0It has been mentioned time and again that script has to be properly formatted so that it can be pitched right while selling to production houses in the film industry. Your script needs this format as it not only expresses your ideas correctly but also inspires a producer to go ahead and make film on your script.
There are five significant points about formatting a script however it is interesting to note that there is no strictly defined or industry accepted standard term for these five parts. Every film industry or every production house can understand this by a separate hypothesis and every producer can refer to it by a different term. But only for the convenience of understanding for the beginners, I have broadly classified a script into the below mentioned five parts-
- Broad Concept in One sentence or theme of the film:
It is basically defining your script in one strong, interesting and path-breaking sentence. Writing theme helps you a lot in pitching your film to film-makers and selling your script as the first question everyone asks you will be what your script is all about. The power in the first line or sentence that you will speak about concept of the film will create the required interest in the script so that the producer or your prospective client may get inspired to hear the full story or the script of your film.
- Logline or Synopsis of the film:
Some film producers may refer to it as short summary, synopsis or even one linear of the film. It is mostly written in one paragraph and elaborates the concept or theme of the film as while selling your script the second question to you will be what you actually mean by the line that you have said is the concept of the film. Hence it is better to write elaboration of your theme in ten sentences minimum and read it or explain it when asked to do so. Basically this short summary will also give impetus or second drive required to make your narration engaging and thrilling to filmmakers.
- Story of the film:
It is 2-5 page narrative and plot of the film however some producers may refer to it as long synopsis, summary or one line story of the film. Essentially story is a brief narrative of the film which does not include dialogues but may include punch lines along with all parts of the story written as an outline. Plot is logically different from story as it is clearly divided into 2, 3 or more acts and defines the flow of narration of the story in the film. Once again vocabulary remains disputable here as well considering story and plot are used interchangeably or may mean just one thing for different producers.
- Screenplay:
Literally everything you see visually while watching a movie is included in the screenplay which is sometimes also known as the actual script of the film. The major difference is that screenplay will also include the detailed information covering the visual aspects of film but script (being a much simpler version of it), is a text that everyone reads before signing a movie. The imagery and characters of the script do the convincing part to encourage the entire cast and crew. When they all agree to do the film your script is then modified into a screenplay.
- Dialogue:
It is a conversation between two or more people in the film including the character talking to his own-self and a voiceover in a movie is also known as dialogue. Interestingly Bollywood and all other Indian film industries have a clear distinction here as they use separate dialogue and screenplay writers who can either be the same person or completely different from original scriptwriter.
I believe that the variety of terms used in screenwriting is not critical here. You are good to go simply by knowing different terms and understanding how they are referred by different producers. The most important objective is to understand the idea behind these five separate parts of the script and what exactly each of these five parts should constitute. Hence I will elaborate each of these parts with their significance to your script in my subsequent blogs. So, Happy reading.
