Table of contents

• What is scriptwriting?
• Coming up with an idea
• Precis of the story
• First Draft
• Script layout
• 2nd Draft

What is scriptwriting?
Scriptwriting is basically like writing down a story. It is the first thing you do in the movie-making business.

Coming up with an idea
I can’t really give you a list of script ideas. You have to come up with ideas on your own. But I can tell you how to think about and create your own ideas. Look for inspiration! Did something happen at school/work today, would it make a good idea for a film? Did you see something on the news that would make a good story, or something you’ve read in a book. Look around and be inspired!

Precis of the story
Once you have an idea in your mind, you do something called “The precis of the story.” This is just a one page long story. You get all your ideas together and basically write out the whole story. Don’t include dialogue. This is just so you know what is going to happen in your film.

First Draft
Once you’ve done the “precis of the story” you can have a go at writing your first script. Include dialogue, obviously, and descriptions of your sets, sounds in the film, shots you want etc. http://tarn.fxhome.com/tutorials/scriptexample.pdf is a pdf perfect example of what a script should like.

Script layout
Although layout doesn’t seem important, it is. It helps other people who are reading your script see clearly; the dialogue, the scene descriptions, directions etc. Try and make your script look vaguely like the one in the link above. Put important words like the names of sounds in the background, peoples names and actions they are doing in capitals. (e.g. SCIENTIST ONE walks over to THE CONSOLE. He SLAMS a button down and a BEEP sound is heard.) When someone talks tab in 5 times and write the persons name then press enter and tab in 4 times and write what they are saying, keeping the text neat and tidy. If you want to put in things like camera angles do something like this: (e.g. INSERT: A low shot of SCIENTIST ONE walking.) Remember to include a “front cover” including ways other people who are reading the script can contact you. Also include transitions you would like (e.g. FADE IN) before each scene description and in capitals to the left of the screen.

2nd Draft
After you’ve finished your 1st draft, read through the whole script, checking for spelling mistakes, and also plot holes. Plot holes are parts of the story that don’t make sense, or match up (e.g. A character gets shot in the leg in one scene, and in the next scene he is walking perfectly.) Once you’ve done that get someone you know to read through the script. Ask them if they understand the story, you will understand it because you’ve written it, but if you get completely wrapped up in the story it might get too confusing.