Have you ever thought about the amount of time and effort put into the lines for the movie you were watching? Very rarely has it ever really been thought of while in the thick of a show, but the fact is, it takes a writer weeks or months just to come up with a working screenplay that will impress the masses and make the money they need to cover their expenses. In fact, the pressure on the writer can be very overwhelming, for the whole movies reputation rests with them. They are the front lines of the industry, for without them, famous people would never have any lines to be famous for.
To write a screenplay, you first need an awesome idea. Characters and plot all play their part to be exciting. You want to have people in roles that will connect emotionally with the public and places that are unfamiliar so it takes them on a journey. Very visual writers use storyboards to make it feel more tangible to them and others dont have the need for them. It is purely a comfort thing. Many more writers make use of outlines that highlight major events and certain characters actions.
When you have figured out the who, what, when, where, and why, putting that all into a document is your next step. There are certain programs for computers and the ipad that format the document for you. But there are guidelines to follow. One, there are specific margins that you need to set (or the program may set them for you). The left hand margin is always wider to accommodate for the three holes used for binding. Two, page numbers are in the upper right hand corner with no number on the first page. Three, it should be printed in the Courier 12 font. One page of this font is equal to one minute of show time. If the script is too long, it wont be considered.
There are some special terms to be familiar with in making your headings for new scenes. All scene headings are placed flush to the left and in most cases, never reach the right margin. It is required to use either INT. (inside) or EXT. (outside) to let the reader of the script know where they are at. Then, specify what room or area they are set in. Like bedroom, car, park, or kitchen. Now that you have established where the characters are at, let the reader know what time of day it is. Dawn, night, day, or dusk. Technical terms to the industry can be included such as: continuous, establishing, or stock. So your header for a scene could be: INT.-Bedroom-Dusk-Establishing. So, the readers all know that we are establishing that the characters are in the bedroom of X character at dusk.
For your title page, the only information that is needed is the title and then two lines below it should say, written by. Two lines below that should have your name as the screenwriter. In the lower right hand corner give them your contact information and in some cases, a copyright notice can be put in the left hand corner. The same font, Courier 12, should be used and you should avoid large graphics or fancy fonts and pictures. No other information needs to be on this page or you risk having your work hit the garbage can. However, bold type can be used for the title only.
Now that you have some basics of script writing, get that great idea you have down on paper. Put it out there to Hollywood for everyone to enjoy! Dont be afraid of rejection, if you do it for the fun of entertainment, the fear of being turned down wont sting as much. Just know that you accomplished more than most people do in their lifetime. You could be the creator of the next blockbuster like Terminator or even Rocky. Perhaps you could produce content that rivals Avatar. You will never know until you try it!
To write a screenplay, you first need an awesome idea. Characters and plot all play their part to be exciting. You want to have people in roles that will connect emotionally with the public and places that are unfamiliar so it takes them on a journey. Very visual writers use storyboards to make it feel more tangible to them and others dont have the need for them. It is purely a comfort thing. Many more writers make use of outlines that highlight major events and certain characters actions.
When you have figured out the who, what, when, where, and why, putting that all into a document is your next step. There are certain programs for computers and the ipad that format the document for you. But there are guidelines to follow. One, there are specific margins that you need to set (or the program may set them for you). The left hand margin is always wider to accommodate for the three holes used for binding. Two, page numbers are in the upper right hand corner with no number on the first page. Three, it should be printed in the Courier 12 font. One page of this font is equal to one minute of show time. If the script is too long, it wont be considered.
There are some special terms to be familiar with in making your headings for new scenes. All scene headings are placed flush to the left and in most cases, never reach the right margin. It is required to use either INT. (inside) or EXT. (outside) to let the reader of the script know where they are at. Then, specify what room or area they are set in. Like bedroom, car, park, or kitchen. Now that you have established where the characters are at, let the reader know what time of day it is. Dawn, night, day, or dusk. Technical terms to the industry can be included such as: continuous, establishing, or stock. So your header for a scene could be: INT.-Bedroom-Dusk-Establishing. So, the readers all know that we are establishing that the characters are in the bedroom of X character at dusk.
For your title page, the only information that is needed is the title and then two lines below it should say, written by. Two lines below that should have your name as the screenwriter. In the lower right hand corner give them your contact information and in some cases, a copyright notice can be put in the left hand corner. The same font, Courier 12, should be used and you should avoid large graphics or fancy fonts and pictures. No other information needs to be on this page or you risk having your work hit the garbage can. However, bold type can be used for the title only.
Now that you have some basics of script writing, get that great idea you have down on paper. Put it out there to Hollywood for everyone to enjoy! Dont be afraid of rejection, if you do it for the fun of entertainment, the fear of being turned down wont sting as much. Just know that you accomplished more than most people do in their lifetime. You could be the creator of the next blockbuster like Terminator or even Rocky. Perhaps you could produce content that rivals Avatar. You will never know until you try it!
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