Tips on Writing a
Powerful Screenplay
Welcome Las Vegas Screenwriters Group
Introductions
Instructor Deborah Shariff
January 25, 2007
Class Objectives
How to organize your thoughts and get it out on
paper.
Writing the synopsis & treatment.
The development and creation of writing
unforgettable characters and understanding
back-story.
learning the basic structure of writing an effective
screenplay that includes a beginning, middle and
ending.
How to get the story out of your head onto
paper !
by
writing a
Treatment
What’s a Treatment?
Hand outs
Writing Exercise
Each writer will pick a partner and pitch
their story for 5 minutes then change
partners and let the other partner pitch
their story.
When you finish pitching both stories
write either a page or half a page of a
short treatment and be prepared to
verbally pitch your story to the class
What is a Screenplay?
A story told with pictures!
What is a screenplay made up of ?
Characters
Dialogue
Scenes
Acts
Plots, sub plots
Climax
Resolution
Moving your story forward
Syd Field’s structural model
Hand – Out!
Who we are/Why we want to write a
screenplay?
Original voice and how to discover it.
First thoughts & the subconscious.
Childhood memories & point of view on
life.
Obsessions (the good, the bad, the ugly).
Knowing what to write about.
Identifying your own particular history-
cultural coupled with personal experience
(back-story on yourself)
Writing your Screenplay
What perspective can you bring to this
subject matter that’s fresh? Make a list of
distinctions.
Study the genre-buddy films, gay women
in love, road adventures, ensemble
pieces/so you can determine how to
extrapolate from it.
Research the story-begin a clip file/an
ideas journal/interview people.
Creating a literate script
Rich characterization-people with history
and context: character bios are vital!
Vivid descriptive paragraphs-using visual
detail and fresh language.
Dialogue that zings and reveals character-
make it sharp, witty and varied. Characters
who are themselves literary, who speak in
believable yes memorable ways, make
your script rich and engaging-rather than
talky.
Writing a Rich Script
Layered plotting-the best scenes do
several things at once; foreshadow/reveal
character/give multiple pov’s/mark time
passage/move the story forward.
Innovative structuring-the bookend
approach/fresh usage of time
passage/emotional movement that
parallels physical movement/flashbacks.
Find a Structural Model on which to
hang your story
Exposition-a necessary evil. Know the
difference between what you the writer
needs to know and what the reader needs
to know.
Don’t explain/Don’t over tell.
Use visual metaphors-adding texture to
the work via symbols, repetition, humor,
powerful scenes-get in late, get out early.
The Writing Process
Character bios
Outlines and note cards.
Revision,revison,revision!
Workshops, readings and feedback.
Writing Exercise
Write a two or three page screenplay from
your treatment outline.
Remember to include; concise
descriptions of your main characters,
setting/location, your story premise, and
clear crisp dialogue.
FEEDBACK
Q&A
Volunteers share screenplay with the class
The class reviews and gives constructive
feedback