Questions tagged [screenwriting]
Screenplay storytelling, writing, formatting, and how to put it all together.
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What do I need to keep in mind when writing a "pilot" episode for a series?
I've been working on a series. However, the series is very long and incomplete, so it's difficult to get feedback on it from others.
So I’ve been considering writing a “pilot” episode. A short story ...
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Would it be too presumptuous of any established author to write a novel in the hope that it be made into a film?
Before I start, let me clarify that this is not a dilemma I am facing currently. It's just a question I had in mind for many established and aspiring authors.
Many best selling novels get made into ...
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Protecting a POV in visual adaptation of a novel
I’m considering allowing a film adaptation of my novel but want the “frame story” message maintained. What would this device technically be called in the agreement?
Example:
The original Planet of the ...
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Structuring TV episodes that each have a movie-long screenplay
TV shows nowadays are elaborate, lasting 45 mins or more per episode, with each episode being a full-blown movie in itself since they have their own screenplay the length of a Hollywood film.
What are ...
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How to decide whether to write a story as a novel or screenplay?
Any general framework for deciding whether a story should be produced as a novel or screenplay? It seems a screenplay, while ideal for dialogue-rich stories, would regardless still be more sought-...
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What is the sub-genre/trope of the characters in a multi-POV story all coalescing in violent mayhem called?
Imagine your typical multi-POV story, with an urban setting and within the action genre, boasting a lot of not-so-upstanding citizens for characters. These characters are spread about, some with ...
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How to format quick flash cuts of photos in a screenplay?
I am writing a script where there are quick flash cuts, where the current present action is then 'captured' in a still photo which is representing a 'highlight' on an Instagram post/story shown for ...
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Is adding too many people/characters to a story bad?
im building a world for a screenplay and i would like to have some main characters I have already made some character profiles for some of them but i was wondering whether or not if adding too many ...
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How do I change the person a character addresses in a screenplay?
I was formatting my screenplay, and I wondered how to specify that the speaker changes who they are addressing. I figured it would simply be stated in a parenthetical:
DUIRE
What? I'm ...
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Is it silly to ask a writer to finish my script, but follow my key points
I'm working on a story for a video game I made that's supposed to be made into anime/visual novel, but In the game you kill monsters so there's not much room for character development.
I have key ...
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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 ...
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When making a movie pitch, do you need to have a screenplay or are there other types of documents you can have instead?
When making a movie pitch, do you need to have a screenplay or are there other types of documents you can have instead? Sometimes, I would assume someone would pitch general ideas and worldbuilding ...
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What are some means we can use to direct the analyst's interpretation of a movie scene?
What are some means we can use to direct the analyst's interpretation of a movie scene? I feel like Kubrick's films can be interpreted in too many ways. Some people think they make his films even ...
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Writing a screenplay versus a short story
I've been writing short stories throughout my life, in a humorous style. Yet, these stories lack a literary quality, and the prose is rather plain. I'm debating whether to start writing screenplays ...
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What are the various means to add hidden meaning in a screenplay?
What are the various means to add hidden meaning in a screenplay? People use anagrams, visual symbolism, allegories, but I am wondering if there are different ways to use anagrams, visual symbolism, ...
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Is it possible to mix a script and a screenplay into one?
Screenplays and scripts primarily separate out dialogue and stage directions, etc.
Would it be feasible to write a script and mix elements of a screenplay into it, to give both technical and acting ...
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How should a scene in a screenplay be formatted when switching between a re-telling of a story and the story being told?
I have a scene where a character is recounting their side of a story in a courtroom. The character tells a good chunk of their story, and then we see the experiences he is recounting instead of his ...
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How do you write "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!" in a movie script professionally?
Stephen: I am your daddy.
Robert:
NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The question is how do you write no in a way that looks professional without removing the "...
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Starting Sentences [duplicate]
I have been working on a book on an online website lately and while I was looking through my previous chapters I find myself starting sentences repeatedly with the character's pronoun or name. I want ...
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How to write a Scene Heading for on the way somewhere
I am writing my very first script and I have so much to learn.
For now, I want to know how to write a scene heading where the character is on the way to a location.
EXT. SEASIDE - DAY
...
character ...
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Can You Hide A Character's Name?
So I'm writing a screenplay and I'm not sure if I can hide my character's name. Do I have to say it in the screenplay but just mention that we don't get their name until later. I've heard I should ...
user46881
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Referring to groups and unnamed individuals from groups in a screenplay
The following extract is from a screenplay I'm writing. I could really use some advice on how to format it, particularly around referring to groups of people and an unnamed person from a group.
Bob ...
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Screenplay dialogue tags for unintroduced characters
I am writing a screenplay for a TV show in which a character who will become important later in the series has a line of dialogue in the opening scene. However, he is offscreen and will not be ...
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What Does A Person Mean That My Novel Reads Like A Screenplay?
I have recently heard from some literary agents that my book, my opening chapters, reads like a screenplay. Now, this is a minority view. Most agents just think my opening chapters are beautifully ...
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Screenplay Writing Software for Apple OS X
I'm looking for Screen Play Creation Software for Mac OS X that doesn't require internet access. What options exist?
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How do I write a character's name in a short film script?
When introducing a character in a short film script, does a full name have to be used, or is their last name not needed?
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Is it a bad idea to write two screenplays at once? [closed]
I write scripts. Right now I'm writing a feature. I'm kind of a beginner, so I wanted to ask, is it a bad idea to write two screenplays at once? Sometimes, I sit down to write and start having all ...
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When and how to reveal the details of a protagonist's traumatic backstory
I'm writing a screenplay. The main character has suffered a major tragedy, but we don't know that yet.
This, of course, hugely affects the way he acts, due to this tragedy he is now a broken man, ...
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Multiple superimposed supers
I'm trying to figure out the correct formatting for multiple supers for the intro of my film. I imagine four separate superimposed lines, one appears, then fades away, until they are finished. How ...
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Which language to choose: my native language or English? [duplicate]
I want to right screen play, but every time I think about writing, the first question that pops in my head is which one to choose: my native language or English?
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How can I make it so that my story isn't resolved so easily? [closed]
I'm writing a screenplay for a project in my film studies class and I'm close to resolving the conflict, but as I near the end, it feels like it's being resolved far too easily. In summary, the ...
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RNG 109 Watermark
I've been reading up a bunch of Screenplays from movies that I liked and came across a couple of them with a curious watermark on them, saying "RNG-109". I noticed this on a version of the Script for "...
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What are the main aspects to have in mind to write a screenplay or dramatic text? [closed]
I'm an actress but I also want to start writing my own stuff for good so I can develop them into film or play.
I've been writing but something keeps missing!
So what are the main aspects to write ...
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How to introduce a character properly
I'm working on a screenplay and I know the basics of formatting, however I still don't get why the first time a character speaks some line, it has to be written as
He or Man
instead of his actual ...
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Good recess scene screenplay [closed]
I'm wondering if anyone could tell me how to write some very short recess scene at a school? I'm out of ideas. P.S. this would be acted.
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How do we write a movie script with a view towards establishing all of the visual symbolisms and how they should be interpreted?
How do we write a movie script with a view towards establishing all of the visual symbolisms and how they should be interpreted?
Often, movie scripts often only have dialogues and some very brief ...
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live or recorded [duplicate]
I'm writing an interview a la 60 minutes or Behind the Music, where the interviewer show footage of the subject's homelife. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to indicate that the "behind the scenes" ...
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Indicating fill pieces in a script
I'm writing a script that involves an interview with a person a la 60 minutes or Behind the Music. I'm a little confused if the "fill pieces" should be formatted as "recorded" or "prerecorded" in its ...
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In the Windows version of Scrivener for Screenplay formatting, how do format for action/dialogue/shot?
There is a way to automatically change the indices to respect whether it is a line of dialogue or a description of the setting, but I can't find a way to bring the menu up consistently when hitting "...
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If I have an idea for an animated series how do I write it out?
So basically I’ve come up with a story that I believe could be an interesting animated series, but I’m not in the stages where I’m ready to try and pitch it or anything. How should I approach writing ...
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Why is the standard screenplay format just plain ASCII? Why don't use LaTeX or Word?
I'm just curious. I don't know anything about screenwriting and I see scripts online have only one format and they are all plain text. Why don't they use LaTeX or Word? It will look nicer and the ...
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About sound effects
I'm writing a script that shows a speaker interacting with their audience. The speaker finishes speaking and the audience reacts. I wrote it like this.
Loud CHEERS from the audience.
I'm wondering ...
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How to name indistinguishable henchmen in a screenplay?
A large group of indistinguishable henchman feature throughout my screenplay. What is an acceptable naming method for them?
Let's say I wanna call them 'Red shirts'. Can I ...
A) Call them all RED ...
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How to format quick flashes in a screenplay?
Question : In my screenplay, the main character occasionally suffers quick flashes, like visions. I have been unable to assert if I am formatting these correctly. Please also note the single and ...
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Is Social Media Science Fiction?
I am writing a science fiction story (actually a screenplay for a film, but I imagine that for the purposes of this question the same rules apply) and I have been told that it isn't really science ...
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How many blank lines before scene headings (and secondary scene headings) using Amazon Storywriter
Question : How many blank lines should be before scene headings and secondary scene headings in a screenplay? Note that I am using Amazon Storywriter.
Detail : I am writing a screenplay with Amazon ...
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How to format a screenplay scene where the action alternates between 2 or more spots in an open space?
Question : In a screenplay, how should I format a scene in which the action and dialogue alternates between 2 or more spots in an open space?
Example: I have a scene where the action and dialogue (...
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Writing an interview in a screenplay
I'm writing an interview in a screenplay where the protagonist is being interviewed a la 60 minutes. The interview shows an interviewer, Sarah Jones, who interviews a politician, Ben Parker. It ...
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How to script two scenes happening simultaneously?
I am writing a movie where a character has an interview with a news reporter. The scenes segues into a character profile of the interviewee that features a voice over from the interviewer. How would I ...
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How to write character's emotional reactions in a screenplay?
Question : When writing my screenplay, I frequently find the urge to describe a character's emotion. However, I have read somewhere (I forget where) that this should be left to the actor to some ...
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