
Written By Andrew Kevin Walker Every aspiring filmmaker knows about “Se7en” and its signature ending that changed the way we…
When it comes to screenwriting, you only have so much time, so many pages, so you don’t have the luxury to meander, and this is especially true in your first ten pages. You must maximize script economy and move the story forward immediately because you’ve only got about 10 pages to accomplish five major components:
Establish the tone/genre (is this a comedy, fantasy, spoof, etc.)
Introduce your main character: interesting, flawed, and if not likeable, at least empathetic… somebody we can hope and fear for.
Clarify the world of the story and the status quo.
Indicate the theme or message (Good vs. Evil, Man vs. Nature, etc.)
Set up the dramatic situation – that is, what the story is going to be about.
It’s important to note that there is no absolute order in which these five rules are applied. Often a screenplay begins with main character and his/her status quo, but sometimes the dramatic situation comes first, and occasionally all five elements will be covered in one scene alone. As long as these five core elements are executed well and established early on, you’re screenplay is one step closer to achieving success.
Each analysis of selected features takes a detailed look at how each of these five essential elements is established in the first ten pages of the screenplay.
Written By Andrew Kevin Walker Every aspiring filmmaker knows about “Se7en” and its signature ending that changed the way we…
Screenplay by: Alan Ball Kevin Spacey stars in this quirky and dark suburban drama about a man who experiences a…
Written By Aaron Sorkin Breakdown by: Megan Janet Turner A Few Good Men” is the staple of any aspiring screenwriters…
Screenplay by Mike Mills 20th Century Women is very much a love letter to writer-director Mike Mills’ mother, the same…
Screenplay by: Ernest Lehman Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer star in this classic musical about a nun named Maria who is…
Screenplay by: Phil Alden Robinson Kevin Costner stars in this nostalgic fantasy about America’s favorite pastime – baseball – and…
When I saw Machine Gun Preacher in my screenplay’s to read queue, I thought I was in store for another…
Screenplay by: David Self Kevin Costner stars as Kenny O'Donnell, Special Assistant to President Kennedy in this taut, harrowing dramatization…
Edward Scissorhands (1990) Screenplay by Caroline Thompson. Story by Caroline Thompson and Tim Burton. If there were ever two performances…
Screenplay by: Donn Pearce (from his novel) and Frank R. Pierson Paul Newman was nominated for a Best Actor Academy…