How To Create A Screenplay Beginner's Tips
How To Create A Screenplay Beginner's Tips
How To Create A Screenplay Beginner's Tips
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The screenplay is the fundamental document that describes the story, the
characters, the dialogue, and the events that take place in a film. It serves
as a guide for production and direction, allowing those involved to have a
clear vision of what will be filmed and how the story will be told.
The script is the basis for everything in a film, it is from this that the
production team, director and cast begin working to create a work of art
that can be appreciated by the audience. In this script, we will follow an
exciting and surprising story that will capture your attention from
beginning to end. Get ready for an unforgettable adventure!
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Start with a central idea: Think of a theme or concept that you want to
explore. It could be a universal human emotion, a social issue, or a unique
perspective on a particular genre.
Develop your characters: Think about the main characters in your story.
What kind of people are they? What motivates them? What do they want?
Create fully formed characters that will be interesting to watch and have a
clear arc throughout the story.
Determine your genre: Consider the type of story you want to tell. Is it a
comedy, a drama, a romance, or a thriller? This will affect the tone,
pacing, and overall structure of your script.
Focus on conflict: Every good story has conflict. Think about the
challenges your characters will face and the obstacles they need to
overcome. This will create tension and keep your audience engaged.
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Outline your story: Once you have a clear idea of your concept, create an
outline of your story. This will help you to organize your thoughts, and
ensure that your story has a logical structure.
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Give Them Flaws: Characters with flaws are more relatable and
interesting. Give your characters weaknesses, fears, and insecurities. No
one is perfect, and flaws can add depth to your characters and make them
more believable.
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Remember that your characters should feel like real people, with unique
personalities, motivations, and flaws. Spend time developing them before
you start writing, and your story will feel richer and more engaging to
your readers.
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Chapter 3: Create Your Outline Before you start writing your script,
create an outline that includes the key plot points and scenes. This will
help you stay organized and keep your story on track.
Sure, I can help you create an outline for your story. To get started, let's
first identify the key elements of a typical story structure:
Rising Action: This is where the main conflict of the story is introduced,
and the tension begins to build.
Climax: This is the turning point of the story, where the main conflict
reaches its peak and the protagonist must make a critical decision.
Resolution: This is the final outcome of the story, where loose ends are
tied up and the main characters' fates are revealed.
With these elements in mind, let's create an outline for your story:
I. Introduction/Exposition
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III. Climax
V. Resolution
Once you have this basic structure, you can add more details to each
section and break it down into more specific scenes or plot points as
needed. Remember, the outline is just a guide, and you can make changes
as you write and develop your story further. Good luck!
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Chapter 4: Define Your Plot Points Identify the key plot points in your
story, including the inciting incident, the midpoint, and the climax. These
plot points will help guide your writing and ensure that your story is
compelling.
Inciting Incident: This is the event that sets the story in motion and
creates the initial conflict. It is the event that triggers the protagonist to
take action.
Midpoint: This is the point in the story where there is a shift in the plot or
the protagonist's goals. It can be a turning point in the story where the
protagonist faces a significant obstacle or learns a crucial piece of
information.
Climax: This is the point in the story where the conflict reaches its peak,
and the protagonist faces their greatest challenge. It is the moment of
highest tension and where the story's outcome is determined.
Rising Action: This is the series of events that lead up to the climax,
where the protagonist faces increasing obstacles and challenges.
Falling Action: This is the part of the story that follows the climax, where
loose ends are tied up, and the story begins to wind down.
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Resolution: This is the final outcome of the story, where loose ends are
tied up, and the protagonist's journey comes to an end.
Identifying these plot points can help you create a compelling story
structure and ensure that your narrative has a clear direction.
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To begin, think about where your story takes place. Is it set in a specific
city or town, in a particular country or region, or perhaps in a fictional
world of your own creation? Once you've determined the general location,
you can begin to develop a detailed description of the setting.
Next, think about the architecture and infrastructure of the area. Are there
old buildings with historical significance, or modern skyscrapers and
highways? Is the area well-maintained and wealthy, or run-down and
impoverished? What kind of transportation is available, and how do
people get around?
Consider the cultural aspects of the setting as well. What kind of people
live there, and what are their customs and traditions? What language do
they speak, and what kind of food do they eat? How do these cultural
elements influence the story?
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Chapter 6: Begin Writing Your Script With your outline and character
profiles in place, it's time to start writing your script. Begin by writing
your opening scene, introducing your main characters and setting the
stage for your story.
Introduce your main characters in a way that makes them relatable and
interesting. Show their strengths, weaknesses, and quirks.
Consider the conflict that drives your story forward. This could be a
personal struggle for your protagonist, a conflict with an antagonist, or an
external challenge that affects multiple characters.
Keep in mind the theme or message you want to convey through your
story. This will help guide your writing and ensure that every scene and
character serves a purpose.
Remember that writing a script is a process, and it may take several drafts
to get it right. Don't be afraid to make changes and revisions as you go
along. And most importantly, have fun with it! Writing should be a
creative and enjoyable experience.
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Know your characters: Before you start writing dialogue, take the time to
understand your characters. What are their backgrounds, personalities,
and motivations? How do they speak and behave in different situations?
Use subtext: Dialogue is not just about what characters say, but also what
they don't say. Use subtext to add depth to your dialogue by showing
what your characters are really thinking and feeling.
Add conflict: Dialogue should not be all smooth sailing. Add conflict and
tension to your dialogue by having characters disagree, challenge each
other, or have hidden agendas.
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Use dialect and slang: If your characters have different dialects or use
slang, incorporate that into your dialogue to make it more realistic and
add depth to your characters.
Edit and revise: Once you have written your dialogue, read it aloud to see
how it sounds. Edit and revise as necessary to improve the flow and make
it more engaging.
By using these tips, you can create compelling dialogue that captures the
unique voices of your characters and brings your movie script to life.
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Chapter 8: Develop Your Story Arc Your story arc should take your
characters on a journey that challenges them and ultimately changes them.
Develop your story arc by including key conflicts and challenges.
To develop your story arc, start by identifying your central character and
their primary goal. What is the driving force that motivates your character?
What do they want more than anything else? Once you have identified
your character's goal, consider the obstacles and conflicts that will
prevent them from achieving it.
One effective way to develop your story arc is to use the three-act
structure. The three-act structure consists of a beginning, middle, and end,
with each act containing specific plot points that move the story forward.
Act I: The Setup The beginning of your story should introduce your main
character, establish their goal, and set the stage for the conflicts they will
face. This is the time to introduce your reader to the world of your story
and to hook them with an intriguing problem or situation.
Act II: The Confrontation The middle of your story is where your
character faces their greatest challenges and obstacles. This is the part of
your story where your character is tested, and they must overcome their
flaws and weaknesses to achieve their goal. It's also where the stakes are
raised, and the conflict intensifies.
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Act III: The Resolution The end of your story is where your character
achieves their goal, but not without paying a price. This is the part of your
story where your character is transformed, and the lessons they have
learned are revealed. It's also where you tie up loose ends and provide
closure for your reader.
To make your story arc compelling, make sure that your character faces
significant obstacles and challenges that force them to grow and change.
Avoid making the journey too easy for them or resolving conflicts too
quickly. Allow your character to struggle and experience setbacks, and
make their ultimate triumph feel earned and satisfying.
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Remember that tension and conflict should always serve the story and be
motivated by the characters' desires and goals. When you create tension
and conflict that is authentic and meaningful, your readers will be
invested in the outcome and eager to see how the story resolves.
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Chapter 10: Edit and Revise Your Script Once you've finished your
first draft, it's time to edit and revise your script. Look for areas where
you can tighten your dialogue and strengthen your plot points.
Take a break: Before you start editing and revising, take some time away
from your script. This will help you approach it with fresh eyes and a
clear mind.
Read it out loud: Reading your script out loud can help you catch errors
in dialogue and pacing. It can also help you identify areas where your
script may need to be tightened or expanded.
Strengthen your plot points: Look for areas where your plot may need
strengthening. This can involve adding more conflict, raising the stakes,
or making your characters' motivations clearer.
Pay attention to pacing: Make sure your script has a good pace that keeps
your audience engaged. This can involve cutting slow scenes or adding
more tension to keep the story moving.
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Get feedback: Share your script with others and ask for feedback. This
can help you identify areas that may need further editing and revision.
Remember, editing and revising your script can take time and effort, but
it's an important step in creating a strong final product.
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Chapter 11: Get Feedback Share your script with others and ask for
feedback. This can help you identify areas where your script could be
improved and provide you with fresh perspectives on your story.
Here are some steps you can take to get feedback on your script:
Reach out and ask for feedback: Once you have identified potential
readers, reach out to them and ask if they would be willing to read your
script and provide feedback. Be clear about what you are looking for and
set a deadline for when you need the feedback.
Provide context: When you share your script, provide some context about
what it is about, who the characters are, and what themes you are
exploring. This will help your readers better understand your story and
provide more targeted feedback.
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Revise your script: Based on the feedback you receive, revise your script
and make the necessary changes. This may involve rewriting entire
scenes or just tweaking some dialogue. Remember, the goal is to make
your story the best it can be.
Show your gratitude: Once you have incorporated the feedback and made
revisions, show your gratitude to those who provided feedback. Thank
them for their time and let them know how their feedback helped you
improve your script. This will not only show your appreciation but also
keep the door open for future collaborations.
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Offer suggestions for how they can make their writing stronger without
being overly critical or negative.
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Chapter 12: Rewrite Your Script Use the feedback you receive to rewrite
your script, making changes that improve the story and address any issues
that were identified.
Take time to reflect: Before diving into rewriting your script, take some
time to reflect on the feedback you received. Try to understand the
underlying issues that were identified and how they affect the story you're
trying to tell. This reflection will help you identify the changes that need
to be made and give you a better sense of direction when rewriting.
Make a plan: Once you've reflected on the feedback, make a plan for how
you want to approach the rewrite. Identify the specific changes you need
to make and map out the structure of the new version of the script. This
plan will help you stay organized and focused as you rewrite.
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Rewrite, don't just edit: When rewriting your script, don't just make minor
edits or tweaks. Instead, approach it as an entirely new version of the
story. This will give you the freedom to make significant changes and
ensure that the new version is an improvement over the original.
Get feedback on the new version: Once you've completed the rewrite, get
feedback on the new version. This will help you identify any new issues
that need to be addressed and ensure that the changes you made have
improved the story.
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Keep it concise: In real life, people often speak in short, simple sentences.
Unless you're trying to portray a character who speaks in a more complex
manner, try to keep your dialogue concise and to the point.
Read it aloud: One of the best ways to test the naturalness of your
dialogue is to read it out loud. This can help you identify any awkward
phrasing or unrealistic exchanges that might be difficult to spot when
reading silently.
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By following these tips, you can make your dialogue sound more
believable and natural, which can help your readers feel more immersed
in your story.
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Chapter 14: Prepare Your Script for Submission Before you submit your
script to agents, producers, or studios, make sure that it is properly
formatted and meets industry standards. This includes using the correct
font and margins.
Number your pages in the top right corner, starting with page 1 on the
first page of your script.
There are many software programs available that can help you format
your script correctly, such as Final Draft or Celtx. These programs will
automatically format your screenplay according to industry standards,
allowing you to focus on writing the best script possible.
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Chapter 15: Market Your Script Finally, market your script by sending
it to agents, entering it in screenwriting contests, and networking with
industry professionals. Be persistent and patient, and don't give up on
your dream of seeing your script on the big screen.
Research agents: Look for agents who represent writers in your genre or
niche. Study their websites and submission guidelines carefully. Keep a
spreadsheet of the agents you're interested in, their contact information,
and the date you submitted your query.
Write a query letter: A query letter is a one-page pitch for your script. It
should be concise, clear, and engaging. Make sure to include the title of
your script, its genre, and a brief summary of the story. Also, mention any
relevant writing credits or experience you have.
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