Writing Stack Exchange
Writing Stack Exchange

Questions tagged [screenwriting]

Screenplay storytelling, writing, formatting, and how to put it all together.

Questions about writing screenplays, tools for writing them, formatting, and all other story/character issues peculiar to writing for the silver screen.

274 questions
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How difficult is it to break into screenwriting?

Is it difficult to get anyone to buy a screenplay you write? I am thinking about writing a screenplay but am concerned that maybe I shouldn't waste my time; I have no formal training in writing screenplays. Is it harder or easier than getting a…
user153
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Shots in a spec script?

I'm writing a feature-length movie screenplay - well it's still at the story stage, so I haven't started to write the screenplay itself yet. I have been reading wordplayer and a few scripts to see the structure. I've got one scene in mind where the…
chad
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Origin of the "1 minute of film per page" rule-of-thumb when following formatting conventions for screenplays?

Looking for formatting rules or conventions for screenplays. Many times they mention this format results roughly in 1 minute on film per page. Is this an observation on average (i.e. an output), or is it a prerequisite (i.e. an input)? Just…
MS-SPO
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How do screenwriters incorporate song scenes into a screenplay for a musical?

If the song is already written, sure, easy question. But say you're sitting down to write The Lion King before any composers have even been brought aboard, before pre-production has even been dreamt of. What do you write?
temporary_user_name
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How to write for cartoons?

How do the techniques for writing for animated cartoons differ from the techniques for other script-writing? Is there a guide for writing for cartoons? I suddenly find myself writing for a flash Youtube cartoon series.
CircleofStones
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Should you specify camera action in a film script?

Some scripts I read specify the exact camera angle of every shot-- where the camera starts, what we see, how it will move during the scene. And some scripts are a little less specific. Is this only because the former is the shooting script, a…
temporary_user_name
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Why are some words in screenplays set in all caps?

I believe I understand this and I'm looking for confirmation. Examples: It has become a tugging match with the Weird Man shouting, "I'll take you to a taxi... I'll take you." Ahead, a group is gathered on the sidewalk near two ambulances. People…
temporary_user_name
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How do I write someone reading a document?

I have a scene where my character sits down to read a court summons and I want the shots to show various parts of the document like his name, then his codefendants name, then the charge and then the compensation sought, etc. I don’t know if I should…
Matt
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Is there an accepted format for comedy sketch writing?

I have been doing Google searches for examples or teleplays to download that may offer insight for sketch comedy writing. Is there a specific format that those in the industry follow or is simply the same teleplay/screenplay format used by the rest…
Kevin O'Shea
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Example screenplays on the web

Wondering if there are any good "open source" screenplays available on the web, ones that provide a good introduction to screenplays and have lots of "features" of screenplay writing. I would like to see the structure of them and how they are…
Lance
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How are descriptions and character thoughts handled in a screenplay (versus a novel)

I wonder if you write descriptions in a screenplay the same way you write in a novel. For example, I see writers describe the physical effects of the emotion of anger rather than just saying 'angry', do we do the same thing in a screenplay? Or do we…
Yostina
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How to chop up long scenes?

I have written stage drama stuff before. I am sending in comedy scripts to the BBC as part of a competition. I am wondering about cutting a scene down. I remember Stepto and Son where the scenes would be 10 minutes long. How to chop up a scene? How…
Desmond56
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Standard format for symbols that denaote text, phone or email message or dialogue, when all are used in same story

I am writing a short fiction piece that has rapid fire texts, emails, phone messages and dialogue. How do I format the piece so with one symbol I can use to cue the reader as to which it is? Is there a standard?
michelle
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A Background Voice Heard Over A Phone

There's a running dialogue between two of my characters. However, I am not using INTERCUT and only one of the two characters will be in frame. The other will be heard through V.O.. Now, here's my question. At the end of the phone call, just as the…
Sampark Sharma
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Why do most movie plots have obvious flaws, despite the extreme competitiveness of the script marketplace?

@Standback wrote in an answer to "How difficult is it to break into screenwriting?": It's extremely, extremely difficult. Not too many people making movies. Lots of people writing screenplays. Gargantuan investment to get a movie made. Not an easy…
MWB
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