14.2 Writing the First Draft

Writing the first draft is a crucial step in crafting your feature-length screenplay. It's where your story comes to life, characters take shape, and your creative vision begins to materialize on the page.

This phase is all about getting your ideas down without overthinking. Embrace imperfection, focus on forward momentum, and remember that revisions come later. Trust your instincts and let your story flow.

Engaging Scenes and Dialogue

Scene Structure and Tension

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• Incorporate principles of dramatic tension, conflict escalation, and resolution to create compelling narrative arcs within individual scenes
• Employ concise, vivid language in action lines to create clear visual representation without excessive description
• Utilize pacing techniques by varying sentence length and paragraph structure to control rhythm and flow of action and dialogue
• Craft scene transitions with hooks, callbacks, and thematic links to maintain narrative momentum and cohesion

Advanced Dialogue Techniques

• Enhance character depth and layers of meaning through subtext in dialogue
• Reflect unique voices, backgrounds, and motivations in character-specific dialogue to distinguish each character's manner of speech
• Create naturalistic and dynamic conversations using interruptions, ellipses, and strategic use of silence
• Vary dialogue length and complexity to match character personalities and emotional states

Examples and Applications

• Write a tense confrontation scene where subtext reveals hidden motives (protagonist accuses antagonist of betrayal while discussing seemingly unrelated topic)
• Craft a dialogue exchange showcasing distinct character voices (formal aristocrat vs. street-smart thief discussing a heist plan)
• Develop a visually-driven action sequence that reveals character traits and advances plot simultaneously (car chase scene where protagonist's driving style reflects their cautious nature)

Consistent Tone and Voice

Maintaining Narrative Consistency

• Unify emotional atmosphere aligning with genre and themes of screenplay
• Reflect overall narrative voice through consistent stylistic choices in language, sentence structure, and vocabulary
• Weave thematic elements throughout screenplay, reinforcing central ideas and motifs overtly and subtly
• Maintain clear perspective from which story is told (omniscient, limited, or character-specific)

Character and Genre Considerations

• Ensure character voice consistency across all scenes, keeping dialogue and actions true to established personalities and backgrounds
• Adhere to genre conventions influencing tone and style while allowing for innovation within boundaries
• Manage careful transitions between emotional states or story elements to balance tone shifts and maintain overall cohesion

Examples and Applications

• Develop a consistent noir atmosphere in a detective screenplay through word choice and sentence structure (short, punchy sentences, cynical observations)
• Create a character bible outlining speech patterns and mannerisms for main characters to ensure consistency throughout script
• Write a scene that transitions from comedy to drama while maintaining overall tonal consistency (humorous misunderstanding leads to serious revelation)

Screenplay Formatting and Standards

Page Layout and Typography

• Use specific margins, font types, and sizes standardized across industry (Courier 12-point font, 1.5-inch left margin, 1-inch right margin, 1-inch top and bottom margins)
• Manage page breaks to avoid splitting dialogue or action lines between pages, ensuring readability and proper flow
• Right-align transition instructions (CUT TO:, FADE TO:) and use judiciously to indicate significant shifts in time or location

Scene and Character Formatting

• Structure scene headings (slug lines) as INT./EXT. LOCATION - TIME OF DAY, providing essential information about each scene's setting
• Capitalize character names when first introduced and center above dialogue in all subsequent appearances
• Use parentheticals (wrylies) sparingly to indicate brief actions or attitudes accompanying dialogue
• Adhere to industry conventions for specialized formatting of montages, intercutting, and voice-overs while clearly conveying intended visual and auditory elements

Examples and Applications

• Format a complex action sequence with multiple locations and time periods using proper scene headings and transitions
• Create a montage sequence using industry-standard formatting to convey passage of time and character development
• Write a scene with multiple characters speaking simultaneously, formatting dialogue and action lines to clearly convey overlapping conversations

Visual Storytelling for Impact

Symbolic and Environmental Storytelling

• Employ visual metaphors and symbolism to represent abstract concepts or emotional states through concrete imagery
• Choose environmental details and set descriptions strategically to reflect characters' internal states and reinforce thematic elements
• Establish and develop visual motifs and recurring imagery throughout screenplay to reinforce themes and character arcs

Character and Action Visualization

• Communicate relationships, power dynamics, and emotional states through blocking and character positioning within scenes
• Choreograph action sequences to reveal character traits, advance plot, and create visual spectacle simultaneously
• Juxtapose contrasting scenes or characters using parallel action techniques to highlight thematic connections or dramatic irony

Examples and Applications

• Describe a character's emotional journey through changing weather patterns in different scenes (sunny to stormy as conflict intensifies)
• Craft a dialogue-free sequence relying solely on visual storytelling to convey a character's internal struggle (character packing belongings, hesitating over meaningful objects)
• Design a visually striking opening scene that establishes tone, theme, and central conflict without dialogue (bustling cityscape contrasting with isolated protagonist)