I'm New To Writting Scripts, any Pointers?

[D.P. Kevin]

Hi, I'm relatively new to writing scripts and i was wondering if anyone had tips on how to make a short film captivate the audience. I actually operate cameras so scripting is just foreign to me. I concentrate more on envisioning how i would capture the shot rather than focusing on what is happening in the movie; and occasionally when i am able to imagine the shot AND have a decent story it just takes me FOREVER.

So I'm asking for tips and pointers that you know that will help me learn the basics for writing scripts.

 

[indietalk]

 

[D.P. Kevin]

Thanks?

 

[MadMan]

Don't think about shots. Think about writing. You're not the director or cameraman when writing the script. The script is about the dialogue, the structure. Not what angle you're gonna shoot Bob saying "Hi".

 

[clive]

A great short film is a combination of two things:

On one level it's a showcase of your visual style... so, ignore Madman's advice, if it was a feature he'd be semi-right, but for a short he's wrong.
On a short you play to YOUR strengths because it's your showcase. So, as you're going to be the one to shoot it, it's perfectly OK to write it as a shot list... or what ever else way you need to, to get the film in your head onto paper.

The other thing is structure...

A good structure is: create a believable world; misdirect the audience into believing X is happening; give them a clue that Y is actually the truth; create an amusing but believable payoff.

One final tip... write the script without dialogue, purely as action... once you can tell the story that way, then add in the bare minimum of dialogue to make it work.

Good luck

 

[directorik]

A short is like a good joke - even if it isn’t a comedy. You want
a strong ending.

To learn the basics of script writing you need to have a story you
want to tell. If you don’t have one, then writing is going to
take FOREVER.

You need a good set up: Using my award winning shorts “Closet
Case” and “I Dare Ya.” as examples:

Two blasts from a gun and a guy falls into a closet, slamming the
door. He holds a smoking shotgun and had three long scratches on
his face.

Right away as a camera operator you are envisioning how to shoot
this. But you are also wondering what the hell chased him into
that closet. So you’ve got shots and a story.

Two little girls dare a boy to go up to a spooky looking house,
ring the doorbell and run.

After that, if you have a story you want to tell, if you can think
of a good punch line (as clive said, “an amusing but believable
payoff” then you should be able to fill in the other four or five
minutes that happens in-between.

I’m sure you’re worked on and seen a lot of short films. Which
ones have you really liked? Think about how you reacted to the
story (not the shots) and think if you have a story you really
want to tell.

That’s the basics.

 

[D.P. Kevin]

thanks clive for giving me that basic structure! In its simplicity it actually cleared a lot of things up in my mind. When I get back home im going to go make a short with out dialogue to see how it turns out.

Also directoric im not sure if i even have a story to tell, every thing that i have written so far has been off the influence of others. By myself i have not yet thought of a story to tell. so as a example lets say i wanted to write a short about a man who is driving somewhere but cant find any parking and lets say in the end he buys a bike but the bike rack is overflowing with bikes so much that he cant attach his bike. how would you introduce him? and what are other problems that he could encounter to put more excitement in for the watcher.

 

[VPTurner]

A writer with no story to tell? You may as well be a stenographer.

I'm kidding, of course, but only to a degree. Many become writers because they have stories just begging to jump out of their heads, and then they spend a lifetime studying their craft to make it happen.

Have you done any study yet? What books on storytelling and screenwriting do you currently own or have checked out of your library?

Story ideas are everywhere. Just open a newspaper and look at the headlines. The best stories are the ones that are closest to your heart. What kinds of movies do you like to watch? What is unique about you or your life that others may find interesting?

A boy and his bike. Hmmm... Reminds me of a boy and his dog. It would only really work if that bike meant everything to him, so you'd need to establish that. He worked hard for it, worked hard to keep it in good working order. He loves that bike. I had a bike like that once when I was 11. Had it for all of three days before it got stolen. I was crushed. And I was stupid for leaving it laying around. I remember it to this day. We were walking in the creek and left our bikes so we could go look for frogs. We passed a couple of other kids who were hunting for spare parts. One of them was holding a bike tire. I was too young to recognize the danger. Needless to say, when we got back to our bikes, my brand new Kona was gone. Live and learn.

That should spark some ideas.

 

[directorik]

It sure makes it difficult to write a script if you don't have a story you
want to tell.

so as a example lets say i wanted to write a short about a man who is driving somewhere but cant find any parking and lets say in the end he buys a bike but the bike rack is overflowing with bikes so much that he cant attach his bike. how would you introduce him?

If you want to write a short about a man who is driving somewhere but
cant find any parking you might want to introduce him as he sits in his
car waiting for someone to pull out of a space. Or introduce him driving
around and around.

and what are other problems that he could encounter to put more excitement in for the watcher.

Well, that's the key, isn't it? That's what we writers do. We come up
with the problems.

I'm not blowing you off, but if any of us were to tell you what are the
problems that he could encounter then we would be writing. Not you.
Can you really not think of anything that might happen to this guy?
Not a single thing? Isn't there anything at all that you think would be
funny in this situation? How about something dangerous? Or scary?
Can't think of anything sad that might happen?

In all seriousness and with respect - maybe you aren't a writer. But if
you really want to be, then you need to come up with the problems
and the solutions to this set up. And like anything else, the more you
do it, the better you will get.

Write everyday.

What short films have you seen that you really liked?

 

[jehz19]

i watched every short film in youtube and if you want to be inspired i would suggest you to watch this short film. just type it in youtube "BMW FILMS" featuring world's best directors. and if you want to see indie filmmakers like us, you can watch duncan bros's videos..

For me, everyday i watched movies just like casino royale,bourne ultimatum and etc. observing their camera angles,shots,and etc. by watching different kinds of movies you can put in mind what story you would produce.

And in making a story make sure its UNIQUE and your creating your own world.
Believe in yourself.