SCREENWRIGHT: the craft of screenwriting
Table of Contents
Title page
Welcome!
Copyright and restrictions - PLEASE READ
How to use this self-guided course
Program help
Your Writing Track
Foreword
A short bio
The 12 Modules:
1. Screenwriting: the Dream v. the Reality
The Great American Screenplay
Earning Good Fortune
Learning the Craft
The Five Essentials of Screenwriting
Reality 101
Keeping the Dream Alive
2. Your Movie's Concept
What's It All About?
High Concept
Good Movie Concepts
Genre
Examples
Loglines
Exercise
Is High Concept Necessary?
Concepts for Learning v. Concepts for Selling
Your Project's Concept
3. Finding Your Writing Method
Different Strokes for Different Folks
Tree People v. Forest People
Tree People: Everything in its Place
Forest People: Creation is Discovery
What is Your Natural Writing Method?
Writing with a Partner
Take the Natural Writing Method Test
4. Your Screenplays's Structure and Format
Two Views of Structure
The Two Worlds of Your Story
Structure for Tree People
Beginning, Middle, End
Stories Are About People
Goal + Obstacle = Conflict
The 3-Act Paradigm
The 3-Act Paradigm at Work: Examples
Spinoffs of the 3-Act Paradigm
The 4-Act Paradigm
David Trottier's Six Events
The 7-act Paradigm
The 9-act Paradigm
The Hero's Journey Paradigm
The Audience's Fulfillment Paradigm
The 3-Act Paradigm Worksheet
"American Movies Are About What Happens Next"
The Bottom Line: Finding Your Structure
Getting Ready to Write
Your Project's Structure
Structure for Forest People
Barebones Structure
The Hero Leads the Way
The "Villain" Must Be Formidable
"American Movies Are About What Happens Next"
First Draft As Discovery
Your Project's Structure
Format, Format, Who's Got the Format?
The Elements of Screenplay Format
The Four Basic Elements
Other Elements & Considerations
TV Formats
Software for Screenwriters
5. Your Hero's Challenge: Writing Act One
Before You Start Writing
Basic skills
Pre-writing for tree people
Pre-writing for forest people
Doing Research
The Hook
More Examples:
Basic Instinct
Ferris Bueller's Day Off
Lethal Weapon
The Silence of the Lambs
The Complication
The Hero's Call to Action
The Plot Point
My Turn: Writing Act One
Writing Act One as a Tree Person
Writing Act One as a Forest Person
Your Project's Act One
Writing Tips for Tree People
Writing Tips for Forest People
Review: Focusing on Action
Review: Focusing on Character
Clay is not Cement
6. Increasing Jeopardy: Writing Act Two (Part One)
Reviewing Act One
Looking Closely at Act IIA
What Does the Hero Want Now?
The Antagonist Moves Forward
Intermingling Subplot With Plot
Ways to Build Suspense and Tension
The Midpoint Plot Point
From Theory to Writing
Beginning Act Two as a tree person
Beginning Act Two as a forest person
Starting Your Second Act
7. Aiming for the Stars: Writing Act Two (Part Two)
Keeping the Hero in Focus
Cast Yourself a Superstar
The Rhythm of Tension
Into the Jaws of Defeat
The Second Act Plot Point
Writing the Second Act, or the Honeymoon in Hell
Finishing Act Two
Finishing Your Second Act
An Act Two Check List
8. The Hero's Showdown: Writing Act Three
Looking at Act Three
The Ticking Clock
Gunfight at the Okay Corral
The Hero's Growth
Must You Have a Happy Ending?
Bliss is Typing FADE OUT
Writing Act Three
Finishing Your Script
An Act Three Check List
From FADE OUT to FADE IN: Preparing to Rewrite
9. Writing is REwriting
The Chainsaw is Your Friend
The Forest for Tree People
The Trees for Forest People
Re-Visualizing Your Story
Never a Wasted Moment
Does the Hero Grow?
Checking Your Protagonist and Antagonist
Does Your Prose Sizzle?
Is the Audience Satisfied?
Rewriting the Script
Go to rewriting area.
Rewriting Your Script
A Final Check List
Screenplay Analysts
Staging a Reading of Your Screenplay
10. Tricks of the Trade
Read, Watch, Study!
Your Life is Your Best Material
Should You Join a Writers Group?
Start a New Screenplay
The Zen of Screenwriting
11. Marketing Your Screenplay
Protecting Your Work
Preparing the Package
The Pro's and Con's of Contests
When Are You Ready to Market?
Writing the Query Letter
Query Strategies
Contacting Producers
List of prodcos.
Contacting Agents
WGA-signatory agents who accept new writers.
Making a Marketing Plan
The Development Process
Between a Rock and a Hard Place
Keeping the Faith
12. Building a Screenwriting Career
Find Your World
Prioritize Your Energy
Your Movie Concept - Again
Find Opportunities
Should You Move to LA?
Final Thoughts