Scriptwriting: An Introduction

Scriptwriting is the art of crafting screenplays for film, television, and theater. Unlike prose, scripts focus on dialogue and direction, providing a blueprint for visual storytelling.

Standard script format includes Courier 12pt font, 1.5-inch left margin, and 1-inch margins elsewhere. This provides a minute of screen time per script page, a crucial benchmark for writers and producers.

A script balances dialogue and action. Striking dialogue captures character voices, while succinct action lines direct the scene without dictating camera angles, allowing directorial freedom.

Compelling scripts feature characters with clear arcs. Change is essential; by the end, each character should undergo a transformation that reflects the story's themes and events.

Most scripts follow a three-act structure: Setup (Act 1), Confrontation (Act 2), and Resolution (Act 3). Each act serves distinct narrative functions, propelling the story forward.

Conflict is the engine of storytelling. Without it, scripts lack tension and purpose. Effective scripts interweave external conflicts with characters' internal struggles, creating a resonant narrative.

Scriptwriting abides by 'show, don't tell.' Instead of expository dialogue, scripts reveal character and story through action, subtext, and visual cues, making the narrative dynamic and engaging.