PART 1 LESSON 1

From Idea to Screen

Understanding what a film script

is and how it communicates
visually.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES BY THE END, YOU CAN...

• Define a film script/screenplay. • Apply basic screenplay
• Identify its basic parts. formatting.
• Explain character, setting, • Plan a short film using a clear
conflict, and dialogue. story structure.
• Create an original short-film
script project.

What is a film script?

A film script, or screenplay, is the blueprint for a movie. It tells the

production team what happens in each scene, where it happens, who
appears, what characters do, and what they say. Unlike a novel, a script
mainly communicates through things the audience can see and hear.

NOVEL-LIKE THOUGHT SCREENPLAY VERSION

“Maria felt nervous because her Maria taps her fingers. She looks
secret might be discovered.” at the door.
MARIA: Did anyone follow you?
SCREENWRITER TEST Ask: “Can the audience see it or
hear it?” If not, turn the idea into
action, expression, dialogue,
sound, setting, or a prop.

Why scripts matter

A script gives one shared plan to the director, actors, cinematographer,

editor, production designer, sound team, and costume team.

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 PART 2 LESSON 2
The Story Engine

Five elements that turn a simple

idea into a filmable story.

1. CONCEPT / PREMISE The central idea or hook. A strong

premise can usually be explained
in one or two sentences.
Example: A student discovers that
every lie she tells becomes true
the next day.

2. CHARACTERS The protagonist drives the story

with a goal. The antagonist can
be a person, force, situation, or
problem blocking that goal.
Ask: Who are they? What do they
want? Why? What stops them?
What happens if they fail?

3. SETTING Where and when the story takes

place. Setting can affect mood,
choices, danger, and what
actions are possible.
Examples: a school gym during
graduation practice; a flooded
neighborhood at night; an empty
classroom after dismissal.

4. CONFLICT The struggle that creates tension

and forces the character to act.
Without conflict, the story has little
momentum.
Common forms: character vs.

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 character, self, society, nature, or
technology.

5. THEME The deeper idea the story

explores. Theme grows from the
character’s choices and
consequences—not from a
lecture.
Examples: friendship, identity,
courage, honesty, family,
pressure, forgiveness, ambition.

MEMORY CUE CONCEPT + CHARACTER +

SETTING + CONFLICT + THEME =
the story engine. If one part is
weak, the whole film may feel
unclear.

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 PART 3 LESSON 3
Building the Story

Use a simple three-act structure

to create movement, pressure,
and resolution.

ACT 1 — SETUP ACT 2 — ACT 3 — RESOLUTION

CONFRONTATION
Introduce the main The climax forces a
character, setting, The character tries to major choice or
normal situation, and solve the problem, confrontation. The
goal. Then something but obstacles and ending shows the
happens that starts consequences make result and what
the main problem: the situation harder. changed.
the inciting incident. Pressure rises.
Example: Jessa enters
Example: Jessa Example: She the interview without
prepares for a searches, suspects a slides and learns to
scholarship interview. rival, loses time, and trust her own voice.
Her presentation discovers she deleted
suddenly disappears. it herself.

Simple story formula

FORMULA CHARACTER + GOAL + PROBLEM
+ ACTION + RESULT

Jessa + win a scholarship + presentation disappears + rebuild/face the

interview + learns to trust herself.

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Create a logline

A logline is a one- or two-sentence summary that captures the

protagonist, problem, goal, and stakes.

WHEN [INCITING EVENT], a [DESCRIPTION OF CHARACTER] must

[GOAL] before [STAKES].
Example: When her scholarship presentation mysteriously disappears,
an anxious honor student must prepare for the biggest interview of
her life before she loses her chance to attend college.

Quick planning questions

WHO? WANTS WHAT? WHAT STOPS THEM?

Who is the story What specific goal What conflict creates
about? drives them? pressure?
WHAT DO THEY DO? WHAT IS THE CLIMAX? WHAT CHANGES?
What choices/actions Where is pressure What is different at the
follow? highest? end?

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 PART 4 LESSON 4
Screenplay Format

Learn the basic building blocks

that make a script easy to read
and film.

1. SCENE HEADING INT. or EXT. + location + time.

Example: INT. CLASSROOM - DAY
2. ACTION LINE Describe what the audience can
see or hear. Keep it direct and
filmable.
3. CHARACTER NAME Write the speaker’s name before
dialogue, usually in capital letters.
4. DIALOGUE The exact words spoken by the
character. Keep it natural and
purposeful.
5. PARENTHETICAL A short note about delivery or
action. Use only when it adds
needed clarity.

Mini screenplay example

INT. CLASSROOM - AFTERNOON

Jessa rushes inside, opens her laptop, and freezes.

JESSA
(whispering)
No. No, no, no. Where is it?

MIGUEL appears at the doorway.

MIGUEL
Did you check the trash folder?

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 DIALOGUE TIP Avoid lines that only explain facts
the characters already know. Let
dialogue reveal personality,
tension, decisions, and reactions.

Weak: “As you know, we have been best friends for ten years.” Stronger:
“Ten years of friendship and this is how you betray me?”

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 PART 5 PROJECT ACTIVITY
Lights, Camera, Write!

Create an original 5-8 minute

short-film script using the skills from
Pages 1-4.

YOUR TASK MUST INCLUDE

• Work individually or in groups of • Title, setting, conflict, climax,
3-5. resolution
• Write a 5-8 minute original short • Scene headings, action lines,
film. and dialogue
• Use at least 2 named characters • One important moment
and 3 scenes. communicated without dialogue
Planning sheet
TITLE: GENRE:
______________________________ ______________________________
MAIN CHARACTER: GOAL:
______________________________ ______________________________
MAIN CONFLICT: THEME:
______________________________ ______________________________

LOGLINE: When ________________________________, a

________________________________ must ________________________________
before ________________________________.

ACT 1 ACT 2 ACT 3

Who is the character? What obstacles What is the climax?
What starts the appear? How does How is conflict
problem? pressure rise? resolved?
____________________ ____________________ ____________________
____________________ ____________________ ____________________

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Assessment rubric — 100 points

Story & Structure Characters Dialogue Format Grammar

Creativity & &
Conflict Presentatio
n
25 pts 20 pts 20 pts 15 pts 10 pts 10 pts

Reflection

Answer after drafting: What is your film’s main idea? What does your
protagonist want? Which scene was hardest to write? How did you show
something without dialogue? What do you want viewers to remember?

FINAL CHECK IDEA → CHARACTER → GOAL →

CONFLICT → ACTION → CLIMAX
→ RESOLUTION. Then ask: “Can
the audience see it or hear it?”

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