How To Write A Screenplay
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About this ebook
Writers Workshop basic guide, Edition 3. Designed as a fun, basic guide to get writers writing their screenplays immediately. This covers the basics of plot, characters, dialogue, and screenplay format. It was designed by Dorian Scott Cole, a development analyst, for Writers Workshop, L.A. in their program for high schools, with printing assistance from the American Film Institute. It is not intended to teach writing theory, but to be an addition to existing curriculum.
Dorian Scott Cole
Dorian Scott Cole is a professional communicator, with education and experience in writing, engineering technology, psychology, religion, radio announcing, acting, and movie and TV production, having had full careers in several fields. He worked as a senior development analyst for Writers Workshop, L.A. He teaches writing and acting in independent settings, and has written VisualWriter.com since 1996.He is the author of several Web sites, and produces entertainment videos through his company, Movie Stream Productions. His production series, STL Comedy, included 22 professional actors, and 10 writers.Dorian lives near St. Louis.
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Reviews for How To Write A Screenplay
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- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5it is a nice book for beginners screen Play writer
Book preview
How To Write A Screenplay - Dorian Scott Cole
HOW TO WRITE A SCREENPLAY
A Basic Guide
By Dorian Scott Cole
Copyright 1994 Dorian Scott Cole
Edition 3, 2016
Published by Dorian Scott Cole at Smashwords
ISBN: 9781310212963
Smashwords Edition License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your enjoyment only, then please return to Smashwords.com or your favorite retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author. See school copying permissions under About.
Table of Contents
Hit & Run - The Quick Start
Dramatic structure: brief descriptions and links to in-depth information
Getting started - detailed information
What to write
Writing methods
Making fascinating characters
Prom Date: story illustration
Screenplay Fundamentals
Characterization
Plot
Scene
Dialogue
Set-ups for short scripts
Characters for short scripts
Format
Rewriting the best kept secret in Hollywood
Helpful Things
Stolen Property Statement
Teacher's Information
Resources
About Writers Workshop (Historic)
Script Doctor Tips
About Dorian
Other books by Dorian
Connect with Dorian
Acknowledgements
Funds for printing the original guide were provided to National Writers Workshop by The American Film Institute, partly because of the nonprofit nature of National Writers Workshop and its assistance to screenwriters. The AFI does not endorse (or not endorse) this guide nor did it contribute financially in any other way. The author is not compensated in any way for this guide.
Disclaimer
This is an original work. Any similarities to any person, living or dead, or any organization, or any other literary work, are strictly coincidental.
Images
Cover images licensed from Microsoft Word clipart and MorgueFile.com
Cover: Original design with Microsoft Word clipart and MorgueFile.com images, by Dorian Scott Cole
Hit and Run - Quick Start
Everyone likes to jump right in and start writing, and that's good. Use this Quick Start to begin creating your screenplay right away. Keep in mind that screenplays look nothing like novels and plays. They have their own way of doing things. So you probably should look at Format.
Use this Quick Start for a handy reference to detailed information as you write. Have a great time and good luck!
Format Example
INT. CHRIS’ HOUSE – KITCHEN – DAY
(Slugline: INT = Interior, EXT = exterior)
Description of the scene, and the characters in the scene when it starts. The first time characters appear, their names are in ALL CAPS, and this is followed by their description.
(Action style.)
Example: CHRIS, 50ish, holds a hot dog stick in a fireplace, and wears a cowboy hat. NICKY, late twenties, sits on a chair watching him.
CHARACTER NAME
(INSTRUCTION or PARENTHETICAL [usually not used])
Dialogue. (3 inches)
More scene information. (Style: Action)
The font for the entire script is Courier or Courier New, size 12.
Note that the exact format can't be formatted correctly in an ebook.
Get in-depth information
What To Write
Write about what interests you. It will be more fun and if it interests you it is more likely to interest others. It's also best to know something about what you are writing about, or have the ability to research it first hand, or through others, or by finding information.
The following would be helpful to write about:
Unusual things and surprises really get attention (but don't get too radical).
Humor can be a helpful element in any story, but too much humor spoils it.
Careful: if the outcome of the story is predictable, readers will go, ho-hum.
One page equals about one minute of screen time, so shoot for ten to thirty pages, which is typically about three to thirty scenes. Hint: it's easier in some ways to write thirty pages than ten because shorter stories require more intensity.
Get in-depth information
Writing Methods
Many people like to just start writing. Others like to write parts of the story that they find exciting, and then go back and write the rest. Others like to write a synopis. Many use a combination of all of these methods.
Use the method best suited to you - just get started. At some early point you should write out the plot or story line so you don't waste time writing stuff that