The Screenplay

Abigail N.

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The Screenplay

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Themes

Screenplay, three-act structure, visual language, slug line, production time, dialogue, action, film structure, screenplay page, line producer, protagonist, main character, character development, plot

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Abstract

This document is made of ten corrected questions about screenplays.

In a screenplay, explain what slug lines, action and dialogue are and how they are written.
In the Action section, what grammatical tense is used and why? And what must the screenwriter express?
How long does each page of a screenplay approximately correspond to in terms of length in the final film?
What does the Line Producer actually do and why is he/she so important?
The presenter says the movies tend to focus on three main things: the protagonist, the goal or objective and obstacles. Explain what these are.
The presenter talks about The Hero's Journey: a template for character development. Name the twelve common steps characters usually take as they transform through the story.
After the characters and plot points, she talks about conflict. Name the two types of conflict she mentions.
How does she suggest you organise your ideas for your story?
Explain the 3 basic acts or structure of a film and what they do. Which film does she use as a reference for this?
What does the clear, concise visual language of a screenplay do?

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[...] And what must the screenwriter express? In the Action, the sentences are written is present tense so that the reader really immerses himself into the story. It is also really important that the screenwriter only writes about what the viewers can see and hear, and not about how a character feels. He has to write an action that shows how the character feels, like a gesture for an example, and not what he would like the audience to interpret. How long does each page of a screenplay approximately correspond to in terms of length in the final film? [...]

[...] Then, there are indications about where the scene takes place. First, in a general sense: INT. (for interior) or EXT. (for exterior). Then, where is it more specifically, in a park, in a living room or in a school class? And only then, the slug line gives the production information about time: does the scene happens at night or in the daylight? If it happens at night, it will be written "NIGHT," and if it is in the daylight, it will be "DAY." After a slug line, there is the action. [...]

[...] There can be a face-off between the protagonist and the antagonist (the person who is his total opposite, sometimes his nemesis) and decides whether he achieves his goal or not. In order to illustrate the 3-act structure, the presenter use the Wizard of Oz as a reference. What does the clear, concise visual language of a screenplay do? The clear, concise visual language of a screenplay enables the production crew to start working on good foundations in terms of budget, settings or characters, as the screenplay is seen as a blueprint, essential for the film to be made. [...]

[...] These elements can make a good comedy film. Based on these, the screenwriter can finally write about and find a theme, characters, settings. The presenter talks about The Hero's Journey: a template for character development. Name the twelve common steps characters usually take as they transform through the story. The twelve common steps characters are: Call to adventure Assistance Departure Trials Approach Crises Treasure Result Return New life Resolution Status quo (repetition of the process) After the characters and plot points, she talks about conflict. [...]

[...] First of all, the protagonist, or the film's main character. Second of all, a goal or an objective which the main character wants, and then, standing between the protagonist and his goal/objective: obstacles. It is with these 3 main things that the film will be written and made. For example, if you want to write a film and you think about your main character as a 50-year-old accountant male who is seeking of his boring job. His goal? To quiet and find something more fulfilling. [...]

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