1. Tips on Writing a Powerful Screenplay
Welcome Las Vegas Screenwriters Group
Introductions
Instructor Deborah Shariff
January 25, 2007

2. Class Objectives
How to organize your thoughts and get it out on paper.
Writing the synopsis & treatment.
The development and creation of writing unforgettable characters and understanding back-story.
learning the basic structure of writing an effective screenplay that includes a beginning, middle and ending.

3. How to get the story out of your head onto paper !
Hand out sample treatments by
writing a Treatment

4. What’s a Treatment?
Hand outs

5. Writing Exercise
Each writer will pick a partner and pitch their story for 5 minutes then change partners and let the other partner pitch their story.
When you finish pitching both stories write either a page or half a page of a short treatment and be prepared to verbally pitch your story to the class

6. What is a Screenplay? A story told with pictures!
Also introduce concepts as to what a screenplay is not. Review novels and plays

7. What is a screenplay made up of ?
Characters
Dialogue
Scenes
Acts
Plots, sub plots
Climax
Resolution

8. Moving your story forward
Syd Field’s structural model
Hand – Out!

9. Who we are/Why we want to write a screenplay?
Original voice and how to discover it.
First thoughts & the subconscious.
Childhood memories & point of view on life.
Obsessions (the good, the bad, the ugly).
Knowing what to write about.
Identifying your own particular history-cultural coupled with personal experience (back-story on yourself)

10. Writing your Screenplay
What perspective can you bring to this subject matter that’s fresh? Make a list of distinctions.
Study the genre-buddy films, gay women in love, road adventures, ensemble pieces/so you can determine how to extrapolate from it.
Research the story-begin a clip file/an ideas journal/interview people.

11. Creating a literate script
Rich characterization-people with history and context: character bios are vital!
Vivid descriptive paragraphs-using visual detail and fresh language.
Dialogue that zings and reveals character-make it sharp, witty and varied. Characters who are themselves literary, who speak in believable yes memorable ways, make your script rich and engaging-rather than talky.

12. Writing a Rich Script
Layered plotting-the best scenes do several things at once; foreshadow/reveal character/give multiple pov’s/mark time passage/move the story forward.
Innovative structuring-the bookend approach/fresh usage of time passage/emotional movement that parallels physical movement/flashbacks.
Remind the students when you foreshadow make sure it is not cliché

13. Find a Structural Model on which to hang your story
Exposition-a necessary evil. Know the difference between what you the writer needs to know and what the reader needs to know.
Don’t explain/Don’t over tell.
Use visual metaphors-adding texture to the work via symbols, repetition, humor, powerful scenes-get in late, get out early.

14. The Writing Process Character bios Outlines and note cards.
Revision,revison,revision!
Workshops, readings and feedback.

15. Writing Exercise
Write a two or three page screenplay from your treatment outline.
Remember to include; concise descriptions of your main characters, setting/location, your story premise, and clear crisp dialogue.

16. FEEDBACK Q & A Volunteers share screenplay with the class
The class reviews and gives constructive feedback