Introducing Screenwriting

• Film
• Higher Education (degree)

Lights, Camera, Action! - An Introduction to Outlining a Short Film

'Talent without craft is like fuel without an engine. It burns wildly but accomplishes nothing' - Robert McKee

Introducing The Craft of Screenwriting

Learning Objective

At the end of the lesson, you will know how to use Thematic Premise and loglines to pitch a short film idea.

Next week you will pitch initial ideas. 

What is Thematic Premise 

Thematic Premise is the message of the film. Thematic Premise is also plot. 

Plot =Theme 

Theme=plot

 

Example Thematic Premise:

Love yourself first, so you can love others

You become what you hate

True Love requires sacrifice

True love defies death

Blind patriotism destroys

Ruthless ambition leads to ruin

Case Study: The Dig

Powerful Thematic Premise: 

'Closure is more important than justice'

Written by Stuart Drennan (Belfast Met Graduate) 

List some subjects that you might like to explore in scripts:

Christopher Nolan

Subjects or 'Themes' explored: Time, identity, memory, and the blurred lines between reality and illusion.

Films: "Memento," "Inception," "Interstellar," and "Tenet."

Sofia Coppola

Subjects or 'Themes': Isolation, loneliness, female identity, and the inner lives of complex female characters.

Films: "Lost in Translation," "The Virgin Suicides," "Marie Antoinette," and "Somewhere."

Wes Anderson

Subjects or Themes explored: Eccentric characters, dysfunctional families, nostalgia, and whimsical visual style.

Films: "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Grand Budapest Hotel," and "Isle of Dogs."

A strong thematic premise 

Character- Conflict- Resolution

 

Ruthless ambition leads to ruin

Share an idea for a Thematic Premise:

Character

Short film character descriptions need to be kept simple, particularly at the initial ideas phase. 

E.g A frustrated teacher, a neglected child etc 

Create a simple character for the Thematic premise 'Ruthless ambition leads to ruin'

Create a simple character(s) for the Thematic Premise 'Blood is thicker than water'

Why have a Thematic Premise

• It shows a strong storytelling voice

• It can help you develop a cohesive body of work. 

• It can help guide you through other storytelling stages.

• It can help you to focus your ideas and key message.

Log Line

A log line is simply a one liner summary of the story. 

A good one liner explains the character, conflict and resolution in an exciting and compelling way. 

Example Log lines:

"The Dig (2018)": After serving fifteen years for murder, Callahan returns home to find Sean, his victim’s father, searching for the body. Callahan soon realises that the only way to get rid of him is to help him dig.

"E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" (1982):A young boy befriends a stranded alien and helps him evade government agents while trying to reunite him with his home planet."

"The Silence of the Lambs" (1991):"An FBI agent seeks the help of a brilliant but insane serial killer to catch another elusive serial killer on the loose."

"Jurassic Park" (1993):"A billionaire philanthropist invites a group of scientists and visitors to his remote island amusement park, but their enjoyment turns to terror when genetically-engineered dinosaurs escape and wreak havoc."

Violet

Thematic Premise: You must love yourself in order to love others

Log Line: Violet, a Northern Irish teenager, is haunted by guilt as she struggles to come to terms with her faith and being gay.

Character Wants and Needs

Wants: Desires which can be to the detriment of the character. Could also be well-meaning.

  

Needs: What the character really needs, this should be a lesson linked to the Thematic Premise. 

What did Violet Want and Need?

Story Structure Stages

An industry standard way of developing story: 

1. Thematic Premise

2. Character(s) - Conflict - Resolution 

2. Outline (Beat Sheet/ Acts) 

3. Treatment (more detailed Beat Sheet)

4. Script 

Can you write a log line for Wren Boys?

Can you identify the thematic premise of Wren Boys?

Your Goals

You will pitch ideas for thematic premise and Log line's next Monday. 

You will also pitch an outline for feedback after the reading week. 

 

www.shortoftheweek.com

30min Task: Theme Detectives 

Analyse some films on the website Short of the week. 

1.Identify at least one films thematic Premise 

2.Try to capture the film(s) log line. 

Your Ideas 

Develop some ideas for short stories. 

What is your topic or subject of interest? What is your Thematic premise? What is the best character to carry that story? Character wants and needs? 

Create a Log Line with Character-conflict- Resolution