ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXHow would you go about writing a script for a short film?
4 years, 11 months ago - Baghwant Singh
Hi guys,
I haven’t got started with the script yet and am yet to come up with a concept for the short film as it’s the first one I have ever done.
In terms of experience I have worked on some silent films when I did a months course at the London Film Academy last year.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks.
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4 years, 11 months ago - Alwyne Kennedy
Sit down and write. If you can't think of a good line to put down, put a line down anyway and see where it leads you.
4 years, 11 months ago - Mat Braddy
Read a couple of books (or listen to them) pull out a useful framework. It's useful to have a rough frame for the skeleton and then you add the flesh with your ideas etc :-)
Some I found useful on my Masters:
Akers, W. M. (2008). Your screenplay sucks!: 100 ways to make it great.
Chamberlain, J. (2016). The nutshell technique: crack the secret of successful screenwriting.
Cooper, P., & Dancyger, K. (2005). Writing the short film.
4 years, 11 months ago - James Hancock
1st. Learn about layout. How to format the page correctly. The Do's and Dont's.
2nd. If shooting it yourself... Think about what you have access to. Equipment. Actors. Locations. This will steer your script down a certain path.
3rd. Write what interests you. Don't write a horror if you like comedy. Draw inspiration from similar genre films.
4th. Don't overdo it. Don't overwrite the descriptions, and don't write too many pages. Ideally, less than 10.
5th. When the first draft is complete, read it aloud. Make alterations (probably with dialogue - which needs to sound real). Let a friend or two read it. Make alterations. Put it aside for a few days and read it aloud again. Make alterations.
6th. Shoot it. Or pitch it here if you intend for someone else to shoot it. Be prepared to make further alterations.
4 years, 11 months ago - Anthony Hett
I write a blog and make YouTube videos giving simple and practical advice on how to write and make a short film. You can find full details on my website: www.thefilmcoach.com. You might find the first episode which looks at inspiration particularly helpful at this stage.
4 years, 11 months ago - Marlom Tander
To write, start writing.
The cold dead husk of a mouse is kicked into the bushes by a black leather boot.
"Joe, what part of "Buy Cream" did you not understgand. This is creamer"
The last time she had stood in front of this house, she was killed.
"I'm not riding a fucking unicycle to work on my fucking core!"
Some will take on a life of their own - I think the last two might have legs. I already know that the guy in the last one is an overweight tattooed guy in his fifties, and he WILL end up riding the fucking unicycle. And doing ballet. We are onto comedy gold here.....
For a short, specifically, it's about crafting a perfect jewel. NOTHING should be surplus, no fat. If it's two perfect minutes, don't make 3. Every time the point is made, move on.
This doesn't mean it needs to be fast, just pure. Elegy is fine, but must be perfectly paced.
4 years, 7 months ago - Merlin Goldman
Hi. I'd suggest this course: https://youngscreenwriters.teachable.com/p/writing-the-short Merlin
4 years, 5 months ago - Jonathan Sieff
I like starting with a scenario that I can then build up into a story: a character wants *blank*. I also like to set myself page limits like writing a script that is no longer than 10 pages. It's also about coming up with something that you can start quickly, putting a character in a bizarre location as well as an interesting situation often helps.
4 years, 5 months ago - James McCann
I have to ask why you're writing if you have nothing to say?
Are you doing it as a technical exercise just to see if you can write a shorter script, or is there a story you want to tell?