One page pitch

Screenplay essentials

1. Story and Character A screenplay starts from a High Concept idea, from the development of an unforgettable character, or in the best case from both.
2. Outline Before Writing Know at least how the story ends, begins, as well as the screenplay’s five major plot points before writing the script.
3. Three-Act Structure The experts can debate sequences, but all agree the story is told in three acts, with a turning-point to end Act I and II.
4. Original Voice Clear and concise writing is key, keeping action description at four lines or less, but the action should still sound original.
5. Screenplay Form Professional screenplay format is a must as well as correct page appearance: lots of white space, no “I” pages, and block pages.
6. “What happens next?” All scenes must move the story forward, reveal character, or both. Any scene that does neither are not necessary and should be cut.
7. Short Scenes A screenplay must move fast, so three pages should be the absolute maximum before you cut to a new location. Half a page is typical.
8. Brief Dialogue Remember, film is a visual medium. You show the story. Never tell it through verbal storytelling. Keep lines of dialogue short.
9. Under 120 pages One script page equals one film minute, so a drama is about two hours (120 pages); a comedy is closer to 90 minutes (90 pages).
10. Know the Logline In one sentence, you must be able to pitch “what the story is about,” and make a comparison to other successful Hollywood films.
Source: http://thescriptlab.com/screenwriting-101/screenplay/what-is-a-screenplay/636-top-ten-screenplay-essentials

Se7en Textual Analysis

A Se7en textual analysis. The music used in the sequence starts off spooky and slow paced. As the title scene carries on, the music picks up pace and becomes more intense. This increases suspense and makes the scene seem sinister. Something being scratched is heard over the music which sound a lot like screams. This adds to the suspense of the opening. The individual scenes are cut together using a variety of transitions. Some of the clips are nicer transitions such as fades but then some are flickering and jumpy. This represents the unpredictability which could reflect on the characters. The majority of the camera angles are close ups and extreme close ups, this is used to show the attention to detail that the killer in the films puts into everything. It also shows his dedication, by shaving off his finger prints he is leaving less evidence at all his crime scenes. We see him doing this through an extreme close up. The whole opening scene is dark and eerie, this is used to create an area of discomfort for the viewer. It also emphasizes the character that the killer is that he is comfortable in the areas that are designed to put us in an uncomfortable demeanor