Tips on Writing a Powerful Screenplay Welcome Las Vegas Screenwriters Group Introductions Instructor Deborah Shariff January 25, 2007

Class Objectives How to organize your thoughts and get it out on paper. Writing the synopsis & treatment. The development and creation of writing unforgettable characters and understanding back-story. learning the basic structure of writing an effective screenplay that includes a beginning, middle and ending.

How to get the story out of your head onto paper !   Hand out sample treatments by writing a Treatment

What’s a Treatment? Hand outs

Writing Exercise Each writer will pick a partner and pitch their story for 5 minutes then change partners and let the other partner pitch their story. When you finish pitching both stories write either a page or half a page of a short treatment and be prepared to verbally pitch your story to the class

What is a Screenplay? A story told with pictures! Also introduce concepts as to what a screenplay is not. Review novels and plays

What is a screenplay made up of ? Characters Dialogue Scenes Acts Plots, sub plots Climax Resolution

Moving your story forward Syd Field’s structural model Hand – Out!

Who we are/Why we want to write a screenplay? Original voice and how to discover it. First thoughts & the subconscious. Childhood memories & point of view on life. Obsessions (the good, the bad, the ugly). Knowing what to write about. Identifying your own particular history-cultural coupled with personal experience (back-story on yourself)

Writing your Screenplay What perspective can you bring to this subject matter that’s fresh? Make a list of distinctions. Study the genre-buddy films, gay women in love, road adventures, ensemble pieces/so you can determine how to extrapolate from it. Research the story-begin a clip file/an ideas journal/interview people.

Creating a literate script Rich characterization-people with history and context: character bios are vital! Vivid descriptive paragraphs-using visual detail and fresh language. Dialogue that zings and reveals character-make it sharp, witty and varied. Characters who are themselves literary, who speak in believable yes memorable ways, make your script rich and engaging-rather than talky.

Writing a Rich Script Layered plotting-the best scenes do several things at once; foreshadow/reveal character/give multiple pov’s/mark time passage/move the story forward. Innovative structuring-the bookend approach/fresh usage of time passage/emotional movement that parallels physical movement/flashbacks. Remind the students when you foreshadow make sure it is not cliché

Find a Structural Model on which to hang your story Exposition-a necessary evil. Know the difference between what you the writer needs to know and what the reader needs to know. Don’t explain/Don’t over tell. Use visual metaphors-adding texture to the work via symbols, repetition, humor, powerful scenes-get in late, get out early.

The Writing Process Character bios Outlines and note cards. Revision,revison,revision! Workshops, readings and feedback.

Writing Exercise Write a two or three page screenplay from your treatment outline. Remember to include; concise descriptions of your main characters, setting/location, your story premise, and clear crisp dialogue.

FEEDBACK Q & A Volunteers share screenplay with the class The class reviews and gives constructive feedback