4 Golden Rules of Screenwriting
- Sections
- Present Tense
- Show not Tell
- Characters
Sections
Show don't tell
Instead of telling the audience that a character (for example) likes scooters, you should show them.
Showing: Darren enters the kitchen, sees a scooter and makes a gagging gesture.
Telling:
- Slug Lines
- Actions
- Dialogue
Slug Lines = e.g INT. KITCHEN - DAY
Shows the location, interior or exterior and night or day.
Actions = Basically whatever the viewer sees has to be written into the script in the forms of action blocks. E.g 'Umar enters the kitchen, opens the fridge and removes a CARTON OF ORANGE JUICE.'
Dialogue: What is spoken on screen, laid out with the characters name with the speech directly under it.
HENDRIX
Are we going to go now?
Present Tense
All text in scripts (excluding dialogue) has to be in present tense. This means that there shouldn't be any 'is' in the actions blocks. E.g Sundus is walking should turn into Sundus walks.
This is an example from a show called, my left nut. The left is the corrected one, the right is the original!
This is an example from a show called, my left nut. The left is the corrected one, the right is the original!
Show don't tell
Instead of telling the audience that a character (for example) likes scooters, you should show them.
Showing: Darren enters the kitchen, sees a scooter and makes a gagging gesture.
Telling:
AJ
So I heard Darren doesn't like scooters!
Another example of this would be like this:
INT. BAKERY - DAY
KARLA stands in the middle of the bakery, waiting for her order to be called out. She looks over and sees a lone BAGEL on a chair which makes her shudder and bat it onto the floor.
Characters
When a character is first introduced, their name is in all caps and there should be a brief description of what they look like and who they are so that casting and costume design will be able to use the script.
Micro script tasks
Characters
When a character is first introduced, their name is in all caps and there should be a brief description of what they look like and who they are so that casting and costume design will be able to use the script.
INT. SCHOOL CORRIDOR - DAY
ALEXIA, 17, struts down the hallway, waving. She wears a bright, perfectly fitting, green cheerleading outfit with red hair that reaches her shoulders.
ALEXIA, 17, struts down the hallway, waving. She wears a bright, perfectly fitting, green cheerleading outfit with red hair that reaches her shoulders.
Micro script tasks
- A relationship between two characters
- A woman telling a man she's pregnant
INT. LIVINGROOM - NIGHT
SHANE, 37, gets off the sofa with a huff, tossing the remote uncaringly behind him and trudges over to the dinner table. He watches the same tv show as before on his phone as food is brought to him. His partner, JAMIE, tidies up the table, rapidly scooping up different letters and papers which he sorts into two different piles, then brings Shane through a lager.
JAMIE
Did you manage to get your script done today?
SHANE (not looking away from phone)
These things take time, just stop pressuring me and I'll probably make some progress, I just can't with you always in my ear about this and that!
INT. STARBUCKS - DAY
BEATRIZ sits in the middle of starbucks with MARVIN, who is opposite. She looks highly uncomfortable, fiddling with the lid of her drink.
MARVIN
If you've got something to say, spit it out.
There's silence. MARVIN sighs, goes to stand but BEATRIZ grabs his arm.
BEATRIZ (wearily)
I'm pregnant.
MARVIN holds eye contact with him for a second then yanks his wrist back and storms off.
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