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Screenplay Notes

The document outlines key principles for writing a screenplay, emphasizing the importance of theme, conflict, and structure. It provides guidelines for character development, including the need for characters to be defined by their actions and to undergo significant change throughout the story. Additionally, it presents a character template and questions to consider for character arcs, highlighting the necessity of understanding both inner and outer goals.

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Mae Urtal Caralde
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168 views8 pages

Screenplay Notes

The document outlines key principles for writing a screenplay, emphasizing the importance of theme, conflict, and structure. It provides guidelines for character development, including the need for characters to be defined by their actions and to undergo significant change throughout the story. Additionally, it presents a character template and questions to consider for character arcs, highlighting the necessity of understanding both inner and outer goals.

Uploaded by

Mae Urtal Caralde
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Screenplay Notes

15 commandments
Theme is paramount! DRAMA is CONFLICT Structure is everything A screenplay: a story told with pictures SHOW, DONT TELL Raise the stakes Make the characters 3-dimensional

15 commandments
Action is character Foreshadow or payoff Suspense, surprise, reversals, twists Scenes: Come in late, leave early Action lines: Short controlled bursts Use dialogue only as a last resort Dont write subtext WRITING is RE-WRITING

Premise format
(name, age, physical, psychological), who (defining characteristic)__________ wants ____________(characters goal in the story)__________ However____(the central conflict/obstacle and the

turning point)__________________. Finally


_______(how has the character changed)______

CHARACTER
People are what they do, not what they saytherefore CHARACTER IS ACTION! Make character 3D 1. Physical---how they look

2. Sociological---how they live


3. Psychological---how they behave

Syd Fields Character Template


Good film characters need: 1. A dramatic need---what the character really wants in the film 2. Point of View (POV)---the way they see the world 3. Change---example: from loser to winner, introvert to extrovert 4. Attitude

Character Arc
Central questions: What does my character want? Inner (story) goal:_______________________ Outer (plot) goal:________________________ How do they change in the story?____________ The points at which we see them changing:_______________

What will they stand to gain or lose? What are the stakes?_________________
What is their pyrrhic victory?____________________

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