How to Write Great Screenplays: And Get Them Into Production

Description

Have you got a great idea for a screenplay, but don't know how to write it visually? Then this book is for you. It will give you the vital information you need to know before you write your script; the vital techniques you need to learn when you're writing your script. But, more importantly, it will show you how to market your script after it's written. These three vitally important stages will make your script STAND OUT from the crowd. Your will learn about:- - Preparing outlines and synopses and treatments. - The Three Act Structure - Writing powerful opening scenes, and compelling scenes to follow - Techniques to make your script stand out - Writing effective dialogue - Writing a logline to use as a powerful marketing tool to interest an agent or producer. - Professional script formatting - Organisations that help screenwriters - How to copyright your work - How to market your script - The Twenty important things to check before you send out your script Contents Acknowledgements Prologue 1 The importance of preparation Ten powerful questions Identifying with the hero Creating interesting characters 2 Outlines, synopses and treatments Outlines Step outlines Writing a step outline Introducing a subplot What is a synopsis? Sample synopsis What is a treatment? 3 The three-act structure Structuring your screenplay Act I – the set up Act II – complicating the conflict Act III – intensifying the action 4 The inciting incident What is an inciting incident? Hooking the audience 5 Writing powerful opening scenes A sci-fi opening A fantasy opening An historical drama opening A romantic comedy opening A war opening Photographs 6 Writing compelling scenes ‘Starting late, leaving early’ Transitions Choices Screen action Group scenes Details Studying examples Compelling scenes Variation 7 Techniques to make your script stand out Avoid camera directions Foreshadowing Using subtext Adverbs The overuse of ‘we’ To be or not to be The correct layout Dialogue split by action Creating suspense Manipulating point of view Creating fast pacing 8 Writing effective dialogue Making dialogue real Making dialogue effective Avoiding ‘on the nose’ dialogue Avoiding feeder lines Unusual dialogue formats Dialogue and body language 9 Loglines What is a logline? What does a logline do? How loglines work Writing an effective logline Using the logline as your sales pitch Tips when writing a logline 10 Film genres Action Adventure Animation Comedy Crime/gangster Drama Epic Fantasy Film noir Horror Musical Science fiction Thriller War Western Minor sub-genres Combining genres 11 Professional script formatting Basic principles 12 Organizations that help screenwriters The American Scriptwriting Association The British Film Institute Euroscript The First Film Foundation InkTip Media UK The New Producer’s Alliance Raindance The Rocliffe Forum Screen Daily The Script Factory The Scriptwriter’s Network Shooting People Skillset The Spec Script Library The Studio System TAPS The UK Film Council Women in Film and TV Women in Film The Writers’ Guild of America (West) The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain 13 Copyrighting your work Copyright and registration Protecting your script 14 Marketing your script Learning how to market your script Learn to pitch Research Approaching directors Approaching actors Join Shooting People Send query e-mails/letters Use an editorial service Euroscript Find a unique way to hook them Learn patience Show appreciation Cultivate contacts Use online script services Use script brokerage companies Entering screenwriting competitions Attend film festivals Getting an agent Postscript: 20 important things to check before you send out your script Appendices 1 Script websites 2 Screenwriting software 3 Options and assignments 4 A sample option agreement (UK) 5 A sample option agreement (USA) Glossary of common screen terms A B C D E F G H I L M N O P Q R S T U V W Z Famous last lines Index A B C D E F G H I K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X