1. Clear Setting - That should be locked in the first slug line
2. Describe that setting
3. Introducing Characters - Throw in a couple of vivid details to make the reader picture the character in their head
4. Naming your characters - Make sure each character's name is different, and looks different when writhed down. Give characters a surname. If they've only got a first name, this comes across as an incomplete identity
5. Conflict, Conflict, Conflict - Not only should your screen play be based on a wider conflict of some kind, but each character should also have internal conflicts that they are dealing with.
6. She's Filled With Secrets - Giving your character secrets, whether big or small, enable you to pick away layer and keep your viewer interested along the way
7. Keep it Consistent - Make sure that you keep your characters consistent in both background and behaviour
8. Dialogue stuff : Sentences - People don't speak in complete sentences, nor do all people speak alike.
9. Stay away from the nose - The phrase 'on the nose' refers to dialogue that states too clearly what a character is thinking without filtering it through their personality and agenda.
10. Keep it unpredictable - When Princess Leia tells Han Solo 'i love you' in The Empire Strikes Back, the scene is most memorable for his response ' I know '
11. Keep it varied - Does a character even need to respond verbally to a statement ?
12. First line- The first line your character speaks should sum up an aspect of their personality
13. Language = Life - Make sure your characters dialogue reflects their life experiences
14. Double Hyphen - Has one character stepped on another's line? Cutting them off before they finish speaking ?
15. Fresh Slang - Why not make up your own slang? Using the latest words, phrases and cultural reference will date your script extremely quickly
16. Mix Dialogue and action - In life, stuff happens all at once. People don't stop talking because a bus is about to explode the bus explodes whilst they're in mind sentence.
17. Don't tell me what i've seen! - If Debbies' head just exploded, the viewer doesn't need James to tell them
18. No Place for Closed questions - If you've got a question which leads to a 'yes or no' response in your dialogue get rid of it.
19. Misunderstandings - Characters should misunderstand and misinterpret each other just as people do in real life. It give you opportunities for conflict and comedy
20. Style stuff: Present tense - Always keep your action descriptions in the present tense.
21. What not include - THe action descriptions in your screenplay should not include - thoughts - hopes - back story - Anything that can't be shown visually. You need to show them through events or dialogue
22. Keep it clear
23. OH MY GOD - Using ALL CAPITALS in your action descriptions signifies something important. It's a way of making the important elements pop when someone read the script
24. Keep it punchy - Break long sentences and keep your descriptions as vivid as you can
25. Write it first, then edit - This script won't be as punchy, exciting and engaging as possible on the first draft - Your mission on the first draft is just to get the thing written - Second, third, fourth and fifth drafts are the opportunity to make your screen everything it can be.
Partially adapted from the material in "500 ways to beat the hollywood script reader" by Jennifer Lerch
2. Describe that setting
3. Introducing Characters - Throw in a couple of vivid details to make the reader picture the character in their head
4. Naming your characters - Make sure each character's name is different, and looks different when writhed down. Give characters a surname. If they've only got a first name, this comes across as an incomplete identity
5. Conflict, Conflict, Conflict - Not only should your screen play be based on a wider conflict of some kind, but each character should also have internal conflicts that they are dealing with.
6. She's Filled With Secrets - Giving your character secrets, whether big or small, enable you to pick away layer and keep your viewer interested along the way
7. Keep it Consistent - Make sure that you keep your characters consistent in both background and behaviour
8. Dialogue stuff : Sentences - People don't speak in complete sentences, nor do all people speak alike.
9. Stay away from the nose - The phrase 'on the nose' refers to dialogue that states too clearly what a character is thinking without filtering it through their personality and agenda.
10. Keep it unpredictable - When Princess Leia tells Han Solo 'i love you' in The Empire Strikes Back, the scene is most memorable for his response ' I know '
11. Keep it varied - Does a character even need to respond verbally to a statement ?
12. First line- The first line your character speaks should sum up an aspect of their personality
13. Language = Life - Make sure your characters dialogue reflects their life experiences
14. Double Hyphen - Has one character stepped on another's line? Cutting them off before they finish speaking ?
15. Fresh Slang - Why not make up your own slang? Using the latest words, phrases and cultural reference will date your script extremely quickly
16. Mix Dialogue and action - In life, stuff happens all at once. People don't stop talking because a bus is about to explode the bus explodes whilst they're in mind sentence.
17. Don't tell me what i've seen! - If Debbies' head just exploded, the viewer doesn't need James to tell them
18. No Place for Closed questions - If you've got a question which leads to a 'yes or no' response in your dialogue get rid of it.
19. Misunderstandings - Characters should misunderstand and misinterpret each other just as people do in real life. It give you opportunities for conflict and comedy
20. Style stuff: Present tense - Always keep your action descriptions in the present tense.
21. What not include - THe action descriptions in your screenplay should not include - thoughts - hopes - back story - Anything that can't be shown visually. You need to show them through events or dialogue
22. Keep it clear
23. OH MY GOD - Using ALL CAPITALS in your action descriptions signifies something important. It's a way of making the important elements pop when someone read the script
24. Keep it punchy - Break long sentences and keep your descriptions as vivid as you can
25. Write it first, then edit - This script won't be as punchy, exciting and engaging as possible on the first draft - Your mission on the first draft is just to get the thing written - Second, third, fourth and fifth drafts are the opportunity to make your screen everything it can be.
Partially adapted from the material in "500 ways to beat the hollywood script reader" by Jennifer Lerch
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