A blank document is on the computer screen, waiting for you to compose your cinematic masterpiece. Then, reality creeps in: "How do I actually write a script?" No worries, we've got you covered.
This article focuses on scriptwriting essentials for writing your first screenplay. However, the basics of writing a script can be applied to any medium telling a narrative or story.
In this article, we break down:
- Essential features of a strong script
- How to create a script logline, outline, and treatment
- Ten key elements of script format
Plus — resources and pro tips to start you on your writing journey!
Let’s dive in.
Essential features of a strong script
One thing to point out before we start is that a script is the initial outline of a film, and a screenplay is the more specific and complete version of a script. However, we may use these terms interchangeably.
Also, keep in mind that you can apply the information provided to other script forms and different types of video creation in school, for your business, social media, and more.
Okay, now back to the script.
A script, whether for a movie, television show, video game, or stage play, includes certain parts that need to be created, explored, and fleshed out. Below, we list these elements and how developing them can transform your story idea into a powerful screenplay.
Forming the "story"
What's a story? That's a loaded question. Choosing the right story or "big idea" can be tricky, but it's the jumping-off point for your script. To get started, think of what excites you, resonates with your values, or fuels your passions.
Once you feel solid about your idea, start workshopping the story elements to bring it to life, including creating characters, plot, action, dialogue, conflict, and resolution.
Molding complex characters
From Neo (Keanu Reeves), the key protagonist in "The Matrix," to The Joker (Heath Ledger), the sinister antagonist in "The Dark Knight," every great story needs compelling characters.
Advice for writing a robust character? Make sure they’re fully developed. Think long and hard about their personality, history, and needs. Ask questions such as:
- What were they like as a child? How were they raised?
- What are their strengths and flaws?
It's helpful to break down their strengths and weaknesses into two sections: physical and psychological. For example, a physical weakness can be laziness or an addiction. A moral flaw can be fear of failure or need for approval.
For example, in the television series "Breaking Bad," the main character, Walter White, is a washed-up scientist and a pushover who can barely pay the bills as a high school teacher.
He finds out he has cancer and decides to make meth as a source of income to pay his medical bills. Some of White's flaws include the physical — a terminal illness and the psychological — the desire to be respected.
Forging the plot
The character's desire or "want" tends to be the main plot of a story. How they get that thing becomes the center of the story structure.
Your characters move along with this desire to get from point A to Z. The journey ebbs and flows, with setbacks and breakthroughs, as they move onward to get the desired thing or, sometimes, not.
Hooking the reader with action
The action, or a scene description, is more than a classic car chase. It describes what's happening but should also show emotion, reveal something about the character, and tell us something about the world.
For example, in "Heat," Detective Vincent Hanna (Al Pacino) and thief Neil McCauley (Robert De Niro) come to a climactic shoot-out near LAX airport.
Video via PrimeClips
Hanna gets his man in the end, but it's a layered scene. McCauley is the only person Hanna has found mutual understanding with during the film.
With this understanding, Hanna holds McCauley's hand until he takes his final breath — a sign of mutual respect and admiration.
Writing strong dialogue
Dialogue is one of the most critical aspects of a solid script and sometimes is the hardest to write. However, here are some essential things to keep in mind:
- Less is more. Having characters describe every detail is tempting, but remember to leave the information in subtext instead.
- Trust the audience. They are smart enough to follow the dialogue without characters repeating or over-explaining things.
Creating conflict and resolution
You love your characters. However, it's time to raise the stakes and make life tough for them. They need roadblocks, lots of them. Why? Your hero needs drama to reach a resolution. They must endure conflict to transform.
This makes a great story.
And remember, even if your script is for another type of digital story or video, these scriptwriting elements can also apply to them.
You can find tools to help create different kinds of video content from video learning platforms like WeVideo. Sign up for free to access a powerful array of online video editing tools.
Now, onto writing your script!
How to write your first script
Writing the logline
A logline is a one-sentence summary or description of a film. Loglines clarify the essential elements of your script, the main protagonist, central conflict, plot, and antagonist, into a brief synopsis.
Creating an outline and three-act structure
What’s an outline's purpose? It helps break up your scenes into sections and ensures the story progresses logically. How do you outline a screenplay? Think of the three-act structure:
- 1st act or setup introduces the main characters, the protagonist's needs, and the inciting incident that sets them on their journey.
- 2nd act includes the ebbs and flows the protagonist faces as they move closer to or further away from their destiny.
- 3rd act has the protagonist confront their most significant conflict, leading to the climax and the resolution.
An outline should also include brief scene descriptions, plot points, character arcs, and snippets of dialogue.
.webp?width=600&height=400&name=Image%203%20(8).webp)
Building a treatment
Consider your film treatment a jacked-up version of your outline. It serves as a roadmap, making your film journey easier to navigate. A treatment fleshes out your characters and helps identify plot holes.
How long is it? That depends on you. Some script treatments can be as short as one page, while others can be over 50 pages. On average, most treatments are around 5 to 10 pages.
What's included in a treatment? Some basics:
- the title (even if it's a working title)
- logline
- plot summary (written in the present tense)
- main characters, their arc, and how they develop in the story
- conclusion
Once you've written your logline, outline, and treatment, it's time to write your screenplay!
And remember — even if your script is for a product video or other type of digital short, script outlines can also be applied to them. Storyboards and mind maps are also useful ways to outline all kinds of digital stories.
Creating different kinds of video content? Sign up for a free WeVideo account free to access easy-to-use features like video editing tools and templates.
How to format a script
Today, formatting a screenplay is easy. Many templates are free and can be found online. Plenty of screenwriting software, like Final Draft, Celtx Script, and Arc Studio, automatically arrange your writing into a screenplay format.
However, the industry standard for a script format is:
- 12-pt Courier font, with a 1-inch right margin
- 1.5-inch left margin
- 1-inch margins at the top and bottom
Pro tips:
Choose a few of your favorite movies and look up their scripts. Reading professional film scripts will help you understand what they should look like.
Here’s where you can find free examples:
Download, buy, or check out scriptwriting books from your local library. Here are a few to start.
- Screenplay: The Foundations of Screenwriting
- Screenwriter's Bible, 7th Edition
- Three Uses of the Knife: On the Nature and Purpose of Drama
- Save The Cat! The Last Book on Screenwriting You'll Ever Need
- Story: Substance, Structure, Style, and the Principles of Screenwriting
Ten key elements of script format
1. Title page
The script should have a title page and the screenwriter's name and contact information.
2. Page numbers
Except for the first page, number every script page (top right corner). On average, one page equals one minute of screen time.
3. Scene heading
Every screenplay needs the scene heading – or the slug line. This heading is a brief description that sets the upcoming scene. It includes:
- The scene heading is located on the left margin of the page and formatted in ALL CAPS.
- Interior or Exterior (written in all caps INT. or EXT.)
- Location. Usually, a single location.
- Time: day or night?
Example:
EXT. - OUTSIDE PATIO - EVENING
4. Transitions
Write instructions like CUT TO in all caps, aligned with the right margin.
.webp?width=600&height=495&name=Image%204%20(4).webp)
Image via ScreenCraft
5. Voiceover
Indicate voiceover by writing V.O. next to the name of the character speaking.
6. Locations
EXT for "exterior" or INT for "interior" should always precede scene headings.
7. Off-screen
Signify characters who can be heard speaking off-screen with O.S. (off-screen).
8. Character names
When introducing a character, write their name in all caps.
9. Action lines and dialogue
Action lines go under the scene heading and are broken up by dialogue. Align descriptions of action with the left margin of the page.
10. Parentheticals and subheaders
Parentheticals are typically used to help inform how a character speaks a line (dialogue). While parentheticals can be helpful, a good rule of thumb is that most dialogue should be clear on its own.
A subheading is a shorter version of a scene heading, without the INT. or EXT., and with a dash at the beginning. When a scene moves from one location to another within the same setting, use a subheading to indicate the shift.
Final thoughts
You've written your first draft. Now, it's truly a work in progress. But it's also time to revise, edit, and edit some more.
Consider either reading your script aloud or having someone read it to you. If something seems unnatural or awkward, it's a good bet that it won't resonate well in the final draft.
Remember, the best scripts come from the heart, so trust your instincts, have fun, and write a script that leaves something behind that matters. Happy scriptwriting!