1. Screenplay

2. Text The Foundations of Screenwriting by Syd Field
On Story--Screenwriters and their craft

3. Why screenplay Caught in No Man’s Land Way too short for a novel
Way too long for a short story
Perfect medium for me to tell a story

4. Quick Info
Every page of screenplay equals 1 min. of screen time. So a 90 page screenplay translates to 1 hr. 30 mins of time.
When you hear “Industry Standard” it refers to the font type and size. Courier 12 pt. font is the standard
Formatting is key. Celtx is a free website with tools to help with that.

5. Telling the story My opinion here There are 2 types of screenplays
Plot / Setting Driven
Character Driven

6. Plot and Setting Driven
These stories offer sometimes but not always less than memorable characters but offer something else in their place.
Inception and Avatar are great examples of this.
Characters reacting to the setting or the plot.

7. Character Driven
These stories offer strong characters that drive the story forward.
To Kill a Mockingbird is not that story without Atticus Finch.
You need Batman for his movies to work.

8. Perfect Storms These are rare!
The perfect mix of storytelling with awesome and memorable characters.
Almost Famous is a major favorite of mine because of this.

9. Nuts and Bolts What is needed? Characters / Concept
Find something to wrap the story around
Dialogue
Limited descriptional text, tell the story through what the characters are saying
Scenes
Scenes help move the story forward

10. The How Scene Heading Where we are--Int or Ext Action
What is happening
Character
Who is talking
Dialogue
What do they say
Parenthetical
Extra explanation (can help convey emotion / tone)

11. Celtx rundown

12. Character Dynamic characters in screenplay
Change over the course of the three acts
May have an impact on other characters
Come to a realization
As a writer you have to 1-visually show their change and growth and 2- have dialogue and scenes that provide opportunity for the change to occur

13. Character Static characters in screenplay
Do not change over the three acts
Are not necessarily boring characters
Can have a major influence over other characters and impact the story
Writers must establish these characters early and abide by their own rules for that character.

14. Dialogue Tips for writing Dialogue
Listen to how people talk and try to mimic it
Try to have authentic dialogue (can be tough to do)
Dialogue can be an extension of character (can have a unique style)
Dialogue can also drive story forward

15. Assignment Write a screenplay between 60-75 pages in length.
Grading will be over:
Page requirement
Three act structure
Character development
Dialogue

16. 3 Act Structure--according to Syd Field
Beginning
Act I
Approx. pages--1-30
The Set-Up
“Set-Up the story, establish character, launch the premise” (p.23) Also used to “illustrate the situation” and “create relationships between characters” (p.23)

17. 3 Act Structure Middle Act II Approx. pages--30-90 Confrontation
“During the second act the main character encounters obstacle after obstacle” that interfere with getting what they want/ need/ desire. (p.25)

18. 3 Act Structure End Act III Approx. pages--90-120 Resolution
“Resolution does not mean ending; resolution means solution” (p.26).

19. Plot Points
“Plot Point--any incident, episode, or event that hooks into the action and spins it around in another direction.” (p.26).
Should have plot points created at ends of Act I and Act II. They are the major story progress (where you can change gears and move the story forward)