How to Write a Script for a Short Film for Beginners

So, You want to write a short film? Awesome! Short films let you be creative. They help you get better at writing scripts. Plus, they could even kickstart your movie career. Where do you even start? Writing a script, even a short one, can seem hard. Don't sweat it! This guide will break it down. I'll show you a simple way to write a short film script, especially if you're just starting out.

Understanding Screenwriting Basics

Before we jump into short films, let's talk about the core rules of screenwriting. These rules work for any script, no matter how long it is.

1. What's a Screenplay, Anyway?

A screenplay is like a map for a movie. It's a written thing that shows the story, characters, what people say, and what happens. Unlike a book, a screenplay is mostly about what you see. It's about showing, not just telling.

2. The Three-Part Structure

Think of the classic three-part structure. It’s a popular and easy way to tell stories. It splits the story into three parts:

• Act One: The Setup – We meet the people, see where they are, and find out what the problem is. Something happens that gets the story going.
• Act Two: Things Get Tough – The main person tries to fix things. They run into problems. Things get more exciting. We learn more about the people.
• Act Three: The End – The big moment! The main person faces the problem head-on. We find out what happens in the end.

Not every short film has to use this. But knowing it helps you make a good story.

3. Getting to Know Your Characters

Good stories need good characters. Think about these things when you make your characters:

• What They Want: What makes your character tick? What are they trying to get?
• Their Faults: What's wrong with them? Characters that aren't perfect are easier to like.
• Their Past: What happened to them before? What made them who they are?
• How They Change: Do they learn something? Do they get better?

4. Show, Don't Tell

Movies are visual. Use words to paint a picture. Focus on what people do, how they look, and where they are. Don't have long speeches where people just talk about their feelings. Show us, don't tell us!

Writing Your Short Film: Step by Step

Okay, now for the fun part: writing your short film. Here's how to do it, step by step.

1. Getting Ideas

Every movie starts with an idea. Ideas are super important for writing. Here's how to get them:

• Think About Your Life: What's happened to you? What do you care about?
• Try Different Kinds of Stories: What movies do you like? Try mixing them up to make something new.
• Ask "What If?": What if you could fly? What if you met a talking dog?
• Read the News: Find interesting stories you could turn into a movie.
• Don't Be Scared to Be Weird: The best ideas are often strange at first.

Once you have some ideas, see if they're possible to make into a movie. And make sure there's a problem or something exciting happening. Short films need to be quick and to the point.

2. The One-Sentence Summary

A logline is a one-sentence summary of your film. It should capture the heart of your story and highlight the main struggle. A strong logline helps you stay focused and makes it easier to explain your idea to others.

Example Logline: A struggling artist has to believe in himself and paint his best work before he runs out of ideas.

A good logline has these things:

• Who: Who's the main person?
• What: What do they want?
• Problem: What's stopping them?
• Danger: What happens if they fail?

3. The Detailed Summary

A treatment or outline is a longer summary of your story than a logline. It's a few paragraphs or pages long. It tells you the important scenes, events, and how the characters change. An outline helps you plan your story and find problems before you write the whole thing.

In your treatment, you might want to include:

• Who They Are: Describe the main people, what they want, and how they relate to each other.
• What Happens: Describe the important scenes, where they are, who's there, and what happens.
• Important Moments: Find the big turning points in your story.
• What It's About: What are the big ideas in your story? Love? Loss? Getting even?

4. Writing the First Version

Now for the fun part: writing! Don't try to make it perfect. Just get the story down. Here's how:

• Make a Plan: Try to write a certain number of pages each day or week.
• Use the Right Tools: Use special software for writing scripts. It will format everything for you.
• Don't Stop to Fix Things: Just write. You can fix it later.
• It's Okay to Mess Up: The first version will probably have problems. That's fine! Just get the story out.
• Read It Out Loud: This helps you find mistakes or parts that don't sound right.

5. Fixing It Up

After you finish the first version, it's time to make it better. Fix the story, make the words better, and find any mistakes. Here's how:

• Ask for Help: Show it to friends, other writers, or people who make movies. Ask them what they think.
• Look at the Big Picture: Find the main problems with the story or the characters.
• Cut Out the Extras: Short films need to be short. Get rid of anything that doesn't matter.
• Make the Words Real: Make sure the characters sound like real people.
• Check for Mistakes: Look for spelling and grammar errors.

You might have to fix your script several times. The more you work on it, the better it will be.

6. Making It Look Professional

The way your script looks is very important. It needs to be easy for people in the movie business to read. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Font: Courier New, size 12.
• Space Around the Edges: Use the right amount of space on the left, right, top, and bottom.
• Where and When: Tell people where the scene is and what time of day it is.
• What's Happening: Describe what's going on in the scene.
• Character Names: Write the character's name in all capital letters before they speak.
• What They Say: Write the words the characters say.
• How They Say It: Tell the actor how to say the line (e.g., (angrily)).

If you use script-writing software, it will take care of most of this for you.

Tips for Great Short Films

Here's some more advice to help you write a great short film:

• Keep It Short: Short films should be, well, short! Aim for 5-15 pages.
• One Big Idea: Don't try to do too much. Focus on one main thing.
• Start Strong: Grab the audience's attention right away.
• Make Them Real: Even in a short film, the characters need to be believable.
• Show, Don't Tell: Use pictures to tell your story.
• End with a Bang: Leave the audience thinking about your movie.

Things to Avoid

Here are some common mistakes that new writers make:

• Too Long: Short films shouldn't be long.
• Too Many People: Don't have too many characters. It makes the story confusing.
• Fake Talk: Make sure the characters sound like real people.
• Too Much Explaining: Don't have long speeches that explain everything.
• Bad Formatting: Make sure your script looks professional.
• No Problems: Every story needs a problem. Make sure your characters face challenges.

Why Filmmaking and Storytelling Matter

Filmmaking is a great way to tell stories. Short films let you explore ideas, try new things, and connect with people. Whether you want to be a professional filmmaker or just like being creative, learning how to write a short film script for beginners is a useful skill.

The End: Start Writing!

Writing a short film can be hard, but it's also fun. If you follow these steps, you'll be on your way to making a great story. Don't be afraid to try things and learn from your mistakes. So, get writing! Have fun making movies!