Scribd
Upload
64 views3 pages

Key Story Questions For Screenplays

The document outlines key story questions to consider when writing screenplays, focusing on character development, emotional arcs, and thematic elements. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the hero's identity, desires, fears, and growth throughout the narrative. Additionally, it addresses the need for relatable conflicts, successful precedents, and the overall appeal of the film to audiences.

Uploaded by

Anantosh Bhardwaj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
64 views3 pages

Key Story Questions For Screenplays

The document outlines key story questions to consider when writing screenplays, focusing on character development, emotional arcs, and thematic elements. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the hero's identity, desires, fears, and growth throughout the narrative. Additionally, it addresses the need for relatable conflicts, successful precedents, and the overall appeal of the film to audiences.

Uploaded by

Anantosh Bhardwaj
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

KEY STORY QUESTIONS FOR SCREENPLAYS

[Link] is the hero?

[Link] will we immediately empathize with the hero? In other words,


why will we identify with him within the first 10 pages of the screenplay?

[Link] is the hero at the beginning of the story, before anything new
occurs to get theplot going? What is the everyday life she’s been living,
and how does the screenplay show that?

[Link] is the hero’s longing (deep desire he’s just paying lip service to)
or emotional need (which the hero won’t admit or is unaware of --
usually this is to connect with others in some way).

[Link] opportunity is presented to the hero at the 10% point of the


story?

[Link] new situation is he placed in as a result of that opportunity? Is it


by choice, or is the hero forced into it? What will the hero have to figure
out, or adjust to, in this new situation?

[Link] specific, visible goal or finish line does the hero want to reach by
the end of the movie – in other words, what’s the outer motivation?

[Link]’s the outer conflict -- what makes that goal impossible to


achieve?
[Link] is the hero's greatest emotional fear?

[Link] wound – what painful event or situation -- in his or her past


(usually in adolescence) led to that fear?

11. If the movie contains a love story, why is the romance character the
hero's destiny? Why did they choose each other, out of all the other
people they've been involved with?

[Link] is the hero’s identity – what protective persona keeps the hero
from facing and overcoming their emotional fear?

[Link] is the hero’s essence or truth? Who would she be if her identity
were stripped away? In other words, who does she have the potential to
become, if she’s courageous enough?

14. What is the hero’s arc or character growth? How does she gradually
make the transition from her identity to her essence? What gives her the
courage to do that?

15. What is the film’s universal theme – how does the arc for the hero
provide the entire audience with a prescription for living a more fulfilled
life?

[Link] deeper issues – political or social -- does the movie explore?

[Link] are the successful antecedents for the film -- recent, successful
movies similar in market demographic, genre, budget, style, tone and/or
story, that you can point to and say, "Because those made money, this
one will make money."

[Link] is the passion for this project – what do you love about it?
[Link] are the biggest weaknesses in the story or script right now?

[Link] makes this a movie – why will millions of people want to spend
their time and money to see it?

You might also like