‘The Script’

Exam

QU

ESTIO

N O

NE

Why are some directors

driven to write their own

scripts?

Some directors are driven to write their own

short film and script out

of frustration and the

desire to get on with

making something.

QU

ESTIO

N T

WO

You shouldn’t make an

intense character study if

you are scared of what?

You shouldn’t make an

intense character if you are

scared of actors or develop

an action story that will

require stunts – if you know

you only have 5K to make it.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

REE

What should you be careful of if you only

have 5K to make your

film?

You should be careful to

not have an action story

that will involve stunts,

car chases and special

effects.

QU

ESTIO

N

FOU

RIf a feature film might be

described as a novella, how

might a short be described?

A short can be described as

a Haiku – they only explore

one idea.

QU

ESTIO

N F

IVE

What are the length boundaries different film

festivals stipulate in their short sections?

Most festivals will except

as a short anything less

than 30 minutes, but

may find it difficult to

longer short films which

are over 20 minutes.

QU

ESTIO

N S

IXIf the function of your short

is to make your audience

laugh, how long should it

be?

It should be 2-3 minutes

maximum.

QU

ESTIO

N

SEV

EN

What are the three basic

elements any kind of

dramatic story requires?The three basic elements for any dramatic story is – A

world, a character, a

problem.

QU

ESTIO

N

EIG

HT

Why can it be useful to set

your film around a familiar

event/ ritual?

Because you can take for

granted the audiences

familiarity with the situation,

also it gives a story a finite

time frame.

QU

ESTIO

N N

INE

Why can literal journey

be a good setting for a

short film?

A literal journey can be a

good setting because

the story inevitably takes the character on a

metaphorical emotional

journey and it can work

well.

QU

ESTIO

N T

EN

What are the 5 most important

questions to ask when you begin

to develop your story?

-Who is the main character?

-What is their problem?

-How will the audience recognise

the problem?

-Are the stakes high enough?

-Am I telling the story from the

best point of view?

QU

ESTIO

N

ELE

VEN

One of three things must

drive your character

through the story. What

are they?

-A want-A need

-An obligation

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

ELV

EWhat crucially must

accompany this element?

Something that is making it

hard for the character to

pursue their want, need or

obligation.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTEEN

Why are a lot of short

films about children and

teenagers?

A lot of short films are

about children and teenagers because their

age and lack of experience of the adult

world provide a rich source of universally

recognisable problems.

QU

ESTIO

N

FOU

RTEEN

What is one of the most

important ways that you can

demonstrate your skill as a

filmmaker and not just as a

story teller?

The way in which you turn your

characters inner problem into

the heart of your film and

demonstrate your skill as a

filmmaker and not just a story

teller.

QU

ESTIO

N

FIFT

EEN

What does ensuring that

something is at stake in

the story mean the audience can do?

Ensuring that something

is at stake in the story

means the audience can

understand what the

character stands to lose if

they do not solve their

problem.

QU

ESTIO

N

SIX

TEEN

How can a different point of view change a

story?

The meaning of the story is largely involved

with who the story is being told through and

what happens to them in the end. •A different

point of view can change how the entire story

of a film is presented to the audience, how the

audience responds to the style of the story

being told and can change the entire out come

of the story in comparison to who the original

POV may have been. E.g. changing from a

protagonists POV to a minor antagonist, or the

antagonist themselves, can in fact change the

purpose of the film all together, for instance,

change it from fairy-tale to cautionary story

QU

ESTIO

N

SEV

EN

TEEN

Why do many short film

scripts fall down?They fall down because

they have chosen a main character whose

journey does not chime

with what the writer is

trying to say.

QU

ESTIO

N

EIG

HTEEN

Why does an awareness of the

meaning inherent in your story

matter?

Scripts aren’t written with the

moral and meaning immediately

known and understood. However

having a clear indication of its

meaning can help you make

important choices whilst refining

and developing your script.

QU

ESTIO

N

NIN

ETEEN

What is tone intimately

connected to and what

are the implications of

this?

Tone is intimately connected to genre, in a

short film you simply

don’t have time to make

shifts in tone.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY

How does tone emerge in a

film?

The tone emerges from the

way in which each element

supports the underlying

‘meaning’ of the story.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-

ON

E

What is a common flaw of

most short scripts submitted for funding?Most scripts have had far

too little development so

it is imperative to iron out

the bumps; interrogating

friends and family is a

good place to start.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-T

WO

What is the tent point plan

to test the spine of your

story?

Ten point plan:

Title, genre/tone, setting,

main character,

want/need/obligation,

opposition, catalyst for

change, climax, resolution

and theme.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-

TH

REE

What point does Marilyn

Milgrom make about

unity?

Every scene must be

revealing something

that increases our understanding of the

character and their probem.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-FO

UR

How can we make sure that

what happens in the end

could not have happened

earlier?

Each scene must MOVE THE

STORY ON.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-

FIV

E

What is the step outline and

what does it ensure?Step outline is a way to check

you have no slack in your

film: one sentence that

summarises what happens,

what is revealed that is

significant to the plot, what is

revealed that is significant to

the audiences understanding

of the characters, is there any

indication of significant

theme.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-S

IXEvery scene of significant

action should deliver

something on at least two out

of three possible fronts. What

are these fronts?

Fronts: Plot, Character,

Theme

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-

SEV

EN What is signified by the

order in which to tell the

story?

The most effective order

in which to tell the story:

beginning, middle, end.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

T-EIG

HT

What do audiences

instinctively know?

They know when something is

pretentious or dishonest.

QU

ESTIO

N

TW

EN

TY-

NIN

E

As a writer what is the

crucial thing you are

looking to ensure?You are looking for a way

of telling the story that

adds to its meanings

and keeps the audience

engaged.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTY

How do we establish a world

and the character?

Establish the world and the

character with maximum

speed and minimal dialogue.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTY-

ON

E

What advice is given for

making the film CINEMATIC once you

have a good story?Use cinematic devices

such as parallel action

and montage to build

tension and move the

story forward with maximum economy.

QU

ESIT

ON

TH

IRTY-T

WO

What final advice is given for

ensuring that a short is more

cinematic, less televisual

feel?

Dialogue should always be

the last thing you write, and

the less of the more

cinematic and less like

television your film will feel.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTY-

TH

REE Who is the first audience

of your film?

It is the reader of the

script.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTY-FO

UR

How can you help the reader

SEE the film you are

intending and not get

irritated?

Follow the screen writing

conventions, read scripts,

avoid writing camera

directions and stuff that is

going on inside the

characters head.

QU

ESTIO

N

TH

IRTY-

FIV

E

Why is SIMPLE a useful

descriptor for your short?

A small story can make

a big impression if it is

told with cinematic flair

that captures all the

depth and thematic resonance of the idea.