Have you got a great idea for a screenplay, but don't know how to write it visually? Then this book is for you. It will give you the vital information you need to know before you write your script; the vital techniques you need to learn when you're writing your script. But, more importantly, it will show you how to market your script after it's written. These three vitally important stages will make your script STAND OUT from the crowd. Your will learn about:- - Preparing outlines and synopses and treatments. - The Three Act Structure - Writing powerful opening scenes, and compelling scenes to follow - Techniques to make your script stand out - Writing effective dialogue - Writing a logline to use as a powerful marketing tool to interest an agent or producer. - Professional script formatting - Organisations that help screenwriters - How to copyright your work - How to market your script - The Twenty important things to check before you send out your script
Author(s): Linda M. James
Publisher: How to Books Limited
Language: English
Pages: 190
Tags: screenwriting
Contents
Acknowledgements
Prologue
1 The importance of preparation
Ten powerful questions
Identifying with the hero
Creating interesting characters
2 Outlines, synopses and treatments
Outlines
Step outlines
Writing a step outline
Introducing a subplot
What is a synopsis?
Sample synopsis
What is a treatment?
3 The three-act structure
Structuring your screenplay
Act I – the set up
Act II – complicating the conflict
Act III – intensifying the action
4 The inciting incident
What is an inciting incident?
Hooking the audience
5 Writing powerful opening scenes
A sci-fi opening
A fantasy opening
An historical drama opening
A romantic comedy opening
A war opening
Photographs
6 Writing compelling scenes
‘Starting late, leaving early’
Transitions
Choices
Screen action
Group scenes
Details
Studying examples
Compelling scenes
Variation
7 Techniques to make your script stand out
Avoid camera directions
Foreshadowing
Using subtext
Adverbs
The overuse of ‘we’
To be or not to be
The correct layout
Dialogue split by action
Creating suspense
Manipulating point of view
Creating fast pacing
8 Writing effective dialogue
Making dialogue real
Making dialogue effective
Avoiding ‘on the nose’ dialogue
Avoiding feeder lines
Unusual dialogue formats
Dialogue and body language
9 Loglines
What is a logline?
What does a logline do?
How loglines work
Writing an effective logline
Using the logline as your sales pitch
Tips when writing a logline
10 Film genres
Action
Adventure
Animation
Comedy
Crime/gangster
Drama
Epic
Fantasy
Film noir
Horror
Musical
Science fiction
Thriller
War
Western
Minor sub-genres
Combining genres
11 Professional script formatting
Basic principles
12 Organizations that help screenwriters
The American Scriptwriting Association
The British Film Institute
Euroscript
The First Film Foundation
InkTip
Media UK
The New Producer’s Alliance
Raindance
The Rocliffe Forum
Screen Daily
The Script Factory
The Scriptwriter’s Network
Shooting People
Skillset
The Spec Script Library
The Studio System
TAPS
The UK Film Council
Women in Film and TV
Women in Film
The Writers’ Guild of America (West)
The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain
13 Copyrighting your work
Copyright and registration
Protecting your script
14 Marketing your script
Learning how to market your script
Learn to pitch
Research
Approaching directors
Approaching actors
Join Shooting People
Send query e-mails/letters
Use an editorial service
Euroscript
Find a unique way to hook them
Learn patience
Show appreciation
Cultivate contacts
Use online script services
Use script brokerage companies
Entering screenwriting competitions
Attend film festivals
Getting an agent
Postscript: 20 important things to check before you send out your script
Appendices
1 Script websites
2 Screenwriting software
3 Options and assignments
4 A sample option agreement (UK)
5 A sample option agreement (USA)
Glossary of common screen terms
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
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N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
Z
Famous last lines
Index
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