Screenplay Basics: How to Write Unforgettable Stories
Screenwriting is the process of creating a story intended for video, or adapting an existing story for the big screen. The process of creating the story is quite challenging, especially if you are working under the assumption that it will be made into a film. This is because you need to consciously forget that you are working on the story for a film - this can sometimes limit the elements that a writer will include because they are thinking of how to shoot it or what sets and art pieces are needed. It is important to forget this, and allow the story to flow as you intend - the finer points of production will be thought about later by the cinematography and design teams, and they will have the expertise and will take their time to doing that without compromise. Let's go through a few of them.
The characters have to be well conceived and so a script reader may help guide them. With characters, whether they are abstract or superheroes or plain people, it is important that the viewers can relate to them. The best characters speak to the audience and exemplify the same hopes, attitudes, outlook and struggles that people live themselves, or hear about on the news. The characters who make up unforgettable stories are complex and deep, defined by their own internal codes regardless of what happens around them.
2. Issues are Raised for Debate The reason that drives the plot has to be strong enough for the audience to be polarized in some manner between alternatives. Examples of these include technology, sexism, racism, just to name very few. It doesn't even have to be the main point of the film - it can simply arise as a natural consequence of the characters' actions and decisions.
You also need to pay attention to the details. A great film done with the help of a screenwriting book throws the audience for a spin - the less predictable the outcome, the better. The less clear the ending is throughout the story, the greater its impact once it falls into place. This move away from happy endings where everything turns out great has been pushed by the behavior and reaction of moviegoers lately - these types of endings are now considered boring and unoriginal. After all, this goes back to the earlier point of being relatable - our real-life stories never really have an ending, only what comes next.
Screenwriting can be incredibly enjoyable, and the product of it can change history and human behaviors. All we're saying here is that you should think about what you are writing and how you are writing it in terms of the bigger and long-term implications. These will help you improve the script without having to change your message, if you really wish to tell your story, but are not interested in the technical aspects of making the screenplay. This way, you have more time creating your stories and having fun. There can also be some writing tips found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting.
The characters have to be well conceived and so a script reader may help guide them. With characters, whether they are abstract or superheroes or plain people, it is important that the viewers can relate to them. The best characters speak to the audience and exemplify the same hopes, attitudes, outlook and struggles that people live themselves, or hear about on the news. The characters who make up unforgettable stories are complex and deep, defined by their own internal codes regardless of what happens around them.
2. Issues are Raised for Debate The reason that drives the plot has to be strong enough for the audience to be polarized in some manner between alternatives. Examples of these include technology, sexism, racism, just to name very few. It doesn't even have to be the main point of the film - it can simply arise as a natural consequence of the characters' actions and decisions.
You also need to pay attention to the details. A great film done with the help of a screenwriting book throws the audience for a spin - the less predictable the outcome, the better. The less clear the ending is throughout the story, the greater its impact once it falls into place. This move away from happy endings where everything turns out great has been pushed by the behavior and reaction of moviegoers lately - these types of endings are now considered boring and unoriginal. After all, this goes back to the earlier point of being relatable - our real-life stories never really have an ending, only what comes next.
Screenwriting can be incredibly enjoyable, and the product of it can change history and human behaviors. All we're saying here is that you should think about what you are writing and how you are writing it in terms of the bigger and long-term implications. These will help you improve the script without having to change your message, if you really wish to tell your story, but are not interested in the technical aspects of making the screenplay. This way, you have more time creating your stories and having fun. There can also be some writing tips found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screenwriting.