Every masterpiece of a movie has its roots in the pages of its screenplay. A good screenwriter works diligently on their script until it is synonymous with perfection. But to reach that stature, you will have to first work on your foundation.
If you wish to make a career out of selling your scripts, you will have to collect many skills to add to your repertoire. Writing scripts that A-list producers might be interested in is no piece of cake. There are plenty of struggling screenwriters hoping to be discovered. Amidst this cutthroat industry, only an unrivalled talent will make it to the top.
Here are a few easy steps to writing a stellar movie screenplay that you can employ.
1. Create Your Logline
What is a logline? Put simply, logline answers a basic question: What is your story about? Call it a really brief summary, often a single sentence long, of your story if you will. With your logline, you’re conveying the essence of your story. It should consist of your protagonist, their mission in the story, the antagonists and the conflicts they’re going to pose.
2. Create an Outline
It’s time to outline your story. Outlining is when you sequence the events that’ll take place in your story. There are two ways to go about this. If you are confirmed about the order of the events, you can jot them down on a page or two.
But if you’re still playing around with the order of the events, it’ll be easier to note them on index cards. And as you dive deeper into your writing process, you can move the index cards to decide on a final order of events for your story.
Remember not to exceed a few sentences when you describe an event while outlining.
3. Time to Write the Treatment
What is the treatment? The treatment is a longer summary of your story, usually 2-5 pages long. Consider it a fluffed-up version of your logline combined with the outline. It is a synopsis of the story that can be used to spark interest when you’re out to sell your script. Producers will often decide the worth of your script based on the treatment you’ve written.
Put simply, the treatment is a short story version of your long script. It should encompass the characters, major events, turning points, conflicts and the basic universe of your story. Pour all your artistic capabilities into writing a good treatment as this is the piece your script will be judged with.
4. Build your Characters
Your characters are the crux of your story. We often tend to remember great movies by their stellar characters. Characters can make or break your script. So make sure you spend enough time developing your characters, giving them realistic traits, tics, problems, and behaviours.
Give your characters a good development arc. Make them relatable and believable. Idealistic characters are a thing of the past. Give them flaws, and align those flaws well with your central theme. Design your characters such that when you proceed to write your screenplay, they’re breathed to life between the pages.
5. Write the First Draft of your Screenplay
It’s time for the main body of your script. Keep your outline handy where you’ve sequenced the events. Now start adding description, detailing and dialogue to them. Remember to write in the present tense. Another tip to keep in mind is: show, don’t tell. All top-notch screenwriters use this tip exceptionally well.
Also, the first few pages of your script should ooze perfection. If a producer likes your treatment and decides to give your screenplay a read, he will most likely weigh it in the first few pages. So make sure you have a strong opening, something that immediately hooks a reader.
Another thing to keep in mind is to use appropriate software while writing your screenplay. Pick software that can format your screenplay from the get-go. Final Draft is something that most screenwriters opt for.
6. Edit the Screenplay
After having written the first draft, you should take a break. This will help in cutting off any attachment or bias towards your story. After a few days, it’s time to go back to your screenplay and read it with new eyes. You will notice that a lot of things need to be modified that you missed the last time around.
Taking a break after finishing the first draft will help you get some perspective. Editing is all about polishing. You need to make your screenplay immaculate and this is the stage where you do it. You can also enlist a friend to go through your first draft and identify the corrections.
Mark out all the problem areas in your script and work on them till you’re satisfied with the results. Usual problem areas include poor/overwritten descriptions, out-of-character events, etc. Make sure a uniform narrative style is maintained throughout your screenplay.
After making all the necessary modifications, you have a finished piece in your hands. It’s time to market your screenplay and get some crisp bills in your pocket.
Are you a budding screenwriter in need of some training? You’ve landed in the right spot. Unlu’s Screenwriter course is undoubtedly the next step in your career. We will connect and train you under industry experts and mentors like Prashant Pandey, Mrinmayi Parulkar, Sonam Shekhawat, etc in a 3-month program. You will also have access to Unlu Community which is a platform for various genres of artists. This will enable peer-to-peer learning, collaborative projects and meaningful networking to further your career. So what are you waiting for?
