Chapter 3

Script Writing

Cinema is an audio-visual storytelling medium that teleports the audience to another

world. The enticing tale hooks the viewers to the screen for the entire duration. Why
are films so fascinating? How do they catch the attention of the audience? How do
films leave the audience thinking about it? There is a simple psychology behind this.
Most humans have a visual recall memory, which is a memory for visual material.
It is much more impactful and detailed than recalling most other kinds of material.
Films excel at showing events to the audience. Cinema shows visuals instead of
describing them. This is why films are cherished and adored.

There is a sequence to unfold how characters appear, behave, and face the
circumstances and which events in their life lead to a story. The script includes
sequential descriptions of all characters and scenes in detail so that the director can
visualise what they want to create and show on the screen. Scriptwriter essentially
forms a story and then writes a film. The script is the backbone of the film. It tells
you what’s happening in a scene. It makes acting, shooting, directing, and other
processes in filmmaking easier.

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Script & Screenplay

Script and Screenplay are two terms that are often used in the context of writing a
film. However, knowing the difference between both terms and how they can be
used interchangeably is important. The script is the written text of a film, play,
broadcast, or any performing art. The screenplay is the script of a film, inclusive of
actions and dialogues for everyone’s understanding of a film. According to these
definitions, it is clear that the main difference between script and screenplay is all
screenplays are scripts, but not all scripts are screenplays.

The Elements of the Script

Script

Synopsis
Plot Design Shots
Outline Scenes
Exposition Sequences

Structure
Dialogues

Character Arc
Treatment

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Synopsis

A Synopsis is a summary of the plot. It briefly describes the characters, setting, and
theme of the film. It is an overview that generates interest and helps understand
where the film is going to lead. The synopsis sticks to the plot and key elements of
the story. It describes what to expect from a film without giving many spoilers. The
synopsis must be concise, and engaging and capture the essence in just a few
paragraphs. Writing a synopsis helps the writer identify the potential of the script
and provides a roadmap to follow. As an example, let’s have a look at the synopsis
of an iconic Indian blockbuster film Sholay (Hindi/ 1975).

Synopsis

In the small village of Ramgarh, the retired policeman Thakur Baldev Singh summons a pair
of small-time thieves that he had once arrested. Thakur feels that Jai and Veeru can capture
Gabbar Singh, a dacoit wanted by the authorities for a reward. Thakur tells them to surrender
Gabbar to him alive for an additional reward. The two thieves stop the dacoits sent by Gabbar
to extort the villagers. Soon afterward, Gabbar and his goons attack Ramgarh during the festival
of Holi, and in a tough battle, Veeru and Jai are cornered. Thakur has a gun within his reach
but does not help them. Veeru and Jai fight back, and then the bandits flee. The two are upset
with Thakur’s inaction and consider leaving the village. Thakur then explains that Gabbar had
killed nearly all of his family members and cut off both his arms a few years ago, which is why
he could not use the gun. He had concealed the dismemberment by always wearing a shawl.
Living in Ramgarh, Jai, and Veeru find themselves growing fond of villagers. They find love
in Radha, Thakur’s widower daughter-in-law, and Basanti, who drives a horse cart,
respectively.

Skirmishes between Gabbar’s gang and Jai-Veeru result in the capture of Veeru and Basanti by
dacoits. Jai attacks the gang, and the three flee Gabbar’s hideout with dacoits in pursuit.
Fighting from behind a rock, Jai and Veeru run out of ammunition. Veeru, unaware that Jai was
wounded in the gunfight, is forced to leave for more bullets. Meanwhile, Jai decides to sacrifice
himself by using his last bullet to ignite dynamite sticks on a bridge from close range. After
Veeru returns, Jai dies in his arms. Furious, he attacks Gabbar’s den and catches the dacoit.
Veeru nearly beats Gabbar to death when Thakur appears and reminds Veeru of the promise to
hand over Gabbar alive. Thakur uses his spike-soled shoes to severely injure Gabbar and
destroy his hands. The police then arrive and arrest Gabbar.
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Outline

An outline is a blueprint or a summary of the story that a screenwriter intends to tell

through a screenplay. It’s a step in the scriptwriting process that helps the writer
organise their ideas and structure their story before writing the actual screenplay.
The outline serves as a guide for the writer and helps the writer get along with the
story before they start writing a screenplay. The Outline Typically Includes:

 Plot Points: A Plot Point is a significant event or action that drives the
narrative of a story forward and causes a change in the direction or outcome
of the plot.

 Story Beats: Story Beats are the key moments in a story that are often marked
by shifts in emotion, action, or revelation. The story beats are often associated
with the emotions of key moments. They ensure an engaging and cohesive
flow of emotions.

 Key Scene Descriptions: Key Scene Description is a concise summary or

description of the most important and impactful scenes in a story, used to
guide the development of the plot and characters.

 Act Break: Act Breaks are the points in a three-act structure where the story
transitions from one act to the next, usually marked by a significant event or
cliffhanger that propels the plot forward.

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Plot points and act breaks both occur at the end of the act. However, plot Points bring
progression in the story, whereas act breaks bring transition in the story and story
beats bring emotion to the story.

It may also include notes about the setting and theme of the story along with other
details the writer wants to include. It gives a concrete direction to the scriptwriter to
proceed toward the screenplay. As an example, consider the outline of the all-time
romantic hit film Dilwale Dulhaniya Lejayenge (Hindi/1995).

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 ACT I ACT II ACT III

Simran, an NRI living in On the train to Europe, Raj and Simran meet. The Raj and his father wait at a
London, is brought up in a two miss their train to Zurich and are separated railway station where
conservative household from their friends. As they start to travel together, Kuljeet and his friends
and dreams of meeting her they become friends, and eventually, Raj falls in attack them. Raj continues
ideal man. Her mother love with Simran. On the way back home, Simran to fight back to protect his
warns against this and to too realises her love for Raj. father. Soon Simran’s
her dismay her father fixes father and Kuljeet’s father
her alliance with his She shares her feelings with her mother which her arrive to stop their fight.
childhood friend’s son father overhears and decides to move to India the Raj boards the train with
settled in Punjab, India. next day. Raj’s father celebrates Raj’s feelings and his father just when
asks him to go to Simran to win her over. The Simran, her sister, and her
Raj, NRI, is a free-hearted neighbours tell him they sold the house and shifted mother arrive there. She
soul living with a liberal to India. tries to join Raj on the
father in London. On one departing train but her
occasion, he almost tries to Simran and her younger sister instantly disapprove father stops her. She begs
steal liquor from Simran’s of Simran’s fiancé- Kuljeet. The next day, Raj him to let her go as she
father’s shop along with arrives in Punjab and meets Simran in luscious cannot live without Raj.
his friends. mustard fields where she asks him to elope with Her father realises no one
her. He promises to marry her only with her can love his daughter the
Raj is going on a Europe father’s consent and as a first step, he befriends way Raj loves her and lets
trip along with his friends. Kuljeet. He is successful in wooing every member her go. She runs and
Simran’s friends invite her of the family later. catches the train uniting
on the same trip. Simran with Raj.
doesn’t want to marry a Raj is accompanied by his father and he approves
person she has never met of Simran at first sight. Soon Simran’s mother and
but reluctantly agrees to sister discover Raj is the boy Simran fell in love
her father’s wish on one with and advice to elope but Raj stays firm on his
condition. She asks her decision. When Simran and Kuljeet’s marriage
father to allow her to see ceremonies begin, her father finds out about her
the world before marriage. and Raj seeing their photograph from Europe.
Her father hesitantly Realising Raj’s true identity, he slaps, humiliates,
agrees to the trip. and asks Raj to leave right away.

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Character Arc

Every story requires characters, and they must be fully developed and three-
dimensional to function as a living human. They should be known inside out
including how they think and respond to every situation in their life. Characters
require a specific background and a journey, even if most of its part is never revealed
in the film. Characters’ backstories and past experiences distinguish them from each
other in the script.

Character Arc is an apparent path of how a character changes over the course of the
story. Character arcs vary thematically from film to film and character to character.
Depending upon the requirements of the story, characters can change from bad to
good or their view can change over the course of the story.

Most of the stories start with the normal world of the protagonist and characters close
to the protagonist. Character arc progresses when the protagonist or the character
close to the protagonist encounters some incident or other character in the film. This
encounter is related to the antagonist or the close ones of the antagonists. In some
cases, the protagonist stays put. Otherwise, a mentor character in the protagonist’s
life interacts with and advises the protagonist regarding the encounter. The
protagonist explores more shades of their character by taking the call to adventure.
Hereon, the protagonist must decide whom to trust and whom to not in the journey.
Either figuratively or literally antagonist puts the protagonist through life-and-death
situations. The protagonist changes or completely transforms as a character through
this journey. After scraping past the turmoil, the protagonist achieves the objective
or is rewarded for their efforts. The protagonist either changes for good forever or

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reunites with the other characters for a lifetime depending upon the storyline. The
film Queen (Hindi/ 2014) portrays the journey of Rani Mehra with empowering
character arc.

2. 3.
To get control over the situation, she Rani realises she has complete freedom
seeks her parents’ permission to go here and she doesn’t have to ask for
alone on a pre-booked honeymoon anyone’s permission before doing
to Paris and Amsterdam. After anything that she wishes to do. On
initial reluctance, they agree for their moving to the next city, she befriends 3
daughter’s happiness. Rani finds a men and their bond becomes the strongest.
friend at new place, but overwhelmed This is an unusual thing in the culture
by the atmosphere she lands into a where Rani comes from. Rani gains the
trouble twice. Giving up she decides confidence by taking control of her
to return to India but her friend decisions. She even realises the earning
cheers her up. potential that she has on the trip. She learns
how different life can be across the
different parts of the world.

1. 4.
Rani is a 24-year-old meek yet good- Over the period, her fiancé proposes
natured woman grown up in a her to reconsider their relationship.
protective Indian household. Her Presuming Rani wouldn’t deny, as she
fiancé, who is settled abroad, realises doesn’t have any say, the wedding
that Rani’s conservative habits won’t preparations also start. But, to much of
be a suitable match for his western his disappointment, Rani returns the
lifestyle. Hence, a day before the engagement ring and thanks him for
wedding he breaks the alliance. giving this opportunity of exploring
Shocked by his decision, Rani locks the world. She walks away with a
herself up in a room. confident smile on her face.

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Plot Design

As you know, the plot is where the action happens and the character is forced to
change or transform to face the challenges. The plot is the justification of why it
happens what happens in the story. Plot Design is arranging the linear or non-linear
sequence of events in a story to hook the audience to the film. A single event on
which the plot is concentrated should disrupt a pattern, bring twists and turns in the
screenplay, and should pose a compelling question that must be resolved throughout
the length of the story. An engaging plot design can make a film memorable and
impactful.

Exposition

Exposition is information about characters, their biography, and settings that the
audience needs to know to understand the events of the story. Exposition is a way of
revealing the film’s narrative and background information to the audience. Good
exposition is delivered without the audience even noticing it. It is giving information
in disguise, visualising information, delaying information, and withholding
information. Exposition can reveal the story’s world, character, conflict, and theme.
It uses narration, titles, and sometimes lyrics, media, and production design that
helps the audience to understand what is going on in the story.

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 1. Fundamental Rules of Exposition

a. Show! Don’t Tell.

Storytelling without dialogue is the purest form of cinematic storytelling. One way
of delivering exposition is to visualise it. It is much more interesting and engaging
for the audience to see the events take place rather than the narration.

b. Attack with Exposition

In an attack with exposition, information is used as a weapon. Exposition is used to

attack the characters in some way resulting in turning the character’s world upside
down, conflict, and engaging the audience. Exposition is sometimes tied to the
emotion of the film. It can be used as an attack to create points of no return. Ideally,
exposition should be attached to the conflict to forward the conflict.

c. Right Exposition at Right Time

Exposition should be balanced in a film. It should have a progressive pattern. The

least important facts come early, the most important later, and critical facts last. The
most important expositional facts are secrets, dark truths that the characters hide
from the world and themselves. Backstory information can be used as an exposition
attack.

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In the film, Khamoshi: The Musical (Hindi/ 1996), the protagonist is travelling to
her parent’s house with her husband and son. On the way, she meets with a severe
road accident and slides into an unconscious state at the hospital. The filmmaker
uses this sequence to reveal her background, the setting of the story, and the theme
of the film. This right use of exposition at the right time helps the audience
understand the protagonist’s life journey and conflict in the film which is very well
blended with the action and dialogue further.

Dialogues

Dialogues are conversations or exchanges of ideas between two or more characters.

Dialogues play an important role in advancing the plot and revealing information
about the characters. Dialogues have two contradictory goals. The first is to sound
natural and the second is to reveal the plot and the character information to the
audience. Fundamentally, dialogue along with visuals explains what is going on in
a story. Prominently, they tell the audience who the characters are, how they are
related to each other, and what they are willing to do. And, most importantly, they
convey the internal feelings and worries of characters, suggest the subtext, and
portray the theme of the movie. Dialogues make the audience laugh, cry, engrossed
in the scene, or even leave surprised. For the audience, most memories of the film
can be associated with the dialogue. Remember, in films, the dialogue doesn’t
contain the stories. The story contains dialogues, so dialogues cannot be heavily
loaded with information. The film is a visual medium too, so let visuals do their part
wherever applicable. Let’s have a look at different dialogues from Indian films that
serve various purposes in the screenplay.

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  “Babu Moshai Zindagi Badi Honi Chahiye, Lambi Nahi” – Aanand (Hindi/
1971)

The dialogue means- Sir, life must be lived king-size and not just long. This dialogue
represents the protagonist’s fighting spirit, positivity, and affection toward the
friend, despite being diagnosed with a rare form of intestinal cancer.

 “Kuni Ghar Deta Ka Ghar?” – Natsamrat (Marathi/ 2016)

The dialogue means- Would anyone offer us a house? The dialogue is said by the
protagonist who is a Shakespearean actor. After retirement, he divides his property
among two children, but their ungratefulness toward the parents leaves the
protagonist and his wife homeless in old age. The dialogue reveals important plot
points and the vulnerable state of the protagonist. It reflects the journey of the
protagonist in the screenplay.

 “Nattai Aalla Vendiyathu Pamara Makkal” – Iruvar (Tamil/ 1997)

Dialogue means- The common people should rule the country. The firebrand
political leader in the 1940s-1950s is unhappy with the way Tamilians have been
sidelined in national politics. He wishes to carve out a separate identity for them and
this dialogue reflects his personality, and thoughts that have a huge impact on one
of the two protagonists of the film.

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  “Brand Anedi Battallo Undedi Kaadhu, Brathakadam Lo Undedi…” –
Pushpa: The Rise (Telugu, Tamil, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam/ 2021)

The dialogue means that a brand’s stamp isn’t found on the clothes that one wears…
It’s found in the way one lives their life. The district’s SP humiliates the protagonist
for being an illegitimate child of his parents born out of wedlock. He metaphorically
says that the protagonist doesn’t have any brand. The protagonist takes revenge for
this insult at the right time and expresses his identity, his achievements, and his
respect for his mother through this dialogue. He makes SP realise that without a
uniform he has no identity, but if the protagonist decides to go anywhere even semi-
naked, people will still respect him.

Treatment

Treatment is an overview of the screenplay and briefly describes what and how the
whole screenplay looks like. The cast and crew can go through a treatment document
at times, instead of reading the whole screenplay. Treatments do not have a particular
format. Every film’s treatment is very custom and every filmmaker has their way of
preparing it. Treatment often includes information that is not a part of the story and
screenplay:

 A short explanation of visual style

 Any particular way of the narrating story through the screenplay
 The highlighting factors in the film
 Usage of a particular dialect or accent in the screenplay
 Description of the target audience

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  A brief plan of how this film will look once it is ready

Creating a treatment document is a useful exercise. It is similar to a launching pad

that determines whether the film has what it takes to accomplish it.

Difference between Logline, Synopsis, Outline, and Treatment

Every story can be told in a single sentence. A Logline sums up the story in a single
sentence. This is the shortest way in which the story can be told.

To explain the essence of the story, a Synopsis is written. This explains the “who”,
“what” and “how” of the story. It also includes who the protagonist is, the conflict
that takes place, and the resolution. It has enough information, is short and simple,
and should intrigue the reader. One page synopsis goes a little further adding more
details like defining the main character, important decisions or events, and how it
moves the plot. It can also include other main characters, settings, and plot twists.
This briefly indicates the narrative structure, including the beginning, development,
and conclusion.

The Outline is much lengthier than the synopsis. Writing an outline that provides
more details and insights into the story and the script is important. The outline is also
a reflection of how good the writer is and their storytelling skills. The outline helps
when actual script writing begins. It gives a foundation and direction for the
scriptwriter.

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Synopsis and Outline together are used as the basis for treatment. A good treatment
will help in selling the idea of your movie. Treatment is a kind of template for
assuring that you have an interesting, compelling, and coherent story that is well
conceived.

Shots, Scenes, and Sequences

A Shot refers to a continuous visual in a film that is captured by a camera without

any interruption. A shot can range in duration from just a few seconds to several
minutes, depending upon the storyteller’s intention and need for the story. Each shot
is an important building block in the screenplay of a film.

One of the most impactful and memorable shots in Indian cinema is the climax shot
of the movie Sairat (Marathi/ 2016). The innocent toddler with his small steps one
after another holding the walls of his house goes inside. What he sees next is his
mother and father lying on the floor with blood all over the floor. The poor child
tries to wake them up but the bodies remain as still as a rock. The small life is seen
crying with a deadly silence in the background. Leaving his footmarks of the blood,
he comes outside.

A Scene is a series of shots that takes place in a single location and time, often
connected by a common theme, idea, or event. A scene is usually composed of one
or more shots and can range in length from a few seconds to several minutes. The
scene conveys a specific plot point, shows character development, and establishes
mood and atmosphere. Each scene has a unique purpose and style.

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The film Swades (Hindi/ 2004) is based on the theme of Patriotism. The scene
occurring on the railway platforms of the small village in India, in this film, is a
mirror of realism. A privileged NRI, Mohan Bhargav, while traveling in a train
witnesses a little boy selling water in clay pots. He compares his privileges of living
in a lavish abode and consuming only packaged mineral water with this little boy’s
life, who is selling water for merely 25 pcs to survive. He realises how disconnected
he has been from the reality of life.

A Sequence is a series of related scenes that are grouped to show a specific event,
idea, or theme. Sequences can vary in length and are made up of several scenes that
take place in different locations and times but have relevance to each other.
Sequences create a sense of narrative coherence and are an important element of
structure.

Film Mahanati (Telugu, Malayalam / 2018) / Nadigaiyar Thilagam (Tamil/ 2018) is

a biopic of a popular yesteryear actress Nissankara Savitri. Biopic is a film
dramatising the life of a particular person. In this film, there is a sequence of Savitri’s
pursuit to achieve a lead role in a film. After taking an effort for a long, she gets cast
in a popular director’s film opposite a big star of those times. Starstruck, Savitri
forgets her dialogues and even after multiple attempts cannot deliver them correctly.
This is why she is thrown out of the film. Savitri cannot take this insult and despite
suggestions from near ones to return to her hometown, she waits in the studio. The
same director announces that he is looking for dancers for his next venture and
Savitri decides to audition for the role to prove her skills. She impresses the director
and producer, earning a role for herself in the song. The director praises her by
saying; had she performed like this earlier, she would have never been thrown out
of the film. This sequence is a combination of beautiful shots and scenes that shows
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important life event in the protagonist’s life and takes the screenplay of the film
forward.

Screenplay Format

A thorough understanding of all the elements of scripts is useful in writing a

screenplay. The screenplay has to be in a very specific format. This format is being
used since the days when there were no computers to type the script. The scripts
were manually typed on a device called a Typewriter. So even today, the screenplay
looks like it has been typed out on a typewriter, though it is written using software
applications.

The 12-point, courier typewriter font is used to write screenplays. In this

format, one page is considered equivalent to 1 minute of on-screen running
time. Each scene starts with a Scene Heading that is flush left, capitalised, in a single
line and reads:

 The number of the Scene: 1.

 Interior or Exterior: INT. / EXT.
 Location: PLACE.
 Time of day or night: DAY / NIGHT

Scene directions and action descriptions are written below the scene heading. Above
the dialogue, character names are in all capital. The dialogue should be in the center,
along with the name of the character speaking it. The same is applicable if any
character doing voiceover needs to be mentioned in the script. Voiceover is when the

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dialogue said by characters is heard in the background. Cut to and dissolve shot
transitions are positioned flush right. The screenplay written by a scriptwriter does
not contain any directions for the camera or editing.

Let’s have a look at how an important scene from the film Neerja (Hindi/ 2016) has
been written in a screenplay. Neerja, a flight attendant, boards Pan Am flight 73. The
flight is hijacked by the terrorists and Neerja risks her life to stall them from
attacking the passengers on board.

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19
(Source: [Link])
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Screenplay Writing Software Applications

Screenplay writing software, often called Screenwriting Software, is a word

processor designed specifically for writing films. It is an essential tool for all
professional Screen Writers. There is a standard format for writing film scripts.
Screenwriting Software takes care of the formatting. Screenwriters while using
Screenwriting Software can focus on words, story, characters, and other creative
aspects of writing. Writers can use various screenwriting software applications to
write a screenplay. The two factors that make the process of writing with software
easier are ‘Ease of Use and ‘Quality of Support’. According to the scriptwriter’s
comfort, whichever software provides the best writing experience and helps create a
satisfying outcome can be used with the applicable subscription method. Brief
description of some of the most popular Screenwriting Software Applications:

1. Movie Magic Screenwriter

Movie Magic Screenwriter is well-known, the industry standard, and the preferred
choice. It comes with real-time collaboration, professionally authored templates,
revision tracking, breakdown reports, etc. It has a diverse and powerful feature set.

2. Final Draft

Final Draft 10 has been an industry standard for decades and is used by many
professional writers and filmmakers. Smart-Type is a useful function that remembers
scene elements like characters and locations which can be reinserted as you write. It

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has to tag and report tools that can break down scene elements (actors, wardrobe,
and props) and feed them into production reports.

3. Studio Binder

This is free professional Screenwriting Software without any strings attached. One
has to sign up to start writing. It is industry approved, intuitive, and lets you focus
on writing. Studio Binder also offers an end-to-end management platform that will
allow the script to move into pre-production and production. This can auto-generate
shooting schedules, shot lists, storyboards, and call sheets.

4. Celtx

Celtx is a Cloud-based software with more than 5 million users. It comes with a wide
variety of template formats and can also convert from one to the other. You can also
import from PDF, Final Draft, and Microsoft Word Document formats. It also
integrates preproduction tools like call sheets, storyboards, shot lists, and scheduling.

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Pitching

Pitching is the process of presenting the story or screenplay to persuade the listener
to invest in the film. The screenplay is typically pitched for its execution
development. Hence, a pitch starts with a logline. The pitch also highlights the most
compelling aspects of the screenplay to help the listener visualise the film. Pitching
is a skill and successful pitches involve finding a unique angle that sets them apart
from other films in the same genre. Pitching can take place in several formats such
as informal meetings, formal presentations, or just over calls. The ultimate goal of
pitching is to secure financing, production, or distribution for the film and to
establish relationships with industry experts to onboard the film.

Questions:

1. What is the difference between script and screenplay?

2. Explain the concept of synopsis.
3. Explain what is an outline and what are elements included in it.
4. What is a character arc and why it is important in the script?
5. Define the Plot and concept of Plot Design.
6. What is Exposition, briefly explain its fundamental concepts.
7. Explain Dialogues and their importance in script writing.
8. Explain the difference between Logline, Synopsis, Outline, and Treatment.
9. Explain the difference between shots, scenes, and sequences.
[Link] is screenplay writing format, briefly explain.

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