Movie script writing is no easy task, and this is why many aspirants take time to master it. If you are new to scriptwriting, you should study as many scripts as possible. Even if you watch TV and movies, you are able to learn a lot. Getting access to good scripts will help you to understand the importance of formatting and why it is important for being an outstanding screenwriter.
Roger Wolfson – The basics of a good script is its format
Roger Wolfson is a TV writer, screenwriter, activist for animal rights, serving as a Commissioner for Animal Services for the City of Los Angeles. He is also a speechwriter for Presidential candidates and high-profile Democrats from Los Angeles, USA. He has served as the staff of four US Senators, John Kerry, Ted Kennedy, Joe Liebermann, and Paul Wellstone. He has been the Vice President for Channel One News. He founded his own firm in the field of strategic consulting. He has also been an attorney for civil rights in the USA.
Know the importance of screenplays
When it comes to a screenplay and the art of scriptwriting, you will find that it is different from that of a novel. Here, you need to focus on everything that is seen as well as heard. The writer needs to take all the elements into account, and this covers the character cast, their dialogues, locations, and the action. The draft right from the beginning to the end needs to tell a story. However, the writer also keeps in mind the fact that the screenplay is also a technical document that is referred to during the shooting of the television series and movies.
Keeping the format concise
When it comes to the format of scriptwriting, he says that its format needs to be precise. The script of the movie or the TV series has to be revised by produces. You must be aware of important components like the number of the scenes, the camera angles, and other intricate details when you imagine plots and the storyline of the key characters.
The screenplay should conform to the time limits you get on the screen. This means that one page is equivalent to a minute of screen time. So, if you are in charge of a complete screenplay, it should be approximately about one hundred pages.
Formatting is daunting in screenplays
Most new screenwriters say that formatting a screenplay is indeed a daunting task. However, you should see as many screenplays as possible. They have common traits if you observe them carefully. The following are the salient components of a good screenwriting format-
- Headers or slug lines
- Action lines
- Dialogue
- Extensions
- Parenthetic
- Transitions
- Sub-headings
- Shots
- Montage
- Lyrics
- Chyrons and
- The end of the Act
In the opinion of Roger Wolfson says that no one becomes a great screenwriter in one day when it comes to TV series and movies. It takes a lot of effort and perseverance to learn the tricks of the trade and master it. As a newcomer, you must be very patient and observe as much as you can.
