Every beloved film started as a mere kernel of an idea, and every beloved film-to-come will start here as well. Turning your spark of inspiration into the next iconic movie can seem daunting. And, truth be told, it is daunting. Screenwriting at any level is challenging, so screenwriting for beginners can be super intimidating and leave one thinking, “How to even start a screenplay?” There’s so many steps in between inspiration, a completed screenplay, and the final movie. But it’s been done before. Every time a movie is made, it is done. So let’s demystify the process of writing a script for the first time and tackle your first script from the blank page to the final line with a step-by-step screenplay guide.
What Does “First Script” Really Mean?
A script is simply a written text. The word can be used for written material in plays, television, film, news, etc. A screenplay is a type of script used for movies that includes a slugline, dialogue, action lines, and stage directions. A short film script is a screenplay that is less than 60 minutes. Some definitions have a short as less than 40 minutes (the Oscars use this duration).
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Every script goes through numerous iterations called drafts. No first draft will be close to perfect. And much of writing is rewriting. Do not shy away from writing your screenplay because you don’t think you’re ready. You’ll never be ready in that mindset. Screenwriting is a craft to be honed. Your craft will only refine through writing, rewriting, and writing some more.
A golden rule to remember: Perfection is the enemy of creativity. Perfection is the giant roadblock in the mind that can stall out any writer. No first time screenwriter started out perfect, and that’s okay.
Introduction – Welcome to Page 1
Jumping right into the first scene of a screenplay after your story idea’s inception is a common mistake. The blank page can look like an impenetrable wall without prepping your story beforehand.
Let’s look at all the script opening tips available to writers to decode their stories before putting pen to paper or typing a word.
This guide will breakdown the steps involved with writing your first script. Starting with the work to be done before page 1, (e.g. the outline, beat sheet, and character breakdowns), to formatting your screenplay, to the drafting and rewriting process.
By the end, you’ll be well-suited to diving into your story, be it your first short film script or your first movie script.
Prep Work Before Typing “INT./EXT.”
Here, we’ll begin by learning various methods of cracking open your story idea and molding it into a fleshed out idea ready to become your first screenplay.
Choosing an Idea & Writing a Logline
Choosing your first screenplay ideas to write about can be as hard as actually writing it. Story inspiration can come from anything from personal experience to seeing a news headline and saying, “that should be a movie.” Pay attention to what draws your attention. What idea stirs your soul? Makes your heart flutter. What idea begets a reaction from you to dig and explore? “What if…?” has led to many of the great works we all love.
Once settling onto an idea. Creating a logline is a good way to crystallize the essential elements that you want the story to focus on. A logline is roughly a 1-2 sentence elevator pitch of your idea.
'A police chief, with a phobia for open water, battles a gigantic shark with an appetite for swimmers and boat captains, in spite of a greedy town council who demands that the beach stay open.’
This logline for Jaws succinctly elucidates the main conflicts in the story, including the external conflicts of the shark killing people and the town callously trying to keep the beach open, to the internal conflict of the flaw that the main character must overcome to stop the shark. This logline highlights the main elements that the story will explore both through the plot and the protagonist’s struggle.
Research & Mood-Boarding
Visual and contextual research pay dividends in creating a richer story, both for your character’s arcs and authenticity as well as the worlds they inhabit around them. Researching the locations, cultures, and professions of your world will psychically make writing your scenes easier (because you won’t be writing out of your ass about how the legal profession works, for instance) as well as add opportunity for thematic resonance to help elucidate the ideas you’re trying to convey.
Pinterest, Milanote, Canva, and Envato are all useful sites for producing mood boards and researching. A common pitfall to avoid, however, is using endless research as an excuse to procrastinate actually writing.
Outline Like a Pro—Even on Draft #1
Writing a 100 page story from scratch makes the already difficult process of writing feel insurmountable. The outline is your story roadmap. Writing without first outlining your story is like trying to travel cross-country without knowing what roads to take.
Beat Sheet Basics
A Beat Sheet is akin to a bullet point outline of your story. It can be as detailed as one bullet point per scene or more of hitting the main story points–the opening image, the inciting incident, the midpoint, low point (all is lost), the climax, and the closing image. Not all stories beget the same structure.
A beat sheet helps the writer see how the story is beginning to flow, where stakes are entered and raised, where urgency is needed, and how the characters’ arcs are progressing.
5 min read
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A script is simply a written text. The word can be used for written material in plays, television, film, news, etc. A screenplay is a type of script used for movies that includes a slugline, dialogue, action lines, and stage directions. A short film script is a screenplay that is less than 60 minutes. Some definitions have a short as less than 40 minutes (the Oscars use this duration).