1. My Project
For my creative brief I was tasked to create a script for a short fictional filmof at least 800
words that could go on to be used as the foundation of my short filmproduction. The script
could be any genre I want but had to show codes and conventions of that genre within the
scriptwriting. I also had to produce a proposal to go alongside it. I decided on using the
crime genre and create a short film about drug usage aimed at older teens and young
adults.
The Proposal
The first thing I had to do was write up a proposal for my film. I began by researching the
significance of a proposal and the contents of it. According to MasterClass, “a proposal is the
most complete way to pitch a film, containing a working title, a logline, key characters, and a
thorough description of all aspects of your proposed film.”
The first thing that should be included in my proposal is the synopsis of the film. This should
be what intrigues the reader and attracts them to your script. It should break down the plot
of my film’s first act and open the possibilities of where it could lead to next.
The thing that stood out to me most was the logline, I was a bit unsure on what it meant so I
researched it more to get a better understanding. According to MasterClass, “a logline is a
one-sentence summary or description of a movie.” Masterclass also describes the
importance of a logline: “a great logline can sell someone in Hollywood on your movie idea
and make them want to read your script, while a bad logline can tun away potential script
readers and make even the most intriguing premise sound boring.” This was very helpful
because it helped me understand how big of an impact the logline could have on the future
of my film.
Next is the screenplay structure which is the 3 act structure of the screenplay. This divides
the story into three parts. The setup, confrontation and resolution.
Next I will describe each character who are important in the script.
The treatment is a detailed narrative breakdown of the story of my film.
Finally, the target audiences. Here I will describe who I’m targeting with my film.
MasterClass. (2021). Proposals and Treatments: Why Are They Necessary for
Filmmakers?. Available: https://www.masterclass.com/articles/why-are-proposals-and-
treatments-necessary-for-filmmakers#what-is-a-film-treatment. Last accessed 22nd Apr
2021.
MasterClass. (2020). Screenwriting Tips: How to Write a Logline.Available:
https://www.masterclass.com/articles/screenwriting-tips-how-to-write-a-logline#what-
is-a-logline. Last accessed 22nd Apr 2021.
Matt. (2021). How to Write a Powerful Film Proposal. Available:
https://filmlifestyle.com/write-powerful-film-proposal/. Last accessed 22nd Apr 2021.
2. McGrail, Lauren. (2017). How to Write a Powerful Documentary Film Proposal. Available:
https://www.lightsfilmschool.com/blog/how-to-write-documentary-film-proposal-aeo.
Last accessed 22nd Apr 2021.
My Idea
I decided that I wanted to write in the crime genre because I’ve always been a big fan of
crime films growing up with inspirations from films such as Now You See Me (2013) and
Catch Me If You Can (2002).
I decided to research the codes and conventions as well as the target audience of the crime
genre in filmso I knew who to target my film towards and how to develop a good crime
story. According to Storygrid, “Audiences are drawn to crime stories in order to experience
the intrigue of solving a puzzle and the security of seeing justice done in the end, without
facing real crime or real injustice.” This was helpful because I realised that my story should
end with justice while keeping a puzzling narrative throughout the film.
I also discovered from Statista that crime films are watched by an equal amount of male and
female viewers. Therefore, I decided I would keep a diverse cast in terms of gender.
Ramirez, Rachelle. (2018). Secrets of the Crime Genre: How to Write a Great
Caper. Available: https://storygrid.com/crime-genre/. Last accessed 29th Apr 2021.
Stoll, Julia. (2021). Most popular movie genres among adults in the United States as of
December 2018, by gender. Available:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/254115/favorite-movie-genres-in-the-us/. Last
accessed 29th Apr 2021.
Formatting my Script
Master Scene Script is the format that scripts are required to be written in by the motion
picture industry before they are greenlit for production. If a screenplay is written which
doesn’t use the correct formatting, the script may not even be read when pitching it.
My script has had three drafts in total before it was complete. After completing my initial
draft, I noticed there wasn’t much detail put into describing the locations and directions of
the character. I thought that if I was an actor reading the script to understand the character
that I was playing, I would be lost. Therefore, I added much more detail and clarification to
the locations and positioning of each character.
After that, I realised that I had capitalised each character’s name every time they were
mentioned. In master scene script, you should only capitalise a character’s name the first
time they are mentioned in the script. While fixing that, I realised that I didn’t introduce the
characters very well and didn’t add much description to them. Therefore, I added details
such as clothing and expressions before I was finally happy with the final draft of my script.
3. To finish off, I asked a couple classmates to read through my script and I was provided with
only positive feedback. They agreed that I had followed the correct formatting for my script
and introduced the locations and characters well with good description and imagery.
