All About Screenwriting

Basic Screenplay Structure

FORMAT
PLOT POINTS
CHARACTER
QUESTIONS to ask yourself
SCRIPT CHECKLIST

I posted one excerpt below, in the previous post to this one. I think this whole webpage might be helpful so, here's the link.

Screenplay/Movie Plot Point Checklist

Between pages 1-5: The HOOK, something that grabs our attention and pulls us in.

Page 10: At this point in your script you should have the "MINI CRISIS". The "MINI CRISIS" should lead us into...

Page 17: ...The DILEMMA. Creation of the team and what the movie is about.

Page 30: The REACTION to the dilemma or situation.

Page 45: First "REVERSAL" of the 17 minute point. This point furthers the characters and pushes them deeper into the situation or the dilemma.

Page 60: The "TENT POLE" of the movie. Where the passive characters become active or vice versa.

Page 75: Second "REVERSAL" to the 17 minute point. To reaffirm what the story is about.

Page 90: The LOW POINT of action. The place from which our main character has to rise up from.

SEE THE WEBPAGE

Hollywood's Best Kept Secret: The Expanded Scene Breakdown

from Christopher Keane:

"What is Hollywood's Best Kept Screenwriting Secret? Answer: The Expanded Scene Breakdown. What is the Expanded Scene Breakdown? It's the middle step between the story development stage and the script itself.

Another step in the screenwriting process, you ask?

The Expanded Scene Breakdown is a 20 to 40+ page point by point, step by step, scene by scene outline of the entire screenplay in prose form using dialogue, character development, action, etc. It's an essential way to see the entire movie before you reach the screenplay stage."

READ THE ARTICLE