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Screenplay
by Syd Field
The Subject
Action and Character
What happens
Who it happens to
Definitive beginning, middle and end
Form and Structure
 Fleshing out the action
 Focusing on the character
Broadens the story and accentuates the details
Research
Research is absolutely essential
Search for accurate information
The devil is in the detail
o Personal interviews
o Increase knowledge
SUBJECT
Action
Physical Emotional
Character
Define the
Need
Action is
Character
Character
What does your character want?
What is his need?
All drama is conflict
Conflict, Struggle, Overcoming Obstacles
What a person does is what he is, not what he
says?
For every action there is an equal and opposite
reaction
Building the Screenplay
Act 3
End
Act 2
Middle
Act 1
Beginning
Set up Confrontation Resolution
Plot Point 1 Plot Point 2
Act 1 – The Setup
Plot Point
Incident of event that “hooks” into the action and
spins it around in another direction
Each act has a direction
Set up your story
Main Character
Dramatic Premise
Establish the Situation (Visually and Dramatically)
Act 2 – The
Confrontation
Character encounters obstacles that keep him
from reaching his goal
Another plot point
Act 3 - Resolution
Building
1. Take a pack of Index cards
2. Write the idea for each scene or sequence on a
single card (brief words)
3. Build toward the plot point at the end of each act
Experiment
Work for your story

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Screenplays

  • 2. The Subject Action and Character What happens Who it happens to Definitive beginning, middle and end Form and Structure  Fleshing out the action  Focusing on the character Broadens the story and accentuates the details
  • 3. Research Research is absolutely essential Search for accurate information The devil is in the detail o Personal interviews o Increase knowledge
  • 5. Character What does your character want? What is his need? All drama is conflict Conflict, Struggle, Overcoming Obstacles What a person does is what he is, not what he says? For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction
  • 6. Building the Screenplay Act 3 End Act 2 Middle Act 1 Beginning Set up Confrontation Resolution Plot Point 1 Plot Point 2
  • 7. Act 1 – The Setup Plot Point Incident of event that “hooks” into the action and spins it around in another direction Each act has a direction Set up your story Main Character Dramatic Premise Establish the Situation (Visually and Dramatically)
  • 8. Act 2 – The Confrontation Character encounters obstacles that keep him from reaching his goal Another plot point Act 3 - Resolution
  • 9. Building 1. Take a pack of Index cards 2. Write the idea for each scene or sequence on a single card (brief words) 3. Build toward the plot point at the end of each act Experiment Work for your story