Build TENSION Into Your Script!

What makes people lean forward while watching a movie? Is it laughter? No. Is it love? No. Is it conflict? No. The one thing that keeps people leaning forward is TENSION!

How we do this begins with solid character development. I want to make my characters significant in some way… but also flawed. I want the reader / viewer to see my characters as real. If I’m writing about the heavyweight champion of the world, you can bet I’m going to eventually let the reader know about the loss of his family due to his drug use.

After I create the caring or emotional attachment to the character I’ll then insert the QUESTION. In the case of my example above, I’d focus on “Will the champion earn his family’s love & respect back? Will he see his kids again?”

In Sleepless in Seattle, “Will Sam’s huge bookstore chain crush Annie’s small bookstore?”

Keep the tension SIMPLE yet prolonged.

Conflict can be an argument in a scene… and not keep your readers awake. But if you have a husband and wife eating breakfast peacefully and the husband quietly place a small bomb and timer in his briefcase… we’ve just created tension! Heck, we could follow him around the whole movie just waiting to see who he blows up!

That’s it for now… happy writing!

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.TheScriptReviewer.com
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How to Format a Screenplay - By Elaine Radford

You've plotted your story, developed your characters, and written a scene-by-scene outline of your story. Now you're ready to write it in professional screenplay format.

http://www.scriptologist.com/Magazine/Formatting/formatting.html

Until next time!
Brian

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.TheScriptReviewer.com
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Importance of the Scribble Version

When writing dialog, you need to write, write and write! Don’t waste time when the ideas are flowing. Two critical versions of your dialog are:

1. The Scribble Version
2. The Nice Version

Let’s look at each specifically:

Write the scribble version

The scribble version is the very rough draft of a scene, without much formatting, punctuation and other garnishes. Most scribble versions tend to be largely dialogue, with an emphasis on the overall flow rather than finding perfect structure.

Write the nice version

Once you have the blueprint for the scene, it’s time to go back and start worrying about getting each word right. Great dialogue has a melody to it. You can write pretty good dialogue simply by reading each line aloud, over and over, smoothing off the awkwardness through better words or a different composition.

Movie dialogue is how characters would speak if they had a few extra seconds to compose their thoughts between lines. It’s just slightly optimized. But it’s very easy to overshoot and end up in soap opera land. Keeping dialogue real but efficient is one of the hardest challenges in screenwriting.

Regards,

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.TheScriptReviewer.com
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Writing Action Sequences

Writing an action sequence can take a little getting used to as you learn to translate what you envision on the screen into words. It certainly helps to read well-written action scripts to see how it's done.

In general, keep in mind that the way you format action should mimic its pace. The faster the action, the more you'll want to break it up into discreet bits. Feel free to use fragments to keep the pace fast. You can also use capitalization to emphasize and draw attention to elements.

Go find a couple of scripts for popular action movies and read them. (Study)

Then write some practice scenes!

Study – write – repeat!

Until next time,
Brian

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.TheScriptReviewer.com
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Wondering if your main character is “complete”?

Here is a simple way to find out. Ask someone who has read your draft script the following 9 questions:

1.) Who is the main character?

2.) What is the main character’s goal in the story?

3.) What are the main character’s physical and psychological characteristics?

4.) What makes him/her unique?

5.) When does the story take place? Define the era and the year. Describe any events from that time period that cause conflict for the main character.

6.) Where does the main character live during the story? Describe the geographic location. What role does the location play in the main conflict of the story?

7.) Why do the actions of the main character determine whether he/she achieves the goal and overcomes obstacles?

8.) How do his/her unique character traits influence their actions?

9.) How does he/she use his unique characteristics to overcome obstacles & achieve the goal?

If your reader can answer the above questions... you've done a great job!

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.Scripts4Agents.com
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What are “shots” within a screenplay?

To put it simply, shots tell your reader that the focal point of the scene has changed. Here are some frequently used “shots”:

1.) PAN TO --
2.) ANGLE ON --
3.) JAKE'S POV --
4.) REVERSE ANGLE –-
5.) EXTREME CLOSE UP --

As you can see, they are formatted like scene headings. They are all uppercase and flush to the left margin. They also have a blank line above and below them.

If you’re still trying to sell your script, don’t use these too much. It will make it seem like you’re trying to ‘direct’ the movie and may interrupt your readers flow.

Once your script is bought… the production staff / team will add ‘shots’ during the re-writes. Don’t direct unless you’re the Director. :-)

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.Scripts4Agents.com
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Freezing points, writers block, laziness!

At one time or another, all writers will experience a freezing point, writers block or just run flat into: a laziness spell!

One of my writing coaches told me that two things will help us move through those times a lot quicker.

First: Using a screenplay planning sheet

Second: Giving ourselves a reward after finishing our script.

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Using a Screenplay Planning Sheet
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When you can look at your project on a 2 page "snap shot", your brain tends to loosen up a bit and the creative wheels begin to turn again.

If you just read & re-read your actual script... you may tend to get "paralysis of anaysis".

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Giving Ourselves A Reward After Finishing Our Script
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What kind of reward? How about a new "how to write a script" book? How about a screenplay writing DVD?

Too many times writers do more studying on the topic than they do actually WRITING! This isn't for you! I want you to read/watch JUST ONE 'how to' book/dvd and then write a complete screenplay!

Once you've completed that project... feel free to buy another book/dvd (just 1) and then start your next project.

Happy New Years!
Brian

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Brian K. Allen
Screenplay Writer & Coach
http://www.Scripts4Agents.com
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