Script Writing and Storyboard Review

What comes before starting to write your script?

The idea.

Questions to ask yourself about your idea:

• Is your idea clear? 

• Can you pitch it?

• How concisely can you get your idea across?

• Who’s this story for?

• What’s it trying to say?

• What’s the best way of telling it?

Concepting:

• The clearer your idea, the easier it will be to translate it on paper.

• Know your story inside and out, from the characters to the world they live in. 

• Choose your angle, because the same scene can be filmed in many different ways depending on what your end goal is. 

• Be VISUAL!

Script

Tells your story on paper.

What is included in your script?

• Scene headings (where and when)

• Action lines (what's happening)

• Character names

• Dialogue

Three Act Structure

Act 1: Introduces the main characters, the setting, and the world they live in.

Act 2: The main character faces a series of obstacles and challenges. It’s the “meat” of the story where the stakes get higher.

Act 3: The final showdown. The character faces the biggest obstacle, makes a choice, and either wins or loses.

What does a scene start with?

A scene heading (or slugline).

What are scene headings?

Simple instructions: They tell the director and actors where the scene is set and the time of day. Looks like this: INT. (Interior) or EXT. (exterior) +  name of location + time of day (Morning, Afternoon, or Night)

Example of scene headings:

INT. JANE'S HOUSE (MASTER BEDROOM) - NIGHT

Action Lines:

• Explain all of the action, subjects, and movements in the scene other than dialogue.

• When you introduce a major character for the first time, capitalize their name and add any descriptions that are absolutely necessary for the reader to understand who they are (age, demeanor, overall attitude, etc.)

• ACTION LINES ARE WRITTEN IN PRESENT TENSE!

Example of action lines:

INT. JANE'S HOUSE (MASTER BEDROOM) - NIGHT

JANE SMITH tiptoes across the room, a candle in her hand.

Dialogue:

Whenever your character speaks, center and capitalize their name and write the dialogue beneath it.

Example of dialogue:

INT. JANE'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) - NIGHT 

JANE SMITH tiptoes across the room, a candle in her hand. She hears a crack in the floorboards, and whips her head to the door frame.

JANE DOE

What was that?

Parentheticals:

Indicate the emotion of a line or a small physical movement that happens with a line.

Example of parentheticals:

INT. JANE'S HOUSE (BEDROOM) - NIGHT 

JANE DOE

(nervous)

Is anyone there?

What does a storyboard do?

It communicates a filmaker’’s vision.

What is a storyboard?

• A storyboard is a visual representation of how a story will play out, scene by scene. 

• It's made up of a chronological series of images, with accompanying notes.

• It's a process that gives you and your team members a project's tangible, visual flow when it's time to collaborate and make key creative decisions in the pre-production process.

Storyboards are basically your GAME PLAN!