Crafting Short Screenplays That Connect

by Johnson; Claudia H

• ISBN13: 9780240812144
• ISBN10: 024081214X
• Edition: 3rd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2009-08-31
• Publisher: Focal Press

Summary

Includes the screenplays of a webisode and eight short award-winning student films and a website where you can view the films analyzed in the book: http://www.craftingshortscreenplays.com

Author Biography

Written by Claudia Hunter Johnson, a member of the founding faculty of the Florida State University School of Motion Picture, Television and Recording Arts, and Distinguished Writer in Residence. She is the author of the memoir, Stifled Laughter: One Woman's Story About Fighting Censorship-nominated for the Pulitzer Prize-and winner of the inaugural P.E.N./Newman's Own First Amendment Award. She is also the author (with Matt Stevens) of Script Partners: What Makes Film and TV Writing Teams Work and the novella A Christmas Belle, a sequel to Dickens' time-honored classic, A Christmas Carol. Two of their screenplays were finalists for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab.

Table of Contents

Companion Website	p. x
Preface to the Third Edition	p. xi
Acknowledgments	p. xv
Introduction: The Power and Importance of Human Connection	p. xvii
Preparing to Write the Short Screenplay	p. 1
Connecting to Purpose	p. 3
Only Connect	p. 3
The Screenplay Paradox	p. 6
Connecting to Self	p. 9
Le Menu	p. 9
Depart the Donnee	p. 14
Connecting to Process	p. 19
The Space-Time Conundrum	p. 19
Madness in Your Method	p. 21
Creating Rituals	p. 23
Taking Care of Yourself	p. 24
Just Do It	p. 24
Connecting to Collaboration	p. 27
Top Ten Reasons to Write with a Partner	p. 28
Finding the Right Writing Partner	p. 30
The Space-Time Conundrum, The Sequel	p. 32
Codrafting the Script	p. 32
Dealing with Disagreements	p. 34
Connecting to Screenplays	p. 39
Surface and Deep Action	p. 41
Making Change	p. 42
The Mood Exercise	p. 43
The Pearl in the Oyster	p. 45
Emotional Flow	p. 46
Everything You Need to Know You Can Learn from City Lights	p. 47
Demystifying Format	p. 51
Connecting to Character	p. 59
An Artistic and Ethical Issue	p. 59
People Watching	p. 61
People Listening	p. 62
Research	p. 63
The Character Bio	p. 64
The Character Checklist	p. 64
The Character I.D.	p. 65
The Heart of the Matter	p. 67
The "I Want" Speech	p. 68
Five (Not So) Easy Screenplays	p. 73
The Discovery	p. 75
The First Screenplay-The Discovery	p. 77
Choosing an Idea	p. 80
Developing Character, Story, and Structure	p. 81
Drafting the Screenplay	p. 83
Rewriting the Screenplay	p. 84
The Decision	p. 89
The Second Screenplay-The Decision	p. 89
Choosing an Idea	p. 90
Developing Character, Story, and Structure	p. 91
Drafting the Screenplay	p. 95
Rewriting the Screenplay	p. 96
The Boxing Match	p. 99
The Third Screenplay-The Boxing Match	p. 101
Choosing an Idea	p. 102
Developing Character, Story, and Structure	p. 104
Drafting the Screenplay	p. 107
Rewriting the Screenplay	p. 110
The Improbable Connection	p. 111
The Fourth Screenplay-The Improbable Connection	p. 115
Choosing an Idea	p. 116
Developing Character	p. 117
Developing Story and Structure	p. 119
Drafting the Screenplay	p. 120
Rewriting the Screenplay	p. 121
The Long Short Screenplay	p. 123
The Fifth Screenplay-The Long Short Screenplay	p. 123
Choosing an Idea	p. 124
Developing Character, Story, and Structure	p. 127
Drafting the Screenplay	p. 132
Rewriting the Screenplay	p. 135
Nine Screenplays That Make It Look Easy	p. 139
Chillin' Out	p. 141
Tough Crowd	p. 147
Kosher	p. 159
My Josephine	p. 167
A Work in Progress	p. 179
Lena's Spaghetti	p. 189
Cool Breeze and Buzz	p. 219
The Making of "Killer Kite"	p. 241
Slow Dancin' Down the Aisles of the Quickcheck	p. 271
Conclusion	p. 305
Available Screenwriting Software	p. 307
Films Referenced	p. 309
Further Reading	p. 311
Index	p. 315
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