Scriptwriting- Structure

This week we looked closely at structure and the importance and ways you can build it in scriptwriting. We looked at the popular three act structure and went with the basis that every page equals a minute, looking at roughly 120 pages for your screenplay. Act one is where you start and normally contains about 30 pages, about three pages in you should include your hook, something that engages and draws in your audience and gets them invested, then around page 27 you introduce plot point one, something that carries the story further where theres no turning back. Next is act two which carries on from page 31 - 90, during these pages you'll hit your mid point and around page 87 you'll want to include plot point two which makes a conclusion more accessible for act three. Finally you have act three consisting of pages 91-120 and this is all about tying up lose ends and coming to the conclusion. This is a solid structure to use in scriptwriting and is popular for a reason.

We then moved on and started to look at theme and how theme is structure, if narrative is what happens then theme is why it happens. There all lots of components to think of when touching on theme such as moral undertones which can reflect:

Humanity,
Core Beliefs,
Values  
Whats Important to you
What do you Believe in
What you know
Life Experiences

There are many different ways to show and convey theme in your script and it's crucial you find the right one or combination of ones to successfully communicate the theme. This can be done with:

Characters
Actions
Decisions
Relationships
Conflict
Dialogue
Symbolism
Visual Imagery

It's also key to try and create a backstory for your character so you can lay groundworks for his past and have them reprise in your story so your character is more human and believable to your auidence.