Quito Washington: 11 STEPS TO INSTANT HAPPINESS IN SCRIPT WRITING
Work out your script first, use the postcard technique, use the 90 point technique, use any technique to develop your story.
As far as definition of terms goes, "plot" is the main thrust of your film, your story arc, your "this is a story about [a guy/a girl] that need to do something to get something and this stands in their way".
Now, there are only things to fill in there, if you haven't got those, don't start writing your script.
Develop your outline.
You write a treatment. Information on what a treatment is, how to write it, and examples of three styles are
here
.
Go to
Celtx
and download the free screenwriting program. It handles all the formatting issues you could possibly have and its free.
You write your script, paying more attention to the action of the characters than the need to have dialogue, remember, its a movie, not a radio drama. If you have to have the characters talking, have them doing something (my fav is in westerns when they are holed up, in the middle of a shoot out, and some information is said and they are like "wtf??")
Add dialogue where and how needed.
Workshop the script, developing dialogue, rehearsals are most important.
Bring the script home and redraft it.
Repeat steps 9 and 10 as needed till you have
cut the fat to get to the bone
cut the bone to get the marrow
ripped the marrow out to get to the soft insides
sliced through the inside to get to the heart of your story
Now you have your script ... send it to a professional to have it assessed and be prepared to do another rewrite!
- Quito