How to write a screenplay- a class given by Aparna Malladi at the "I AM THE CHANGE" conference held this week at IIM-Ahmedabad.
· For every finished minute there should be one written page (120 minutes is a standard film, thus 120 pages to a screenplay)
o 1st Act- The Set Up – 30 minutes
o 2nd Act – Adventure – 60 minutes
o 3rd Act- Resolution – 30 minutes
These can be shortened but the ration should always remain 1:2:1
·
to To create a great screenplay these ingredients must be thrown together
o a protagonist
§ your hero
o antagonist
§ battle/challenge/contrast the protagonist
o a dynamic supporting character
§ supports the protagonist
§ can be a group of friends or a single actor
o 2nd act adventure
§ what is the action of the film
§ what does the protagonist do to get the McGaffin
§ McGaffin
· A physical, tangible object that the protagonist is after
· A term coined by Alfred Hitchcock
o Genre
§ Describes the entertainment impact of the film
§ You should pick your genre before you start writing your screenplay
§ Ex: action, thriller, horror, romance, mystery, suspense, crime, comedy, drama, fantasy, etc
o Premise Line (Log Line)
§ A one liner about your movie
§ When ___ then___ until ____
§ The beginning and end are still ambiguous but the idea is conveyed
· Once the screenplay is written- divide your 120 pages into 10 parts and find 10 friends to read 12 pages each. From this reading each friend should be able to identify what ingredients were used.
· 3+6+3 = the perfect formula
1. First Act- the viewer is introduced to the protagonist
a. Show the major flaw or misbehavior of the protagonist (10 pages)
b. Introduce the powerful, mighty antagonist (10 pages)
c. Start the film with a trigger that is very obvious- the protagonist takes a stand on an issue (10 pages)
d. A and B are the source of the “AH! HA!” Feeling (the entertainment factor)
2. Second Act- the adventure begins
a. 1st failure
i. the antagonist sets up a failure for the protagonist
b. 2nd failure
i. the protagonist doubles efforts, yet fails again
c. mid point
i. the movie rotates on its axis
ii. this is when the wonderful Indian intermission occurs
d. strategizing
i. the climax
ii. the protagonist puts life on the line
iii. the viewer understands how many resources everyone (friends of the protagonist pitch in to help) in the film has- everything is revealed and pooled together
iv. this could be the shot in an action flick where all the guns and weapons are pooled together
v. this is the most expensive shot and a director can base the budget around this scene
e. 3rd failure
i. even after pooling everything together the protagonist is still not victorious
f. low point
i. this can be one shot or 10 pages long
ii. the protagonist is seen alone- vulnerable
3. Third Act- the resolution unravels
a. Zen Moment
i. The protagonist is all alone and comes to the solution (Ah! HA! Moment)
ii. The old tricks have failed and now the protagonist understands that the simple solution will work
b. Battle Scene
i. The protagonist attempts to kill the villain
ii. Bravery, triumph
c. Wedding Scene/ Funeral Scnee/ Walking into the Sunset
i. The first step towards a new beginning
4. The End!
· 65 – 70 scenes = 1 screenplay
· when the location shifts your scene changes
· write simply, but each scene should:
o Fade in
o Slug line introduces each line
§ Location
§ Time of day
o Action that is basic and describes what is happening
§ Ex: girl and boy bump into one another
o Dialogue
o The subtext is given- emotion is outlined
§ Boy glances back at the girl but girl does not notice
§ We know that he boy likes the girl but the girl in the film has no idea
o Fade out
the best screenplays are the ones that:
a. tell the story of you before an AH HA moment, how you came to it, and the wonderful life you lead because of it
b. help you work through the things you need to change in your own life. Decide something you want to work through in yourself and begin to write. By the time you come to the 3rd act you should be rid of the antagonist within you.
now you have the recipe and all the tips you need- so, you know, just do it.
No comments:
Post a Comment