does anybody have any helpfull hints about how to transition from the exposition into the real script? I don't want to keep it flowing into one long thing....
If you are looking into writing a full length script, I have a couple of things I have learned in my script-writing class.
First it is very important to do pre stages before writing the script. Otherwise you find yourself at page 55 with nothing else to write. 55 pages= 55 minutes. Full length on average are 90 pages and up. Shorts should be 30 pages at most. Most festivals are particular about these lengths. So with that said write summaries, beat sheets, outlines, and treatments.
Second thing is there should be three acts. Act I is pretty much the exposistion and insinuating the conflict. Act 2 is the actual conflict and rising action leading to the climax. Act is the resolve.
A very important thing is that screenwriting is very different from writing a book. Descriptions are good, but you cannot not get carried away with description in the action lines, the parentheticals, or even shot selection. The cinematographers,directors, and actors do not want the screenplays to tell them how to their jobs. Unless it is really important do not describe every little thing. But you can reveal things you want to describe through dialogue, setting, and character relations.
oh yeah big thing about dialogue, make sure everyone doesn't sound the same when they talk. Some people talk more consisely others use long sentences. Verb choice is important. Point being you can give a character life through their dialgoue. With dialogue rememebr sometimes its not what is said that means more.
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ReplyDeleteIf you are looking into writing a full length script, I have a couple of things I have learned in my script-writing class.
ReplyDeleteFirst it is very important to do pre stages before writing the script. Otherwise you find yourself at page 55 with nothing else to write. 55 pages= 55 minutes. Full length on average are 90 pages and up. Shorts should be 30 pages at most. Most festivals are particular about these lengths. So with that said write summaries, beat sheets, outlines, and treatments.
Second thing is there should be three acts. Act I is pretty much the exposistion and insinuating the conflict. Act 2 is the actual conflict and rising action leading to the climax. Act is the resolve.
A very important thing is that screenwriting is very different from writing a book. Descriptions are good, but you cannot not get carried away with description in the action lines, the parentheticals, or even shot selection. The cinematographers,directors, and actors do not want the screenplays to tell them how to their jobs. Unless it is really important do not describe every little thing. But you can reveal things you want to describe through dialogue, setting, and character relations.
oh yeah big thing about dialogue, make sure everyone doesn't sound the same when they talk. Some people talk more consisely others use long sentences. Verb choice is important. Point being you can give a character life through their dialgoue. With dialogue rememebr sometimes
ReplyDeleteits not what is said that means more.
that's really helpful armando! :) now i can really start working on this project intensely. thanks!
ReplyDeletethanks guys :) the advice is really helpful!
ReplyDeletei never really made the connection that one page equals one minute- thats really cool!