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The Basics of Screenwriting
Want to write for the big screen but don’t how or where to start? Then help is at hand with this short guide to writing screenplays.
What is a Screenplay?
- A screenplay is the blueprint for a film, not the finished article.
- A completed screenplay is the starting point of a journey to produce a film.
- A screenplay is a marathon not a sprint.
How Does a Screenplay Differ from Other Forms of Writing?
- Screenplays are essentially a visual medium because they are writing for film.
- A screenplay has to speak to the audience visually and in a concise way.
- A screenwriter has the audience for only a certain length of time. If you lose them, you’ve failed.
How is a Screenplay Developed?
- A writer has a great idea for a film, spends a long time writing his screenplay, then tries to sell it to a production company, usually for very little money.
- The film becomes a success, the screenwriter has a big credit to his name, the production company has an idea that a sequel would make a lot of money. They can approach the writer whose fee has gone up considerably, or look for a new writer.
What Are The Important Elements of a Screenplay?
- Do not bore your reader, especially in the first 10 minutes.
- Screenwriting is a process of rewriting. Never believe the hype that the screenplay is ‘finally finished.’
What Qualities Do You Need To Be a Screenwriter?
- You can’t just be a good writer.
- You need to have a point of view.
- Patience: you need to be willing to stay the course of a project from first draft to final take.
Further Help
Screenplay Formatting ‘rules’
- The font style is always Courier 12.
- A screen page roughly equals a film minute.
- Screenplays are generally a maximum of 120 pages. That’s two hours of film.
Courses/Training
Competitions and Bursaries
Websites
You Can Download Television and Movie Scripts From These Websites
Magazines
This article was written by Omelihu (Mel) Nwanguma with some help from Abidemi Sanusi. Mel is a screenwriter and director. You can find out more about Mel at www.inspirefilmmedia.com |
Abidemi Sanusi, 02/09/2006 |
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