dialogue is 3.1 to the left, 5.4 to the right.
Parentheticals
To show minor actions or revealing body language, place a parenthetical, or subtext, below the cue. The margin for parentheticals is 3.7 left, 1 right. Many script readers prefer limited use of parentheticals.
Transitions
Some of the most common transitions seen in screenplays are:
- CUT TO: - Indicates a direct transition (cut) to a new scene, or to a new shot within a scene. If a scene header follows the cut, this transition is usually omitted.
- DISSOLVE TO: - Indicates a dissolve, where one scene gradually fades into another. Dissolves are commonly used to indicate the passage of time.
- SLOW DISSOLVE TO: - Indicates a dissolve that's prolonged in time. Usually, a slow dissolve indicates the passage of a long interval of time.
- INTERCUT BETWEEN: - Indicates that a sequence of cuts back and forth between two scenes is about to begin. Subsequent transitions between the two scenes are indicated with the transition BACK TO:. Intercuts are commonly used when portraying telephone conversations, or to contrast action taking place in two locations at the same time.
Some screenplays found on the Internet use other transitions, such as SMASH CUT TO:, but conventional wisdom these days seems to be to keep transitions to a minimum until a script is prepared for actual shooting. The transitions, parentheticals, and other directional elements in the screenplay shouldn't distract from the action and dialogue.
Transitions are typically justified near the right side of a properly formatted screenplay, and followed by a colon.
Shots
Commonly used tab settings
Scene numbering
This is normally done in after it is taken to a producer, where they number the scenes. It is rarely that you will find a spec script (the one written by a screenwriter, before it is sold) with the scenes numbered.
Page locking and Pink Pages
Screenplay Structure
Three Act Structure
Other Structures
Three-Act structure. Explain...
Character
It is very important to develop your characters, because that is who the viewers will be relating to. Characters, especially major characters, should be original and interesting.
Action
Dialogue
Dialogue is very important in the film industry, because there are no written words to explain your characters or the plot. It all has to be explained through dialogue and imagery. If your script has very weak dialogue, there is a very good chance it will lose readers' or viewers' interest. Make your dialogue sharp, snappy, and easy to follow.
Imagery
Imagery can be used in many metaphoric ways. In The Talented Mr. Ripley, the title character talked of wanting to close the door on himself sometime, and then, in the end, he did. Rain is commonly used to express a character feeling depressed, while sunny days promote a feeling of happiness and calm. Use imagery to your advantage to sway the emotions of your audience and to clue them in to what is happening.
Plot
While the story is what will be told (narrative) the plot is how the story will be told (narration). This vocabulary is not indisputable, though. Sometimes in literature story and plot are used exactly the other way round. Develop your plot before you begin work, write a treatment (an outline for a film) and follow it, but feel free to branch out in other directions if you feel that it would make your script more interesting.
'Beats'
A beat is a pause in dialogue. Below a line of dialogue the screenwriter would write (beat) and then enter down to the next line and type the dialogue after the pause. Overuse of beats is generally considered amateurish. Often nowadays, as screenwriting format is somewhat changing, many Hollywood readers don't like to see beats at all. Instead, the writer could place a line of action which would still offer the moment's pause for dramatic effect. A character could be talking, then take a sip of what he/she is drinking and continue.
Becoming a screenwriter
Writing a Spec Script
Breaking into the Industry
Breaking into any business is not easy, and screenwriting is no exception. I suggest doing some research before you put yourself on the market. Have an complete idea, a logline (http://www.breakingin.net/logline.htm), a treatment (a longer synopsis of the film; usually about 3-4 pages in length), and/or a completed script. If you would like to fly solo without an agent, try this site: [1] (http://www.newenglandfilm.com/classifieds/WHATEVER.htm). It's a well known site that you can post an ad for your script on, or you can find a producer looking for a script that you would like to write.
Editing
Every writer knows that editing is an essential part of writing. Rewrite your piece several times until you are satisfied with the final product. Not only check spelling and grammar, but rewrite scenes to develop them more fully. But always check spelling and grammar. If there is improper spelling or grammar in a piece, an agent, producer, or other person that you are submitting it to will strongly judge it. Bad spelling prejudices people against work, and they are less likely to accept it.
Getting your script read
Screenplay Competitions
Getting an Agent
Screenwriting Software
In recent years, computers have allowed people to write scripts without having to set the margins on their typewriters. Today, software is available that will help any aspiring screenwriter forget about margins and get writing now! Here are a few examples of screenwriting software.
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