Part I: Generating Ideas for a Screenplay T BOOK Being a SCREENWRITER STUDEN NAME: 6tGh–R8thADE
Introduction Being A Screenwriter Welcome to part one of “Being A Screenwriter.” Undoubtedly, you’ve seen tons of movies in your life. Maybe you’ve even wanted to make one yourself! Well, here’s your chance. In this course, you’ll learn everything it takes to write a screenplay from the ground up. The great thing about screenwriting is that you don’t need any special tools or technology—just your imagination and something to write with. Anyone can do it. At the end of this course, you will walk away with a screenwriting journal filled with all the ideas you need to write your own movie! You will also have written a one-sentence description of your movie, which is called a “logline,” and a summary of what happens in your movie (called a “treatment”). Professional screenwriters use loglines to sell their ideas. This course will also teach you to look at movies in a whole new way. You’ll be able to watch movies the way critics do. You’ll be able to identify exactly what it is that makes a good movie good and a bad movie bad. When you go to the movies, you’ll find yourself commenting to your friends about the story like an expert. And, more often than not, you’ll even be able to predict what will happen in a film before it happens, because you will know how a screenplay works. If you’d like to see what a screenplay looks like, check out your local library. Most libraries have a film and television section with published screenplays available for you to borrow. You may also want to see if there are any local film festivals near you. Many cities hold festivals where filmmakers (and screenwriters) get together and show their work. Festivals are a chance to get to speak with professional screenwriters who live and work right in your backyard. Perhaps you may be interested in becoming a professional screenwriter yourself. Maybe you want to write the next big Hollywood blockbuster! There are also plenty of jobs for screenwriters outside of Hollywood. Everything you see on television required somebody to write it. Screenwriters write commercials, television programs, public service announcements and the news. Even reality television shows have screenwriters! Have you ever had to watch an educational video in school? Or used an exercise video at home? Screenwriters had to write those, as well. In this course, though, we’ll be focusing on what screenwriters are most famous for: movies. So grab your pencil and your imagination! Let’s get writing! Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publisher. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Table of Contents Lesson 1: The Kinds of Movies We Love An Introduction to Genre and Theme......................... 2 Lesson 2: How Movies Work The Three-Act Structure.............................................. 6 Lesson 3: The Story YOU Can Tell Writing from the Heart................................................10 Lesson 4: The Brainstorm Coming up with an Idea................................................. 15 Lesson 5: Bringing It All Together Making Your Ideas Work..............................................23 Lesson 6: Developing Characters Who Will Your Story Be About?................................28 Lesson 7: Understanding Conflict What Will Your Story Be About?.............................. 31 Lesson 8: The Hero/Heroine’s Journey Merging Conflict and Character..................................34 Lesson 9: Thinking Cinematically Showing Rather than Telling ......................................40 Lesson 10: The Pitch Writing Your Logline and Treatment....................... 44 Glossary ............................................................................................49 Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 1
Lesson 1 Activity 1: List of Genres Comedy Romance Horror Science fiction Animated Action/Adventure Drama Western Musical Historical Children’s Crime Silent film 2 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 1 Activity 2: Identifying Genre and Theme Directions: Draw a line from a genre to the correct movie title. Draw a line from a movie title to the correct theme. If you have not seen a particular movie, take a guess. Genre Movies Theme Science Fiction Miracle Love Horror Lady and the Tramp Revenge Comedy Napoleon Dynamite Overcoming odds Romance Pirates of the Caribbean Growing up Action/Adventure Signs Fear Drama The Ring Family Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 3
Lesson 1 Journal of Ideas 4 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 1 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 5
Lesson 2 Activity 1: The Three-Act Structure (Part I) Three-Act Structure Movie Title: Act I Setting Protagonist Antagonist Conflict Low Point Act II Act III Climax Resolution 6 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 2 Activity 1: The Three-Act Structure (Part I) Three-Act Structure Movie Title: Act I Setting Protagonist Antagonist Conflict Low Point Act II Act III Climax Resolution Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 7
Lesson 2 Activity 2: The Three-Act Structure (Part II) Working together in a group of four, rearrange your favorite elements of the example movies to create a new movie. For example, you could take the protagonist of Home Alone, the antagonist of The Wizard of Oz, the setting of Pirates of the Caribbean, etc. Three-Act Structure Movie Title: Act I Setting Protagonist Antagonist Conflict Low Point Act II Act III Climax Resolution Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. 8 Student Book
Lesson 2 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 9
Lesson 3 Activity 1: The Memory Map In the space below, draw a map of your neighborhood including your house, your friends’ houses and any other notable landmarks. Feel free to color, label and decorate it however you see fit. 10 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 3 tMheemthoirnygsisyaouwaarye,ofthheoltdhininggsonytoouthneevtehrinwgasnyt otuo love, ~ From the television show The Wonder Years lose. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 11
Lesson 3 Activity 2: A Photographic Memory Using the photograph or object you brought from home, follow the instructions below. 1. Write a few sentences describing why this photograph or item is important to you. 2. Describe the item or photograph. 3. On the next page try to come up with three storylines using the photograph or object you brought from home for inspiration. These can be stories that actually happened or totally new ones. Here’s an example to get you started. 1. When her family moves to a new town,Samantha relies on her oldest friend, her horse Juniper, as she learns to deal with her new surroundings. 2. Despite Juniper’s reputation as a hard horse to ride, she and Samantha work together to win the state riding competition. 3. When Samantha finds that a local circus is abusing its prize- winning horse Juniper, Samantha sets out to rescue the horsefrom its captors. 12 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 3 Activity 2: A Photographic Memory 1. 2. 3. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 13
Lesson 3 Journal of Ideas 14 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 4 Activity 1: Imagining a Setting If you have forgotten your screenwriting journal today, record your ideas here. It is quiet. The sun is shining. You look around you and find yourself surrounded by fields of wheat. In the distance you can see a house. Next to the house is a barn, and next to the barn is a silo. There’s a gentle breeze. What can you hear? Are there any other people around? You’re standing on a city street. The noise of car horns and people shouting surrounds you. To your left there’s a man selling hot dogs from a cart. Across the street several people are waiting for a bus. An ambulance comes around the corner with its siren blaring. What happens next? Can you smell anything interesting? Do you see anybody who seems out of place? Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 15
Lesson 4 Activity 1: Imagining a Setting If you have forgotten your screenwriting journal today, record your ideas here. Your feet are bare. Your toes are buried in soft, warm sand. You can hear the sound of water washing up on the shore. A seagull calls. You look out into the water and see two men speeding across the water in a motorboat. Look up the beach. Can you see any buildings? Can you hear any other sounds? Does it feel like some thing is about to happen? You are sitting on a grassy curb. In the street in front of you, children ride bikes and play games. All around you are large homes with sprinklers watering the yards. Is anything happening? How do you feel? Is there anyone around who catches your attention? 16 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 4 Activity 2: Writing to Music If you don’t have your journal, record your music responses here. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 17
Lesson 4 Activity 3: Fill in the Blank No journal? Finish the sentences here. You’re walking through a subway tunnel, on your way to catch a train. You pass through the turnstile to find that nobody else is in the tunnel. Suddenly the lights go out. You hear quick footsteps behind you, and then ________. You and several friends are at a carnival. You are waiting together in line to ride the Ferris wheel. You get on and the operator locks you in, then turns the Ferris wheel so you start to rise. As you do, you look down and you see _________. 18 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 4 Activity 3: Fill in the Blank No journal? Finish the sentences here. Your family has gone out for ice cream at a parlor in a small town. When everyone has their cone, you go out to a picnic table on a hill overlooking a park. Suddenly you hear a strange noise and _________. You’ve just arrived at school. You unlock your locker and begin to put your books inside. As you start to remove your coat, your best friend comes running up to you. He (or she) says, _______. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 19
Lesson 4 Activity 4: A World within a Photograph If you’ve left your journal at home, write about the photograph you selected here. Are you intrigued by a person, the place or an object in the picture? Does a story begin in your mind? 20 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 4 Wrap-Up: Brainstorming’s Best Record the three best ideas you came up with today. Feel free to look back several pages in your activity book and read some of the prompts your instructor gave you. These prompts may remind you of a great thought you wrote down today, or one you had but didn’t write down. 1. 2. 3. Student Book 21 Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 4 Journal of Ideas 22 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 5 Activity 2: Headlines Example Headlines: Serial Killer Engaged to Marry Popular Gospel Singer Hurt in Crash Williams Sisters Play in Wimbledon Doubles Tournament Write your headlines below: Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 23
Lesson 5 • Choose three of your favorite headlines from the last activity. • Write each headline into the “Extra! Extra!” graphic organizer in the far left column, labeled “Headline” (see example). • Next alter the headline for each genre listed and record your new headline under the appropriate genre. • The “other” category is for any additional genre you may want to explore. Comedy Romance Horror Action Other (Science Fiction) Popular Gospel Singer Develops Psychic Abilities in Crash Popular Gospel Singer Hurt in Crash Searches for the Man Who Hit Him Popular Gospel Singer Bit by Vampire During Crash Activity 3: Extra! Extra! Popular Gospel Singer Falls in Love with Paramedic Popular Gospel Singer’s Tour Bus Hit by Circus Caravan Example Headline Popular Gospel Headline #1 Headline #2 Headline #3 Singer Hurt in Crash 24 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 5 Activity 4: Star Story Directions • Select your very favorite headline from the “Extra! Extra!” activity sheet. • In pencil, write this headline in the middle of story star number 1. • Next, select your second and third favorite headlines from the “Extra! Extra!” activity sheet. • Record these headlines in the center of story stars number 2 and 3. • Finally, in the last two story stars (numbers 4 and 5) come up with two entirely new headlines based on the graphic organizer overlap. • For example, in star number 5, create a new headline that happens in the same place (where) as the story in star number 1 and features the same main character (who) as the story in star number 3. • When you have completed the graphic organizer and discussed it with the class, carefully fold the sheet in half and tape it to the inside back cover of your student activity book. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 25
26 Student Book What Why Falls in love with The vampire was paramedic in love with her When 2 Where 3When Where Lesson 5 After car crash Hospital During car crash In the woods Activity 4: Story Star Examples He saves her life Gospel Singer Gospel Singer Bit by vampire Why Who Who What Gospel singer Gospel singer What Where When 5 Why Her tour bus 4Tries to reunite a Shopping mall Summer breaks down Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. lost child with Who his parents Gospel singer He got separated from his mom Highway Performs a concert and dad Christmas What Why When Where Christmas 1 Highway The road was icy Killed in crash Why What
Lesson 5 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 27
Lesson 6 Activity 2: Discovering Your Character What is your character’s name? What does your character look like? How does he or she act? Is he/she smart, brave, etc? What kinds of things does he or she like? What doesn’t he or she like? Does he or she have any friends? 28 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 6 Activity 3: The Psychiatrist’s Couch Where did you grow up? What was your family like? Did you have a happy childhood? What was your greatest childhood fear? What traits got you into trouble? Who are the people you are closest to? What is the one thing people misunderstand most about you? What is the accomplishment you’ve been most proud of in your life? What’s been your greatest failure? Do you have a secret? Student Book 29 Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 6 Journal of Ideas 30 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 7 Activity 2: Generating Conflict Hero/Heroine Setting Central Conflict Subplot Complication Subplot Complication Student Book 31 Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 7 Activity 3: Creating Conflict for My Screenplay Hero/Heroine Setting Central Conflict Subplot Complication Subplot Complication Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. 32 Student Book
Lesson 7 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 33
Lesson 8 The Hero/Heroine’s Journey 1 Call to Adventure: The moment in a hero’s journey when a character is removed from his everyday life. 2 Road of Trials: The events that occur as a hero attempts to reach his goal. 3 Attainment of Goal: The moment when a hero resolves the central conflict of a film. 4 Return to the Ordinary World: The point in a film when a character returns to his everyday life. 5 Application of the Goal: The way in which the character is changed by his journey. 34 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 8 Activity 1: Character Arcs: Home Alone Before Movie During Movie After Movie Kevin relies on his parents. Kevin is Kevin is independent. Kevin is afraid of Old Man Marley. clever. Kevin is good Kevin isn’t afraid of the things he Kevin is afraid of the basement. at thinking of was afraid of before. booby traps. Kevin is a wiser, more mature young man. Kevin is smart. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 35
Lesson 8 Activity 1: My Own Character’s Arc Before Movie During Movie After Movie 36 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 8 Activity 2: The Hero/Heroine’s Journey: Home Alone Main Character Central Conflict Call to Adventure Road of Trials Attainment of Goal Student Book 37 Return to the Ordinary World Application of Goal Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 8 Activity 3: My Own Hero/Heroine’s Journey Main Character Central Conflict Call to Adventure Road of Trials Attainment of Goal Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Return to the Ordinary World Application of Goal 38 Student Book
Lesson 8 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 39
40 Student Book Keeping her secret! Piper in drugstore, looking over her shoulder for fear Piper hiding diapers and a pacifier in her gym bag Lesson 9 she knows someone, as she tries to figure out if as she gets ready for school. diapers might fit the alien baby. Activity 2: Storyboarding Sample Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Piper secretly building a nest to hide and protect Piper packing bag for school, no hiding this time. the infant alien. She’s motherly advising her brother on what to pack for lunch.
Lesson 9 Activity 2: Storyboarding Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 41
Lesson 9 Activity 2: Storyboarding 42 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 9 Journal of Ideas Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 43
Lesson 10 Activity 1: Your Logline 44 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 10 Activity 2: How to Write a Treatment Outline Your treatment should be one or two paragraphs long and should describe your screenplay idea. (Refer back to your work in lesson eight.) Although there’s no standard format for writing a treatment, the following steps will help you include all of your most important points. Use the blank table on the next page to write an outline for your screenplay treatment. 1. Title: 2. Write a sentence naming the film and its genre. For example: The name of my movie is The Great Snowball Fight, and it is an action film. 3. Write a sentence describing the theme or themes of the film. For example: Home Alone is a story about growing up and about good guys taking on bad guys. 4. Write a sentence or two describing the main character at the beginning of his or her character arc. For example: Home Alone’s main character is Kevin McCallister, an eight-year-old boy who relies on his parents to do everything for him. 5. Write a sentence describing your character’s call to adventure. For example: One Christmas Kevin’s family goes on vacation and accidentally leaves Kevin behind. 6. Write a sentence identifying the central conflict. For example: When Kevin discovers that burglars are in the neighborhood and plan on robbing his house, he must find a way to stop them on his own. 7. In the next few sentences, describe several scenes on the road of trials, including any subplots or complications. For example: Kevin learns to fend for himself without his parents, getting groceries on his own and facing his fear of the basement to do the laundry. He befriends the scary old man who salts the sidewalks in his neighborhood. He safeguards his house from the burglars with creative booby traps. 8. Write a sentence explaining how the goal is attained. For example: Kevin is able to hold off the burglars until the police come. 9. Write a sentence about the character’s return to the ordinary world and how he or she applies the attainment of the goal to his or her life. For example: When Kevin’s parents return home to find him safe and sound, he is a stronger, more mature young man. Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 45
Lesson 10 Activity 2: Treatment Outline Use this blank table to write an outline for your screenplay treatment. 1. Title: 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 9. 46 Student Book Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved.
Lesson 10 Activity 2: Writing Your Treatment Copyright © Community Learning LLC. All rights reserved. Student Book 47
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