✍️Craft of Film Writing Unit 1 – Screenplay Basics: Structure & Elements

What's This Unit About?

• Focuses on the fundamental building blocks of a screenplay and how they come together to create a compelling story
• Covers the essential elements that make up a screenplay's structure including the three-act structure, inciting incident, and climax
• Explores techniques for developing memorable characters that drive the story forward
• Discusses the importance of dialogue in revealing character and advancing the plot
• Provides an overview of proper screenplay formatting conventions and best practices
• Highlights common pitfalls that novice screenwriters often encounter and how to avoid them
• Offers practical tips and strategies for crafting a well-structured, engaging screenplay that captures the reader's attention from start to finish

Key Concepts to Remember

• Three-act structure divides the story into setup, confrontation, and resolution acts
• Inciting incident is the event that sets the story in motion and propels the protagonist into action
  • Often occurs at the end of the first act (around page 25-30 in a feature-length script)
• Climax is the story's turning point where the conflict reaches its peak and the protagonist faces their ultimate challenge
• Character arc refers to the internal journey of change and growth that a character undergoes over the course of the story
• Show, don't tell is the principle of revealing character and story through action and dialogue rather than exposition
• Subtext is the underlying meaning or emotion beneath the surface of what characters say and do
• Screenplay formatting includes specific margins, font, and page layout conventions
  • 12-point Courier font, 1.5 inch left margin, 1 inch right margin, 1 inch top and bottom margins

Story Structure Breakdown

• Act One (pages 1-30) sets up the characters, world, and central conflict
  • Introduces the protagonist and their "normal" world before the inciting incident occurs
  • Plants seeds for the central dramatic question that will drive the story
• Act Two (pages 30-90) raises the stakes and presents obstacles for the protagonist to overcome
  • Protagonist actively pursues their goal while facing mounting challenges and setbacks
  • Midpoint marks a major shift or reversal that propels the story in a new direction
• Act Three (pages 90-120) builds to the climax and resolves the central conflict
  • Protagonist reaches their lowest point and must rally to face the final challenge
  • Climax is the ultimate showdown or test that determines the story's outcome
  • Denouement ties up loose ends and shows the "new normal" world after the events of the story

Essential Screenplay Elements

• Premise is the core idea or "what if" question that drives the story
• Theme is the central message or insight about the human condition that the story explores
• Plot is the sequence of events that make up the story, often driven by cause and effect
• Characters are the individuals who inhabit the story world and drive the action forward
  • Protagonist is the main character whose journey we follow throughout the story
  • Antagonist is the primary obstacle or force of opposition that the protagonist must overcome
• Conflict is the struggle between opposing forces that creates tension and drama
  • External conflict pits the protagonist against outside forces (other characters, nature, society)
  • Internal conflict occurs within the protagonist's own mind (moral dilemmas, personal flaws, inner demons)

Formatting Rules and Tips

• Scene headings indicate the location and time of day for each new scene
  • Format: INT./EXT. LOCATION - DAY/NIGHT
• Action lines describe the visual action that takes place in a scene
  • Write in present tense, active voice (e.g. "John runs down the street" not "John was running")
• Dialogue is indented and centered on the page with the character's name in all caps above it
  • Parentheticals indicate how a line should be delivered (quietly, angrily) next to character name
• Transitions (CUT TO:, FADE IN:, DISSOLVE TO:) are used sparingly to indicate shifts between scenes
• Limit scene description to 3 lines or less to keep the read moving at a brisk pace
• Avoid using camera directions or editing notes unless absolutely necessary for the story
• Read your script out loud to catch awkward phrasing or unnatural dialogue

Character Development Techniques

• Give characters a clear goal or desire that motivates their actions throughout the story
• Create conflict by placing obstacles and challenges in the character's path
• Develop character backstories to inform their personality, behavior, and decision-making
  • Use flashbacks or dialogue to reveal key moments from a character's past
• Establish character relationships and dynamics through their interactions with others
• Use action and dialogue to reveal character rather than relying on description
  • How a character responds under pressure says more than their physical appearance
• Give characters a flaw or weakness that they must overcome in order to grow and change
• Allow characters to make difficult choices that test their values and force them to change

Dialogue Do's and Don'ts

• Do use dialogue to reveal character, advance the plot, and create conflict
• Do keep dialogue concise and purposeful - every line should serve the story
• Do let characters interrupt, talk over, and respond to each other naturally
  • Avoid long, unbroken speeches or monologues
• Do create a distinct voice for each character through word choice, rhythm, and subtext
• Don't overuse character names in dialogue - it feels unnatural and expository
• Don't rely on dialogue to convey action or description that's better shown visually
  • "I'm opening the door" vs. showing the character physically opening the door
• Don't have characters say exactly what they mean - use subtext to create tension
  • A couple arguing about dishes may really be expressing deeper relationship issues

Common Rookie Mistakes

• Overwriting scene description and action lines with unnecessary details
  • Trust the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps
• Underwriting character and story development in the first act
  • Take time to establish the world, characters, and stakes before diving into the main conflict
• Relying on coincidences or conveniences to resolve plot points
  • Ensure that character actions and story events are properly set up and motivated
• Failing to create stakes or consequences for the protagonist's actions
  • Give characters something to lose and make their choices matter
• Writing on-the-nose dialogue that states exactly what characters are thinking and feeling
  • Allow room for subtext and implication in how characters communicate
• Neglecting to develop a clear theme or message that resonates throughout the story
  • Consider what question or insight you want to explore through the character's journey
• Rushing the ending or leaving important story threads unresolved
  • Take time to craft a satisfying conclusion that delivers on the story's promise