How do you format a screenplay in Google Docs? Is it even possible? We will answer both of these questions as well as look at alternatives to Google Docs, add-ons that can improve the writing experience in Google Docs, and common screenplay formatting pitfalls. We will also explore the most useful built-in features the software offers and let you know where else these features can be found. Professional formatting is pivotal in whether or not a screenplay is taken seriously in the industry. Let’s find out if achieving professional-level formatting is possible in Google Docs. Continue reading How to Format…
When Twilight was released in 2008, it dominated pop culture, spawning more spoofs, imitations, and vampire erotica than any one person could keep track of. The film became one entry in a five-part series of movies that only got more expensive and melodramatic with each installment. While Twilight is no Battleship Potemkin, its script provides a fascinating blueprint of how to kick off a mega-successful franchise that enraptures huge swaths of moviegoers. How do you tell a narrative about a century-old vampire falling in love with a high schooler and make it not only not garishly creepy but in fact a…
Dialogue scenes can be the most fun to write as well as the most difficult. Visual performances of dialogue in films can be powerful, emotional, and moving. However, the medium of written text has its limitations. Luckily, screenwriters have parentheticals. Parentheticals are a great way to include specific information that help a reader better understand a dialogue scene. So how do you write a parenthetical in a screenplay? Let’s take a look at screenplay parenthetical examples and to learn how they should be used. Continue reading Screenplay Parenthetical Examples (And Why They Work)
Brian De Palma’s 1983 remake of Howard Hawks’s 1932 original Scarface is a violent and vitriolic condemnation of power. But although the remake is perhaps most well-known for Al Pacino’s legendary performance as Tony Montana, Oliver Stone’s script contains a lot of personal insight as well. We’re going to tear down the Scarface script by looking at its quotes, characters and commentary. By the end, we’ll develop an understanding of how Stone adapted a gangster epic unlike any other. Continue reading Scarface Script PDF Download — Characters & Ending Analysis
What is a shooting script? How are shooting scripts different from screenplays? We’re going to answer those questions by looking at some real-world examples for shooting scripts. Then, we’ll show you how you can get started on your own shooting script for free. By the end, you’ll be ready to turn a screenplay into an actionable game plan for shooting on set. But before we get into the examples, let’s review what makes a shooting script, a shooting script. Continue reading Shooting Script Example — Download Production Script PDFs
Our physical experience of life is chronological. Yet our internal experience of life may not be. We reminisce on the past and anticipate the future. This uniquely human experience is portrayed on the big screen through non-linear storytelling. What is a non-linear plot used for? Non-linear plots allow filmmakers to rearrange time in an order that best serves their story. The variations of non-linear stories are bound by the limits of time itself. In this article, we’ll explore non-linear storytelling and how some of cinema’s best films use it to tell compelling stories.Continue reading What is a Non-Linear Plot —…
Documentaries use scripts that are somewhat different from traditional scripts. Some of the time, they utilize “documentary narration scripts.” But what is a documentary narration script? We’re going to answer that question by looking at some script examples and what makes them work. By the end, you’ll know everything there is to know about narration in documentary films!Continue reading How to Write Narration in Documentary Films — Tips, Examples
It’s not so much that there are different types of personas so much as there are different interpretations of the word. An artist’s persona, a literary work’s personae, or the persona a writer takes on in a written work. So what is a persona exactly? And how do you know when you’re looking at one? Take a look at our definition and examples below to learn why all of these interpretations are correct, and how they each influence art of all media. Continue reading What is a Persona — Definition & Examples in Literature & Art
If you were to make a list from best-to-worst, what would be the greatest Star Wars movie ever made? While the rest of the list is hotly debated on internet forums, most agree that The Empire Strikes Back is the definitive Star Wars film. Of course, every great movie starts with a great screenplay. In this article, we will break down The Empire Strikes Back plot, and analyze its characters, scenes and dialogue. Continue reading The Empire Strikes Back Script PDF Download and Analysis
What is a fade transition in video? Fade transitions are some of the most common types of editing transitions in video – but what are they? And how are they used? We’re going to answer those questions by breaking down fade transitions in scripts, films, and more. By the end, you’ll know how to fade in, fade out, and crossfade in film.Continue reading What is a Fade Transition — How & Why to Use Them Explained
