How to Write A Short Film Script

Rian Spaulding

20 Nov 202007:36

Summary

TLDRIn this second installment of the 'How to Make a Short Film' series, the host congratulates viewers on embarking on scriptwriting and emphasizes that there's no one-size-fits-all approach. The video offers practical advice for beginners, advocating for reading scripts of favorite movies to grasp professional writing styles. It underscores the importance of planning with loglines, treatments, and outlines before writing. The host recommends using screenwriting software like Fade In and suggests setting daily writing goals. The video concludes with encouragement to keep writing despite challenges, inviting viewers to share their own scriptwriting tips.

Takeaways

🎬 Congratulate yourself for deciding to write your first short film script, it's a significant step.
📚 Read scripts of your favorite movies to understand how professional writers craft their work.
🚫 Recognize that established screenwriters may not always follow the rules, but as a new writer, it's better to adhere to them initially.
💡 Create a logline, a one to two sentence summary of your film, to entice and hook potential viewers or readers.
📝 Write a film treatment to serve as a story roadmap or a pitch, including the logline, key characters, and a film synopsis.
📋 Develop an outline to break down your story into individual scenes, providing a roadmap for your writing process.
🖥 Use screenwriting software like Fade In, Celtx, or Final Draft to help with the writing process.
✍️ Start writing without worrying about perfection; remember that the first draft will likely require multiple rewrites.
🎯 Set daily writing goals, such as page or scene count, to maintain momentum and a sense of accomplishment.
💪 Stay persistent and don't get discouraged; writing is challenging, but continued effort will yield results.

Q & A

What is the main focus of the video series?
-The main focus of the video series is to guide viewers on how to make a short film, with a particular emphasis on the scriptwriting process.
Why does the speaker suggest reading scripts of favorite movies?
-Reading scripts of favorite movies helps to understand how professional writers structure their work and provides insight into the genre-specific writing styles.
What is the significance of following screenwriting rules for new writers?
-For new writers, following screenwriting rules provides a structured framework to work within, which can make the writing process easier and more focused.
Why should a writer not immediately start writing their script after getting an idea?
-Writers should not immediately start writing because short films require more than just a great idea; they necessitate thorough planning to ensure a coherent and compelling narrative.
What is a logline and why is it important?
-A logline is a one to two-sentence summary of the film that aims to entice viewers or readers. It's important because it helps to quickly and intriguingly answer the question 'what's it about?' and serves as a guide for the story development.
What is a film treatment and what does it typically include?
-A film treatment is a document that outlines the highlights of the story, typically including the logline, introduction to key characters, and a film synopsis that summarizes the story structure.
How does the outline help in the scriptwriting process?
-The outline breaks down the story into individual scenes, providing a roadmap for the writer to follow, which can streamline the writing process and make it more efficient.
What screenwriting software does the speaker recommend and why?
-The speaker recommends Fade In for its ease of use, affordability, and one-time payment system as opposed to monthly subscriptions. Other options mentioned are Celtx, Final Draft, Trelby, and Writer Duet.
What are the two main tips given for writing the first draft of a script?
-The two main tips are to start writing without getting caught up in perfection, as the first draft will require rewrites, and to set daily goals, such as page or scene counts, to maintain progress and motivation.
How does the speaker encourage viewers to approach the scriptwriting process?
-The speaker encourages viewers to approach scriptwriting with persistence and a willingness to learn, acknowledging that writing can be tough but emphasizing that continued effort will yield results.

Outlines

00:00

🎬 Introduction to Short Film Scriptwriting

The speaker begins by congratulating the audience on their decision to write a short film script and emphasizes that it's a significant step. They clarify that they are not a professional writer and will focus on the scriptwriting process rather than creative elements. The speaker suggests that there's no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a script, but they will share tips that have been helpful to them. The first piece of advice is to read many scripts, especially from favorite movies or within the genre of the intended short film, to understand professional writing styles. The speaker also mentions that while established screenwriters may not always follow the rules, new writers should adhere to them to provide structure and guidance. The importance of planning before writing is highlighted, and the speaker plans to discuss log lines, treatments, and outlines as part of the planning process.

05:00

📝 Planning and Writing Your Short Film Script

The speaker discusses the importance of planning for a short film, which includes creating log lines, treatments, and outlines. A log line is a one to two-sentence summary of the film designed to entice viewers or readers, introducing the main character, their goal, and the obstacles they face. The speaker suggests that a log line is essential for quickly and intriguingly answering the question 'What's it about?' and serves as a guide for the rest of the story development. A film treatment is described as a document that highlights the story, including an introduction to key characters and a film synopsis, which summarizes the story structure. The speaker prefers to write these elements separately before merging them into a conversational document. They also mention using an outline to break down the film synopsis into individual scenes, which helps in planning the writing process. The speaker shares their preference for screenwriting software, Fade In, and other options like Celtx, Final Draft, Trelby, and Writer Duet. Tips for writing include starting the first draft without getting caught up in perfection and setting daily goals to maintain momentum. The speaker encourages persistence in writing and invites the audience to share their tips in the comments and to subscribe for more content.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Screenwriting

Screenwriting refers to the art and craft of writing scripts for films, television shows, or any visual media. In the context of the video, screenwriting is the central theme as the speaker discusses the process of writing a short film script. The video emphasizes the importance of reading scripts, understanding structure, and planning before writing the first draft.

💡Logline

A logline is a brief one or two-sentence summary of a film's plot. It is designed to capture the essence of the story and entice potential viewers or readers. In the video, the speaker highlights the significance of writing a logline before starting the script, as it serves as a concise pitch and a guide for the story's development.

💡Treatment

A treatment is a document that outlines the key elements of a story, including the logline, character introductions, and a synopsis. It serves as a detailed overview of the narrative and can be used as a roadmap for the writer or as a pitch document. The video mentions that treatments are important for planning and can help in structuring the screenplay.

💡Outline

An outline in screenwriting is a structured plan that breaks down the story into individual scenes or sequences. It helps the writer organize their thoughts and serves as a roadmap for the scriptwriting process. The video suggests using the film synopsis from the treatment to create an outline, which can streamline the writing process.

💡Fade In

Fade In is a screenwriting software mentioned in the video as the speaker's personal choice for writing scripts. It is noted for its user-friendly interface, affordability, and one-time payment model as opposed to subscription services. The software is recommended for its ease of use in the scriptwriting process.

💡Final Draft

Final Draft is a professional screenwriting software that is often considered the industry standard. Although it may be more expensive than other options, it is mentioned in the video as a reliable choice for screenwriters due to its comprehensive features and widespread use in the film industry.

💡Trelby

Trelby is a free screenwriting software option mentioned in the video for those who are looking for a cost-effective solution. It is highlighted as a viable alternative to paid software, suggesting that it offers essential features needed for scriptwriting without the financial commitment.

💡Writer's Block

Writer's block is a common term used to describe the inability to produce creative work due to mental blockage. The video indirectly addresses this issue by encouraging writers to start writing and not to get caught up in making the first draft perfect, acknowledging that writing is a challenging process that many face.

💡Storyboard

Although not explicitly mentioned in the transcript, storyboarding is an implied concept in screenwriting. It involves creating a visual representation of the script's scenes and is a crucial part of pre-production planning. The video's emphasis on planning and visual media suggests that storyboarding could be a relevant step in the process of making a short film.

💡Three-Act Structure

The three-act structure is a traditional narrative framework used in storytelling, which divides a story into a setup, confrontation, and resolution. The video references this structure as a potential way to organize the film synopsis, indicating its prevalence in scriptwriting and story planning.

💡Dan Harmon's Story Circle

Dan Harmon's Story Circle is an alternative to the traditional three-act structure, proposed by the creator of 'Community' and 'Rick and Morty'. It is a narrative model that includes eight steps to create a complete story arc. The video mentions it as a possible structure for the film synopsis, showcasing options for organizing the story beyond the classic three-act approach.

Highlights

Congratulations on deciding to write your first short film script.

The video focuses on the process of writing a script rather than specific creative elements.

There's no single best way to write or plan out your script.

Read scripts of your favorite movies to understand how professional writers write.

Find scripts specific to the genre of your short film for better insights.

Established screenwriters may not always follow screenwriting rules.

As a new writer, it's better to follow the rules until you've established yourself.

Rules can provide structure for new writers to work within.

Planning is crucial for short films beyond just having a great idea.

Loglines are one to two sentence summaries of your film's story.

Loglines should introduce the main character, their goal, and the obstacles they face.

Film treatments provide a document that shows the highlights of your story.

A film synopsis in the treatment gives a summary of your story structure.

Outlines are the high-level process of breaking your story down into individual scenes.

Using screenwriting software like Fade In, Celtx, or Final Draft can aid in the writing process.

Free screenwriting software options include Trelby and Writer Duet.

When writing, start and keep going without getting too caught up in perfection.

Set daily writing goals to maintain momentum and a sense of accomplishment.

Writing can be tough, but persistence and continuous practice will yield results.