screenwriting for a short film, feature or series
You can have at least three different approaches to screenwriting depending on who will produce the film and/or size of the budget
- Write a script without constraints. This is the preferred method when you write a manuscript for someone else to produce and/or have a larger budget.
- Write a script with constraints. This is the preferred method when you write a script for a micro budget film.
- Write a script for available location & cast. This is a preferable method when you have zero budget or would like to experiment.
The differences between these three approaches are the included activities and the order of them, based on the constraints. Otherwise, the parts in the script are the same.
high-level story with beATS
Structure of a beat sheet. (Save the Cat by Blake Snyder)
- Opening image
- Set-up
- Theme stated
- Catalyst
- Debate
- Break Into Two
- B story
- The promise of the premise
- Midpoint
- Bad guys closes in
- All is lost
- Dark night of the soul
- Break into three
- Finale
- Final image
CHARACTER ARC
How the character transforms during the script.
Screenwriting software
We use Final Draft for screenwriting as it's a very established program for screenwriting in the industry. It's available and maintained for Windows, MacOS and iOS.
Templates for shotfilms, features and series are available as examples.
The script should include majority of scenes, actors and locations before pre-productions begins.
The script numbering must be locked when production starts, as it's not possible to change scene numbering after production starts.
Day planning also requirers the scene numbering to be locked down. However, there is a possibility to add scenes and shots at a later stage if needed, using exception handling.