Each year, there are more than 200 screenplays sold to Hollywood studios only. But those 200 are selected from a pool of thousands of scripts, say 20,000 of them. So, is writing a hollywood-esque screenplay difficult? Yes, but is it profitable? It's definitely a rewarding craft.
Most of us understand movie plots, and can sometimes anticipate twists and predict endings, but having great ideas/plots is easy; the hard party is turning them into a marketable script. If you dream of writing a screenplay that makes it to a movie studio, you will need to put in work, sacrifice your time, and compromise some of your social relationships.
Writing a screenplay is analogous to building an underframe. Building this underframe involves steps and below is a 7-step process which screenwriters use.
It must be noted that the order of the steps for script writing may differ from writer to writer, after all, art is and has always been a fluid and subjective anatomy.
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Step #1: Conceptualization: Writing a Logline
The first step in writing a screenplay involves creating a logline. This involves finding the screenplay’s core concept which is called a premise. The premise is usually small but deep in its emotional projection of the screenplay. The logline should take about not more than 3 sentences.
The log line usually has a protagonist, an antagonist, and a problem/crisis/climax.
Step #2: Synopsis and Outline
After the idea comes the sketching of the screenplay’s structure. First, the synopsis explicates the beginning, middle and end of the story. Writing the synopsis may take about one page, divided into 3 paragraphs, each section getting one paragraph.
The outline succeeds the synopsis. It elaborates the setup, and development and resolution.
Step #3: Defining the Characters
During this step of script writing, character specifics are outlined. The characters’ backstories are also added during this step.
Building the characters determines how the dialogue in the screenplay will be written. For example, an educated character is likely to converse using formal language.
Step #4: Writing the Treatment
This step is the expansion of the Outline stage. The whole plot for the screenplay is unveiled using a short story which further describes the characters, and expatiates on key scenes and events. The script goes through a scene-by-scene breakdown of the story.
If a screenwriter sends the screenplay to an agent and the agent goes past the logline, he/she will need to encounter a weighty and blue-chip Treatment. The treatment represents the first sketch of a screenplay.
It is always written in third person, and dedicates a paragraph to each scene. The treatment usually takes up between 20 to 40 pages of the script.
Sample dialog
After describing the characters and analysing the key scenes of the screenplay, you have to come up with test scenes or monologues. This helps in assigning the characters their ‘characteristic’ voices. This can take up about a page for each character.
Step #5: Finishing the First Draft
It’s time to start writing! Writing the first draft of the screenplay is similar to writing a novel; no editing, just pouring out your all onto the script.
If a screenwriter covers all the nitty-gritty in the previous steps, this part will feel like leisure. Nowadays, there are a lot of script writing programmes on the web. Such software helps with the formatting of the script. A screenwriter ought to know that a screenplay is as good as its formatting. If you can’t afford to buy the premium ones, don’t worry, you can find numerous free ones.
Usually, writing a screenplay first draft takes about 120 pages.
Step #6: Take a Breather!
Take a break; let the adrenaline wear off. This stage is optional but a good pause helps bring in fresh ideas. It also re-energises the screenwriter so that he is ready for the editing part of screenplay writing.
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Step #7: Writing Second and Third Drafts
After your much deserved break, during which you would have shared your first draft of the script to people for criticism, you are ready for the editing part of your screenplay writing.
The script may now look displeasing, you may think it’s too wordy, or too flowery. That is simply because all the adrenaline is gone, and you can now see clearly. It is time to grope the script and recur to the premise, and try to find any detours. look at the critiquing notes and edit! Edit! Edit!
After finishing the second draft, send the script to other critics. Use the critics’ notes to re-edit the screenplay and produce a final draft. Voila! You’ve written a screenplay.
So, now that you’ve finished writing the screenplay, what next? Well… next comes the part where your script gets seen and brings in money. Read the article on how to sell your script
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