Proof of Concept: Writing the Short Script
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2017
Pages: 234
Edition: 1
Copyright: 2017
Pages: 236
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You want to be a screenwriter? Juliet Aires Giglio and Keith Giglio did too. Long before they became professors, they spent successful years writing and producing in the magical world of Hollywood, working on projects that have generated much success.
However, when they stood up in front of the classroom they could not find a book designed for the screenwriting student that helped the writer actually write. None of the screenwriting books they read covered the craft of writing as screenwriters really talk about it. None of the books shared the techniques of screenwriting that they had learned from years in the trenches writing for studios.
So they wrote the book they wish they had in film school.
Proof of Concept: Writing the Short Script is aimed at the beginning writer. The novice. It is designed to teach the writer the wonderful language that is screenwriting.
The emerging writer will use the same tools and develop the same skills that a professional screenwriter uses. From writing visually to breaking stories to the art of listening and learning from development notes, the authors have brought the lessons they learned from professional screenwriting into the classroom and now on to these pages.
Proof of Concept is not just an introduction to screenwriting. It’s the first page of your screenplay that starts your life as a successful writer.
PREFACE Written By You
The Short Script—The Visual Resume
The Book We Wish We Had
Demystify the Writing
CHAPTER 1 What Is a Screenplay?
A Screenplay Is a Movie in Written Form
What Does Every Good Story Do Well?
The Screenwriter and the Audience
CHAPTER 2 Visual Storytelling
They’re Called Motion Pictures
Visualize the Exposition and Theme
Writing the Visuals
CHAPTER 3 Dialogue
The Purpose of Dialogue
Veiling Exposition
Do You Hear Your Characters?
CHAPTER 4 Crafting Characters
What Comes First: Plot or Character?
What Your Character Needs vs. What They Want
Building a Protagonist Step-by-Step
CHAPTER 5 Writing the Scene
Scene Interrogation—Ten Questions to Ask Your Scene
CHAPTER 6 What Is Structure?
Three Acts: They’re Like Feature Films, But Shorter
What Is Structure?
World Building
CHAPTER 7 What to Write, Why to Write?
Never Chase the Wave
Developing Loglines
Developing the Short Film
CHAPTER 8 Developing the Short Screenplay
Breaking the Story
Speed Pitching
Beat Sheet
CHAPTER 9 Writing (and Formatting) the First Draft
The Importance of Script Formatting
Other Formatting Questions—It’s the Story, Stupid
Writing Habits
CHAPTER 10 Giving and Getting Notes
Notes You Might Hear
I Hate My Script
The Seven Tracking Passes
CHAPTER 11 Short Film, Long Career!
Proof of Concept
The Student’s Proof of Concept: The Short Film
Recent Short Films That Became Features
CHAPTER 12 All in the Cards
Carding Out the 100-Page Screenplay
The Mini-Movie Approach
The Cards
CHAPTER 13 Short Films to Watch
Short Films: Watch and Learn
CHAPTER 14 Proof of Concept Exercises
Exercise #1—Learning to Write Visually
Exercise #2—Learning to Write Great Dialogue
Exercise #3—Build a Protagonist
Exercise #4—Elevator Character Scene
Exercise #5—Scene Exercise: Glad I Bumped Into You . . . Or Not?
Exercise #6—Logline Worksheet
Exercise #7—Notes for a Rewrite