Assignment 1: Screenwriting 101 – Write a Short Script
Hi everyone,
It was good meeting you in the Screenwriting 101 class.
- Your assignment is to write a script for a short that’s around 1-2 pages (or minutes) long. Try to give it a definite beginning, middle and end so that it feel like a complete story, not part of a longer one.
- I’ve put links to a few short films that are just a little longer than this at the bottom of this page.
- If you have a printer, bring a few copies to class next week so that we can read it aloud and workshop it. If you don’t have a printer, just email me a PDF before next Sunday, so I can print a few copies to bring it to class.
Reminders:
- Start your screenplay with FADE IN at the top of page 1 and and end it with FADE OUT at the bottom of the last page. (Or you can write THE END.)
- Start all of the scenes with scene headings, which are typed in all caps. For example: INT. MARY’S HOUSE – MORNING or EXT. FACTORY – NIGHT.
- On the line below the scene heading, put the action. The “action” is a short description of what’s happening – i.e.,. who’s doing what. Examples: “Mary stands, stretches and walks to her closet.” “Joe sits, turns on his computer, types in a password.”
- The first time your character is mentioned in the action, his or her name should be in all caps, like: PAUL or EVVIE.
- When a character is speaking, put his or her name in ALL CAPS on the line above their dialogue. Also put important props in all caps. For example: “Judy picks up a GUN and aims it at Travis.” “Michael pushes the red BUTTON, launching the missiles.”
- Remember that dialogue in screenplays is usually more succinct than the way people really talk. Descriptions of action are kept short and to the point.
“Do We Need to Format It?”
- No.
- Having software is handy but you don’t need it for the class.
- If you have screenplay formatting software such as Final Draft or Celtx or FadeIn, feel free to use it for the assignments. You can download a free copy of FadeIn at this link.
- If you don’t have formatting software, just LEFT JUSTIFY the text as I’ve done in the example below. Please do not put in “fake formatting” by guessing.
Here’s an example of a minute movie:
Basic elements of screenwriting
If you missed the first class, read over this quick handout – it reviews the key things we covered:
“Are short films like this really made into movies?”
Yes. Many film festivals play shorts, which become calling cards for the people involved in making them, including the screenwriters. Here are some we’ve made in the Let’s Make a Movie class at Rekindle.
