Writing Short Films: Structure and Content for Screenwriters

by Cowgill, Linda J

• ISBN13: 9781580650632
• ISBN10: 1580650635
• eBook ISBN(s): 9780307875143
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2005-09-01
• Publisher: Lone Eagle
• More Book Details

Summary

Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Francis Ford Coppola, and George Lucas all began their careers making a short film. By contrasting and comparing the differences and similarities between feature films and short films, 'Writing Short Films, 2nd Edition', offers readers the essential requirements necessary to make their writing crisp, sharp and compelling. Emphasising characters, structure, dialogue and story, Linda Cowgill dispels the 'magic formula' concept that screenplays can be constructed by anyone with a word processor and a script formatting program. This new edition has been completely updated and revised along with the addition of several new chapters and new film examples. Currently, this title remains the best selling university text book on writing short film screenplays.

Author Biography

Linda J. Cowgill, author of Writing Short Films and Secrets of Screenplay Structure, currently heads the screenwriting department at the Los Angeles Film School. She has written for film and television, and taught at the American Film Institute, Loyola Marymount University, and the Boston Film Institute. She has presented The Art of Plotting seminar in Los Angeles, New York, and Miami.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	ix
Introduction	xi
PART ONE THE FUNDAMENTALS
1 Before We Start - The Principles of Drama	3	(10)
The Principles of Drama	4	(2)
Practical Application	6	(1)
Reaching the Audience — Emotion!	7	(1)
Action vs. Dialogue (Words, Words, Words!)	8	(1)
The Ending	8	(1)
The Disclaimer: Comedy	9	(1)
The Difference Between Shorts & Features	10	(1)
Exercises	11	(2)
2 Starting Out - What's It About?	13	(21)
The Characteristics of a Good Short Film	14	(10)
Where to Begin?	24	(3)
Research, Belief & the World of the Story	27	(1)
Turning an Idea Into a Good Film Story	28	(4)
Entertainment & Inspiration	32	(1)
Exercises	33	(1)
3 Character & Emotion – Who Does What and Why	34	(30)
Emotion	35	(3)
The Foundation of Dramatic Characters	38	(6)
Creating the Character	44	(4)
Attitudes & Emotions	48	(2)
Representing the Character	50	(6)
Transformation	56	(2)
The Important Characters	58	(3)
Exercises	61	(3)
4 The Three-Part Nature of Film Structure	64	(19)
Structure in General	65	(1)
In the Beginning — The Set-Up	66	(5)
The Order of the Set-Up	71	(1)
The Rising Action — Developing the Conflict	71	(9)
The Climax & Resolution	80	(1)
Exercises	81	(2)
5 Plotting – The Twists & Turns	83	(20)
What Is Plot?	84	(3)
The Role of Conflict	87	(6)
The Principles of Action	93	(6)
Exercises	99	(4)
PART TWO INTERMEDIATE STEPS
6 Fade In: Openings & The Main Exposition	103	(18)
The Problem	104	(1)
The Main Exposition	105	(7)
The Main Exposition's Relationship to the Climax & Theme	112	(1)
The Problem & the Sub Problem	113	(2)
Opening the Movie	115	(5)
Exercises	120	(1)
7 The Middle – Keeping the Story Alive	121	(12)
The Confrontation — Rising Action	122	(1)
Suspense	122	(2)
Techniques for Suspense	124	(1)
Surprise	125	(3)
The Pseudo-Solution	128	(3)
Exercises	131	(2)
8 Fade Out: Revelation, Climax & Resolution	133	(16)
Story Revelation — Character Revelation	134	(6)
The Climax	140	(4)
The Resolution	144	(1)
Exercises	145	(4)
PART THREE THE STRUCTURE OF SCENES
9 Constructing the Scene	149	(16)
Units of Action	150	(1)
The Principles of Construction	151	(6)
Techniques for Construction	157	(6)
Exercises	163	(2)
10 Dialogue: The Search for the Perfect Line	165	(13)
The Function of Dialogue	165	(3)
The Characteristics of Good Dialogue	168	(4)
Techniques & Tips	172	(4)
Exercises	176	(2)
11 The Subtext of Meaning	178	(13)
The Role of Subtext	179	(2)
The Emotion Beneath the Lines	181	(3)
Revealing the Subtext	184	(4)
Exercises	188	(3)
PART FOUR KEEPING FOCUSED
12 Keeping Focused: What Does My Protagonist Really Want?	191	(8)
Keeping on Track	192	(2)
Conclusion	194	(5)
APPENDICES
A Fade In to Fade Out: Proper Screenplay Format	199	(11)
Fade In: Scene Headings	200	(4)
The Action	204	(1)
Character Names' Margin	205	(1)
Parenthetical Directions & Dialogue	205	(2)
Transitions	207	(1)
Screenwriting Software	208	(2)
B Referenced Films Available on Video	210	(5)
C General Film Index	215	(3)
D The Writer's Reference Shelf	218	(3)
E Ray's Male Heterosexual Dance Hall	221	(28)
Bibliography	249	(2)
Index	251