2013 Post 2:How to write a good short film script?

After researching how to write a good short film script I have learnt several key aspects that greatly determine the success of a short film.
The story is by far the most important part to a good short film script, it must be compelling and keep the viewer engaged, and this can be broken down into different sections:

The structure: If the structure is weak the story will not be well-recieved

This simple structure is used the most for short films, it concerns:

•  A main character being driven towards achieving a goal
• Hurdles high enough for that character to cross
• A battle in which the main character tries to overcome their difficulties
• An ending that decides whether the main character can achieve their goal

In order to write a good short film script, the opening is key so that you can hook the audience and they usually focus on one moment or event to not complicate their concept. Many scripts tend to use a Three Act structure to help draw out their story and develop ideas; this makes it clear to determine what will occur and when.
I watched the video below to improve my understanding of this short film structure. The man clearly explains each section of the typical Three Act plot scenario, dividing each act into two sections that show how the film would progress, with the use of this helpful table: http://www.jordyvandeput.be/uploads/3-act-structure.pdf   I now have a better understanding of how to structure my short film and what typical scenarios I could use in order to reach my audience.

 

 

Formatting: If the formatting is poor your script is less likely to be read

A good appearance encourages the reader to read on as it is clear. For a good short film script, I have found that it is best to leave out too many technical details and infer them instead, typing the work on a program like Microsoft Word. The title should not be too long and should convey to the audience what the film is about.



An example of formatting from www.filmscriptwriting.com

In order to write a good short film script, having a developed main character that the audience can relate to is essential; they should be intriguing, fairly consistent and memorable for the audience as they will compel them to continue watching. For my idea of having a teenage school student as the main character, I will have to make sure they are presented as believable as possible by not referring to stereotypes.

These are links to articles which I gained research from: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1VlBbxLslE7ZGVlLrxoQsRRamrYs4LS7OyJzC0x4DRBw/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1
http://www.raindance.org/toronto/7-rules-for-writing-short-films/
http://www.filmscriptwriting.com/


I have learnt that my script and ideas will have to be based around what I have available to me in terms of actors, props and location so my film plan might involve being shot in a school environment and in housing areas nearby for a sense of realism.
Below I have found some script guidelines that will help me lay out my idea more clearly:
Who: A troubled teenager as the main character
Where: Situated in and around a secondary school
What(genre/events): A drama wherein issues arise for the main character and they try to overcome their troubles
Why:  To show the journey of a main character fighting their troubles
When: In modern day society

After completing this research I will have to make my script fit the tone of my film idea, a drama, therefore the opposition to the main character will have to be serious and difficult enough that it will provide a tense situation for the character to overcome.