This guide aims to enhance your screenplay writing by implementing 14 key steps. These steps incorporate the major principles of effective storytelling, scene construction, and character development. By following these steps, you can improve your scenes immediately and create a more compelling screenplay.
1. Brainstorm a New Concept
- Rethink the scene’s approach or eliminate dialogue for visuals. Consider a complete overhaul to find new ways to drive the scene. Create a concept logline to unify the scene’s premises.
- In “My Best Friend’s Wedding,” the karaoke scene transforms the story by shifting from an expected scenario to an audacious set-piece that reveals character dynamics and builds tension.
2. Find the Story of the Scene
- Treat each scene as a standalone story with its own structure. Re-outline if necessary to maintain coherence and ensure it tells a clear story.
- In “The Godfather,” Michael’s decision to take revenge is a complete story within the scene, showcasing his transformation from an outsider to a central figure in the family.
3. Eliminate Redundancy and Ensure Escalation
- Ensure the scene progresses towards a climax, removing flat or redundant beats. Push character actions further to maintain forward momentum.
- In “Breaking Bad,” Walter White’s increasingly desperate actions in the pilot escalate towards the climax of his first cook, marking a significant turning point in his character arc.
4. Find and Accentuate the Climax
- Identify the climax as the scene’s biggest twist and position it clearly. Use every craft element to highlight the climax’s impact and ensure it resonates.
- In “Pulp Fiction,” the diner robbery scene’s climax, where Jules confronts the robbers, is accentuated by the use of dialogue, tension, and his surprising act of mercy.
5. Push Character Perspectives Further
- Clarify characters’ ideological stances to unify conflict and deepen interactions. Elevate each character’s perspective to make their conflicts and resolutions more powerful.
- In “Man of Steel,” Jonathan Kent’s surprising response to young Clark saving a busload of kids pushes the character’s perspective further, highlighting his complex viewpoint on Clark’s powers.
6. Eliminate On-the-Nose Dialogue and Create Audacious Subtext
- Avoid direct dialogue that states the obvious; use setups for imaginative responses. Ensure dialogue carries subtext, enriching the scene with layers of meaning.
- In “Liar Liar,” Fletcher’s creative, euphemistic response to the judge’s question (“A madman, Your Honor. A desperate fool at the end of his pitiful rope.”) avoids on-the-nose dialogue and adds subtext.
7. Be Specific
- Break clichés with specific details that reveal character and setting uniquely. Integrate personal or researched specifics to enrich the scene’s authenticity.
- In “The Silence of the Lambs,” Hannibal Lecter’s specific detail about Clarice’s “pure West Virginia” accent adds depth to their interaction and reveals character nuance.
8. Visuals: Use Props, Blocking, Wardrobe, and Location
- Replace dialogue with visual elements that convey meaning through props and setting. Use visuals to reflect character, situation, and to enhance storytelling.
- In “Birdman,” Riggan’s struggle with his locked costume and being stuck outside the theater adds a visual dilemma that deepens his character’s crisis without dialogue.
9. Eliminate Exposition
- Reveal necessary information as late as possible and through conflict or surprise. Avoid static exposition; integrate it dynamically into the scene.
- In “The Interpreter,” Sylvia asks Broome if he read a letter. Instead of a direct answer, the silence and Sylvia’s subsequent response reveal the information in a more dynamic way.
10. Find the Opposite
- Embrace opposites in scenes to create emotional power and realism. Balance conflict with affinity and attraction within scenes.
- In “The Revenant,” Hugh’s harsh, violent behavior towards his son Hawk, driven by love and a desire to protect him, creates a powerful contrast between brutality and care.
11. Finesse Thematic Touches
- Integrate the theme throughout the script subtly, ensuring it resonates in dialogue, names, and titles. Polish opening and closing images to bookend the theme.
- In “Citizen Kane,” the “No Trespassing” sign bookends the film, encapsulating the theme of isolation and forbidden access to Kane’s true self.
12. Listen to Your Dialogue: Stage a Table Read
- Conduct a table read to evaluate dialogue and interactions. Gain insights from listening to actors bring the script to life and make adjustments accordingly.
- A table read of “The Big Lebowski” would reveal the unique voices of the characters, highlighting how their dialogue needs to sound natural yet distinctive.
13. Think Like an Editor
- Edit scenes to start late and end early, creating suspense and clarity by omitting unnecessary information. Use omissions and transitions to enhance storytelling.
- In “Casablanca,” the cut from the letters of transit to Ilsa and Rick’s discussion is an effective use of ellipsis, creating intrigue and keeping the pace tight.
14. Embrace Brevity
- Prioritize brevity to maintain wit and impact, trimming unnecessary words. Focus on concise storytelling for powerful and engaging scenes.
- In “Pulp Fiction,” the brevity of the dialogue between Jules and Vincent during the diner scene keeps the conversation sharp and impactful.
from APPENDIX: 14 STEPS TO A BETTER SCREENPLAY. Mercurio, Jim. The Craft of Scene Writing: Beat by Beat to a Better Script (p. 321). Linden Publishing.