Your No Budget Screenplay, Ten Page Rules
If you have read my other post you probably at this point have a good idea of what you wish to write so we will by pass that for now and get to the basics. What is it that we must accomplish within the first ten pages of our script.
We must establish the location of the story. The script can begin there or through a series of events we can travel there. The central location needs to be established because this is not only where your story takes place, but also this is where your future cast and crew will be spending most of their time and efforts. Even if you are only the screen writer and not going to be wearing the hats of producer and director you have to keep these things in mind. The majority of movies manage to achieve this whether they are low budget or mega budget. People, meaning the viewers, need to know where the story is going to take place. They need to get comfortable in the world that you are creating. Whether it is the Blair Witch Project or Gone With The Wind those first ten pages and or minutes are the most important.
In times gone by once a ticket was purchased the film maker had his audience and they were going to be stuck in that seat until the end credits. Now your audience is one button click away from leaving you and the movie that you have written behind. Remember that scene from Gladiator where Maximus yells to the crowd “Are you not entertained?” I am not saying that they have to be entertained during these first ten pages, what I am saying is that you have to hold interest.
The best and most cost effective way of doing this is with you main character. The lead Character is not necessarily the main character. (Quick note: Think about the movie Terminator. The lead is Sarah, the main character is the Terminator. In this movie we meet the Terminator first and he pushes the action and drives the story.) Your main character will be presented and shortly there after he or she will become the seeker or the searched for center of this universe. They must always drive other characters to act or to react.
The world is about to end. They have the ability to save it.
Their marriage is on the rocks, they are responsible for this and they must undertake the journey to repair or Fireproof it.
Someone is about to be murdered and they are the only one who knows about the plot and the only one capable of stopping it, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
To change the future they must travel back in time and terminate someone, but they are not sure exactly who.
Find the who and the thing that will drive him or her to chase and or run and you will have a great jumping off point for your no budget screenplay.
If you have read my other post you probably at this point have a good idea of what you wish to write so we will by pass that for now and get to the basics. What is it that we must accomplish within the first ten pages of our script.
We must establish the location of the story. The script can begin there or through a series of events we can travel there. The central location needs to be established because this is not only where your story takes place, but also this is where your future cast and crew will be spending most of their time and efforts. Even if you are only the screen writer and not going to be wearing the hats of producer and director you have to keep these things in mind. The majority of movies manage to achieve this whether they are low budget or mega budget. People, meaning the viewers, need to know where the story is going to take place. They need to get comfortable in the world that you are creating. Whether it is the Blair Witch Project or Gone With The Wind those first ten pages and or minutes are the most important.
In times gone by once a ticket was purchased the film maker had his audience and they were going to be stuck in that seat until the end credits. Now your audience is one button click away from leaving you and the movie that you have written behind. Remember that scene from Gladiator where Maximus yells to the crowd “Are you not entertained?” I am not saying that they have to be entertained during these first ten pages, what I am saying is that you have to hold interest.
The best and most cost effective way of doing this is with you main character. The lead Character is not necessarily the main character. (Quick note: Think about the movie Terminator. The lead is Sarah, the main character is the Terminator. In this movie we meet the Terminator first and he pushes the action and drives the story.) Your main character will be presented and shortly there after he or she will become the seeker or the searched for center of this universe. They must always drive other characters to act or to react.
The world is about to end. They have the ability to save it.
Their marriage is on the rocks, they are responsible for this and they must undertake the journey to repair or Fireproof it.
Someone is about to be murdered and they are the only one who knows about the plot and the only one capable of stopping it, The Man Who Knew Too Much.
To change the future they must travel back in time and terminate someone, but they are not sure exactly who.
Find the who and the thing that will drive him or her to chase and or run and you will have a great jumping off point for your no budget screenplay.
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