STANDARD TERMS FOR SCRIPTWRITERS

 

A Scriptwriter’s Terminology:

• 1 SENTENCE PITCH
• LOGLINE
• SYPNOSIS
• CHARACTER BIO
• CHARACTER BIBLE
• 3 ACT STRUCTURE
• STORYLINE
• TREATMENT
• PLOTS / SUBPLOTS
• SCENE BREAKDOWN
• BEATS
• SCRIPT

All situations/plots need:

• HOOK / TEASER
• MOTIVE
• CONFLICT / OBSTACLES
• DRAMA / ACTION
• DRAMATIC SEQUENCE
• UP THE STAKES
• CHAIN REACTION
• RESOLUTION
• OUTCOME
• CLOSURE

Terms and the 3 Act Structure:

• PARADIGM = diagram of screenplay ( story map )
• ACTS - ACT 1, ACT 2, ACT 3
• SET UP
• CONFRONTATION
• RESOLUTION
• PLOT POINTS
• TURNING POINTS
• MOTIVE
• CONFLICT
• DRAMATIC ENTERTAINMENT
• UP THE STAKES
• CLIMAX
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

ACT STRUCTURE

FROM STORY TO SCRIPT

1. 1-Sentence Story Idea

2. Synopsis & Story Angle

3. Character Bio (or Character Bible)

- character motives

- situations, outcomes, key message

- dramatic sequence - one thing leads to another / chain reaction

4. 3 Act Structure

- identify setup, plots & sub plots

- create a hook/teaser

- turning points

- climax

5. Storyline

- follow 3 Act Structure

- use beats

- use scene breakdown

6. Script - Draft1

-use standard format

7. Story & Script Editing

What  Makes  A  Good  Story?

            A  good  story  consist  of  a leading  character  that  have  a  unique  personality  as  I  believe  every  character  are  special  and  have  their  own  personality  even though  there is  some  stereotype  for  certain  characters.  Leading  character  is  the  protagonist  of  every  story,  so  there must  be  an antagonist  too  or  else  this  story  won’t  be  interesting  at  all.  For  every  story  must  original  and  really  is  dedicated  to  the  target  audience.  There  must  also  be  a tension  of  the  story  to  make  the  audience  wants  more  of  it,  but  some  comic  relief  can  be  included  inside  to  lightened  up  the  mood  and  to  loosen  the  tension.  The  pace  of  the  story  shouldn’t  be  too  fast  or  to  slow  either. When  the  pace  go  to  fast  audience  might  have  problem  to  understand. If  the  pace  were  too  slow  audience  might  get  bored.  As  for  the  climax  must  not be  skipped  because  that  is  the  most  important  part  of  the  story.  If  possible  the  ending  must  not  be  easy  to  predict  to  make  a  different  sensation  of  surprise  to  the  audience. 

Class Exercise 1

GENRE  is a term for category or a class in an artistic industries such as movie or music.
Examples of genre : Horror, Romance, Sci-fi, Tragedy, Comedy.

CLICHE is an idea, expression of an artistic works that is overused and become predictable.
Examples of cliche :"one man's meat is another man's poison ", "all for one, and one for all".

STEREOTYPE is a common or oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.

Examples of stereotype : of a prince charming [riding white horse, handsome, kind] ; of a witch [old, ugly, evil].

 

ANTAGONIST is a person who always opposes or is hostile to someone. Usually is the bad guy.

Examples of antagonist : villain, opponen, enemy.

 

PROTAGONIST is a main leading character in the story. Usually is the good guy.

Examples of pantagonist : superman, hero.

 

SUPPORTING CHARACTER usually have a relation with the main character to add dimension.

Examples of supporting character : Jack Sparrow from the Pirates of the Caribbean, Mary Jane from Spiderman.

 

COMIC RELIEF is comedy scenes that serve to release tension in real life

Examples of comic relief : In Harry Potter movie, Ron often act silly to relieve the tension. In The Amazing Spuderman, Peter Parker also act funny to loosen the tension.

 

CHARACTERIZATION describe the distinctive nature of the character itself.

Examples of characterization : The way of their speaking style or thoughts.

 

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CONCEPT / CONCEPTUALIZATION means an abstract idea / forming an idea.

THEME means the subject of a talk or a topic of the story.

PITCH means a degree of story when it is on it's highness or lowness.

LOGLINE providing both sypnosis of the program's plot to make it interesting through a brief summary of the story.

CHARACTER BIO is an account of the character.

SYPNOSIS is a brief summary of a story.

STORYLINE is a plot of a story.

TREATMENT is a detailed draft of the performance.

DEVELOPMENT HELL  is a period where a movie or a projects is being develop.