A Script is not a book. In a book you have the luxury of unlimited pages to describe in detail all action, characterization, motivation, history, time sense, and the myriad other things that comprise the story. A script has no such luxury. It must be told in three acts of roughly 100 to 120 pages, and it must be told strictly “In Visual Terms.” Every sequence in a script must tell a story; it must have a reason for being, some piece of information to impart to the viewer that fills in the story in some way. Every character introduced must serve a purpose; even an extraneous one–line passerby must add to the story. Every confrontation, every action sequence, every location, must serve the storyline in some way. Every single visual the scriptwriter chooses to use, every piece of dialog, must always serve the purpose of the story. How the Scriptwriter chooses to create and use those sequences is where the Art of Scriptwriting lies. (From my book, The Script, A Breakthrough Guide To Scriptwriting)
Screenwriting : What Comprises a Script... by Alyn Darnay
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This is a mistake to be avoided: Alyn Darnay wrote: "Every sequence in a script must tell a story; it must have a reason for being, some piece of information to impart to the viewer that fills in the story in some way." Strong scenes are about CONFLICT, disagreement - - not about exposition nor "imparting information." Show -- don't tell.
Just reading that makes me think of what a daunting task it is to write a screenplay. But I'm thankful for all my co-writer and I have already learned and am up to the task of learning whatever else we need to know in order to be "official" paid screenwriters one day. :)
I think until you become fluent in it, it is a daunting task. Definitely agree that the more you practice it and know it, the easier it becomes.
True, Dan.
And focus on maximum entertainment. .. And I believe Screenwriting is the highest art form on the planet. It's the equivalent of conducting an orchestra and more. How difficult is that?!
"Every character introduced must serve a purpose; even an extraneous one–line passerby must add to the story. Every confrontation, every action sequence, every location, must serve the storyline in some way. Every single visual the scriptwriter chooses to use, every piece of dialog, must always serve the purpose of the story." Or it will end up on the cutting room floor. As a novice writer, I have found when writing, my first challenge was to NOT use "We See" or self evident descriptions. IE: Lenny sends Squiggy to the store for a "dozen Eggs". Leaving all of that out, and using the dialog to paint it instead. LENNY "Squiggy go to the store and get some eggs"
I love this . Your views are uniquely interesting