Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Get started
• Method 2 of 3: Write the script
• Method 3 of 3: The layout of the scenario
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

The movie world is very, very competitive. You may have the best movie or the most brilliant idea of ​​the decade, but if your script isn't properly formatted or written, chances are nobody even glances at it. Take the following steps to increase your chances of seeing your work on the big screen.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Get started

1. Understand what a script is. A script, or screenplay, provides an overview of all elements (audio, images, actions and dialogues) that are necessary to tell a story through films or TV.
   • A script is almost never the work of one person. Instead, it goes through numerous revisions and rewrites to new versions, and will eventually be judged by producers, directors and actors.
   • Movies and TV are visual media. This means that you will have to write a script in a way that clearly captures the visual and auditory aspects of the story. Focus on writing in images and sounds.
2. Read the scripts for some of your favorite movies. Search online for movie scripts and decide what you like and don't like. Get a feel for how the action is portrayed, and how dialogues and characters develop in the story.
3. Work out your concept further. Assuming you already have an idea of ​​what you want to write about, outline the plot and the details, relationships, and personalities that will determine the direction of the story. Which elements are most important in your concept? How is the interaction between the different characters and why? What is the main line? Are there gaps in the plot? Make notes highlighting these points in a way that works for you.

Method 2 of 3: Write the script

1. Outline your story. Start with the basics of the story. Focus on the conflict of the story; conflict drives drama.
   • Keep a close eye on the length. In script format, each page is about a minute of screen time. The average length of a two-hour script is 120 pages. Dramas should last about 2 hours and the length of a comedy is usually shorter, about an hour and a half.
   • Also keep in mind that unless the writer is known, has connections, or is extremely wealthy, a long script is less likely to get attention. If the story cannot be told in two hours, it might be better to turn it into a novel.
2. Write your screenplay in three acts. The three acts are the pillars on which a scenario rests. Each act can exist independently of the other, and together with the other acts forms a complete storyline.
   • Act 1: This is the set up for the story. Introduce the world and the characters. Set the tone of the story (comedy, action, romance, etc.). Introduce the main characters and start exploring the conflict that the story is about. When the motives of the main characters have become clear, Act 2 can begin. In a drama, Act 1 is usually 30 pages long. In a comedy this is usually 24 pages.
   • Act 2: This act takes up most of the story. The protagonist here encounters the various obstacles he encounters on the way to resolving the conflict. Subplots are usually introduced in the second act.Continuously in this act you see that the main character undergoes certain changes. In a drama, this part usually lasts 60 pages. Comedy 48.
   • Act 3: In the third act we see the ending of the story. There is often a twist or unexpected turn in the story here and it ends with the final and final confrontation with the goal. Because the story has already stretched out in the second act, the third act is much faster than the rest, and it is more compact. In a drama, this act is about 30 pages. The third act of a comedy is usually 24 pages.
3. Add sequences to it. Sequences are parts of the story that develop in a more or less independent way, separate from the main conflict. They have a beginning, middle and end. A typical sequence is approximately 10 to 15 pages in length. A sequence tends to focus on a specific character.
   • Sequences have their own field of tension, separate from the main line, but do influence the course thereof.
4. Start writing the scenes. Scenes are the events of the movie. These take place in specific locations and are always there to propel the story. If a scene doesn't meet that, then it should be removed from the script. Scenes without any purpose remain in the viewer's memory as misses, undermining the story.
5. Start writing the dialogues. If you have the scenes in mind, you have to describe the interaction between the characters. Dialogues are often a tricky part of a movie. Each character will have to get his or her own signature character.
   • Realistic dialogues are not necessarily good dialogues. Dialogues should aim to speed up the story and develop the characters. You should not strive to imitate reality with dialogues, because in reality they are often dull and colorless.
   • Read the dialogue aloud. Does it sound jerky and offensive, stereotypical or exaggerated? Do all your characters express themselves in the same way?
6. Remove any excess material. Now that you have all your ideas on paper, you can start looking for weak spots, holes, distractions, or anything that causes your scenario to falter. Is the story going wrong in certain places, or is it completely off course? Are there any unnecessary details or repetitions? Do you provide sufficient challenge for the audience, or have you made it too simple? If you are explaining things unnecessarily, or pieces are not serving the progress of the story, delete them.
7. Show your work to a few friends. Choose people with different preferences and backgrounds to gather a variety of opinions. Ask them to be critical, not spare you; flattery or falsehoods are of no use to you.
8. Revise your work as often as necessary. This can be a bit painful at first, but when you are finally done with it, you will notice that the final product has become much better.

Method 3 of 3: The layout of the scenario

1. Set the page size. Film scripts are usually written on an A4 with 3 perforated holes. The top and bottom margins are between 1.25 and 2.5 cm. The left margin is between 3 and 4 cm and the right margin is between 1.25 and 2.5 cm.
   • Page numbers are in the top right corner. The title page is not numbered.
2. Set the font. Scenarios are written in Courier font, with a font size of 12 points. This is mainly due to timing. A 1-page script in Courier 12 is roughly 1 minute of screen time.
3. Format your scenario elements. There are several parts of a script that require special formatting to conform to industry standards:
   • Scene Title: this is also called a "slugline." This introduces the backdrop to the reader by describing the location and environment. The title is written in capital letters. First, indicate whether it is an indoor or outdoor scene, with the abbreviation “INT.” or "EXT." Then the location and time will follow. Never place a title at the bottom of the page, but continue on the next page.
   • Action: this is the descriptive text of the script. Write in the present tense and in the active form. Keep paragraphs short to keep the reader's attention. A good paragraph length is 3-5 lines.
   • Character: Place the name of the person speaking in capital letters and indented 9 cm from the left margin. The name can be the name of the character, a description if the character in the movie has no name, or a particular occupation / job title. If the character is speaking off screen, write “(O.S.)” next to the character's name. If the character is the narrator or voice-over (reader), write “(V.O.)”.
   • Dialogue: when a character is speaking, the dialogue should be 6 cm from the left margin and 5-6 cm from the right margin. The dialogue is directly below the character's name.

Tips

• Search for scriptwriting books in the library near you. Many filmmakers have written books to help other people like you get started.
• Try to develop the story further so that it has a natural course. Many aspiring writers feel that every second of the story must be more exciting than the next; others have not been able to strike a balance between tension and no tension. Try to ensure that your plot develops gradually so that the tension slowly builds up to climax.
• Consider using software to write a script. There are several programs available, commercial and free, that help you use the correct formatting or even convert an already written script to the correct layout.
• Your hook / angle (eg the main idea or the main location) should be presented in the first 10 pages. The first 10 pages determine whether a producer continues to read or not!
• Join screenwriter forums. You can get a lot of tips here, show your work and learn the tricks of the trade from other writers - and who knows, you might end up with interesting contacts too.
• Take a writing course. Scenario writing is just as difficult and time consuming as any other form of writing and is even more difficult if you have never been able to practice at school.
• Consider accredited scriptwriting training if necessary. Every university course in the arts offers opportunities to deepen your knowledge of this.

Warnings

• Take inspiration from the work of others, but never just use someone else's ideas in your own writing. This is illegal and not ethical.
• Don't just give your script to someone else; ideas are precious and are all too easily stolen. A good way to prevent this, or at least indicate that you have written a certain scenario, is to register the complete script. In the United States, you do this at the Writer's Guild of America. The WGA is a foundation that represents all affiliated writers and their website is packed with information related to the art of screenwriting.

Necessities

• Word processor
• Authoring software (optional)