I would like to share my findings through judging a recent short film screenplay competition. LINK.
Here are 5 mistakes writer make and 5 tips on how to improve your screenplay.
5 Mistakes
5 Tips
To improve your screenplay.
If you need to explain, it doesn’t work.
As cliche as it sounds, most writer tend to write too much information and details which leave little room for reader to depict what the scene is about. Don’t include emotions in the writing. Write what you see and what you hear. The actions and dialogs should be sufficient enough for the reader to “see” what the character is feeling. Start by simplifying and reduce unnecessary details.
Is it a page turner? Does it engages the reader wanting to find out more?
Why can’t the audience feel for the protagonist?
There is nothing wrong about having a simple problem but the stake needs to be raise as we journey with the protagonist.
If the problem can be easily solve by the protagonist (main character), audience will expect little conflict and hence feel the lack of engagement and emotions.
There is just nothing to look forward to anymore.
Identify the protagonist goal early and make it clear to the audience.
Then keep raising the obstacles for the main character to overcome before he/she achieve the goal.
Most of the time, writers are in denial, assuming what they have written make sense.
Does the reader buy the world that the writer have created with the characters and the events?
Does it justify for every actions or dialogs from the character stand point?
Show your script to someone who doesn’t know about your story.
Why would I as a reader need to be reminded of another ordinary life through the characters? What is fresh and new about it?
Try to identify what make us human and inhuman. Connect audience with the story and characters that are relatable on a daily basis, then make the scene ironic. Let the reader cringe and feel an urge to relive life again.
Examples: https://literarydevices.net/irony/
Conflict is good, but too much complication may cause confusion.
As a result, the reader/audience might lose interest.
Not all films need to have a smart unexpected twist. Most of the “smart” twist seems too intentional at times.
You are opening a can of worms for each new character that you introduce that have an influence on the protagonist or the plot.
Every character needs to be accounted for.
Don’t introduce and then make them disappear.
A topic can help writer to focus. It is there but it’s not there.
The theme shouldn’t be shouting in the audience’s face.
Let the audience join the dots and realise it for themselves.
A reader needs to be able to smell what you are cooking.
When the dish (theme) is finally presented on the table, one starts to reflect back on those smell.
The Screenplay Challenge
In conjunction with The Inciting Incident competition created by Sinema, Premise is offering an exclusive first ever The Premise Award to a talented scriptwriter. The Premise Award provides the winner with three valuable products – a production of one minute project pitch video (worth S$417), creation of digital marketing assets (worth S$278) and 100 Gold Coins Package for use on Premise (worth S$139).
The Premise Award aims to help kickstart the scriptwriter’s story from paper to screen reality. With the help of The Premise Award, the filmmaker is equipped with a quality project pitch video, marketing assets such as digital artworks on the crowdfunding page, thereby allowing them to tap on the platform to raise funds, pitch to potential investors and grow their fan base for their concept.
