With the growth of film festivals, cable networks, specialty home video, and the Internet, there are more outlets and opportunities for screening short films now than at any time in the last 100 years. But before you can screen your short film, you need to shoot it. And before you can shoot it, you need to write it. The Short Screenplay provides both beginning and experienced screenwriters with all the guidance they need to write compelling, filmable short screenplays. Explore how to develop characters that an audience can identify with. How to create a narrative structure that fits a short time frame but still engages the audience. How to write dialogue that's concise and memorable. How to develop story ideas from concept through final draft. All this and much more is covered in a unique conversational style that reads more like a novel than a "how-to" book. The book wraps up with a discussion of the role of the screenplay in the production process and with some helpful (and entertaining) sample scripts. This is the only guide you'll ever need to make your short film a reality!

Dan Gurskis he currently chairs the Department of Film at Brooklyn College of the City University of New York

Introduction

xi

Chapter 1 Shorts

1

(20)

Key Concepts

3

(2)

The Fundamentals

5

(2)

Keep your screenplay focused

5

(1)

Limit the time frame of the action

6

(1)

Limit the number of characters

6

(1)

Visualize

6

(1)

Say more with less

7

(1)

Make it new

7

(1)

What to Avoid

7

(3)

The extensive use of special or visual effects

7

(1)

Multiple subplots

8

(1)

Resolution through death (either murder or suicide)

8

(1)

Weapons

8

(1)

Serial killing

8

(1)

Parodies and mockumentaries

8

(1)

Dreams and fantasies

9

(1)

Characters who are obviously walking contradictions

9

(1)

Film and Theater

10

(1)

The Writer's Goals

11

(3)

The Script

14

(1)

Film and Television

15

(3)

Chapter One, Take Two—Chapter Review

18

(3)

Chapter 2 Character

21

(22)

Key Concepts

23

(1)

Character and Characterization

24

(2)

Why Are Character Choices Active and External?

26

(2)

Putting Your Characters in Charge of the Action

28

(2)

Objective and Need

30

(2)

Adding Depth to Your Characters

32

(2)

Outlook is the way a character views the world

32

(1)

Attitude is the way the world views a character

32

(1)

Arc is the growth or the change that a character undergoes during the course of the film's action

33

(1)

Types of Characters

34

(4)

Secondary Characters

38

(2)

Chapter Two, Take Two—Chapter Review

40

(3)

Chapter 3 Narrative

43

(26)

Key Concepts

45

(2)

Character vs Character

45

(1)

Character vs Self

46

(1)

Character vs Society

46

(1)

Character vs Nature

46

(1)

Character vs Fate

46

(1)

The Three-Part Nature of the Screenplay

47

(3)

Setting

47

(1)

Backdrop

47

(1)

Tone

47

(1)

Protagonist

47

(1)

A hint of the conflict to come

48

(1)

The direction of the plot

48

(1)

The inciting incident

48

(2)

Rising Action

50

(4)

Some Additional Devices

54

(1)

Condition lock

54

(1)

Plant and payoff

54

(1)

Red herring

55

(1)

Climax

55

(2)

Resolution

57

(1)

Scenes

58

(6)

Scene-protagonist vs Scene-antagonist

61

(3)

Creating the Scene

64

(2)

What is the dramatic point of the scene?

64

(1)

What is the major beat in the scene?

64

(1)

Which characters do I need to make the scene work?

65

(1)

Who is the scene-protagonist?

65

(1)

What does the scene-protagonist want in the scene?

65

(1)

What is the form of the conflict in the scene?

65

(1)

What is the subtext for the scene?

65

(1)

Where will the scene play?

65

(1)

At what time of day will the scene play?

65

(1)

Chapter Three, Take Two—Chapter Review

66

(3)

Chapter 4 Dialogue

69

(18)

Key Concepts

71

(1)

The Goals of Film Dialogue

72

(1)

Move the plot forward

72

(1)

Reveal character

72

(1)

Provide story information

72

(1)

Establish tone

72

(1)

Convey theme

72

(1)

Add to the backdrop of the story

73

(1)

The Characteristics of Film Dialogue

73

(2)

Writing Effective Dialogue

75

(3)

Write dialogue that's dynamic and progressive

75

(1)

Be concise

75

(1)

Keep lines simple

75

(1)

Keep speeches short

76

(1)

Take care in the way that you represent a dialect or an accent on the page

76

(1)

Don't turn every beat through the dialogue

76

(1)

Don't write "on the nose"

77

(1)

Avoid filler phrases

77

(1)

Avoid stammering or stuttering except when the dramatic situation absolutely demands it

77

(1)

Don't be inflexible (unless you enjoy extreme frustration)

77

(1)

Making Every Word Count

78

(4)

Keeping Dialogue Concise: A Case in Point

82

(3)

Chapter Four, Take Two—Chapter Review

85

(2)

Chapter 5 Development

87

(24)

Key Concepts

89

(1)

Where Do Film Ideas Come From,

90

(3)

Character

90

(1)

Plot

90

(1)

Setting

91

(1)

Theme

92

(1)

Development

93

(1)

The Stages of Development

94

(16)

Premise

94

(1)

Concept

95

(1)

Title

96

(1)

Character interview

97

(2)

Synopsis

99

(2)

Step outline

101

(2)

Scene outline

103

(1)

Sequence outline

104

(1)

Treatment

105

(1)

First draft

106

(1)

Revisions

107

(1)

Common problems in the setup

108

(1)

Common problems in the rising action

108

(1)

Common problems in the resolution

109

(1)

Principles of rewriting

109

(1)

Chapter Five, Take Two—Chapter Review

110

(1)

Chapter 6 Production

111

(24)

Key Concepts

113

(2)

Pitfalls and Money Pits

115

(13)

Too Many Roles

115

(2)

Critters

117

(1)

Kids

118

(1)

Stunts

119

(1)

Nudity

119

(1)

"Scenery Chewing"

120

(1)

Locations (too many)

121

(1)

Locations (too public)

122

(1)

Vehicles

123

(1)

Weapons

124

(1)

Weather

124

(1)

Clearances

125

(3)

Working with Others

128

(5)

Locking the Pages of a Script

130

(2)

A Brief Word about Rehearsal

132

(1)

Chapter Six, Take Two—Chapter Review

133

(2)

Chapter 7 Format

135

(28)

Key Concepts

137

(1)

Scene Headings

138

(6)

Scene Directions

139

(3)

Character Cues

142

(1)

Dialogue

142

(1)

Parenthetical Directions

142

(1)

Transitions

143

(1)

The Standard Industry Format (Traditional)

144

(3)

The Standard Industry Format (Updated)

147

(2)

The Title Page

149

(2)

Special Situations

151

(6)

Some Simple but Essential Rules of Punctuation

157

(2)

Chapter Seven, Take Two—Chapter Review

159

(4)

Appendix A Genres

163

(6)

Appendix B Glossary

169

(16)

Appendix C Sample Screenplay: Early Draft

185

(12)

Appendix D Sample Screenplay: Shooting Script

197

(14)

Appendix E A Filmmaker's Dozen: Thirteen Short Films Every Filmmaker Should See

211

(8)

Index

219

What is included with this book?

The New copy of this book will include any supplemental materials advertised. Please check the title of the book to determine if it should include any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

The Used, Rental and eBook copies of this book are not guaranteed to include any supplemental materials. Typically, only the book itself is included. This is true even if the title states it includes any access cards, study guides, lab manuals, CDs, etc.

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

Amazon no longer offers textbook rentals. We do!

We're the #1 textbook rental company. Let us show you why.

The Short Screenplay Your Short Film from Concept to Production

9781598633382

1598633384

Supplemental Materials

Summary

Author Biography

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials

Rewards Program