Writing a Screenplay Mikael Stånggren October 2007
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Beteckning:________________ Department of Mathematics, Natural and Computer Science Writing a screenplay A Study in Crafting Quality Stories for Movies and Television Mikael Stånggren October 2007 Thesis, 10 points, C level Computer Science Creative Programming Supervisor/Examiner: Sharon A Lazenby 1 Writing a Screenplay A Study in Crafting Quality Stories for Movies and Television by Mikael Stånggren Department of Mathematics, Natural and Computer Science University of Gävle S-801 76 Gävle, Sweden Email: [email protected] Abstract The art and science of crafting superior stories for feature film, television, and computer graphics productions, for both local and international purposes alike, are extremely important. In the artistic sense, this is a glimpse at the key elements in creating successful characters, stories, and environments. In the technical sense, it is a review on how to write a professional screenplay, as well as a comparison between different mediums, methods, and styles of writing. In order to conduct this research and accomplish said goals, material from a variable set of sources, including work by acclaimed authors, as well as professional screenplays and personal experience within the subject was used. The initial hypothesis that was put forth, proved in the end to become the overall result. Although being a field more inclined towards art than science, some of the answer and results came to fall within individual conclusions and opinions, rather than technical facts, as writing is different in style and nature to each and every screenwriter. Keywords: screenplay, story, movie script, characters, animation, television, draft, scene, live-action, feature film, setting, environment, screenwriter. 2 Acknowledgements A special thanks goes to Sharon Lazenby, without whose help and contribution, especially in the editing compartment, this research would not have been made possible. As for aiding in the final outcome of this paper, I also give credit to my examinators, as well as my opponent, Olle Bergling, whose feedback was of vital significance to the end result. 3 Table of Contents 1 Introduction.............................................................................................................. 5 1.1 The idea behind the research .......................................................................................... 5 1.2 What is a screenplay? ...................................................................................................... 6 1.3 The history of screenwriting............................................................................................ 7 2 Theoretical background .......................................................................................... 7 3 Development of a Screenplay................................................................................ 10 3.1 Story ...............................................................................................................................10 3.2 Characters.......................................................................................................................13 3.3 Setting and Environments...............................................................................................17 3.4 Mediums and the differences between ...........................................................................19 3.5 Technical aspects............................................................................................................22 3.5.1 Format................................................................................................................... 22 3.5.2 Title Page .............................................................................................................. 22 3.5.3 Scene Headings ..................................................................................................... 22 3.5.4 Action .................................................................................................................... 23 3.5.5 Dialogue ................................................................................................................ 23 3.5.6 Parenthicals........................................................................................................... 23 3.5.7 Transitions............................................................................................................. 23 3.5.8 (V.O.) and (O.S.) ................................................................................................... 24 3.5.9 Imagery ................................................................................................................. 24 3.5.10 Plot ...................................................................................................................... 25 3.5.11 Beats.................................................................................................................... 25 3.6 Writing what you know..................................................................................................26 4 Screenwriting in Sweden........................................................................................27 4.1 Dramatiska Filminstitutet ...............................................................................................27 4.2 Protecting your work......................................................................................................27 4.3 Links...............................................................................................................................28 4.4 Extract from a Swedish screenplay.................................................................................28 5 Discussion ............................................................................................................... 32 6 Result and conclusions........................................................................................... 34 6.1 Appliances for the work field .........................................................................................35 6.1.1 Breaking into the industry ..................................................................................... 36 6.1.2 Handling Writer's Block........................................................................................ 36 6.1.3 Editing................................................................................................................... 36 6.1.4 Screenwriting software.......................................................................................... 36 6.2 Appliances for the Creative Computer Graphics education ...........................................37 6.3 A final word....................................................................................................................38 7 References............................................................................................................... 39 4 1 Introduction 1.1 The idea behind the research The magic of film-making has always been a constant inspiration of mine; the wonderful music, the great characters and fantastic scenes that can only be found in the world of movies. However most of all, I was captivated by the storytelling itself; the core and heart, which is the foundation upon which the quality of a movie will always depend. Although excellent stories have fascinated me since I was a child, the fascination for screenwriting was not born until I started my studies in college; more particularly the University of Gävle, when I became more familiar with the process behind and creation of feature films and 3D animated movies. As the years passed by and I entered the last year of the Creative Computer Graphics education, the interest and passion had grown substantially enough to inspire ideas of writing my very own screenplay. Besides that, there has been a story in the back of my mind for over six years, which I never precisely knew for sure if I wanted to make something of it or, if and when I did, in what form the story would manifest. Since that point in time, my writing has, of course, evolved significantly and also my experience with story crafting and language. However, it was only until a year ago that I initiated the reading and analyzing of professional screenplays from Hollywood films, and gather my previous material into a full, solid story. Consequently, it did not take long before the web became a subject for scouting out contests; especially international contests for screenplays written in English, as I feel still today that the Swedish language is far too limited and that the Swedish film industry is of little or no interest to me. With the intension and aim of studying and researching how to write a screenplay for movies and television, my problem formulates the following way: Within the film- and computer animation industries, new characters and stories are being constantly created. Whether it is for a game, a feature film, a TV series, or a 3D animated movie, there will always be the need for a structure and a plan over how the story is played out. The questions to solve are several. For instance: • What lines are the characters going to have? • What characters are going to be in the screenplay? • How will the characters interact with each other and their environment? There are several aspects that have to work in harmony and in this type of field a screenplay is the key to a good story. Because no matter how good a movie may appear with special effects and CGI (Computer Generated Imagery), the characters