Act 1: This is where you introduce the setting, characters, and inciting incident. The inciting incident is the event that gets your protagonist going and motivated to act. Act 1 is about 30 pages long. Act 2: This is where your protagonist identified her goal or desire and encounters obstacles that make it difficult for her to achieve her goal. It contains the bulk of the story, full of urgency and tension. Act 2 is usually about 60 pages long. Act 3: This includes the story’s climax, where the tension is highest as the protagonist tries to achieve her goal. There is also a clear ending, where the protagonist gets what she wants or fails to achieve her goal. Act 3 is usually 20-30 pages long.
You can try writing the rough draft in a few days or a week. Focus on getting your ideas down on paper, rather than writing a perfect draft.
For example, you may describe a character injecting drugs as “Naomi MOANS as she sticks the needle into her vein. Blood SPURTS into the syringe as she pushes down on the plunger. "
For example, you may have a character who speaks in formal British English when they get nervous or upset. Or you may have a character who says very little or only gives one word answers. Keep the dialogue short, about three lines or less. You can include monologues for your characters, where they talk for more than five lines at one time, but only when you feel they are absolutely necessary.
Check that your screenplay is formatted properly. Look for any spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors. You can also show the script to others, such as friends, peers, or family members, and get their feedback. Then, revise the draft again to include their notes.
The logline should not use the names of the characters. Instead, it should use descriptions of the characters that tell the reader something about them. For example, you may have a logline like: “An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a ‘66 Thunderbird. ”
For example, you may have a title like “When Harry Met Sally” or “Bobo the Fish. ” Go for a title that is simple and to the point. Avoid long titles. You may then have a logline like: “An Arkansas waitress and a housewife shoot a rapist and take off in a ‘66 Thunderbird. ”
For example, you may write a synopsis like: “Thelma, a timid housewife, joins her friend, headstrong Louise, for a weekend fishing trip. But when Louise shoots and kills a man who tries to rape Thelma at a bar, their trip finds them fleeing to Mexico on the run from the law. Along the way, Thelma finds herself falling for a handsome young thief while a kind detective tries to get them to surrender before it’s too late”
The cast, including the salaries for the actors and actresses The director The production staff The film crew The art department, including makeup, costumes, and set design Travel and transportation for cast and crew Using location(s) for the movie An agent or lawyer for protection if you’re producing a big-budget movie[10] X Expert Source Lucy V. HayProfessional Writer Expert Interview. 16 July 2019. Post production, including editing and publicity
You can also enter your script into contests online that give you money to develop your film. Try submitting your script to programs through local film festivals or independent film festivals that offer funding.
It is usually easier to ask friends and family for money, rather than people you do not know.
Be careful when using credit cards to fund the movie, as this can be a risky way to produce it. Try to only invest money in the movie that you know you can pay back or earn back later on.
As the producer of the movie, you will check in and communicate with the director regularly to ensure the shoot goes well.
The Production Manager: This person supervises the physical aspects of the production, including personnel, budget, and scheduling. It is their job to ensure the movie stays on schedule and on budget. The First Assistant Director: This person assists the production manager and the director. They maintain a working environment where the director, the cast, and the crew can focus on their work. They manage the cast and crew scheduling, the equipment, the script, and the set. The Location Manager: This person is responsible for securing locations for the movie. They arrange permits or fees needed to use a location to shoot scenes. The Casting Director: This person chooses the actors or actresses for the film. They will run auditions for the cast and decide who ends up starring in the movie.
The Director of Photography: This person is responsible for the camera and lighting crew. They may decisions on the framing and lighting of shots in collaboration with the director. They are considered the senior creative crew member after the director. The Camera Operator: This person directs the camera based on the decisions of the director of photography. In some cases, the director of photography will also be the camera operator, especially on low budget movies. The Gaffer: This person is the head of the lighting department. They come up with a lighting plan for the production, working with the director of photography and the director. The Key Grip: This person is the head of the set operations department. They make sure the correct lighting and equipment is present on set. They work closely with the director of photography. The Sound Operator: This person is responsible for making sure the sound is captured correctly on set. They will arrange microphones on set so the cast can be heard on film. They also log audio for post production.
The production designer may have an art director and a costume designer working underneath them.
You may set up daily phone calls with the director or regular visits to the set to make sure everything is going to plan on set. You may need to field any issues or complaints the director has about the set and address them promptly so production does not stall.
You can also ask for daily information on where the budget is at during the shoot so you can keep a close eye on it.
Most low budget films take 20 to 25 days to shoot, or 4-5 weeks. Bigger films that are backed by a studio can take 40 to as much as 120 days to shoot.
You can also arrange for the cast to do promotional tours and interviews for the movie to help promote it to viewers.
The slugline: This appears in ALL CAPS at the beginning of each scene and explains the location and time of day. INT is used in the slugline if the scene is interior, or indoors, and EXT is used if the scene is exterior, or outdoors. For example: “INT. DINER - NIGHT” or “EXT. FIELD - DAY. ” Transitions: These show how the camera is moving from scene to scene. They appear in ALL CAPS. Common transitions include FADE IN, FADE OUT, CUT TO, and DISSOLVE TO. Character names: Your character names always appear in ALL CAPS in the screenplay. For example, “RON walks down the street” or “SARA shuts the bedroom door. ” You can find more detailed formatting information at Write a Screenplay.
Pick a particular time period, such as the 1970s, and create characters that would fit in that era. Use a historical event as inspiration for your movie. You can also take a historical setting and make it come alive in your movie. You can also write a movie based on a particular genre, such as romantic comedies, action movies, or horror flicks.
For example, you may create a main character who is lonely and trying to find their true love at school. Or you may have a main character who works for a shady boss and wants to escape a life of crime.
Pulp Fiction by Quentin Tarantino Thelma & Louise by Callie Khouri When Harry Met Sally by Nora Ephron Moonlight by Barry Jenkins
