3. CREATING YOUR SCREENPLAY
Okay, so screenplay writing is definitely for you. What's next? Let's assume you are writing a screenplay of your own creation. This means you will be creating your own storyline.
Get your main idea down on paper. The best place to start is with an idea. Write down your idea and then determine what things will happen before and after. It is best to just sit down and brainstorm over any possibilities. Don't forget to write down every idea you have. You won't use all of them, but you may find the perfect way to weave together the story with all of your ideas in front of you.
It's all about the conflict. Most stories contain one essential element: CONFLICT. Most appealing screenplays (and then the movies and shows they create) universally contain some sort of conflict. Whether it be a romantic struggle, a war, family problems or car trouble; conflict is something that is identifiable and entertaining. It also allows for the development of adequately involved characters and plot.
Speaking of plot... Many producers increasingly desire screenplays that fall into a specific genre, such as comedy, action, war, thriller, etc. You will benefit when it comes time to try and sell your screenplay by plotting your story so that it falls into a genre (or accepted bi-genre category such as romantic comedy or action/adventure).
Have what the studio and the public want. Your story should contain a high concept as Hollywood calls it. A high concept is a concept that will catch the public's attention. A good high concept will set your screenplay apart from the others.
Work on the finer points. Once you've decided what your story should be about and what genre you are writing in, you need to start on the finer details. Concepts such as character and location need to be decided before you begin writing so your story has a good basis. These items also need to be considered when writing dialogue.
Begin writing your rough draft. Once you've decided who is in your story and where it is set, you're ready for the real thing. Writing a screenplay is different from any other style of writing because it includes stage directions, shot directions, lighting suggestions, and character action along with dialogue and story line. Be sure you know the proper way to write a screenplay and use the concepts of parenthetical reference and screenplay abbreviations. Also be aware of how to address such concepts as montage, page breaking, adlibs, etc. It is a good idea to make your stage directions vague so the director and producers will not think you are stepping on their toes.
In this day and age Hollywood scripts run about 114 pages on average, most ranging from 95-125 pages. Comedies tend to be on the shorter side and dramas longer. Every scene you write should move you towards the conclusion. No dilly-dallying!
