PITCH A STORY Scriptwriting Prof Oakes

Steps in the Writing Process Brainstorming for an idea Choosing an idea Pitch/Plot Synopsis Detailed synopsis Treatment Step Outline (Index Cards) or Plot Chart Rough Draft

Where to get ideas? Personal Experience Something seen or heard News or history Existing works Pure Imagination

PREMISE is the basic idea of the story. It is the foundation of the plot. PLOT is what happens onscreen. It is the series of events that unfold over the course of the film. PLOT and PREMISE

Story Consists of all explicitly presented narrative events Consists of all implicit events or those we infer to have happened Backstory – a fictional history behind the situation extant at the start of the main story

Story Starts with Character Personal life Private life Professional life The character must have a goal

Story and Conflict The story is about somebody with whom we have empathy This somebody wants something very badly This something is difficult, but possible to do, get, or achieve The story must come to a satisfactory ending (which doesn’t necessarily mean a happy ending)

Genre Conventions Theme Setting Presentation Character types Story formulas Stars

This is the story of Luke Skywalker, a small-town, who along with his companions; Han Solo and Princess Leia, conquers Darth Vader and the achieves his goal of saving the galaxy from the Empire. This is the story of Jake Lamotta, a boxer, who along with his brother Joey, overcomes/conquers his opponents, and the mob, to achieve his goal of becoming middle-weight champion.

IN-CLASS EXERCISE: PITCH Complete this sentence with a film, that most people in this class will recognize. This is the story of _____________, a_________________, who along with his companions; _______________ and ________________,overcomes/conquers_______ _________ and achieves his goal of ____________.