Screenwriting

Screenwriting entails writing for the use in mass media such as films, television programmes or even video games. All scripts begin with an idea and basis for a story, upon which a screenwriter will devise a way of showing and telling the audience that story through directions and dialogue. For this project we will be writing a ten page script for a short story, which for me is quite a daunting prospect  as I have never written a full script before. We have had some sessions with the screenwriter Steve Coombes who has worked on television programmes including 'New Tricks', 'Outlaws' and 'Hustle'. An important statement he made was that screenplays are all about moments. A defining moment in any piece is what makes it memorable and is what the audience will take away with them. Anything that can be shown and demonstrated with the camera should not be said with dialogue as this can often be a much more dramatic and emotive way of telling the story and expressing how a character is feeling without them telling the audience directly.

There are several stages when pitching a script before the final copy is chosen for a production. The first stage is called the 'Elevator Pitch' which is around half a page and is a brief summary which should be exciting and interesting for the reader. The next stage is a treatment which is 5-10 pages long and should be a rough outline, explaining how the script will unfold. The 'Bible' comes next which is 10 pages and includes treatments for every episode of the series, going into detail and elaborating the characters and events. The final stage is the 'Green Light' where the series comes together, the crew begins to shoot and a new draft is written every 2-3 weeks.
Timescale is also important when writing a script as a screenwriter needs to think about the elements they could include such as time lapses or flashbacks. It could also be one main story or a series of short stories depending on the events or purpose of the piece.

Characters are an incredibly important part of any script as good characters are what is going to make the audience feel invested in a story, particularly if the characters are likeable, as this makes you want to root for them. To make a character interesting, you often have to put them in crisis where they must make life changing choices that have a great significance to the story. Transitions in life can also be very interesting for any character because this allows the audience to sympathise with them whilst creating exciting moments and conflicts which are gripping to watch. Characters are usually failures and must have flaws. This is important because your character should never be at the top, as this often makes them more likeable. We as an audience, also then get to see them grow as a person which makes us feel like they have achieved something and bettered themselves.
Steve Coombes also talked about the different types of characters that are often used. The most common include the hero/heroine who doesn't know who they are but goes on a huge journey of discovery to find out. Monsters are another type of character. An example is Jordan Belfort from 'The Wolf of Wall Street'. As a character he is full of flaws which make them very interesting to watch onscreen and can be either hated or loved depending on how the character is played. The last stereotypical character is the 'woman' who is usually very picky and has to make a huge decision. A character should be a cluster of moments in order to maintain the attention and interest of the audience.
Dialogue is also incredibly important as many scripts are often let down due to bad dialogue. Good dialogue should serve a purpose for the story and show what is significant. However, it shouldn't be too direct in showing how someone is feeling as this should be told through moments. Dialogue must also not be too formal as this will not come across as natural and realistic. People often speak in different dialects and use slang or abreviated words which is important to include in order to make a script seem unforced. You must also consider your characters when writing dialogue as many aspects including age, occupation and background can have contributing effects to how a character will speak.