WRITING FOR NEW MEDIA
Module 13
Introduction to the Screenplay
Objectives
- Introduce the basics of screenwriting.
- Introduce the basic of fictional storytelling.
- Discuss the important aspects of the screenplay.
Methods
- Film viewing.
- Worksheet.
Introduction
This is an introduction to basic screenwriting which should give you the basic skills in writing a screenplay, or a script for a fictional narrative. Basically, this allows you to write the film in your head.
As with the AV Script, you are not executing this story in this class. But you will be expected to work from this script for your video class later on. So it’s important that your screenplay is actually something that you can execute when the time comes.
The screenplay, or fictional script, is the logical final project for your Writing for New Media Class, because it uses many of the skills you’ve used in the earlier requirements. As with all the long-form writing you’ve done (the reflection, feature, and AV script), you are looking at the structure of beginning-middle-end here. You are also being tasked with doing descriptions, in the way that we discussed it for the reflection and feature.
As with the AV script, you are being made to imagine what the screen actually looks like, if the sequence of events actually make sense, and how exactly each moment looks. This is where text and moving image become all about the words that you use—you will not have the benefit of pre-existing interviews or footage to fall back on—so you’re going to be dependent on YOUR ability to allow your reader to imagine this story that you’re writing.
This is a screenplay for a movie that’s 3 to 4 minutes long. As with the AV script, a chunk of your grade will come from how well you follow the format, so make sure to check out the rubric in the syllabus, and to watch all the screenwriting videos.
As we don’t know how much longer we will be stuck at home, already imagine a story that happens in the context of the pandemic, so that it might be easier to actually execute it when you already need to. Consider that as an additional challenge in writing your story.
The Basics
The most basic elements of the story that you need to decide on are these four things: Theme, Character, Setting, and Conflict.
We usually imagine theme to be an answer to the question: what is your story about? But the more productive question is actually: What does your story want to say?
This means that you need to make the decision early on about what it is you want to say through your story. This is not just topic or subject, which can be very general, as it is about what you want to say about that topic or subject.
Next, you pick your character(s). You need to decide which kinds of characters would make sense given what it is you want to say in your story. Already think about what would make your character(s) unique, or special. Why would your audience want to keep watching what happens to each character?
Setting is an often neglected but crucial part of any film. Because it dictates not just a specific place, but also the bigger context of your story. Here, you need to describe where exactly the story is happening in terms of its immediate surroundings; but also, you need to establish what is the bigger context: is it pandemic times? If yes, is it pandemic in the Philippines, or elsewhere? Is it in the past, the present, or future? What does this setting look like?
Conflict is that one major incident in your story that makes it move. It needs to be interesting enough to allow for a chain of events that propels the story forward. It has to be an incident that destroys or puts into question what is established about the character in the beginning of the story. And most importantly, it has to be complicated enough to trigger movements in the story.
That conflict leads to the climax of the story: that huge moment where the characters’ reactions to the conflict lead them to a confrontation, or realization, or grand reveal. This is also where the theme of the story is revealed, which is why conflict is crucial.
Activity 1
Watch these sample films, followed by the discussion video.
- Levi’s Holiday 2018 advertisement.
- Kwentong Jollibee: Couple Goals.
- Kwentong Jollibee: Space.
- Coin Operated by Nicholas Arioli.
- The Present by Jacob Frey.
- The Laundry written by Minkyung Jenna Kim.
- Roadside by Jakob Owens and Ryan Alexander.
- Alone written by Brock Torunski and Alex Vietinghoff.
Worksheet Activity
Fill up the Screenplay Worksheet and submit for comments. Follow the submission guide from the start of the term. Good luck!
